Chapter 2: Page 89
“Why didn’t you wait??” Well, we can be pretty sure that’s the question on everybody’s mind in the immediate vicinity right now. Though it begs quite a few more questions, doesn’t it? These are my favorite kinds of lines — they answer some things, some long-lingering questions, but they bring up so many more.
So, I’m sure there will be a good bit of healthy speculation this week. That’s all well and good! In addition to this little bombshell of a page, I have TWO MORE BOMBSHELLS to announce!
Firstly, BOSTON COMIC CON is coming up at the end of this month!
I know that’s the advertisement for 2014, but I love that take on Rocket Raccoon so THERE IT IS. However, I have more to announce:
Rachel will be joining me in Boston for the show!
That’s right! This year, Rachel and I are doing TWO shows together, effectively DOUBLING the number of shows we did together last year. So if you missed us in Chicago, I’d recommend swinging by Boston Comic Con to chat! Last year was Beyond the Western Deep‘s very first show, hard as it is to believe. That was where we first started selling the book, and the show is very special to me because of that. To have Rachel there the second time around is going to make it even BETTER.
Alright, that was bombshell number one. Bombshell number two is about this week’s guest art.
So, if you look to the right, you’ll see a list of webcomics that Rachel and I love. One of them, Lackadaisy Cats, is a cornerstone of the webcomic medium; its incredible artwork, meticulously researched scenes, amazing characters, and rip-roaring plot make it a must-read for anyone interested in webcomics as a storytelling art-form. Its writer/artist, Tracy Butler, recently started a Patreon to support working on the comic full-time — an incredible development that I wholeheartedly supported with my wallet.
As thanks, Tracy offered to draw me my choice of Lackadaisy characters. I picked Rocky, the “shining blue star of idiotic brilliance” who assists in running illicit alcohol for his employers. However, when Tracy (who we’ve learned is a bit of a Western Deep fan herself) sat down to draw Rocky, this came out instead!
I remember seeing this on my phone in the wee hours of the morning after Tracy sent it along, and I swear my first reaction was “Man, why do my dreams have to be so awesome?” Then I realized I was not, in fact, dreaming, and Tracy Butler had just sent me an absolutely gorgeous picture of Quinlan.
I’ve already thanked her profusely in response, but here we go again: thank you so much, Tracy! He looks awesome! :D
Ah… so the plot thickens. I’ve been waiting for this moment. Kenosh, I suspected something along these lines.
Whenever I see Kenosh speaking, I hear Liam Neeson’s voice.
“If you let go of my son, that will be the end of it, but if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will eat all your fish while resting on my belly.”
XD precisely.
Oh man, the plot thickens! So Kenosh knew something was brewing beyond just a hunch…oh gaaawd! Must know more!
Oh snap. Something tells me this isn’t going to sit well with everyone.
Wow. What an update! You two never fail to deliver.
OK, first panel gives us Kenosh, who’s clearly still shaken from the realization that Dakkan almost got squished like a Feyn off a wall. Nice to know Kenosh cares. Hardin’s reaction is priceless. I’ll say this about Hardin- he always carries himself like royalty. I love those expressions he has in the next two panels. Even when things go to crap (well, for the Sunsgrovians at least, the Sratha-Din seem to be having a pretty good day) he’s in control. He looks so regal here- that closed eye and the dainty hand signal to Rathik. Speaking of the big lug, Rathik’s disappointed “…Aw” has me laughing more than it should.
Those //angles// on the next two panels. I love the way the camera is directed up at Rathik from the ground. The effect of the splashing water in the corner of the page is nice, especially when we see the mud that’s splashed onto Dakkan in the next panel. Dakkan’s out and down for the count. He shouldn’t be getting up again for another few minutes at least, and when he does he’s not going to be happy with Kenosh. It’s cool how you can tell where there’s grass and where there’s puddle when the ground is shown.
And now that Dakkan’s out of (immediate) danger, there goes his temper. And yes, Alex, you’re absolutely right- this DOES raise a lot of questions, and put a few others to rest.
