Not Alone

Thursday, January 1, 2009 -

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=25
Page 25 ; Thursday, January 1, 2009

THIS IS THE LAST PAGE UNTIL FEBRUARY 6! Remember that this comic alternates monthly with Cast Q/A! This extra update was brought to you by donations^^

I feel like I'm hurrying this page up a lot, but it had to be done. I think it has more panels than any page for this comic I've made previously! Again, the green, inverted panels are a stylistic choice to show "seeing" through the others' eyes. In pages previous, Fen Aya Zen was able to see through Relan's eyes of his own volition, but it looks like Relan doesn't have the hang of it!

A major mistake during survival situations is doing what Relan is currently doing here. She feels lost. She's not taking care of herself or having much forethought. Instead of gathering food or creating a safe shelter, she's pushing herself on and on...and if she keeps this up, she'll push herself to the point of exhaustion. When you do that, you come to the point where you no longer even have the energy to FIND food or build a shelter. So, if you guys ever get lost out in the great wild, stop yourself, take a deep breath, take note of what you have on you, and make a list of things that you need to do to survive, ordered by priority! Shelter, water, food, fire, finding help, etc. Of course, the order of these might change depending on where you are, what you have, and what you need.

I hope everyone is having a good start to the New Year!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 -

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=24
Page 24 ; Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Yo! Merry Christmas, y'all, and late Happy Hanukkah! Travel safe, get lots of presents, and enjoy the company of your families^^

Back to Relan on this page, obviously. It seems she hasn't been faring too well. Anyone who has ever been on their own, far from home knows this feeling. At first, you're all exited to be gone. You're flying high, nothing can bring you down. Then the real sense of alienation clicks in, the distance between what is known--familiar--and where you currently are. You get homesick, even if your home wasn't the greatest.

I tried something new with this page. It was suggested in these pages to have more organic-feeling dialogue balloons to fit in more with the art. So, I finally got off my butt and tried. What do you guys think?

In other news, The War of Winds got an awesome secret santa comic this past week. For now, you can see it here. It will have a permanent home in the gallery page soon 'nuff! There will also be a funny image up later today, with Talon, Ravar and a sprig of mistletoe. Uh oh!

This is the last week to donate for extra Not Alone pages next month. You all have one coming to you next Thursday, some on back then. Not Alone will of course, continue again in February regardless. For any newcomers, NA alternates monthly with The War of Winds' Cast Q/A.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 -

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=23
Page 23 ; Wednesday, December 17, 2008

NEW! You can now discuss this story in the Not Alone forum.

This page is mainly an informative transition page that I wish had scripted better, but so long as it gets a few points across, I'm happy. Two defined vocabulary words this time around: Na'Shan and Key'Shan. Old Toothache mentioned "Na'Shan" before, talking about how the human was weak and he was glad he died before meeting.

Luckily for this story, Fen Aya Zen is not as heartless as his elder! Something else this page shows you is that sometimes, the "visions" of each other are spontaneous...and sometimes they are not. Here, Fenni reaches out of his own will. The inverted colors are simply artistic license to show what it looks like through the other's eyes. Those of you who read The War of Winds, a shifted spectrum is also seen by Greyken, the animal half of Ayenroki. Those of you who also read TWoW might recognize the prefix "Na" meaning "being human," "of man," or "mankind." "Zen'na Nashka" translates to "Hunters of Man;" Nashrri is also related. The addition of "sh" onto the end of a verb makes one of many noun-forms of that verb. Na+sh=human, instead of "being human." It's complicated!

This page should also show some differences between Fenni and Relan's personalities. Relan up and left with no help, no real plan, no forethought, she just...spontaneously went. Fen Aya Zen chewed on the problem for days before making a decision. He likes to plan, and refuses to "go in blind." Is this him, or the influence of his Memories?

