If nothing else, Amy’s voice should echo in Sam’s head and heart, expressing her love and trust in him. If every other voice in Sam’s head is silent, hers should sound with the clarion call of trumpets.
Man that pay off was worth it man, page looks beautiful and love the backstory about the world you created!
One thing though, it seems like you missed a word in panel 3, it says “I would see spared this torment.”. Been loving all the awesome work lately man, really sending the comic off with a bang, can’t wait to see IGS!
Amazing… I love the idea that he didn’t create the creatures with his mind but instead the narrative tapped into his mind and left the knowledge there.
I got the impression that it flowed both ways: A Narrative wielder is sensitive to ideas already out there in the multiverse, but that the wielder’s unconscious ideas also shape and influence what exists. My impression was that the King was saying there was no way to separate one from the other.
Either way, it’s awesome to see the payoff for something that’s been building for years.
The way I envision it goes like this: Narrative wielder is on a ship. Something is coming up out of the deep. Is it a swarm of sentient sea snakes, a hundred-headed hydra, or the tentacles of the mighty kraken? Wielder decides, but in any case a lot of long, slithery somethings are coming for the crew. Could the wielder push back, declare “That’s just some seaweed.”? Yes, but that’s how you get places like the Bermuda Triangle. If a monster like that isn’t faced and defeated, it will just take and take, and there won’t even be a story about how or why. Wielders must run the knife’s edge of making monsters epic enough to be “true” manifestations, but still beatable. That is the responsibility.
i like the concept of a universe where storytelling and imagination are the ultimate super power…very meta. what’s with the caption at the bottom though? is that a ‘seed of doubt’?
My concern is that the Steward of Summer has been replaced by Clive, to lay that seed of doubt. I rather suspect poor Larry may not be among the living anymore. Clive has already proven capable of killing mantlebearers. His leaving Sam with that “failure” feeling is right in line with Clive’s attitude.
But Larry was seen at the beginning of the Arc. He was in the bathroom giving Charlie advice on dealing with Mel. I guess it’s possilbe he was “just” killed, but it seems that Larry is still very much a living Steward
Possible disguise and divide/conquer. Encourage them to avoid comparing notes and/or emphasize drama issues. Have some history of a gameplayer doing that. Lost a good group because of it. Not quite to the magic level I’m surmising here, however…..
seed of doubt is definitely appropriate, and after going back through the archives its shown up less then I thought, so it probably does have something to do with Clive/his patron amplifying Sam’s natural doubts/anxiety
I originally kinda just assumed it was how Brian portrayed Sam’s anxiety but there has definitely been times that has shown up and we haven’t got the tendrils after running through it again.
relevant strips for when we’ve seen the tendrils before
I think I am beginning to see the shape of what “The Narrative” is. Like how a talented storyteller *looks pointedly at Brian* can create a world from the stories they tell *checks over d20monkey comic as a whole*, The Narrative takes it one step further by breaking down the boundaries between the world they have created, and the world they live in.
But, from a physics point of view, as well, one could argue that a storyteller is not so much “creating” a world based on their stories, but is somehow accessing an existing world and writing/drawing/whatever-ing what they see in that moment. Formulating a working theory from such an outrageous hypothesis needs some work, though.
Honestly, its not a new theme when it comes to content creation; the idea of how the ideas/content were already there, just beyond the aether, and the artist/writer/etc merely lifted the curtain a little and let it flow thru them…
but it is WONDERFULLY expressed here, and i absolutely love how this is going..
That was a perfectly done, concise, and solid multiverse core-theory. I love the way the Art style of this page works with the text. Rather than looking like the characters are standing in space, the starry sky lends a vastness and gravity to the King’s words.
The idea of the Narrative has been one of my favorite throughlines in this comic. And to finally have this payoff is so satisfying. It’s simultaneously so succinct and yet the concept is still incorporeal, almost unknowable. The way the King describes it, it’s just…
So the mantles are created by the Narrative, and Sam can wield the Narrative to some extent. So does that kinda make Sam(to some extent) the King of Seasons’ and by extention Brett’s magic boss?
