"Durkon" eliminates Belkar as a threat.

Cast

• Belkar Bitterleaf ◀ ▶
• Durkon Thundershield (as vampire and as dire wolf) ◀ ▶
• "Durkon" (as dire wolf) ◀ ▶
• Usher with Brown Hair ◀ ▶

Transcript

Panel 1, Page 1

Belkar: Where the hell is the gallery? A billion spells cast and they can’t spare one on a “You Are Here” map?

Panel 2, Page 1

Belkar: ROY!!
Belkar: ROY!!
Belkar: R—

Panel 3, Page 1

Belkar walks into "Durkon"'s Silence spell.
Belkar: …

Panel 4, Page 1

Belkar reaches behind his back
Belkar: …

Panel 5, Page 1

Belkar is wreathed in yellow flame. He draws his daggers, gritting his teeth in pain.
Belkar: …
Belkar: …

Panel 6, Page 1

"Durkon", in the form of a dire wolf, attacks Belkar, chomping on him.

Panel 7, Page 1

Belkar stabs "Durkon" with his daggers as he leaps out of his jaws.

Panel 8, Page 1

He flees down the hall.
Belkar: …

Panel 9, Page 1

Belkar is overcome by his Protection from Evil effect.

Panel 10, Page 1

"Durkon" grabs Belkar in his jaws again.

Panel 11, Page 1

He lifts up Belkar who has lost his daggers.
Belkar: …

Panel 1, Page 2

He hurls Belkar across the room towards a window.

Panel 2, Page 2

Belkar smashes through the window.

Panel 3, Page 2

Belkar hits the roof of the cathedral.

Panel 4, Page 2

He tumbles down the sloped roof.

Panel 5, Page 2

He attempts to arrest his fall.

Panel 6, Page 2

Belkar tumbles off the roof and clear of the cathedral.

Panel 7, Page 2

He falls into a deep chasm.

Panel 8, Page 2

Back in the cathedral, "Durkon" transforms back to his dwarven body.

Panel 9, Page 2

"Durkon": Dismiss Silence.
Usher: Sir, are ye alright? I thought I heard someone yell.
"Durkon": Yes, I’m fine, thank you. I just need to find my way to the Great Nave.

Panel 10, Page 2

Usher: Och, it’s right this way. Tho… I thought Exarch Hammerfall were escortin’ ye?
"Durkon": He was. But then, I wouldn’t need an escort—

Panel 11, Page 2

"Durkon": —if the trip wasn’t so dangerous.

D&D Context

• Belkar's cloak clasp, when worn, grants him a Protection from Evil abjuration. Since he himself is evil, he suffers pain while using it.
• Vampires can take an Alternate Form, in this case a dire wolf. Durkon previously took the form of a bat in #932.

Trivia

• Back in #969, "It's Only His SECOND Favorite Cuisine, Belkar acquired a Protection From Evil cloak clasp to protect him from compulsion magic. The visual effect shows that it is being activated at this time.
• Belkar's death has been expected for some time now, after being predicted by the Oracle twice.^[1][2] However this is not it.
• In page 2, panel 10, the usher misspells Gontor Hammerfell's name (or this correct spelling. The only other time the name is used in the comics is in #994 when Gontor introduces himself).

External Links

• View the comic
• View the discussion thread

References