So, last week I said Hardin didn’t mean this tribe any harm – but I quickly followed that up with the qualifier “at this junction.” His target for the newly-expanded Sratha-din begins to come into focus: Deltrada Garrison. What exactly he means to achieve and how he means to achieve it are still open questions, but it should be clear to all that Hardin is willing to sacrifice anything to do it.

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A few weeks ago, I was asked about children in Ermehn culture and how they factor into the proceedings. As you can see in the last panel here, there isn’t really a divide between “child” and “adult” in Ermehn culture the way we see it in modern times. Because life for the Ermehn is so tough, if you can handle an axe, regardless of age, you’re going to be chopping firewood. If you can work a plow, you’re going to be digging at the soil. And if you can swing a sword, you’re going into battle.

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In medieval Europe, the rules were a lot different than they are today. Because most people didn’t live past their 50’s, people had to grow up and handle lots of responsibility very quickly. Children as young as 7 could be hanged for crimes, serve on juries at 12, and (in the case of Prince Edward during the Battle of Crécy) lead battalions into open warfare at 16. Many races in the world of “Beyond the Western Deep” share this view – particularly in the harsh Northern Wastes.