Hmm, what else? Ah, the Xor ("Cksor") and the Kruush (Kroo-oosh). Kruush was mentioned by Arunu when she first found Relan back on page 13. You guys haven't met the Xor yet. They're fun. Dangerously fun. :)

I don't have any vote incentive this week, but I'm thinking of something to do for a Christmas special. I'm also starting a Not Alone fund for extra pages next month, instead of taking January off from the comic as originally planned. Every fifteen dollars donated gets you an extra page, with a maximum of 5 pages next month. Thanks to anyone who donates! Every little bit really helps me out!

Thursday, December 11, 2008 -

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=22
Page 22 ; Thursday, December 11, 2008

It's a hard decision to leave everything you know behind, even if, deep inside, you know it's the RIGHT decision. You'll waver. Your heart, head and gut will be at odds, each telling you to do a different thing.

In case you guys haven't caught on yet with the constant talk of Remembering and memories, Keyen have genetic memory. This means they are born with the memories of past generations. For example, they are born with the ability to understand multiple languages, even if they can't yet physically speak! Here, Fen Aya Zen is alluding to a different kind of genetic memory, mainly real memories of his ancestors about what it means to be Shan. Those memories come as Keyen grow up, because if they came all at once, well, that would overload anyone's brain.

These memories I'm talking about don't include personalities. It would be kind of like reading a newspaper--the facts only. The information is all there, a feeling of who people or Keyen were, but each Keyen is his or her own. Personalities are not genetically imprinted.

Genetic memory usually fades with generational distance, yet some highly charged emotional events are shared by an entire Clan, and are never truly forgotten, even if the events leading up to that one, unforgettable, memory are. The meaning of Shan, how it came to be, why it is important--is all stuck somewhere inside of Fenni's head. He's just horribly impatient for it to come to him. That's all from me today! Check back next Thursday for page 23!

Thursday, December 4, 2008 -

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=21
Not Alone Page 21 ; Thursday, December 4, 2008

I'd like to apologize to people who expected a page yesterday. I counted wrong on my calendar. This comic updates on Thursdays, for all of December! I don't trust myself with dates anymore, just come back on Thursday. :3

This page makes me wonder if Shaga No Rak ever felt that same pull to be Shan, and if she did nothing about it. I haven't decided much about Shaga's past other than that she was a hellion, and still is, just slightly tamed. She could have a comic all of her own with her escapades!

I'm still getting used to canine anatomy, but I really loved how the second panel came out here. Almost a heart shape too, and I thought about making that more obvious, but it was too corny so I let it pass. Those of you who have large dogs however may be quite familiar with panel one. My dog, when he is tired of me laying on him, literally kicks me off. It's quite annoying, especially when I'm just about to doze off.

My sister went to see both Twilight and Quantum of Solace WITHOUT me this past week. She said the first was quite good (with a schmexy male lead) but the second was...too dry? I've been hearing a lot about how the new Bond movies are too dark, without enough humor, far more Jason Bourne than Connery-Bond. Gotta say though, I can't STAND the old James Bond movies. I like the dark and gritty Daniel Craig. Connery makes me want to get out the 'ol feminism text book and smack my dad in the face with it. ><

In other news, if you've come to this comic due to the advertising I've been doing for it, I want to point out that I make this whole other colored comic called The War of Winds that you can find over this way. :)

Thursday, October 30, 2008 -

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=20
Page 20 ; Thursday, October 30, 2008

Today is the last update for Not Alone until December FOURTH (I can't count). This comic alternates monthly with Cast Q/A, and besides, updating 2x a week with a comic page for an extended length of time burns me to ash. Ug. I haven't gotten to bed before 3am for an entire week! You know what that does to a person?! *insert zombie horror music and drool here* I will be finishing this page later today. [EDIT! REFRESH FOR THE TONED PAGE!] I didn't even get to start it until midnight. I would like to thank a couple friends on AIM for that. You know who you are! <3

