Chapter 2: Page 93
Yes, Quinlan is still alive! I know a number of you were worried about that! He’s in a bit of a dire state, of course, and suffering from a good dose of shock, but he’s still alive. Kenosh also knows that if they are truly to be safe, they must return to the safety of their home kingdom… far away from him.
I wanted to take the opportunity here to give a shout out to Pocketwatch Games (developer of Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine) along with Song of the Eastern Sands artist extraordinaire Jerome Jacinto on the reveal of the new arcade strategy game TOOTH AND TAIL! Jerome has been doing some absolutely incredible painted artwork for them, and the in-game art features some super-expressive and detailed pixel work.
I don’t normally play strategy games, but between this and Armello, I’d say that “really cool animal-based strategy titles” is turning into one of my favorite potential niche genres! I know I’m pretty excited to play it. If you’re interested, you can read more about the recent reveal here: http://blog.pocketwatchgames.com/post/125367324601/tooth-and-tail-revolutionary-real-time-strategy
This week, we’ve got some really fun guest art from Pretty Darn Quick Sketches — an awesome Tumblr blog that you all should be following if you aren’t already! I noticed that a Kenosh sketch had been posted up and asked for permission to feature it along with a page. Instead, I was asked for patience as an even better piece was produced!
Here we have Quinlan and Dakkan in clearly happier times, exploring the forest and laughing at… something! PDQ wasn’t exactly sure what! Maybe Dakkan cracked a joke? Maybe they got to see Crim fall out of a tree? WHO KNOWS? All I know is that this piece is fantastic and I love it :) Seeing little slice-of-life scenes like this always makes me grin uncontrollably.
I also grinned uncontrollably when I saw the quickie follow-up that proposed what they were laughing at X)
Canid Deputy Derp doesn’t like being made fun of! HE WON’T HAVE ANY OF THAT! I can hear him in Graham Chapman’s voice now: “Right, stop that! It’s silly!”
That’s the spirit, Kenosh! Get one final moment with your son before you turn around and walk right into the sword of an angry general’s daughter!
Good news, everybody! Quinlan is still alive! Though he and Dakkan are certainly not out of the woods yet.
I wouldn’t worry too much about Quinlain. The Tamian are at thier best when they are not out of the woods.
You know this whole scenario reminds me how Final Fantasy IX ended Disc 1 with the whole party defeated under heavy rain and the bad guys leave in a hurry on their next objective. And strangely enough the person who did them in was a “paladin” type character hmmm….*strokes chin*
But obviously Quinlan wouldn’t kick the bucket here. He’s the main character! I’m pretty sure his plot armor will be sturdy enough to carry him all the way to the end. Even if by that point all that what would be left of it is just a shoulder pad.
And I just cant get enough of Quinlan and Dakkan’s expressions in that fan art…and that hilariously drawn Canid!
Ooh! I’ve been playing IX recently, and you’re right! Of course, Alex did make a reference to FFIV in response to a piece of fanart some pages back, so we know that he’s a fan or at least an admirer of the series.
There was a FFIV reference? Huh I never noticed! but yeah FFIX is awesome. I can say without a single doubt that game is the standard on what JRPGs should strive for.
It is a strange world we live in, where The Neverending Story comprises only one novel, while Final Fantasy has 15 games, if not more.
Don’t forget the three movies :D
Hmmm – I don’t know this game, but since we are talking about fantasy games, it’s the best fantasy game I’ve played is “the Chronicles of Narnia” – the first two parts – Better part was with Prince Kaspianem, but there were no longer so cool varied minotaurs warriors and Anthro characters, as in first part ;)
I did not know a Narnia game existed. Consider me enlightened.
It was kind of like the EA Lord of the Rings action-slasher games, but with the Narnia characters :)
It was fantastic game – really I recomended it ;) :D Really I love it :D (Especialy I like there Minotaurs – they are the best warriors (And this graphics, fightings ;) ) :D )
Kaspianem… so that’s what they call him in polsky.
