Chapter 1: Page 57
Hardin’s words have generated some sympathy from his former detractors, but the reality of the situation strikes hard – the Ermehn are in no situation to attack their oppressors, and some have even accepted their race’s supposed fate.
After a few generations of living in the Wastes, it’s easy to view things as hopeless. With the situation against the Canid getting closer and closer to all-out conflict, it’s clear that the status quo can’t remain. Kenosh explained it as “escalating tension” – though that could be an understatement, especially with Hardin around!
Next week, Hardin finishes his case, and we learn more about his overall plans. Hardin is clearly one to strike first – but what that strike entails is still currently a mystery.
This week, we have a bit of fanart from SaraaLuna once more, who graced us with some Hardin pieces! I look at them as “normal Hardin” and “battle damage Hardin”! Thanks, SaraaLuna! Remember, if you have any artwork you’d like to have appear on the site, e-mail us the art or a link at thewesterndeep (at) gmail (dot) com!
Yay, I get to comment first!
Great page, with lots of great emotion and poses and expressions and Important Stuff Said, but what I really like is how it almost looks likes Hardin’s followers off to the left in the first panel have found themselves a nice cushy sofa from which to watch the scene unfold. (“Hey, did anyone bring the popcorn?”)
It is pretty interesting how laidback they are. As confident as they are in Hardin, they seem awfully comfortable and forgotten over there out of the way. I guess Hardin is sorta hogging the limelight.
Ooh, an excellent use of the zoom out! It provides an interesting juxtaposition of what Hardin is saying, seeing the dueling ring and simple camp. It’s also cool to see the entire dueling ring and exactly how separated Hardin is from everyone else. I’m waiting for that symbolic stepping across the line!
The poor Ermehn are such a melancholy species, and with good reason. Beneath all of their necessary cruelty and survival instinct, they’re just a race who’s dying out, and expect to face genocide by the end of this generation. Hardin is going to have more trouble rousing those resigned to their fate than those who are still fiery and kicking.
…but on a lighter note, now that Highwing has mentioned it, I can totally see the comfy couch Hardin’s band is sitting on. They’re a really chill group (no pun intended, considering their surroundings.)
I count thirteen adults around the circle (excluding Hardin’s bunch), I wonder if this is the entire tribe? Are they a small or average one on ermehn standards?
This wouldn’t be the whole tribe, no. Ermehn tribes can be large or small, most having at the very least a few dozen able-bodied Ermehn.
Regarding that one-armed Ermehn; would he have lost his arm in a duel like this one, or from some creature in Aisling like the Treewalkers? (Or through something else entirely?)
Every time I see this page, I always notice that darn sofa… I’m sorry, but that’s really what it looks like! The shape, the way they sit on it… It’s a rock couch!
Anyway, we get more insight into just how seemingly hopeless the Ermehn situation is. Given how powerful the Canid are, it’d make sense that all the Ermehn tribes united probably couldn’t defeat them in a direct war. It’s truly sad to see just how low they’ve sunk, to the point that many of them have come to accept that they will eventually die out. It makes me root all the more for Hardin, even though his plan to save his people will probably lead to crossing many moral boundaries…
It’s always nice to see more fan art, especially from Lovely Luna!