# Order of the Stick book 7 discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [February 3, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438 "2020-02-03T17:48:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/81 "2020-02-18T20:53:02Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > They can’t all be game-changing (literally) breakthroughs. Not everyone can be a Bugsby. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/82 "2020-02-18T21:09:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > This sort of thing seems useful even if it isn’t fixed up. Essentially you have a higher level spell that binds two people, and then that gives them an improved sending spell (no word limit) for a lower level cast. It seems like the sort of tradeoff that I could see being made in a game–I wouldn’t expect a strictly better sending spell to ever be created. > > I actually wonder if this could be true in the Stickverse, too. She might figure out a way to attach it to other things that bind people together, but you still need a higher level spell first to get the benefits. Do the rules of that universe run not only on narrativium, but also game-ballancium? Julia’s spell works because in her words, it piggybacks a signal off the Blood Oath connection. Did the members of the Scribble + all of Soon’s paladins swear a similar kind of oath not to interfere with each other? Could this be a way to do something like talk to Lien and O-Chul or Serini? I’m just trying to think of similar oaths or either binding magic that we’ve seen before now in the story that Julia’s spell could be foreshadowing. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/83 "2020-02-18T21:20:30Z")
If Julia was smarter, she could have traded it to V for a copy of _[Vaarsuvius’ Greater Animal Messenger](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0563.html)_ and then turned THAT in instead! After trimming the name off. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2020, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/84 "2020-02-22T10:16:52Z")
Just a PSA: the forums at [www.giantitp.com](http://www.giantitp.com) are back online. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/85 "2020-02-22T14:03:52Z")
And he’s accepting donations on Patreon to keep the new server up. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/86 "2020-02-22T15:57:30Z")
They must have slapped that up overnight because I clicked my bookmark before bed last night and then chided myself, thinking “Sure, like he’s going to get the server up on 11:45pm Friday night…” ---
**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:** [February 25, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/87 "2020-02-25T22:19:38Z")
[1193: Sisterly Advice](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1193.html) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/88 "2020-02-25T22:50:49Z")
“Great! Who’s Belkar?” I lol’ed. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/89 "2020-02-26T00:40:20Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > “Great! Who’s Belkar?” > > I lol’ed. i don’t get it ---
**Author:** ![Calavera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calavera/32/70_2.png) [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/90 "2020-02-26T01:14:22Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > i don’t get it I assume it’s a joke about just how little interest Julia has taken in Roy’s (and technically her own) quest. I don’t see it rising to a level of a LOL though. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/91 "2020-03-05T17:07:37Z")
[1194: Spiritual Counseling](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1194.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:** [March 5, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/92 "2020-03-05T17:28:30Z")
It’s Minrah’s advice that’s gonna get Belkar killed, mark my words. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/93 "2020-03-05T18:09:40Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s Minrah’s advice that’s gonna get Belkar killed, mark my words. I’ve predicted before that the the resolution to the prophecy will be _“Belkar is dead, I am now … Rakleb.”_ Minrah’s advice may be a step towards that. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/94 "2020-03-05T22:48:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s Minrah’s advice that’s gonna get Belkar killed, mark my words. Does putting them in quote tags count as marking them? Anyway, noted, **silenus** , but Minrah’s advice to Belkar struck me as kind of a booster shot to the counsel he got from dream-Shojo. Made me smile, anyway. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/95 "2020-03-06T06:08:48Z")
And I’ve made my predictions on Belkar’s death. But I’ll repeat them to go on record in the new thread. 1. Belkar may not actually die. The source of this prophecy was the Oracle. He didn’t give this information as the answer to a question, so he’s under no professional obligation to be telling the truth. I think it’s possible that the Oracle lied about Belkar dying because the belief that Belkar was going to die served some purpose in preventing the world from ending. Perhaps Roy would have kicked Belkar out of the group [if he didn’t think he was just a temporary problem](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html). 2. The main plot point of the prophecy then is that Roy (and Haley) think that Belkar is about to die soon - and are keeping that knowledge from Belkar in order to keep his services. That’s a pretty callous thing to do when you stop to think about. [They’re treating Belkar like he’s a disposable tool.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0840.html) I feel that at some point in this arc, Belkar is going to discover this has happened and Roy will be forced to deal with the way he’s betrayed Belkar. 3. Vaarsuvius may die. And in a manner attributable to Belkar. Belkar asked whose death he would cause and gave Vaarsuvius as a possibility. When he confronted the Oracle about the answer, the Oracle attempted to explain how Belkar had been responsible for the deaths of various people and [began to say something](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0567.html) about Vaarsuvius when he was interrupted. This implies he was about to explain how Belkar caused Vaarsuvius’ death. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/96 "2020-03-06T12:41:44Z")
I still say that Belkar’s going to die in a way that prevents resurrection, no ifs, ands, or buts. The Giant has tried to make that as clear as he possibly can. He’s going to pull off a major plot twist by doing exactly what he’s been telling us all along he’s going to do. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/97 "2020-03-06T13:15:51Z")
I’m going to guess that Belkar ends up saving V from the requirements e has vis a vis the IFCC. And just in time for V to do something that let the Good Guys triumph. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/98 "2020-03-06T15:13:02Z")
Strangely, I kind of wish this strip had been titled “My Eyes Are Down Here”. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/99 "2020-03-12T00:45:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’m going to guess that Belkar ends up saving V from the requirements e has vis a vis the IFCC. And just in time for V to do something that let the Good Guys triumph. Hmm, that would be a cool twist. I think Belkar will die. And not be resurrectable. And end up in a good afterlife. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438/100 "2020-03-12T00:48:27Z")
Yeah, the little barefooted felon better get into a Good Afterlife. OK, not Good, but at least good. Where Mr. Scruffy can visit regularly and there are plenty of interesting herbs to cook with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-7-discussion-thread/847438.md?page=6)