But, nah, big companies treat Narnia and the Hobbit as if they were big fantasy epics like Lord of the Finger Jewelry. I’ve heard how they went overboard with the Dawn Voyager movie.
I rather read the books again.
The Hobbit: A Prelude to Lord of the Rings, which came out in 2003, is fairly good and is heavily book based, although some changes are made to make it more friendly to an interactive media. There’s also a book-based LOTR game out that that’s enjoyable, even if it’s not quite as fun or have as much replay value as the Hobbit one I mentioned above.
You know – I have read all the parts of the Chronicles of Narnia – almost brilliant like BWD :D XD ;)
Ah, sorry XD – I don;t see it XD , And yes, that is in Polish language – But the title is “Książe Kaspain/Prince kaspian” – the name normally is Kaspian, but it is a strain, that is, that as I say “video With Prince Kaspan/Film z Księciem Kaspianem” – You are not inflected in English, and on us in Polish language – we have more or less the variety.:
the denominator (who? what?) – Kaspain
genitive (who? what?) – Kaspiana
dating (whom? why?) – Kaspianowi
accusative (who? what?) – Kaspiana
adverbial ((with) whom? (with) what?) – z Kaspianem
locative (who? what?) – o Kaspainie
Vocative case (no questions) – Kaspian!
Or something that… I know that is hard to understand XD
Oh man, something about the way Quinlan’s tugging at his neck gets to me. It’s like he’s having trouble breathing, which I guess makes sense since the arrow’s still stuck in his shoulder, I’m sure that makes breathing a little painful. It’s actual way more graphic then if there were more blood, just the body language and (lack) of expression says it all.
Also poor Dak who’s still sitting there in shock. How do you even process all that’s just transpired in the last, what? Three minutes? That’s a lot to take in.
That first panel is awesome-looking. You can really see the “I’m actually about to do this” finality in Kenosh’s face.
“And get back to Sungrove, as quickly as you can … ”
Um, any suggestion on just how they’re supposed to accomplish this, Pops? ‘Cos I don’t see them just walking out of Deltrada and being on their merry way …
Also, can’t quite tell exactly what that second panel is supposed to be, or its significance. Looks like Kenosh’s glove on his own knee, but perhaps I’m visually misinterpreting it? And if that is what it is, not sure why there’d be an entire precious panel devoted to it. Any enlightenment would be … well, enlightening.
Good page overall!
I think you’re right that the second panel is Kenosh doing the ol’ right-hand-on-knee. Classic.
The way I see it, he’s standing up, but it’s also signaling his dad mode transition from effusively-caring back to awkwardly-diplomatic. He’s had his moment of heart to heart with his son, now it’s back to business go to your room pup and no supper for you.
Yup — hand on the knee, transition panel out of “emotional Kenosh” and into “should probably be leaving right now Kenosh” — and also gives a nice key frame between “hugging” and “standing”
It seems to me that if Dak is strong enough, He may take Quin on his arms/shoulders and carry it from time to time, until they not wander off to a safe distance from the Canid Garrison…
Unless the Canid garrison are preoccupied, they aren’t just going to let them leave without some serious questions. Also from the last page we say that lady Canid had noticed them, so unless she’s REALLY sympathetic, she probably won’t let them go
I thik that Kenosh can heroically they defend before furious lady Canid…
Oh, that first panel. The feels! Wow! And yay that Quin’s not dead yet!
As Order of the Stick said,
“My feels have been hit for maximum damage!”
Aww, no canid soldier girl.
:p There is women Canid solider too – for example a furious Lady Canid – the daughter of the General Clovis (If I good remember) – which just runs most likely kill Kenosh, for kill her daddy…
Oh, and Jaku, when we said she was Clovis’ daughter, it was a joke.
Ahaaa….
