Chapter 1: Page 16
Today we introduce a new character into the storyline: Dakkan!
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Dakkan has always been an important character in the story, going all the way back to when the idea was nothing more than a few pages of prose. Dakkan is actually Rachel’s character, and originally had nothing to do with Beyond the Western Deep at all! When I realized I just absolutely had to work with Rachel on this comic, it also made perfect sense to request that her Dakkan character – with whose design she was familiar and could easily work him into the BWD canon – join the party.
One of the first Dakkan/Quin sketches ever!
The character’s original demeanor, pre-Dakkan integration, was as a kind of jokester – the type of character who would put you in good spirits regardless of the circumstances. Dakkan lent himself very well to this, just by design, and I personally love writing his character – so it all worked out well!
Of course, as with all elements of Beyond the Western Deep, Dakkan went through a number of iterations before we settled on his current look. Originally, his outfit was very simple – nothing really to look at. I’ve talked a lot previously about simple outfits looking too much like “costumes”, and Dakkan was no exception.
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He wore a simple breastplate, some light chain mail – the staff was always a part of his getup, even before we worked him into the comic story, so it felt right to keep it. The scarf/ascot was always there as well, though the design for it has changed as the Lutren armor designs changed.
After the original printed pitch was turned down in 2010, Rachel went back to the drawing board on a lot of pre-established designs, eventually turning her attention to the Lutren themselves. We began to ask ourselves questions like “What would a water-born race wear for armor?” and “What materials would these creatures use?” Basically, questions we should have asked ourselves way back at the beginning. The Lutren redesign had begun!
Up-ending the tea table!
The first things Rachel updated were Dakkan’s clothes/armor along with his father’s. Kenosh makes an entrance in a couple pages, but his design has always been important along with Dakkan and Quinlan’s own.
I could go on about it, but instead I’ll just insert the rather detailed image Rachel did to illustrate the changes are describe the process:
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The redesign helped in more ways than one. It made Dakkan’s and Kenosh’s outfits more visually interesting, and also led to future redesigns of the other races. As I mentioned a few weeks back, Quinlan’s outfit changes went through a very similar process – and it was all thanks to this little experiment!
I think Dakkan is my new best friend now- I adore otters! I think it’s awesome how you changed the armor to…what was it? Sharky skin? The color suites the otter race…Anyway, the new look is cool! I love the grin he gives Quin when he says ‘you’re late’. It’s like saying ‘Ha! you’re in trouble..AGAIN! and this time I didn’t help!’ without words. I’m dying for more….and I almost wish you’d update twice a week-BUT-I know, this stuff takes time and you have lives…so I’ll just go pout in the corner awaiting next week!
*agrees with almost everything Ranger has already said*
Sharkskin armor! How cool is that? Kinda reminds me of the fishscale raingear I gave Sam in the original version of “TCB.” And it does look so much better than the original clothing designs. And, of course, we’ve been spending so much time with Quin so far in this story that I’d forgotten Rachel is the absolute Otter Master Renderer, and seeing Dakkan in all his appealing fullness here really drives that home. You know the artist has really succeeded when you can feel after just a couple of panels that you’d like to have a character for a friend IRL!
But what I really want to know now is, what’s the deal with that elaborate green meeting tent? After all the pains you went through in the previous two pages to explain how the Tamian largely eschew permanent homes and structures, I don’t think they’d have anything like that around. Is it something the Lutren brought with them and erected? If so, that was a lot of trouble they went to. Inquiring minds want to know!
*gasp* You wouldn’t happen to be the same Highwing that wrote the Urthblood Saga, would you?
*gasp* I’m pretty sure he is Hunter! *gasp*
I am indeed!
I’ve known Alex since around 2002-2003. He’s been favoring me with glimpse of this project for several years now, starting back when it was going under the working title of “Four Kingdoms,” so I’ve long been following this endeavor with great interest. I am so, so happy that it is now not only getting the public attention it deserves, but that its long gestation allowed Alex and Kobb/Rachel to polish it up and make it even more awesome than it would have been otherwise. I’m really, really enjoying this so far, and although I’ve been privy to its creation for some time now, I am as much in the dark as anyone here as to where the story is going and what plot twists lie in store for us. So I for one intend to keep reading for as long as this comic lasts, and enjoy every step of the journey!
