Al-X: Well, apparently I masked the Death Guide's appearance too well... I was basically drawing Behari with an intense stare, wilder hair and featureless topless torso... ;)
Singularity: I'm not sure how much Behari would trust a man right now... Although the guide had a seemingly masculine form, so I may be way off-base.
Dvandom: So, is this dragon into crossplay, or are dragons like the old dwarf joke, in that even the females have mustaches and beards? (Okay, the mustache is more barbel than anything else, but still.)
Fenyx: lol i have the comic in a folder with other comics. so whenever i open the entire folder, the comic opens so i check on it everyday xD
Darius Drake: The scene has already been almost stolen by this dragon, but it is a fantastic use of a dragon anyway.
Al-X: @Osk: Thanks for the vote of confidence! @Uhl: Dragons are notorious scene-stealers; I can only afford one in the story ;)
Uhl: Same dragon that took Niriko's hair clippings and put them in a pot? Or a different one?
Osk: as long as you keep this kind of quality in story and art, whenever you can update is fine by me. I actually check here, even when i know there couldnt be an update
Wanderer: Well, that settles that. As I said, I had no doubt she could take Behari by force if necessary.
Rune: Ohhhh Dragon.
Ganx: Nice update
RGE: According to the babelfish.yahoo.com translation, the voting for the contest isn't open until Monday 29 of June.
Al-X: Ugh... workload spike :( I can't make the bonus update this week, but I'm getting the hang of working on two pages at once, so NEXT week there's double update for sure.
Osk: I'd guess that, as long as the body is alive, when a spirit or whatever claims a guardianship, the death guides allow it, after all, the soul will come again someday and there are more to see to, why care?
Al-X: All shall be revealed... this week, I guess... donation bar hit 50 again
There goes my buffer! ^^;
Wanderer: Still, it's not so much a question of power now, as one of jurisdiction. Dragons no longer hold the places they once had, and the death guide may not be under this one's authority.
Wanderer: Yes, I took a look at that after I made that last comment. It seems they were pretty much on the level of gods, for a while.
Al-X: Wanderer, you can get an inkling about the relations between dragons and spirits in the "World" page
Wanderer: It's a reasonable guess that it can take Behari by force if it wants to, but is there a chance the guide might actually just obey? I don't know enough about this world to guess what station a dragon might claim among spirits.
Wanderer: Those do indeed look like the dragon's speech bubbles. Now, a question: what sort of authority can the dragon claim over the death guide?
Al-X: Voting is not up yet. The listed story on that page is the one that got me into the 2nd phase, not the one that might get me into the final book
I AM keeping tabs, ready to issue the call ;)
Ganx: Tried to vote for you for the best sci-fi tale, but the page gives no option
Tangent: I notice our Narrator is wise enough to take a female aspect in this spirit realm. (Of course, I don't know if the Dragon is male or female in the non-spirit world, so... ^^;; )
Dvandom: Wanderer, I think that's the dragon narrator taking on a more or less human form in the spirit realm.
Wanderer: ...Oi? Do we know this lady? She seems powerful.
Al-X: And Monday's update is ready as well, and already uploaded ;) I'll work on more pages while I can.
Al-X: Well, the headway is spent as I just delivered the story I had pending. If you want to read it, check my LiveJournal (link under the Contact header under the comic)
Osk: and wasnt the game cripple mister onion?
Osk: the ghosts could be many people. old 'clients' who passed away, or 'colleagues'... or just spirits, her mind is open, they must be able to read her name there. The spirit guide that offers help knew her name as well
Ark the Legend: Tangent is referencing the comic Life and Death.
Al-X: And the Maze of Entry certainly blocks the city's spiritscape, fortunately for Xu're, they are already inside.
Al-X: You lost me there, Tangent ^^;
Tangent: You don't need to play a game to get Death to leave you alone. You just need a Cadbury Creme Egg to give to Steve. =^-^= I suppose if you encounter Sally though, you're out of luck....
Wanderer: ...Not good at all. Can Xure even reach her? The spirit world in that city is guarded by the maze that goddess set up, isn't it?
Ganx: I believe the ghosts are her long-dead parents and relatives
Al-X: She'd need a team for a ballgame
. I DO have planned an ulama scene a couple of chapters down the line, actually.
Ark the Legend: I was referencing proto-ulama, actually. In other news, D'aww. The spirits of the dead just want friends.