Yeah, that was just a little theory that PB&J and I made, although they do look similar so at least it’s somewhat plausible.
https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-83/
https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-79/
I like the idea of one of the General’s progeny swearing revenge on his killer, so I will keep the theory running until it is proven to be wrong.
Yeah XD – but that was cool theory XD – and I again took it seriously/believed in it XD
Comment collaboration totally counts as confirmation! Totally.
Yes! We can hope. Thanks for being my ally in this.
*Internet high five*
Collaboration everywhere ;-; …
You mean the one from the last few strips or the one with the scar from, like… half a year ago?
I agree. Strange that Lady Canid and her entourage make no appearance in today’s page, but I’m sure they’ll at least make background appearances next week.
Welcome to the Salmon party! I hope to see you around again!
It takes time to navigate around the mountain of bodies Kenosh and the Sratha Din made.
“Hide behind the mound of dead bards!”.
An internet cookie to the first person to know what this is from.
I feel sorry for the Canid soldiers who will have to clean up that battlefield mess, and though sad to me that Killed by “felonious unclean Ermehn barbarians”
“heroes” Canid Soliders are buried with military honors and respect, Ermehn warrior insurgents will be buried in a nameless common grave, without any respect and honour… :( (Chwała Bohterom!)
Excellent page; it feels like a study on the importance of details. Like Kenosh’s sword breaking into the 2nd panel, which heightens its presence and significance a lot. Also his expressions are all on point. And I’m a sucker for hard shadows, so those are awesome. I will say that Quin’s angle of lean in the 4th panel doesn’t seem quite as doubled over as the 3rd, but that’s a pretty minor quibble.
Also, 8-bit gaming with adorable fuzzy violence? I’m sold.
Kenosh’s sword breaks into panel 2 just like it broke into Clovis’s spine.
XD :D
Ah, Very strong and squeezing by the throat scene… The beautiful depiction of the last goodbyes Kenosh with Dakkan – and here I see, and now I know that in spite of the severe and austere character of Kenosh; I see that he really give his live for his only son, and with this in mind, and see this beautifully drawn scene, I cry (figuratively) and I have throat constricted with emotion and grief. Beautiful scene :D :)
Hmmm … Alex and Rachel – I am always have for you great respect, and I really like you :) ; and these words to write it are not to offend you or express a lack of respect for you and your masterpieces ;) – Please do not be angry at me but I say it – “Until I not see, I do not believe” and I could tell the rest of the stunning parable of the St. Thomas-unbeliver, but then I’d probably blasphemy :( ;) – Yes, a view that Quin is here with us again, and he lives a little calmed me (Ba, at the end of the month or longer I waited to find out whether the dead XD) and I am very happy:), BUT…. Somehow I am not convinced that he is actually alive, I want in 100% believe it, but somehow I can’t :( – in the sense of me this concern caused a lack of any kind of facial expressions on his face, it’s for me frightening disappearance of eyes in the shadow of the hood, many blood, and the general impression that quietly was fled his life/spirit… And with the final assessment of whether alive or not (of course, I have great hope that he is alive, but it is still in me, a note of uncertainty) – I’m very sorry Alex and Rachel, and please don’t be anger on me :( ;) …
And the only thing that today makes me involuntary attack of laughter, this is a fantastic graphics in guest art – simply awesome XD – just that I looked it and right away a smile came over my face, then it is already twist me with laughter XD – just beautiful it is simply beautiful XD – Brilliant graphics, Tumblr :D
I think the lack of expression is because Quin is unconscious due to shock and blood loss.
But then how is he standing up?
It doesn’t look like he’s standing, he’s hunched over. You can tell cause in the third panel he and Dak (who is on the ground as well) are at equal height. Also in the last panel Kenosh is looking down at Quin.
Pfff XD – he’s been after receiving wounds sits on Earth all this time :p XD
https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-88 He’s sitting down.
