Grok's Grand Underground Adventure

[CheesePirate]

Click strips for larger versions. Previous adventures:
Samhain 2015 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?454488-Grok-amp-Grok-s-Great-Samhain-Adventure), Yule 2014 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?386366), Yule 2013 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?317797-Grok-s-Frostfell-Adventure).

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/01t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/01.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/02t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/02.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/03t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/03.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/04t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/04.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/05t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/05.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/06t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/06.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/07t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/07.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/08t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/08.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/09t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/09.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/10t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/10.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/11t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/11.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/12t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/12.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/13t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/13.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/14t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/14.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/15t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/15.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/16t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/16.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/17t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/17.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/18t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/18.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/19t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/19.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/20t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/20.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/21t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/21.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/22t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/22.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/23t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/23.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24at.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24a.jpg)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24bt.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24b.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 2nd added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/02t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/02.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 3rd added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/03t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/03.jpg)

[Grinner]

Things have gotten off to a swimming start, I see. :smallwink:

[CheesePirate]

Things have gotten off to a swimming start, I see. :smallwink:

Aye! http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_grin.png

December 4th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/04t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/04.jpg)

[Cuthalion]

Yay, this is happening!

[CheesePirate]

December 5th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/05t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/05.jpg)

[Cuthalion]

I assume this is mining rather than archaeology?

[TechnOkami]

CheesePirate!!!

Oh man, I missed seeing your art on the boards. Welcome back!

[CheesePirate]

I assume this is mining rather than archaeology?

Aye, they are mining for bones. http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_smile.png



CheesePirate!!!

Oh man, I missed seeing your art on the boards. Welcome back!

Thank you! http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_smile.png

December 6th added: http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_dance_1.gifhttp://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/pirate03.gif

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/06t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/06.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 7th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/07t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/07.jpg)

[Cuthalion]

I really like the coloring and look of the mushrooms. Nicely done.

[CheesePirate]

I really like the coloring and look of the mushrooms. Nicely done.

Thank you!

December 8th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/08t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/08.jpg)

[TechnOkami]

Hey Cheese? If you're not too busy, could we see a step-by-step of how you do what you do, presuming it's all digital and in Photoshop?

[CheesePirate]

Hey Cheese? If you're not too busy, could we see a step-by-step of how you do what you do, presuming it's all digital and in Photoshop?

Sure! It's not all digital, because I'm an old fart and I like working on paper, and because my stone age serial port Wacom tablet doesn't work on my new(ish) computer so I'm stuck using a mouse for now.


http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step1.jpg

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step2.jpg

PhotoStudio is an ancient program that came free with my scanner back in 2001. It still works, I'm used to it, and it has layer support, so I still use it.
Layer 0 is the scanned line drawing, Layer 1 is the first colour layer. I usually start by colouring Grok and other basic things like teeth and bones and noses and such.
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step3.jpg

..using multiple layers with different opacity settings.
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step4.jpg

(shown here at 100% opacity)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step5.jpg

(Opacity 100% to show gradient)
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step6.jpg

(Opacity 85% in this case)
I like the way the textures look and it saves me some time.
http://cheesepirate.com/comics/gnolls/step7.jpg

That's about it, I guess? I'm not sure if this is what you had in mind, if not do let me know, or if you have any questions about specific stuff, I'll try to answer if I can.

[Cuthalion]

That is really impressively done, particularly with a mouse. I'm intrigued.

[CheesePirate]

December 9th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/09t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/09.jpg)

[TechnOkami]

Likewise, very intriguing.

It's always interesting to see other peoples' creative processes.

Your color selection is wonderful, not to mention your very unique stylistic art (to me at least).

[Grinner]

I sometimes think about making a comic, so it's cool seeing how actual webcomic-ers work.

As to the actual story, events seem to have taken a very odd turn...

[CheesePirate]

Your color selection is wonderful, not to mention your very unique stylistic art (to me at least).

Thank you! http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_smile.png


As to the actual story, events seem to have taken a very odd turn...

Is that a good thing? I hope it's a good thing. http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_confused.png

December 10th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/10t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/10.jpg)

[Grinner]

Is that a good thing? I hope it's a good thing. http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_confused.png

Of course it's a good thing! We're meeting so many new cultures!

[CheesePirate]

December 11th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/11t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/11.jpg)

[TechnOkami]

inb4 a Balrog shows up and your Orc is secretly a wizard.

[Grinner]

inb4 a Balrog shows up and your Orc is secretly a wizard.

Are they orcs? I thought they were goblins.

[CheesePirate]

inb4 a Balrog shows up and your Orc is secretly a wizard.Are they orcs? I thought they were goblins.

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/strips/0066.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/66.html)

Goblorcs?

[Grinner]

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/strips/0066.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/66.html)

Goblorcs?

:biggrin:

whitespace

[TechnOkami]

10/10

I never did like how Tolkiens Orcs were more like Goblins and the Urukhai more like orcs. Then again, I have a personal take on goblins which is drastically different than normal interpretations of Goblins.

Also, they should just pull Sting out of its sheath to see if they're Orcs or not. :smalltongue:

[CheesePirate]

10/10
I never did like how Tolkiens Orcs were more like Goblins and the Urukhai more like orcs. Then again, I have a personal take on goblins which is drastically different than normal interpretations of Goblins.

