"Don't worry. You'll keep me safe."
I also noticed that V was called "she" by Belkar. I haven't noticed it before, but is this something that has been done in the past? Usually V's sex isn't identified.
Various characters call him/her various things. There's been he, she, and other terms thrown around.
Case in point - I think the general consensus of the party is that V is probably female, but no-one knows for sure.
I'm pretty sure Belkar has expressed the opinion that elf more or less equals female in his mind.
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"It's so perfect, I think I'll start implying it was my plan all along." Shamelessly stolen for future characters of mine.
He thinks like a Game Master...
Still no word about Malack...
I do think this heralds the coming end of Tarquin's time in the story, though. The Order will move on, and I'm sure Nale will make appearances later, attempting to get his newest vengeance (and still being strung along by the Fiendish Trio, of course), but I believe we'll be leaving Tarquin here with his little desert empire. Alive and well, I'm certain, unless there's a surprise backstab from Nale somewhere in the near future, which I doubt he'll be able to pull off in his current state.
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Yep, exactly why I think it unlikely.
Yeah, I'm with Nale here. "WTF Dad!?"
So after destroying the Gate that was supposedly protecting the "snarl" the OOTS is just going to leave the now exposed "hole" to Tarquin's gentle oversight as they head on to the next gate?
Is there some weird narrative gap going on here, or am I just missing something obvious? Twice now they've destroyed gates and ended up with a hole in the space-time continuum which leads to .... somewhere... and they just leave the hole behind?
What the heck was the purpose of creating and hiding the gates if destroying them is meaningless?
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Still wondering why Tarquin called Haley up, so far nothing talked about has really needed her.
I'm also willing to bet that we'll see Tarquin start exploring the other side of the rift, though that'll be off-screen. Like Orthos, I don't see Tarquin having much screen time after this.
Yeah, gotta agree with Sebastian and Uzzy. He may not be intending to sic an army on the Order and will probably happily let Elan and Friends wander off, but he won't be leaving the gate untouched.
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Tarquin is a master player of 11th dimensional chess. There's no way he sacrificed a bishop (Malak) and brought an entire army with him to just shrug his shoulders and saunter off-camera.
"Just"? No.
But there may well be absolutely nothing (read: there really is nothing) that they can really do anything about at this time.
Also, I'd tend to agree that he's likely "walking off the stage" (at least for a significant time). He's also trying to survive, because a death right now wouldn't be very glorious or dramatic, and it's very likely that he's going to attempt to conquer and keep an empire in the new world, but doing so carefully. He's not really likely to want to invade another continent that he can't keep a kingdom for. I mean, he's got the system for this one down - there's no reason to try to learn a new one.
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Still wondering why Tarquin called Haley up, so far nothing talked about has really needed her.
Probably he invited her so she could repeat everything to the rest of the party without risking that Elan will mess something up.
Or to show her the current attitude within family.
Oh, and after the last few panels I think that Tarquin has British accent. Really classy villain has to have either British or pseudo-Eastern European but I doubt the later wouldn't suit Tarquin.
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If this is in fact the end of the Tarquin arc, I have to admit I was more impressed by the practical villain answer as to why he needs to let it go: "Power I can't access is no power at all."
In hindsight, it sort of gives Redcloak and Xykon's whole master plan a layer of futility that he doesn't he much care for.
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In hindsight, it sort of gives Redcloak and Xykon's whole master plan a layer of futility that he doesn't he much care for.
Likewise his explanation for disinterest in the plan itself: "too many moving parts".
Still wondering why Tarquin called Haley up, so far nothing talked about has really needed her.
I'm also willing to bet that we'll see Tarquin start exploring the other side of the rift, though that'll be off-screen. Like Orthos, I don't see Tarquin having much screen time after this.
Tarquin called a family meeting. With Haley and Elan's budding relationship, he seems to be expecting that she'll become family soon, as in his daughter-in-law.
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Tarquin called a family meeting. With Haley and Elan's budding relationship, he seems to be expecting that she'll become family soon, as in his daughter-in-law.Still wondering why Tarquin called Haley up, so far nothing talked about has really needed her.
