Chapter 2: Page 96
“The view pans out. Then farther out. Until Quinlan and Dakkan are just dark splotches in the rain and mist.“
That was the original ending line for Chapter 2, written all those years ago — and going back to it now seems almost surreal, considering all that’s happened since. It’s been over two years since Chapter 2 began, and it’s been one heck of a ride! A bit bumpy at times, to be sure, but even with the little hiccups here and there, it’s amazing to be able to look back on all of the pages in the chapter and see an entirely new volume in the Western Deep saga!
Obviously there are a few pages throughout the chapter in various states of completeness — pages that we plan to get swapped out with finished versions as they come together. Then? Phew… it’ll be time to think about printing Book #2!
With this page marking the end of Chapter 2, Rachel has earned herself a rather extended Western Deep vacation! Starting next week, we’ll begin posting up a short story by Jerome Jacinto and myself that stars everyone’s favorite Canid/Ermehn best buds, Cain and Yurk! The four-page story is but a taste of what’s to come in the next volume of the Western Deep saga: Song of the Eastern Sands, which will begin after The Misadventures of Cain & Yurk (not the official title) conclude. There’s a lot of awesome stuff to show you all, and we’re all very excited to begin sharing it starting next week!
For guest art this week, it seems fitting to feature a series of pieces sent in by Joshua Madoc centered on the unnamed (but popular!) Lady Canid of Deltrada who featured throughout the finale of Chapter 2. With his pieces, Joshua sent a lot of proposed lore for the character — lore that isn’t necessarily canon, but is fun to read alongside the artwork (so I shall post it here with the necessary ‘not canon but still awesome’ disclaimer :)
“She was a rough street scrapper recruited into the Canid army because of her punching arm and street smarts (along with her somewhat short fuse, but that’s what life in the decadent streets did to her), and even though still a relatively fresh trainee, she was given greater benefits when she made her swinging arm very clear among her peers. No one, not even her, thought those benefits ended up allowing her to be among those that survived the massacre at Deltrada.”
“Even before becoming a soldier, she fought in the streets, establishing herself as a highly capable pugilist, but against her expectations that her string of victories would earn her a steady income, she was unaware of how prize pools for these bouts worked — she was such a devastating fighter in her city that she won her bouts far too quickly for there to be a prize to her satisfaction.”
“Though she was concerned on how this would affect her coffers and the wellbeing of the stray Canid pups that she’d befriended in her youth, she was eventually noticed by an awestruck son of a Canid official that happened to be passing by one of her bouts, and through the son’s encouragement, the Canid official offers her an opportunity for a better-paid job in the military.”
Thanks so much for the awesome artwork and fun backstory, Joshua! It will likely be a while before we see any hint of Lady Canid again, if at all, so I can’t think of a more proper sendoff for her and Deltrada than this!
And on top of that, Rachel and I would both like to extend a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all our readers and fans of both casual and “salmon party” levels. When we started, posting a page was the end of the page for us, as we continued work on the next one. Now, putting the page online is just the beginning of a fun and always-worthwhile conversation between us and you, and we look forward to it every week. You are all awesome, and truly “da real MVPs” of Western Deep — so thank you for sticking with us, and we hope you enjoy the side adventures in Navran as much as Quin and Dak’s journey thus far!
I bet Rachel’s breathing a sigh of relief now that it’s done XD Can’t wait to see how SOTES goes!
That’s what I’ve been thinking ever since they said she was really having a pain with this chapter.
The thunder say “RRRUMBBBLEEE!”, but the rumble already ended.
“And thus marks the beginning of the Second Dunian War”
Seriously though what a climatic ending for Chapter 2. Clovis is dead, Kenosh is branded a traitor/murderer, Hardin and the rest of the Sratha-din group escaped, Quinlan got shot, Dakkan’s world got shattered into a million pieces, Many are wounded, Many more are dead, 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanoes, the dead rising from their graves, Lutren sacrifice, Canid and Ermehn living together, overall complete mass hysteria.
In general this whole chapter was a blast to read. Thank you so much for you two being very dedicated with your work! It certainly paid off and I cant wait for both the 2nd volume to eventually get published and the upcoming Song of the Eastern Sands side story.