Aegir: Please people, I think we all know that to cheat Death, you have to beat him in a game of Mario Party. Death likes playing as Luigi, oddly enough.
Al-X: Maybe I should just have Behari stumble upon Binky and ride away...
Celidah: I always thought it was Go Fish.
UHL: Yep, the tradition is that if you beat death at a game of chess, death won't collect your soul.
Wanderer: I distinctly remember it being a game of Twister. :P
Rytch: I always thought it was a fiddle contest....
Al-X: Chess is the long-standing tradition ^^
Ark the Legend: Let's hope she doesn't have to play ball to get out...
Al-X: Update! And the update status bar lies not! I worked on two pages at once again, and next update WILL be ready on Monday!
Annalia: Yup, even in what you just said. ;P
Ark the Legend: The skillful can find gutters anywhere.
azalea: there are no gutters on my last post, so feel free to keep your mind out of them XD
Ark the Legend: Please tell me 'stuck in' was unintentional.
azalea: Dream lands? Not a place that you want to be stuck in >_>
Tangent: From the narration, I'd say it's a guide from the Other Side. As in, not something good for Behari's continued existence as a living member of the Hawk Maidens. ^^;;
Wanderer: ...What the bloody hell is that?
Ganx: I find it easier, she has built a wall against men, they are only allowed on the outside.
Tangent: Subconsciously, that is.
Tangent: You know, it could also be that she doesn't want to heal because she feels she isn't worthy of being a Hawk Maiden. That she's not pure. We know she has some body issues from previous chapters....
UHL: She is fearful and suspicious of men and for good reason. She's only seen and felt the worst that men have to offer. She knows nothing of men's merits.
Al-X: It's not that she hates men... but I'll let others chip in before next page comes up ;)
Darius Drake: Wander is right. She has every reason to hate men. I can't wait to see the next update.
Wanderer: Dude, she was illegally sold to a brothel, and was enslaved there for her entire life until she joined the Hawk Maidens. She's got an extreme case of post-rape trauma. What do you expect?
dude: Oh great, another man hater.
Al-X: Update! And in the spirit of double-update-week, the next page comes out on Friday evening (yes, it's done ;) )
Darius Drake: Congratulations on your sucesses!
Al-X: I'm a semifinalist in a local sci-fi/fantasy story contest
My sci-fi entry is the one that won, and I translated it in my LiveJournal... I may ask for voting support in a month for the next phase of the contest
Al-X: The update status bar reflects the progress of two pages at once, both of which will go up this week as per the belated update fund goal
Ark the Legend: That dragon has quite a few skill points in Perform: Narration. Or is that a different text box? Bah.
Tangent: Heh. I'd wondered, as past stories included such graphics. Well, once it's up, feel free to let my readers know in the Tangents Comments field. ^^
Al-X: Thanks! Actually, I do have an illustration with Deeta and Ba'rinii, I just didn't have time to finish it :(
Tangent: Hey, new update. BTW, I wrote up another review of Nahast, found here: http://www.tangents.us/2009/05/21/nahast-2/ I'd have e-mailed you but the e-mail addy didn't work for some reason....
Darius Drake: I hope she survives.
S san: Awesome great first page of the new chapter! I totally felt a pang for poor Behari, and all the Hawk Maidens!
Al-X: ...but now... new chapter! Hang on to your seats, because this one is going to be a rough ride in many ways. >
Al-X: Certainly; Deeta made a series of very grave mistakes, and she had no one to truly guide her. Compound that with her very harsh society and her own immaturity.
Ashley: Agreed. It actually made me feel a little sorry for her. Tho from my upbringing, it's still a matter of "You wouldn't have had that problem if you had waited until you were completely committed."
Celidah: Read Deeta's Story yesterday, Al. It was most excellent and enlightening. Having read it, I do hope this is not the last we see of her.
Al-X: The inks are done for the next page, also the pencils for the two after that. I'm going to ink -those- before I move on to coloring. I want to start the next chapter with a bang ;)
Al-X: And thanks for your comments, Tangent; I'd been itching to release the story since I finished it
Al-X: You do remember this tree-limb topic came out from a call to dismember Deeta, right? >.>
Mel: Or, you can just turn into the guy featured on the third page of this week's Goblins comic. Note the weapons grown from his own body.
