Unsounded, quite possibly the (2nd) best webcomic I have seen.

[-D-]

If something goes down between Toby and Stockyard, she's going to be an inconvenient witness.

Toby probably wouldn't mind her (unless I'm misreading him), but Stock will probably throw her to the silver, to get rid of her. That might be how she gets away, is silver manages to cut her ropes or something.

Overall, she is pretty much for time being.

[wingnutx]

Toby may be getting a knife in the back before too long.

[-D-]

Toby may be getting a knife in the back before too long.

Don't worry, he already got one (panel 6).

[Morty]

And now it's Duane's turn for a trippy dream sequence. Also, his soul-cord, or whatever it is, leads to the First Silver. Does that mean it opened a big hole in the khert? Or is it two-toe witchcraft on Cutter's part? Mysterious. I'm assuming that the "friend" Cutter mentions is Bastion.

[-D-]

Cutter is secretly Deliceu ;) BTW who is Bastion? The mook with the boat?

Also no comic till Monday - however I'm seeing how Ashley is essentially a magic creature that manages to draw/paint/think a page every two/three days I forgive her (or him, it could be some weird boy name). I'm 100% convinced she is magic.

[Morty]

Bastion is the Aldish Black Tongue who hired Nary to bring Duane back to Alderode. It's entirely possible he's responsible for turning Duane undead in the first place. He's also the one who made the pymaric that keeps Elan's heart beating, and Duane's boss was accused of knowing him. So he's pretty deeply involved in the whole mess - but he's been staying in the background for now.

[-D-]

Ah, of course, Winallis. The aldish Jet Black Tongue.

Is there a place all form spring question Ashley got asked are located?

[Morty]

Here is an archive with her Formspring answers, including an in-character Formspring she ran for Duane and Sette. Lots of juicy information in there. She doesn't use FS anymore, but here is a blog she updates regularly. Likewise, there's a lot of interesting info to be found there.

[Morty]

Duane might be able to dodge his past by day, but it catches up with him at night, it seems.

[-D-]

I can't wait for something to happen. Calm before the storm always gets me.

Anyway I super like your pre-previous post (one with wiki link), but I forgot to express my gratitude. Consider this post an expression of said gratitude in a form of a video.

(Stanley's parable - Raphael Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RdVihv5eKM

[Morty]

Why, thank you. Good to see that my obsessive interest in behind-the-scenes minutia and commentary is helpful.

So, Duane seems to have his own "imagine spot" he retreats to at night when his body becomes a mindless ghoul. I can't decide if it's heart-warming or disturbing.

[Spacewolf]

Huh Duanes eldest girl is missing in the last panel, also that's pretty disturbing stuff.

[-D-]

Mon and Thu update is up. It's Duane getting it on with his lovely wife (the pages are mildly NSFW - there was a boobie in there).

[Morty]

Okay, yeah. Decision made. It's horrifying. Poor Duane. Has it been like this every night for him, those six years? I do wonder what happened to the real Leysa. According to Aldish custom, she'd be expected to marry Lemuel.

[Killer Angel]

Okay, yeah. Decision made. It's horrifying. Poor Duane. Has it been like this every night for him, those six years?

Exactly my doubt. If it's so, sunset's approach must be terrifying...

[-D-]

Exactly my doubt. If it's so, sunset's approach must be terrifying...

Aren't these super special Eel powered dreams?

PS. Did anyone note the crows on the cradle on p 51(last panel)? They are unsettling.

[Morty]

Looks like we're about to find out what, exactly, was Lemuel's involvement in Duane's death and reanimation.

[-D-]

Looks like we're about to find out what, exactly, was Lemuel's involvement in Duane's death and reanimation.

Are we? Thing seems like a jumbled mess. I think this is Duane's side of story.

[Morty]

We seem to be seeing both of them in equal measure, though. We're going to find out something, for sure, if perhaps not the full story. I think it's very likely that Lemuel knew of the plan to reanimate Duane, but is he in league with whoever arranged it? That's what I'd like to know. He's unshaven and weary-looking in the newest strip. Clearly things have been tense.

[Wayson]

We seem to be seeing both of them in equal measure, though. We're going to find out something, for sure, if perhaps not the full story. I think it's very likely that Lemuel knew of the plan to reanimate Duane, but is he in league with whoever arranged it? That's what I'd like to know. He's unshaven and weary-looking in the newest strip. Clearly things have been tense.

