Chapter 3: Title
Greetings and welcome all to Chapter 3 of Beyond the Western Deep! After the year-long sojourn that saw us visiting the sandy streets of Nessa in Song of the Eastern Sands, we’re finally returning to the core cast in this new main story chapter, and welcoming Rachel back as its artist!
Now, I know you must have a lot of questions. Whose hand is that? Why are they chained up? Wait, who is that Vulpin in the banner? She was in the last page of Song of the Eastern Sands, wasn’t she? Well, rest assured that we cover all of these burning questions and answer a whole lot more in Chapter 3.
To celebrate the beginning of Chapter 3, I’ve re-opened the Western Deep Online Store with all of our new items! We’ve got some Tesque Master shirts, new prints, and yes — the softcover release of Volume 2 will be arriving soon as well (albeit just a little late — the box of early copies needs to arrive first)!
So yeah! You can visit the online store by clicking the Store link at the top of the page, or by clicking here!
Rachel and I recently had the tremendous opportunity of visiting New York Comic Con and tabling in their incredible Artist Alley. We sold through our entire allotment of Volume 1 and most of our Volume 2’s. It was our first time working NYCC, and we had an amazing time.
One of the fun things we were offering at the show were the final 12 or so copies of the Western Deep Volume 1 hardcover, which we’d dredged up from our private collections for sale here. One of the bonus reasons to buy this copy over the softcover was the hand-inked sketch inside that Rachel did — each one unique to a hardcover. I won’t post them all here, but here are some of my favorites:
Oh hey, speaking of Quin and Dak playing their respective instruments, did you see Jerome’s amazing homage to the Slip Jig piece that Nolan Markey wrote for us??
It’s the Land’s End Tavern and everyone’s having such a great time! Note the Sand Spiders and Cain and Yurk hanging out in the background! And there’s Alder and his wife, Holly! The gang’s all here!
I don’t know what I can say about this piece to Jerome that I haven’t already said, so I’ll repeat that it’s an amazing, fantastic, gorgeous, inspirational, fun piece of artwork that really makes me wish it was easier to portray music in sequential art form. Even if Quin and Dak never get a chance to play in the main story, at least we get it here!
Anyway! Welcome back, everyone! Rachel and I are working extra hard to ensure that Chapter 3 serves as the best possible continuation of what’s come before, and we think you’ll like where the story goes!
I’ll bet it’s Quin’s hand!!! Looks like a squirrel to me. But if that’s so, it COULD be Janik. Especially since she’s in the banner. Her, and a mystery character (dun dun DUUUUUN!)
All the artwork here is so awesome! I especially love the Slip Jig scene–so full of life, light, and laughter! And Theo, looking extraordinarily pleased with himself. I’m so excited for chapter three to be getting underway! Though I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait a whole week for the next installments!!
YES! YEEEESSSSSS! CHAPTER 3 IS HERE!!!! ***INCOMPREHENSIBLE SCREAMING***
*ahem* anyway… nice title for Chapter 3! I feel like it’s a reference to something… I can’t put my finger on it… or maybe I just forgot. now whose hand (or paw?) is that? Quin’s fingers are too thin, so that rules him out…
*raises flagon* here’s to hoping Quin and Dak’s survival and not getting traumatized in the process…
I’m loving the sketches, and Jerome’s Slip Jig piece!
oh, and I have a little surprise for you, Alex and Salmon party– it’s still being made, but it’ll be done before the end of the month. (hint: I may have mentioned this on tumblr a while back)
Hmm, perhaps you’re right about the hand being too large for Quinlan. So could it be, perhaps, the Tamian King? (His name escapes me)
Hey all, frequent lurker since this comic’s inception but I figured I’d comment since we’re beginning a new chapter here finally after so long of a cliffhanger. With Quinlan seemingly in chains here, I do have to wonder, and this is a question I’ve kind of had since Kenosh left with Hardin and the Ermehn. Why did Kenosh leave Quinlan and his own son behind before he left? He was the killer of an important general in the Canid army and broke a treaty, and just joined a potentially dangerous band of rebels. Surely the Canid wouldn’t just let Quinlan and Dakkan leave. They’d be suspicious and likely seen as co-conspirators to the murder. So why would Kenosh simply leave them behind instead of at least helping them get away from the Canid before disappearing off with the Ermehn.
I don’t know, it’s sort of something that’s been bothering me over this whole year without updates and I really hope its addressed in comic, because I feel Kenosh had no reason not to do this. Regardless, he’s definitely not winning any father of the year awards.
