OotS 406

[Victim]

Edit: Oh, and incidentally, she is right that Shojo should not be running the country. If he wanted the services of the Order of the Stick, there are a great many ways that that could be achieved that would not have required him to make a mockery of the lawful structure of their society. Shojo has probably done irreprable damage to the fabric of that society by his actions, a fact that Roy (himself LG) was rightly outraged at when he found out about it. However, what is required in that society is a very public enquiry, governmental reform, and the replacement of Shojo - all of which Miko has rendered impossible. Summary execution renders the damage permanent, since whatever happens next will sound like 'coup d'etat' and 'cover up' to outside observers.

What makes you think that the society is lawful good? Sapphire Guard /= Azure City. Remember that the Guard is basically secret, so mapping its values on to that of the society as a whole is especially going to be problematic. Where exactly is the lawful structure in a society with whimsical laws like meatloaf day, and plotting nobles with assassins?

Certainly, he's not the right person to head up the Sapphire Guard, but that's the problem you get with making the leader of an order of pallies and clerics a hereditary position. And amazingly enough, non paladins don't have to follow the paladin code. It's not going to be illegal for them not to do so.

 

[paradox42]

The idea of Miko joining the Linear Guild after they reveal themselves to be enemies of the OotS, having her "peaceful contact with an Evil Outsider" in the form of Sabine, and gaining powers as a Blackguard, is definitely where I see the tale of Miko going next- it's too perfect a setup for Rich not to take advantage of it (or have scripted it this way from the start). The one gotcha here is that it'll have to be before the Linear Guild gets placed in the anti-magic cells, because once that happens Sabine is stuck in fiendish form and Miko won't listen to her.

The question is- when will we get to see it? I don't think it'll happen next week, since I suspect the next few comics will be a cut scene to show Xykon and the army invading. It's the perfect time for Rich to leave readers in suspense, squirming or howling for blood depending on who it is.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I'd remind everyone that Shojo and his casters tried summon a real Celestial. Roy's father interceded, and only then made his deal with Shojo.

Just something to keep in mind when debating his alignment and methods.

Good point. Roy's dad is hardly an evil figure either, but he's working behind the scenes to direct Shojo. There's not much room for Shojo to be evil between his attempt to get advice from a celestial and his actual gaining of advice from Roy's father.

 

[orsal]

Lets not forget that Miko also said that she knew the OOTS were working for Xykon. And how did she come to this conclusion? Xykon told her. And she chose to believe a friggin Lich. Why? Because she wants to believe him.

When did Xykon ever say, or even imply, that OotS was working for him? All he said revealed is that they had not destroyed him and that he had encountered "Bluepommel and his buddies". Moreover, he revealed his not having been destroyed not by anything he said, but merely by presenting himself in undestroyed state. The rest was Miko's Abundant Stepping to conclusions. OotS had spoken untruly; therefore, they had willingly lied; therefore, their purpose was deceitful; therefore, they were in league with Xykon.

 

[jeffh]

Shojo has probably done irreprable damage to the fabric of that society by his actions.

What the hell does that mean?

I've heard this sort of phrase bandied about before, but it's so vague and metaphorical that not only do I have no idea what it's actually supposed to be telling me, but I can't help but suspect that people who use it don't either. What is "the fabric of that society" and, in concrete terms, how does one damage it, irreparably or otherwise? What, in specific and literal terms, is it you're accusing Shojo of here, exactly?

 

[Maggan]

The one thing I keep thinking is ...

This is how Anakin Skywalker should have fallen to the Dark Side.

I think this storyline really shows how someone can become and do evil while at the same time telling themselves they're doing good.

/M

 

[Scorpion13]

When did Xykon ever say, or even imply, that OotS was working for him? All he said revealed is that they had not destroyed him and that he had encountered "Bluepommel and his buddies". Moreover, he revealed his not having been destroyed not by anything he said, but merely by presenting himself in undestroyed state. The rest was Miko's Abundant Stepping to conclusions. OotS had spoken untruly; therefore, they had willingly lied; therefore, their purpose was deceitful; therefore, they were in league with Xykon.

Man, youre right. I must have remembered it wrong.


Ah well. She's all the more damned, then.

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

Uh oh... Miko and the succubus...

OK, am I the only perv who read this and for the first time wished this wasn't a stick figure comic?

 

[Andor]

OK, am I the only perv who read this and for the first time wished this wasn't a stick figure comic?

Miko and Belkar = Disturbing Mental Image

Miko and Sabine = slash fanfic

Belkar and Sabine = Wrongness cubed

 

[delericho]

What the hell does that mean?

Okay, I hope this is going to make sense... and I hope it doesn't get too political.

The reason we have court systems is that sometimes folks who are accused of crimes aren't guilty of those crimes. This should be obvious. So, instead of rushing to judgement, we have a process whereby evidence is gathered and presented, and weighed carefully (by a jury of one's peers in the UK and US, but by celestial forces in OotS). Then, sentence is passed, which can result in an acquital or condemnation.

This is all well and good, but it only works if the powers-that-be play 'by the rules'. If, instead, they engage in show-trials, having prejudged the situation, then they make a mockery of justice. If the public are aware of this, they lose faith in the system, and law breaks down - since in reality there is no justice, and so no reason not to stab your neighbour, provided he doesn't have any great influence.

On the other hand, if the 'powers-that-be' are succeptible to corruption, and instead acquit criminals who should be found guilty (or happen to 'lose' evidence, or have the jury replaced by the ghostly remains of the father of the accused), then again they make mockery of justice. And, again, the public lose faith in the system, and law breaks down - only this time you can stab your neighbour if you have sufficient influence.

And, of course, the Order of the Stick actually were guilty of the crime they were accused of, they just didn't know it.

In any event, if Shojo wanted the services of the Order of the Stick, he could very easily have sent them some sort of message that would have compelled them to come. Instead, he had them dragged back in chains, and went through with a 'trial' which has now been revealed to be a fraud. This sets a precedent for trials in the land not being fair... and also raises a very important question - if this trial was rigged, how many others have been? How many other murderers have been set free when they should have been executed, but who were convenient agents for the government? How many innocent men have been executed because they knew something they shouldn't? And what happens next time?

It is a very, very dangerous precedent Shojo has set.