So, I never really comment on here. I’ve been reading the comic for a few years, and I absolutely love it. I started playing dnd in high school, around when I found this comic, and it helped me not only expand my creativity with character ideas, but reassure myself that other people have dealt with gate keeping ass holes at the table and having a hard time scheduling games. The story of the characters has inspired me and comforted me and made my day when I’ve been having a shitty week. I will never forget Dio singing “Rainbow in the Dark” in response to the boner fairy blessing someone in need. I’ve bought a few of your shirts, my forever dm really liked the DM’s guild one, and a few of the notebooks. This page, though, was absolutely gorgeous, in it’s framing and everything else about it. Not only that, but after years of wondering about the Narrative, my questions and prayers are finally answered, and with this gorgeous page. Thank you for your time and for coming to my Ted Talk.
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Wow!
If nothing else, Amy’s voice should echo in Sam’s head and heart, expressing her love and trust in him. If every other voice in Sam’s head is silent, hers should sound with the clarion call of trumpets.
^ This.
maybe just me, but I’d kind of like if it was *Sam’s* voice that sounded in such a fashion.
But if it doesn’t, I second Amy.
DAMN Brian! EPIC
Man that pay off was worth it man, page looks beautiful and love the backstory about the world you created!
One thing though, it seems like you missed a word in panel 3, it says “I would see spared this torment.”. Been loving all the awesome work lately man, really sending the comic off with a bang, can’t wait to see IGS!
And… fixed! Thanks, everyone for the heads-up!
Amazing… I love the idea that he didn’t create the creatures with his mind but instead the narrative tapped into his mind and left the knowledge there.
I got the impression that it flowed both ways: A Narrative wielder is sensitive to ideas already out there in the multiverse, but that the wielder’s unconscious ideas also shape and influence what exists. My impression was that the King was saying there was no way to separate one from the other.
Either way, it’s awesome to see the payoff for something that’s been building for years.
The way I envision it goes like this: Narrative wielder is on a ship. Something is coming up out of the deep. Is it a swarm of sentient sea snakes, a hundred-headed hydra, or the tentacles of the mighty kraken? Wielder decides, but in any case a lot of long, slithery somethings are coming for the crew. Could the wielder push back, declare “That’s just some seaweed.”? Yes, but that’s how you get places like the Bermuda Triangle. If a monster like that isn’t faced and defeated, it will just take and take, and there won’t even be a story about how or why. Wielders must run the knife’s edge of making monsters epic enough to be “true” manifestations, but still beatable. That is the responsibility.
Do, or do not. There is no try.
Yoda sucks as a teacher…
Beat me to it. I was gonna say “Sam apparently is not a student of Yoda”
Holy sweet merciful crap! The job you did on this is absolutely AMAZING! I’m goin to be so sad when this ends.
Brian… Brian. Brian! This gorram page is beautiful. And the last bit, in the dark, why you do this to me man?
This is such a gorgeous page! I’m deeply impressed today. Oh yeah, and the reveal is really cool too. 😉
Holy exposition, Batman!
Man, come on…
Then.. Don’t reeeeeead it
Holy rudeness,Manbat!
I personally think that a page or two of beautifully done exposition can be a very good thing. Its a literary device for a reason.
[starts writing 15,000-word essay on how D20Monkey embodies its own metacommentary on the nature of creativity]
And they are looking down at the comment section.
*waves cheerfully!*
i like the concept of a universe where storytelling and imagination are the ultimate super power…very meta. what’s with the caption at the bottom though? is that a ‘seed of doubt’?
relevent strips
https://d20monkey.com/comic/being-a-gm-is-magic/
https://d20monkey.com/comic/oh-n-ogre/
My concern is that the Steward of Summer has been replaced by Clive, to lay that seed of doubt. I rather suspect poor Larry may not be among the living anymore. Clive has already proven capable of killing mantlebearers. His leaving Sam with that “failure” feeling is right in line with Clive’s attitude.
