I should add that when I said the continuity would be flexible, I also meant the chapters aren't going to be in chronological order. But with a story framing device like this, I doubt that'll be cause for concern.

The party marched across the bleak, rocky plains of the Sunken Valley, sticking close in a group, checking the horizon, and doing all sorts of other adventuring routines that are best taken for granted when writing or portrayed in a single panel.

Belkar continued, "…so she tracks the druids right up to some cave, and I'm ready to go stab something, when suddenly the wizard who's got us all looking for this orb tells us to stop while he scans for the leader. I say, "Screw that, we're all at full health, let's get in there and gut some treehuggers!' And he whines, "Hey, it's my party, and I'll scry if I want to.' So I stabbed him in the kidneys."

Vaarsuvius sighed with a lowered brow. "Thus, by rescuing a solitary ranger from rampaging treants, an adventuring party ensured death to untold legions of future victims."

Roy turned his head and called, "All right, everyone, get on guard. Remember, the first trial is the Test of the Body, and we'll have two more to face after that."

In a rare burst of foresight, Elan wondered, "So when you came here before, what were the Tests like?

"They were... uh... they were... huh. Well that's weird. I don't remember. Hey Durkon, do you remember what the Tests were last time?"

"Huh? Um... nay, lad. But I rememb'r them bein' tough."

"Well, I think we can expect the Test of the Body to be some sort of combat, probably against a really tough monster like-"

His words were cut off as a giant boulder came into view. Granted, the valley was otherwise free of obstructions, but the edge of the panel had concealed the boulder until they had nearly reached it.

Elan whispered, "Oh my gods..."

"What?" snapped Belkar. "It's just a stupid boulder."

"It's not just a boulder... It's a rock!"

"For the love of-"

"No, this is it. A big creature-sized rock at high noon... This is where the enemy monster's going to spring out!" Sure enough, a silhouette became noticeable around the edges of the rock. It was visible enough that they could tell it would be gigantic, but despite the bright sunlight overhead, it remained properly shadowed. "It's a... It's a-"

"You know," said Roy, "I can already tell this battle won't be straightforward, so just for a change of pace, I'll play along." He thought for a bit, making the most of his cross-class Listen skill. "It's growling, so it's already angry... but it's got kind of a hiss to it, or maybe a laugh... I bet it's an enemy monster that wasn't actually defeated, and it's come back for revenge!" Drawing his greatsword, he made a GAR-style flourishing pose and called, "You will never prevail against the Order of the Stick! We answer your challenge - Trigak!"

The creature crawled swiftly over top of the giant rock, rearing all six of its serpentine heads at its prey. To some, it was only known as a giant snake-monster. To those who weren't Elan, it was a hydra.

"You... you're not Trigak."

Even Durkon was confused. "Who?"

Vaarsuvius whispered, "I believe Sir Greenhilt is referring to the chimera that I summarily dispatched in comic #20." Seeing Belkar's glare, the elf added, "With some minor, and might I add unrequested, help in the following comic."

Elan nodded knowingly, which was severely disorienting for Roy to watch. "Oh... but Roy, there's no reason for it to come back now."

"What, isn't it a common trope? How's it go, you never hang it up unless you're going to fire it..."

"Bfahfmu'q Bpmqqemv."

"Ah, I believe ye mean Chekhov's Crossbow."

Haley scowled. "Sfzs'q vfzs G huqs qzgr."

"Yeah, that one. The enemy that gets description but you never give a second thought to is always the one that comes back and causes trouble when you don't expect it."

Elan smiled, "Well, first of all, you did expect it. With that pose and everything."

This stopped Roy short, and he scowled. Trying to catch up with Elan's thought process was entirely new to him.

"And second of all, that comic was clearly being played for laughs, not drama. Don't you remember - we shared a punch line together!"

"Yeah, yeah, I remember. It just seemed like it had a chance to be the dramatic thing here, but never mind! It doesn't really matter."

Durkon patted him on the back - well, lower back, anyways. "Aye, dinnae worry aboot it, lad. Ev'ryone has trouble wit tha rules for a Chekhov opportunity."

The hydra, which had just begun leaning down to eat the dangerous-looking yet inattentive fighter, paused when it heard this. Then all six eyes widened in pain, it give a strangled screech, and it lurched to the ground, twitching for several seconds before lying still.

They stared at it, and Belkar gave it an experimental kick. "Huh... head trauma times six, with only one heart to get blood to and from the brains. It's dead, all right."

Vaarsuvius' gave a strange look. "And since when are you proficient at the conduct and enunciation of autopsies?"

"Hey, I know at least fourteen ways to kill a giant reptile by going for the head, and that doesn't include knives. Stabbing just happens to make some funnier noises."

Roy shrugged and led the march further into the valley. "Well, at least it's over."

As they disappeared into the distance, Durkon wondered, "P'rhaps it'd useful, learnin' how ta use puns fer damagin' tha enemy."

Vaarsuvius sniffed. "Hardly. That would pander to theatrical inclinations and trivialize the dedication necessary for cultivating combative prowess."

"Aye, but ye cannae deny it'd be fun ta watch..."