# Order of the Stick - Book 6 Discussion Thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755>\
**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:** 4

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**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/61 "2014-04-07T17:44:24Z")

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Huh. You know what really strikes me about that strip (lightning jokes aside)? Belkar’s expression. He doesn’t look startled, he looks annoyed/suspicious. It could be just his general “Why aren’t we killing the vampire?” attitude, but I have to wonder if he might figure out what’s up quicker than we would expect. What is there in this scene that could have roused his suspicion?

I might have to review all the strips, but has Durkon used Thor’s name in cursing before? He curses, but he might consider this expression blasphemous (perhaps especially as a reaction to a lightning strike). If so, he may have specifically selected that memory to give DurkEvil a dwarven curse that Durkon himself wouldn’t use. The framing of the memory is misdirection to keep DurkEvil from picking up on the fact that it wasn’t Durkon himself who used the phrase.

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**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/62 "2014-04-07T17:50:31Z")

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> [@Balance](#):
>
> Huh. You know what really strikes me about that strip (lightning jokes aside)? Belkar’s expression. He doesn’t look startled, he looks annoyed/suspicious. It could be just his general “Why aren’t we killing the vampire?” attitude, but I have to wonder if he might figure out what’s up quicker than we would expect. What is there in this scene that could have roused his suspicion?
> 
> I might have to review all the strips, but has Durkon used Thor’s name in cursing before? He curses, but he might consider this expression blasphemous (perhaps especially as a reaction to a lightning strike). If so, he may have specifically selected that memory to give DurkEvil a dwarven curse that Durkon himself wouldn’t use. The framing of the memory is misdirection to keep DurkEvil from picking up on the fact that it wasn’t Durkon himself who used the phrase.

In a past strip, Durkon has exclaimed “Thor’s Duodenum!” So it’s not out of character. I can’t remember the exact strip but I think it was in the late 300s, around the “Nale poses as Elan” arc.

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**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/63 "2014-04-07T18:02:46Z")

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> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#):
>
> In a past strip, Durkon has exclaimed “Thor’s Duodenum!” So it’s not out of character. I can’t remember the exact strip but I think it was in the late 300s, around the “Nale poses as Elan” arc.

Indeed, “Thor’s \<bodypart\>” seems common, but I don’t think we’ve seen “Thor’s Nuts”.

I wonder if Durkferatu is going to absent-mindedly give away something the real Durkon can use. Like now the real Durkon knows that what happens in his mind happens near-instantly instead of in real time. I wonder what other interesting little tidbits his counterpart might drop.

The other thing I wonder, is that Durkferatu can’t actually compel a particular memory by force. Which makes me wonder if there’s something Durkon can hold back, since Durkferatu won’t think to look for it, or might not know it exists.

The final thing, which would be a hell of a problem for the vampire, is if Durkon can think of something in his mind’s eye that isn’t how it happened in real life. For example, if we meet his mother and she has both arms… well, she could have gotten one regenerated, or we could find out that Durkon has been lying about a few little things…

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/64 "2014-04-07T18:18:19Z")

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> [@Balance](#):
>
> What is there in this scene that could have roused his suspicion?

It could be that of all the things in the great big world to freak Durkon out, a bolt of lightning probably wouldn’t be on the list.

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**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/65 "2014-04-07T18:50:55Z")

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> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#):
>
> In a past strip, Durkon has exclaimed “Thor’s Duodenum!” So it’s not out of character. I can’t remember the exact strip but I think it was in the late 300s, around the “Nale poses as Elan” arc.

[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0397.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0397.html)

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**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:** [April 7, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/66 "2014-04-07T18:59:26Z")

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I suppose this raises the question of where the possessing negative energy spirit comes from that is so ignorant of its host yet knows enough to masquerade itself and even commune with deities from the host’s pantheon.

I mean, really, it needed an assist to figure out “Thor’s ”?

I wonder if Durkon will be called upon at some point to cast a spell that he’s cast previously but is now outside his sphere as a cleric of Hel. The lightning bolt obviously made me think of it although I assume this plot will stretch on throughout the book so nothing major will happen any time soon.

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**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:** [April 7, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/67 "2014-04-07T19:00:25Z")

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It could be that Durkoon is hoping that Thor will read it as “Thor IS nuts!” Thus, blasphemous. Especially considering that a Bolt of lightning is supposedly an omen for Thor. Maybe Durkon is supposed to say something like “Amen” when a bolt hits nearby.

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**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:** [April 7, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/68 "2014-04-07T19:27:06Z")

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Heh, I like the idea of them taking it as “Thor is nuts!” although I don’t think any of them are theologically inclined enough to take it as anything but Durkon’s religion is weird.

Haley’s whole attempt at pretending to convert to Thor was to get drunk and yell “Wooo!” a lot. These aren’t exactly seminary students 😃

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**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:** [April 7, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/69 "2014-04-07T19:29:19Z")

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> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> Haley’s whole attempt at pretending to convert to Thor was to get drunk and yell “Wooo!” a lot.

Wait - there’s more to it than that?  
Dammit, I’ve been doing it wrong!