I love that inset of Kenosh facepalming, as a note, and the transition of his head lifitng up in the following panel, then the move to an accusing point (fun fact: when you point at someone, you have two fingers pointing back at yourself, did you know that, Kenosh?) Hardin’s bodylanguage is so spot on here- defensive, but ready to argue and his face is like “watch yourself, peasant.”
And with the use of Hardin’s name, it’s confirmed that Kenosh met Hardin pre-attack on Deltrada- most likely during the Oran Uprising. Meeting Kenosh could even have been the impetus for Hardin’s endless search for tribe members/his evil plan to Overthrow Dunian Society as We Know it.
Kenosh’s words could refer to two things. One, the attack should have been delayed by a few days so they would catch Tosch as well. Tosch was confirmed to have been late, and I doubt he’ll be happy to hear his brother is dead, if only because of the power vacuum, even if there’s no actual affection.
….really, considering what just went down, it’s even possible that Hardin was supposed to wait until the Sunsgrovians were in the clear- or, at least, Kenosh would talk Clovis into letting Dakkan and Quinlan in exchange for willingly staying under some pretense so that Dakkan and Quinlan would be out of harm’s way and Kenosh would be “recaptured” by the Ermehn. It would also explain why such a small group was brought along.
Two, he means years. It’s pretty clear that this attack has been planned since his captivity at the hands of the Ermehn, which was pretty clever. It’s possible that Kenosh started his trip to Deltrada with the intent of stopping a war, and only had the turn around when he realized this was THE attack, and not some random upstarts getting overly ambitious. He did react to the name Sratha-Din rather volatily, and it would explain why he allowed Dakkan to come along outside of the “company” reason.
I feel that the first of these two is more likely.
Either way, if Kenosh had met Hardin in the past, he likely wouldn’t know how Hardin changed. How ruthless he became. If that’s the case, Kenosh is in for a rude awakening. Really, Hardin probably needs Kenosh for information and little else. We shall see what the future holds for the Dunia- and it ain’t good. A story of war and death indeed. Let’s just make that the title and be done with it.
You bring up some interesting and plausible points here. Whatever the case, Kenosh and Hardin are both aware of the each others agendas. No matter how they planned it out though, I’m really curious on how Kenosh will progress in this story now. Despite his passion for righting the wrongs of the past, is he seriously going to support Hardin’s extremist views? Because honestly, what Hardin is doing isn’t going to solve the Canid/Ermehn problem.
Who knows though. I dont even want to begin to imagine how Quinlan is going to handle this huge mess.
No, I don’t think Kenosh will be able to support Hardin at the end of the day. Hardin sees the “common Ermehn” as only shadows, nothing more. Hardin would willingly sacrifice everyone except maybe Ashtor (and even that’s not certain) for the cause.
Lots of flailing and wishing Caldus was still alive, I imagine. Poor beeb, he doesn’t deserve this.
I don’t think he sees the Ermehn *just* as shadows, but as a people…. er, animal-people, whatever, that can become a united nation again, so I doubt he’s gonna sacrifice more than what he considers necesary. There is not much of his people to squander, after all.
Still, I like how you always despised Clovis, yet cheer at the deceitful traitor that literaly back-stabbed him.
One question (maybe for you strange.): the name of the “Spartha-din” is another name Ermehn?
Look back at his conversations with Ashtor, particularly the one by the fire in chapter one page 60 and the one immediately before the Deltrada invasion, (Chapter two page 51) He literally said :These are not my people. They are shadows, nothing more.” Despite what Hardin says, I think he does see himself as a savior for the Ermehn (c2p53) and without him, they’re doomed to a life of empty nothingness. That they should be grateful, and that everything he does to them is justified because it’s for the greater good. Hardin’s motives are understandable, but he’s really no better than the Canid he fights- he, too, sees the Ermehn as subsentient.
I can never tell when you’re joking or not, zealot. Clovis is one of those bad guys that’s fun to hate, considering the atrocities he’s committed and the Dakkan Smackdown and his hammy expressions. I like Kenosh, yes, but I’m certainly not condoning the things he’s done, although Kenosh so far has given us far more insight into his motives besides racial hatred/just plain jerkishness, even if Kenosh certainly has his moments of “Son, no” even before the backstabbing. (IE, the literal Dakkan Smacking)
And Jakub, it’s not a strange question at all! It’s actually been shown in-comic!
