# 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:** 309
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6163 "2019-09-24T10:38:44Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > That’s adorable. Indeed it is. Nice to have a little quiet happy domesticity after all that death and destruction. ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6164 "2019-09-24T10:56:17Z")
And the word of the day is: _rapprochement_. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6165 "2019-09-24T12:53:40Z")
Cop out, but I don’t know how else Burlew could have resolved the situation without irrevocably alienating a good chunk of his fan base. At least this gets Hilgya and Kudzu out of the rest of the story, barring some twist like the last vampire draining Hilgya and kidnapping the kid. LOL at the idea of Hilgya agreeing to possibly be bound by some agreement between them, or subjecting herself to the authority of whoever the Grand Arbiter is. I’m glad Durkon is getting to play with his child. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6166 "2019-09-24T13:35:27Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > LOL at the idea of Hilgya agreeing to possibly be bound by some agreement between them, or subjecting herself to the authority of whoever the Grand Arbiter is. I assumed “I know” was recognizing that Durkon wasn’t just going to let this be or stay out of Kudzu’s life. And, unlike most people Hilgya encounters, Durkon actually has the power to push the issue and find her where ever she tries to go. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6167 "2019-09-24T19:50:18Z")
Well, as Elan would observe, dramatic convention would practically require it. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6168 "2019-09-24T20:27:57Z")
This isn’t resolved. But it puts off the resolution indefinitely, in a plausible way, such that we may never actually even see the resolution on-panel. We (the readers, Durkon, and Hilgya) know that, for the duration of the crisis, Kudzu will be well-protected. And we (same “we”) know that, once the crisis is resolved, Durkon will seek out Hilgya, and pursue a more permanent resolution. We don’t know if he will succeed, or what that resolution will be, but that’s a different story from the one we’re reading. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6169 "2019-09-25T09:28:52Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Neat. Guess Minrah is taking the slot that Burlew intended Bandanna to fill. I imagine she’ll have titanic plot armor, as a, what 6/5 Cleric/Fighter or something like that, adventuring in a party with characters having a bunch of levels in the mid to high teens? > > I suspect Minrah is going to be very important at convincing RedCloak or the Dark One to play ball. Or RedCloak’s niece. > [@Gyrate](#): > > Yay - another team member! > > I was pondering the other day, now that we’re wrapping up the biggest part of Durkon’s arc, who’s next in the firing line. The fact that we’re adding a new member at the same time that Belkar’s demise is virtually overdue suggests that we will be -1 very shortly (or very shortly in comic time - in real time it’ll probably be 2022). Answer to both these speculations. The Giant has sent [a tweet.](https://twitter.com/RichBurlew/status/1173739153781141505) \*Minrah is her own character with her own role. She’s not anyone’s replacement, any more than Blackwing replaced V. \* ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6170 "2019-09-25T12:18:35Z")
We’ve already established that Belkar can’t just be replaced by another halfling ranger. He certainly can’t be replaced by a dwarven fighter/cleric. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6171 "2019-09-25T12:54:01Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Answer to both these speculations. The Giant has sent [a tweet.](https://twitter.com/RichBurlew/status/1173739153781141505) > > \*Minrah is her own character with her own role. She’s not anyone’s replacement, any more than Blackwing replaced V. > \* Uh-huh, sure Burlew. Whatever his reasons for writing her, I’m glad he did, and I’m eager to see what further role she’ll play in the narrative. . I will laugh my ass off if part of that role is to hamfistedly pander to other trendy social concerns, like for example, say Minrah’s little secret she doesn’t want to say in front of Durkon is that she’s transgender. About replacing Belkar, I think it was Chronos who wrote here that Burlew’s likely to subvert a prophecy like Belkar’s death by fulfilling it exactly with no loophole, but only killing him off at the very end of the story. I agree wholeheartedly. Jophiel, I’d think a high-ranking priestess of Loki could hide better than Durkon could search. Or perhaps she anticipates that Dwarven family court works like family court in the US, and thinks she can manipulate events in her favour even if the Grand Arbiter looks at their situation. I agree it benefits her best right now to agree to some sort of visitation, provided Durkon returns. She’s surrounded by all of his friends and family, for one thing. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6172 "2019-09-25T14:22:28Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Jophiel, I’d think a high-ranking priestess of Loki could hide better than Durkon could search. Eh, maybe although I’m not convinced. It sort of doesn’t matter though because Durkon is powerful enough that evading him will still be a full time job and Durkon isn’t going to give it half effort. So she can either work it out when the time comes or spend the rest of her dwarfy days hassling with it. Plus, she seems to recognize that Kudzu having some daddy time isn’t the worst thing for him. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6173 "2019-09-25T14:57:47Z")
