THE OotS Thread, Part V

[The Grim Squeaker]

It has been an incredibly long time since we saw any strip with Xylon in it

[Ralin]

It has been an incredibly long time since we saw any strip with Xylon in it

Burlew is particularly good at pacing. Which makes his update speed even more frustrating than it would be otherwise.

[Bedlam]

Well unless he really throws a curveball it looks like the Order will probably take down Team Nale but be left so weakened that Xylon turns up and wipes the floor with them. An alternative is that it ends up with a Nale vs Xylon battle with the Order sneaking away in the background, although in that situation I would again assume that Team Nale would be weakened enough to loose fairly easily.

[Ralin]

Well unless he really throws a curveball it looks like the Order will probably take down Team Nale but be left so weakened that Xylon turns up and wipes the floor with them. An alternative is that it ends up with a Nale vs Xylon battle with the Order sneaking away in the background, although in that situation I would again assume that Team Nale would be weakened enough to loose fairly easily.

Or they manage to capitalize on their alpha strike enough smack the Order down, then have Nale very deliberately spare them and say "See, this proves I'm not here to kill you because if I was I would have killed you just now."

Alternately, this is how they take Sereni off the board by capturing her or striking a deal of their own with her. Both of which have issues but are possibilities.

[Crazedwraith]

1341 is up

midfight scene page. Will work fine when collected, not especially exciting on it's own.

-

eta:
Oh the last one posted in this thread was 1339 so in the month the board was down we missed... one strip

[Chaelos]

I'm always surprised OOTS is still kicking. Pleasantly surprised, admittedly, but surprised nonetheless.

[Rogue 9]

1342 is up.

[Rogue 9]

1343 is up.

[LadyTevar]

So.. is he going to leap down and save them or what?

[Crazedwraith]

Elan managed to pull V and Mr Scruffy after him. Whoops.

[Solauren]

I don't think Elan is supposed to kill any of the Order members yet.

I think he's just supposed to screw with them.

After all, he might be powerful now, but the fiends have to realize they need all the firepower on hand to deal with Redcloak and his party.
After all, that Modron that's with Redcloak and Xyklon, could present a serious problem on it's own. Toss in an Epic level Lich and near Epic Cleric, and yeah....

[Ralin]

I don't think Elan is supposed to kill any of the Order members yet.

I think he's just supposed to screw with them.

After all, he might be powerful now, but the fiends have to realize they need all the firepower on hand to deal with Redcloak and his party.
After all, that Modron that's with Redcloak and Xyklon, could present a serious problem on it's own. Toss in an Epic level Lich and near Epic Cleric, and yeah....

It's entirely possible that his goal for this encounter was to beat them half to death, then go "I haven't killed you. That proves I don't want to kill you. Now listen to my plan."

At a glance it seems like they're deliberately refraining from killing Durkon when they could have done so.

[Crazedwraith]

I don't think Elan is supposed to kill any of the Order members yet.

I think he's just supposed to screw with them.

After all, he might be powerful now, but the fiends have to realize they need all the firepower on hand to deal with Redcloak and his party.
After all, that Modron that's with Redcloak and Xyklon, could present a serious problem on it's own. Toss in an Epic level Lich and near Epic Cleric, and yeah....

Yah mean Nale? Elan has taken a good swing at V. (Lucky for them they are invincible until the IFCC time runs out)

Nale doesn't need the firepower to beat Redcloak and his party, they simply need to reach the gate first and crash-o-smash-o end of the world.

[Ralin]

Nale doesn't need the firepower to beat Redcloak and his party, they simply need to reach the gate first and crash-o-smash-o end of the world.

Clearly Nale disagrees. As demonstrated by him dicking around with the Order.

[Solauren]

Also, consider how we've seen the Gates destroyed.

It's always been a good character that did it.

The first gate - Treants pulling wards apart while on fire
Second Gate - Elan activated self-destruct
Third Gate - ex-Paladin with a Katana
Fourth Gate - Roy with his sword

They might need a good character to smash the gate.

Now, another consideration.
What if the fiends know about the discussion between Redcloak and Durkon? What if they knew the gods need Redcloak to seal the rifts?

That would support keeping the Order alive. As tools.
Have the order help kill Redcloak + co.
Then, one mind spell on Roy, and Roy destroys the world by smashing the last gate.

Or they could have something else up their unholy sleeves.

It's also inline with Nale to do something, and then screw up his own plans, so....

[Ralin]

Also Nale hated the archfiends, who strong-armed him into doing this with threats and violence. He's unlikely to carry out their plan as stated without some attempt at vengeance.