Chapter 2: Page 67
Nice timing, Dak! Things could’ve gotten real messy if he’d been a moment or two slow. But hey, what are friends for, right?
The last couple weeks have been very exciting on the Western Deep front! Firstly (and really the only thing I can say definitively), we made the cut for an Artist’s Alley table at C2E2 in Chicago this upcoming April! Rachel and I are planning to be there all three days — April 24th-26th. We’ll have the hardcovers, prints, all that good stuff!
Not much else to mention this week, but I’m hoping that in the coming weeks we’ll have some cool BWD-related news to share!
I haven’t been this anxious for a page to update in a long while! Glad Quinlan kept his head. Hopefully Kenosh has been so lucky – definitely looking forward to the coming weeks.
Here’s a complimentary coupon for a compliment on your art. Redeemable in all participating websites.
I like to think that Dakkan gave the axe wielding ermehn a solid bonk on the head between panels. He seems just too tenacious to stay laying down otherwise!
Now I’m overlaying Scout’s voice on Dakkan . . .
Sounds about right. Also Kenosh sounds like Soldier, Ashtor like Engineer, Clovis like Spy, and in a surprising twist Quin like Heavy (it’s glandular, you see).
Let’s not forget that Hardin sounds like Sniper
Mr. Robot already said Quinlan is Heavy.
I figured Kenosh would sound more stoic, and that Hardin would sound more…. you…………… scottish.
Wink.
Oh huzzah, good show, Dak. Way to help a pal.
I also want to say the composition of this page is fantastic. That close up has great movement and really portrays the close quarters and emotions of all involved. And then a nice pull back to give us a moment to breathe as the action lulls.
It’s curious, though, that the trio ended up in those quarters. There doesn’t seem to be much going on in the immediate vicinity. I wonder what they were looking for.
Oh , so glad they made it out alive !
What a beautiful piece from VarVau! I actually was wondering if the Tamian had an actual holy sanctuary or pilgrimage that they do to become one with Tesque or something. Fortunately, this fantastic image answers my question!
And way to go Dakkan! It was unexpecting that he just mowed down the Ermehn group like that but it’s hilarious. So far so good! they managed to survive that skirmish without any bloodshed….. *sigh* something tells me they arent going to be so lucky next time.
C2E2! :D http://www.c2e2.com
Mr. Vau speaks the truth, I wasn’t sure if it was the convention’s non-conventional acronym, or your location within it.
Quinlan actually remembered his sword, now we would see the annoying “””””” around it anymore…I hope.
Yes! I have to admit, I thought Dakkan was too busy with his opponent to step in, but I am delighted to have been
(Curse you enter key)
proven wrong. I love how these two are always watching out for each other. I love those expressions in the first panel- from that look of sheer viciousness on Dakkan’s face there, to the surprise on Quinlan’s.
Yess Quinlan got his sword! And I love the little details on the Ermehn- that one groaning on the ground (part anger part pain, I imagine) and the one Quinlan Tesque’d getting back up.
Going by that spot of blood hanging from the Ermehn’s nose in the first panel, looks like my theory on Dakkan busting his nose was right. And the tuft on Quinlan’s left ear is STILL NOTICEABLY SHORTER IN ALL PANELS internal consistency makes me so happy ;_;
And out to the rain our heroes go. Be safe, and I’m hoping Kenosh is alright as well, though I doubt he’ll be pleased to come back to an empty room (if he does return, at least)
One
INT. CANID GARRISON GUEST QUARTERS. NIGHT
A sparsely furnished candle-lit tower room. Three semi-conscious ERMEHN SOLDIERS are it’s only occupants.
The sound of heavy footsteps approach.
Enter KENOSH
KENOSH (looking around):
‘”Stay here” I told ’em but I should have bloody known! Who’d they think I was bloody well talking to, the bloody wall? How difficult is it to bloody well stay put for five bloody minutes? But noooo! They bloody well bugger off the moment I’m out of bloody earshot!’
KENOSH addresses the ERMEHN SOLDIERS:
‘Prithee ne’er do wells! Did my grinning son and heir or his nervous orange friend happen to say where they were running off to?’
ERMEHN SOLDIERS:
All groan incoherently.
