The Order of the Stick

Yes, but now they will not only crash, but do so miles from the correct direction to be going. Probably in the heart of Frost Giant territory too, because I would not be surprised if what Andi's mistaking for a clear escape route is, in fact, what they are being herded towards.

Always be suspicious of safe routes in an ambush. There's a reason why official U.S. Army protocol in the event of an ambush is, "Keep right on f*cking going and blow through the other side."

edited 22nd Feb '17 9:02:44 AM by TobiasDrake

Well at least in theory, Julio is ultimately going to be the captain at end of the day anyway (I say in theory because he may need a new ship and barring resurrection, several new crew members). But I guess because I like optimistic/"feels" kind of things, I'd kind of hope for Andi and Bandana to reconcile.

While a grudge being petty and personal does in some respects make it less likely to be settled than one based on a "policy disagreement", as I had suggested previously against the idea of Bandana being dead, this situation is about a personal disagreement (that badly got out of hand), not some unsolvable, murderous hatred. The win condition for both is the other treating them with respect. Neither wants the other dead/harmed/etc.

Do we know that? Do they? If the course was clear the pilot wouldn't have been asking? We don't actually kbow which way Bandana would have said to go.

They weren't going towards that mountain in the first place. That was Andi's idea. The course Bandana was taking had frost giants but no mountains in the way.

We don't know that the Frost Giants were trying to herd them in the direction of the "safer" route. That's just my speculation based on typical ambush tactics. There shouldn't be an escape route in a well-organized ambush. There should, by all rights, be death on every side of you.

That there even was a different direction for Andi to mutiny over going in suggests to me that the Frost Giants want them to go that way. During an ambush, the last direction you ever want to go is the one your assailants are trying to direct you towards.

EDIT: The Frost Giants have a fairly insurmountable tactical advantage right now. They have the advantage of the defender, in which the engagement occurs on your home territory, a place that you best know how to defend, maneuver, and weaponize to your advantage. But they also have the advantage of the attacker, in which you get to choose the exact time and location in which the battle will occur.

They have nothing less than complete control of this engagement.

edited 22nd Feb '17 9:50:26 AM by TobiasDrake

On the other hand, the Mechane can relocate faster than them, which is why Roy was confident that they could push through as long as they protected the ship.

Even if they they do not crash and they do not run into another ambush, they are completely off course right now, and they are too damaged to try getting through the giants again. So there is no way that this mutiny plot will be resolved as a minor inconvenience. This will seriously delay the Order, no matter what.

We don't know that the Frost Giants were trying to herd them in the direction of the "safer" route. That's just my speculation based on typical ambush tactics. There shouldn't be an escape route in a well-organized ambush. There should, by all rights, be death on every side of you.

That there even was a different direction for Andi to mutiny over going in suggests to me that the Frost Giants want them to go that way. During an ambush, the last direction you ever want to go is the one your assailants are trying to direct you towards.

Keep in mind also that the giants' win condition is not killing the Order, it's merely preventing them from reaching Firmament in time to stop Durkula, and all they have to do to accomplish that is to prevent the Mechane from reaching the end of the pass. Forcing the Mechane to turn off the pass itself is already a win condition for them, even if they don't proceed to destroy the ship.

Jesus, Andi is straight up being that scrub guy at the table, She's used just about every regular argument you see when people call that shit out.

So has the possibility been raised that the Mechane's noted ability to arrive in the nick of time could be working against them? Maybe another airship would've gotten the Order to the Dwarven lands with plenty of time to spare, but because they took the Mechane, circumstances are conspiring to delay them until the critical moment.

That would be a nifty bit of Fridge Brilliance actually.

If that's gonna happen, I'm totally ok with the Mechane making its through this.

They will have to repair it first, while the Order moves on. I imagine the Mechane will show just in time to rescue them from the next cliff hanger.

The Mechane making it in the nick of time also means that it is never too late. So they will make it.

"Its too late! Were doomed!!"

"No we arent. The Mechane isnt here yet."

Update

* huff huff huff huff

* twitching briefly subsides

Why have they not untied Bandanna? Do they consider Andi legitimate?

Would it be too much to hope he can summon it back to him?

I think they would prefer not to get a wrench to the head.

edited 9th Mar '17 7:09:01 AM by Cross

Oh, gods. Really? Of all the hackneyed plot obstacles...

I'm fairly certain Bandana is a more capable combatant, given that she took on Crystal and lived.

Pride goeth before a fall.

Was that at me, because you ask why none the crew untied her.

... aw crapbaskets.

Oh, you say that, too.

Well, that ain't good. That ain't good at all.

Immediate problem, though: somebody needs to save Roy's ass.

What's the status on Haley and V again?

Um. Oh. Dear. O.o