History Recap / TheOrderOfTheStickGoodDeedsGoneUnpunished

* ForWantOfANail: While ranting on how the previous generation of the Sapphire Guard killed the previous Bearer of the Crimson Mantle, Gin-Jun remarks that the paladins at the time purposely chose not to be 'vain' and take the Mantle as a trophy. At the time, they had no idea that the Crimson Mantle was an ArtifactOfDoom and their decision to leave it allowed the Goblin later called Redcloak to claim it and become the new Bearer.
-->'''Gin-Jun:''' A bit more vanity might have saved the world!
** This also applies to the story itself. O-Chul and company prevented a war between Azure City and the hobgoblins and, in the process, allowed the hobgoblin cleric to become Supreme Leader. Unlike the previous Supreme Leader, he had no quarrel with humans and instead invested in infrastructure, allowing the hobgoblin population to skyrocket. Years later, Xykon and Redcloak effortlessly took control of the hobgoblins, who by that point numbered 88 legions, and promptly conquered Azure City.

* TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody: When Melisander's attempts at being a medium accidently some zombies to rise up, Daigo suggests possessing one to avoid another AndIMustScream situation. It works for a bit, but the zombie's hunger for brains quickly override Melisander's reasoning, forcing Kazumi to slay it.

* ChessmasterSidekick: The smarter & more manipulative of the Supreme Leader's two dragons has his boss and opposite number wrapped around his finger. He seems to be TheCreon who as a NonActionGuy isn't suited to the hobbos' usual AsskickingEqualsAuthority society, but turns out to be TheStarscream who was just biding his time.

* CuttingTheKnot: A witch offers Lien a ring that can let her breath underwater if she answers TheseQuestionsThree -- fail, and she gets [[BalefulPolymorph polymorphed]] into a skitterling. Lien just beats the living daylights out of the witch, turns her in, and a paladin gives her the ring as a reward.

* SeldomSeenSpecies: Saha speaks with what appears to be a binturong.

* BaitAndSwitch: [[spoiler: Towards the end, after Zhao [[TakingTheBullet Takes A Sword]] for O-Chul, he visits a graveyard, stops at a headstone, and starts taking to Zhou Bo, as if she died and he’s visiting her grave. It’s then revealed she’s fine and is actually digging the grave.]]

* MundaneUtility: The entire story is Kazumi and Daigo trying to figure how Melisander use her ghost powers to help people.

* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: In The final panel, Belkar Bitterleaf can be seen [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0514.html tossing pineapples at wights.]]

The third "prequel" book in the ''[[Webcomin/TheOrderOfTheStick Order of the Stick]]'' continuity (actually including stories from 12 years before the main comic up to contemporaneous with ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickBloodRunsInTheFamily Blood Runs in the Family]]''). The book compiles two stories previously released only to Kickstarter backers, along with three all-new stories. The title plays on the saying "No good deed goes unpunished."

The third "prequel" book in the ''Order of the Stick'' continuity (actually including stories from 12 years before the main comic up to contemporaneous with ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickBloodRunsInTheFamily Blood Runs in the Family]]''). The book compiles two stories previously released only to Kickstarter backers, along with three all-new stories. The title plays on the saying "No good deed goes unpunished."

* CuttingTheKnot: A witch offers Lien a ring that can let her breath underwater if she answers TheseQuestionsThree -- fail, and she gets polymorphed into a skitterling. Lien just beats the living daylights out of the witch, turns her in, and a paladin gives her the ring as a reward.

* AndroclesLion: Mr. Scruffy frees a creature leashed by Redcloak, and the two become friends for a while.

* AdultFear: A strange woman offers youngsters their hearts desire if they win a seemingly innocent contest, and enslaves them if they lose? Does ''that'' make you sleep soundly at night, mom?

* BaitAndSwitch: [[spoiler: Towards the end, after Zhao [[TakingTheBullet Takes A Sword]] for O-Chuck, he visits a graveyard, stops at a headstone, and starts taking to Zhou Bo, as if she died and he’s visiting her grave. It’s then revealed she’s fine and is actually digging the grave.]]

* BaitAndSwitch: [[spoiler: Towards the end, after Zhao [[TakingTheBullet Takes A Sword]] for O-Chuck, he visits a graveyard, stops at a headstone, and starts taking to Zhao, as if she died and he’s visiting her grave. It’s then revealed she’s fine and is actually ’’digging’’ the grave.

'''That's the Spirit:''' Kazumi and Daigo find a lost soul in need of their help on their new island home.\\
'''Scruff and Tumble:''' Surviving alone behind enemy lines, Mr. Scruffy searches for food.\\
'''Spoiler Alert:''' Therkla is tasked to retrieve a priceless artifact, but she's not even supposed to be here today.\\
'''Pier Pressure:''' Young Lien comes face to face with a sinister choice.\\
'''How the Paladin Got His Scar:''' Before he joined the Sapphire Guard, Captain O-Chul led a ragtag team to stop a bloody war of retribution.

* NotSoDifferent: O-Chul's argument during the duel is that Gin-Jun and the Hobgoblin General are really the same; both want a war with the other side so badly that they don't care if their own people will be badly affected by it.

* CuttingTheKnot: A witch offers Lien a ring that can let her breath underwater if she answers TheseQuestionsThree -- fail, and she gets polymorphed into a skittling. Lien just beats the living daylights out of the witch, turns her in, and a paladin gives her the ring as a reward.

* CallForward: Kubota tells Therkla to give him a list of the poisons she's immune to...presumably, so he knows which one he'll need to use if she betrays him, which happens in "Never Split The Party".

* PoorCommunicationKills: Since the Sapphire Guard's true purpose must be kept a secret, O-Chul is unable to explain to Saha why he has stopped trying to get them disbanded and instead joined the Guard.