EveryZig: On tree arms, if you can have a tree spirit made of wood/vines, it is not too far from wood/vine limbs, with a wooden exoskeleton to support them if they get too heavy. And then before we know it, we end up with wooden power armor...
Tangent: Wow. Alejandro? You are a gifted writer. That extra bit with Deeta's story... that was something well worth reading.
Jade: The art is beautiful on this page.
Spider: i'm not normally someone who comments on the art (i'm more story focused) but the silhouette of thunder behind xu're looks awesome.
Darius Drake: Agreed.
Arklite: no worries at all mate, we're more than happy to wait for quality.
Al-X: Last night was the first night in a week I could work on the page without power-outage interruptions. The update fund hit 50 again, but I'm going to save the double-update week for the next... the beginning of the next chapter
Arklite: "a natural 20! the logic golum realises that it exists within an artifical construct of a DM and gives up in the futility of it all. the party recieves 50 exp for crushing the poor things will to live
Darius Drake: Poor Al-X. *Pat's him on the head* I hope that your power problems go away soon.
Al-X: Argh... power keeps going out and destroying my progress ;_;
Arklittle: 4th rule of magic: your logic means nothing in the face of a natural 20. Roll FOR it.
Ark the Legend: Then vine arms surrounding thin tree arms.
Arklite: the 3rd rule of magic: you're logic means nothing in the face of the awesome! roll with it ;)
Agarwaen: Come now. You should allow at least some suspension of disbelief. I mean you have stairs that turned into a snake...
Darius Drake: They would be too flexible at any time, and too hard to control. And there would still the the energy wasted in use.
Ark the Legend: If tree arms don't work, how about vine arms?
shorewood: a tree arm would be extremely heavy even if it didn't take lots of energy to control, it would slow her down emensly
Darius Drake: And constantly need to control them, wasting precious energy. Not only that, but I don't think that growing your own false arms might need use of said arm, and letting another do it can give them control over you.
EveryZig: Though how much does arm loss matter if you can use magic? She might be able to grow herself tree arms...
Al-X: Fixed
Osk: sorry for shouting multiple time, the browser was very slow and i clicked multiple times
Osk: anyway, emotion rules reason
Osk: oh, i actually thought the sword could be made to burn, severing both her arms and sealing blood vessels at the same time. stratovarian is more merciful than i am
TheStratovarian: Can we get a die roll for fate worse than death please? Its why you never piss of the law, some can make you really suffer.
Darius Drake: I think that, while she shouldn't be killed, she should still be punnished. Aka, she should lose one of her arms.
Al-X: The voices were right
Darius Drake: Candy? Where did you get that idea. I thought that it was a threat. Saying that he would have manifested himself at great personal drain, and would have eaten the core of Vasjitandi's power if forced to do so
Ark the Legend: Shikome: No, he just really likes hearts. They're like candy.
ShikomeKidoMi: It's good policy to always assume the voices in your head are untrustworthy. So do Thunder's comments mean he can manifest either by himself or with a weak shaman if he keeps eating hearts?
Spider: something is telling me that niriko will stop lady tzelan from killing her mother despite what she was going to do to her.but the voices could be telling lies =P
Al-X: Circumstances have prevented me from working on this week's page, but tomorrow is Labor Day in Mexico, so I can stay up late and draw all day tomorrow. Next week I MAY have time if the swine flu alert escalates and we're told to stay home.
Dvandom: This is not to say that Vajitandi couldn't ever beat Thunder, but Deeta's not thinking straight and is trying to use a scalpel as a club. If allowed to play to her strengths, Vasj might well be able to outmatch Thunder.
Zorro362: Now thats what I call A beatdown!
Al-X: However, Vasjitandi is a spirit of fertility and healing, while Thunder is a full-fledged warrior spirit.
Al-X: Despite having very similar methods and beliefs, Deeta is a witch, not a shaman; she brought her companion to the mortal world at its full power, while Thunder can only channel his own through Xu're's nahual form, capped by Xu're's limitations.
shorewood: well the shrubbery was allby itself vs Thunder and his shaman. Two vs one there. Would have been completly different battle had the shubberies shaman been there also.
Avocado Triffid: I agree with Thunder. Shrubbery is not designed for combat. Defensive barriers, yes, or decoy work, but offense? not a chance.
Al-X: Yesterday, Swine Flu alert; today, 5.7-richter earthquake. If there's no update this week is because the zombie invasion started in my city :P
Ark the Legend: It's thought bubbles, or just random prophecy reminder. AND NOW THE NINJA IS SHOUTING AT PEOPLE.