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/70 "2014-04-07T21:00:19Z")

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Burlew is way ahead of me. I had this detailed post in mind which basically boiled down to, about the only thing Durkon can do is pray to Thor. (The other possibility is simultaneous spell casting with Durkevil, only with a different target: that has limited dramatic possibilities.)

> [@Miller](#):
>
> So, apparently, the whole point of yesterday’s strip was, “How Durkon learned to swear.”
> 
> 😃

Any variance away from Durkon’s old behavior can be explained by the infusion of Dark Energy. But when one’s Deity zaps you directly, that says something is up. Even Elan might pick up on that. Hell, he could even suss the situation. Durkevil might have to tell Oots that he’s switching deities. Or something.  
Usually authors hide this stuff over pages of narrative. Burlew gave us the Durkon/Durkevil confrontation pretty much immediately. He’s good. (And -full disclosure- I clearly suck at lit. Hey, at least I try not suffer from Dunning-Kruger.)

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**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:** [April 9, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/71 "2014-04-09T13:22:47Z")

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I hope that Durkon is intentionally feeding misinformation to his occupier to alert his team mates or even piss off Thor.

Has the High Priest of Hel been officially named yet?

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**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/72 "2014-04-09T14:29:05Z")

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Just to cover the swears, we’ve also seen [“Thor’s Taint”](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0308.html).

Well, seen a comic in which the phrase is used, anyway…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/73 "2014-04-09T14:36:14Z")

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Before we get too deep into this thread, I’d like to reiterate my [proposal from the last thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16984437#post16984437):

We should adopt a standard “new comic” link format. Something very large and very bold – something that will be obvious to someone who is scrolling quickly through a bumped thread that “this is where you want to click before you go reading anything else”.

I’d say something like this would do nicely:  
[**Comic 947 is up.**](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0947.html)

Agreement/disagreement/discussion?

(And if it’s adopted as a standard, I’d be happy to go back and edit the two current links.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 9, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/74 "2014-04-09T15:00:51Z")

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> [@Hal\_Briston](#):
>
> Just to cover the swears, we’ve also seen [“Thor’s Taint”](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0308.html).

Only if we’re Jane Foster.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 9, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/75 "2014-04-09T15:24:27Z")

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> [@Hal\_Briston](#):
>
> Before we get too deep into this thread, I’d like to reiterate my [proposal from the last thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16984437#post16984437):
> 
> We should adopt a standard “new comic” link format. Something very large and very bold – something that will be obvious to someone who is scrolling quickly through a bumped thread that “this is where you want to click before you go reading anything else”.
> 
> I’d say something like this would do nicely:  
> [**Comic 947 is up.**](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0947.html)
> 
> Agreement/disagreement/discussion?
> 
> (And if it’s adopted as a standard, I’d be happy to go back and edit the two current links.)

Discussion point: I swore at both you and your mother when your post popped up, because I didn’t read it, I just saw “is up” and immediately switched to Oots to see the new strip.

Sorry.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/76 "2014-04-09T15:30:47Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> Discussion point: I swore at both you and your mother when your post popped up, because I didn’t read it, I just saw “is up” and immediately switched to Oots to see the new strip.
> 
> Sorry.

_I did this same thing._ There is no new strip! :mad:

I now hate **Hal Briston** with a searing hatred that will never be extinguished, even at the heat death of the universe, when all atomic activity has ceased and all that remains of every molecule that ever was is cold and lonely silence.

Not really. But we really do need a “shakes fist” smiley. Hal! \>shakes fist\<

Otherwise Hal’s proposal seems like a good one.

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**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:** [April 9, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/77 "2014-04-09T16:37:10Z")

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To be honest, I wasn’t really bothered by the old way. I know I don’t keep track of the strip numbers so I don’t necessarily know when I’m scrolling down whether it’s the latest strip at that point or a previous latest strip.

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**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/78 "2014-04-09T17:40:01Z")

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I actually dislike Hal’s proposal. It’s only a problem when discussion moves the new link to a new page. I find the giant red text jarring. I would argue against it strongly.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 9, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/79 "2014-04-09T18:00:58Z")

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It doesn’t address the worst problem - seeing the thread up at the top of the page and assuming there must be a new strip but opening it and finding out it’s just new posts about the strips that you’ve already read.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/80 "2014-04-09T18:19:44Z")

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> [@Hal\_Briston](#):
>
> Before we get too deep into this thread, I’d like to reiterate my [proposal from the last thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16984437#post16984437):
> 
> We should adopt a standard “new comic” link format. Something very large and very bold – something that will be obvious to someone who is scrolling quickly through a bumped thread that “this is where you want to click before you go reading anything else”.
> 
> I’d say something like this would do nicely:  
> [**Comic 947 is up.**](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0947.html)
> 
> Agreement/disagreement/discussion?
> 
> (And if it’s adopted as a standard, I’d be happy to go back and edit the two current links.)

**YES!**  
I fully support this. If red is too jarring, any color will work as long as the link is big, bolder, and [del]uncut[/del]. I don’t follow a lot of the D&D discussion so this would be good IMHO.

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