The OotS thread

[Ender]

So what is y'all's take on this return of Lord Shojo? Hallucination, curse fragment, figment of the imagination, or returned spirit? I think it is the last. While in 606 he says he is probably just a figment of the imagination, he then follows it up talking about his perspective after he died. Seeing as how Belkar hasn't died, it would be hard for his imagination to make that comparison. Further, the point of this is that Belkar is one dimensional and not prone to introspection, so he wouldn't have made that connection in the first place. I think it is a spirit visit because it would be keeping with Shojo's character. As Roy pointed out, Shojo was about the only person actually trying to fix the problem. Returning to help Belkar like that aids that cause. Keeping someone as skilled (his skills may be limited to being a psychopathic serial killer but he is very good at it) as Belkar an active member of the order increases the chances of the Order's success. If Belkar doesn't change, he is going to be booted out. Further, getting rid of the MoJ increases his use, as he is no longer defenseless in a city. His return now also precludes further fragmentation of the group, as he can save Haley and help get Roy's corpse back. Returning Belkar to active duty does a lot to save the world, and since that was Shojo's motivation it would be consistent. It isn't like he had any qualms about who he threw in with so long as the job got done, so he won't resist helping Belkar like a paladin would. Plus, as said, Belkar is caring for Mr. Scruffy.

Though this recent run has reminded me how much the strip lost when Shojo died. His death was important for a large number of reasons, but still, he was a great character and provided a lot of laughs. EG: Making the head paladin/chief of staff clean out the litterbox

[Grandmaster Jogurt]

This moment was the best Shojo moment for me.

Also, reading back through the Belkar/Shojo interaction, is #610 the first time we've seen Belkar's alignment stated outright?

Anyway, about the "what is the vision of Shojo" idea, if it is Shojo himself, how is he talking with Belkar? Is it through Mr. Scruffy (it might explain why the cat's in all the crazy imagery)? Spirits talking with people outside of magical spells seems fairly rare, and Eugene could only talk with Roy through the family's sword and Eugene also has the whole Blood Oath thing. The other possibility I can think of would be through the Mark, but programming in "can talk with recipient after I die" seems like a strange thing to put in, unless it was put in specifically for Belkar. Shojo was pretty old when he placed it and Belkar is fairly important.

[Ender]

This moment was the best Shojo moment for me.

Also, reading back through the Belkar/Shojo interaction, is #610 the first time we've seen Belkar's alignment stated outright?

We've known he is chaotic since they were at the Inn, and that he was evil since the first few strips. But this is the first time it was said together.

Anyway, about the "what is the vision of Shojo" idea, if it is Shojo himself, how is he talking with Belkar? Is it through Mr. Scruffy (it might explain why the cat's in all the crazy imagery)? Spirits talking with people outside of magical spells seems fairly rare, and Eugene could only talk with Roy through the family's sword and Eugene also has the whole Blood Oath thing. The other possibility I can think of would be through the Mark, but programming in "can talk with recipient after I die" seems like a strange thing to put in, unless it was put in specifically for Belkar. Shojo was pretty old when he placed it and Belkar is fairly important.

If not Mr Scruffy (and I don't see why the cat couldn't serve the same link as the sword) there is the possibility that someone upstairs is bending the rules for him similar to how Roy's Archon did. Or even more likely, he is following his own advice and cheating and did something to dodge the rules (perhaps similar to what Eugene did) when he oversaw the trial.

This of course calls into question why the gods aren't taking overt action to rub out Team Evil - Tiger got pissy at Thor for giving extra aid to Durkon. Given that their own existence is at stake I would expect a more proactive role. Perhaps this, The Dark One, and Belkar's Prophecy will all coincide. When Belkar draws his last breath, he ascends and literally becomes the God of War. Since he probably has goblins as his favored enemy (ok, he probably has "things that move" as his favored enemy) his being a rival to TDO would make sense.

[Solauren]

I keep meaning to go over to the Giantip forums, get an account, and then download all the custom material to add to my campaigns data files.

Keep forgetting to do it....

Oh yeah, and I have to say it;

Why no BANJO (Banjthulhu) love?

Clearly, the entire thing with Shojo are Belkar is the benevelent deity Banjo, working his will!
After all, we did see Belkar giving him a sacrifice early in the comics.

Perhaps Belkar will ascend to godhood with Banjo as his sponser?

[avatarxprime]

I'm thinking it's some kind of homebrew, like the spell over the Azure City Throne Room that let the dead paladins fight. Part of the Mark (or just Belkar's specific MoJ) let's Shojo talk to him in a one-time-only deal as a contingency plan, especially given the fact that the direction of the conversation and Belkar's eventual answer all pertained to the matter at hand given Roy's talk about needing to find a path.

[Ted C]

I'm a long time fan. I'm looking forward to a killing spree in #611.