Ashley: Darius: Yeah, I was commenting that I find it mildly amusing, like the way cats consider us "their humans" instead of considering themselves "our cats."
shorewood: who's saying that poetry in the second to last panel?
Ark the Legend: Sad plant-spirit-thing is sad. TnT
Darius Drake: Also, I do believe that Thunder is justified to call Xu're "his shaman", Ashley.
Darius Drake: Looks like Eclipse decided that to follow her orders, she had to permit the secret of her existance to be exposed. Of course, the only person knew what she was without being told was the one she has to look out for.
Ashley: Nice! Also, I like the little bit where Thunder is pointing out that as far as he is concerned, Xu're is "his shaman."
Ark the Legend: Let's just see how it turns out. Also, Evasion in action.
Al-X: I was finishing the update for today when I realized I forgot to add Eclipse's tattoos and it was very late already. It will be up tonight.
SuedodeuS: Eclipse has really only revealed herself to one new person (Niriko's dad), who she can probably keep quiet. Everyone else she expects to be dead by the end of this.
SuedodeuS: Bear in mind, Niriko HAS seen Eclipse before, and Tzelan actually told her who (or, rather, what) Eclipse likely was...
Ark the Legend: I doubt Niriko is THAT much of a ditz. Old dad has no reason to keep quiet about it, other than the moonshade exposing herself more.
shorewood: Niriko will rush back to her friend to help and forget about ninja lady in all the halaballo, old dad prolly knows best to keep his mouth shut. So the comic could go either way. but Eclipse could be in the clear
Ark the Legend: The others should be watching the elf, right next to the now visible ninja.
shorewood: the fox will keep her secret, if for nothing else proffesional honor, the elf dosen't know what hit him, and the others have bigger things to worry about. So she's in the clear
Wanderer: So now Eclipse is being seen by three more people, at least two of whom will probably have to live through the night. She's really pretty bad at keeping her existence a secret, isn't she?
Ark the Legend: She's still being too visible.
Darius Drake: Pissed off is a bad thing for this swordmistress to be. Bad for the person who managed to piss her off, that is.
Celidah: Yay, update! *does happy update dance*
Tangent: I hope you enjoyed your birthday, Al-X. Even if it means the comic runs late or is delayed a week. RL trumps comics, after all. ^^
Al-X: It was my b-day. And I did have some time to work on the page
fringewalker: Happy B-day! Whenever this week it is.
Ark the Legend: Your birthday, or another's?
Al-X: ...work on the next page may be halted today on account of b-day ;)
Al-X: I got off my butt and did a major update of my DeviantArt gallery; it includes a some Nahast goodness, including a preview on a character that will appear next chapter
azalea: oh how I miss the RP and playing Atlez~ ...wonderful page!
Darius Drake: Poor, poor, Elf. You have no reinforcements.
Wanderer: I find Lady Tzelan's first speech bubble to be unexpectedly hilarious.
Al-X: And update is here!
Al-X: Update is trudging along... I had a spike of work and virus-related data loss, but I'm back on track on all the stuff I do in my free time ^^
Celidah: *sings* "I'm sure they would think again...if they had a friend like Ben..."
lil midget: Gatta say it: "waffles" =p
Ark the Legend: Gotta say it: "Come my minions, rise for your master, let your evil shiiiine..."
Celidah: ...Ganx, I can't tell if you're kidding or not... Link to the full lyrics of the song, for the curious: http://bussongs.com/songs/nobody_likes_me_worms.php
Ganx: Nursery rhyme? It's a reggaeton song about some loser who wants to drink mezcal and "eat the worm"
Darius Drake: I've never heard the "Gopher Guts" song.
Ashley: I'm not really sure. I just remember mom explaining that there was more to it than just a "silly song." (of course, she also sang things like the "Gopher Guts" song...)
Darius Drake: I didn't know about that. I just thought that it was a children's self-pity song which was funny to get them out of the dumps.
Ashley: Al-X: Kinda. Tho if I remember right, it was from some tv-show back when my mom was young. So more of a "playground rhyme" for young schoolkids.
SpacyRicochet: Damn, now I'm waiting for worms to rain from the sky on this battle. That or the appearance of a purple woim
Al-X: Sooo... it's is a nursery rhyme, right? <.<
Celidah: Oh yeah, my mom did it too...