I'm also willing to bet that we'll see Tarquin start exploring the other side of the rift, though that'll be off-screen. Like Orthos, I don't see Tarquin having much screen time after this.
Yes... that's my point. Nothing so far discussed has been about 'family'
In hindsight, it sort of gives Redcloak and Xykon's whole master plan a layer of futility that he doesn't he much care for.Likewise his explanation for disinterest in the plan itself: "too many moving parts".
"No, no, no, no. These plans are far to complicated. Simplicity is of the essence." -The Right Ordinary Horatio Jackson
Have him executed at once. This sort of behavior is demoralizing for the ordinary soldiers and citizens who are trying to lead normal, simple, unexceptional lives. I think things are difficult enough as it is without these emotional people rocking the boat.
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Yes... that's my point. Nothing so far discussed has been about 'family'Tarquin called a family meeting. With Haley and Elan's budding relationship, he seems to be expecting that she'll become family soon, as in his daughter-in-law.Still wondering why Tarquin called Haley up, so far nothing talked about has really needed her.
I'm also willing to bet that we'll see Tarquin start exploring the other side of the rift, though that'll be off-screen. Like Orthos, I don't see Tarquin having much screen time after this.
Apparently, narrative plot points are family matters where Tarquin is concerned.
So after destroying the Gate that was supposedly protecting the "snarl" the OOTS is just going to leave the now exposed "hole" to Tarquin's gentle oversight as they head on to the next gate?
Is there some weird narrative gap going on here, or am I just missing something obvious? Twice now they've destroyed gates and ended up with a hole in the space-time continuum which leads to .... somewhere... and they just leave the hole behind?
What the heck was the purpose of creating and hiding the gates if destroying them is meaningless?
My understanding of the purpose of the gates is contain the five rifts that the Snarl has made between its prison and the PCs' world. Each gate prevents the rifts from growing larger (which increases the likelihood of the Snarl breaking free of its prison), but a flaw in the gates allows a certain control over the power of the Snarl. So, destroying the gates is bad, as it increases the chance of the Snarl breaking free, but Roy decided to destroy the gate rather than allow Nale/Tarquin gain control of the gate. Apparently, nobody knows of a way to control the "raw" rift.
Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?
Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?Considering the architects of the previous ones?
Epicly.
Given his demonstrated abilities, Tarquin would be able to manage it. But, what would he do with it.
Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?
Given his demonstrated abilities, Tarquin would be able to manage it. But, what would he do with it.
I am under the impression that the original gate heroes (Durokhan, Soon, et al.) gathered the information and design of what was needed to be done to build the gates at the time. I assume this was discovered in a classic, epic style of adventure for the original band. But, since all of them are dead or incapacitated, that information isn't necessarily at hand. With the possible exception of the book in Xykon's possession explaining a lot of the details.
So while I think Tarquin probably has the resources to build another gate, I'm not sure he knows how to do so in order to replicate the original's effects and control.
Anyhow, as has been noted, he's very a pragmatic villain so I doubt that any such idea would fit into his plots unless it was presented to him in a complete package. Tarquin has shown that he's all about someone else doing the "heavy lifting" before he steps in.
On a side note - although Rich has given us some back story and details - I would be curious to see a mini-story of the original band's gate quest to seal the Snarl in. Although I'll admit "prequelitis" doesn't always help a story/setting.
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Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?Given his demonstrated abilities, Tarquin would be able to manage it. But, what would he do with it.I am under the impression that the original gate heroes (Durokhan, Soon, et al.) gathered the information and design of what was needed to be done to build the gates at the time. I assume this was discovered in a classic, epic style of adventure for the original band. But, since all of them are dead or incapacitated, that information isn't necessarily at hand. With the possible exception of the book in Xykon's possession explaining a lot of the details.
So while I think Tarquin probably has the resources to build another gate, I'm not sure he knows how to do so in order to replicate the original's effects and control.