Despite all of this, I’m still heavily stoked to continue this story and see where you take it after such a long cliffhanger. :)
Also, I just realized that’s probably not Quinlan’s hand and very well might be Janik’s. So, very curious.
My amber drops are on that prisoner being Dakkan.
Also: leaving was probably the best thing Kenosh could have done for them. If he helped them leave, the Canid would take that as the entire Sunsgrovian envoy being in cahoots with the Ermehn instead of one old man acting alone- even if they split off from the Ermehn soon after. Bringing Dakkan and Quinlan along is simply not an option because Dakkan has no love for the Ermehn, especially after Quinlan got injured. Quinlan would have only slowed them down whether or not he and Dakkan stayed with the Ermehn or not. Furthermore, Hardin didn’t seem to give much of a crap about either Dakkan or Quinlan- I doubt he would have let Kenosh add two more members to his ragtag band of carefully hand-picked misfits.
Right now, Quinlan and Dakkan’s chances of survival and release depend on the Canid believing that Kenosh acted without their knowledge. Quinlan got shot by an Ermehn bolt- since the crossbow’s a rare weapon, there’s no question who shot it- so he’s in the clear but Dakkan- well. Not so much.
I totally agree the Canid are going to bring the Treaty into this, which is really hypocritical given the fact that they outright break (patrols in the Wastes) and bend it, (detaining the envoy) but hey I guess that’s politics for you.
(I’m still pretty sure the original plan was that Hardin was going to wait one more day. Clovis made it clear he wanted Kenosh to stick around to advise the Canid, so I bet Kenosh was intending to negotiate it so that Kenosh stayed in Deltrada but Quinlan and Dakkan were allowed to leave, and since Quinlan and Dakkan would be enroute to Sunsgrove when the whole siege mess went down, their involvement would be a clear impossibility- but since Hardin attacked early and Quinlan and Dakkan didn’t stay in the tower, that plan went out the window, but I digress)
Well, I agree that it’s likely the best thing he could have done for them, but definitely not for himself. Kenosh is now public enemy number 1 to the Canid most likely and has run off with a bunch of known fugitives, but for whatever reason he left his own son behind, and didn’t at least help get him out of Deltrada first before splitting off. So, what’s going to stop the Canid from threatening Kenosh to turn himself in, speaking they have Dakkan in chains and could very easily throw a noose around his neck as leverage? Basically, Kenosh has put himself in a position where he’d either have to turn himself in for the safety of his son, or risk his son potentially being killed if he chooses the Ermehn over his family. He can easily be influenced and threatened, which isn’t a good position to be when you’re a wanted criminal.
Also, with the Canid seemingly targeting Janik now too, I doubt they’re seeing Quin as being innocent either. He’s likely in the same situation as Dakkan is.
Anyways, here’s hoping some of that gets addressed in this chapter. Even with all that said, I’m still super excited for the chapter, and this discussion has only made me more excited about the possibilities for what’s to come in the story.
Granted, it’s all speculation, but I’m still sure he left them because helping them would only have worsened their standing in Canid eyes- the whole “you only run if you’re guilty” argument and all that. Even if Dakkan and Quinlan had made it out of Deltrada, with Quinlan’s shoulder a mess they wouldn’t have gotten far (arrow wounds are a LOT more serious then they show in the movies) and I’m pretty damn sure there’s no way in hell Dakkan would leave Quinlan behind or that Hardin would have //let Kenosh help them or bring them along. Kenosh is hardly father of the year, but he still loves his son and did what he could in a bad situation. Kenosh knows what he’s doing, to an extent. I still think Hardin’s going to turn out to be far more than he bargained for.
The only way using Dakkan as leverage will work is if Kenosh finds out about said execution/threat in a timely manner- and, given they use birds and envoys to relay messages, they won’t have much luck finding Kenosh in the wilds of Aisling. Or the Wastes, whichever way they ran. I suspect the former.
But remember. They’re specifically going after the diplomats, not just Janik. Janik is a political target because she’s a diplomat, not because of any connection to Quinlan. Perhaps it was hasty to say Quin’s entirely off the hook, but considering the Ermehn shot him, he’s definitely in less trouble than Dakkan since that’s evidence that the Ermehn do not consider him an ally. Quinlan is also a brand-new Captain so the Canid might buy that Quin wasn’t in on it- but I’m sure they suspect at least someone else in Sunsgrove knew this was coming, especially on the Lutren end, if Kenosh’s sympathy for the Ermehn was publicly known- hence the attack against Sunsgrovian diplomats. Course,
Again, this is all just me guessing, I could be wrong. But we’ll see soon enough.
