OotS 357

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, Rich has said pretty explicitly that he's going to kill members of the Order. It's an open question, as far as I know, if he's going to do that at the end of the strip or prior to that. I can see arguments for each way of doing it.

 

[Hawkshere]

Belkar's days have been numbered ever since they saw the oracle, who recommended that he savor his next birthday, and not bother funding his IRA. (#329)

However, before he gets its (or more probably, when he gets it), he kills one or more of the following: Miko, 'Miko's stupid horse', Roy, or Vaarsuvius. (#331)

Here's hoping its Belkar vs. Miko rematch-deathmatch...

I did like today's title: Pen Beats Sword.

 

[Sejs]

Could it be Rich went and used the "paladin as Belkar's opposite" idea on us even without Miko, sneaking it in under the radar by making the character a kobold? Read his dialogue again in this light and see if you don't agree. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this kobold character survives the adventurer attack somehow (next on Fox: "When Adventurers ATTACK!") and shows up again later in the plot.

He's no paladin - a paladin would lose status by associating with the Linear Guild for one thing. Nah, his character base? We all know what that kobold is. A swashbuckler.


Anyway, from the strip itself, I did particularly like the "threatens nearby halfling". Not halfling settlement, just the one halfling.

 

[babomb]

I'm impressed by how neatly he can write while running! And without a hard surface to write on either.

 

[Dracorat]

High dex ftw.

 

[Agent Oracle]

... 18 dex kobold: + however many levels/4 + weapon finesse + rapier...

- a couple hundred 1st level adventurers...

 

[Krel]

Honestly, I don't think Belkar will die. Rich has spent so much time developing his character, I, personally, think it would be a complete waste to kill him off so early. Maybe at very end of the comics, but now....no. He provides some of the best humor, especially with the tension that has developed between him and V, Miko, and, frankly, almost every character.

 

[Ry]

I disagree. I wouldn't be surprised if Belkar was executed for his crimes shortly after he stole a 5000gp+ value diamond.

 

[Sejs]

I disagree. I wouldn't be surprised if Belkar was executed for his crimes shortly after he stole a 5000gp+ value diamond.

Nope, you're looking at it in the wrong way - you don't kill off a character people love to hate, or is otherwise unsympathetic. Has no impact. People's reaction will just be 'eh, oh well' or 'I never liked him anyway'. The characters you kill off are the ones people develop an attachment to. For character death to work as a literary device it has to impart a real sense of loss. It has to feel like a punch to the stomach.

Belkar's pretty much safe by virtue of being an insufferable little prick. Elan, on the other hand, is written to be lovable and thus is potentially at risk.

 

[WarlockLord]

I hope Miko dies! She's insufferable!

It would be a good time for a strip guest starring Razravkar, my drow wizard.