Chapter 3: Page 59
The maxim engraved on the unity monument stretches all around its base, metaphorically encircling the races that are bound to the treaty, with the Sunsgrove-donated oak tree growing as a symbol of the deep roots the races hoped the treaty would plant in the world, and its growth representing the ever-expanding progress of the Four Kingdoms following the treaty’s signing.
Trees make great metaphors, as you can see. This one, combined with the bronze and stonework of the surrounding statue, really feels like a monument. The cramped streets surrounding it are indicative of Cenolau’s modest beginnings, but also meant to evoke similarities to quarters of ancient cities like Rome where you can be walking around narrow alleyways and hit a small piazza and BAM, there’s a priceless historical statue hidden away in a corner!
Also, the tree? I might be a sucker for Chorrol’s “Great Oak Place” in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion where a large oak tree basically became the town’s mascot. It was unique enough to stick in my head for many years, and resurfaced as one of the many inspirations for the monument.
For guest art this week, I wanted to share this fun piece by Cat-With-Horns of a character we haven’t seen for a long while. Poor Feyn!
Feyn drew a pretty cruddy straw (or in his case, series of straws) to wind up falling from the battlements of Deltrada. He might be due a story or something, considering how much the readership has kept him in their thoughts. It certainly wasn’t our original intent, but something-something-supply-and-demand!
Speaking of supply and demand, if you want to supply other Western Deep fans with fun conversation, I must demand you turn your attention for the next line:
We have a DISCORD!
Go ahead and click the image, and you’ll be whisked away to our Discord server, where you can chat about the comic, movies, video games, and more with fellow Western Deep readers and the creators (myself included)!
Run over to those Canid with your oh-so-cheery attitude. That’s a good idea, Janik.
Unnamed Tamian in the lower left panel may be my new favorite incidental character. Dunno why, just something about him. (Her? Rachel’s usually pretty good about making her characters easily distinguishable as male or female, but this one has me stumped. Still like ’em, tho’.)
These Cenolau pages have all been great, and look forward to many more!
(Cenolau … Cenolau … is that where the Cenobites hold their luaus? *ducks*)
Rachel likes to use a little tuft of chin fur to distinguish the males from the females. This tamian doesn’t have one, so I believe they’re a she.
“Trees make great metaphors”
Aww shucks, guys!
LOL!
Speaking of metaphor; I hope the sunsgrovians chose a small species of oak or the growth of the tree will surely undermine and split apart the statue almost as if Sunsgrove or someone frOM THERE WILL DO SOMETHING TO SHATTER THE PEACE AND PLUNGE THE WORLD INTO VIOLENCE OHNORACHELANDALEXYOUBEAUTIFULB******SWASTHISPARTOFTHEPLAN?!!?!?!
As good as time as any to drop in my currently free novel: amazon.com/dp/B079SSP8X2
What do you think are the odds of this tree burning at the end of this chapter to dramatically symbolize the end of the peace? ^^
Wouldn’t have thought of it myself, but now that you’ve mentioned it I give it 11/10.
Ah boy. This won’t end well.
Good luck, Janik! Don’t get kidnapped and spend half the series in prison, please. Quin and Dak JUST got out!
(Also, didn’t they get a raven from Deltrada already?)
If I recall correctly, they saw the raven fly overhead on its way to Nessa, the one that sparked the incident the Sand Spiders and Janik’s…I wanna say father?…got wrapped up in. But I don’t think we’ve been shown a raven heading for Cenolau itself, and I’m pretty sure Janik and her group didn’t get one.
UH OH
Discord says the link is expired so I can’t get in! I wanna join! XD
We’ve actually had some issues with the open invite system–we’ll be instituting a more robust invitation/vetting system in the future!