Darius Drake: Ashley, my mother used to do that a bit too. Mostly when she considered that we were being "mean", or saying no for one reason or another.
lil midget: "nobody like me" (AlX) "everybody hate me" (Darius) "Guess i go eat some worms" (Celidah)
Ashley: Duh. I missed that Al-X posted part of it. Tho that's partly because the version I heard had his line as the _second_ line of the song. (my mom used to sing it to tease us kids...)
Al-X: I thin I'm missing the joke I started? ^^;
Darius Drake: I said the second line at the end of my one, Ashley. It goes Al-X - last three words, Me - last three words, Celidah - entirety.
Ark the Legend: I would say less racist and more xenophobic. It's a matter of scale.
Ashley: But that's the third line. You skipped the second one. :p
Celidah: Guess she'll go eat worms?
Darius Drake: She's trying to kill the daughter she willingly had to reaffirm her status in a racist society. Of course everybody hates her.
Al-X: Hehe... Good one, UHL. Poor Deeta, nobody likes her
Darius Drake: A guess that it's an illusion, one that is complete with the sense of touch.
Ganx: And where the hell is Xu're when a rat-munching spirit is needed?
SpacyRicochet: @ Al-X: Good call, I like having less explanatory pages and more actual story. Half the fun is in finding out this stuff yourself instead of having it handed to you on a silver platter.
lil midget: ha ha never the vermin... they're like cuddly fur balls of death
UHL: I'm guessing the rats are serving the elf witch as a professional courtesy?
Lei: Sick reflex, dodging a blade held like that btw! score 1
Lei: Hah, that last line is real nice, you make up some great oneliners
Al-X: @Spider: Excellent observations. I thought to do a page explaining how the Hawk Maidens do train to fight in teams and Gaizco is a very adaptive fighter, but that'd have been a bump on the action
Al-X: @Firefox: Thanks! As a fan of martial arts films and half-assed practitioner of a couple, I strive for making the fights look plausible
Spider: but niriko is a rookie at best. and since they haven't fought together yet neither of them knows how the other moves and reacts in combat. this isn't an easy situation for both of them.
Spider: fighting in a team against one foe without team training usually means you get in each others way sooner or later. gaizco is an experienced warrior and has likely fought side by side with others.
Firefox: So far ive seen mostly intelligent battle tactics from all the characters. The writer has one hell of an attention to detail with hand to hand and meelee weapons combat techniques.
Ark the Legend: To SpacyRicochet: She's using him as a defensive barrier. With a weapon that reaches over him, he can focus entirely on defense, and she has intelligent, mobile cover.
SpacyRicochet: The quote also works well when making fun of homebrew enemies your DM puts against you. Storywise, the comment 'use my shield' is confusing me.
Darius Drake: As long as it actually made sense, then it's better than yelling it out for no reason or being stupid about it. I am choosing to interpret relevant as "made sense".
Al-X: @lil: I was jk
I have a MUCH thicker skin than that. @Darius: I did use that very same joke in a book I wrote... trust me, it was relevant ;P. @Spacy: "colorful" as in "idiosincratic", "unique"... or "ridiculous" ;)
UHL: Actually, I probably would have yelled out "Fist of the Beast King!" (Waits for people to get the reference.)
lil midget: sorry AL-X i ment storys with some agressive negotations in them... my bad
Celidah: Niriko is not the central protagonist of Nahast, Spacy. Niriko is ONE of the protagonists.
Darius Drake: The 9k joke is based off Vegita in DBZ getting angry about Goku's strength. People just went insane with the quote and thought it funny.
SpacyRicochet: Plucky protagonist facing colorful and more powerful enemies? *eyes Niriko... eyes Elves which wear lotsa colours and are more powerful then her* Your point?:P
Al-X: Ask niiiiiiicely <.<
Shae: That doesn't mean we can't have colourful and exponentially more powerful adversaries, though, right?
Al-X: ALSO! I take offense at being called a fighting-based story! ;) There's no plucky central protagonist learning to fight by facing colorful and exponentially more powerful adversaries!
Al-X: The 9K joke would be better if most people appreciated what it's actually about: a parody of the wuxia genre, just like Don Quixote is a parody of the medieval knightly romance.