Exactly – Thanks Shield ;)
I know Fruitso that is probably unconscious due to blood loss, pain, and shock at the drop in blood pressure; but it is a serious threat to life, and life can it disappeared from at any time… :( I don’t really want to Quin’s die, but all the time that I’m afraid about it… :(
In connection with this beautiful and sad for squeezing the throat of last farewell scene Kenosh with Dakkan; immediately I got inspired and transformed a beautiful song perfectly suited to this scene, and generally on the goodbyes (Transformed this song, like Fourth, with the song The Beatles “Help” XD ;) ) – the song” To saved from oblivion” the most beautiful and the most famous Song wite and sing my favorite singer and master of Sung poetry – Marek Grechuta (very famous in Poland and also elsewhere in the world poetry singer).
A beautiful melody and words (also my reworked) perfectly fit into this type of beautiful and sad and poignant moments… ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de0H_WqxZIQ
“To save from Canid”
How many roads traveled together
how many well-trodden paths
how many rains, how many snows
over arrows rain
how many quarrels, how many separations
difficult hours in many battles
and again stubbornness to rise again
and to go again and alive
How much in unceasing toil
common worries, shared aspirations
how many eaten Salmons
Laughter? Wounds? Tears?
your eyes like Otter wreck
and in the heart the source of a ray
So I would like your heart
to save from Canid
at your shoulder hangs a body
Bloody… the body of your friend
moaning and bleeding all the time
across the battlefield, bodies, blood pools
and you’re Dakkan the Otter
My son – of Kenosh Capitan
I would like the cloudiness of your eyes
to save from Canid…
You seem to be forgetting that Rhosyn’s the one who shot Quinlan and the only reason the Canid have any bones to pick with Quinlan and Dakkan is the fact that the Lutren General just murdered their general and betrayed their alliance. Good song, though.
I know XD – but I haven’t more place to write it XD ; that is just lyrical song ;)
Or Kenosh did the face not to sadden the immediately Dak, that maybe Quin can already dead… Giving him hope (this Kenosh face looks like “Damn, poor boy, his hours are probably numbered… What I have done?! Damn it…”
Oh, you could be on to something there . . .
Heh, I’m sorry but I don’t understand what you mean Fourth?… O.o You see me on Quin place, or what? XD
I doubt Quin is actually going to die (because plot armor, that’s why), but your concern about him bleeding out makes perfect in-universe sense.
Well I doubt whether he alive or not, by the monstrous hemorrhage )(*Blood everywhere :p ) and the lack of any reaction – I take into account all the possibilities ;)
I disagree. Killing off a main after setting up, but not fulfilling, their character arc is a risky move, and it certainly should not be done simply for shock value. Quinlan and Dakkan have a fantastic interplay- indeed, it’s one of the comic’s strongest qualities. Killing Quinlan off leaves Dakkan alone and without anyone to support him at this point in the narrative. And considering everything that went down, he really needs someone right now, and I doubt he’d be able to accomplish anything on his own. Also, it leaves Crim as the Tamian Captain, and do we really want that?
^
Are you going to kill your main character in the middle of the story, Mister Vau?
I also I think and I hope that Alex is not and not will not be cruel XD … I hope XD – Although personally I do not know why, but sometimes I like to kill some of my characters in my graphics – for example, in the last of my graphics (unfortunately very bloody and violence) at one time I killed 5 good main character in my short stories to this graphics… I do not know why … Or the same month earlier also killed on my graphics unprotected young Otter warrior… – I do not know why…
And if you want to see, you can see it there (now that is just sketch :p If I will be have some time, I will paited it with watercolours ;) )
http://pre12.deviantart.net/7f52/th/pre/i/2015/208/4/c/wawel_dragon___sketch_by_cracowpoland2013-d931efj.jpg
http://pre10.deviantart.net/34e6/th/pre/i/2015/190/0/0/you_lost______sketch_by_cracowpoland2013-d90l14v.jpg
Beautiful words – beautiful comment VarVau :)
(Hoping that Quin alive, I will say that if he died here that would be interesting, as here you said; Dakkan would be without anyone on thid terrible world and that will be interesting what he did in this situation – it would be an interesting (so to speak) experiment of Alex and Rachel (but despite this I hope Quin will live :) )
Backlash isn’t what I mean when I said it was a risky move to kill off a main character. I meant that killing off a main character is a drastic change in the status quo, especially if it’s early on in the story. If an early main character death is handled incorrectly, it can ruin the entire story.