(https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-42/) Rathik is a direct descendant of Sratha.
Ah!…,; Now my brain is not overwhelmed by that … all I got tangled up, I do not know who is who in addition to the main action and the main characters are now in the comic and the other from the past, historical and political complexities, some incomprehensible for me names, etc. … Ahhh! I am angry at myself that I can’t do this properly understand… Yet the language barrier, really damn hard for me to understand it all, but I want to know how can I do this and I’m really trying to understand, but all do not understand (sometimes even an hour or two I write a message, which is laborious and difficult, but motivates me the opportunity to talk with you and find out if any interesting information) -Now really I want to cry…. :C :C :C
Everything is Damn messed up…
I was not only to lie down on the ground and cry that I’m no longer able to understand… :C
Alex, is rising at the end of any encyclopedia, especially about the history, customs, traditions, etc. with the world of BWD-I’m desperate, my thoughts already pomieszały, I need to have arranged the information and get the missing information….
I’m too stupid to understand it right away and still look for information, often in the English language on trying for me level… :p :(
Please Help a loyal fan of your comic…
No, no – *Aj waj* -Wait! I know :D – Does this mean that Spartha-din it was a important man in Ermehn history – and they are all Ermehn and Hardrin of course are Ermehn, but Rathik is a genetic descendant of this Spartha-din? Yes?
Hey, Jakub, it’s OK. I know that the language barrier is hard, but don’t give up. If I were you, I’d stop depending on internet translators- they always get something wrong. Use them for words, but not sentences. Maybe your English teacher can help you find good resources online.
You’re right about Sratha. :)
Ah … I’m sorry you all that all the time I am writing this on each other closely, and you have for me problem… :(
^^;
As for my English language, I all the time studying vocabulary – the syntax of sentences I can – and an online translator is used to build a “skeleton” of my speech, so I explain the sentence, then I sit alone and without translator I correct with the dictionary and my knowledge, so many bugs as I can (which is why it takes me so long time) – and no, I will give up nothing – today I was simply the fall , tired, and angry at myself – but no matter how you like falls, important as it is formed :)
So I go to the front of the raised head :) ^^
Thank you Shieldmaiden ^^
And in the end, I’m glad that I realized with this Spartha-din XD :D ^ ^ (If by chance he was not as Hardrin the leader of this last uprising? )
Sratha lived too long ago to have led the Oran uprising- Clovis mentions “my ancestors killed him in open combat” and it’s implied he was the current high king when the Canid took (retook?) Aisling. (https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-43/) and the Oran uprising happened when Dakkan and Quinlan were children, so that’s after Sratha was killed.
As a note, around the time Sratha’s name was invoked was when Kenosh started acting strange. I chalked it up to his personal experiences- and well, I wasn’t WRONG but. argh Alex you’re more infuriating than Greg Weisman, and that’s intended as a compliment.
Aaaah … Also I remember it – that is, that the first Sunsgrove helped canid beat Ermehn, and now they are ashamed it…?
Wow I really fell back on this conversation didn’t I?
Um… The Canid apparently told Sunsgrove that those hairy creatures with skirts, AND the Ermehn, were very bad and were going to kill all the Canid, and that Sunsgrove would be destroyed too, if they didn’t help the Canid.
They lied, of course.
I think only Kenosh and a few other chums here and there are actually ashamed of that war, most others seem to be more like “Woops! Oh, well, too late to apologize now… Who wants a slave?”
…….
Canid you Damn liar!; I say outright provocateur … I am not surprised that this is about the shy in Sunsgrove … But at least some as Kenosh know the truth, and not the mendacious history :)
(In my history, are such cases very shy thing, a village called Jedwabne – there during the II world war, the Nazis Germany in favour of Christian residents of nonsense about their Jews neighbors, and hands of these inhabitants were murdered about 400 people for the fact that they were Jews; their neighbors-burning them alive in the old barn… )
This is a very controversial case, like fight of Sunsgrove with the Canid VS Ermehn… – disgusting lie… ;(
It saddens me that Kenosh doesn’t even check whether Dakkan is okay or not, before flying off the handle at Hardin. It makes him look like he cares about Dakkan only on general principles, as a relative, not personally as a son.
