However, Xin has caught up on illustrations for Book 0 Inner Peace (Through Superior Firepower), and we will be loading a new drawing every weekday until the end of May. Here's the first, from Episode 006.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

I'm still running ragged on non-writing tasks, and preparing for our June 6 return, on a regular update schedule. But in the meantime, Xin is filling in all the illustrations for Inner Peace so far. Here's the one for Page 5.

Thanks for Scripting Help

A bunch of people dove in and filled out the special slideshow presentation of Maggie's lines that I was preparing. Thanks to everyone who did that, it was a huge monkey off my back.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

We're looking to cast someone special in the part of Maggie, and trying to create a slideshow guide to her lines as a presentation in Google Docs. The working presentation is here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1paen8lMBjK05M2RN1N_MUNRyYvxRqnr5zfpjylmlk8A/edit

The list of panels that Maggie speaks in is here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JifP8Lv1d1xHeIm3z8ugh0PHc9Uhab2AbVU-MP9L5Q4/edit

If you've got some time to volunteer and would like to help the motion comic, it would be great if you could help finish the presentation I have started. Use the lines of dialog from the transcriptions in the Erfwiki, and panel art from there or from the archives.

There's a small wrinkle in that the panel-by-panel wiki archive only uses image mapped regions of the whole page instead of individual images, but you can crop the image in any image editor including MS Paint if necessary.

Thanks in advance to any/all volunteers. Getting this off my plate will let me focus on other things (like building a script/comic buffer for the comic's return in June). Please use the chat/comment features in Google Docs to coordinate with one another.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

Just above this news you might notice that there's a change to the center-page ad slot. In response to their raising almost $3M through Kickstarter, Brian Fargo of inXile entertainment began a project adjacent to Kickstarter called "Kicking it Forward", to encourage those who have had successful projects to pledge 5% of the eventual profits of whatever they funded to other Kickstarter projects.

That kind of a pledge doesn't really work for the Erfworld Year of the Dwagon project, since we funded such a wide variety of things, including the website redesign which will become the permanent backbone of Erfworld. But I agree with the "Kicking it Forward" sentiment and I want to do what I can to help other creators realize their dreams. So instead of my 5%, I am going to sacrifice this ad slot (worth about $2500 a year in revenue) to promote other projects I think are interesting and worthy. And however we design the new site, it will have a prominent Kicking it Forward space.

Please check out these projects as you see them posted. The first is Titans of Industry, by my good friends at Gozer Games.

New Book 0 Art by Xin

I'm still running ragged on non-writing tasks, and preparing for our June 6 return, on a regular update schedule. But in the meantime, Xin is filling in all the illustrations for Inner Peace so far. Here's the one for Page 4.

Voice Auditions Closed

Our audio coordinator Crystal Smalling reports that the total number of audition readings for the Erfworld motion comic topped 1000! I'm pretty confident we'll find the talent we need from that pool. Thanks to everyone who sent in recordings.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

When I first started posting Book 0, Xin was unavailable to illustrate it. Among other things she's been doing now that her availability is better is catching up on those illustrations. I will be posting a bunch of those over the span between now and the return from hiatus on June 6. This one is for page 001.

Dwagon Chainmail at Ravencon

This past weekend I was at Ravencon here in Richmond. (If you missed it, plan for next year because it's a great all-around con with a fun party scene). After a panel, I was presented with this beautiful piece of fan craftwork from David and Lesley of BELTS & CHAINS.

We discussed the possibility of making this equipment canon in Erfworld. For example, if Gobwin Knob had a Dollamancer, perhaps (s)he could manufacture this as equipment to make a regular dwagon fight as an armored one (and whether or not that would temporarily remove its "mount" special, from the weight). I'm sure if you contact them through their website, you might be able to have them make one of these for your dwagon, too!

Last Week for Voice Auditions, Also Need Foley Artists

The 20th of April, is the last day we are accepting auditions for voice actors for all parts for the motion comic (except for Maggie, we have someone in mind for that).

We also need experienced foley artists. Please email erfworldaudio@gmail.com if you think you could do some sound effects for us.

Return Date for Book 2 Set

Xin has been feeling much more up to speed since the Kickstarter (your support has really meant a lot to her). So we're going to set a date of June 6 for updates to resume on Book 2, Love is a Battlefield. Additionally, we are trying to work out a process with an inker and possibly a colorist, so that when we return, we can commit to a regular schedule for the rest of the book.

