Prediction Page, (bring your quatloos, gps, and internets, you'll need them.)

[gbaji]

Prediction: Xykon's tomb/fortress on the Astral plane will be completely annihilated. When he realizes this has not harmed him at all, the lich will realize Redcloak pulled a fast one on him with the phylactery. It is then that their alliance will end and they finally come to blows - and the Monster in the Dark will be compelled to devour Redcloak.

My prediction is that the astral fortress will only be mentioned or relevant to the story if/when Xykon is killed/destroyed/whatever, and then *doesn't* go there. I fully expect some sort of dramatic villain gloat by Xykon about how he'll return even if killed, possibly with the Order panicing and wondering about where his fotress is and how to get there, only for Redcloak to be like "No problem. I've got it right here. You think that sword of yours will do the trick?"

Onliy thing better for Roy than defeating Xykon? Immediately following that up with destroying his philactery as well. Blood Oath completed!

[Lord Torath]

Prediction: Xykon's tomb/fortress on the Astral plane will be completely annihilated. When he realizes this has not harmed him at all, the lich will realize Redcloak pulled a fast one on him with the phylactery. It is then that their alliance will end and they finally come to blows - and the Monster in the Dark will be compelled to devour Redcloak.

In 3.5, liches can survive having their phylactery destroyed, no problem, as long as they're not currently using it to regenerate. This was brought up in Start of Darkness.

Way back in 1E/2E AD&D, destroying the phylactery would instantly kill the lich, but that's not how it works in the OotS-verse. I'm not sure if Xykon would even know if his phylactery was destroyed if it was done out of his sight.

[brian 333]

3.5 rules for liches, the condensed version:

Phylactery destroyed, lich not - lich can create a new one.
Phylactery intact, lich not - phylactery can create a new one.
Phylactery destroyed, lich destroyed - game over. The munchkins will sing and dance and show the way to Oz.

[Sky_Schemer]

Bloodfeast will not survive this fight. There's no obvious way for him to be re-polymorphed, and I don't see Rich drawing a huge Allosaurus in every scene of this dungeon unless it was for a specific purpose.

This prediction (which is one of mine as well, but I never said it out loud so it doesn't count) is looking more and more likely as of strip #1301.

[Barlion]

Belkar will become a god (a sexy and shoeless one) in the violet pantheon and therefore won't breathe ever again.

[Somniloquist]

Yeah, I'm re-convinced that Bloodfeast won't be making it out alive. At least he's going out like a hero.

[gbaji]

Belkar will become a god (a sexy and shoeless one) in the violet pantheon and therefore won't breathe ever again.

I'm pretty sure that gods can still enjoy birthday cake and fund/access their 401Ks.

[Sir_Norbert]

One alternative would be that Bloodfeast survives but is left behind, essentially to take Calder's place as a defence against Xykon.

[brian 333]

One alternative would be that Bloodfeast survives but is left behind, essentially to take Calder's place as a defence against Xykon.

Belkar: "I am Belkar Bitterleaf. You killed my dinosaur. Prepare to die!"

Xykon: "Why does he keep saying that?"

Redcloak: "I don't know. Kill him and ask whatever kind of undead he turns out to be."

MitD: "Don't kill him! He makes the most delicious stew!"

Redcloak: "What kind of undead can cook?"

Belkar: "I am Belkar Bitterleaf. You killed my dinosaur. Prepare to die!"

[Coppercloud]

Why would Belkar suddenly parrot Yokyok ?

[Lord Torath]

This prediction (which is one of mine as well, but I never said it out loud so it doesn't count) is looking more and more likely as of strip #1301.

V probably has Polymorph Other prepared (panel 8), as pointed out in the 1301 discussion thread. Bloodfeast doesn't need to be trapped here.

[Gurgeh]

Quibble: V has the spell in their spellbook, but we do not know whether or not they have it prepared.

EDIT: missed the "probably", never mind. ;)

[faustin]

One member of the Mechane is Sabine's new host. Against all odds she has managed to follow the Order inside Serini's dungeon.

[Metastachydium]

One member of the Mechane is Sabine's new host. Against all odds she has managed to follow the Order inside Serini's dungeon.

Since so far as we know, Sabine couldn't possess people if she wanted to (who was her "previous host", again?), and the Vessel, what- or whoever it is likely has a purpose other than concealing Sabine's identity (she's a shapeshifter, damnit)… Okay. Whatever you're betting, it's on.

[drazen]

My most insane prediction is that now that we have seen Elan cast Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, he has enough Bard levels to know two 6th level Bard spells.

Mass Cure Moderate Wounds is one. The other? Looking at d20, I say the only "logical" choice is... Irresistible Dance!! -- just because that would be the most Elan thing to do ever, and I am nearly 100% sure he would want to spread his zest for life by making people dance at some point.

It'll even save the day somehow. I just know it! 😆

[Errorname]

Since so far as we know, Sabine couldn't possess people if she wanted to (who was her "previous host", again?), and the Vessel, what- or whoever it is likely has a purpose other than concealing Sabine's identity (she's a shapeshifter, damnit)… Okay. Whatever you're betting, it's on.

What Sabine could do is eliminate and impersonate a member of the Mechane's crew, but I struggle to imagine the point of that.

