tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77923782024-03-12T21:54:20.101-06:00nahastThe rants and news section for the Nahast: Lands of Strife webcomic (http://nahast.spiderforest.com)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-61816844407656790362016-05-23T01:51:00.001-05:002016-05-23T01:51:33.219-05:00More pending pendingnessToo long to explain but... this is all I had time to do this week. I hope I can finish what's taking up so much of my time this week.
Behari and Niriko get their own redesign... not su much a redesign as time moving forward. I had already designed a new Hawk Maiden armor so it's just them wearing it without the waist and hip guard.
Behari is letting her hair grow out a little now that she's notUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-84465394783682670132016-05-16T03:47:00.001-05:002016-05-16T03:47:09.840-05:00No update today :(
Blurgh. I'm neck-deep in work and outside commitments, so I didn't even have time to do a sketch :(
I expect to finish the most time-consuming thingie this week, also hopefully on time to work on another page.
Apologies for another skipped update, but rest assured that this is not a pre-hiatus again, as I'm sitll eager to continue the story; it's just... there's a lot of work on Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-65525125855911052762016-05-09T04:24:00.002-05:002016-05-09T04:24:37.461-05:00Undivided AttentionJakitza continues to piss off the evil ancient sorcerer. Because nothing pisses off evil ancient sorcerers more than being outwitted by teenage wizard apprentices.
There's not much to say... I've been insanely busy with other things, but couldn't let pass another week without an actual story update, even if it's a partial one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-45909187073346707792016-05-02T20:54:00.002-05:002016-05-02T21:06:20.816-05:00(In which I take a breather for serenity reasons...)
The last several days were the kind of days when I put down stylus to tablet and everything that comes out looks terrible, and worklife doesn't help, so I just decided to spend the weekend vegging it out.
However, here's an (incomplete) redesign for Jakitza, all decked out in reduced Hawk Maiden armor plus the robe that marks her as her regiment's battle mage. She's also wearing an officer's Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-89970619449754830252016-04-25T04:56:00.000-05:002016-04-25T04:56:01.910-05:00Some SupportHow many spell slots does Jakitza have, and how many has she used already? In any case, the parents are not reacting like Xisve'ki would have hoped.
I lost the track of time doing some stuff and by the time I started rendering the page, I was falling asleep on the keyboard, but it was very important to add the spell. As before, I'll finish the render on Monday night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-83398009658421031462016-04-18T01:35:00.001-05:002016-04-18T01:35:19.373-05:00UnstoppableThe time for rules is over, but Derrexi is confident that the Hawk Maidens can win the day.
I'm still having trouble sleeping, but at least it's not draining me completely so I could work on the page here and there and finish it on time. Next page is already sketched too, so I'll be starting the process with a lead.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-31841619858055965832016-04-11T03:50:00.000-05:002016-04-11T03:50:05.495-05:00Book 2 Designs!Okay, last week's delay coupled with a really bad case of workload, lack of energy, and general threats of getting a cold, so instead of half-assing a page, you can see here some redesign work I've been doing for Book 2 (remember, we're still on Book 1, but fortunately, this is its last chapter! :) )
All of these new designs have a story behind them, and they may not be final (still debating Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-33574246013133735302016-04-04T04:40:00.001-05:002016-04-05T03:52:57.476-05:00Niriko Unleashed>sigh< Another partial update; just when I thought I wsa doing well, bam! Computer troubles (solved now). I could move the unofficial update day to Tuesdays instead, but I don't want to. I want to keep having something up on Mondays, although I might take the week after the next off for reasons :)
Still, the story doth move along, and Niriko is so done with the bad guys' shit!
UPDATE: Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-1094124347548106692016-03-28T03:42:00.003-06:002016-03-29T01:28:17.124-06:00There You AreJakitza is really bringing her A-game, and Eruhien just needs a little encouragement to get there too.
Jakitza's thesis when she graduates from the Citadel's College of Wizardry will be entitled "How To Thwart an Ancient Sorcerer With Cantrips and 1st-Level Spells". So far she hasn't used anything not available to D&D/PF low level wizards, and it'll still be a while before she casts anythingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-83875419688555870922016-03-21T19:09:00.002-06:002016-03-21T19:09:34.051-06:00She Came... From... Behind!Outsmarted by a couple of teenagers! Xisve'ki may be an ancient, powerful sorcerer but he definitely has not played enough strategy games to know when his units are being a) goaded, b) outflanked, c) crowd-controlled, d) all of the above.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-45130851399463627802016-03-14T13:23:00.000-06:002016-03-14T13:23:14.601-06:00The Game's Afoot!The final round of the match has started, and both sides are playing for keeps. Jakitza stops thinking like a chess player and is now playing different tactics at once. Are the Hawk Maidens up to the challenge? Because the Black Blade mercs, now under Xisve'ki's direct cotnrol, will not pull any punches!
I have to check myself, because now that I'm comfortable with a certain technique to do the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-53826011885836552722016-03-07T00:35:00.000-06:002016-03-07T00:35:27.717-06:00A Serious PlanThe girls know the truth, but they are ready to take on their shadow-driven opponents!
The last couple of weeks have been weird. I can't say I was overwhelmed by anything bigs, but rather a continuous sequence of light things that ended up draining me. This week will be the last push for one of those things, and hopefully my job won't be too demanding.
On other news, SpiderForest has accepted Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-78694457690992499212016-02-29T03:30:00.001-06:002016-02-29T03:30:56.702-06:00Life gets in the way, pt. nth.Although I tried my best, I couldn't finish this week's page in time as I spent all the time I wanted to devote to the page, pulling some extra hours on an assignment from my job so I could make the deadline.