Remember that Kenosh is a veteran with PTSD. Showing conventional affection is hard for him. kensoh has definitely done Not-OK things in his parenting life, but I believe he loves Dakkan. Look at his face in the last panel in the last page- that’s why he’s flying off the handle at Hardin now. Anger always branches from fear and sadness. In this case, it’s fear because he just almost lost Dakkan. “Why didn’t you wait?” The Sunsgrovians (or at least Quinlan and Dakkan) were supposed to be in the clear. Dakkan and Quinlan were never supposed to get hurt.
Here I agree very much with the Shieldmaiden, Kenosh and perhaps King David appointed with Hardrin that the King send Kenosh with the message to Canid garrison; that kind of a case have to General Clovis; a couple of days there will be – to not arouse suspicion will Quinlan and Dakkan – at this time, as experienced in combat, command, and weapons the master watches the entire Garrison; for example: how many now have soldiers, weapons, what is the situation, etc.; well, and quietly go back to a House – as if nothing had happened, and at the same time these Kenosh give this informations to Hardrin, and when they come back it’s a chance you’ll find out that he was a Ermehn attack on Canid garrison …
It’s just that Hardrin was hot-headed and already when there was kenosh attacked Canid garnizon… And you’ll note that Aschor was not satisfied with Hardrin as soon he wants to do it and even tried to pull him from the Attack what he could not…
“I sprawa się rypła”… ( and we have a trouble… )
King Dabheid doesn’t know about this yet. Remember his argument with Kenosh in chapter one, pages 21-22 (https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-1-page-21/) he wouldn’t risk Sunsgrove for the sake of the Ermehn at the moment. Also remember that Sunsgrove was a major playing in the Oran Uprising. That’s still “not a popular topic back in Terria” according to Quinlan(chapter 2 page 59) and I’ll bet you anything that when Kenosh says “murder on a level that we’ve not seen since-” he was going to refer to the Oran Uprising.
I also remember this page, my statement above is just one of the theories here are always ;) – so I had the right to be mistaken, and thanks for this explanation Shieldmaiden ;) – it’s just I understand :p XD
Two fingers pointed back at you? :O That’s new. I never noticed that before. Though I guess it’s three fingers n real life but point noted all the same.
Holy Cow! Lackadaisy made BWD fan art!? This is so extremely cool! Quinlan looks extremely well done in her style! That face! Those eyes! That soft coloring! You two must’ve been quite surprised to have this pop up in your computer screen.
But Kenosh though. What do you mean wait!? Why is Kenosh, the supposed rational and level-headed soldier, going on a murderous rampage, taking such a big risk and instigating a war here? And for that matter what is Hardin even hoping to accomplish here. Did he ever explained exactly what his plans are? I mean for all we know is that he’s trying to slip through Deltrada to probably get to Arklow but after that we dont know. Right now I feel like his battle plan goes like:
Step 1 – Gather Ermehn Army
Step 2 – Invade Deltrada
Step 3 – ?????
Step 4 – Profit!!
Like you guys said, things are starting to get extremely interesting for both our heroes and the Sratha-Din. I gotta love Rathik’s disappointment look though.
Totally forgot to mention Tracy’s awesome art there. Someone needs to resurrect the “Am I kawaii, senpai?” meme.
Hardin looks pretty content atm, excluding the last panel where Kenosh is like NO, even breaking out the speech bubble intensity lines! This was calculated and planned ahead of time. No doubt about that.
How to say my favorite history teacher in gymnasiom – and I agree with her: “If you do not know what’s going on, is just about one thing – money”; well, although here too, I mean just about the freedom to Emrehn, and the money would add by the way for the reconstruction of the country after regaining independence… ;)
Awe Rathik looks so sad he can’t murder fluffy dynamic duo #1. I almost feel bad for him. Almost.