*attempts to impersonate a Canid general* CUE THE INVESTIGATION MONTAGE!
*plays the CSI theme*
Did you mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUGlOKsJGuI
M’I SO HAPPY THAT CHAPTER 3 IS OUT. and i under what will happen will Quin and Dak find way out and find Dak’s father or will the CANID army decide to do something horrible to them or will who knows. we will have to wait and see what will happens. PS i screech so hard i thought i nearly died i’m ok though plus i love the art is so awesome and i hope to comment more in this awesome comic.
Back into the world of betrayals, death, hardships and friendships. I’m absolutely ecstatic to get back into BWD!
Of course I love the additional artwork Rachel did for the books. Dakkan and Quin look so ever adorable playing their instruments and Hardin is always the loner. Although I fear for the lack of a Kenosh one *shift-eyed*
Besides that Jerome, I love this piece. It looks so fun and festive that it makes me wish I could just dance along with them (actually no…I’m a horrible dancer!)
Somehow I doubt that they’re going to kill Kenosh off-screen between chapters.
Of course I dont mean that they’ll just kill him off screen, but the idea that Kenosh isnt around in most promo stuff triggers my dread senses. Then again I guess it’s mostly due to who’s really important in this story.
It could also be that he’s just not requested very often. Which is a shame, everyone needs that level of Eyebrows of Justice in their life.
Figures the guy would be shy when one attempts to draw him. After all he does give off the hard dad intimidation aura.
I limited myself to Quinlan, Dakkan, and Hardin because they are most recognizable as Main Characters. Hardin and Quin are on the cover, and Dak and Quin are clearly best bros. Kept it simple in case of those books being picked up by new readers (and most were!) c:
Oh how I’ve been waiting for this moment. Let the new chapter begin! Saturdays are booked! X3
The sleeve definitely makes it look like Janik’s hand, or the Vulpin lady’s. Interesting. I’m sure that the cover will make more sense as when we reflect on Chapter 3.
I love Jerome’s artwork, it’s my favorite piece that we’ve gotten for a while. Good job, Jerome. A fitting sendoff tor SOTES.
Not much more to say, really; I gave my spiel on excitement and anticipation last week. Suffice to say that I’m very eager to see the first true page of Outcasts of the Western Deep.
I’m guessing it’s either Dakkan’s hand there, since it did seem like he was being restrained at the end of chapter two, or it’s a brand new character we have yet to meet.
Nice to see you around again, Altairey! The Salmon Party hasn’t been the same without you.
NYES
I’m so hyped!
I’m pretty sure that’s Dakkan- he’s got the right build, the wrist wraps, and the connection with the stabby traitor father. (I still love you Kenosh)
Lead on, guys. Wherever Chapter Three goes, I have utmost faith in both of you.
I’m gonna make a prediction and say that this chapter is mostly going to revolve around Janik, with Quin and Dak only making short appearances. Since Song of the Eastern Sands established that there was an assassination plot going on in Nessa, I think chapter 3 is going to revolve around that.
Maybe it’s not a prisoner’s manacle but a traditional Canid Friendship Manacle instead? You know, no hard feelings you couldn’t have known it hurts us as much as you? I have a good feeling about this!
Yes! That has to be it! A traditional Canid friendship manacle, which goes hand-in-hand with the prison cell accommodations that the Canid offer only to their most honored guests.
here. http://jeri-june.tumblr.com/post/152275853540/this-weeks-western-deep-comic-gag-the-manacle-of
Sorry for not commenting sooner. This is great!
This should be thing
Ohhhh my gosh? Are we returning? ARE WE BACK?! OHHHH MY GOSH?!?!
GAH. All the art on this entire page is just great. Seriously, all of it. One of the lowkey best things about this comic are the new banners for each chapter. Are they collected and posted up somewhere? Because they should be.
Also, love the manacle. Like, really. I’d wear that manacle. Guess I need to go find a Canid to make friends with.
And Jerome, your piece! I feel like it’s a really fitting transition from the Sand Spiders and your artwork back to the other parts of the story and Rachel’s. Very satisfied. 10/10.
any chance at a reprint of volume one?
We don’t have any current plans to reprint the hardcover — but the softcover should be available through all major retailers, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I do want another hardcover, but they’re expensive to produce unfortunately
Can’t wait to see more of the Canids
Canid*
OMG!!! I can’t wait!!!
Oh boy, here we go. All the Sunsgrovians are in for a treat. I’m sure everything is going to go well. And welcome back, Rachel; Jerome is fantastic but we missed you.