I will be posting advances in the Nahast Facebook page, and if I'm able to make way on the assignment on Monday, I'll be streaming further work on the page on Monday around 9pm Central TimeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-32001043366564358332016-02-22T06:20:00.000-06:002016-02-23T01:44:26.627-06:00Safety FirstThe adults are talking, catching up on their mutual discoveries.
I manged to finish this page by virtue of insomnia! I'm still trying to keep the update schedule but this week might be harder than last one, so the warning of a possible delay is still on.
On a more positive note... next chapter is taking shape in my head and my notes file, and it's going to get as dark and creepy as this chapterUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-10786133470236262432016-02-15T00:25:00.000-06:002016-02-15T00:25:59.514-06:00Moment of TruthXisve'ki's surge of power does not go unnoticed by Jakitza's growing arcane awareness... and she reaches a decision.
Yesh! Still managed to finish the page on time. I have to admit that I kind of cheated a little... while this conversation WAS written in my original script, I decided to frame it on closer takes rather than the more spectacular shots in previous pages. It takes a lot less time, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-23427355191395794142016-02-08T00:00:00.000-06:002016-02-08T00:00:11.626-06:00Never Mess with a LichTurns out Xisve'ki is not amused by Jakitza's antics... and prepares to turn the tables once more!
It's been a while since I depicted Xisve'ki so much in a single page, and not in a way that I could really use the new methods I've picked up for art, so it was fun to have him in several angles, trying to coax expressions from his undead, rotting, non-human skull. And normally, hands are my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-60777578546809231702016-02-01T03:58:00.000-06:002016-02-01T03:58:10.593-06:00Scroll Troll Gonna TrollJakitza lives up to her nickname in more than one way.
There's times it's just better to indulge in your character's vices... and this is Jakitza's: she can be reaaaally mean when she's in a position of superiority. At least this time it was quite deserved!
Last week I did a livestream showing the inking process of this page. It was a test to see how it was, and it was a good result, so I'm Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-2401035726794803222016-01-25T05:16:00.003-06:002016-01-26T03:15:47.872-06:00Charge of the Hawk MaidensThe Hawk Maidens charge and pick up their enemies with a vengeance! No insecurities, no fear, and no meddlesome sorcery acting against them, the girls show the mercs (and more or less to themselves too) what they are truly capable of.
The SLAM onomatopoeia uses a new and free graphic font by artist Imagni; you can find it here.
On other news, SpiderForest, the webcomic collective/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-86591922029896177202016-01-18T05:46:00.003-06:002016-01-18T05:46:51.035-06:00Back to RealityThe fight on the spiritual side is over, and the ghost of the old Blademaster delivers one last warning.
Phew! Almost didn't make it! Things are picking up on the outside obligations department, but Nahast is a top priority. Fortunately, the heavy special effects are past, what with goddesses, their angels, and ghots having played their part.
From this point onward... it's Hawk Maiden action! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-74645126244186925592016-01-10T23:42:00.004-06:002016-01-10T23:42:57.144-06:00An Afterlife of DutyCourage summons courage, and there's no coincidence in which of Her celestial warriors the goddess Zuze'en chose to send.
I remember I lauged loudly at a line from The Book of Life: "What is it with Mexicans and death?!" I laughed because it's kind of true; we have a rather odd relationship with death, and from that has come my fascination with tales of ghosts both malicious and helpful, not Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-562420725813551142016-01-04T05:36:00.003-06:002016-01-04T05:36:59.932-06:00Let's Start With a BangJakita decides it's time to test the other spells she knows in addition to light...
First page of 2016! I hope you spent a good time during the holidays. I kinda did, resting and just vegging out, so much that I started work on the page late... and so it's up a few hours later than usual. It'd have been on time but I decided to work on two pages at once, so rest assured that next week's Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-54972680243561272212015-12-21T00:17:00.002-06:002015-12-21T00:17:47.362-06:00Divine InterventionEnter the Celestial Hawk Maidens!
Legends says that Hawk Maidens who live with honor and righteousness ascend to join the host of Zuze'en as Her guardians and agents; in short... Her angels.
The Celestial Hawk Maidens took me a long while to design, but after several tries... here it is!
In other news... Nahast will go into holiday hiatus; but don't worry! This time it's a planned hiatus for Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-34117943986606108572015-12-14T00:01:00.000-06:002015-12-14T00:01:00.171-06:00Deus Ex CorIn the lands of Nahast, the gods are listening.
Enter Zuze'en, Mother of Wisdom, Goddess of the Dawn.
The Hawk Maidens are consecrated to Zuze'en, and in a land where gods directly feed from the devotion of their worshippers, the awakening of seven true warriors in her name is certainly not going to be ignored :)
But don't worry, Zuze'en has a hands-off approach to deity-ing, She won't win theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-35489037703463055952015-12-07T00:00:00.000-06:002015-12-07T00:22:26.711-06:00Hearts of CourageNiriko's proclamation is not going unnoticed.
I feel a bit like I'm cheating with this and the next page... there's a lot of visuals rather than action, but visuals are better to convey what's going on, at least in a more emotional sense, rather than have someone narrate them.
Unfortunately, comics have no sound, but as the chapter is reaching its exciting part, I want to share the music that Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792378.post-62925429627271109342015-11-30T00:04:00.003-06:002015-11-30T00:10:14.195-06:00Here To StayRealizing the plot against them, the Hawk Maidens have only one way to go...
And I listened to this song a lot while I worked on this page:
I'd call this moment the crux of Nahast; one of the things I've wanted to say with its story, and this is dedicated to the person who kept pushing me to follow through the comic, whom Niriko is partially based on, and whom I wish could read this and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0