Chapter 2: Page 72
When a character like Quinlan finds himself in a one-on-one life or death struggle, especially when for all intents and purposes he hasn’t ever really been in this situation before, Rachel and I wanted to make sure he acted (and reacted) in the right way.
While Quinlan retaliated based on his immediate instincts just a few moments before in the guest quarters (and made it out successfully), he now finds himself at that crossroads where he can’t just react to what’s happening — he needs to observe and plan, and rely not just on his training, but his ability to improvise on it.
Whether or not he’s successful is a completely different matter!
This week, I realized there was a piece of art that longtime Western Deep fan and guest artist Sawyer Ruzzin sent in way back in November that I’d never posted! I simply could not believe how negligent I’d been in not posting it back then, so without further ado, Sawyer Ruzzin’s take on Quinlan!
As I’ve said before, Sawyer, I just love your sketchy lineart, and Quinlan looks so awesome! There’s a video making the rounds of a Danish (?) trickshot archer doing some cool stuff with a hip-slung quiver, which seemed awfully strange, but I am rather growing on the idea! Of course, it seems the “historical” elements of that video were a bit suspect, but it’s a cool look — especially for Quin!
Thanks so much, Sawyer! And many many apologies for not getting this wonderful piece up before now!
So … Tesquey!
If ever there was a page worth waiting for, this was it! Now let’s see if you can top it next week!
Agreed. This page is amazing! It’s even better if you go back and re-read the previous 3-4 pages that lead up to this one.
Just to point out, I think Page 71 doesnt show up when trying to access it via the Archives. I dont know if it’s automatically being taken care of or if you guys already noticed it.
Anyway, major props for Rachel this week for how she illustrated the action here. Just looking at Quinlan’s face in the 2nd panel really nails the rush of adrenaline, confusion and fear that’s going on in Quin’s head right now. Absolutely love it along with this week’s fan art! I’m a big fan of sketchy art and Sawyer’s Quinlan here looks really amazing. I’m actually getting some old school Amano vibes from it!
Thanks for the heads-up, Veigue! The last page had a box that wasn’t checked, so it wasn’t archiving it properly. Should be taken care of now!
All that martial arts training sure is gonna pay off! Though I’m not sure Quin has actually had to use Tesque on a serious opponent before…
Them beat-up saplings in the woods don’t count?
What good is grabbing his cape going to do? It’s not like he can twist it around the guy.
He’s trying to mirror his fight with Crim as much as possible. It worked then, maybe it’ll work now.
Even with your quiver on your hip it’s an absolute bugger to keep your arrows from spilling everywhere when you run (don’t run with arrows, kids). Old timey archers must have had a method of keeping them in. Whatever method Quinlan uses works an absolute treat. Look at that cool flip!
Actually in the last panel, all but one of the arrows fell out.
… Alex, what are you doing.
In my experience with archery, a quiver didn’t slow me down or impede my movement.
Nice to see plenty of fellow archers here. I couldn’t help but be drawn to a sport where all the nasty, tiring running around inherent in other sports is not only discouraged but actually against the rules.
Haven’t practiced in ages, but another archer here. I should probably start getting out my recurve again.
!!!
Huzzah for the southpaws! It’s great to see another lefty roundabouts. :) It’s also nice to see so many archers. Though I’m an absolute beginner, I love the sport. (Dad wants to saddle me with a compound, though. Blech.)
Don’t die, Quin! Man, the way the page was put together this week almost gave me a heart attack- for a moment it looked like Quin had taken a slash across his stomach. *whew* It will be interesting to see the outcome of this battle; if (as is quite possible) Quin and Dak end up killing their opponents, how will that affect them? I’m assuming that neither of them have yet killed another…er…sentient being.