Anywho this page basically confirms that Kenosh was working with Hardin and Co. and most likely planned the attack with them. I’m not too sure what to feel right now. Should I feel angry/sad/frustrated that Kenosh would do something like this and start a war when he was supposed to prevent one and risk his sons life? Should I feel happy that Dakkan lives to breath another day? I’m just a mess I guess after learning of this betrayal.
‘Awe’ was meant to be ‘Awww’ darn phone auto-correct
I still think Rathik wanted to take him home and dress him up and comb his hair and call him Skippy and never ever let him go.
Ano… that will be funny XD
Haha, nice and exciting page, and awesome fan art! I also see new names at our lively discussion community!
As always, my connoisseur nose of comics and this kind of art – Anthro art – well me who persuaded that I should expect to see next page on Saturday morning and not on Sunday ;)
Haha :D I really like this site :D ; especially the disappointed Rathik face, that he can nothit him … XD And this sight “Awwww, why?…:( :3” – this is face of week; thi sface is the best for me XD :D And Dakkan plask in mud as collapses in pain… It actually had a very hurt ;-; …
After that, very glad for this reason that I do not need to se to truncate my head – I’ll keep my head – Hooray.. – XD ; for just as I thought – Kenosh and Hardrin, they are ‘ you ‘ in the sense they are prettty know – that doesn’t make sense anymore to write that they may know, may someday see – now we have the fact, you can see that know each other and it is quite good, and would rather not know before this event one-twice, but so much more … Getting thicker thread is sewn, but probably for a few weeks “to come out to broach with the bag” that is ultimately in the end, these questions to explain … And Hardirn simply is bathed in hot water – all at once, right away that he wanted to do before he would think about the consequence of their action…
But also notice that Hardrin looks like a slightly surprised, that Kenosh has a son, and if he was brought up by him, it could have a “brother”… ;)
You know – me the same plague the same questions which all of us: what, where, when, who, why? etc. But for me all the time most bothers whether Kenosh was Hardrin “adoptive” father or not – in the sense of whether he was raising his physical, mental, moral …
And what happened to Kenosh, when he returned another to Luther – You may just like it said Shieldmaiden – war trauma, or other event; commitment and presence in such a terrible reality of war, hunger, poverty, humiliation and the death of another person….
Ah, Święty Jacku z Pierogami!!!*
Ah, and I also like always forgot to applaud guest art.: beautiful graphic, beautiful and perfectly drawn Quinlan – in this style which I like, great colors, little sępia – this gives a great effect of old photo :D Beautiful :D :D :D
(Only Quinlan here looks like girl XD, but that does not stop in the Rapture these colors and beauty of this graphic :D )
*Saint Jack with dumplings!!!
Kenosh, buddy, you’re making the whole fandom scream, and you just instigated a war and destroyed your son’s trust in you, as well as Quinlan’s. Nice job.
If Kenosh talked about this with Dakkan, and calmly explain to him at the table in the House – in four eyes – it was not such a great “surprise”, and the destruction of the Dakkan psyche and his worldview….
Now I’m starting to get Scared about Dakkan – what is certain is that Dakkan may hate Kenosh; but it resembled I’m afraid about him; What if his psyche proves too weak, and either go crazy, or want to kill Kenos, or Hardrin or himself…
Love love love the second and third panels. Hardin’s face is just “Oh, you have a son? Oh. OH.” Then of course, we have Rathik’s “Awwww, why can’t I brutally strangle Skippy?”
I probably shouldn’t be laughing, given how near Dakkan came to death, but I am.
Also, further and deeper confirmation of a long-running conspiracy. Shieldmaiden brought up a couple of good points as to what Kenosh is referring to when he asks Hardin, “WHY DIDN’T YOU WAIT?!” I don’t know exactly what Kenosh is referring to, but given his tone of voice, it seems likely that this particular question will be answered next week. I can wait that long.
Perhaps in addition to the answers to today’s question even more to know about the other things… ;)
And look – Quinlan collapses in pain in the mud all in the blood, Dakkan trying to breathe through bruised throat, and Kenosh talk with Hardrin “Why did you it now?” – Bravo
https://youtu.be/TAryFIuRxmQ
Here’s another of Fourth Master’s BWD song parodies! The idea for this one just hit me; luckily Beatles songs are relatively short and easy to work with.
