The Order is debating on what to do with their prisoners when Roy comes up with an idea that Belkar surprisingly loves.
Cast
- Roy Greenhilt ◀ ▶
- Haley Starshine ◀ ▶
- Elan ◀ ▶
- Belkar Bitterleaf ◀ ▶
- Samantha's Father (Bandit King) ◀ ▶
- Samantha ◀ ▶
Transcript
- Panel 1
The Order has Samantha and the Bandit King tied up.
Haley: So, anyone here have any thoughts on what we're going to do with this pair of jerks?
Haley: Anyone EXCEPT Belkar, since we all know what he's going to say?
Belkar: Hey! I resent that.
- Panel 2
Belkar: You don't know me, Miss I-have-ranks-in-Sense-Motive.
Haley: Yeah right. You were going to suggest that we cut both their throats.
- Panel 3
Belkar: Ah HA!
Belkar: I was only going to suggest we cut the old man's throat.
Belkar: The chick, we can sell into slavery. I know a guy who knows a guy.
- Panel 4
Haley: Ummm... no, I don't think so, Belkar.
Haley: She may be a dirty evil whore, but no one deserves that.
- Panel 5
Belkar: Are you sure? Seriously, you wouldn't believe the profit margins involved.
Haley: Really? Well, I suppose it's not THAT bad to—
- Panel 6
Roy looks angrily at Haley.
Haley: Um, I mean, no way. Nuh uh. No slavery, Belkar.
Belkar: So close.
- Panel 7
Elan: What about sending them to prison, like we did with my brother?
Roy: Won't work. Wooden Forest is not technically part of any kingdom, so there are no laws for them to have broken.
- Panel 8
Elan: Well, do you have an idea, Roy?
Roy: I say we just leave them here.
Haley: Are you nuts? They're going to wake up tomorrow and team up to track us down.
- Panel 9
Roy: Are they? The old guy sucker punched his daughter when the rest of us were beaten. I think she's going to have a few choice words for dear old dad when they wake up.
Roy: And Durkon disbanded the bandits, so they don't have any minions to push around. Just the two of them, stuck together, forced to work out their screwed up family issues.
- Panel 10
Belkar: Hmmm... so you're saying no killing, no indentured servitude, just physically compelling them to spend time with their family members?
Roy: Yeah, pretty much.
- Panel 11
Belkar: I love it!
Roy: You do?
Belkar: Sure! It's sick, twisted—Roy, I had no idea you were capable of devising such a cruel and unusual punishment!
- Panel 12
Belkar: There may yet be hope for you!
Roy: Your approval fills me with shame.
D&D Context
- Sense Motive is a skill that measures how good a character is at sensing lies or other character motives.
Trivia
- The Prisoner's Dilemma is a problem in game theory, which questions the rationality of co-operation.
- This strip gives name to the TV Trope "Your Approval Fills Me With Shame".