Chapter 3: Page 1
And we’re off with our first scene of Chapter 3! After the tease at the end of Song of the Eastern Sands and the new banner image, did you really think we’d just ignore Janik and her fun new companions? Not likely! I’ve wanted to return to Janik for YEARS, so this first scene is all about catching up with her. I know there are lots of questions about the current status of Quin and Dakkan — don’t worry, we’ll be getting to them!
So, what exactly is Janik doing? She seems to be rattling off some names! But whose names?
Also you’ll notice an ostrich back there! YES! These are the pack animals in the world of Beyond the Western Deep — these special birds are raised by the Vulpin for transporting goods and materials across long distances. Some can even support the weight of a rider, though that’s a special and difficult-to-raise breed relegated to the upper class and wealthier sorts who can afford the expensive and particular necessities of these special kinds of ostriches.
For guest art this week, a rare treat! Regular Salmon Party contributor and speed-artist extraordinaire Jerijune has completed his Halloween costume — and I think you’ll find it looks rather familiar!
By Tesque! It’s Quinlan’s uniform as Captain of the Royal Guard! It’s almost uncanny how accurate it is!
Rachel and I are seriously just blown away by the incredible craftsmanship on display here, Jerijune! It really turned out perfectly, and we hope that your Halloween adventures prove a little more successful than, say, Quin’s adventures in Aisling! Be sure to let us know what the response to the outfit is elsewhere — we’d love to hear it!
I mean, wow — first Hardin cosplay, and now Quinlan cosplay! This is too awesome!
Also, just to remind folks, the store is stocked with Tesque Master shirts and new prints!
You can get them by visiting the store right here!
aw, yeah! Janik’s here! I’m excited what chapter 3 has to offer! I bet those names mentioned are Vulpin council members. and I wonder who that Vulpin lady is… Alona, perhaps?
and so, another guessing game begins. first, the hand on the title page. now those names.
oh, and there’s more info on the Quin cosplay here: http://jeri-june.tumblr.com/post/152369538270/ta-da-my-halloween-costume-aka-my-sorry-excuse
I doubt that’s Alona- as a powerful member of the Vulpin Council, travelling with an assistant diplomat is probably below their station. Perhaps a Vulpin diplomat?
You made an awesome costume, Jerijune. It looks great and you look great in it!
Does yours have the hood?
yep! except that I forgot to bring a bag with me so I ended up using it as an improvised pouch for candy
Love this page! The colors are so vibrant, the characters varied but familiar! I saw the Tamian scouts interspersed in the crowd and wondered if Crim had been delegated as bodyguard. That would be interesting. Awkward, but interesting!
More ostriches! Awesome!
Jerijune, you look fantastic! I hope you have a great time at your Halloween party!
Hm, I like the Crim theory but considering he’s the current Captain of the Scouts, it’s doubtful/unlikely that he’d get to leave the Western Deep, considering the scouts are on Indefinite Treewalker Pest Control Duty- ironic since Crim wanted to be Captain so he could travel and get all of the glory. I fully expect to see more from him in the future, however.
I’m not sure that Crim would be too happy about traveling with Janik anyway.
Actually, we know he hates Quinlan, but do we have any indications of his opinion of her?
Good point, Shieldmaiden.
That is an interesting thought, Fourth Master. I assume he’d have a passive dislike for her if she’s best friends with Quinlan.
Crim and Janik have never interacted on panel. He’s never mentioned her, and all she’s ever said about Crim is that he “never liked Quin.” Alder seems pretty convinced that nobody likes Crim, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see!
I’ll bet those are the Vulpin Council- Alona Vennik was mentioned in the Mark. I wonder if there’s any meaning to the order- maybe wealthiest/most powerful? (Or maybe just alphabetical. The last is the most likely, lol) and I like the way the speech bubbles chain together, giving the impression of a quick and fluid response- until she hits Samara, at least.
I love the overhead establishing shot- and the female Tamian guard leading up the envoy! Nice touch, Rachel. Looks like Janik hasn’t quite hit the desert yet- it’s been what, a week? since they parted ways at the Land’s End. So much has happened since then, and Janik doesn’t even know about the events up north. I love the way the grass and the lighting look in that first panel, and I love how that bottom panel directly mirrors the last page of SOTES. The lighting in the background of that bottom panel gives a very clear image of the time when this is occurring- lovely job.
It is good to see Janik again! Quinlan and Dakkan aren’t going anywhere- literally- so I’m totally fine with this much-needed catch up moment.
…Why do I feel like Beck riding an ostrich is inevitable at some point? I kid, she’s probably too big to do so, especially for any extended period of time, but //the mental image. I imagine her and Dakkan would get along famously, now that I think about it.
Jeri, the costume turned out great. Nice work!
I certainly know what I have on my Christmas list- although, thinking about it, I might be better off just buying a shirt and being done with the matter since I’m not entirely sure my mom can figure out the online store. I really do like the final design of the t-shirt!
Here’s to a new chapter that’s off to a great start. The road ahead is long, but it’s going to be a hell of a ride I wouldn’t miss for anything.
will this got interesting though the names that janik is talking about might be representative or ambassadors which what she is calling i think? also i didn’t know that there are ostriches in the btwd this world will be full of surprises and love the Quin’s costume is like assassin’s creed when you omagine it.
