Morality is it's own Reward.

Back to what this Blog is and should be about. Wanking philisophical using kiddish media to illustrate. And what could be more kiddish than stick figures!?

The Order of the Stick is a web and print comic created, written and drawn by Rich Burlew.  Burlew is a writer and game designer type person for some of the various D&D related products, he is also an artist though most people fail to realize that from his chosen style.  OOTS is a comic set in a world where D&D game mechanics form the law of physics.  Burlew has a great understanding of both the letter and spirit of the rules, and utilizes that to both demonstrate good technique and satire the silliness in general.  Fortunately the series is fun enough that not being a gamer should be no determent to anyone (I actually picked up a lot of my fandom of D&D and knowledge of it's rules from reading the game so...yeah).

The story is about a group of adventurers, Roy Greenhilt the human genius bruiser fighter, V the genderly ambiguous Elf wizard, Haley the beautiful human rogue and theif, Belkar Bitterleaf the sociopathic and psychopathic chaotic evil halfling (yes like a Hobbit...it's Bilbo Baggins on crack), Elan, the ditzy but loveable human bard and Durrkon the wise yet foolish dwarf cleric as the party seeks to stop a team of evil lead by Xykon the camp evil Litch and his Lt. The Goblin rights activist Redcloak from unleashing untold destruction on their silly satirical world.

Sure, it's both funny and epic envoking pathos and laughter.  To quote my one friend "the fucker made me shed tears over a goddamn stick figure".  So yeah this is all well and good, but why do I bring it up?

Well because, Burlew puts some insightful social and philisophical commentary in the work.  One notable arc in particular I think demonstrates the usefulness and benefits of a minimum of morality (ie at least following the bare minimum.) more than any other work.  People often wonder why folks who don't believe in God don't go around murdering, stealing, rapeing, etc...well this arc answers it.

First we have to start off with Belkar who..um goes around murdering stealing etc (Chaotic Evil and all that).  Now back story is that due to his dickishness, a King had a Mark of Justice put on him, basically until it is removed evil acts trigger him to become sick beyond all belief.  As one might imagine it didn't last too long before the curse was triggered.

Thus in a fever dream while pinned down by enemies, the spirit of said King appears to Belkar's delirious mind...

click for larger versions. 

King Shojo speaks great wisdom there.  You have to be able to at least live with other people if you want them to well, let you live.  Belkar want's to continue being a selfish little prick, but here realizes he can't do that unless he becomes a team player.  Unless he tones back his destructiveness to a level where people can tolerate him he's going to be SOL.  So Belkar becomes more co-operative, gets the curse removed and helps out his team mates.  What's his reward?

SANDWICHES AND SEX WITH A HOT CHICK!!!!  Ahhhhhhhhhh morality indeed has it's perks.

OOTS is owned by Rich Burlew, check out his site Giant in the Playground for more awesome comics and cool merchandise.