Order of the Stick book 7 discussion thread

Cafe Society
2424

1326 - Back Up Top

2425

There’s a weird sense of dread I had at the end of the Empire of Blood plotline. Even way back in Azure City, the party talked about how killing Nale and Thog would just mean Sabine resurrects them and they’re back to hunting the party a week later. The idea of a villain who you could beat and even kill, but who would just come back anyways - there was something deeply horrifying about that.

And then Nale was killed, in a way that really felt final. And I thought, “Good riddance!”.

And now, so many years later, he’s back after all. I’m… Not sure how I feel about that.

2426

Oh look - a dagger with a crooked hilt.

2427

Good catch.

2428

What’s the significance of that?

2429

There was a squiggly shape in the fountain that some speculated was a curved dagger

2430

I think the dagger was previously seen in the fountain.

2431

Got it–once 1324 per the long discussion earlier. Looks like ripples not needed!

2432

That scroll Sabine reads says: “nonspecific devil summoning spell!”

2433

Nale was expecting something more “baroque”… honestly, he should not complain. He is Bach in the mortal world, what more can he ask for? He is not in a fugue state, and this invention of the IFCC will definitely give him the leading voice going forward.

Although, counterpoint: I think that if he does not act in concert with Sabine, he won’t reach a proper resolution.

2434

You keep up that punning and violins may ensue.

2435

Presumably, the wicked-looking sword is the conduit through which the Fountain’s power is channeled to a particular fiend.

Which, of course, makes it a grade-A Macguffin, ready to be stolen by Chekov.

2436

Too hard to Handel?

2437

Now I am asking myself… Nale is a minor devil…

So, inside that body of his, does he have any organ? Does he even have a spinal chord?

Also, can he act in consonance with his former wishes and impulses, or is his will now subtly keyed to the wishes and impulses of the IFCC? Will he really accept being second fiddle to his new masters?

Nale never struck me as being particularly sharp, but I have to say that he definitely is not a flat character in this story.