Darius Drake: *Brakes Lil Midget's nose* THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN EXCUSE TO MAKE IT. If anything it makes it worse. It means that you have no ability to think of anything original.
lil midget: oh come on that joke has to be made at least once every fighting based story =D
Shae: Ooooh! Update! Seems like Niriko already picked up a few lessons
Spider: "There are no rules!"
Darius Drake: Lil Midget, I am going to hurt you for that overused joke. And, Celidah, I suspect that you are correct in your assumption.
Celidah: First rule of the DM? What's that, "The DM makes the rules?"
Spider: well SpacyRicochet then you should the first rule of a DM which basically covers your situation.
lil midget: my god her power.....ITS OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol =p
SpacyRicochet: Narrative sense and visually pleasing. Player: "Can I do <insert awesomness>?" Me (DM): "That sounds like a movie. Go for it." To heck with the rules :P
Celidah: Having seen none of these, I simply enjoy it within the comic, blissfully ignorant of the references.
Al-X: Exalted is certainly an inspiration, but not so directly
I just go for things that make sense narratively and would be fun to do visually
Ark the Legend: If anything, this looks more like low-power Exalted. The HRS's fluff almost exactly matches up with how Charms are supposed to work, and if that isn't Wood Dragon's Claw, I'll eat my alarm clock.
SpacyRicochet: Just wait. Before long we'll end up with huge swords that transform into tentacles, slashing at everything female in a skirt. Deeta is already in Hollow Release form :P *hides from probable incoming bricks*
Darius Drake: I consider the Hawk Radiance Seal to be very different from what Bleach does, myself. Besides, the Bleach comic came long before the show even existed.
Annalia: I haven't commented here very often, but I absolutely love the exchange between Dalit and Niriko's dad. It's full of mean teasing! :]
Al-X: Ah, so -that- was what it was from. Well, luckily, the Hawk Radiance Seal was established way before Bleach aired, IIRC
Darius Drake: Bleach has gone on for far far too long. Damn Dragonball Z ripoff. Didn't even have a Dragonball segment to it, just jumped straight into Z.
shorewood: BANKI!! sry wrong comic
Al-X: Fixed!
Al-X: Gah... it's a ghost file. I began uploading the wrong file and apparently didn't stop it in time, so the archive still has it listed. Hit "Previous" again and you'll see the real page 241 before that. I'll fix that as soon as I get home.
Phalanx: Is something wrong with page 241? it seems to be not loading in the archives...
Celidah: MORTAL KOMBAT!!!! FIGHT! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Al-X: Her face is being illuminated by reflected light off the lightning flash; Beldatz buildings are mostly clear-plastered
My artistic license is valid for dramatic light-bending ;)
Tangent: That, and the lightning was behind her, so it couldn't illuminate that side of her face, even if it appears to her "right" in two-dimensional terms.
Tangent: Actually, if you look at the panel above the kickass lightning scene, you can see that Derrexi was already illuminated on that side of her body. Thus she's not being illuminated by lightning but rather by a light source to her right.
Shae: I <3 the lightning behind Derrexi's face and how it illuminates the right side of her hair and face
Al-X: Deeta's story is almost fully written, tho', and only needs a conclusion and a couple of illustrations to go with it
Al-X: Page is still delayed as I had warned last week, but I'm halfway through the project I'm doing, so I expect to have next page by Thu night or Friday.
SpacyRicochet: I read that. Most of the post was a compliment for keeping this short in the main comic.
Ashley: @Spacy: AL-X said Deeta's Story would be in the Chronicles of the 5th Age, a side section here for stories, rather than comics, so it wouldn't interrupt the comic itself.
SpacyRicochet: As an anime-fan, I hate needless exposition. Good thing this one is short. *hates chapters long of enemy's POV* But, as the rest said, it still is good to see other's perspectives, kudos for this page. Also, poor Kimiko. She looks destroyed.
azalea: yay Deeta's story ^_^ as a J-student I always like it when there is more then one POV
Al-X: Well, then, expect Deeta's Story to be posted in Chronicles of the 5th Age when this chapter ends
Fenyx: bueno al, pues lo que te decia. Gargolas y Avatar son historias cojonudas...y lo son porque los personajes secundarios importan tanto como los primarios asique si das la historia de la madre de niriko...bonus points!
Kirothius: Shikomeidomi; nice ref to Kenshin.
Darius Drake: My problem with the Avatar television series is that, where I am, they NEVER SHOWED IT IN ORDER! Two epesodes, one after the other in completely different parts of the story. As such I have no idea what the big deal is, because it makes no sense.