Poor Quinlan looks so dazed here. Then again, he has no reason not to; he’s hardly in a fun situation, and the weather doesn’t help. The expression on his face in the second panel says everything. Love the lightning lighting on One Eye. c:
“I shall now proceed to pull you y your cape, and as you struggle to free it from my grasp, you will accidentaly fall off the wall to your demise, hereby eliminating you as a threat, reminding the audience that even recurring characters can perish within the story, keeping the PG-13 rating in this wecomic intact y dying offscreen, and allowing me to maintain my status as a lovable and mostly “pure of heart” character by making your death seem purely circumstantial, all at once!”
Diabolical.
Disney?! HERE?!
Caesar is such a kill-stealer. Nobody but Harry Potter gets to off Malfoy!
Remember that time Hermione punched Malfoy in the face? Remember how it was the greatest moment in all of Harry Potter? Why not cheer yourself up and
watch it right now?
My oh my, this is very detailed in its colouration.
Heya! Don’t think I’ve seen you around before!
Agreed. Welcome to BWD!
Excellent pacing on this page! The sword hitting the torch on the wall made me chuckle.
The effect of the water flying off Quinlan’s body as he rolls looks really cool!
Something about the look on Quinlan’s face makes the entire scene so much more believable. Again with the beautiful lighting- that lighting really sets the mood.
Gotta than Crim for knocking the rust off ya, Quin! Something tells me the cloak is going to tear. Careful, Quinlan!
And you can still tell one ear is shorter than the other. Beautiful work, Rachel.
I feel like if the cloak tears Quin will fall on the ground but One-eye will also be falling to the side.
And one of them will get trampled by Dakkan’s fight. It’s chaos and it’s great.
I agree Shieldmaiden! I hope Dakkan is okay !!!
Not much that I could say about today’s page that hasn’t already been said, except there are some pertinent Order of the Stick comics that go with today’s page.
(WARNING: There be some spoilers ahead. Non-OOTS readers, you have been warned.)
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0199.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0760.html
Also, do we have a formal comment moderator now?
I shall give you not one, but two answers to that question: No and never ask that again.
Just asking because when I posted my OOTS comment above I saw a “Your Comment is Awaiting Moderation” tag that I hadn’t seen before. I wasn’t sure what was going on.
It was a stupid question anyway. I’m sorry I asked.
Hey FM! Sometimes the site will flag posts, even if they come from regular contributors. I think your double URLs might’ve tripped a switch or something.
Whenever a comment is flagged, I or Rachel will have to read it over and approve it. No biggie :)
Yup, it’s an automatic thing that triggers. Helps keep out ridiculous amounts of spambots. First time posters [and sometimes longtime posters once in a while, even without multiple external links ;)] get moderated so we can confirm that you’re posting relevant comments, that’s all. X)
If we *do* get a mod, I nominate Sara on the grounds that, to my knowledge, she’s been the only one here to have had a comment removed. Yes, I am referring to the Canid Inquisition.
(The Inquisition is not dead. It is merely biding its time.)
damnit shield I was trying to lay low, sssh; you’ll tip the Canid off again
Not with that one stunt you pulled. You’re good for now- right now they’re all more worried about Deltrada.
:I If I end up taking refuge in Nessa this is your fault.
Considering that focus will be shifting there in a few weeks, I think Lutra is a better hiding spot, just sayin.
Mister Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Film and I can hang out together.
Possibly. I’ll get back to my salmon deity prayers later.
I vote we make a prayer circle. Dakkan and Quinlan could probably use it right about now.
“I’m not afraid of you, I’m only afraid of losing you. I feel like you’re going to disappear.”
“Dakkan, we’re in the middle of a battle scene, now is NOT the time!”
I found the lightning crack in panel 3, along with Quin’s expression in panel 2, a wicked good portraying of the situation Quin finds himself in now.
He’s not putting Crim in his place, or playing judge and jury to a group of bandits; the situation he’s in is a *real* life and death situation with someone who won’t listen to reason or talk things over. Quin’s actually, in my eyes, fearing for his life.
Ole’ One-eye is quite a scary being, despite the light-hearted feelings for him, when you get down to it.