Good question about the building, and it’s one that I can explain without spoiling anything, heh.
The impermanence thing applies mostly to Tamian homes. They need a place to sleep at night, but they generally don’t sit around inside all day. They like open spaces, and do all their work and play outside.
However, Sunsgrove is less of a insular community than it used to be. They now have alliances with other races, and with alliances come foreign visitors and even the odd immigrant. Important Tamian citizens are more likely to need to entertain foreign guests, so they tend to have bigger homes that are accessible from the ground. (The Lutren especially aren’t known for their tree-climbing skills, haha.) A Tamian with no ties and not many possessions, however, would probably just crash in one of the many communal hammocks in the higher branches.
This building we’re seeing is one that’s primarily used for official audiences with the Tamian king. He also has a dwelling built into it on the upper level, but doesn’t spend any more time there than he has to.
Yay, a conference center!
*sets up online scheduling and automatied billing* :D
Yay, Dakkan! Was wondering when he’d show up!
Hey, it’s Dakkan!! He just happens to be an old friend of mine from a nice place called Lancepaw’s Fort….Funny seeing you around again, mate :D
He’s come quite a ways since those ol’ days. :D
good to see! Man, those were the days, though :P
This panel feels weird. The main character was so sad/glum just a little bit earlier and now, after just a few jumps and clothes change, he’s snarking away. Maybe he can do it because he knows Dakkan from elsewhere but it’s just hard to believe this could happen.
I worried this might happen for some people. There is an implied passage of time between this page and the last – the new page requires a click or page turn to get to, and we’ve jumped straight to Quin bursting out of his front door. He’s had time to get dressed and get set mentally for his meeting with the king.
But it is a little jarring to see Quin smiling that big so soon. Could have been nice to transition from solemn to “at ease” using surprise, but Janik already warned Quin that Dakkan was in town, so that wouldn’t make sense either.
I’ll see what I can do to improve this – thanks for the critique. I don’t plan to go too crazy on fixing old pages (in order to keep the new ones coming on schedule), but tweaks I’m game for. In this case, I may just soften Quin’s expression in the third panel.
And we come to the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the introduction of Dakkan! Those of us who followed the build-up to the comic are already familiar with him, and with Kobb’s position as Master Otter Renderer, as Wing told us, having him as a main character felt most appropriate. It’s actually kinda surprising when you think about it that it took this long for him to be introduced. I’ll have more to say on him later.
I think the meeting tent looks great, and it makes sense that the Tamian would have to adapt a bit to other species visiting or even emigrating to their lands, including setting up more elaborate and well-appointed homes. They need to be careful though… If this goes too far, the influx of foreigners with their strange, foreign cultures might corrupt the Tamians into adopting their decadent, slothful lifestyle and abandon the proper, upstanding ways of their ancestors. Before you know it, Sunsgrove will be as much of a no-good morass of wastrels as the rest of the world!!!
^_^
Personally, I don’t think the transition to this page from the last one is jarring. He is a bit sad and glum at being reminded of his new duties and his old relationship with his grandfather, but seeing his good friend again would understandably cheer him up. If nothing else, he should be able to at least pretend to be in high spirits given the importance of the upcoming meeting.
It was interesting to know that Dakkan was not originally part of Teed’s vision for his comic, and that it was the co-operation with Kobb that convinced him to add him to the story. A Canon Immigrant, I think TvTropes would call it. It was also interesting seeing the evolution of his look. As with most things since the start of the project, he has changed for the better, with a more compelling look to him, and it also helped improve the visual style for the other races. Shows what one little experiment can do!
When I say how much better something looks now compared to how it did in the past, I’m often worried I’ll be giving an implied insult to your old styles, No such thing is intended, just so you know. Even at its early stage, the comic looked really interesting, and could’ve been a great story. It’s just that the improved visuals have added so much to that story :)
Heh first comment in years! I love the characters dakkan is especially my favorite! I can relate with him alot thank you Rachel for making him
Hehe yeah it’s been a long time since people have commented on these early pages! Thank you for reading, and for the kind words! :)