You might even say that their relationship is 'falling apart'. Certainly Duane's face is.

This must be before he got the pymaric voicebox, but after his eyes were installed. Speaking of, we've never learned how he got those pretties, or the voicebox. Pymarics like that aren't cheap; Quigs is desperate to get some for Matty, after all, but apparently the cost of First Gems is still beyond his reach. Since Lemuel wouldn't have been able to draw on any money Duane had, it indicates that Lemuel either had a lot of money on his own (possible), or a wealthy patron/backer who was perfectly willing to pay for very expensive pymaric optics. The latter seems more probable, which might indicate that Lemuel is connected in some fashion to the conspiracy to murder Duane. :(

[Morty]

Lemuel appeared with the eye pymarics right after Duane "woke up" as a zombie. Not sure about the voicebox. Given that we see him crying as Duane leaves after their sparring match, I think it is indeed likely he was perfectly aware he was seeing his brother alive for the last time.

[-D-]

Lemuel appeared with the eye pymarics right after Duane "woke up" as a zombie. Not sure about the voicebox. Given that we see him crying as Duane leaves after their sparring match, I think it is indeed likely he was perfectly aware he was seeing his brother alive for the last time.

I remember him being awfully suspicious, for some reason. But what would be the point of killing Duane, what does it accomplish?

WMG: I suspect Shadwe (black hair old guy) killed him, to strengthen the bonds between Gefendur / Ssaelit, without going with the horrible plan of the other Jet minister (Weeping plague for the Gefendur). Also Winallis did the ressurection, no? He was close to Shadwe.

Anyway new comic is up and is Duane, jealous of Lemuel? This is getting interesting.

I'm now convinced Ashley Cope is a wizard(ress?)!

[Morty]

Let's not forget that Duane is really scary in combat. Not only is he a tacit caster of great skill, but his undead state makes him really hard to slow down. It's unlikely to be the entire purpose, but part of it, perhaps. One way or the other, Duane was an exceptional wright who was also a common-born Soud, so no one would raise a fuss if he died.

I do wonder if there's any substance to Duane's jealousy. Also, Lemuel's promises of hiding and protecting Duane suggest he might not have worked with the people who now want him back. Hmm.

[byzantineblue]

I do wonder if there's any substance to Duane's jealousy. Also, Lemuel's promises of hiding and protecting Duane suggest he might not have worked with the people who now want him back. Hmm.

I have long suggested that Lemuel was in love with Leysa. He's not interested in the pretty girls Duane tries to set him up with. And he was probably in on the plot to kill Duane, too, so.

[Spacewolf]

I thought that Leysa and Simon were killed on the same night as Mikaila? Didn't we see Duane going back to his house to find the door kicked in and blood everywhere?

[Morty]

I have long suggested that Lemuel was in love with Leysa. He's not interested in the pretty girls Duane tries to set him up with. And he was probably in on the plot to kill Duane, too, so.

We know he remained a staunch bachelor and refused all marriage prospects, even though the elders were getting grumpy about it. We also know (from author commentary) that the Aldish custom would have a woman marry her husband's brother on his death, if possible. Duane's jealousy seems to point towards your suggestion being true.

I thought that Leysa and Simon were killed on the same night as Mikaila? Didn't we see Duane going back to his house to find the door kicked in and blood everywhere?

That was just a nightmare. We don't know what happened to Leysa and Simon, but evidently they were still alive some time after Duane's reanimation.

[Teln]

Why are we assuming Lemuel's the kind of guy to murder his own brother? I think he may have found out about Duane's assassination and just wasn't in a position to do anything about it. Duane was about to get a big, big promotion, and anybody powerful enough to do him in and get away with it wouldn't bat an eye at doing away with another troublesome pissmop. Maybe going along with Winalils' sapient plod experiment was really the best option available.

[Kaptin Keen]

Because he could have warned him.

Not warning him when he had the opportunity pretty much means he's in on it. Lemuel is a patriot. Whatever it is Duane is being used for is the 'Big Win' plan for Alderode. And Lemuel is willing to pay that price to see his nation win.

Hrm. Yes. That's what I imagine the background is. All pure guess work, naturally.

[Morty]

It's possible Lemuel knew about it and was powerless to do anything. Looks like my hunch was wrong and we won't see any concrete answers yet, since we're still in trippy dreamland.

[Killer Angel]

Double page.

And, once again, the art is amazingly fantastic...