The OotS thread

[Serafina]

....that explains a lot, especially about Nales plans
Tough i guess his mothers plans were somewhat more..effective.

[Crazedwraith]

Thog! We have a Thog! Who looks very happy at being bitten by a Dragon Empress. This is the best comic in ages!

Tough i guess his mothers plans were somewhat more..effective.

Either that or the other servers are just sensible enough to ignore them.

[Archaic`]

"First wife", he said. There's going to be half-brothers and/or sisters, isn't there?

[Jade Owl]

"First wife", he said. There's going to be half-brothers and/or sisters, isn't there?

That or an Evil Stepmother. Which come to think about it, would probably be a better match as a wife for Tarquin. Being evil and all.

I find it funny that they both got their parents characteristics. Nale might not admit it, but he also tends toward the dramatic in his actions, and Elan has been known to lean towards overcomplicated plans himself.

[Stormin]

I wonder what's going to happen when the rest of the group bursts in killing and laying waste to rescue their friends. Hosts kind of object to that sort of thing.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Like Haley hasn't already done that?

[Molyneux]

Like Haley hasn't already done that?

They are evil. Losing a few minions isn't much for a dragon to agonize over, especially when it was all a mistake...though I could always be mistaken myself.

[Solauren]

Like Haley hasn't already done that?

They are evil. Losing a few minions isn't much for a dragon to agonize over, especially when it was all a mistake...though I could always be mistaken myself.

Just explain to the dragon that she gets to eat the dead minions now, and that will get her closer to spellcasting.

Which, technically speaking, isn't a lie. After all, the time spent eating will get her closer to spellcasting age.

[Raesene]

726 is up

A gentleman of the old school, but at least five wifes - is he Henry VIII ?

[Crossroads Inc.]

Five wives?

I think its Really time to ask what happened to them all....

[Crazedwraith]

Everyone admire Haley's perky eyes.

[Ilya Muromets]

726 is up

A gentleman of the old school, but at least five wifes - is he Henry VIII ?

I thought Henry had six?

Not surprisingly, ethical concerns cannot overcome the siren's lure of a triceratops ride.

Even Haley's perky eyes would still face tough competition in that.

[Raesene]

726 is up

A gentleman of the old school, but at least five wifes - is he Henry VIII ?

I thought Henry had six?

True, Henry VIII had six wifes, Tarquin had at least five wifes - but note he spoke of his fifth wife in the past, Elan and Nale might have had more ex-stepmothers...

Not surprisingly, ethical concerns cannot overcome the siren's lure of a triceratops ride.

Even Haley's perky eyes would still face tough competition in that.

The bounty hunter got me thinking, Haley and Elan should both be able to utilize scolls via 'Use Magic Device', so Teleport-scolls should not be out of their league anymore, too. The risk would be low, but the gain vast.

[Solauren]

Dinosaur Rides, the ultimate way to make up for years of abuse, abandonment and neglict!

I'm willing to bet the ex-wives were all part of political marriages. You know 'General, in exchange for your help conquering my kindgom, I give you this woman....'

The Divorce occured around the same time the General switched sides.

[Lord of the Abyss]

Even Haley's perky eyes would still face tough competition in that.

Speaking of perky orbs, I like the title; "Mammals Can't Seem to Get Enough of Those Things". So true...

[Serafina]

727 is up!

Soo, who said bards were useless?

[Crazedwraith]

Hmm. Obvious delaying tactics anyone? What is Tarquin really up to? And when is he going to bust of the evil? Aside from having his ninth wife disappeared that is.

[Solauren]

Well, we know that

#1 - The 'Empress of Blood' is a figure head, and it's Tarquin and the Lizardman running the show.
#2 - Tarquin is not a good guy, but we have no definate proof he's evil.
#3 - Tarquin's wives disappear under mysterious circumstances.
#4 - The entire region they are in is a warzone with yearly regime changes (the Empress of Blood has held up for 2 or 3 years it seems)
#5 - Tarquin described Draketooth very well. He obviously knows him, and possibly how to get ahold of him
#6 - Someone was scrying on the group after they set off Draketooth's trap.

Notice the name. Draketooth.

My theory
Draketooth is the man behind the throne, with Tarquin and the Lizard running things in front. The Empire of Blood is an eleborate illusion / cover to protect the gate.

When Draketooth scryed on the OOTS, he saw Elan, thought it was Nale, and then he and Tarquin figured out the truth. So, they post, or repost, a bounty to get Elan and some OOTS members brought in, without them realising it. This allows Draketooth to investigate the group, without it being obvious.

This might seem a bit 'huh', but remember this;

The trap the Order set off alerted Draketooth and others. If I was Draketooth, after seing it wasn't Sapphrie Guards that set off the trap, I'd be scrying on the Sapphire guard to find out what's going on. Then I run straight into the Clostier effect. Puzzled, I'd try to contact the other members of the 'Order of the Scribe'. In the process, I'd that in addition to someone looking for my gate, and the Azure City gate being warded by magic instead of the Sapphire guard, that two other gates are now gone.

I'd want information, and I'd want it fast. Bringing in someone is the best way to get it.

Oh, and 10 gp says during the festivities, Haley does some snooping and finds her dad in the basement or something.

[Spekio]

Only we know he is Lawful Evil since he was first mentioned in the dungeon of dorukan?
Elan´s mother is CG. Check the divorce reason.

[Archaic`]

Only we know he is Lawful Evil since he was first mentioned in the dungeon of dorukan?
Elan´s mother is CG. Check the divorce reason.

Do we know that was the truth though? Or that he hasn't had a subsequent alignment change?

[Solauren]

Only we know he is Lawful Evil since he was first mentioned in the dungeon of dorukan?
Elan´s mother is CG. Check the divorce reason.

Do we know that was the truth though? Or that he hasn't had a subsequent alignment change?

Since the alignment information came from Nale, I'd take it with a grain of salt.

Maybe more Lawful Neutral.

[Rogue 9]

Only we know he is Lawful Evil since he was first mentioned in the dungeon of dorukan?
Elan´s mother is CG. Check the divorce reason.

Do we know that was the truth though? Or that he hasn't had a subsequent alignment change?

Since the alignment information came from Nale, I'd take it with a grain of salt.

Maybe more Lawful Neutral.

Just because he's not being blatantly cruel to them at this particular moment doesn't mean he's not evil. He's got no reason to be actively evil to them at this particular moment, but that doesn't mean he'd be unwilling to given cause or provocation.

[Solauren]

Maybe more Lawful Neutral.

Just because he's not being blatantly cruel to them at this particular moment doesn't mean he's not evil. He's got no reason to be actively evil to them at this particular moment, but that doesn't mean he'd be unwilling to given cause or provocation.

Very true, and I'm not dismissing the possiblity of him being Lawful Evil. However, since the information came from Nale, I'm holding in as 'suspect until verified by reliable sources'.

[Archaic`]

It's worth considering the fact that Elan's mother is perhaps his only ex-wife who he actually divorced, given the fates that the rest seem to have met.

[Tritio]

I wonder why the title of the strip is "And It Will Never Work Again", which I take to be a reference to Haley's comment that Elan tripped over the main plot again. Seems to be a little foreboding.