Chapter 4: Page 33
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Rathik may not have much experience firing crossbows, but he does have a lot of experience swinging heavy, dense objects around, so he’s both completely in his element and incredibly dangerous wielding the shattered remnants of Rhosyn’s weapon.
In the same vein, Rhosyn may prefer taking out her foes with her crossbow, but if you’re an ermehn in the Wastes, it behooves you to learn how to take down a foe with just about anything lying around.
In her case, she’s always got some very sharp crossbow bolts close at hand–and the principle of how they wind up stuck in your enemy is functionally similar whether it’s being fired from a crossbow or forcefully shoved into their thigh with some highly motivated downward force!
Speaking of pointed sticks, here’s a wonderful piece of guest art from SneakingSuspicion featuring our favorite tamian diplomat, Janik!
We may not have seen Janik rocking a bow in the comic, but most tamian are at least somewhat proficient in its use, many having taken cursory lessons when they were younger (along with a modicum of tesque) and some partaking in their use as a hobby or sport–similar to archery today.
Her form here could probably use some work, but she’s no doubt a little rusty seeing as it’s been quite some time since she’s picked up a bow!
Thank you SO MUCH SneakingSuspicion! We love seeing our characters in new styles and situations :)
See you all next week!
He should have known better than to pick a fight with the archer. She has enough confidence in her fighting skills to go out into a battle field with not one but TWO bullseyes tattooed on her belly o.o
They look like the eight to me which could be the sign she is eight best Ermehn archer. Just think how good the first seven are then, if Rhosyn can shoot and hit the center of the target without looking. :D
Oh great – now Rathik’s impaled in two places. And the fatal one still doesn’t seem to be slowing him down all that much. Although I will admit, when I first scanned this page, I thought Rhosyn was “toggling” the bolt already in his chest and not stabbing him in the thigh with a second one. Which might have been even more badass, if a bit too cruel for Western Deep sensibilities.
At this point, I’m thinking literally anything can happen. Can’t wait to see what it’ll be!
I’m sympathetic to the point Rathik has been trying to make here. It’s not that hard to look back at the Sratha-Din segments of the story and see them as The Hardin Show, with everyone else in a supporting role. It is hard to look at his use of an entire tribe as cannon fodder and come away with the impression that preserving the ermehn was high on his list of priorities.
Where Rathik failed is, first, underestimating the rest of the group’s loyalty to Hardin, and second, thinking that because Hardin appeared to have success with the murder-as-diplomacy technique, it would work for him too. But from the audience perspective, it’s not that hard to pick up on the story’s running theme of Hardin’s methods not really working out. Just look at all the damage they’ve caused.
By the way, weren’t we just about to have a canid problem?
I guess Rathik still has some hitpoints left
At this rate, Rathik’s gonna look like a porcupine! ;)
Shorn of context panel one looks like angry sibling keep-away.
Give you sister back her toy, jerk!
Aw dang, the poor boy is done for. Even if his wounds aren’t fatal he can’t run away now.