And let’s not forget the lolz our fellow readers have shared in the past as well as the various amounts of awesome fanart….including This one! I like Ms. Unknown Soldier’s headcanon backstory. I wonder if she becomes prominent later on.
Unfortunately, war will certainly – only a miracle can save the world from another pouring the blood sea – The black clouds hung over Four kingdoms…
And I really like your Veigue emotional
a brief description/summary of the events in 2 Chapter ;)
At least it appears that Quinlan is getting treatment for his shoulder. He hasn’t been hauled to his feet and thrown in a dungeon yet.
Wow. What a way to end the chapter. So much has happened in such a short interval. I love the decision to show the aftermath of the battle over head- you can see the bodies scattered on the ground and the canid milling about in the aftermath.
Off the birb goes to send news to other places- probably General Tosch, possibly King Janus? A complaint form to the HR department in the Sunsgrovian Government?
I like the detail that went into the walls of Deltrada and it’s really cool to get to see an aerial view of the surrounding area. (Along with the small Ermehn/Lutren dots fleeing to the hills) That palette on the page is so fantastic- it really feels stormy, dark and heavy, but the presence of the red firelight really adds some dimension withotu breaking the mood. Rachel you’re fantastic.
There’s a world of possibilities ahead of us, and it’s extremely likely that none of them are going to end well. And this reader’s going to be along for the ride through thick and thin to the bitter end.
Well, so long as I have internet access, anyway. Starting Monday, access to internet will be nonexistent due to a backpacking trip- internet will be sporadic throughout the entire next semester, really. I’m just glad chapter two ended before I left or else every Friday night would be me on the trail flailing in distress. (Not to say flailing won’t ensue but at least there’s some closure and I can keep it to a minimum.)
Thank you, Alex and Rachel. I can definitely say that finding this comic has changed my life for the better. That’s not exactly something you can say about just anything, and it’s certainly not something I say lightly. Rachel, enjoy your vacation, you definitely deserve it. Alex, I really hope you’re taking some time to breathe after all the work you did on Armello (which is absolutely fantastic, by the way- great balance of skill and luck- and Dust is on sale for three dollars yet again so pick both up now!)
Will SOTES be published by Action Labs and are you planning on self publishing SOTES and/or Volumes Two in addition to the AL edition?
*Reaction of the King after he gets messages from Canid
Yaay, congratulations Alex and Rachel! Thank you for providing us with such a fun and exciting story, full of colorful characters and so beautifully illustrated! You rock.
These final panels of the chapter are dark and look more painterly, sending us off into the unknown and uncertain future (I’m guessing that the opening scenes of the next chapter will be bright and consist of yellow tones for contrast?) Love the fan art too! And you precious co-commentators!
Ah… Everything has its time and needs to end… Well we have lived the end of this great chapter, almost flush year when I discovered BWD ;) . But I’m very happy that I managed to hit just probably the most important period of 2 chapter and comic, full of mysteries, conspiracies, fighting and blood of Ermehn and Canid. I’m really happy that I could find on this site a warm corner in this all over the Internet and connect with all of you to enjoy this wonderful massterpiece Comic – even for me arch-masterpiece comic ;) .
