# Order of the Stick - Book 6 Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755 "2014-03-03T16:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 230
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4582 "2018-07-31T13:03:50Z")
At level 1, SM1 is a really bad spell, because it doesn’t last long enough to do anything. But when you’re level 15 or 16, what the heck else are you going to use those first-level slots for? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4583 "2018-07-31T13:21:50Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > It looks like Belkar may have done that to Ponchula in the [latest strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1130.html) (no garnish, though) and she turns to dust/mist. It’s hard to say for certain if that’s what he actually did. When he first stabs her in the back, it’s with a knife, but then the next panel showing that scene, he no longer has the stake in his other hand. So I guess we are to assume that he also put the stake through her back and into her heart. He stabbed her in the back with the stake but the vampire responds by attempting to cast _Harm_ before he cuts her head off. So we can safely assume that he missed her heart because a vampire staked through the heart is instantly paralyzed and can’t cast spells at you. > [@Kobal2](#): > > How is it reliant on dice ? Durkon’s player rolls his attack, Belkar asks the DM “is my AC x or x+2 (or was it 4 ? I don’t remember) ?” and then he knows. The Order isn’t playing a game though, they just live in a world in which the game rules are the accepted laws of reality. They don’t have “players” or a DM to ask questions to. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4584 "2018-07-31T13:27:50Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > He stabbed her in the back with the stake but the vampire responds by attempting to cast _Harm_ before he cuts her head off. So we can safely assume that he missed her heart because a vampire staked through the heart is instantly paralyzed and can’t cast spells at you. To late to edit: Actually, re-looking at it, he stabbed her with the dagger in his left hand, the stake mysteriously disappears when he uses his right hand to hang on while beheading her, then the stake re-appears in the panel where she turns to mist. So she was never staked. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4585 "2018-07-31T16:39:03Z")
[1131](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1131.html) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4586 "2018-07-31T16:44:16Z")
No doubt about this one. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4587 "2018-07-31T16:46:30Z")
And I had just checked like 5 minutes ago to see if there was a new strip. So Belkar did it! And Hilgya is un-dominated. So no TPK for Durkula. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4588 "2018-07-31T16:47:30Z")
I love this so much. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4589 "2018-07-31T16:47:39Z")
I liked Durkon baring his chest for Belkar. I also liked, though it might not be strictly within the rules, that the Dominations seem to cease with the death of the caster. Neat that Burlew wrote Durkon’s victory as only a very brief one over Greg, but it was long enough. And that’s an even better reason to wait to spring the trap until you know you have people ready and willing to dust you that second. Now we get to see what Hilgya’s going to do. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4590 "2018-07-31T16:49:23Z")
And thus does Durkon’s character arc come to a climax. I’m assuming that either he gets brought back or we get a decent afterlife denouement, given Burlew’s storytelling style. ETA: Also, Hel’s gonna be pissed off. Hoo boy. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4591 "2018-07-31T16:53:45Z")
Note that the aura around Belkar has disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4592 "2018-07-31T16:56:19Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > ETA: Also, Hel’s gonna be pissed off. Hoo boy. Yup, thar will be Hel to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4593 "2018-07-31T16:58:04Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Note that the aura around Belkar has disappeared. Second to last panel, he’s turning it off. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4594 "2018-07-31T17:06:15Z")
I just re-read a bunch of strips from the Order of the Stick books with my daughter last night while her legs hurt too much to sleep, and Durkon’s death was one of them. It made both of us cry. I’m so happy that Durkon’s captivity is finally over (I’m assuming). It’s guess it’s a good thing for the world that Durkon didn’t actually “get ta go home” [back then](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html). I also have so many questions about what happens to Greg’s soul now, if it even still exists. But much more importantly, regarding Durkon’s soul: this DOES count as “falling in battle” and “dying with honor,” right? He gets to go to the Lawful Good afterlife and meet Thor and whatnot? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4595 "2018-07-31T17:11:22Z")
So the aura wasn’t rage, it was the Protection from Evil effect. Man, Durkon is quietly the most badass member of the Order. I love a character who can assess, plan and execute without making a big deal about it. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4596 "2018-07-31T17:35:51Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I just re-read a bunch of strips from the Order of the Stick books with my daughter last night while her legs hurt too much to sleep, and Durkon’s death was one of them. It made both of us cry. I’m so happy that Durkon’s captivity is finally over (I’m assuming). It’s guess it’s a good thing for the world that Durkon didn’t actually “get ta go home” [back then](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html). > > I also have so many questions about what happens to Greg’s soul now, if it even still exists. But much more importantly, regarding Durkon’s soul: this DOES count as “falling in battle” and “dying with honor,” right? He gets to go to the Lawful Good afterlife and meet Thor and whatnot? Durkon died in the strip you cited and it was an honorable death, since it was in battle. The fact that his soul was trapped for a while makes no difference. The “death” of the vampire, whether honorable or not, has no effect on his afterlife. Since he’s now been released, he goes to Valhalla and raises a mug with Thor and the other heroes there. It looks like there’s something left of the vampire (dust, no doubt) in the chair. They can use that to Resurrect Durkon. As I understand it, the negative energy being (Greg) doesn’t even go back to Hel, but just kind of vanishes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4597 "2018-07-31T17:37:53Z")
I have to feel that Durkon may have acted a little too quickly. Let’s not forget this was a sideshow; the main event is the Council of Clans voting. And Durkula already sent the Exarch off to handle that. So while the Order of the Stick is congratulating itself for defeating Durkula and mourning Durkon, the Exarch could do whatever the plan was, swing the vote, and deliver the universe to Hel after all. Durkon should have taken a minute to tell Roy, or even Belkar, what was going on so they could defeat the Exarch. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4598 "2018-07-31T17:55:33Z")
Roy is unconscious, so he’d have to tell Belkar. There’s actually three vampires still around in this town, plus one back at the Godsmoot. The ex-Exarch took No-Name wtih him plus the one that ran off when Belkar attacked Ponchula in the last strip. I think No-Name is just a spawn, but the other two are regular vampires. Chances are the one that ran off went to Gontula. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4599 "2018-07-31T17:56:06Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Second to last panel, he’s turning it off. Or that could be him turning from Evil to Neutral. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4600 "2018-07-31T17:58:53Z")
Maybe. Given the placement of his hand, I’m going with Belkar deactivated it once he thought he no longer needed it. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/4601 "2018-07-31T18:02:33Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Question: how do you kill a vampire and leave a corpse for a rez? > [@Jophiel](#): > > Stake it through the heart and behead it. Doing so will kill the vampire immediately without it being able to take gaseous form. Staking it through the heart paralyzes the vampire until the stake is removed and beheading it does the actual killing part. As a garnish, fill its mouth with holy wafers or pour holy water on it, etc. > > Apparently the paralysis from staking it also prevents it from changing forms, including into mist. So what happened here? Stabbed through the heart, no paralysis, turned to gas or dust. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=229) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=231)