Durkon makes a deal with his captor to show one final memory before staying silent in return for the life of his child.
Cast[]
- Durkon Thundershield (also as spirit) ◀ ▶
- "Durkon" ◀ ▶
- Sigdi Thundershield ◀ ▶
Transcript[]
- Panel 1
"Durkon": As far as my plans go, Hilgya is just another opponent to defeat on my way to Hel's ultimate victory, and the child isn't even that.
"Durkon": But since you clearly feel differently, I'll make you a deal.
- Panel 2
"Durkon": I won't kill that baby right now if you agree not to show me any more memories until all of your friends are defeated.
- Panel 3
Durkon: Wha? Why would showing ye memories matter ta—
"Durkon": Do you think I'm stupid? I'm exactly as smart as you are, plus two points!
- Panel 4
"Durkon": I know you're planning something. Some misleading trick that will give Roy a combat advantage. Maybe you'll show me a "weakness" of his he's since overcome.
"Durkon": I'm sure that I would be able to see through such a pathetic ruse, but every variable eliminated only increases Hel's chances.
- Panel 5
beat
- Panel 6
Durkon: One.
Durkon: One last memory, all tha way ta tha end, an' I'll nae e'en speak fer tha rest o' tha fight.
- Panel 7
"Durkon": You're just going to use that one memory to trick me!
Durkon: I promise it'll nae include Roy or Haley or any member o' tha Order.
"Durkon": Or Hilgya.
Durkon: Or Hilgya. Swear ta Thor.
- Panel 8
"Durkon": Hmmm. I suppose it could be a little like a controlled detonation of a bomb. Let you try your trick, knowing it's a trick and I should ignore it.
Durkon: An' ye haf ta let tha baby live, at least until yer damn goddess gets tha world blown up.
- Panel 9
"Durkon": It's a deal. One memory only. No breaks or gaps or time jumps, and I let your new little family live for another few hours.
"Durkon": Better make it worth it.
- Panel 10
Durkon: Aye...
Durkon: It's a doozy, all right.
- Panel 11
Cut to Durkon's memory
Sigdi: Och, thar's my big brave cleric! How were tha first day o' bein' an official priest o' Thor?
Durkon: It were...
Durkon: ...intere'stin'.
- Panel 12
Cut back to inside Durkon's head
"Durkon": There's going to be twenty minutes of you washing up for dinner in the middle of this, isn't there?
Durkon: ...
"Durkon": I shouldn't have said, "No time jumps."
D&D Context[]
- In panel 3, the vampire spirit is referring to his and Durkon's Intelligence scores. Being a vampire in D&D is an acquired template which adds to whatever abilities the character had before becoming a vampire. Among the ability score adjustments is a +2 to Intelligence.
Trivia[]
- Offering to not harm someone in return for some form of payment is technically an extortion racket, which are often indistinguishable from a protection racket.
- Bombs are uncommon in D&D, but in the Order of the Stick world, at least one person has used them so "Durkon"'s comment in panel 8 is not a continuity error.