Wodan46: YAY AVATAR. My sole disappointment with that show is that it is over. And that the live action movies in the works are giving all indications of being terrible
shikomekidomi: More vulnerable to accusations of corruption might be a more accurate turn of phrase, Darius Drake. As Makoto Shishio says, the strong prey on the weak in the immutable law of nature.
Darius Drake: UHL, it is interesting, but that is mostly because women were usually the marginalized and "weaker" sex, and thus more open to "corruption". In this case, however, it might be because they are actually in power that they are targeted.
Ganx: I would like to read about Deeta's motives.
Al-X: Spanish is my first language, so I guess I do
And Avatar rulz big-time. I'd have liked to see more of Mei+Zuko's relationship
UHL: Yes, I know a few, and strangely they all seem to target women for "cleansing." Intersting isn't it, Darius?
Fenyx: al-x do you understand spanish? . i think every story that gives you points of views of other characters besides the "heros" gets bonus points look for example avatar the last airbender
Darius Drake: UHL, you do know that many human cultures had a belief that death had a cleansing effect to it. Destroying the evidence of her "defilement" could be seen as cleaning her soul of the affair.
shorewood: that would be very interesting...
Al-X: Say, how many people are interested in reading a short story with Deeta's PoV on this whole mess? ;)
Al-X: @Celidah: Thanks! That means a lot as I put a lot of effort into conceiving this page
@Ark: It's already raining at sea; rain is waiting for a dramatic cue ;) @UHL: Elves are bloody weird that way
Ark the Legend: A flash of lightning behind someone means... It should be raining. Why isn't it?
Spindrifter: A flash of thunder behind a warrior means not even running will help you...
TheDagda: Needs some ominous Latin chanting ^.^
Ganx: a flash of thunder behind a warrior usually means -run for your life-
Celidah: This is the most epically awesome panel you have done yet in this story, Al. Seriously. The panel placement, the expressions, the shadowing on Derrexi...just...incredible.
ladygoddess8: Time for someone to face complete and utter defeat by (as shorewood said) an a** kicking like none other.
UHL: And how exactly did Deeta think that killing her own daughter would win her back into the clan's "good" graces? It still doesn't erase the fact that a half-elf was born from her!
shorewood: Deeta is going to get her a@@ handed to her in seven shades of blue so badly I'd almost feel sorry for her... almost
azalea: the worst words a mother can say to a child. Poor Niriko
DIguana: Dun dun dunnnnnn!
Smoothblkpoet: After a speech like that, the most merciful thing she could have hoped for is to die quickly. I guess there no chance of that.
Al-X: This week's update and I'm back to being up to date!
UHL: I'm thinking her brother will use this distraction to backstab Gaizco.
Celidah: Deeta, you got some 'splainin' to do!
FringeWalker: Deeta looks shocked to see Gaizco. I'm sure she was hoping to pull this betrayal off without him finding out she was behind it. Hopefully she at least has the grace to feel shame for her treachery.
shorewood: is it just me or does deeta look sad?
shorewood: every update makes gaizco more and more of a bad ass.
Shae: I like the thunder next to/behind Deeta's head
Colin: Wow. the plot thickens!
Al-X: And update be here! I particularly like Gaizco's close-up
Al-X: Urgh... Update will be ready by tonight or early tomorrow; a member of our team was let go, and his workload was spread amongst the two of us remaining. I've been getting home drained and spent :P
Ashley: And this is great. Most stories, if they have the kid upset at the father for "not understanding," usually assume that the kid is the one who was right. Making the father actually have a good reason, and be heroic, is rare.
Spider: The supposed mother of niriko is also running around. so derrexi will probably have her hands full without gaizco losing.
Al-X: And good observations on Gaizco vs. Dalit. Daddy Zarranz is fighting for something, though...
Al-X: I could see why; the curve on her profile's lower lip is a tad misaligned with the lower curve of her mouth. I'll be more careful ^^
shorewood: i didn't notice that
Colin: Hate to be picky but Niriko seems to have two mouths in the last panel and it just looks funny to me.
Celidah: Maybe, but old /= lost it. An experienced older warrior can best a sloppy (or just sloppIER) young one any day. Real life example: older martial arts masters. In short, IMO, it could go either way.