Updates on Inner Peace will continue to be spotty, but there will come a time (when I have a lot of this incredibly demanding work for the motion comic, website and Kickstarter rewards done) when that gets back to regular updating as well. You'll see both books running simultaneously toward their respective conclusions, which should be pretty exciting.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

Now through the 20th of April, we are accepting auditions for voice actors for all parts for the motion comic (except for Maggie, we have someone in mind for that).

We also need experienced foley artists. Please email erfworldaudio@gmail.com if you think you could do some sound effects for us.

Return Date for Book 2 Set

Xin has been feeling much more up to speed since the Kickstarter (your support has really meant a lot to her). So we're going to set a date of June 6 for updates to resume on Book 2, Love is a Battlefield. Additionally, we are trying to work out a process with an inker and possibly a colorist, so that when we return, we can commit to a regular schedule for the rest of the book.

Updates on Inner Peace will continue to be spotty, but there will come a time (when I have a lot of this incredibly demanding work for the motion comic, website and Kickstarter rewards done) when that gets back to regular updating as well. You'll see both books running simultaneously toward their respective conclusions, which should be pretty exciting.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

But one of the things you have to do to keep yourself sane is socialize. In Richmond, we do a weekly game night, with other events and parties here and there. In the last couple of weeks, I've had the privilege of alpha testing an offshoot of Legend RPG with creator Jacob Kurzer, which is a cyberpunk treatment called "Comfortably Grim." My character blows up a lot. (On purpose, that's his thing and he's good at it.) Anyway, Legend is in the final 2 days of its Kickstarter project to raise money for pro illustrators. Check it out before it ends!

And this is a cool bonus of doing that: one of the people I have been playtesting with is Brian Clevinger, himself a Legend in webcomics (8-bit Theater and Atomic Robo and others). Brian and I first met in 2003 at ConnectiCon. I remember hanging out with him and Tim Buckley of Ctrl-Alt-Del drinking beers and making fun of a nature documentary about octopuses. Brian also has a Kickstarter going for doing an animated Atomic Robo short. Please check that out as well.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

Unfortunately, he is now fighting for his life after heart failure. Another event organizer, friend of Erfworld and wonderful guy Jeff Mach is putting on a benefit for Gil this Friday in New Brunswick, NJ. Details are here.

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!

By blind luck (or blindness), they made it all the way without seeing any enemy units. A little giddy with relief and exhaustion, the warlords sank their three stacks of gwiffons down through the fog bank that shrouded the peak of Mount Pilot. They landed and secured their mounts, making camp in a shallow depression that was not quite a cave, sheltered beneath a huge overhanging dagger of gray/pink marble.

The new Viscount of Kibo, Bart Lightrail, was waiting there as expected, along with five new gwiffons and four fresh archers. Jillian gave him her standard we-don't-stand-on-ceremony briefing speech, with the usual cheery ending.

"...So we're small, but that's okay. A small force applied at a distance can be powerful, like a lever," she said. Then she narrowed her eyes. "And listen, Warlord. I'm sure you appeared at Court. And I bet you were told about how fighting's a 'necessary evil' and that kind of crap. That's the way they see it."

The new warlord nodded solemnly, looking worried.

Jillian held up her index finger. "Well, don't forget we're providing them that luxury, to sit around in silk robes and tell each other stuff like that. Our work out here keeps the side alive. Whatever they think of us, we fight for our home—that's what the Titans popped us to do—but get used to the idea that we might not see home again. You may be standing in front of the Titans to explain yourself, before you're ever in front of your King again. Fight well, and you'll be able to tell them what they want to hear." She smirked. "And given that choice, I'd rather talk to the Titans, anyway."

Bart was quiet, but his eyes were attentive and quick and his build was promisingly powerful. He seemed as solid as any Level 1 with no specials. Handsome, too. She'd have to watch herself and not step in any trail drama.

Titans, would they ever pop another flying warlord, though? She needed an edge. Losing Marika Neagle over a hundred turns ago still hurt. You took your losses out in the field, but disband it, that was a painful day. In combat, Marika and Jillian had been a team like no other, and there was just no replacing her.