More precisely, I thought that Belkar’s death would either be at the end of the story or during Durkon’s arc. But now, well, that pretty much just means at the end of the story. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6174 "2019-09-25T20:26:35Z")
I think Belkar will die at the big climax of the story and will be EPIC. He will not let himself die in any way less than what is fitting for a sexy, shoeless, God Of War. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6175 "2019-09-25T20:59:21Z")
Awww. What a sweet strip. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6176 "2019-09-25T21:51:26Z")
Not “sweet”, exactly. Those two still have very strong negative emotions towards each other. “Poignant” would perhaps be more accurate. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6177 "2019-09-26T09:05:36Z")
I would agree that Burlew is messing with us with regard to the prophecy, except that I’m still wondering about the timeline. It’s been [two whole books](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html) since we were given a seven-week timeframe for the prophecy to come true. And while most of the onscreen action has taken place in short bursts, there’s been a lot of travelling in between. We’ve had the whole thing with Tarquin (and the trip to that city), the pyramid search in the desert and subsequent battle, the voyage to the gnome city, the voyage to the Godsmoot, and then the voyage to where they are now. It’s gotta be close to the deadline by now. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6178 "2019-09-26T12:29:40Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > We’ve had the whole thing with Tarquin (and the trip to that city), the pyramid search in the desert and subsequent battle, the voyage to the gnome city, the voyage to the Godsmoot, and then the voyage to where they are now. It’s gotta be close to the deadline by now. That’s about three weeks of Strip Time tops. I’m betting on Belkar going out in a little ball of glory saving someone who is key to stopping Xykon minutes before the end of the strip. Sometime in 2025 or so. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6179 "2019-09-26T12:40:48Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I would agree that Burlew is messing with us with regard to the prophecy, except that I’m still wondering about the timeline. It’s been [two whole books](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html) since we were given a seven-week timeframe for the prophecy to come true. And while most of the onscreen action has taken place in short bursts, there’s been a lot of travelling in between. We’ve had the whole thing with Tarquin (and the trip to that city), the pyramid search in the desert and subsequent battle, the voyage to the gnome city, the voyage to the Godsmoot, and then the voyage to where they are now. It’s gotta be close to the deadline by now. I asked that at the GITP forums, thinking that Stickworld’s calendar was similar to ours, the Winter Solstice is only 8-9 days from the New Year, and the Godsmoot was held on the Solstice. Ergo, Belkar does 8-9 days max after the Godsmoot, and we’ve already used up 1 day. I got told the Oracle’s prediction worked off the Southern Pantheon’s calendar, while the Godsmoot was operating on the Northern Pantheon’s Solstice, so who knows? I wasn’t satisfied with the explanation, but it looks like Burlew has some wiggle room. I agree it feels like it should happen really soon, and like silenus wrote, it’ll probably take until 2025 (my suspicion is it might be longer than that) for him to get to Belkar’s death scene. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6180 "2019-09-26T12:54:22Z")
Southern new year is [a few months](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0302.html) after Northern new year. If Belkar has only 3 weeks at most, then we can deduce the Northern new year has already passed weeks or a couple of months ago. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6181 "2019-09-26T17:28:24Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I asked that at the GITP forums, thinking that Stickworld’s calendar was similar to ours, the Winter Solstice is only 8-9 days from the New Year, and the Godsmoot was held on the Solstice. Ergo, Belkar does 8-9 days max after the Godsmoot, and we’ve already used up 1 day. I got told the Oracle’s prediction worked off the Southern Pantheon’s calendar, while the Godsmoot was operating on the Northern Pantheon’s Solstice, so who knows? The Solstice, being an astronomical event, will happen at the same time in both hemispheres. Or at least it should, but I suppose with magic it could be different. It seems that neither New Year in Stickworld are based on the Solstice, since that apparently falls in between the two. In our world neither the Western nor the Chinese New Year are on the Solstice, either, so that’s the same in a left-handed way. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/6182 "2019-10-14T18:17:38Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > … it’ll probably take until 2025 (my suspicion is it might be longer than that)… I’ve been gone over 2 weeks and there’s no update? It’s discouraged to complain about updates on the gitp forums, but the pace is way slower now and there are still Kickstarter rewards not delivered. 2025 seems premature to me, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=308) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=310)