What's your take on them?



Also, they should just pull Sting out of its sheath to see if they're Orcs or not. :smalltongue:

I thought Sting glowed for both orcs and goblins? Not sure how it reacts to goblorcs, though. http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_smile.png

December 12th added: http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_surprised.png

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/12t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/12.jpg)

Soundtrack for today's strip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtkDGYUyIE

[CheesePirate]

December 13th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/13t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/13.jpg)

[Eldan]

10/10

I never did like how Tolkiens Orcs were more like Goblins and the Urukhai more like orcs. Then again, I have a personal take on goblins which is drastically different than normal interpretations of Goblins.

Also, they should just pull Sting out of its sheath to see if they're Orcs or not. :smalltongue:

To be fair... he invented orcs?

[Grinner]

If anyone's curious, the runes transliterate to "foul potato eater".

He doesn't seem to care about the mushroom.

[shawnhcorey]

To be fair... he invented orcs?

AFAIK, he was the first to call them orcs. In LotR, he called them orcs or yrchs. In the Hobbit, he called them orcs and goblins. The Uruk-hai would be half-orcs. In D&D, goblins are less powerful than orcs.

[TechnOkami]

What's your take on them?

Sorry for the lateness of the response, I completely forgot I was asked this.

So I have the snippets of a setting somewhat on paper and somewhat in my head, where I've created what "goblins" would be.

So, in my world, Orcs look what they traditionally look like (perhaps with more olive green skin than the bright green, but that's personal preference more than anything), and had a very Greek/Roman society in the sense that they were the ones who advanced society and civilization back in the ancient days. Put them in togas and you're gold. Unfortunately they still believed in the use of slavery, except the enslaved humans.

As part of my setting, conscious and unconscious thought in concepts and ideas leads to the creation of deities. Humans who have been under the yoke of the Orcs for so long resent and hate their masters, to the point that it has created a human God of Retribution. The Orcs think they can break their slaves' wills further and attempt to wrestle this God under their control. All they end up doing is opening a direct channel with which the deity can directly curse them all, and the entirety of the Orcish Race is rendered as thus:

Think of teddy bears. Give them claws, more american football (the actual ball) shaped heads (the ends of the ball aligning with the shoulders), give them beady black eyes, cat-like ears, a disposition to carry sharp knives, race-wide insanity, and superstitiously amazing culinary skills, and you have my Goblins in a nutshell. I will try to draw one eventually to show you.

[CheesePirate]

I will try to draw one eventually to show you.

Cool http://cheesepirate.com/forums/images/smilies/goblorc_smile.png

December 14th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/14t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/14.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 15th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/15t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/15.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 16th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/16t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/16.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 17th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/17t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/17.jpg)

[Domochevsky]

Ah, a secret tea party spot. How scandalous. :smallamused:

[TechnOkami]

I like the angry kettle/pitcher.

Ok I just like your style. I would read mostly silent and simple, wordless comics by you. :smalltongue:

[CheesePirate]

Ah, a secret tea party spot. How scandalous. :smallamused:

Indeed!


I like the angry kettle/pitcher.

Ok I just like your style. I would read mostly silent and simple, wordless comics by you. :smalltongue:

Thank you!


December 18th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/18t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/18.jpg)

[Grinner]

Panel 1: "Have some tea"
Panel 3: "I wish I could understand you both."

[CheesePirate]

(translated runes)

Perhaps you could those?

December 19th added:

[spoiler=December 19 - Gut Roar]http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/19t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/19.jpg)

[TechnOkami]

I for one appreciate the translations.

[Domochevsky]

I for one appreciate the translations.

Same here. :smallsmile:

[Grinner]

Perhaps you could [spoiler] those?

Done.


I for one appreciate the translations.

Same here. :smallsmile:

Yay! I'm contributing! :smallbiggrin:

Panel 2: "Wait here - I will get us some cookies."

[CheesePirate]

December 20th added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/20t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/20.jpg)

[TechnOkami]

Here be me Goblins. (http://imgur.com/OitDdPG)

My vicious, adorable, insane, fuzzy, knife-wielding, mad, culinary inclined Goblins.

[CheesePirate]

Here be me Goblins. (http://imgur.com/OitDdPG)

My vicious, adorable, insane, fuzzy, knife-wielding, mad, culinary inclined Goblins.

Those are some really scary teeth!

December 21st added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/21t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/21.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 22nd added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/22t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/22.jpg)

[CheesePirate]

December 23rd added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/23t.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/23.jpg)

[Grinner]

I'm probably not going to be able to check the forums tomorrow, but it's been fun.

[Cuthalion]

I love the lighting on the fresh snow there.

[CheesePirate]

December 24th part 1 added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24at.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24a.jpg)

December 24th part 2 should be done soon.

[CheesePirate]

December 24th part 2 added:

http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24bt.jpg (http://cheesepirate.com/comics/yule2015/24b.jpg)
Merry Yule to you all, and thank you to everyone who took the time to comment!

Now that this is over, I can get some sleep again.
See you in 2016!

http://cheesepirate.com/anim/msn/goblorc_snore_01.gif

[TechnOkami]

And a Merry Krampus to you too.

Please keep making your wonderful art.