But I’m a little bit sad that in this moment breaks the action and moves elsewhere, leave wounded and I hope not died Quinlan and poor
mentally deranged Dakkan – although on the other hand, in my opinion, this action is very reasonable and prudent, because the story have more threads, also keeps in suspense and curiosity, what will be in next chapter – so I am looking forward to the rest of the comic and makes me very happy that here we have two new characters – (Already my favourite lik Dakkan and Quinlan ^^ ) – Cain and Yurk – who prove and are a living example of that kind of “mortal” enemies , and are the best friends and it shows that it is only and exclusively for me incomprehensible hatred to Ermehn nation in the Canid hearts, is the only reason all these horrors – wars, the bloody fights and massacres, blood shed,the innocent
many thousands of nameless victims – oldest, men, women and children; and sea of tears… Violence begets violence, unfortunately, Ermehn unfortunately have to attack Canid on the basis of “I don’t want to do it, but I must do it”… – so I look forward to the adventures of new characters to look forward and make me happy and interested in as an ethnographer and Explorer of culture – one of my hobby (I mean the battle and blood I really like in the comic too ^^;, but on the other hand, it is a pity that racially and culturally background :( ) – excited me and I like mixing and combining different cultures , multi-cultural, these cultures and people associated with them in peace, friendship and harmony ;) This is beautiful for me ^^
But what I love in this week picture for this very beautiful panorama of the entire after-battle field and Canid garrison and I really like this camera out higher and higher along with this post-Raven (I am wondering over who he flies, I suspect that the poor Sunsgrove king – Face palm and a heart attack immediately ensured) – this epic directing light-shadow at solar flare of lightning – fantastic effect ^^ :D Very good piece of work :D
At the end, I wanted to add something from me to the end of this chapter – if it were a last scene in BWD movie, at the end of this section, with the camera zooming out as here on this and the earlier picture – since last page
subside in the background of this battle bustle, out the camera and flying Crow; Let go in the background a fantastic song from the 1960s by Czesław Niemen, a masterpiece of all his life – perfectly suited to this point, as a summary of the whole situation (I can also change the Words a little bit) “It is a strange world” Original words – these words are a perfect summary to this end of second chapter:
Czesław Niemen, “It is a strange world”
It is a strange world
where still
there is so much evil.
And it is strange
that for many years
man despises man.
It is a strange world
the world of human affairs,
sometimes it is shamefull to admit.
And yet it often happens
that someone through a bad word
kills as if with a knife.
But there are more people of good will,
and I believe strongly
that this world
will never perish because of them.
No! No! No!
The time has come,
the high time
to destroy hatred in oneself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjLZwpmufw
And The same song only suited to BWD and this situation (I changed a few words ^^; )
It is a strange world – BWD world
where still
there is so much evil.
And it is strange
that for many years
Canid despises Ermehn.
It is a strange world
the world of Racial wars
sometimes it is shamefull to admit.
And yet it often happens
that someone not just a bad word
kills with sword and axe too.
But there are more people of good will,
and I believe strongly
that this world
will never perish because of them.
No! No! No!
The time has come,
the high time
to destroy hatred in oneself.
Wow. Chapter 2 ends, and boy does it end well. Veigue said it better than I could, but this will certainly be listed as a dark time in the histories of Dunia.
I’m definitely going to get angsty and impatient waiting for Chapter 3, but right now I’m too excited about SOTES to care. Far too excited. I’m either chanting
“SOTES! SOTES! SOTES!”
or the much less restrained
“WOHOO NESSA! BRING US THE DUNIAN MOS EISLEY! BRING ON THE KITTIES AND FOXIES, YEAH! WOHOO!”
(I’ve been waiting to learn more about the Vulpin and Felis, can you tell?)
Oh, and a big thank you to Joshua Madoc for his lovely Lady Canid pieces! That’s another good backstory for her as well, right alongside the “General’s daughter” theory. I hope we see her again, find out her name, and learn her true history before the comic is out!
Bravo, and congratulations on closing up this chapter so nicely. It’s been great watching this unfold, and I seriously can’t wait for more. I look forward to both Jerome’s interim story and the next official installment very much. Enjoy your break, guys!
(Personally, I love seeing the various stages of completeness of the comic, with some of them being just linework on a flat background, some with some color, some with some shading, then the beautiful finished pieces. I’m never disappointed when a page goes up, whether it’s complete or not!)
The conclusion of an engrossing chapter! The action really ramped up relative to the more introductory first chapter, and of course there were some glorious plot twists. At the end of the day, I am having a difficult time deciding who the “good” and “bad” characters are, which is excellent because it forces me to analyze every little detail about every character, rather than just labeling them and moving on.
I also like how Rachel is not afraid to show blood in fights, but at the same time doesn’t draw too much gore. It is a nice medium between making scenes more impactful, yet palatable.
Oh, well done indeed! I’ve only been reading for a very short time, but I’ve enjoyed the journey! I can’t wait to see what’s up next. This story has been completely fascinating!
