Chapter 1: Page 45
Hi everybody! Apologies again for the delayed page – but the good news is I [Rachel] was able to put in a solid week of work and catch back up to my schedule. I’m actually planning to put up Chp1 pg46 tomorrow to make up for last week’s delay, so stay tuned! :D We’re reaching the final act of Book One, and the grand story is just beginning! Back to you, Alex!
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This week’s page introduces a few elements into the larger world at large that observant readers will want to keep note of. Specifically that the Vulpin capital of Nessa is the only reliable source of water in the entire Vulpin capital, making anywhere else in the kingdom of Navran less-than-hospitable for races that rely on it (such as the water-loving Lutren).
Because of this, and the Vulpin’s rather outgoing attitude towards accommodating the other races of the world, the capital city itself has become a prime melting pot for the Four Kingdoms. Every culture, race, creed – all thrown together into a relatively small area of urban landscape in the middle of the desert. This makes Janik’s role as a diplomat that much more important, and as the story evolves, we’ll see more of how cross-kingdom politics really factor into the proceedings.
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This week’s page also allowed me to start sowing in a few idioms into the world of the Four Kingdoms. I do love the idea of natural sayings evolving in these worlds themselves, and the idiom “Like a Tamian without a tree” really does feel like it fits into the lexicon at large, being a kind of equivalent to “a fish out of water”.
For the record as well, Janik is eating a steamed vegetable medley of local Sunsgrovian origins, while Quinlan’s got a noodle dish made with local starches (likely a kind of buckwheat). Chances are pretty high that he’s got some vegetables diced up in there for some additional nutritional value. Dakkan, meanwhile, is eating a seafood soup, likely flavored with a broth derived from local vegetables. The bread is going to be a simple recipe, but loaded with seeds (as most Sunsgrove breads are). Kenosh, meanwhile, is eating a classic cedar-plank salmon. They’re all drinking a local ale – likely the last remaining harvest of spruce beer (a winter specialty in the Western Deep derived from – yes – spruce buds!)
*Gasp* Could it be…Kenosh…lightening up?! *faints*
Yeah… O_O
It’s actually kind of scary.
Anyways, great to see the story begin to take off. You guys did a great job at introducing characters and cultures. I look forward to it! :)
I like to think that salmon puts Kenosh in a really good mood, too :D
I loved the banter between Dakkan, Janik, and Quinlan, but Kenosh’s rough laughing face cracked me up, especially compared to Dakkan’s expression in the same panel. Their idioms also fit into the universe very well, though I think Dakkan was ad-libbing juuuust a little there.
It’s funny, but as soon as I read Kenosh’s “What’s a Lutren without water?” line, I immediately thought, “A Tamian without trees!” Then I read on to the next panel, and there was Quin voicing my exact thoughts! Gee, I coulda written this! Love it when that happens!
Great page, and well worth the extra week’s wait. But, if you guys *insist* on giving us another page tomorrow, we’ll just have to put up with it!
Oh my God, Kenosh is laughing, at a joke! I can’t wait for tomorrow too!
Hey, I’ve been silently reading these for the last couple of months. They are beautiful works of art! I love the dedication you both put into the characters and story.
Please don’t hold back when taking time to polish things up, even if it means we have to wait for a bit.
The quality is absolutely pristine!
Hearing all of Kenosh’s lines in Neeson’s voice now.
Like everyone else has pointed out, it’s truly shocking to see Kenosh actually laughing! Let’s hope he returns to his regular old grumpy attitude soon; I hear mirth is dangerous to your health.
Dakkan’s face in the first panel cracks me up, as does his sudden turnabout in panel three after hearing about the lack of water in Navran. There’s a lot of good stuff like that, just like in any good page of BTWD – even a small detail like the one-eared Canid (surprised I haven’t mentioned him yet) scratching his throat in the background add so much.
(Incidentally, I believe your words “…the Vulpin capital of Nessa is the only reliable source of water in the entire Vulpin capital” should read “…the only reliable source of water in the entire Vulpin NATION”)
It’s nice to know that the Vulpin are so open to members of all species – I presume that includes the Felis, their old rivals, and the Ermehn and Polcan, the two outcast races?
And yes, it is nice to know how the local idioms and the particular foods our friends are consuming. Like I always say, little details like that…
Dakkan’s first sight of Vulpin lands will immediately be followed with him saying the classic line: “Screw this, I’m outta here.”
Dakkan is definitely my favorite lol