OotS 464

[carborundum]

Wow - that was a surprise.

Soon turned out to be a remarkably patient, compassionate chap, and I wonder where Miko will go - she's hardly likely to bump into Roy, is she? He'll be in LG heaven for sure, while she... couldn't be.

I read it one line at a time, scrolling carefully to keep the ending out of me peripherals, and that zoom was impressive and awful! I felt a kick of sympathy and regret, anyway.
(Could be 'cause I'm reading it fresh and first thing in the morning and not late & jaded after a day of interwebbing.)

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I'm happy to see the end of Miko but I still thought it was a sad ending.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Felix]

He'll be in LG heaven for sure, while she... couldn't be.

To fall Miko only had to commit one Evil act; she doesn't have to change her alignment.

At least, not necessarily.

 

[DreadArchon]

Ding, dong, the witch is dead!
Which old witch?
The sodding barmy witch!
She rolled bad on her Evasion and blew herself to bits! Huzzah!
...
... Wait, wasn't I singing at the start of that?


You know, much as I disliked her, I hope that she really enjoys her afterlife. (That'll stop her from being rez'ed.)

 

[Baron Opal]

Wow, that was actually a touch moving.

Indeed, she needs to remain as she is. Anything further would ruin it.

She fell due to pride, but she never lost her allegiance to her gods or her country. Even though she couldn't maintain the high standards of paladin-hood, she would never succumb to true evil.

A poignant end to a sad story.

 

[Nyeshet]

I would sort of like to see Miko and Roy get into one last argument on the Astral Plane or wherever.

An interesting idea actually. It would allow a brief return of the character without actually raising her.

I tend to agree with those who think that this was a good ending for Miko. I also like that atonement did not come with forgiveness, as there should be a distinction between the two - something which some DMs seem to forget.

As for Belkar's foretold killings, I'm guessing that Miko and (or, at least) Roy were the ones the oracle foretold. Roy certainly would not have died had he not gone after Xycon - which he couldn't have without the ring Belkar offered him immediately before (on a bet, if I recall correctly). Miko's death is more indirectly connected to Belkar - so distant I think it possible hers might not count.

But if Miko's death does not count, then that means that sometime in the future Belkar will kill (or, more accurately, be responsible for the death of) Varsuvius, as s/he is the only remaining eligible target other than the oracle (Miko and her horse no longer present, Roy having already been slain once). Some how I cannot see the oracle being the one to die (although stranger things have happened in this series, I'll admit). If Miko was the foretold death, then either this was the foretold death - albeit very indirectly, or she will come back later. (Perhaps if she is offered a Raise she'll take it in the hopes of redemption and a return to Paladin-hood. Who knows, after weeks or months in the afterlife she may very well have a very different view of things, especially after several visits from her (former) mount, maybe a visit or two from/with one of the 12 gods, meeting with several deceased friends / relatives, and so forth. It is certainly possible, at least.)

 

[Storyteller01]

I'm having a devil of a time trying to get a link to work. Does anyone know something that might help.

 

[Celebrim]

Wow - that was a surprise.

Soon turned out to be a remarkably patient, compassionate chap...

It annoys me that those two thoughts, intentionally or unintentionally, fall together.

It ought to stand to reason that Soon would be a remarkably, even super-humanly, patient compassionate chap. You don't make it to a 20th level paladin if you've got serious character flaws. In fact, the most difficult thing for me to except about Miko is that she could have managed to be a Paladin as long as she did to reach such a high level.

But then again, this is 3.X. She might have been 1st level last week game time.

and I wonder where Miko will go - she's hardly likely to bump into Roy, is she? He'll be in LG heaven for sure, while she... couldn't be.

Soon certainly suggests that she will. I very much get the impression she'll be expected to spend some time meditating on her failings, but I don't get the impression that she's fallen so far as to be damned.

 

[Joker]

I'm having a devil of a time trying to get a link to work. Does anyone know something that might help.

Patience .

 

[Drowbane]

holy crap...

only on the second reading did I notice that Miko, through death/dying, finally had the wisdom to notice she had Fallen.