And now I present “The Kenosh Conspiracy Song”, a parody of Help! by the Beatles:
Help!
Help! I need somebody,
Help! Not just anybody,
Help! You know I need someone, help.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
The Lutren Queen sent me up north to help the Canid slay.
But when I saw the slaughtered Ermehn lying everyplace,
I vowed to do all that I could to save the Ermehn race.
Help me if you can, I need someone
To work to undo what the Canid have done.
Get the best soldiers, scouts, scribes, and run,
Won’t you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
I worry ‘bout my Ermehn comrades every day.
I’m home in Lutra now but still I can’t enjoy,
The beauty of the deep blue sea nor my sweet little boy.
Help me if you can, I need someone
To work to undo what the Canid have done.
Get the best soldiers, scouts, scribes, and run,
Won’t you please, please help me?
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
The Lutren Queen sent me up north to help the Canid slay.
But when I saw the slaughtered Ermehn lying everyplace,
I vowed to do all that I could to save the Ermehn race.
Help me if you can, I need someone
To work to undo what the Canid have done.
Get the best soldiers, scouts, scribes, and run,
Won’t you please,
Please help me,
Help me,
Help me, oh.
Source Material: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/help_10026477.html
Again I’m lying on the ground and twist of laughter XD – you kill me by laugt, Fourth XD
So, Jakub, are you a Beatles fan?
Pfff XD Of course ;D – I really like “The Beatles” ^^ :D
(It’s just that I’m a fan of many musicians and types of music, from classical and organ music, by all kinds of music – for example: Jazz, Disco, Rock, Pop, after today’s hits and modern/pop artists from all over the world and Poland – I am just music lover, listen to what I like, which is very much different music – what flies on the radio, and what I feel like at the moment – not enough space and time to all the artists and the songs name ^^ XD ;)
Yesterday,
Yesterday, I wasn’t choked half to death,
I would inhale and always catch my breath,
Now I believe in yesterday.
Yesterday,
Yesterday, I wasn’t lifted in mid air
By an stoat the size of a tiger,
Oh, how I believe in yesterday.
Yesterday.
Oh yeah you say to me
You want the Ermehn dead
And I disagree
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
Oh you fought the Ermehn
And went and stole their land
To fix that I’m hoping
You’ll let me stab your back
Now, let me stab your back
I wanna stab your back
When I impale you
I feel happy inside
The Canid soldiers their surprise
They can’t hide
They can’t hide
They can’t hide
Yeah, war will break out now
But I don’t care ‘bout that
If this saves the Ermehn
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
When I impale you
I feel happy inside
The Canid soldiers their surprise
They can’t hide
They can’t hide
They can’t hide
Yeah, war will break out now
But I don’t care ‘bout that
If this saves the Ermehn
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
I wanna stab your back
Source: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/i+want+to+hold+your+hand_10026483.html
XD
That is amazing. I’ve read Tracy’s comic before and her tutorials, I like her style and her writing. Goodness all around. Great concept too!
Also I’m wondering: whats really going on in this page? So much deception!
So he knew! =o
So Kenosh is an inside man, then?
Also I like Hardin’s expression in the second panel. He’s just like “Huh? Oh, okay.”
The plot thickens like a Lutren’s tail!
So, Hardin didn’t realize that Senior Diplomatic Incident had brought along Junior Diplomatic Incident. (Who here first came up with that expression? That’s practically a meme of its own right there!) But yes, great page all around – the expressions, the angles, the revelations and resolutions and further questions rasied. All we know for sure is that we now have a pierced Quin, a wheezing and incoherent Dak, and an entire latrine’s worth about to hit the fan.
Oh, and love that TracyArt! Seeing Quin in her style is squeeful! And great story about how that came about, too! Wonderful to know she’s a “BWD” fan herself!
