Order of the Stick - Book 6 Discussion Thread

Not really. As he noted, the dwarves who were dominated make up a majority. So they would have won if the motion had been put up to a vote. It was just funnier to defeat it this way.

But the genius of it is, they wouldn’t have won. Remember what they’re forced to do: Vote “yes” on the main proposition, and obey any spoken directions from vampires. If the Cobalt Elder’s proposition had been put to a vote (“Should we postpone this meeting?”), that would have been the main proposition, and the dominated elders would have been forced to vote “yes” on it. Nor could the vampires give any other domination-orders to countermand that, because that would be using a supernatural ability against the elders, which would turn them to stone.

At least the cleric they brought in seems to think they’re fools, based on the expression in the final panel.

Is instructing a dominated person “using a supernatural ability”? I’m inclined to think it isn’t.

Giving verbal instructions, like the vampire whispering in the elder’s ear, isn’t using a supernatural ability. But giving them a direct telepathic command, which is what they’d need to override the previous command, would be.

I thought a prior command was “do what any vampire tells you to do”, though.

Gontor’s command is “Vote yes on the main proposal and follow any verbal commands given to you by a vampire”

Presumably, “Vote yes on the main proposal” is cast in stone and can’t be countermanded by another lower-ranking vampire saying not to. The female dwarf vampire would need to Dominate a second time to change that but the spell in the chamber would turn her to stone for it. Plus, she would have to do it on all of them to prevent a majority voting to delay the session.

1169 1169 Showing Up - Giant in the Playground Games

I see Blade Barrier has gotten a cosmetic upgrade since last time.

We’ve seen Blade Barrier more recently than that. But that one was still swords, too.

At least cousin Whosits stopped monologing.

1170: Divine Diversion

Hel-larious. I love how Frost Giant God is shoved aside by Hel midway through the strip, and is out of frame for the rest of it.

Thor and Loki, working together. Who’d a thunk it?

I’m betting it was Loki who came up with this idea. And I wonder if there’s any other divine politicking going on around the Dwarf God.

What’s with Hel’s coloured teeth? is that a reference to something in mythology?

I noticed too and assumed it was just part of her sickly demeanor. Still, Hel, brush your damn teeth.

I think they’re just rotting to indicate her position as the goddess of sickness. As far as I know for physical description in mythology, all we get is a line in the Prose Edda: “She is half blue-black and half flesh-color (by which she is easily recognized), and very lowering and fierce.” (Pg. 42)

Which Burlew clearly is not abiding by so I’m assuming the green teeth is an artistic choice all his own.

Enough about the teeth. Why is everybody’s quiditty muddy brown instead of yellow?

Just the transparency against the dark background? When Thor opens the door, his is brighter yellow, except for his hand opening the gate (and in the cavern)

Some of the best parts of the Norse myths (any version of them, including the versions written by Marvel) are the parts where Thor and Loki are cooperating.