Chapter 1: Page 9
This week we get a bit of history into Quinlan’s predecessor as Captain of the Royal Guard – his own grandfather, Caldus! Caldus was the product of a more barbaric era, when the remnants of the great wars that created the Four Kingdoms were still threatening the peaceful folk of the land. Back then, if you weren’t a warrior, you were a coward, and the unfortunate multi-generational gap that separated him from his grandson resulted in more than their fair share of fights.
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The original version of this page was, as many prior ones, a bit too wordy. The layout, while generally better than the old-old version of the page, still felt a bit static. The extreme close-up of Quinlan wasn’t really doing it for us, along with the subsequent close-up of an old, grizzled Caldus in the panel below. The panel of Quinlan watching the other Tamian also didn’t necessarily sit right because Quinlan is actually meant to be pretty good with a bow and arrow, so his passive observation wouldn’t gel too well with future events in the comic. In the end, this whole sequence was taken back to the proverbial (and actual) drawing board, starting with the design for Quinlan’s grandfather.
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Originally, Caldus was a grizzled war veteran who looked… well, mean. He was admittedly a bit one-note, but because Rachel had the brilliant idea of showing Caldus in his prime, as well as when he was a bit older and acting as Quinlan’s guardian, we got a chance to see a few more sides of him aside from “disappointed patriarch”. Caldus was by all accounts the ideal Tamian warrior – fearless, acrobatic, deadly up close and at a distance – when there were no more wars to fight, he would go home disappointed. When Quinlan showed little interest in getting gutted on the front lines for honor and glory, Caldus – who risked that and more in countless battles over his lifetime – was bound to take offense.
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Now, you may be asking yourself where Quinlan’s parents are throughout all this. That is another story for another time!
No fanart this week, but in lieu of that, I figured I would show the cover to the old pitch from 2010. Quinlan here is hanging on a branch at the edge of the forest, looking out onto a very early version of a Canid garrison. The piece was meant to instill a sense of scope and scale of journeys to come – perhaps we will revisit the concept in the future with our new chapter teaser images? Hm, ideas ideas – always ideas! Anyway, enjoy!
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awesome-and sad..kinda…
Caldus looks amazing!!! If you ever release that prequel storyline you mentioned back in the prologue I hope he’s in it! Living up to parent’s expectations is a theme that many of us are familiar with, though in my case I was always more frustrated with the fact that my parents did not have expectations for me. Not that they thought I would become nothing but they felt I was my own person. Made me feel lost for a while but I’m glad they gave me that freedom now that I know what I want to be.
It must have hurt Caldus, but I wonder if he ever grew to respect his grandson for who he was? Here I go speculating when I know the answer is going to be revealed eventually.
I know exactly what you mean, Tim. My parents were the same way – very much not wanting to force their viewpoint. A parenting approach with many different pros and cons.
Ooh, I love intergenerational strife like this, because I feel I can relate to both sides. Caldus had his own past and experiences that informed the way he viewed Quin, and I can’t dislike him for that. Excellent choice of showing Caldus in his prime, because it definitely helps reinforce the notion that he’s a product of his time.
Also, his sword is awesome.
I love the armor designs. They are very unique and original. I’m liking this comic more and more! :)
Wow, this is really good. In the second panel, Caldus has a kind of manic expression, which is cool.
I draw sometimes, as a hobby, and I have to say that I am fascinated by this drawing style. It’s just amazing. I have to admit, I’ve put a few elements of it into my doodles. Hope that’s not stealing!
I think we’re more flattered! :)
We’re glad you’re enjoying the comic! And if you ever have any Beyond the Western Deep-themed doodles, send them over! We’d love to see them!
A great page, and a great commentary.
I like the mournful expressions from both Quin and Janik on the first panel. On the second panel, we get a flashback to Quinlan’s grandfather Caldus, a real badass! I wouldn’t want to be part of an enemy army if I had to face him leaping down from the treetops! In the third, we get what I think is a cameo of King Dabheid in his younger (though not much slimmer years), and then a picture of Quin’s granddad knocking over the furniture in anger over his grandson’s decision to become a scout.
The additional background you provide on Caldus clears a lot of things up. What I like the most about it is the pains you go to not make him a one-dimensional “angry patriarch” but make us actually understand why he would be so disappointed that his grandson has chosen to take the relatively safe and easy path in life when he risked his life almost daily defending the Tamian people on the field of battle. It makes both him and Quinlan very sympathetic characters, and I love writers who are able to make us feel such a connection even with side characters.
His design is also great – his strong build and impressive musculature even in old age really conveys the image of the ideal warrior, brave, strong and honorable. I really like the thumbnail comparing his younger and older selves – though I must say that reddish nose makes him look like he had quite a few beers too many :)
I do have to wonder about his age… Given that he’s Quinlan’s grandfather, that would probably put him at over 60 when he was still out swinging his sword. If Quin’s parents are already dead, and he’s in his early 20’s, it seems both them and Caldus had their children relatively early in life.
I also wonder what’s up with the sword he carries in his first panel. It looks like mix between a machete and a baton. The way there’s a big wood piece up one side of the blade makes it look a little… unpractical – it’d be difficult hacking through foliage (or limbs) when you’ve got something like that hindering your cutting power. Any specific reason for it?
Cool image of the old cover, btw… even if it does feature Quin with those tiny ears and the head that’s shaped like a candy I can’t for the life of me remember the name of right now.