“The plot thickens like a Lutren’s tail”
I think I’m going to start using that idiom in my day-to-day speech from now on
Saraa Luna did.
yo
Diplomatic Incident Jr and Sr, Stabby McSaviorcomplex, Mongo the Strongest Ermehn In The World, and all mixed up with them Quinlan, who is so out of his league that he’s not even playing the same game anymore. I love it!
Your reminder that Dust: An Elysian Tail is on sale on Steam for $2.99 for about 24 hours. It’s well worth the original price and picking it up for only a fifth of the original price is a steal!
I picked it up ;). Haven’t had a chance to play yet, though.
“Why did you sire this . . . thing?”
“That’s it Hardin, you’re not my favorite son anymore! Dakkan, pumpkin, you’re my second favorite son now!”
“You don’t have anymore children, do you?”
“No. No, I don’t.”
Well, I cooled off and I was all sorry for the spam, in some of my above comments, and after thinking it, I consider that the desire to regain independence and fight for independence I applaud and support; but for God’s sake – Hardrin – you can not send a death so that someone, and not bother with this and say something that “you have no other choice – either fight and freedom or death from hunger and cold”; I condemn it – and the most outrages me the figure of a boy – on my eye of 10-12 years old (including on page 60, chapter 1; and page 21, chapter 2), I am appalled by the fact that he sent children to fight (in my history, too, were the children at war – brave Scouts boys – who annotate wounded insurgents and carrying around melds and mail after various positions, risking life -the youngest “soldier” Scout who was killed in this way had 11 years, not counting the hundreds of thousands of younger/older vulnerable children in civilian life) I understand if he sent them somewhere (I don’t know if any others are still) in a safe place with Aschor and Eria, or somewhere wait and helped by affixing wounded insurgents, but for God’s sake – give him a sword and told him to fight – it is terrible, and I don’t understand this…
Nope, only Eira and Ashtor are staying out with a guard of four. Hardin needs every soldier he can spare and if he loses Eira and Ashtor, Ermehn culture is dead. https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-49/ And in the background on the next page, you can see one of the younger kids in the cave with his army.
Yes I know that they are safe (I hope) with the 4 guardians ;) (knowledge, culture and history for me too for are the most important – because, as I like tell; “A nation in which extinguished the last glimmer of the history and culture – this nation is doomed to extinction/is deprived of the future””), also remember this page – I’ve seen it too ;)
But if you are not scared that Hardrin command kids fight with several times stronger, larger and better armed Canid soliders – could save them though – in youth and children is the future, and if they die is someone Aschor and Eria communicate this knowledge? Not to mention a violation of moral values…
(We can hope that it will hit you like a young inexperienced Canid soldier, who has a little moral feelings, and only he could interject them into captivity and not to kill them…)
…I can already see the tragic scenes, compressive Ermehn camp, after the battle; where between the bloody and mournful in pain wounded insurgents and among the dead, it is this child and his mother who very crying (spasms), hugging it to her broke heart… (A theme in art and literature called “Pieta” – and it’s usually me hugs for heart and I cry…)
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all American BWD readers a happy “Fourth” of July.
Have fun!
It is true that I am not from the USA, but as an ethnologist I’m interested in this, and in respect as a human being and all kinds of traditions, I wish you all good and happy celebration, and delicious salmon ;)
:D
High five! Time to run around in flag apparel and scream about freedom.
Ahhh… You have fun :) :p – I must wait until 15 August, 11 Novemberor or 3 may XD :p
Hey, another thing. I’m thinking about finally getting around to buying my first copy of the BWD book (about time, too). I just want to clarify that the book in the Western Deep Bundle is the same as the independently sold book, i.e. the nice hardcover with the bonus material, yes? I’m asking because there’s no way I’ll say “no” to getting a poster and a bookmark for no extra money if the books are the same.
Thanks in advance for responding, and thank you for the great deal for a BWD book!
-FM
Yup, I can confirm.
Thanks! Operation: Book Acquisition is a go!