But Larry was seen at the beginning of the Arc. He was in the bathroom giving Charlie advice on dealing with Mel. I guess it’s possilbe he was “just” killed, but it seems that Larry is still very much a living Steward
Possible disguise and divide/conquer. Encourage them to avoid comparing notes and/or emphasize drama issues. Have some history of a gameplayer doing that. Lost a good group because of it. Not quite to the magic level I’m surmising here, however…..
seed of doubt is definitely appropriate, and after going back through the archives its shown up less then I thought, so it probably does have something to do with Clive/his patron amplifying Sam’s natural doubts/anxiety
I originally kinda just assumed it was how Brian portrayed Sam’s anxiety but there has definitely been times that has shown up and we haven’t got the tendrils after running through it again.
relevant strips for when we’ve seen the tendrils before
https://d20monkey.com/comic/date-night-part-five/
https://d20monkey.com/comic/nope/
*tries to write a detailed, thoughtful, and informative comment on this page, but can only make overexcited squeeing noises for now…* 😀
I think I am beginning to see the shape of what “The Narrative” is. Like how a talented storyteller *looks pointedly at Brian* can create a world from the stories they tell *checks over d20monkey comic as a whole*, The Narrative takes it one step further by breaking down the boundaries between the world they have created, and the world they live in.
But, from a physics point of view, as well, one could argue that a storyteller is not so much “creating” a world based on their stories, but is somehow accessing an existing world and writing/drawing/whatever-ing what they see in that moment. Formulating a working theory from such an outrageous hypothesis needs some work, though.
Honestly, its not a new theme when it comes to content creation; the idea of how the ideas/content were already there, just beyond the aether, and the artist/writer/etc merely lifted the curtain a little and let it flow thru them…
but it is WONDERFULLY expressed here, and i absolutely love how this is going..
also.. Time for the Big Boy pants, Sam…
That was a perfectly done, concise, and solid multiverse core-theory. I love the way the Art style of this page works with the text. Rather than looking like the characters are standing in space, the starry sky lends a vastness and gravity to the King’s words.
I think, it landed.
Long time reader, first time poster. Brian, thank you.
Let the spark of an idea be the flame that forges somethign new
The idea of the Narrative has been one of my favorite throughlines in this comic. And to finally have this payoff is so satisfying. It’s simultaneously so succinct and yet the concept is still incorporeal, almost unknowable. The way the King describes it, it’s just…
Gods, this is THAT GOOD SHIT
Also the art and colors on this page is incredible, especially the use of colors and shading…amazing job Brian 😀
This is a gorgeous page! Well done.
“The Exposition…”
“Let’s begin!”
“The Exposition…”
“Let’s jump in!”
“We’re on a mission,
to reveal some news.”
“Some news, some important news!”
Apologies Brian and Mel. That really is awesome, but I couldn’t resist.
So the mantles are created by the Narrative, and Sam can wield the Narrative to some extent. So does that kinda make Sam(to some extent) the King of Seasons’ and by extention Brett’s magic boss?
So, I never really comment on here. I’ve been reading the comic for a few years, and I absolutely love it. I started playing dnd in high school, around when I found this comic, and it helped me not only expand my creativity with character ideas, but reassure myself that other people have dealt with gate keeping ass holes at the table and having a hard time scheduling games. The story of the characters has inspired me and comforted me and made my day when I’ve been having a shitty week. I will never forget Dio singing “Rainbow in the Dark” in response to the boner fairy blessing someone in need. I’ve bought a few of your shirts, my forever dm really liked the DM’s guild one, and a few of the notebooks. This page, though, was absolutely gorgeous, in it’s framing and everything else about it. Not only that, but after years of wondering about the Narrative, my questions and prayers are finally answered, and with this gorgeous page. Thank you for your time and for coming to my Ted Talk.
Nicely done Sir!!
I think Neil Armstrong summed up my feelings about this page when the LM touched down. “Houston…the Eagle has landed.”
Awesome. Nice balance, plenty of story lattitude, and just flippin cool, besides. Well done.
Yoda is a terrible teacher. Messes with your mind instead of being useful
re reading this and just noticed the words at the bottom. the doubt is growing.