Whelp - they're screwed. Three cheers for Belkar trying to catch the deception though.
It can possibly supress it locally...temporarily. But Durkon was 14th level pre-vampirization, so Control Weather is one of High Priest of Hel's highest level spells. He can't keep it up all day, and Thor probably has unlimited thunder storms.Shall we see how successful it is first?
Hel shouldn't be able to dismiss a storm sent by Thor...
I doubt that Durkula could directly override Thor's will.
He is trying to emulate a cleric of Thor. They've been on the ship long enough to renew their spells. I can easily see him preparing some spells that would allow him to act like a cleric of a thunder god.
I'm seeing a lot of assumptions that Thor is directly controlling the storm, despite all of the past anecdotal evidence to the contrary.
That made me think: what if Hel and vampirism are red herrings of prophecy and the actual doom referred to would be related to the gates and the Snarl and by "all of us" refers to deities or whole existence as OotS knows it?
I was thinking this same thing as I read all of the discussion about Fate and Hubris. What if Durkon's return is just all part of the OotS releasing the Snarl?
Re the latest strip: I'm not surprised Durkula had Control Weather prepared. He WAS just communing with Hel. She would have been able to let him know that preparing Control Weather was a good use of a high level spell slot, if only to give him the ability to emulate a cleric of Thor.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Also, if memory serves (it has been awhile...) there was an incident at the Windy Canyon that could have been resolved by Durkon having prepared control weather that day. It would be a D&Dism to adjust your spell list to have the spell you wish you had last time.
Close enough, it was Control Winds. :)
|
I'm seeing a lot of assumptions that Thor is directly controlling the storm, despite all of the past anecdotal evidence to the contrary.
IIRC, the "past anecdotal evidence" was a single image that showed that sometimes Thor was not casting thunderbolts with a specific purpose ;-)
Whereas both religious Dwarven lore and the beliefs of the OOTS and the crew themselves take it as granted that storm and lightning are signs of Thor's will when in the North. So, even if Thor was NOT controlling the storm, the characters are strongly inclined to believe that he does.
Of course, Durkula using Control Weather to send it away and Bluff to sell his fake explanation to them should be enough to convince them. After all, who among them has high Sense Motive / Wisdom if not Durkon/Durkula himself ?
That made me think: what if Hel and vampirism are red herrings of prophecy and actual doom referred to would be related to gates and Snarl and by "all of us" refers to deities or whole existence as OotS knows it?
I have been rereading the entire OotS comic over the last month or so. I just got to 830: Tidying Up. The Dark One wants control of one of the gates, and will get it once Xykon and Redcloak complete the ceremony. Could this be what Durkon's return will bring?
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I'm seeing a lot of assumptions that Thor is directly controlling the storm, despite all of the past anecdotal evidence to the contrary.
Because the storm is acting unnaturally.
Piping hot OotS ready to go.
Belker is right!
I love it when Belker is right for the wrong reason. =)
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
I love it when Belker is right for the wrong reason. =)
Is it the wrong reason? When was the last time he had a non-healing spell prepared at the right time?
I love it when Belker is right for the wrong reason. =)Is it the wrong reason? When was the last time he had a non-healing spell prepared at the right time?
Dukula had planar ally shortly after he was turned, when he was using spells Durkon had prepared that morning.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Piping hot OotS ready to go.
I do find it to be an interesting bit of knowledge about clerical domains and portfolios that is justified within the story and world. A little bit of gaming mechanics that are explained via plot/background is always a nice switch. Question is, when is it going to come back and bite Durkula in the behind.
|
Piping hot OotS ready to go.I do find it to be an interesting bit of knowledge about clerical domains and portfolios that is justified within the story and world. A little bit of gaming mechanics that are explained via plot/background is always a nice switch. Question is, when is it going to come back and bite Durkula in the behind.
Have Durkon's domains ever been stated? I don't believe they have, but he has cast more weather related spells than I'd expect, which would go with Thor's area of expertise well. And we have to assume that Thor and Hel have completely different domain choices. Also, Durkon's "Thor's Might" spell (which I believe is just Righteous Might renamed) should only be available to Thor's followers.
I think that every cleric will just call righteous might <my god>'s might.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I think that every cleric will just call righteous might <my god>'s might.
Indeed. But I can see the time coming where Roy tells Durkula to use Thor's might and durkula refuses because he can't shout Hel's might in front of everyone.
I think that every cleric will just call righteous might <my god>'s might.Indeed. But I can see the time coming where Roy tells Durkula to use Thor's might and durkula refuses because he can't shout Hel's might in front of everyone.
I am not sure if shouting name of the spell is actual requirement of casting or just a tradition. Was that explicitly stated anywhere?
| 7 people marked this as a favorite. |
I can totally see...
Durkula says a pansy, hel's
Belker yelling "Hey did you hear what he really said? Let go. I'm serious. Let me at him!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I can totally see...
Durkula says a pansy, hel's
Belker yelling "Hey did you hear what he really said? Let go. I'm serious. Let me at him!"
Perception Listen is not a strong skill for OotS as far as I remember...
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Strike Two (#955)
| 6 people marked this as a favorite. |
Outrage it is, then!
I love that last panel! That just became my signature.
What is the crow familiar's name?
I believe it's Blackwing, and I think he's a raven.I am very curious to see what Blackwing will look like (and do!) as a gargantuan roc. Not even sure if he'll still be able to talk. It's because he's a raven that he can speak Common - most familiars can't.
Rule of Funny says he probably will
Rule of Funny says he probably willI believe it's Blackwing, and I think he's a raven.I am very curious to see what Blackwing will look like (and do!) as a gargantuan roc. Not even sure if he'll still be able to talk. It's because he's a raven that he can speak Common - most familiars can't.
OR something bad will happen to the group because he can no longer tell them it's coming.
Blackwing will still be able to communicate with V. and it is often ignored by other party members, anyway.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"OK, gang, the plan is..."
That reminds me of a certain session... Sweet, sweet memories...
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Blackwing has been an awesome addition to the storytelling. He is able to deliver just the right quips at the right times.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Poor Roy.
Yeah, that struck me as a bluff check, where nobody was paying enough attention to bother making a sense motive roll. Guaranteed he's stalking the vampire."I'll go... uh... check on Mr Scruffy."
Sinister?
it struck me as "the best way I can help is by being out of the way"
it struck me as "the best way I can help is by being out of the way"Yeah, that struck me as a bluff check, where nobody was paying enough attention to bother making a sense motive roll. Guaranteed he's stalking the vampire."I'll go... uh... check on Mr Scruffy."
Sinister?
Possibly. Just reread it & I noticed that he's kind of looking directly at Durkula as he's saying it. I suspect that Fromper & strayshift might be on to something...
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Possibly. Just reread it & I noticed that he's kind of looking directly at Durkula as he's saying it. I suspect that Fromper & strayshift might be on to something...it struck me as "the best way I can help is by being out of the way"Yeah, that struck me as a bluff check, where nobody was paying enough attention to bother making a sense motive roll. Guaranteed he's stalking the vampire."I'll go... uh... check on Mr Scruffy."
Sinister?
Either we're totally right, or Belkar really is just worried about the vampire eating his cat. :P