Ahhh, chapter 3, here we go! And I’m going to try and resume commenting again. Hopefully. I’m sorry I’ve been dormant for a long time, aside from scattered pieces of fanart. Life sorta happened all over me.
I should say that I love the landscape already, and I’m also in love with the pack-animal ostriches and the worldbuilding around them. I wondered if adult Vulpin could ride them, and surprise, they can! (Depending on whether you have A Fancy Ostrich or not, but that’s only in the fine print).
Either way, I’m looking forward to see where chapter 3 goes, and to participating in the Salmon Party again.
Janik and Vulpin: *Political discourse*
Ostrich: …TE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HA…
That’s right, Lutren slaves; walk at the back and carry the heavy baggage. It is after all the only thing you plank-tailed riverdogs are good for. HA HA HA!
You must be a Polcan.
Yarrr!
Swab the gunwales, brace the hawsers, reel in the mizzen mast!
Nautical terminology!
She’s definitely reciting the Vulpin council members’ names. I thought that the Vulpin with her might have been Alonna, but I suppose not. Let’s hope that Janik has them all memorized! She should, after training to help her father for most of her life . . .
Incidentally: Number of Mass Effect characters on the (Vulpin) council = 1.
There are more members of the envoy than the four of them that appeared on the last page of SOTES. The two Vulpin and two Tamians appear to be the diplomats, and then there’s a Tamian guard and what looks like two Lutren, a Tamian, and a Vulpin serving as porters. Or maybe it’s two Tamians. Regardless, it’s a total of nine characters. I wonder what purpose they all will serve . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3cL1Aofy90
. . . nah.
Russet-and-green-shirts ain’t exactly red but I have exactly the same sinking feeling. I’m very much hoping these (as yet) nameless guys and gals survive the story.
…and the Pink Ranger!
hey, guys. here’s the aftermath of my halloween adventures as the Royal Guard captain http://jeri-june.tumblr.com/post/152465076605/the-aftermath-of-the-royal-guard-captains
believe me, I would’ve chosen being retained in a Canid garrison than being lectured on a play-by-play of a league of legends match. but the real fun was when my friends and I feasted on the sweet spoils of trick-or-treating after the torture of analyzing a MOBA with too many particle effects that makes it hard to even keep track of your own character.
That explains why everyone who everywhere on foot. Though, one would think marine travel would be necessary to maintain the larger kingdoms.
I get the strong impression that the “continent” upon which the story takes place isn’t actually that big.
Back on page 28 of chapter two* Alex says in the comments that its taken “a couple days” for Kenosh, Dakkan and Quinlan to walk from the northernmost part of the Sunsgrove forest to Deltrada fort.
If we take that literally and consider a pace of 20-25ish miles walked a day on evenish ground then the entire continent could be as little as 600-700 miles across; more akin to something like the Iberian peninsula than any true continent on earth. A well provisioned group who knew where they were going could probably get from just about anywhere to just about anywhere else within the continent in a month or so. Unless they were eaten by treewalkers, sank in quicksand, stabbed by Canid or betrayed by their fathers that is.
This could all be utter bollocks though so take it with a huge block of salt.
*Feel free to read this sentence, or indeed the entire post in your best over-analytical nerd voice. It’s the voice I was using when I wrote it.
It’s kind of problem that plagues most fantasy settings. Scale is hard to replicate.
Alex talks about scale here: https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-2-page-57/#comment-4900
and here: https://westerndeep.net/comic/chapter-1-page-26/ (Commentary underneath)
Cheers, Shieldmaiden, you have a very good memory.
Eh, partly? If I can’t pin down the exact page on the second try, I check the wiki citations.
There’s a Wiki?
* Googles ‘Western Deep Wiki’ *
There’s a Wiki!
* Almost immediately reads: “Cheese is plant based if present at all.[40]” *
Yep, that sure as hell is a Western Deep Wiki. Time to grab some pitons and see how deep this nerd hole goes.
Lol, still working on making sure the references lead to the right places as a quick fact check- when you’re piecing together a whole paragraph from a few crumbs of information dropped across- what, 200?- pages of web comic material, things get complicated.
Yep.
Shield started it, I found it, we worked on it (by which I mean she wrote everything and I pointed out a few mistakes), and now she’s been talking about how it’s time for its reveal.
Cat’s out of the bag now, so here’s the link for anyone interested: http://westerndeep.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
I’m just happy that we finally get to see the vulpin in greater detail. Had to use bits and pieces from the comments of past pages to put ideas together. TO THE SKETCHBOOK!
Perhaps Janik is listing the names of all of the houses they’ll be trick or treating. Just look at all the loot they got! They made a killing in Terria!
Stupid Halloween jokes aside, I always get so giddy when new things get introduced to add some flavor into the world. It’s a little strange, but fitting enough for mammalian animals to use birds for various things (although any potential avian races are thrown straight out of the cannon window if that’s the case). I’m just excited as everybody else to see these new faces play their roles!
Jerijune your dedication to this fandom is legendary….that’s all I have to say. :P
Hey folks! Want a signed copy of Volume 2? I just added a batch of 30 copies to the store :) http://westerndeep.bigcartel.com/product/beyond-the-western-deep-volume-2
The real important question is whether they could ride crocodiles. I mean, they can weigh as much as a horse