So, lolling about is a famous Keyen past time, didn't you know? Sunbeams, warmed rocks...if you have a dog, you're probably very familiar with the back-itch-comfy-squirm-position in the first panel. I would like to say that I drew that without a reference. I didn't need one, as my own pup LOVES to do that on the carpet. Luckily, he doesn't often do it in the yard, in raccoon droppings. *phew!*

Anyways, I think this is the page a couple of you were looking forward to. Not all Keyen are like "Old Toothache," as he in introduced in the next page. Fen Aya Zen's mother, "Shaga No Rak," (translates to "Moonset over Mountains"), seems to be pressing him to accept being Shan. Page 6 will describe a little more about names and definitions, if you are confused by my word usage here. "Shan" is singular and plural, but a singular version of Shan still refers to a PAIR. The long form is "Shan Pair."

You'll notice here in the picture a difference in size between Fenni and his mother. Keyen females are much larger than the males, and their horns are smooth, whereas the males' are ribbed or spiraled. However, much fewer Keyen females ever become Shan. The ones that do are certainly a force to be reckoned with...for those of you from the forum familiar with Shan already. *sly grin*

If you're a fan of this comic, come back on Nov. 1 for a wallpaper vote incentive of the background image of this new site. You'll also notice a group of linking banners down below, if you're in to that kind of stuff.

Thursday, October 23, 2008 -

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=19
Page 19 ; Thursday, October 23, 2008

EDIT: So. Welcome to the new site. Still working a few little things, but the site is compatible in the latest versions of Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. IT DOES NOT WORK WITH IE6.

There's a couple little extras on this page that I will explain here, but I won't explain in the story. First, the Keyen Dens. Clan Keeshin (Fen Aya Zen's clan) live very high in the mountains, on south facing peaks, in caves. Just because the Keyen have paws though, doesn't mean they are mere animals, lying in the dirt! Dens are often furnished with furniture suiting Keyen, have floors covered in bedding/grass/reeds, have food storage areas, and have a source of flowing water, always. Keyen are often known for being absurdly clean. They take pride in it.

If you look closely in panel 4, you'll see a little waterfall on the left. Status of members within the clan is often seen by who lives closest to the water source.

If you keep looking closely at panel 4, there is flat peak to the right, on top of which is a tall light post with a fire inside, held up by 3 boulders, and a Keyen sitting on one. This is a Keyen watchtower. The lit fire signifies all is well. All 12 Keyen Clans do this. (They mastered fire long ago. It takes 2 Keyen to light a fire--no thumbs!--but all it takes to light the cistern is a flaming branch held in a mouth.)

Hmm, what else? Drat, a word balloon is covering it. Also in panel 4, you can see a pathway cut INTO the mountain, that suddenly turns left. This pathway was not made by Keyen. Who was it made by, you ask? Well, not even they truly know. It is lined with carvings though, of men long since dead.

Anywho, I'm working on giving the side-comic it's own little home. Check out the design process (and previews of the comic as they are available) here in this thread.

Thursday, October 16, 2008 -

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT

http://warofwinds.com/not-alone.php?comic_id=18
Page 18 ; Thursday, October 16, 2008

Drawing Fen Aya Zen frustrated and slightly cross-eyed was my favorite part of this page. Drawing him hopping down in the top panel took me forever though -.-

I'm going to designing a special mini-site for this comic to make Not Alone more stand-alone. No pun intended.

Lastly, in case you could not glean it from the text, "Short-horn" refers to Fen Aya Zen's short horns. It means he is young. It's like calling someone a "kid." From the size difference you can see here in this page, Fen Aya Zen is quite young, only about 10 years old. Aging among the Keyen...is quite different, however. The Elder, lovingly nicknamed "Old Toothache" by the rest of the Clan, is about 40.

Next page: the first view of Fenni's mum! Tune in next Thursday!

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I added a cool widget to the TWoW archive that shows the phases of the moon. It's broken for me for some reason in Firefox, but shows up just dandy in IE. You can see that here.

Check out the inspiration for Fen Aya Zen in my DA gallery:

A Brilliant Evening by ~Kezhound on deviant ART