Chapter 2: Page 27
And so draws to a close our peek at life among the Sratha-din. Hardin’s scheme is finally beginning to reveal itself, and his attack appears imminent… which makes this a perfect opportunity for us to return to our main trio and see what they’re up to starting next week! Hard as it may be to believe, Chapter 2 is a little more more than halfway finished now. Amazing to think that a little more than two years ago, our nameless, hooded Ermehn began walking through Gair and kicked off this story!
The week before last, I mentioned that Rachel and I will be attending Baltimore Comic Con in September, selling hardcover editions of Beyond the Western Deep‘s first volume, along with prints and stickers and the like from their Artist’s Alley. I’m happy to announce that I’m also planning on attending Boston Comic Con this year as well, having just submitted the paperwork for a table at their own Artist’s Alley.
As the image shows, Boston Comic Con is almost exactly a month earlier than Baltimore, in August. Because it’s such a hike for Rachel, I’ll be the only one of us in attendance in Boston, but I will be selling the same materials we’ll be selling in Baltimore a month later. If you’re in the area, swing by and say hello!
This week we have a little bit more guest art from Jerome Jactinto — some more Ermehn doodles, along with Quinlan and Dakkan in the mix!
Seeing all of Jerome’s doodles of Beyond the Western Deep characters just gets me more excited about the guest piece he’s doing for the hardcover book. Some other really fantastic artists have also tentatively agreed to contribute guest artwork for the book, and I’m looking forward to being able to share that with you sometime soon!
Two years? O.o Weird. It feels like it’s shorter than that…
Anyways, are the Canid “always hunting” the Ermehn because it’s a sort of Imperial Japan-like ethnic cleansing thing, or because they think of the Ermehn as rebels?
This looks more like a Normands versus scottish highlanders conflict, with the Canids as the Normands.
The fact that they are an old enemy that has long vanquished and exiled, not to mention they are from another species (Unless the seven races are indeed just races or subspecies?),, drives the desire of the Canids to wipe them out for good and take whatever they haven’t grabbed from them already.
Or Hardin is just exaggerating.
Maybe it’s like modern Japanese and they hunt ermehn only for scientific studies?
(these studies are to find out how delicious they are)
Hardin’s plan is going to play out with plenty of blood spill involved on both sides, though if a winner rises from the end remains to be seen. I love Ashtor’s face in the first panel.
The first frame is hilarious, really. I mean Ashtor’s face is perfect, but Hardin’s… priceless. You can totally hear his thoughts through his unimpressed demeanor – “Ah, here we go again…”
The second frame I think is missing some of Hardin’s facial tattoos on his left cheek, but maybe they are supposed to NOT be there for some reason???
I have to wonder (like Hunter) why the Candid are ‘hunting’ the Ermehn; or should I say why they are continuing to hunt them? If they are defeated and driven into the northern wastes, then wouldn’t they just leave them there? Sure, defending borders against raids and fugitives, yes, but hunting/wagging mini-battles… hmmm, perhaps this will be addressed when Quin, Dak and Kenosh arrive in Deltrada. I can imagine Quin will have some questions and after hard-nosed Kenosh presses the ‘peace’ issue (most likely unsuccessfully), I can see our quiet Captain of the Guard gaining some knowledge from Clovis, or an adviser. But we’ll have to see on that front. ;)
Well, I for one am excited to get back to the others – Seeing/meeting the Ermehn have been great, but it is time we returned to the trudging trio of envoys. One thing I just thought of… Kenosh is the Captain of the Lutren Sea Guard. Dakkan is son. Quinlan is the Captain of the Royal Guard. Erm… shouldn’t these guys be travelling with a bit of an entourage? Like nothing big, but at least some guards? If not for their own protection, at least for show to the Canids that they aren’t just some country bumpkins?
Anyways – can’t wait for another installment!
Until next week, cheers and sharp quills,
FT
They most likely want to wipe out the Ermenh and thus finish the insurgency there for good.
Woe betide the poor mooks who draw the short straw and end up having to lug the bundles of tent poles and acres of cloth all over the northern wastes.
(Listening to “Invader” by Judas Priest. Appropriate?)
I agree with Saraa/Freya about the expressions, but then, Kobbsy always draws such amazing ones! My favourite one is Ashtor’s in the second one – he really looks the part of the old, grumpy man there, with that tussled fur and wrinkled eyebrows. And of course, that adorable snaggletooth!
I’m unsure whether the Canid are unpacking their tents to set up camp or whether they’re taking them down for their assault. I’m rather surprised they have such a large one so close to the Canid garrison – surely the Canid send out their patrols wide and often enough to spot them?
(Love the detail of Bevan running through camp to relay his message)
Alright, it seems we’re about to go back to Quin & Co. With them at Deltrada, the very place Hardin is going to attack, that should give us plenty of action and excitement!
Man, two years? Time sure flies…
Back on page 23 Hardin says to “break camp.”
Give ’em hell Hardin!
//YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THE STORM IN THE LAST PANEL AAAHH