The Abyssal Dunes: Page 05
Oooh Cain, you silly goose! Tripping and falling on the floor is quite the pratfall, but then seriously destabilizing the structural integrity of the entire floor? CAIN YOU ARE A MASTER OF PHYSICAL COMEDY.
Wait, that’s not intentional?
Oh, that’s…pretty dangerous actually. It’s like Cain’s failing a whole bunch of QTEs right now. Or he’s getting some bad endings in a Choose Your Own Adventure story. Except, PLOT TWIST, the story keeps going. That’s not really a plot twist. This story is guaranteed longer than five pages.
You’ll notice this is the same thumbnail from last week! Well, that’s because the bottom two panels of the original thumb were extrapolated and expanded upon to become this whole page. Like we discussed last week, this layout had a lot of desire for expanded timing. So, while Cain’s trip definitely needed a little more room to breathe, his fall and the subsequent cracking of the floor DEFINITELY needed some space, so we could better show the progression of the cracks in the floor, from one to many.
I absolutely love Jerome’s lighting work here, with the safety of the setting sun far behind and the doom and gloom of the old ruin almost coming up to snatch Cain away. Add to that Rachel’s amazing lettering here, with some very Bill Watterson-esque sound effect personification! Cain doesn’t appreciate any of this, but that’s why I’m here.
For any of our readers who voted in this year’s Ringo Awards, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to fill out a ballot (even if you didn’t vote for Beyond the Western Deep). It’s one of the very few awards shows that accepts fan nominations, and I think it’s important that readers continue to be a part of the process when it comes to recognizing great comic work produced the preceding year.
In other news, WE MADE A STICKER!
How awesome is that?? Rachel did an amazing job with it, and we’ll be selling these at San Diego Comic Con next month.
We’re doing something a little unique for guest art this week. H.G Sansostri, who posts as “Smug Canid” on the site, wrote an extremely elaborate Twine-based Choose Your Own Adventure story inspired by the Fall of the Evyn-Din story I wrote back in 2016 featuring everyone’s favorite hooded ermehn, Bevan! As if to balance the scales, H.G. Sanstostri wrote a Twine story with a canid protagonist named Hector, who finds himself stranded deep within the Northern Wastes after his unit is killed by an ermehn tribe. Will you opt for a path of mercy, or revenge? Will you carry out your generals’ wishes, or will you meet an ignoble, violent end at the ermehn’s hands?
Now, some quick prefaces before I share the link:
First and foremost, this story leans very heavily into the brutal nature of the canid/ermehn conflict. While Evyn-din had its share of violent moments, These Demons of Ours definitely skirts the upper limits of our PG-13 rating. So if you’re squeamish, keep that in mind. There are WAY more death scenes here than in Bevan’s tale!
Second, no, the story is not canon–though I’m always happy to see stories adhere so well to it! H.G. Sanstrosi has written quite the story, so if you’re prepared to see poor Hector get murdered quite a few times, maybe check it out! Thanks, H.G.!
https://westerndeep.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BTWD-These-Demons-of-Ours.html
“Cain doesn’t appreciate any of this, but that’s why I’m here.”
And so glad that you are!
Gee, that must’ve been one heck of a stubbed toe to have laid him out like that; almost looks like he’s napping. And I really should try cracking firmament as my alarm clock; bet I’d never miss a wake-up ever again!
Great expressions in those last two poses (won’t say “panels,” since they’re … kinda not). And I might actually have missed the wonderful nuances of the backlighting if you’d not called my attention to it. Nice work!
And speaking of Things Nice and Wonderful, loving that sticker! Gotta get me one of those … somehow … someday …
Cain really knows he’s screwed up in that last pose.
I can’t be the only one thinking that this place probably doesn’t meet the standard safety requirements.
Get OSHA on the phone!
What? No phones in Dunia? Then send a messenger bird, pronto!
What? There’s no OSHA in Dunia either? Oh snap.
Yeah, I think things are not looking good for Cain.
They don’t make ancient temples like they used to.
The architect did a lazy job on this one.
Breaking the entire castle with your fall?
Might be time to go on that diet…
Looks like it’s too late lol.
I don’t get it.
Are Cain and Yurk just a side story, or do they tie into the whole tale? If so, HOW?? And also, are they just a couple o’ brats searching for treasure, or do they play an important part?
Side story, but might be tied into whole tale later (or not).
This story is just 2 guys searching for treasure, the point is to have a break from main story and add more lore to the setting (Vulpin ruins).
Okay I don’t want to be typecasted as That Guy, but I just had to tidy up that black pixel on your avatar: https://imgur.com/a/xAay9xV
Are you a perfectionist? : P
Minor things like these are striking me too haha
Oh God they did this to my profile picture too.
It’s manifesting!
Man, I hope Yurk’s Okay.
Also, how do you get a gravatar?
I’m getting a little jealous of smug canid. ;)
Scroll down to the comment input box and click the link to the right of the “*EMAIL” field.
There is an explanatory video and everything.
You just have to input your email address, upload your desired photo and defeat a centaur warrior in personal combat to prove you are worthy. Simple. Don’t have a gravatar myself but that’s what I hear.
I just uploaded a photo and my email. I didn’t find anything about defeating a centaur warrior. Hopefully I don’t have to because I’m absolutely terrible at such things.
I had to fight a vampire for my one.
Lucky you!
As long as you specify “Consecrated Ground” or “French Restaurant” in the duel location drop down menu the Vampire is a bit of a pushover.
Birdie should be fine as long as they don’t get the Sandworm or Apache Attack Helicopter.
Now I’m feeling real smug.
Definitely a wakeup call. Just seeing the terror on his face is amazing. I wonder how long he’s had to lay there before the floor began to crack.
Imagine if he was just chilling there for an hour.
That would have been interesting. I can only think of how far his companion could have gone in that time.