# 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:** 77
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1521 "2015-08-28T05:46:54Z")
I suppose the Dark One is a demigod. Redcloak might have trouble just scooting off though. Also, the Demon trio probably wanted the last gate destroyed to force the hands of the gods. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1522 "2015-08-28T06:32:15Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Jesus, Durkoff has a goddess and (at least) two other vampire clerics in his corner. I don’t see how Roy isn’t toast very quickly. > > Although the “Thundershield? Why do I know that name?” dwarf [High Priestess of Thor] makes me wonder if Roy will get an unexpected ally somehow… I doubt it, I think that was just just Rich making an allusion to the forgotten porphecy and possibly Thor’s own casually dismissive attitude to Durkon. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1523 "2015-08-28T08:43:25Z")
That’s not Hilgya in the third panel, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1524 "2015-08-28T09:05:22Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] That’s not Hilgya in the third panel, is it? [/quote] On the third panel the foreground characters are the high priests of Helmdall, Sunna, Freya and Thor. I’ve looked to see if there’s anything I missed in the backgound and can’t see anything. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1525 "2015-08-28T09:21:58Z")
I think one could make the reasonable argument that dying for the sake of preserving the fabric of the universe is an honorable death. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1526 "2015-08-28T09:28:53Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Angrily. > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > The correct answer was “sexy and shoeless”. He’s already dead. He’ll be found at the bottom of the mountain afterwards, after having died alone and mistrusted by his friends. He didn’t go out in a blaze of sexy, halfling glory - he took a slow, halting journey towards becoming good and before it was even half-way accomplished he was unceremoniously disposed of by a greater evil. That’s as close to redemption as he will get. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1527 "2015-08-28T09:37:02Z")
Stepping back for a few strips, Heimdall’s [speech](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0998.html) seems to indicate that while the Snarl can kill all living things in the universe, the souls of those who are already dead would survive. Does that mean that the people who had died in the [original universe](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html) (the one the Snarl destroyed) are still around in the various afterlives? If so, it seems like the secret of the Snarl’s existence would be widely known. The people who have died in this universe would learn that a previous universe had existed from meeting the people who had died in that universe. And in the D&D world, there’s enough traffic between the afterlife and the mortal world that this information would get back to living people. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1528 "2015-08-28T09:43:33Z")
> [@Garula](#): > > I think one could make the reasonable argument that dying for the sake of preserving the fabric of the universe is an honorable death. Maybe. But even Roy acknowledged that Heimdall had a good point. Maybe it would be better to end the world and gather the souls of everyone to a safe afterlife rather than let them be devoured by the Snarl. And if that’s the case, then Roy might be fighting on the wrong side. At the very least, Roy is showing his old hubris by deciding that his opinion is better than the collective opinions of the Gods. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1529 "2015-08-28T09:48:41Z")
The collective opinion of the Gods is a tie. If that’s not the time for mortals to step in, I don’t know when is. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1530 "2015-08-28T09:51:02Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > That’s not Hilgya in the third panel, is it? I can’t see anyone that even vaguely resembles her. However, is that [Leeky Winstaff](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0344.html)up in the gallery? ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1531 "2015-08-28T10:39:50Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > If we didn’t already know that Durkon’s going to remain a vampire for some time (thank’s to the Giant saying so) then I’d be expecting something like Durkon saying, “As high priest of Hel…” and getting interrupted as Roy jumps down and smashes him with his sword. Well I almost called it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1532 "2015-08-28T10:49:16Z")
I wonder if there might be a overlooked techinical loophole on the clerics like the one on the bodyguards Roy is using. something like “Any cleric who casts an offensive spell, except in self defense against another cleric or bodyguard of another cleric attacking them, shall be immediately banished” That would get Hel kicked out for casting against Roy. Durkon already has a spell started in the last panel. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1533 "2015-08-28T12:31:15Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Durkon already has a spell started in the last panel. That’s the Summon Proxy spell, I believe. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1534 "2015-08-28T12:35:25Z")
My prediction: it’ll be an epic battle. Durkon will almost lose. A loophole in moot rules will allow his thralls to enter the fray, and they’ll take Roy out, almost to death. The demigods will vote, and Hel’s influence will suffice to bring the vote in favor of destruction. V will remember at the last minute about Banjo (or maybe Elan will remember, whichever would be more dramatic–probably Elan, actually), and will cast the vote that brings it back to a tie. As the clerics try to figure out how to handle a tie among the demigods, Roy will activate the undead disruption power of his sword and destroy Durkon. The world is SAVED!!! …for **now**. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1535 "2015-08-28T13:17:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If so, it seems like the secret of the Snarl’s existence would be widely known. The people who have died in this universe would learn that a previous universe had existed from meeting the people who had died in that universe. And in the D&D world, there’s enough traffic between the afterlife and the mortal world that this information would get back to living people. When Roy was _Resurrected_, [he didn’t remember](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html) anything from the actual Seven Heavens (or [whatever the LG afterlife is](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html) these days). He had a memory of the sword technique that he thinks is his idea and that’s it. I’m not sure now if the Creed guys would get a vote or not. I originally assumed yes, but they don’t even have a demigod, do they? They only worship Elemental Earth itself. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1536 "2015-08-28T13:37:07Z")
One thing I just realized, the other clerics can’t get involved directly, but couldn’t they buff the holy hell out of Roy? ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1537 "2015-08-28T13:55:40Z")
> [@Garula](#): > > One thing I just realized, the other clerics can’t get involved directly, but couldn’t they buff the holy hell out of Roy? I was thinking the exact same thing. Healing Roy or casting beneficial status effects on him hardly counts as “taking up arms”. This wouldn’t stop other clerics from doing the same for Durkon - however, I suspect that even clerics of gods who want to destroy the world (or are evil) may not want to assist Hel specifically now that they know her plan. This is the downside of evil gloating. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1538 "2015-08-28T14:14:51Z")
I don’t know the Norse pantheon all that well (much less in D&D terms) but I believe the premiere evil deity is Loki who doesn’t want to destroy the world anyway. Looking back over the votes, the only obvious Evil+Destroy deity I see is Fenrir. The others would either be good or not want to destroy the world. Even Fenrir, as noted, might be less inclined to help Hel become the Queen of the Pantheon. Also, shouldn’t Hodor’s priest have been blindfolded? I’d think representing your deity at some big conclave counts as “on duty”. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1539 "2015-08-28T14:54:47Z")
If the gods can only hear each other, can they see what is going on in the mortal realm? That is, can they see the showdown that is kicking off and attempt to influence it? ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1540 "2015-08-28T15:18:33Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Durkon already has a spell started in the last panel. > [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > That’s the Summon Proxy spell, I believe. Actually, after a closer look I think **wolfman** is right. In the last panel prior to the final one in which we can see Durkon (the one where Hel says through him “-vote yes”), he doesn’t have the dark coloration around his hand indicating that he’s casting a spell, but in that final panel, he does. I’m sure he’s anticipated Roy attacking him and has already thought out his next move. Boy, Rich really knows how to keep his story rolling, doesn’t he? Ooo, just had a thought – what if the high priest of Thor tells him that his cleric has been hijacked by a vampire? It’s clear that Durkon can’t do anything to thwart the spirit that’s taken him over, but what if his god were to do something to help him out there? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=76) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=78)