(Outside of combat, though...oof, talk about trail drama. Maybe they'd meet again in the City of Heroes and patch things up, someday. She was in no hurry.)

She looked up into the gray fog, now tinged with orange. "That's it," said Jillian. "Turn's over, let's eat."

Wood for the lone cooking fire was scarce, although water was plentiful; the rock shelter had a nice clear drinking pool. The infantry sat on their bedrolls against the mountainside, eating hardtack rations and trading the same threadbare jokes. Beside them, the gwiffons gummed up their bonemeal feed.

Faq's commanders huddled around the fire, sharing a pot of barley soup made with scraps of two-turn-old game meat and cave mushrooms. There was less joking here. Jillian would have been content to bed down early, or at most talk tactics. But there was a new warlord here. Hedda and Chip both pressed Bart for news of home.

"I'm not sure what to tell you," said the quiet new man. "I think the Court looked splendid. Regal and elegant. Very dignified. King Banhammer was kind to me. The Jack entertained us with his tricks. We meditated. Brother Orwell took me aside and explained my mission. He took me to the map room for my route. I met Sister Marie there as well."

Orwell was Faq's Chief Lookamancer, and Marie was the Predictamancer. To enter or leave the kingdom undetected, it took the two of them to plot a safe route. Mount Pilot and the other points of rendezvous marked the edge of Orwell's range. When new units popped at home, they were collected into a stack and sent out here, as far as was safe. Jillian would then go about the dangerous business of cutting through enemy territory to meet and collect them. She'd been lucky enough at that, until this morning.

"Did they say anything about Haffaton?" asked Chip. "Last we could tell, Faq's nearly surrounded."

Bart shrugged. "Not really."

"Well, what are they going to do about it?" Hedda frowned.

Jillian shifted her sore rear end on the cold and uncomfortable rock. "Meditate," she said in a softly sneering tone. "Meditate much harder." She looked up from the fire. "I guarantee you the Court will meditate so hard, Haffaton won't know what hit 'em."

The four of them sat in silence for a while. Chip munched some of the dried apples that Bart had brought from home. Hedda poked the fire with her sword. Bart watched Jillian quizzically.

"I mean literally," said Jillian. They won't know anything hit them."

"Yeah, I got it, Chief," said Hedda.

She made a wry face. "See, that's why I don't tell jokes." The Princess stood up, pushing hard on her knees. "Latrine, then sleep for me. You want to stay up all night to hear about how things back home are exactly the same as always, suit yourself. Just keep it low." She walked toward the cave mouth. "We're flying out at dawn, though. I gotta hunch about the east."

The turn came with the dawn, which was good.

But it also came with orders, from daddy. In the bottom of the conjuring hat there was a slip of parchment with two sets of routes plotted. They were being recalled to Court.

She expected to be furious. She wanted to be furious. Her legs tensed, ready to kick a rock over the cliff. But in truth, she was amazed that her father had let her stay out in the field this long. In truth, she was relieved. The encounter with Haffaton had scared her more than she wanted to admit. In her dreams last night, she'd been trapped in the branches of a tree while jolly musical elves were setting it on fire.

She tore the parchment in half, walked up to Hedda, and placed one piece in her clammy palm.

"We're going home," she said cheerlessly.

"What? We are? Is there trouble?" asked Hedda, with alarm.

"Yes," said Jillian gravely. "It's terrible. Someone dropped their serviette at the tea ceremony. Four warlords are urgently needed to pick it up, so that nobody important will lose face."

The capital sent the separate route orders for two groups of faster and slower mounts. Jillian and Chip took the ones that could make the trip in two turns, while Hedda and Bart led the rest. Chip was unforgivably cheery about it.

"Two days' guaranteed safe travel, without a fight waiting at the end of it?" he bubbled. "I believe I can handle that, Chief. Yes, indeed. I can't wait to see Faq again. Can't wait to raid the larder!"

Soon they were stacked and underway, with a cold, wet wind in their faces. Hills and jagged mountains poked out all around them, teeth and claws and daggers.

Somewhere in the fourth of the forty-odd hexes they would cross this trip, Jillian pulled her mount close to Chip's and stared at him gloomily.

"What exactly makes you think," she asked, "there isn't going to be a fight waiting there?"

Rob's Other Comic Project: Duel In The Somme--Read it from the beginning!