Tangent: He is getting old. And I suspect he's going to end up taken down... in time for our main heroine to make a kickass entrance. And time enough for father and daughter to say one last farewell.
Ganx: We are in for surprises
Shae: Dad is awesome.
shorewood: behad better not die
Al-X: More of a plot -point-. I'm saving the plot twists for the next chapter ;)
Goldor: Yeha, go Dad. Ya may be getting old, but there is still a few things you can show these elves. Although I sense a plot twist upcoming
Miako: damn, yes this is awesome! and yay for people with honest backstories!
EveryZig: They could be... Those elves are definitely into soylent green enough.
Ark the Legend: Now that I look at it closely... Are those swords and spears the elves are using made of bone?
Celidah: Oh...of course, I knew that. I was just testing you all. *shifty eyes*
Wanderer: Father.
Spider: oh come on that's not to hard to figure out. but in case you don't recognize him by the figure i've got a tip for you. who was also invited to the party?
Al-X: You have until friday to figure it out
Celidah: And now that I say that....who's that behind that elf?
Celidah: Yep, the poison will getchya every time. Hope Derrexi is reallly fast...
S san: Awesome new page. Great cliffhanger I'm glad we get a bonus page!
Al-X: Thanks! I liked how it turned out too. I had the help of vector tools to straighten my original sketch
Phalanx: Al, I really like that perspective on that sword.
Phalanx: If it is any encouragement, english wasn't my first language either
Fenyx: yes i meant that one phalanx, thanks for the correction
english being your second language makes you do these kinds of mistakes from time to time
Al-X: Actually, Xitlani Tzelan is the dark, mysterious-stranger-at-an-inn NPC that gives PCs their first mission in every Nahast RPG playtest I run
UHL: I'm thinking her sister is dead, in a fire that she set. Xu're DID mention something about Derrexi causing destroying something as a sacrifice for the better good.
Celidah: Ah, so Thunder's not a bad sort after all. In a "not tame, but good" kind of way (regards to C.S. Lewis). For certain values of "good", that is. I won't make the obvious Hulk joke here, either...
Miako: And by their limits shall ye know them, and test them, and find them worthy.
Al-X: And you're right, but he was doing it more for his own benefit than hers. Thunder is helpful, but he's nowhere near nice.
Tangent: Huh. I suspected that Thunder was trying to rile up Derrexi enough to break out on her own. Interesting insights there though. I wonder when we'll see more of Derrexi's past to learn why she feels she failed as a commander... and as a sister.
Al-X: And remember, for more lengthy discussions and arguments: there's a forum! ^^
Al-X: @shore/Llorun: Thanks! @Fenyx: sex =/= rape, and while I'm tolerant on discussion and some joking, being close to a victim I don't find it the least bit funny either.
shorewood: i like the webcomic
Phalanx: "Lighten up", you mean?
Fenyx: I was going to give some responses but then i thought that i must look like a troll...so just a tip freshen up
Llorunlord: Love your comic, love your art! The story is awsome, keep following your chosen path. Your comic is among the best I have read ever. Good job on your research as well.
Ashley: And I agree with Celidah here. The story would not be improved by the inclusion of what you were "joking" about, but the "joking" was detracting from the story.
Celidah: Some of us just don't find rape very funny, and we get tired of encountering juvenile euphemisms everywhere we turn. As to the comic itself, I love Thunder's devil-may-care attitude. I wish he would admit that Derrexi does have a point, though...
Fenyx: oh comeon im just joking xD in Spain sex is not such a biiig deal
Al-X: A cold I had successfully fought off during the week returned with reinforcements, but I was able to half-finish the shading, so the update will be ready by Tuesday night.
Al-X: Derrexi is not barely dressed, she only forgot to close and tuck her shirt in light of more pressing matters ^^
Wodan46: So? All sentient or pseudo sentient entities want human women. No exceptions.
Tangent: That's not a tentacle. It's a root. If that tree-spirit were to try anything, it would be opening up a flower near her and then saying "here, bee! here, bee!" =^-^=
shorewood: please for the sake of all that is pg, don't drag this into the gutter.
Fenyx: oh comeon you have almost all the ingredients, there is a woman "barely" dressed, and a tentacle the only thing missing is a dress or a skirt (i think she wears trousers right?)
Ganx: @Fenyx: yes, you are the only sick puppy who has watched Urutzukidoji.
Fenyx: am i the only one thinking about ...tentacle rapes? o.O