The Order finally meets Lord Shojo, and he isn't what they expected.
Cast[]
Transcript[]
- Panel 1
The Order follows Hinjo down a corridor.
Elan: I can't believe we're finally going to meet Lord Shojo!
Elan: This is so exciting!
Roy: I'm not exactly looking forward to it, Elan.
- Panel 2
Elan: Aren't you at least curious, though? Don't you wonder what he's really like?
Roy: I suppose, but I'm more worried about what he'll do to us than about what he looks like.
- Panel 3
They walk up a stair.
Elan: I wonder if he's tall. Like, a big tall paladin guy in shiny armor.
Roy: Maybe. I don't really know.
- Panel 4
Elan: Or maybe he's like a wizard, with like glowing power all around him and a big staff.
Roy: I don't know.
- Panel 5
Elan: Ooo! Do you think he might be a half-orc?
Roy: I don't know.
Elan: Or how about a half-elf?
Elan: Do you think he's a half-orc, half-elf?
Roy: I don't know.
- Panel 6
They pass under an arch.
Elan: Do you think he has an eyepatch?
Elan: Do you think he's a halfling?
Elan: Do you think he's a woman?
Elan: Do you think he's a vampire?
Elan: Do you think he's a horse?
- Panel 7
They stand under a bright spot of light from above.
Elan: Do you think he's a robot?
Roy: YES!
- Panel 8
Roy: Yes, Elan, that's exactly what I think. I think Lord Shojo is a robot. An angry robot with laser beam eyes and crushing titanium claws, sent from the future to punish us in the past.
Roy: Now could you just shut up for one moment while I try to think of what to say?
- Panel 9
The Order stands together in the bright spotlight.
- Panel 10
Hinjo: Order of the Stick, I present you before the venerable Lord Shojo, ruler of Azure City.
- Panel 11
Lord Shojo: Zzzzzzzzz...
Mr. Scruffy: Meow?
- Panel 12
Elan (whispering): Wow, Roy, your guess was totally wrong!
Roy: Sigh.
D&D Context[]
- Paladin and Wizard are character classes.
- Half-orcs, Half-elves, and Halflings are playable races, while Half-Orc-Half-Elf is not. All half-breed demihuman races in D&D are half-human; the other races are apparently incapable of interbreeding.
Trivia[]
- This is the first full depiction on-panel of Lord Shojo (his voice was heard and his feet and cloak were visible in #120, The End of the Beginning)
- This is the first appearance of Mr. Scruffy.
- This is the first appearance of Soon's Gate, although this is not yet apparent.