Chapter 3: Page 86
CAMPAIGN? What is this, D&D? Oh, the stakes are…actually, hm. They’re kinda high aren’t they? He’s talking about war, isn’t it? Well, I guess you can’t blame the guy for thinking Sungrove violated the Treaty of Cenolau when a lutren captain stabbed his brother in the back. Kenosh was wearing the ambassadorial clothing and everything!
On the bright side, though, it’s nice to see Clovis’ office is still getting some use! Tosch didn’t waste any time moving in there. That’s not really a bright side.
There is no bright side, I guess.
For anyone who is planning to attend ECCC (Emerald City Comic Con) in Seattle next week, I’m planning on swinging by on Saturday at the very least to check out Artist Alley and meet with some friends at the show. If you’re going to be there, let me know!
For guest art this week, here’s a great piece by community member Vvooly of a canid soldier in action!
I love seeing how the tenor and tone of community guest art changes based on the storyline. We got a lot of Janik/Mitra/Beck/Rook art last scene, and now we get to see artists’ marvelous takes on the canid now that we’re seeing what they’re all up to.
Speaking of who’s up to what, I’m going to officially tease something now, for a proper reveal later: Jerome Jacinto, artist extraordinaire behind Cain and Yurk and Song of the Eastern Sands is working with me on a brand new Western Deep story that will debut following Chapter 3’s conclusion. I will not be revealing anything more about it just yet, but I will say I’m very excited to share more as we get closer to the end of the chapter.
Have a great weekend everyone!
In one breath Tosch declares Sunsgrove attacked and violated the treaty, yet in the next he outright calls Kenosh “a rogue lutren captain.” Which is it, Fluffneck? Because it’s either one or the other, can’t be both. Something tells me Tosch will seize upon shifting justifications for his actions every bit as enthusiastically as certain modern politicians I could name.
Already said it in the Discord (at least I THINK I did), but great work there, Vvooly!
As for the next side story, could Jerome possibly unleash upon us anything as terrifying as Beck’s Scary Teeth? We shall all have to stay tuned to find out!
Going back and re-reading this page, I guess Tosch is in fact saying that Kenosh is NOT a rouge Captain – that he’s part of something bigger. Although since it’s hard to prove a negative, that puts the accused in the unenviable position of being branded however Tosch wants to brand them, and they’ll be ill-equipped to prove their innocence to anyone who matters … such as Navran and Kishar. Maybe this really is all a plot by the Canid to gobble up Sunsgrove, and once they have that, Felis and Vulpin watch out!
Thanks, mate. :)
Honestly, the fact the Canid had assassins all waiting and willing to murder the Tamian assembly in Nessa, proves that they were pushing for a war long before the incident at Deltrada
The true question is not ‘What have they to gain from a war?’.
The true question is ‘How many kingdoms will remain when the dust settles?’.
The timing is a bit too convenient for their plans. What if Tosch was conspiring to have his brother assassinated to spark the war? It would mean that either Hardin or Kenosh was his accomplice, and the other an unwitting patsy.
I wouldn’t put it past him, the man is clearly driven by hunger for conquest and jealousy of his brother’s fluffy, likable demeanor.
I like this theory, especially considering that Tosch was conveniently “delayed” during the whole incident and Clovis mentioned that he has never cared for Sunsgrove, which only serves as further evidence that perhaps all this was a set-up.
Clovis also mentioned it in such an offhand manner that indicates that perhaps anti-Sunsgrovian bias is common amongst the Canid. It’s no secret that the Canid certainly view themselves as being above the other kingdoms and the more entitled of the races so it’s quite convenient how they’ve had reasons to go after not one but two of said kingdoms so far.
Oh crap things are getting real! 3 on 1 thats, not fair.
Sunsgrovian depseration alliance with the Polcan despite how much the Lutren hate Polcan when. I doubt the Canid or their allies have much of a navy.
Welp. We all knew this would end in war, yes?
Three against one would be baaaaad odds for Sunsgrove, but perhaps Navran or Kishar will decide to tell the Canid off.
Fair’s fair, they’re only showing the same respect to the treaty that Clovis did (i.e. none at all).
Bear with me a minute, I’m gonna do some thinking out loud about fictional politics.
I wonder if the Treaty of Cenolau has any kind of due process or appeals process. Do the other kingdoms just take Tosch at his word when he says that Sunsgrove attacked? Dabheid may be vertebrally challenged (shh, it’s totally a word, trust me) but surely he would at least try to claim (truthfully) that he had no idea that Kenosh was going to kill Clovis. But would he get the chance to make that claim? Would it matter?
I’m given to think it wouldn’t, based on how Dabheid was pretty sure Sunsgrove was obligated to join in fighting the Ermehn on Aisling’s say-so, and the delegation’s only purpose (as far as anyone but Kenosh knew) was to try to talk Clovis out of it. So either Dabheid just wasn’t up to the challenge of standing up to Tosch and Clovis in whatever proceedings would follow or there simply isn’t a recourse for a situation like this.
That said, there’s the fact that Aisling’s people in Cenolau and Nessa have (as Fruitso mentioned) already resorted to attempted assassinations of Sunsgrovian diplomats, in secret, without (or at least before) making any formal accusations. And not on Sunsgrove’s or Aisling’s territory, either. So the other kingdoms may regard that as a treaty violation in itself, regardless of whether Sunsgrove also violated the treaty. Would this mean that the other kingdoms would have some latitude under the treaty? Or (as Fourth Master suggests) would they view this as justification for throwing up their hands and deciding the treaty’s done with anyway so they may as well tell Aisling where to shove their war declarations–or at least try to get to the bottom of it before joining in?
On the other hand, from two or three pages ago: “Cenolau agreeable.”
One thing is certain: Aisling wanted war from the beginning.
(I will be thrilled to bits if I remembered all those names correctly given that I haven’t looked any of them up and I’m usually terrible at remembering the names of places and characters in Webcomics.)
Angry boi just wants a fight