I never said it was a weak narrative device, merely one that should be handled with caution and not done lightly. And I disagree with what you said about characters. A fictional world is meaningless unless there’s a reason to care about it and very few people are going to care about the geography and the rules for its own sake. The lifeblood of any story is the characters who populate it and run the very rules and worldbuilding. You’re right on about a ‘shock killing’- those can be effective, but shock should not be the only factor.
Agreed. Alex and Rachel know what they’re doing, and if they chose to end Quinlan’s life here, I would trust them to do it well and carry us through the rest of the story with the same skill they’ve shown so far. But they didn’t end Quinlan’s life here. And that;s because Quinlan’s life stll has a narrative purpose. Yes, Dakkan in that situation is a true-to-life scenario, but just because something is “true to life” or “accurate” doesn’t make it the best choice. That’s why we have all the grimdark “gritty” superhero reboots floating around.
I’m not certain I’d agree with the ‘hasn’t already been tested’ statement, he’s barely had time to process anything that’s happened this night. No, we don’t know how he’d react, and it’s a safe bet that Lady Canid would give him no sympathy, he got none for his phobia and after his father killed Clovis, well. But you’re also assumming he’d be stuck in Deltrada, whearas he would still have the ‘escape to Sunsgrove and also don’t die’ objective he recieved in this page. I’m not entirely certain what your point is here, you’re simply stating that it’s hard to get a fix on how he’d react in this very specific scenario that you laid out.
Yes, sometimes that happens, but again just because something is the ‘grittiest’ option doesn’t make it the best. And I’m not saying it’s never going to happen in the comic- in fact, I expect it to. But now is not the time for it, even if the time rapidly approaches.
Also, the Crim comment was a joke.
I almost hope they sent Crim to Navran along with Janik so we can see how he interacts with other characters. Would like to see if there is more to him than his emnity with Quinlan.
I’m going to guess that he knows a few of Quinlan’s more “in-Crim-inating” secrets.
. . . I’ll show myself out.
As all the pages over the past few weeks have been, this week’s page is emotional and beautifully done. The hug was unexpected, but not so much in hindsight. The expression on Kenosh’s face really twists the heart. It’s clear that he loves his son, even if their relationship is a rocky one. I love how the first panel mirrors the one in Dakkan’s flashback- when Dakkan’s mom hugged Kenosh and he didn’t respond. Even up until Dakkan’s last appearance in the page, he looks limp and vulnerable- the oncoming PTSD will do that to ya, unfortnately.
The panel with his hand seems to indicate finalty, at least to me- he’s standing up.
Poor Quinlan, even if he’s not dead he certainly isn’t doing well. Someday he’s going to tell his grandkids “I used to be an adventurer like you- until I took an arrow to the shou-” ah, wrong fandom.
That middle panel is excellent. Quinlan looks pained and vulnerable hunched over like that. The grim, slightly regretful look on Kenosh’s face as he gets to his feet really bring home the gravity of the situation. Things have already spiraled far away from how he envisioned this scenario (Thanks for nothing, Hardin :I) and the slightly stunned look on Dakkan’s face tying it all together, Dad betraying them was probably under the possibility of getting an “I’m proud of you, son” and a hug all in one day.
Oh, Quinlaaan. I want to cringe just looking at that wound- it’s going to impair his mobility for quite a while, and considering that they need to haul some serious tail, that’s even worse than not good. I love the contrast of the red blood on the white shirt (what is that, linen?) and it kinda feels like it’s the end of innocence for both of them. They’ve seen some skirmishes and battled bandits, but nothing like this terrible night. First battle, first blood. Literally, in Quinlan’s case.