Anyhow, as has been noted, he's very a pragmatic villain so I doubt that any such idea would fit into his plots unless it was presented to him in a complete package. Tarquin has shown that he's all about someone else doing the "heavy lifting" before he steps in.
This may actually be why Tarquin brought the dino army with him, besides being an easy way to make sure the Order would talk to him peacefully instead of trying to fight him immediately.
He knows there's a rift there, and what can be done with it, and that step one is to make sure he's the one in control of that rift. He's pragmatic enough to take that step if it's dropped in his lap, so stationing a dino army to guard it seems in order. That way, if the info on how to build a new gate and/or control the rift happens to come his way in the future, he's already prepared for it. If not, at least no other villain gets their hands on the rift on "his" continent in the mean time. His motivations may be villainous, but he's competent and motivated enough to end up being a useful guardian for the rift, from the heroes' perspective.
Or perhaps his psion friend already acquired some of that info for building a new gate, and he's just yanking Nale's chain about how overly complicated the scheme was, in order to get rid of Nale.
As was mentioned with the three fiends, you don't need a detailed plan if you have your fingers in everything. Eventually, a couple of the things you're working on will interact with each other in a useful manner, and you'll get something out of it.
Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?Considering the architects of the previous ones?
Epicly.
Possibly, but I think Alex's theory that a lot of the effort of the original architects was in figuring out that the gate was necessary holds just as much water. I'm wondering if Xykon could figure it out.
I don't want to read too much into the plot of a webcomic, but the whole shoulder-shrugging response to destroying artifacts that supposedly were created to protect against the destruction of the universe seems very bizarre to me.
Doesn't anyone else in the world besides Xykon, Roy and Tarquin even care about the potential destruction of their universe?
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I think there's another reason not to build the gate.
"Oh no, the evil guy has a gate! We must stop him/destroy it!"
So voila, he doesn't buld the gate, no bands of heroes to come kill him. He knows he's a bad guy, and has no plot armor.
Possibly, but I think Alex's theory that a lot of the effort of the original architects was in figuring out that the gate was necessary holds just as much water. I'm wondering if Xykon could figure it out.Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?Considering the architects of the previous ones?
Epicly.
Xykon? I'm not entirely sure he cares enough to bother figuring it out.
I don't want to read too much into the plot of a webcomic, but the whole shoulder-shrugging response to destroying artifacts that supposedly were created to protect against the destruction of the universe seems very bizarre to me.
Doesn't anyone else in the world besides Xykon, Roy and Tarquin even care about the potential destruction of their universe?
The Order in general? Following Roy's lead and decision making (and we know Roy's reasoning). They've learned what it's like without him, so they're going along with it.
The Order in Specific:
- V? Out of commission. S/He definitely does, however.
- Belker? No, frankly, he likely doesn't. At least not entirely. Yet. I suspect that he will shortly before it's too late.
- Durkon? He's... kind of trying to figure out a large number of changes to his life.
- Haley? She's definitely falling under the aegis of "follow the Roy" more than anyone, as she was forced into the leadership role and, while she takes it when she sees something that directly needs doing.
- Elan? He has a steadfast faith in Roy, Banjo, the Order, and the power of Narrative. So of course he's not worried.
Others:
I mean, that seems to cover it. Anyone else you'd care to name? Other than that I'm not entirely sure what you mean.
The only ones that know for a fact that destroying the gates is inherently a terrible idea, I believe, include V, the Three Fiends, and... um... maybe the gate builders? The oracle, perhaps? I'm not sure.
Tactics, I am assuming that this is all happening in a larger world where there are OTHER people you have not even listed who should/would care. By now the activities of the OOTS should have reached the notice of any number of equally high or higher level people who should care about all this.
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The only ones that know for a fact that destroying the gates is inherently a terrible idea, I believe, include V, the Three Fiends, and... um... maybe the gate builders? The oracle, perhaps? I'm not sure.
The Three Fiends seem to think it's terrible enough that they're expending some considerable effort to bring it about, though I'm not sure why at this point.
