MURDERED! WHAT A SCANDAL!

I loved some of the theories I read from our readers in the last week about what happened to the Vulpin royal family, but the truth of the matter is revealed this week: the FELIS! As some readers may know, the Vulpin and Felis have a bit of a historic rivalry going. In modern times this has manifested mostly through technical and scholarly achievements, but in times past, it was a bit more… violent.

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This might also be the first comic page to mention how the calendar system works in the world of Beyond the Western Deep. Dates are divided into “Eras” and “Years”, with the beginnings of eras being dictated by the Felis because they manage the calendar. The other kingdoms had their own systems, but the Felis have managed to convince them to adopt their system for simplicity (and also because the Felis like making other races do what they think is best).

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The First Era (simplified as 1E) marks the founding of Gair. The Second Era (2E) marks the completion of the Spire of Gair. So the Night of Knives, when the Felis sent their assassins to kill the Vulpin royal family, that would be represented as 2E 43 if you were dating it.

And for those who are curious, Beyond the Western Deep takes place in the Second Era. The current year? 2E 249.

Before I show this week’s AMAZING guest art, I’d like to make a CREATOR ANNOUNCEMENT!

As some of you might know if you’re following me on Twitter, I’ve recently (as in, yesterday) accepted an offer for a job as as a Narrative Designer at ArenaNet. ArenaNet is the amazing game studio behind the Guild Wars franchise, and I couldn’t be more excited to join up with them to create incredible stories and fun new characters for their games.

And before you ask, NO I can’t tell you what I’m working on :)

So, for the comic itself, there shouldn’t be any major changes. Or minor ones, for that matter. If I’m writing up the post on a Friday evening, there’s a chance it will be a little later than exactly midnight EST because… well, I’ll be on Pacific Standard Time! But that’s it, honest!

Now, FINAL FANTASY 15. It’s here, isn’t it? I’ve clocked about 20 hours in it and personally I’m loving it. It’s big and fun and the main quartet is BASICALLY the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles if they wore all black and had magic powers. Also Donatello is British and can cook. I mean, Ignus. I mean… whatever.

Anyway, because Final Fantasy (and ostriches in Janik’s caravan), lilpoplil has graced us with not one, but TWO amazing images featuring our brave heroes riding the FF mount of choice: the chocobo!

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Whoa, Quin! Easy now, just try not to let it know you’re nervous. That’s good, just relax! You’ve got it! You’re doing great. You’re a natural at this. Honestly.

Okay. Dakkan, you’re up! Wait, Dakkan — don’t… No, stop, hold on a second. Dakkan?! DAKKAN WAIT-!

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DARNIT, DAKKAN!

Ah well. That’s okay, getting lost on a wild chocobo run is how you find all the cool treasures and hidden side content in the open world.

Seriously, lilpoplil, these images totally made my day :) I love crossovers like these, especially when it means I can listen to FF15’s amazing music and play the game and think how cool it would be to have Quin and Dak in there teaming up!

See you all next week!