Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts with me last week. I haven’t responded yet, but I will do so soon.
These round ups might be late depending on how much writing I have to do on Sundays for Damage Control Blog. On my normal schedule I prefer to do my writing for TWWR before bed on Monday morning. With the new schedule I don’t get writing until the afternoon. On the upside after two weeks of talking about computer hardware shortages, percentages, and making predictions regarding supply, discussing webcomics is refreshing.
Africa | Page(s): 452 | Patreon
You know things are serious when Bes cuts Neith and Kauket’s argument short, and tells his mother to go for a walk. Anput does have a point though. Where is Kauket going to go for water? They’re in the middle of a drought and the only source of water is the swamp, which is currently contaminated by that dead elephant. Unless grandma is going there because she instinctively knows her time is short? The swamp is where animals go to die and/or be eaten by crocodiles. In better times (i.e., no drought), it’s also a place to drink water.
If I had to guess, Bes is likely following his mother along with Anaka to keep an eye on her. I don’t get the impression that he’s going to fight her or put her out of her misery. But then again, I don’t know much about Bes except that he’s kind of dumb and is greedy at dinner time. It was only on this page that the realization he brought his mother along to join the pride he conquered hit me. That was only thanks to the brief conversation between Neith and Anaka. The latter at least seems amused by their current leader, his family, and said family’s actions. Meanwhile, poor Neith just seems emotionally done with Bes and Kauket.
I just hope that Tutu’s wound isn’t too serious. Otherwise, that prophecy Kauket gave may come true. Except that it’s by her own actions instead of Mosi’s.
What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 951 – 954| Patreon
I’m still bummed that Thresher survived Petrel’s attack. The only saving grace is that we know he chooses to be a tribute at the start of the comic, so he’ll eventually have his grisly death. The foreshadowing regarding the king’s words to Trout are just chilling. At that moment we know Petrel wouldn’t have ever hurt the future queen, but by the time the coronation ceremony comes around they feel very differently. In the end Thresher was correct, just not for the bigoted reasons he thinks.
I love how the return to the beach with an injured king and their sheepish-looking lionheart parallels the aftermath of Krill’s attack on Trout. The parallel even matches Sturgeon and Hake having a chill conversation, then them being surprised at a battered family member returning. Except this time Sturgeon seems slightly annoyed (maybe that Thresher didn’t kick the bucket) while Hake is shocked. Given his feelings toward his father, I wonder if that’s general shock at the bloody scene and concern for his sister.
Trout is definitely traumatized by the violence of the moment. She feels for Petrel, but cares more about her father. Again, not surprising as they have the best relationship out of all the children he acknowledges. It’s curious that Trout didn’t mention she was the one who called Snapper on Petrel, but I don’t think her omission was malicious. Instead, I don’t think she thought it was important enough to mention. Of the siblings, even back then she cared the least for the Daisys. In contrast, Hake cares at lot for Petrel, as he’s the only one to ask if they’re alright.
I’m curious to see how Sturgeon’s talk with Petrel will go. It could be a tense discussion and maybe some disappointment that Thresher still draws breath.
Golden Shrike | Page(s): 337 | Patreon
I find it amusing that Loss’s pronouns are it/its and it refers to Antaras as “it” as well. Though I think that’s more so shock that a mortal could throw down and bind a god. Then we get the biggest reveal of the comic so far. Antaras is the descendant of Mousara. Remember that guy from the story Boneslav told the group? Suddenly this isn’t just a myth or a simple creation story for the Stonekrovn. Considering that Karuna is real, it looks like Mousara did steal some part of the gods and their language. The Stonekrovn may not have been successful in ending his family line, but likely did chase and keep them away from Skypeak.
Not only that, but the knowledge that Mousara gained from the theft was passed down to his family line and that was in turn taught to Antaras. The Northerner didn’t feel the need to use the forbidden knowledge he had been taught until Oudia died in the blizzard. Thinking about it, the anger he felt wasn’t completely directed at the March. His angry remarks which Usma might have thought were prayers, were directed at the gods. Then, when he left to speak with god, he was actually talking to the wolves to set up his mass murder plan to lure Loss down.
Given how Loss appears at times of mass death (see Kasko’s herd), this was a given. I had originally thought he made a pact with it and eating the Halvs’ heads had something to with it, but no this was a trick using stolen knowledge. Binding Loss also gives Antaras a way to get what he actually wants, Eve. Not only that, but Loss seems very much afraid of him and his family line. So will it call its sister down or will Antaras do something more to pressure the god into compliance?
Ranach believes and is afraid that Kargo is still alive. But he doesn’t believe that Rogio is alive after being told, and failing to scent him. Sure. Granted, he thought Kargo was lying to him at the moment, but I still can’t accept that he didn’t catch his former lover’s scent. Sorry, this is a small personal gripe that will probably stay with me until this comic is finished.
Anyway, the banter between Onofre and Ranach continues. It’s weird that the Dragonsfall Tribe Baron (had to look it up in the Wiki) wants to casually chat with the former Meteor Tribe Jarl while threatening to kill him. He even asks if the meeting went as expected after giving leadership advice. Pick a lane, dude. If he’s that hellbent on destroying the Meteors why did he even bother showing up to the meeting instead of just trying another raid? If I had to guess, it’s to vent his anger at Solar Stag Tribe for not doing anything about a problem he started. Onofre’s plan seem to be use the rebellion’s resources to take down the capital, and then try the raid again on Nordgarde Tribe. And while at it, constantly threaten the leader of the rebellion for once being a part of that same tribe when it was the Meteor Tribe, despite no longer leading it. Real smart.
At this point, it’s completely understandable if Ranach actually backstabbed Onofre during their fight against the capital. If the guy says he’s going to kill you after the rebellion, it only makes sense to put him down first. It feels like Kique needs to give Ranach someone to oppose since he’s not had any direct contact with Solar Stag. This guy is annoying enough that I’m actually on the former Jarl’s side during their interactions.
I’m guessing Onofre is supposed to represent revenge and how going about it blindly can make you just as much of a villain as the people who wronged you. (Funny how he didn’t start this revenge tour until it was just Ronja leading the tribe. Not Arenak or Ranach.) The whole execution just feels forced. Perhaps he shouldn’t be boldly declaring his intentions to the former Meteor while accepting him as leader for this rebellion. At this point the Dragonsfall Baron should just be trying to take the rebellion’s resources for himself.
Off for the week:
Lost Scent | Page(s):| Patreon
In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): | Patreon
On hiatus:
The Order of the Black Dog | Issue Page: | Patreon
I’ll admit this is something I love about mythic xenofiction stories. We get all sorts of cultural world building and stories, but there’s often that little *asterisk hanging over those stories on how they’re going to turn up later. Are they going to tie back into the plot beyond folklore? And are they as fantastical as they first seem, or are they grounded in reality?
So when Mousara showed up again, I full on gasped and did an IRL “OOOOOOOOO!” It’s the sort of planting and payoff that I love seeing!
Mythic xenofiction… Yeah, that’s a great way to put it!
Oh yes, the setup and payoff for the reveal about Mousara was brilliant. I didn’t think much of the story other than it leading to the creation of Stonekrovns. It never occurred to me that he was real, survived, and had a family line with knowledge passed down on how to hurt and bind the gods. It makes Antaras all the scarier as a antagonist. If everything had gone his way and worked out with Oudia and his second child, he likely wouldn’t have used the knowledge passed down from Mousara. (I had just figured he stumbled upon some forbidden art or magic.)