As a note, Chapter 2 pp. 93 and 95 don’t show up in the archive.
Whoops, nice catch, Shield! Those pages were missing the appropriate chapter tags.
Come to think of it… with Cain/Yurk and SotES coming up, I should probably go back and make unique tags for each chapter, so they’re easier to navigate. Might have to do that today!
can’t wait for chapter 3 and all the spin off stories
This. This page is fantastic. Seriously, one of my favorite pages. Love the detail in the first panel: the stone of the walls, the lighting on the bird, all the little Canid bustling industriously about. If we could see the rest of the grounds, it would make a morbidly-excellent Where Waldo page.
And then the pull away in the second panel gives a great atmospheric finish as we see just how small the fort really is, and yet how earthshaking this event will be once the bird arrives. This really is the perfect way to end the chapter. The adrenaline-fueled flames have nearly burned themselves out, and now they’re reduced to a smoldering hotbed that is just waiting for the next log. The perfect temperature to enjoy an intermissive set of Yurk and Cain S’more, best paired with a slow-sipped toddy overlaid with notes of coriander and adventure.
Also, Lady Canid is looking fine, Mr. Madoc.
I just noticed that if you look very closely at the first panel, you can see Lady Canid, still kneeling over Clovis, with her head turned to look at Quinlan. It’s a nice touch.
Yes, only if she looks up at him with compassion or rather looks with anger? This is a question… ;)
Ah, Now one of my dreams in life is such that before my death to be able to see the series or film/screen adaptation of this amazing comic… And if I had children and grandchildren, to be able to show them and tell them this story … (And this comic is really helpfull to learn children about Polish history ^^ ;) )
I am dreaming and I wish you with all my heart to some Studio animated films will see your comic and want to make a film or tv series; For example as the filming of the adventures from the world of Redwal ;) I wish this to you with all my heart and me and every fan of this comic; and even if I don’t live for something like that and do not see it, I do believe that if I will be a good person and do I get to heaven after death, it is said that everyone has haven as dreamed – it may that all-merciful God will let me live in this world of BWD – of four kingdoms, in peace and without any wars, any blood and fight, any tragedy of Ermehn nation and of innocent victims and persons and racial hatred … I believe and I hope that will be ;)
There are animated adaptations of Redwall?
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkbwM4QkRdnNo2aQgaRkn49R33jP6_yR0
Yup. they adapted Redwall, Mattimeo, and Martin the Warrior. It’s not bad- the soundtrack is good, but if you love any minor characters, they will be butchered and have their roles severely cut back (Keyla/Jess/Barkjon) or not exist except one short scene (Winifred/Tullgrew). Worth a watch though. You can skip episodes 5 and 9 in the first season. Your sanity will thank you.
Maybe I’ll watch them later. I’d actually have to read Redwall first.
That’s right, I never read those books. Heresy, given the subject matter of this website. I am sorry.
https://youtu.be/Qgs29veFrdE?t=5s
Hey, no judgments. I, personally, have never read past book four of Harry Potter.
Wow, wait XD
I barely slept a few hours, and the whole discussion has turned me XD
So I say yes – I also have never read Marry Potter too, Shield; and unfortunately I haven’t read Redwall too :p (unfortunately I can not read because it is not Provided on the Polish translated, and nowhere I can’t buy it :p)
And this serial I remember from childhood, and two years ago it again I discovered it and I watched with delight (well, maybe was too little blood) But a great series – most favorite “Martin the warrior” and Felldoh, like Dakkan ^^ ;)
Really? The fourth Harry Potter book was where I stopped, too.
Ah, Harry Potter, sorry Haha XD No Mary Potter – LOl ;-; XD XD
I feel I may be the worst one here in regards to this. Never read (or watched) any of the Harry Potter books (or movies) and never read any of the Redwall books. I’m going to have to start one of these series soon. (The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness was my childhood!)
