Cursed, of Course: A Fantasy Comic

[Kantaki]

Also yeah I'm now leaning towards the idea that most Stormfallen are more like this guy than they are like Cat.

As much as I hope both of them represent absolute extremes I think you're right.

Also, from Mr. Half-Smurf's shot at Cat I guess they have history.
And from the sound of it he views her as a annoying younger relative (with weird friends) at best.

Pellan's... „reassurance” is interesting.
I guess that confirms his curse isn't entirely undeserved then.

[HalfTangible]

This one made me cackle like a maniac, for some reason.

Also yeah I'm now leaning towards the idea that most Stormfallen are more like this guy than they are like Cat.

From his more established power base, I'm getting the impression that this guy is an older Stormfallen, and that he gained this attitude through his life up until this point. Cataletta is relatively young, and so she's wide-eyed and bushy-tailed about all the world around her. Admittedly I base this entirely on the blue bits and the idea that they spread across the body over time (that I'm not sure has even been hinted at), but still.

[Mikemical]

Okay, they know each other. I guess things aren't going to get as grim dark as I feared.

Spoiler: GRIM DARK

Show

I was expecting the guy to be all like "Huhuhuhu, a stormfallen woman with which I can have stormfallen children with" cue Joey Wheeler creepy face.

And yep, Pellan is a piece of work, curse or no curse.

[Honest Tiefling]

Also yeah I'm now leaning towards the idea that most Stormfallen are more like this guy than they are like Cat.

Much like the poster above, I was worried about his intentions when he heard it was a female stormfallen. But no, Cata is just that well known that within minutes he was aware that she had fallen in with criminals including one undead and one shadowed.

Classic Cata!

Through the idea that the blue spreads with age is an interesting one. It would make a lot of sense as to why they track WHEN these people fell, since Cata introduces herself as being of the third falling.

Anyone else thinking this comic would make for an interesting campaign setting? Only issue is that the Stormfallen would be OP, but the first quest could be escorting them and having it be screwed up royally.

[bc56]

Much like the poster above, I was worried about his intentions when he heard it was a female stormfallen. But no, Cata is just that well known that within minutes he was aware that she had fallen in with criminals including one undead and one shadowed.

Classic Cata!

Through the idea that the blue spreads with age is an interesting one. It would make a lot of sense as to why they track WHEN these people fell, since Cata introduces herself as being of the third falling.

Anyone else thinking this comic would make for an interesting campaign setting? Only issue is that the Stormfallen would be OP, but the first quest could be escorting them and having it be screwed up royally.

I would either make it a sorcerer subclass (like storm sorcerer in 5e) or just have stormfallen be unplayable.

[Honest Tiefling]

I would either make it a sorcerer subclass (like storm sorcerer in 5e) or just have stormfallen be unplayable.

That's more sensible, but I like the idea of starting the party with their own Cata or seeing how badly the players can mess up an escort mission.

[ti'esar]

Much like the poster above, I was worried about his intentions when he heard it was a female stormfallen. But no, Cata is just that well known that within minutes he was aware that she had fallen in with criminals including one undead and one shadowed.

Thing is, we know Pellan and Bortha actually are disreputable characters, but I don't think it's really obvious on sight. Which makes this guy's snap judgment come across as him being something of an arrogant jerk.

[Honest Tiefling]

Thing is, we know Pellan and Bortha actually are disreputable characters, but I don't think it's really obvious on sight. Which makes this guy's snap judgment come across as him being something of an arrogant jerk.

1) Pellan is wearing full armor in what might be a temple. Probably not the best sign.
2) I imagine the party is having issues getting Bortha to bathe properly, and he probably looks scruffy as hell.
3) For all we know, Stormfallen who didn't fall on their head have better sight. He might also have other ways to know of Ardelie, who is shadowed for some reason.

I'm not so sure that snap judgement is uncalled for, especially since Cataletta is trying to press a literal undead into her service. She's failing, but it doesn't speak highly of her recruitment standards. Especially given the personality.

[Shoreward]

Update!

Page 90 - Present the Witness.

Spoiler

Show

[Kantaki]

So he isn't supposed to be there as far as Cat knows.
Now is her information merely outdated or is there more to this?
„She has business elsewhere” might be a euphemism.
And is that a royal or a regular we?

Either way I doubt this is good for our he... err protagonists.

[Mikemical]

"She has business elsewhere” might be a euphemism.

A very deadly euphemism.

Also, Vis is sitting in a standard "prepotent pompous a-hole" position, and I can't wait until someone wipes the smug off his face.

[ti'esar]

Potential deadly euphemisms aside...

"We like to cast a broad light."

Well that doesn't sound sinister or anything.

[Honest Tiefling]

Also, Vis is sitting in a standard "prepotent pompous a-hole" position, and I can't wait until someone wipes the smug off his face.

I dunno. You aren't wrong, but I do have to wonder how one can sit properly in a stone throne without looking like a smug jerkface without getting a sore butt.

[Fyraltari]

I dunno. You aren't wrong, but I do have to wonder how one can sit properly in a stone throne without looking like a smug jerkface without getting a sore butt.

The sore butt is metaphorical of the duties of a king, you see.