KENOSH:
‘Typical! Bloody typical! Probably find them in the kitchen trying to snaffle all the salmon or whatever the hell it is that Tamians eat…’
Exit KENOSH
The sound of heavy footsteps and exclamations of general grumpiness recede into the distance.
This . . . this is just fantastic . . . well done.
Beautiful.
AFTER KENOSH EXITS THREE FIGURES LAY ON THE GROUND, GROANING.
THE FEMALE: Let’s go.
EXCITABLE ONE: We can’t.
THE FEMALE: Why not?
ONE-EYE: We’re waiting for Hardin.
THE FEMALE: You’re sure it was here?
EXCITABLE ONE: What?
THE FEMALE: That we were to wait.
ONE-EYE: He said in the tower. Do you see any others?
EXCITABLE ONE: What are you insinuating? That we’ve come to the wrong place?
THE FEMALE: He should be here.
ONE-EYE: He didn’t say for sure he’d come.
THE FEMALE: And if he doesn’t come?
ONE-EYE: Calm yourself.
EXCITABLE ONE: Calm . . . calm . . . The Felid say cawm. You know the story of the Canid in the doghouse?
THE FEMALE: Yes.
EXCITABLE ONE: Tell it to me.
THE FEMALE: Ah stop it!
EXCITABLE ONE: A Canid having drunk a little more than usual proceeds to a…
THE FEMALE: STOP IT!
EXCITABLE ONE: You’re angry? Forgive me.
THE FEMALE: What do we do now?
ONE-EYE: Wait.
THE FEMALE: Yes, but while waiting.
EXCITABLE ONE: What about hanging ourselves?
THE OTHERS TURN TO STARE AT HIM, WELL RECOGNIZING THE REFERENCE.
I feel like our first “Waiting for Godot” reference marks a very important milestone! What it is I’m not entirely sure, but it’s still awesome :)
We should think up more skits like this. We could start a BWD version of Robot Chicken or something.
Entries:
1. Modern Canid General
2. Trees’s and Tronn’s gloriousness here
3+ = ?
Re: Bloody nose
I think that might actually be a scar on his nose?
Late to comment, but here to comment nonetheless. Here comes Dakkan to save the day, and the two escape, though I don’t think they’ll be lucky enough to leave the next confrontation without bloodshed–and outside the room, the fighting is going to be far from bloodless.
Hardin is likely going after General McHamface right now, god knows what Kenosh is doing, and everyone is generally trying to kill/shove someone out. Sounds like a fun party to me. (Whether Hardin is going to manage to kill General McHamface yet is another thing entirely, though seeing Tosch is still alive and poses an approaching threat… well. It’s possible Clovis is going to bite the ice and his brother is going to take over. We’ll have to wait and see).
I call him general Snowball!
Next page: Mayhem in the courtyard.
Then “Mayhem in the Courtyard” turns out to be the BWD version of the band Panic! At the Disco, and there’s a giant Ermehn/Canid rave happening in the courtyard instead of a battle. The only one who isn’t participating is Kenosh.
It is 2.39am.
The DJ has just turned up the volume for the sixth time in ten minutes.
It’s humid and the smell of sweat permeates everything.
Kenosh, sitting with his back to the room, gestures to his empty whiskey glass. It is refilled. Little ripples in the liquid visibly pulse to the beat. He signals to the barmaid that she should leave the bottle. It’s against club policy but after a second’s hesitation she leaves it anyway.
Nearby, on the dance-floor, Dakkan continues to furiously bust out the robot.
Quinlan stands to the side of the main group, occasionally making some motions when eyes go his way but not really “dancing” per se. Clovis is involved in a rather refined dance–at least, as stately as one can dance in a rave–with that female Canid soldier from earlier, and the four Sratha-Din who came along for the attack started a macarena block that is slowly growing as more Canid guards and Ermehn warriors join in.
Well I certainly missed a lot while I was gone.
But as it turns out, Hardin has eyes on the same Canid as Clovis is wooing – his real reason for attacking the garrison. The only way to solve it, of course, is with an Ermehn-Canid dance battle.
“DJ,” Hardin says solemnly, slowly unclasping his cloak. “A fat beat, please.”
Okay, the last line is one I lost it at; thanks, PB&J.
You’re welcome, my dear. I do aim to please!
X)
No, no, Alex, THIS is silly.
It’s even in the name!