Rich has taken pains to show us that Dorukan and Lirian's souls are trapped in a gem that Xykon has. I believe the crayon drawings, as told by Shojo, described that those two, as the full arcane and divine spellcasters in the group, were responsible for creating the ritual that sealed the rifts in the first place. It is possible that this created the gates themselves as well, which the rest were then tasked with defending. However, I bet that freeing the souls of Dorukan and Lirian may become important.
EDIT 2:
By now the activities of the OOTS should have reached the notice of any number of equally high or higher level people who should care about all this.
But why "should" it have reached anyone? EDIT: (From what I can tell/recall, it only reached OotS because they happened to be the adventuring group that went after Xykon because of Roy's dad's blood oath. And Xykon more or less just happened into the only book on the planet that had the information laid out for him.)
And again, even if it did, whose to say they can actually do anything about it?
The oracle, again for instance, can see the future, but he certainly can't act on it to change anything he sees. He can act, yes, but he can't act to change.
The gods seem to be in some sort of divine non-interference pact that would also result in the destruction of the universe if voided.
The "other" high level people out there are probably caught up in their own things. Heck, I'd definitively put Tarquin in the list of powerful "high level people who would care", but he didn't even know there was anything important, until OotS showed up.
The gates, their purpose, meaning, and traits, were, and are, very well hidden, even from powerful magic. Divinations often don't work well on artifacts anyway (which I'm presuming the gates effectively are). Add to that, each of the protectors used the methods they knew the best to hide them, make sure no one learned about them, and seal them away from the world, and you've got a pretty solid basis for no one "accidentally" figuring this out, even if they've got it out for OotS. And OotS isn't exactly going to go around going "HEY EVERYBODY, FOLLOW US TO END THIS GATE THREAT THING." because, 1) they haven't had much luck with the good guys, and b) they haven't had much luck with the bad guys either.
Above and beyond all that? This is a "game". The "PCs" (in this case, OotS) are the "heroes" and "stars" of the story. Thus, it's up to them to accomplish everything. Just like most any game, really.
Also, thanks for the Spoiler, flamethrower49! :)
EDIT 2:
The Three Fiends seem to think it's terrible enough that they're expending some considerable effort to bring it about, though I'm not sure why at this point.
The only ones that know for a fact that destroying the gates is inherently a terrible idea, I believe, include V, the Three Fiends, and... um... maybe the gate builders? The oracle, perhaps? I'm not sure.
Pretty much exactly my point. They know it's a terrible idea, but they're gunning for it anyway. :)
Xykon? I'm not entirely sure he cares enough to bother figuring it out.Possibly, but I think Alex's theory that a lot of the effort of the original architects was in figuring out that the gate was necessary holds just as much water. I'm wondering if Xykon could figure it out.Interesting thought: How hard is it to build a new gate?Considering the architects of the previous ones?
Epicly.
There's only one gate left. Should it be destroyed, he would probably care. If he looks forward even a little bit, he would care now.
Xykon? I'm not entirely sure he cares enough to bother figuring it out.There's only one gate left. Should it be destroyed, he would probably care. If he looks forward even a little bit, he would care now.
That's a pretty big "if", honestly. Xykon is pretty clever. He's extremely knowledgeable. He's also petty, cruel, and often short-sighted and careless.
That's not to say that he doesn't care. That's not to say that he doesn't know. That's not to say that he won't do anything.
But he's been caught by surprise enough before that I'm not sure that he cares enough to figure out how to rebuild the gates. I'm not sure that he'll bother to care.
He's savvy enough to know that his strings are being pulled. I suspect he knows and understands more than Redcloak thinks he does. But Xykon's big thing is that he just doesn't care. He's powerful. He's a lich. He's only interested in himself. And he often doesn't care when he should.
That said, it's possible that he's learned his lesson. But my point is only that I'm not sure he'll bother.
Anyone notice Tarquin has a Psion... He might not need the book to learn how to build the gate...
So.
That's... not what I expected.
Well played, Rich. Well played.
EDIT: looks like Nale did use up his local supply of competence after all.
Spoiler:
Wow. Well done Mr. Burlew.