In my case, my first BWD book, now goes to me by shipping (I have it for a week or two); I took a hard holder because longer sustain ;)
However, I had to buy it in Europe, because the shipping cost from the USA was higher than the price of the same book and poster – poster in Europe still do not have…. In a sense, it is impossible to get it in Europe (poster costs $ 5 [$ 1 = 4 PLN], so I have to pay 20 PLN – for me very good price of poster; but unfortunately, plus the price of the consignment leaves me 100 PLN… From the point of view of the poster and value of money, it’s just not worth it, what made me very sad :( [Don’t worry Alex, these are not claims :) ^^; , please, do not take it personally ^^; ;) ] )
Hrmm. I think I understand what’s happening here now. Kenosh and Hardin have been in contact for some time. I suspect that Hardin told him about the attack, but Kenosh persuaded him to delay it long enough to speak to Clovis personally, as a last ditch effort to reach a peaceful accord. Hardin is rather clever, though, so he took advantage of this to get into a position which would force Kenosh to intervene to save him, ultimately resulting in him killing Clovis, with plenty of witnesses around. This will undoubtably cause a war between Sunsgrove and Aisling, which is exactly what the Ermehn need.
Ah :( if I can, I wanted to report my possible absence for the next Salmon party :( (In the sense I go in an annual travel with my camera for 10 days, and I don’t know if I’ll have internet on a laptop [I hope I’ll have], possibly I will write something on the phone – but maybe I am not be on next week Salmon Party – I’m sorry for that ;( )
First panel Kenosh looks marshmallow soft.
And Rathik’s eyeroll. Ohmygoodness.
Just discovered your comic. It’s amazing! My kids and I are all reading it and loving every page of it!
Thanks so much, Cloudlake! Glad you’re all enjoying it! :)
Just finished reading what’s available so far, I am loving this comic! <3
Thank you so much for the kind words, Ruth! We’re glad you enjoyed the comic thus far, and hope you stick around as more pages are added :)
DAAAANG. I love this so much, but this is the first page I’ve felt I needed to comment on. Surprises! I have two questions:
1: When is the paperback book version coming out, or should I get the hardcover?
2: Can you update the cast page? I have trouble remembering all the Sratha-Din’s names.
This is my favorite webcomic! I’m looking forward to seeing it in print.
Welcome to the Salmon Party, Spotted Paw! It’s great to be getting more new readers!
I think (key word) that the paperbacks are meant to be available in comic shops and not sold in the online store, but I’m not sure.
As for the cast page, I’ve asked that before, but I don’t know when the update will come. But if you want help on the Sratha-Din, here goes a handy guide:
-Hardin: Leader with the charisma and a cast page entry.
-Rathik: Mr. Huge, as seen in today’s strip.
-Bevan: The scout with daggers who always wears a hood.
-Rhosyn: The crossbow-wielding lady with the ring tattoos on her cheeks.
-Ashtor: The elderly one with the staff.
-Eira: The small female with the satchel bag.
Hope that helps, and I hope to see you around here again!
-Fourth
Thanks for the kind words, SP! As for your questions:
1.) The paperback version is available in comic book stores and online via stores like Amazon and B&N. That one is published by Action Lab and runs $9.99. The hardcover edition is our self-published “special edition” and runs $15 via our online web store (or in person, if you come see us at a convention). That contains some extras, like character art and guest pinups.
2.) The updated cast page has been on our radar for a very long time — it’s really just been a question of time and resources. It can be hard enough getting the page ready in time every week, so we’ve had to put it on the back-burner for the time being. Hopefully that will be something we can look at when Chapter 2 is complete :)
Hello ;) Nice to meet you ;)
Oh, and Alex – It turned out that however, I have access to the internet, and I’ll be on the Salmon Party on this week; But let so as I already asked you, for the next week after this week – you know what ;)
Looks like another case of “All Quiet in the Western Deep” (broken now by me, oops) for us all to just wait semi-patiently for a new page to sate our BWD curiosity/mania.
I like to think of this particular piece of silent time as the long pause between Kenosh’s furiously shouted question (this page) and Hardin’s begrudging answer (presumably next page) in which all eyes are on our favorite Ermehn revolutionary leader and one could hear a whisker drop.
I have limited access to the internet on this week, so there will be less my expression than usual – it’s hard to write a forest circle on the outside, in the evening after a full day of travel… And when is cold :p … XD