Get back to Sunsgrove. A lot easier said than done, and I highly doubt they’re going to get there at all. Navran fits into this somehow, and we know that Hardin agreed to meet Ashtor at Lake Felnach at dawn. And considering that he’s rushing Hardin out of there, it’s clear that getting into Aisling and killing the General was the priority here. So where is Hardin going from here? No idea, but it ain’t good.
And considering Dakkan’s blood phobia, we don’t know how well they’ll even be able to get out the gate- if at all. I think they’ll make it out of Deltrada, barely, but they’re both battered- physically, and emotionally. Dakkan still got strangled there for a minute, and that’s not a pleasant thing to experience in the least. Fortunately, the Canid are probably more concerned with hunting down Hardin and the Sratha-Din.
Really, they aren’t save even if they get back to Sunsgrove. Not with war brewing, and especially not considering their ranks. Quinlan is the Captain and while Dakkan doesn’t have a high rank, he’s the only remaining Lutren who’s going to return, and the son of the Captain. His father’s choices are going to affect him and what other think of him deeply. And that’s assuming they both get back alive.
This isn’t ending well and I’m glad my seat has such a thick edge.
The image of Crim falling out of a tree certainly made me crack up, and it was a nice little cheerful reprieve after the serious tone the comic’s taken.
Hello, lady of the shield! Are you related to shield maiden? You have the same “Jimmy Hawkins hijacking a space boat” look about you.
I don’t think the dinamic duo is going to have trouble getting out, given that the inmedeate witnesses to Kenosh’ betrayal are dead, and who is to say they won’t follow him and switch sides?
Finally, may I point out a fact so overwhelmingly obvious that I just can’t believe you haven’t noticed it and felt at least a tinge of joy at witnessing it?
Hmmm. You might be on to something there. Who’s to say the Canid won’t assume that the Ermehn killed Clovis? Then again, I doubt many Ermehn have a sword as big as Kenosh’s.
Actually, Feyn did.
Hmmm.
Yeah, it’s me. the wordpress update won’t let me change my name. Dangit I liked shieldmaiden :C What one fact have I missed?
I’m certain someone else saw it happen- from the walltops, say.
Bah, I’ll just call you Shield Maiden anyway.
As for the fact you missed: See those animals? The ones in the comic? They are wearing people clothes! Animals wearing people clothes and making word-like sounds! Isn’t that the funniest and most adorable thing ever? :D
To have these animals have feelings all-from hatred to love, and fight each other using the arms-what is it? I therefore myself I go:p XD
PS.: Ah, Lol – only now I noticed that you have a different name Shieldmaiden, but if I can – I could still call you Shield? :)
….By Tesque, old sport, you’re right. I hadn’t factored this into my calculations at all. it is indeed a strange world we live in. Who would go to the trouble of hand stitching all these clothes for animals if they’re only going to cover them in mud and blood? Rather counterproductive.
I rather feel like a frilly blue lace frock would look smashing on that cute one in the lower right hand corner.
Oh I made a thing…
http://imgur.com/fCrEk0I
Lol – Oh tronn… XD (You want to kill me with laught XD ? )
Welp, you successfully disarmed this week’s page lol.
Everyone hears the voice of the character, how he wants ;)
And yes charrgaff – this small processing destroyed the mood of seriousness and horror on this week page, in one second XD
Everyone hears the voice of the character, how he wants ;)
And yes charrgaff – this small processing destroyed the mood of seriousness and horror on this week page, in one second XD
…I have a funny case/experience – as Beyond the western deep, it changes my view on a matter, and something that I am in my life I would not associate with this brilliant comic, always today reminds me it ;) … But I will say about it until the next time (Next Salmon party), then maybe starts some interesting discussion ;) …
OH FUDGE THE FIRST PANEL MURDERED ME