[Shoreward]

Update!

Page 91 - State Your Case.

Spoiler

Show

[ti'esar]

The more Vis speaks, the more I hope someone punches him in the face.

Also, I keep wondering - is that short for something longer the way 'Cat' is? It'd feel weird if a much more pretentious Stormfallen had a much pithier name.

[Kantaki]

The more Vis speaks, the more I hope someone punches him in the face.

Agreed. Someone reenacting the „puny god” scene with him would be a good start.

Also, I keep wondering - is that short for something longer the way 'Cat' is? It'd feel weird if a much more pretentious Stormfallen had a much pithier name.

Viserys? The name would definitely suit him.

[Mikemical]

The more Vis speaks, the more I hope someone punches him in the face.

Preach brother, preach.

[danielxcutter]

Preach brother, preach.

Oooh, thirded.

[Fyraltari]

Viserys? The name would definitely suit him.

That's what I thought too

[The Fury]

The more Vis speaks, the more I hope someone punches him in the face.

Can he get punched in the non-blue side of his face? Y'know, so the resulting bruise shows up better.

Also, I keep wondering - is that short for something longer the way 'Cat' is? It'd feel weird if a much more pretentious Stormfallen had a much pithier name.

I like to think the full version of Vis's name is sillier, so until it's revealed I'm going to assume that his name is actually "Beavis."

[Kantaki]

Can he get punched in the non-blue side of his face? Y'know, so the resulting bruise shows up better.

In the spirit of Maxim 34* I want to point out that leaving no visible bruises only means you have to punch them harder.
37 might apply to now that I think about it...


*If you're leaving scorchmarks you need a bigger gun

[Shoreward]

No comic update this week. I've been sick and it's still not cleared up; writing alone has hit me with a bad case of fatigue. Sorry! Usually I write one and upload from my buffer, but I didn't want to write one while feeling under the weather and my buffer's already suffered a ton from my writing schedule the last few weeks and in need of repair. Think of this as a skip week. I'll make sure to do one before the end of the next. The last thing I want to do is drop the update schedule harder than missing a week once in a while.

As always, I thought I should let you all know. Fans deserve at least a little transparency over update progress rather than being left in the dark. We'll be back on schedule next week.

[Prince Zahn]

Thanks for telling us how it is. I hope you get better soon! and have a full recovery. that's more important than the comic schedule

[IntelectPaladin]

Thanks for telling us how it is. I hope you get better soon! and have a full recovery. that's more important than the comic schedule

I concur with every word of this. Get well soon, Shoreward!

[Honest Tiefling]

Thanks for the heads up, but for the love of Bane's chiseled bottom, get some rest. I mean, it's a free comic, so I think a few interruptions can be tolerated.

Through as for the issue of Vis, I have to wonder what Cataletta has DONE to make him act this way. I mean, if your subordinate kept bringing in every undead, criminal, and bandit she came across, you might get a little snippy too. The guy he did call a hound is the one refusing to take off his helmet (which might be an implication of a threat), so it's not like Team Cat didn't send the first insult here.

[Shoreward]

Update!

Page 92 - Step One.

Spoiler

Show

[ti'esar]

I have a feeling that if she could talk, she'd be going "Huh? Were you saying something?" right about now.

That said, this has actually made me feel genuinely bad for Bortha for the first time ever, so kudos for that.

[Prince Zahn]

I have a feeling that if she could talk, she'd be going "Huh? Were you saying something?" right about now.

That said, this has actually made me feel genuinely bad for Bortha for the first time ever, so kudos for that.

I actually have a different feeling, like Ardelie is paying attention to what he is saying, even if she can't offer any words of sympathy, she might still be sympathetic, or at least, making in introspection of some sort, having heard Bortha wear his heart on his sleeve, or perhaps talking about a second chance appeals to her. I can only imagine that not being able to speak would make a person a better listener. Hard to say in Ardelie's case. however, Assuming Shoreward paid careful attention to the expressions of the characters, I can point to why I think this way within this strip.

My internet capabilities fail me in the respect of offering you proof, But I'm saying this because I examined Ardelie's initial expression when Bortha walks to her bench in panel 5, she's sort of peering through the widow, I guess? next, how she turns to the flame in panel 7, her eyebrows "flipped" as the interest shifts to the weepy man next to her, it might be hard to tell, but when the picture is blown up her facial expression is a little bit softer than it was before. in the last panel (8) (again, the image is opened and blown up in another tab so I can compare these subtle nuances), she looks away again, both her eyebrows raised a little bit more than they were when this conversation started. To help me notice these differences, I covered my vision of Ardelie's mouth with my hand, and/or cropped it out of the picture on paint to mark the differences better.

These differences might be due to inconsistencies in the templates, perhaps, I wouldn't deny that possibility, but given it's Shoreward we're talking about, I'd sooner believe these nuances are on account of Ardelie trying to take in this new thought. One can only speculate how she feels about her circumstances, and how the things Bortha said might or might not resonate with her.

Once again, I examined the page very carefully to pick these changes up, but I can't truly tell you without confirmation from the artist that these subtle differences were intentional, since the changes in Ardelie's expressions are typically minute, if at all.

[danielxcutter]

I ship them.