Order of the Stick 551 up

[brehobit]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0551.html

I hate running gags...

 

[Masquerade]

Meh. This one's a builder.

 

[Felix]

Meh. This one's a builder.

Rich builds a joke by laying bricks of AWESOME.

 

[Stalker0]

I didn't understand what Elan meant. can someone enlighten me?

 

[Pbartender]

I didn't understand what Elan meant. can someone enlighten me?

In Media Res, literally, "Into the Middle of Things". It's when a dramatic scene begins in the middle of the story, usually during intense action, and then later describes the events leading up to the current situation using flashbacks or exposition. Pulp Fiction is a very good example of a movie that begins in media res.

Often, DMs use a similar technique by beginning an adventure with "Roll Initiative". Only afterward explaining retroactively how the PCs got into the mess in the first place.

In this strip, we return to see Elan and his companions immediately being chased by a band of hostile orcs... That's the "Awww, man! I hate it when a scene begins "in media res"!"

It will take a couple of strips to resolve the current conflict, before Rich will get a chance to "flashback" and tell us what's happened to Elan and others since the last time we saw them. Rich is hanging a lampshade on it through Elan... "I never know what's going on until like two strips later!"

 

[freyar]

Let's guess: looking for food for the refugees? Or a place to live? I think Hinjo was talking about that last time we saw this group.

 

[Greylock]

Wow. I'd almost forgotten what Elan and the other short guy, the non-stabby stabby one, whats-his-face, look like.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Poor turtle! And somebody has seemingly played Savage Tide recently!

Cheers, LT.

 

[SPoD]

And somebody has seemingly played Savage Tide recently!

How so? Is there a reference there?

 

[moritheil]

Meh. This one's a builder.

Yes, although the joke breaks the fourth wall.