Not to be a jerk, but did you even read the comic? Because it makes it really clear at the end.
[Webcomic] The Order of the Stick thread
- Thread starter Piotyr
- Start date
North_Ranger
Staff member
I had to admit,
I was thrown off by Redcloak having an eyepatch. I didn't think Vaarsuvius or O-Chul would have considered that a worthwhile tactical detail to share with the others.
But yeah, mind trap all the way.
But yeah, mind trap all the way.
I thought maybe Xykon had gotten off a last-second spell or something.
North_Ranger
Staff member
You don't worry about dead teammates or their housecats when there's an undead, epic-level lich about to melt your face for shits and giggles.
It's not about worrying about them, it's about this being the best outcome for the characters. Is it just Roy's best outcome? Will we see the best outcome for the others?
Someone who gets it. If this is an illusion showing only his fantasies, why wouldn't Roy have a scenario where all his party members survive?
I think it's more an issue of believability. Roy isn't likely to believe this illusion if Xykon just rolls over and dies, so there's actually gotta be some fight to it. And he knows that Belkar has been drained of all but his few remaining hit points.
So we get a scenario where in order for the illusion to feel correct, Xykon attacks the party with a high-level spell, and Belkar's single measly hit point certainly isn't going to survive it. Dead.
So we get a scenario where in order for the illusion to feel correct, Xykon attacks the party with a high-level spell, and Belkar's single measly hit point certainly isn't going to survive it. Dead.
Then why not kill Belkar himself? Or expel him from the group? Why keep him around anyway?
There's a big difference between hating someone (or in my view more accurate: grudgingly having that person around) and wanting him dead.
I think there's a lot of conjecture necessary to determine this is Roy's fantasy scenario. What we do know for sure:
1 - This is an illusion
2 - Roy (and Haley also) is expecting Belkar to die soon, and has been for a while
3 - Roy's (and everyone else's) ultimate goal here is to defeat Xykon
1 - This is an illusion
2 - Roy (and Haley also) is expecting Belkar to die soon, and has been for a while
3 - Roy's (and everyone else's) ultimate goal here is to defeat Xykon
It could also be that he's still incredibly angry at Belkar and blames him for Durkon's death. So seeing him get killed, but not by his hands, might be part of his "best case scenario."
North_Ranger
Staff member
And maybe the illusion spell is smart enough to make the illusion appear believable - not the best possible outcome, but a good outcome with acceptable losses. Kinda like in the Matrix (before those sucky sequels): the original Matrix was an earthly paradise, but the human harvest disbelieved the illusion, so they made a more crap-sacky version to keep up the illusion.
I get the feeling the real ending we'll see to this comic will be much more bitter than this. 
North_Ranger
Staff member
Okay, that was creepy as all hell.
Not really. The Order wouldn't necessarily know her fate.
North_Ranger
Staff member
V and O-Chul were there when Redcloak lost his membership in the People With Depth Perception Club.
So... no plot hole.
Plus, his eyepatch is purposely on the wrong eye.
Dave
Staff member
North_Ranger
Staff member
Well played, O cerebrally challenged one. Well played.
I love that Elan was the one to figure it out or break the spell. Those Bard storytelling skills never fail.