Song of the Eastern Sands: Page 10
ABORT! SCATTER! RUN AWAY! ALLONS-Y!
As a few readers figured the last couple weeks, outright taking the jeweler’s strongbox was just as viable a strategy as picking the lock — though that does limit the level of discretion they could hope to accomplish (especially considering Beck’s little song and dance for the Tamian merchant). It’s pretty clear that she won’t be shopping in that part of town for a while. Rook is probably also in hot water, but it’s hard to tell when your entire species has a built-in eye mask.
To all who celebrate it on January 1st, I hope you all had a wonderful New Years! 2015 was really one heck of a year for Rachel, Jerome, and myself — most relevantly it was the year that saw Beyond the Western Deep: Volume 1 hit stores thanks to Action Lab Entertainment!
It is looking very much like 2016 will be the year that Volume 2 sees release, but I’m hoping that isn’t the only Western Deep development that the year holds. A lot can happen in a single year, so we’ll see how much cool stuff we can cram into it! Like the stuff below this totally relevant picture of Dakkan playing the fiddle!
It’s relevant because I’ve got a bit of a twist for you: I’m not sharing guest art this week, but guest music! Music based on Beyond the Western Deep!
This piece, entitled “The Deep” by composer Nolan Markey, hits a great many marks of mine when it comes to music that sounds comic-appropriate. Give it a listen:
The Celtic-inspired instrumentation is spot-on, and it manages to work in both bagpipes (or are those uilleann pipes?) and even a few seconds of a Danny Elfman-esque choir. It actually reminds a little bit of Mark Mancina’s very underrated work on the PS3 title Sorcery, which had its own spin on Celtic-flavored epicness. But seriously, throw in some uilleann pipes and whistles and I’ll smile so wide that my face breaks. It just straight-up breaks. Seriously.
Nolan Markey may not be a name you’re familiar with at the moment, but I’m about to change that. If you watch Star Wars: Rebels with the volume turned on (and why wouldn’t you?!), chances are you’ve heard some of the music he orchestrated!
I highly recommend you check out some of his work on Soundcloud via this link — you’ll find there’s a lot to love, including a lovely re-scored How to Train Your Dragon 2 piece in the style of John Powell.
Thank you SO much for composing, performing, and sharing this wonderful piece with us, Nolan! It captures a lot of what I love about Beyond the Western Deep, and I hope this isn’t the last piece you’re inspired to do based on our world! But either way, we’ll all probably be keeping an eye on your Soundcloud for new stuff even if it isn’t Western Deep related!
The music is beautiful. Very fitting.
Awesome page, check!
Awesome guest stuff, check!
Beck’s face, check!
What a way to start off 2016!
Rook and Beck’s faces are inspirational. That’s the kind of attitude and energy I want to have in 2016. Even if Grand Theft Jewelry is optional in the process of achieving those expressions.
Great dynamic composure and color palette, and we have great fan music, too. All of the contributors and their contributions are awesome.
Speaking of faces, poor Asha just might be struggling with that chest judging how her pupils seem to have fallen clean out of her eyes.
Oh wow…is all I gotta say to the music. Really good. It makes me want to read more of the comic. MOAR! Why can’t you paint crazy detailed artwork comics faster D8
Now all we need is for someone to make a BtWD game spin off to go with the fancy music like rpg maker or…something grand like that…
Do they really intend to run away with that huge-ass chest?
Absolutely! What these thieves lack in competence they make up for in enthusiasm.
Both panels in this page are pure win. And is that Theo in the foreground of the second? Ohoho! I can’t wait to see what sordid chain of events causes this otherwise respectable Vulpin to begin consorting with these three musteline troublemakers.
And then there’s the music. THE MUSIC. Alex, Rachel, Jerome–one of you HAS TO make this a downloadable mp3 file or something similar. Almost as exciting as the music itself is the knowledge that a Star Wars: Rebels composer wrote it (and reads the comic!). Star Wars was my childhood, so I’ve been casually following Rebels since it came out. Anyone trusted by Lucas or Disney to write Star Wars music is fine by me.
Nolan, if you’re reading this: Thank you for this fantastic piece, and I hope you continue to enjoy this comic along with the rest of us.
Something about this scene just screams like a Looney Tunes cartoon. “Oooh dat pesky Wutren!!”
I agree with Fourth Master if there is a way to download that awesome musical piece that you shared with us, I’m all for it.
What a surprise to start the New Year: for a change, Beck’s isn’t the scariest face on the page!
A little surprised they’re all running the same direction; I’d have thought Rook and Asha would have skedaddled one way out the back of the tent, while Beck diverted attention with a dash along a different route. Now that all the onlookers KNOW the chest is stolen (rather than just being discreetly *moved* by two anonymous workers) I’m not sure how our heavily-burdened, larcenous trio plans to get away.
*waits to see how they get away*
I actually just swapped out the music file with the latest version, sent by Nolan just last night! I’ll also check up on a downloadable version. If that comes to pass, I’ll share a link with next week’s page :)
You know, when Beck pulled her stunt last page, I at leas thought the two groups would run seperate ways…
Also that music! :D Celtic stuff is one of my fav musical genres
Oh wow. I saw what you did there. “Allon-sy!” Are you a doctor who fan? And amazing new page by the way. I can’t wait to get back to dakkan’s bit of storyline. It was quite a shock when his dad defected to the sratha-din.
You might think me an idiot, but I actually hoping our protagonists don’t suceed in this heist.
Stealing is bad, kids, no matter how cool and radical it seems when a talking animal is doing it.
Hey guys! Been a while since I popped in, but I’m still a fervent supporter (no matter how difficult not having internet makes it to keep up). Loving the new story, both words and art. Keep up the good work!
And Rachel, I hope you’re enjoying your time off. :)
Love the soundtrack! And the story, of course.
That face alone is good enough a reward for burglary, I say. Beck certainly seems to be enjoying this as much as I am. She’s- dare I say- skipping away. Simple as picking daisies, it seems- save for the simple matter of opening the chest, and hoping whatever they were after is within.
What is that blowing in the wind? While i doubt it’s confetti, it’s very fitting for the occasion.
And we have the return of the Vulpin with apples! For some reason, recurring NSC’s make me happy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lutren currency were pearls, coral, or maybe mother of pearl, but then, depending on their view of the sacred oceans, that may not be viable. Perhaps they deal in fresh salmon?
Lovely music, Nolan! And it’s nice to see Dakkan’s smiley face again, hopefully we’ll get to see Quinlan’s sooner or later (unlikely, but I can dream, right?)