[open_sketchbook]

Ooh, Order of the Stick. Not only one of my favorite webcomics, but I draw a fancomic in the same style using the events of one of my Dark Heresy campaigns. It's the third webcomic I own in print and one I follow religiously, and it got me into D&D again. There really isn't enough good things to say about it.

[NecronLord]

So what is y'all's take on this return of Lord Shojo? Hallucination, curse fragment, figment of the imagination, or returned spirit?

"Who Are You? Who Are You? Who Are You?" it's Vorlon Intercession. Well, it reminded me of those in B5, quite a bit.

More seriously, I'd bet it's the real Shojo somehow. Not quite sure how, though.

[Samuel]

Ooh, Order of the Stick. Not only one of my favorite webcomics, but I draw a fancomic in the same style using the events of one of my Dark Heresy campaigns. It's the third webcomic I own in print and one I follow religiously, and it got me into D&D again. There really isn't enough good things to say about it.

What is your favorite?

[Ender]

611 is up. RETURN OF THE KING BABY!

[Ender]

HA! I just noticed Mr Scruffy killed the dwarf!

[Ford Prefect]

Frankly, that was better than Belkar has ever been before. The Bond-like instant seduction was quite amusing.

[Grandmaster Jogurt]

HA! I just noticed Mr Scruffy killed the dwarf!

To be fair, a dagger into the cranium helped.

[Molyneux]

That's...just...neat.

Man, this has been a good day for stick-figure comics. We finally get to see Marena's DBT, and now Belkar kicks some serious butt...now we just need XKCD to declare war on Abstruse Goose and it'll be perfect!

[Stormbringer]

So what is y'all's take on this return of Lord Shojo? Hallucination, curse fragment, figment of the imagination, or returned spirit?

I think he probably gave himself a way to appear to Belkar. It seems like the kind of thing he'd have put in place to keep the Belkster in line. Shojo was pretty perceptive and I could easily see him arranging this. It wouldn't even be the most far-fetched thing he's done either.

611 is up. RETURN OF THE KING BABY!

Bah. Belkar is nothing less than a sexy shoeless god of war. Do not insult his divinity.

HA! I just noticed Mr Scruffy killed the dwarf!

I think that settles the debate whether he's Belkar's animal companion or not.

[Ender]

I like how in panel 4, the words "in danger" and "Belkar" are the clearest words there and you see Belkar rising up out of the mist.

[avatarxprime]

HA! I just noticed Mr Scruffy killed the dwarf!

To be fair, a dagger into the cranium helped.

Mr. Scruffy also took the caster down, Belkar just came in and finished him off.

That was a truly awesome sequence of carnage, quite evocative of Belkar's run through the hobgoblin's in 439. I can't wait to see Haley and Roy's reactions to Belkar being the one to save the day.

[Vehrec]

Oots really plays fast and loose with a lot of the rules in the interest of a slightly hightened level of realism and a much higher level AWESOME.

Seriously. And the best is yet to come, just wait until he finds the guild leader..

[LadyTevar]

Shit, you're right, Mr. Scruffy did do serious damage to the dwarf and the caster.

But the best part is the kiss ... which didn't even pause as he threw killing daggers at the next thief.


Sexy Shoeless God of War, indeed.

[Solauren]

He just slaughters 11 of her friends and co-workers, but he's cool enough and a good enough kisser, she's practically BEGGING him for more.

All hail Belkar! The Sexy Shoeless God of War!

I offer you this tribute, by not wearing shoes at work today! (I still have my socks on, and if I leave my cubical, I put my office shoes on, but still!)

[Ender]

And someone pointed out to me that in the last panel one of the bottle of moonshine is missing - Belkar likely took it with him.

Remember his motto - "When in doubt, set something on fire"

[Jaevric]

And someone pointed out to me that in the last panel one of the bottle of moonshine is missing - Belkar likely took it with him.

Remember his motto - "When in doubt, set something on fire"

He was drinking one of the bottles on his way out the door in the second-to-last frame as the cleric cast Cure Critical wounds on him. I assumed it was a healing potion at first then looked again and saw the XXX label.

Can't blame him, I'd be thirsty after all those acrobatics myself.

[The Defenestrator]

Did anyone else notice that the last person he killed looks a lot like Craig!James Bond? That might just be a coincidence.

[Samuel]

Did anyone else notice that the last person he killed looks a lot like Craig!James Bond? That might just be a coincidence.

Craig has brown hair, while the guy he killed was blond.

[Lord of the Abyss]

Glad to see Belkar on his feet and killing again.

This moment was the best Shojo moment for me.

Also, reading back through the Belkar/Shojo interaction, is #610 the first time we've seen Belkar's alignment stated outright?

We've known he is chaotic since they were at the Inn, and that he was evil since the first few strips. But this is the first time it was said together.

Nope. He's stated to be Chaotic Evil in # 489. The one where it's said that without Roy's influence Belkar would be worse than "the hypothetical offspring of Cruella deVille and Sauron". Heh.