# Order of the Stick General Discussion Thread (Open Spoilers and Speculation) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096 "2009-02-02T07:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 45
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/881 "2009-05-03T15:55:13Z")
Okay, so Roy is going to be rezzed in the next panel, right? _Right_? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/882 "2009-05-03T16:08:39Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Okay, so Roy is going to be rezzed in the next panel, right? _Right_? depends if the focus follows V… ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/883 "2009-05-03T16:22:01Z")
Oh V. _V._ I’m terrified for her or him. (Well, as terrified as one can get for a stick figure comic character.) I just cannot see how this will work out in any way, shape or form. Too bad Elan wasn’t in that strip – I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have yelled out, “Wait! It’s way too soon, every genre/dramatic convention in history indicates this is gonna be a total disaster for you!” To show how seriously V is gonna fuck this up, check out Belkar in those panels. Belkar is shocked and seemingly concerned. _Belkar_. If a sociopathic/psychopathic little dude who’s previously wished for your death is actually afraid for your safety, you are _definitely_ on the wrong path. Very interesting how Roy was desperately trying to communicate to V. through the soul splicees, and they were basically all “la la la we can’t hear you,” unwilling to pass along the info. I think despite what the IFCC said (that they had no more effect than cheerleaders), Haera, Ganonron and Jepthon are influencing V. – sort of a seduction to the Dark Side, if you will. Not saying V. isn’t responsible for what s/he’s doing, but I just can’t imagine someone who’s overwrought, exhausted and desperate _not_ being easily swayed to acts s/he wouldn’t normally perpetrate. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/884 "2009-05-03T16:42:37Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Okay, so Roy is going to be rezzed in the next panel, right? _Right_? Oh, dear, I fear you may be in for (more) disappointment. Durkon has _10 minutes_ of spellcasting to go through. Everything we’ve seen since V got the soul splice has taken place in _less than 20 minutes_. Plenty of time for several strips’ worth of stuff to happen to hapless V. Plus, check out the strip title. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/885 "2009-05-03T17:38:24Z")
> [@](#): > > To show how seriously V is gonna fuck this up, check out Belkar in those panels. Belkar is shocked and seemingly concerned. Belkar. If a sociopathic/psychopathic little dude who’s previously wished for your death is actually afraid for your safety, you are definitely on the wrong path. As we all know, Belkar’s secretly in love with Vaarsuvius. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/886 "2009-05-03T18:06:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > We can say the same for you. > What is having a personal nemesis if not a permanent state of war? Not if you agree to a truce, as Haley did. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/887 "2009-05-03T21:40:00Z")
> [@choie](#): > > To show how seriously V is gonna fuck this up, check out Belkar in those panels. Belkar is shocked and seemingly concerned. _Belkar_. If a sociopathic/psychopathic little dude who’s previously wished for your death is actually afraid for your safety, you are _definitely_ on the wrong path. Remember the binary stages of Belkar? Belkar no longer hates V, because V is on his side of the alignment fence… which means… ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/888 "2009-05-03T22:33:00Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Remember the binary stages of Belkar? Belkar no longer hates V, because V is on his side of the alignment fence… which means… Remember, Belkar is not neccessarily a one-dimensional being any more. Besides, Belkar used to hate evil beings as much as he hated good ones. That’s what made him useful in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/889 "2009-05-03T23:05:03Z")
Well- could V beat Xykon? I mean, of course in comic terms, he won’t, because the strip would kind of end. But V’s got an effective caster level of what, maybe 55? 20+ or so from each splice, plus between ten and fifteen of his own. Xykon is, we believe, somewhere between 20 and 30, right? Even with Redcloak supporting him, I’d bet on V, as long as V can hold the splice. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/890 "2009-05-03T23:48:03Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Oh V. _V._ I’m terrified for her or him. Hey, he/she won’t die here. Belkar won’t get to be directly responsible for V’s death this way. > [@appleciders](#): > > Well- could V beat Xykon? It would be a close thing. V definitely has the edge on Xykon in terms of raw power and teleporting on top of him and opening fire would definitely surprise the lich. On the other hand V has been burning through spells like there’s no tomorrow and Xykon has plenty of resources available to him in order to run down the clock (as it were). ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/891 "2009-05-04T00:01:19Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Well- could V beat Xykon? > > I mean, of course in comic terms, he won’t, because the strip would kind of end. But V’s got an effective caster level of what, maybe 55? 20+ or so from each splice, plus between ten and fifteen of his own. Xykon is, we believe, somewhere between 20 and 30, right? Even with Redcloak supporting him, I’d bet on V, as long as V can hold the splice. I agree that Xykon ain’t gonna die here. But it’s possible for Redcloak to go down and end up meeting The Dark One and getting some extracurricular briefing, if you get me. Might redirect his goals and such. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/892 "2009-05-04T00:06:12Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Remember, Belkar is not neccessarily a one-dimensional being any more. Right, his Crazy Hippie Spirit Quest convinced him to at least play at being a team member. What’s creepy is how easily Belk slipped into that role. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/893 "2009-05-04T00:07:07Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > Hey, he/she won’t die here. Belkar won’t get to be directly responsible for V’s death this way. > > It would be a close thing. V definitely has the edge on Xykon in terms of raw power and teleporting on top of him and opening fire would definitely surprise the lich. On the other hand V has been burning through spells like there’s no tomorrow and Xykon has plenty of resources available to him in order to run down the clock (as it were). The real question is, what does V mean by kill Xykon? Is he going to go for the phylactery, or not? (I find it inconceivable that V wouldn’t know about liches, phylacteries, et cetera.) Then again, he might just want to prove that his borrowed mojo is the greater, and just jump in with all spell slots firing. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/894 "2009-05-04T00:58:22Z")
> [@robertliguori](#): > > The real question is, what does V mean by kill Xykon? Is he going to go for the phylactery, or not? > > (I find it inconceivable that V wouldn’t know about liches, phylacteries, et cetera.) > > Then again, he might just want to prove that his borrowed mojo is the greater, and just jump in with all spell slots firing. how many of those spell slots have been exhausted tho? V has been firing off speels thick and fast. Where is the limit? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/895 "2009-05-04T01:07:36Z")
For 2.5 Epic Level casters and a 15th level caster? Oi. A few hundred? More? I don’t have the Epic tables here. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/896 "2009-05-04T01:16:54Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > For 2.5 Epic Level casters and a 15th level caster? Oi. A few hundred? More? I don’t have the Epic tables here. It’s rather ambiguous, especially given that we don’t know exactly how the Soul Splice works. But even if V has no spells at all left, he can still Shapechange into a big-ass golem and step on Xykon repeatedly. Shapechange, when used correctly, is pretty much exactly as much of an “I win.” button as it was shown to be against the black dragon. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon\_Salt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@Bacon\_Salt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bacon_Salt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/897 "2009-05-04T02:17:54Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > Hey, he/she won’t die here. Belkar won’t get to be directly responsible for V’s death this way. Wait, I’m confused. Belkar’s already killed the oracle, fulfilling the prophecy according to my interpretation. Was the real interpretation that he’s going to be responsible for the deaths of all of the people he asked about? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/898 "2009-05-04T02:22:38Z")
It’s been pointed out repeatedly in this thread that Belkar cut off the oracle at the line “And as for the elf…” which implies that there will be a direct cause there. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/899 "2009-05-04T02:43:34Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > It’s been pointed out repeatedly in this thread that Belkar cut off the oracle at the line “And as for the elf…” which implies that there will be a direct cause there. Except that every time it comes up, everyone conveniently ignores the fact that the Oracle – and everyone else in that [scene](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0567.html) – wasn’t buying those theories, either. That was a _joke_ working itself out. Each explanation of whose death Belkar had caused was more forced than the last, until it got to the point where Belkar fulfilled the prophecy the way that the Oracle knew he would. By the structure of the joke, whatever Belkar might end up doing to V will have a more convoluted connection to “killing” than Miko’s horse being stuck in the afterlife indirectly because of Belkar. Expecting that Belkar will somehow end up responsible for V’s death is missing the point of that joke entirely. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/900 "2009-05-04T02:45:15Z")
Which is exactly why you should expect Belkar to kill Vaarsuvius–you’re not expecting it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096.md?page=46)