Changes: Present Company Included

Revision as of 16:38, 21 September 2020

The dwarves get down the cliff via the traditional "Cleric's Feather Fall."

Cast

The Order of the Stick
- Durkon Thundershield ◀
Minrah Shaleshoe ◀
Team Evil
- Xykon ◀
- Redcloak (one-eyed) ◀
Kraagor (as statue) ◀
Oona's Swarm of Bugs ◀

Transcript

Panel 1

Minrah: Is that the—
Xykon: Energy Drain.
The Energy Drain hits Durkon.

Panel 2

Xykon: Huh. That usually has more kick to it than—

Panel 3

Durkon throws his Hammer into Xykon's skull—"CRACKK!"
Xykon: Unngh!

Panel 4

Durkon grabs Minrah and jumps off the cliff. The hammer lands back into his hand—"catch!"

Panel 5

The dwarves plummet.

Panel 6

They land on the ground—"WHUNK! WHUNK!"

Panel 7

Minrah's hammer follows—"thonk!"
Minrah: Unnnh...
Durkon: Aye, tha's Xykon.

Panel 8

Redcloak runs up to Xykon.
Redcloak: Don't waste your Energy Drain. They're both clerics, they're warded against negative energy.
Xykon: Are they warded against fire?
Redcloak: I don't know, I didn't try fire yet.

Panel 9

Xykon: Maximized Fireball.

Panel 10

The glow from the Fireball lights up Xykon and Redcloak's faces—"BOOM!"

Panel 11

Beat.

Panel 12

Xykon: Yeah, guess so.
Xykon: Man, clerics are just the worst.

D&D Context

Energy Drain is a 9th level spell which strikes the target with negative levels, i.e. their effective level in their class is reduced. The level loss becomes permanent if a Fortitude saving throw is failed.
Fireball is the classic staple of D&D arcane magic. It deals up to 10d6 damage in an area of effect.
Xykon also uses his Maximize Spell feat to deal the maximum 60 damage with his fireball.
Durkon and Minrah are apparently protected from the fire damage, likely with Protection from Energy.

Trivia

This is the latest appearance of the following:
- Redcloak, the High Priest of the Dark One and Xykon's chief minion. He has appeared in one hundred and nineteen strips, first appearing in #23, "Meanwhile...". He is the most frequently appearing character outside of the Order and their animal companions and familiars. Alongside Xykon, he also features heavily in the prequel book, Start of Darkness.
- Xykon, the Epic lich sorcerer and leader of Team Evil, has appeared in one hundred and four strips, first appearing in #13, "Plot, Ahoy!". Alongside Redcloak, he also features heavily in the prequel book, Start of Darkness.
- Minrah Shaleshoe, Assistant Overnight Caretaker Acolyte of Thor come member of the Order of the Stick. She first appeared in #1093, "Night's Templars" and joined the party as a cohort of Durkon in #1180. Minrah has appeared in seventy-three strips overall.
- Kraagor, the valiant dwarven member of the Order of the Scribble who died fighting the Snarl while sealing the final gate. His death led to divisions with the Order of the Scribble. He first appeared in Serini Toormuck's diary in #196, The Diary, and has appeared in eighteen strips.
- Oona's swarm of bugs. They appeared in the previous strip.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Transcript==
 {{panel|1}}
-'''Minrah''': Is tha—<br/>
+'''Minrah''': Is that the—<br/>
 '''Xykon''': Energy Drain.<br/>
 ''The Energy Drain hits Durkon.''
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 ==D&D Context==
-*[https://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/energyDrain.htm Energy Drain] is a 9th level spell which strikes the target with negative levels, i.e. their effective level in their class is reduced. The level loss becomes permanent if a saving throw is failed.
+*[https://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/energyDrain.htm Energy Drain] is a 9th level spell which strikes the target with negative levels, i.e. their effective level in their class is reduced. The level loss becomes permanent if a Fortitude saving throw is failed.
 *[https://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/fireball.htm Fireball] is the classic staple of D&D arcane magic. It deals up to 10d6 damage in an area of effect.
 *Xykon also uses his [https://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#maximizeSpell Maximize Spell] feat to deal the maximum 60 damage with his fireball.