I only just realized Omega Canid is in the tableaux as well, running toward Dak and Quin. It’s a party (not Salmon) and everyone’s invited! Who isn’t dead. And comments about this being the “aftermath” of the battle seem premature, as I clearly see at least one Ermehn still locked in battle with its Canid foe, far upper left corner. So, the action continues! Even if we’ll not get to see it …
I can only echo what’s already been said in abundance: Great end to a fantastic chapter, and now that I’ve seen how splendidly the printed volume for Chapter One turned out, I’ll hazard that the Chapter Two volume will be even more spectacular! Can’t wait to see it when it’s ready!
Congrats, Alex and Rach! Now go lie down somewhere for a few weeks!
(Oh, and Rach – did you get my email about Certain Artses?)
All Ermehn insurgents which left by Hardrin on the fate of Canid;
After a while everyone will lay dead with slit thoart – Canid
do not take Ermehn prisoners – only their “punish” for the audacious attack…
Dang, that’s some seriously beautiful artwork. Does Joshua Madoc have a DA?
I guess this means there’s plans for Lady Canid, so that you can’t adopt this backstory as canon.
I have some Tumblr blogs, but my main blog is extremely NSFW in this kind of environment. Unless you have access to XKit that blacklists NSFW posts out of practicality, I can only link my modding blog here: http://jmmodding.tumblr.com
You can find my main blog’s name in the notes of most of the entries in that blog, although do access it at your own peril, unless you’re not the type to easily find offense in NSFW material.
Thanks ^^
For me it was shockingly cool, given the fact that I watched all this comic book (or, as you call, ‘webcomic’). This image means a lot for me as a lover of otters which I draw my Russian characters. I’m glad this webcomic! When I was in the village, I’m zombified it because I worried about Dakkan and Quinlan. Because of action Kenosh, I began to have doubts. But still I liked this comic book.
With thanks from Alexander.
Congratulations, both of you. This has been a ride, and it’s been great to follow along for the whole chapter. I hope you both get a well-deserved break. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to some fluffy Canid and Ermehn best friends. B)
Personally I’m looking forward to some fluffy Canid and Ermehn plushies. Say, keychain sized would be pretty neat!
I will throw my money at whoever makes teeny Cain and Yurk plushies happen. :v
I’m waiting for some T-shirts myself . . .
Man, I’d love to do T-shirts so much. I’m going to research it, at the very least.
And will there be t-shirts with Dakkan? ^^
(For example, how he fishing, or when he is happy and laughs, or practiced fighting with a stick – Ah, I know what I dream! :D You Mrs. Rachel once so fantastically drawing Dakkan wen he plays on violin, I want a shirt with a cheerful Dakkan who plays on violin, Yay :D )
Tell me this wouldn’t make an awesome shirt:
https://westerndeep.net/comic/nycc/
Ah Fourth, I dream about something that T-shirt ^^ :D
Oh man. That’d be awesome.
….and yet some new larger posters from BWD :D (I would like to eventually buy this poster … But I can’t :p :( )
And T-shirts are cool ^^ :D – I would be proud as a Peacock, if I had shirt with Dakkan and walked through the main market with unbuttoned shirt, with Dakkan on my chest XD (obviously not with naked breast underneath the shirt, but like here http://img06.deviantart.net/1827/i/2014/343/9/0/keep_calm_and_make_cracow_crib_by_cracowpoland2013-d898094.jpg XD) ^^:D
What a fantastic way to end chapter 2. Really looking forward to more stuff in the future after the well deserved break!
this is so awesome! It really was a wild ride reading this, and I’m excited for the next chapter! the way this one ended hit me right in the feels, but it’s still a really cool story. I’ve been working on some fan art, but I have no idea how to get it featured here… :(
We’re so glad you enjoyed the chapter! :) Feel free to send any fan-art to our e-mail at “thewesterndeep (at) gmail (dot) com”!
Just want to say that I like how the last line of dialogue in Chapter 2 is Kenosh saying “You were supposed to wait.”
Impressive work. Perfect ending point.
Your rough draft has a note about interfering cloud wisps and I’m glad to see that you kept it limited to straight lines; anything more would’ve diluted the mood.
oh my god i finished wester deep it is AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so are the Canids grabbing Dak? I can’t tell. It looks like they are, but better ask just in case.