Chapter 4: Page 32
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Wow, Rhosyn really wasn’t kidding around, huh? But we knew that the moment she WHOK’D Rathik in the jaw with her crossbow stock. Hardin’s been stabbed–may even be dead–and the one who did it is advancing on you?
In the Wastes–as well I imagine in many other places throughout the world of Dunia–one might see that as reason enough to put them down. This will obviously evokes memories from readers of Quinlan’s unfortunate run-in with one of Rhosyn’s bolts. While our tamian hero slipped into a state of shock and didn’t come out of it until the next morning, Rathik has a bit more on his mind… and the physical prowess to do it.
RIP Rhosyn’s crossbow: we hope its final act was not in vain.
Oh hey, speaking of our tamian hero, longtime reader and friend of the comic Mitch de la Guardia (who also streams games and art on his Twitch channel Sunday, Monday and Thursday as “Dammitch”) spent a bit of time creating this incredible pair of pieces featuring our very own Quinlan! Check ’em out!
Here’s the day version:
And here’s the night version! I like to imagine Quinlan is just sitting up there in the tree looking totally boss, completely unmoving, all throughout the day and into the night.
I absolutely LOVE these pieces, Mitch! It’s always fun to see Quin get to look cool, especially considering that most of what we’ve seen of him has been him second-guessing himself and experiencing all kinds of existential angst.
But following his experiences over even the last few days of in-world time, Quinlan has matured in ways that I’m sure surprise him more than anyone else. It may not be long before we see him striking a killer pose like this! Only time will tell!
Thank you SO MUCH for the amazing art, Mitch! We all certainly hope you’re able to revisit the world of the Western Deep sometime soon :)
Hooo boy, I didn’t quite see that coming! Poor Rathik, I always liked the big lug, and I was hoping for a Rathik/Crim bro-down at some point!
Welp, another one bites the dust! Pity about the broken crossbow now, though Rathik has some serious strength in those hands if he can snap that sort of sturdy wood like that.
I’ve been on the internet too long; one of my first reactions was to imagine Rathik making the shocked Pikachu face. Side note, I’m appreciating Rhos more with each page.
He doesn’t even have the good grace to die immediately.
He can’t kill Rhosyn, right? We don’t know anything about her yet!
Oh dear, I hope he doesn’t kill Rhos, that’s a lot of dying all at once… :( And there aren’t many of them left…
But wait- Alex says: “ Hardin’s been stabbed– may even be dead….”
may……?? There is hope yet! :D very small hope. :|
Hardin can serve Alex if he is dead :P
Oh, and I forgot- lovely artwork, Mitch! :)
There should be a prequel piece, where we see what Quin’s looking at- A stump on the forest floor, and atop the stump a small apple. The stump is bristling with arrows, but the apple’s completely fine. *Quin climbs tree* “Arrgh, I need a better angle!”
Arrgh, spamming comments but I just forgot something again! I don’t think Rhosyn will be killed- Rathik doesn’t have a weapon to use, he’s using his hands-so it would probably be messy and violent, and I don’t think they’d put that in the comic. Or I could be completely wrong and Rachel’s genius could find a way for that to happen non-graphically. X( Anyway my vote’s on Rhosyn living.
It’s always nice to see a character who gets shot in the chest not be dead before hitting the ground, but the fact remains that he does have a crossbow bolt in his chest, likely lodged in his heart, and the harder he struggles, the quicker he’s going to bleed out. He won’t be a threat for long.
Even if he does manage to get his hands on Rhosyn, and even if she can’t fight him off herself, Bevan and Kenosh are right there, and I’m not convinced that Ashtor and Eira–who are even closer–would be completely useless in a fight. Hardin may be down for the count even if he does survive his stab wound, but it’s still five against one and the one is doing a lot of bleeding.
Don’t worry, Rhosyn’s probably going to be fine. For now.
At this point I’m not going to assume anyone’s dead until we get a confirmation, but that bolt in Rathik is… pretty deep. And dead center in his chest too.
…taking it like a champ tho.
It’s so odd to read these last few pages, and then look at Tracy Butler’s guest piece for Volume Two, where Hardin, Rhosyn and Rathik are all standing together striking a pose like they’ll be best buds (or at least close comrades) forever. That’s one piece of art that certainly didn’t give anything away, plot-wise!
(Oh, and fantastic Quin there, Mitch, as has been said.)
Oh dear, this isn’t good for anyone. They really, really should start wearing armor instead of going around bare chested.
I liked Rathik as a character despite his faults–no, because of his faults–and I had hoped that he’d go down in a blaze of glory but not against his own people!
The Chapter 4 Title Page suggests he still might…
The title page! I forgot! I went back and looked at it, it sure looks like Rathik holding off the Canid so the others can escape-and Kenosh and Bevan’s news seems to support that trajectory as well- but given how things are going amongst the Ermehn, is it still a possibility?? *rubs hands* we shall see…..
Congratulations, Rathik! You were leader for all of thirty seconds. Looks like NO ONE will be remembering you for anything, YOU BIG DUMB GOON. ;)
LOL At this rate, the canids will find a heap of dead ehrmen: “Looks like they killed each other.” “Oh….I guess the rebellion’s already over. Disappointing. I was hoping for more fighting.” ;)