Sabine needs to be spending her off-panel doing stuff that puts her and the fiends into a position to be a wildcard in the final book, and impersonating one of the Mechane's crew gets her nothing. Not even intel.

[Precure]

Tarquin will have sex with a man, 600000 quatloos

[SlashDash]

Bloodfeast will not survive this fight. There's no obvious way for him to be re-polymorphed, and I don't see Rich drawing a huge Allosaurus in every scene of this dungeon unless it was for a specific purpose. Belkar will be much more shaken up by this than his companions.


(*This is obviously untrue. Raining on parades is my hobby.)

Doubt it. I am still betting on Belkar vs Oona fight as both beastmasters go head to head.

Not to mention Bloodfeast knows Eugene's secret. That has to play off.

I don't see a reason why V can't shrink him. They memorized Shrink Item. They probably have something for Bloodfeast.

Or the author will do what he usually does - plane shift him until they can get him back.

[Metastachydium]

What Sabine could do is eliminate and impersonate a member of the Mechane's crew, but I struggle to imagine the point of that.

Sabine needs to be spending her off-panel doing stuff that puts her and the fiends into a position to be a wildcard in the final book, and impersonating one of the Mechane's crew gets her nothing. Not even intel.

Well, yes, and well, yes.

Not to mention Bloodfeast knows Eugene's secret. That has to play off.

Sudden WIS-increase Belkar rears his ugly white shirt again and casts Speak with Animals?

[Lombard]

1 quatloo says Belkar gets it next issue

[Peelee]

1 quatloo says Belkar gets it next issue

Gambling? I'm in!

[brian 333]

New prediction:

Belkar beheads Calder intending to use it for a charcuterie board, but abandons it when it fails to squick out Roy. Goblin Dan happens to find it and, because it is magical, is able to make it breathe fire.

This results in Goblin Dan's® new Dragon Roasted Hydra Head™ recipe that is the new Summer Taste Sensation.

[Ruck]

Gambling? I'm in!

Does "next issue" mean next strip? And "gets it" means "dies," I presume? I'll bet against.

Really, I'll bet against any "Belkar dies before the final battle" prediction.

[Peelee]

Does "next issue" mean next strip? And "gets it" means "dies," I presume? I'll bet against.

Really, I'll bet against any "Belkar dies before the final battle" prediction.

I assume yes and yes.

Also, it's been a long time since i played, but i have fond memories of Red Dragon Inn. I assume all the cool people got the reference.

[Crusher]

Hmm. I would note the Oracle said "Breathes his last", implying that he never breathes again, yet one might imagine the trap would *eventually* be turned off.

On the other hand, worlds in the Stickverse have a very finite lifespan and this one is getting fairly long in the tooth so its plausible the world might end before the trap gets turned off.

On the, third... um, on a foot, lets say, the Order's entire thing is trying to save the world and it seems likely that they'll succeed and save the world, right?

On the fourth... other foot, I recently played in a 3-year long D&D campaign running from level 1 to 20 that ended with the party all dying in the final battle and the world ending. So, stories end like that sometimes, Mortal Kombat: Conquest being an excellent example.. Also, I can 100% imagine that when OotS wraps up, the Giant will be *done* with this world and we'll get a bittersweet "The world ends but everything is reborn so nothing ever really ends" kinda finish except for Elan and Haley, somehow, thus ending the world before the trap gets turned off.

Edit - Time to put my money where my mouth is: 50 cubits say the world the action primarily takes place on is destroyed as part of the story's end.

[Elanfanforlife]

Edit - Time to put my money where my mouth is: 50 cubits say the world the action primarily takes place on is destroyed as part of the story's end.

I'll bet against that, as Goblin Dan survived long enough to become old in https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0326.html, and I don't think it's likely that both he and the hydra moved worlds. Also I don't think it's very likely that the world will end anyway.

[Precure]

Tarquin will have sex with a man, 600000 quatloos

No one is brave enough to take against this bet, I see.

[brian 333]

Edit - Time to put my money where my mouth is: 50 cubits say the world the action primarily takes place on is destroyed as part of the story's end.

Cubit is a measure of distance, not wealth, Han.

No one is brave enough to take against this bet, I see.

My bet is that it has already happened and Tarquin is old-school enough to murder the other guy to keep it in the closet. Perhaps he lets that skeleton out of the closet to dance on alternate Thursdays when he tells everyone he is playing poker.

[Peelee]

Cubit is a measure of distance, not wealth, Han.

Yeah, but his staff is too long so he's trying to get a few more cubits to try to loop it back around.

My bet is that it has already happened and Tarquin is old-school enough to murder the other guy to keep it in the closet. Perhaps he lets that skeleton out of the closet to dance on alternate Thursdays when he tells everyone he is playing poker.

Spoiler: Conversely:

Show

[Precure]

My bet is that it has already happened and Tarquin is old-school enough to murder the other guy to keep it in the closet. Perhaps he lets that skeleton out of the closet to dance on alternate Thursdays when he tells everyone he is playing poker.

He was pretty open about possibility of having same sex romance back when he talked to Roy, unless it was a slip of tongue after seeing Roy on gladiator outfit.

https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0753.html