Chapter 2: Page 22
[Apologies for the end-of-Saturday update, folks! This page fought me all the way down. :p – Rachel]
This week we finally get a good look at Deltrada Garrison and some of the surrounding environs that it’s protecting. After all, if there was no imposing Canid presence at the border between the Four Kingdoms and the Northern Wastes, what would prevent the Ermehn from simply marching south? Canid might in this world isn’t all bluster after all!
Deltrada Garrison and the concept of the Canid border guard take some cues in the lore from the Roman occupation of Britannia and their outposts to separate “civilized” society from the barbarian hordes of the north. The most famous of these real-life structures would probably be Hadrian’s Wall, many segments of which still exist today.
Unlike Hadrian’s Wall, however, the Canid didn’t have to build too many artificial fortifications to keep the Ermehn in place. As we’ve seen throughout the Ermehn side of the story, the border regions are quite mountainous — and while on the face of it this wouldn’t be a problem for the Ermehn or the Canid, the steep mountains, constant storms, and generations of fighting have made the border region exceptionally dangerous for both sides.
An older concept sketch of a possible interior layout for Deltrada Garrison
So while there are still forts and periodic artificial walls here and there for the most accessible paths down from the Northern Wastes, the most historically well-traveled path funnels through the rocky landscape and into Deltrada Pass, an ancient and imposing gap in the nearly impenetrable mountains. It is here where the Canid’s most well-known fortress sits, the first line of defense against Ermehn incursion from the north.
Is it significant that Bevan still has his hood up around Hardin and Ashtor?
I would hazard a guess at no, it’s only a personal preference
So the plot escalates! And of course, more Canid-caused difficulties. Hopefully Bevan isn’t about to join the death toll or be captured.
Ooh! Ermehn text!
Anyhow, I would’ve thought that something as strategically important as the Deltrada Garrison would have been a bit bigger – that’s not much more than a small border fort.
That overlooking ridge looks like a nasty place if a raiding party were to manage to sneak a few ermehn up there before the battle. They could push boulders over the cliff face and shower arrows down, all while being too high up for and return fire to reach them. Sure, you’d have to do some mountaineering to get up there, but that would make it all but impossible to take the ridge once it was occupied. It would be a good place for a watch tower, even if it took climbing up a rope ladder every day to get in.
I like the background coloring on this page, it gives a heavy, somber feeling to the scene. Hardin’s shadow in the second panel looks wonky, though.
I get the feeling Quinlan, Dakkan, and Kenosh are almost at the garrison as well.
I suspect you’re right!
Poor Dakkan, looks like the closest thing to salmon there will be lutefisk.
Ah, so now we see where the Quin and Hardin plotlines are going to converge…
I agree with Keldor that I actually expected Deltrada Garrison to be somewhat larger. Looks like Quin & Co will get it even more cramped than I realized. And to be in the middle of an Ermehn raid and all. It looks like this will be a fight Quinlan won’t be able to avoid.
Nice touch with the Ermehn text too, I hadn’t noticed that until Keldor pointed it out.
I and Saraa Luna actually discussed that elsewhere, we figure that it isn’t actually Deltrada, but a much smaller outpost that they have to get through first.
Or that Deltrada is at a far greater distance than we believed.
I wonder how they’re even going to go about attacking it…Will they be Braveheart Scot-like, screaming charge at it? Or will they do it by stealth? Judging from what Bevan is saying I think they’re doing the latter, but idk.
Ah, watch the angle of the first frame. I know it was just to make Hardin seem opposing, but it almost answered the question if there is anything worn underneath kilts! :P
This page really had me thinking. The first thing I noticed is that Hardin and the old guy… hmm, Ashtor?… have a tartan on, as do some others of Hardin’s Horde, but more importantly, Bevan does not. I have to wonder if that has any significance or if it is just a fashion choice. It could be just a few have tribe ‘colours’ and some don’t, but I thought it was interesting none the less.
Also, I see that Hardin places great faith in Bevan despite his young age. He’s obviously a scout – since he knows all the goods about the fortress – and judging by his observations, an experienced one. Although it is speculated that he hides his identity for ‘shame’ of something, I have to think this hood wearing is for another reason…
In the second last frame, when it is just Bevan and Hardin, they look really similar. Almost brother-like. Hardin is obviously the older, sturdier built one, but Bevan looks to have the same features, just not as mature (or battle-hardened). Also, their markings are kinda similar. They both have a wispy swoosh on either cheek and three dots. Maybe a family marking? Perhaps they are brothers (full or half) or even cousins.
Overall, I have a real solid impression this is going to be like the Battle of Thermopylae. It’s a narrow pass and does not need an overly large army to protect it, if done correctly. However, I will say I am a little amazed it appears to be just fortified with wooden walls and not stone, considering it is supposed to be a large and imposing fortress (and it’s literally surrounded by rocks). A nice clear day and some fire arrows would do away with that place quite easily.
The other thing that had me scratching my head a bit was the fact Hardin is standing up on a cliff overlooking the fortress – which can be seen with plain eyes – and yet he isn’t worried he’d be spotted? Also, it’s odd that he’s camped out a horde of beasts there for well… a while anyway since they have training grounds and stakes set… and yet no Canid scout has seen them? Perhaps they have and we just don’t know it yet.
And Hooray! Quin and Dak (and Kenosh) are about to make the frames again. :) As previously said I think this is a fight Quin will not be able to avoid and I have a sneaky suspicion that Quin and Bevan are going to be foils to each other… Don’t ask me why. Just a feeling I have.
Well, looking forward to the next page!
Cheers,
FT
I apologize for being a few years late to the party!
However, I would love it if they did turn out to be brothers! ^^
You don’t need to apologise! Being a few years late to the party is trendy!