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Description
The Chronicles of Delni
Issue 1: Into the Cold
Written by M.R.Maloney

Page 1:
Panel 1: A bronze bowl falling on the frosted ancient stone floor with a clang, cheese somewhat bouncing up with its impact.

SFX: "CLANG!"

Panel 2: We see Seta, our protagonist, a fair-haired youth of sixteen, dressed in the traditions of his city Desu, white and light blue robes with fur lining visible around the neck, a white ribbon tied around his neck.

Seta (barely visible word balloon at the bottom of the panel, hissing): "Katha!"

Panel 3: Seta squatting, picking up the bowl and its spilled contents, holding the bowl in one hand with some cheese in it, more on the floor.

Panel 4: Seta's hand reaching for the final block of cheese, a pair of sandaled feet next to it.

Page 2:
Panel 1: Seta putting the cheese into the bowl, looking up at outsider. From the look of his gray hair, and ash-covered dark brown skin, Seta knows the man is from Ard'or, a village the resides within the rock of a dormant volcano. His clothing is multi-layered and thick red and orange-dyed leather mostly with a red and black striped feather in his hair. The man is extending a hand to Seta.

Panel 2: Seta sheepishly taking the extended hand and standing up, barely able to make eye contact, let alone speak, but manages.

Seta (wavering, small): "Thank you, Suri."

Panel 3: The man nodding with a smile and a wink.

The Stranger: "Next time, I suggest carrying it with your hands, not your head."

The Stranger 2: "Although, with a little practice you could show us your act at the festival."

Panel 4: The Stranger walking out of the temple with a smirk, Seta in the background shaking his head.

Seta (thinking): "What a strange old man."

SFX (in the distance): "BONG!"

Page 3:
Panel 1: Seta groaning, firmly clenching the bowl to his chest as he runs out of the temple and down a different path than the old man took which isn't paved with stone steps, heading toward the village, finally letting us see Desu in its glory. The village is made of stone, snow and ice, a masterpiece of design nestled in a wide box canyon on the mountain, whose entire surface is covered in ice and snow from what we see of the mountain here. There are tall towers of ice with ribbon and leather hanging off of them, very little wood visible on the outside of the buildings, though a few shops here and there with signs designed in such a way that snow falls off the top of them instead of covering any lettering or design on them. One building in the background is completely covered in cloth with people shoveling snow off the top of it and a lot of people gathered around its base. The sun is high in the sky.

Seta: "Oh no!"

Seta 2: "I'll be late for the dedication!"

Page 4:
Panel 1: The chieftain of Desu stands in the background with his stone and crystal aloft in front of a tarp-covered wall, delivering his speech as Seta finds his way to the start of the crowd in the foreground.

Chieftain: "...and this great building will stand forever as a testament to our achievements."

Chieftain 2: "It shall bear a new age of the arts..."

Panel 2: Seta pushing through the crowd, a few adults glaring at him, but he ignores them as he moves through the sea of people towards the stand, his breath hanging in the air in front of him. Seta is heading toward the reader, most people facing the chieftain who is off-panel up ahead.

Chieftain (coming from off-panel ahead of Seta): "...our descendants shall visit this hall and learn about us through our works."

Panel 3: The chieftain looking up toward the building as the tarp starts being dropped.

Chieftain: "Thus we dedicate this Hall of Sie."

Chieftain 2: "May our futures be bright.”

Panel 4: The sun's rays hit the building's icy surface and reflect onto the huge mountain wall behind it with an image of a scroll on both the building clearly and partially in the reflection as a shadow within the reflection. Hand are raised in cheer.

SFX: CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Crowd (coming from multiple places): "May our futures be bright!"

Page 5:
Panel 1: The chieftain, Tain Rie, walks down from the stand just as Seta arrives, bowl in hand, his breath heavy in the air. Tain is shaking his head and smiling, a pleasant glimmer in his eyes and a broad smile on his face.

Tain Rie: "Seta, you are a godsend."

Tain Rie 2: "Just when I was afraid we would have to postpone the banquet you arrive with the final piece."

Panel 2: Seta nervously grinning and bowing.

Seta: "I hope this small dish will appease the builder's wrath."

Seta 2: "If not, I suppose we could finish it together."

Panel 3: Tain smirking and leading Seta to the banquet table.

Panel 4: Seta setting the bowl on the table in the only empty spot and follows his uncle to the chieftain seat.

Tain Rie: "Tell me more about this tale you have found in the Tso Towers of Knowledge."

Panel 5: Seta next to his uncle and mentor as they both reach their places and sit, others in the background still milling about talking. Tain Rie's chief adviser Nati is glancing at Seta though his face is stern, but Seta and his uncle seem to not notice it.

Seta: "There once was a time of magic and wonder far beyond our own. It was..."

Page 6:
Panel 1: Tain coughing terribly as he and Seta walk along the moonlit street edging the wall of snow and ice at the back of Desu toward the palace in the distance which was too far to see in earlier panels and still distant here. Thin but tall panel.

Tain Rie (harsh): "KAAF KOOF!"

Tain Rie 2: "Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered if there was more out there than what we see?"

Panel 2: Tain Rie glimpsing up at the celestial bodies in awe and wonder. The stars are myriad in number, far brighter than any place on Earth due to the lack of light pollution and a clear sky. The moon is risen and clearly shattered, and yet is reforming into a spherical shape again, with most of its own satellite pieces close to the largest piece. It is in cresent now. Very tall, wide panel.

Tain Rie (barely more than a whisper): "Farther than our telescopes can see?"

Panel 3: Tain looking down at Seta.

Seta: "Yes... But only for a moment."

Seta 2: "We must accept that even if there was more out there, we will never reach it."

Seta 3: "Not within our lifetimes or that of even my grandchildren."

Panel 4: Tain shuddering noticeably and we can see that his attire is comprised of four layers. Tain's breath hovers in the air. Behind them to the right side of the panel we see the mountain and the sound is near the top of the panel.

SFX (coming from the mountain where we see a crack: "KRRTKK!"

Page 7:
Panel 1: Tain Rie staring up at the falling snow and ice as if in a trance, Seta grabbing hold of his arm.

Panel 2: The chunk of snow and ice hitting the ground with a cloud of snow falling into the air. It looks like Seta has pulled them out of the way, but the snow is obscuring their bodies from being completely viewable to the readers.

SFX: "FHWUUMMP!"

Panel 3: Seta gasping for air and tugging to help Tain Rie up, looking at his uncle in worry.

Tain Rie: "I can still hear it, you know?"

Tain Rie 2: "The ice as it falls?"

Tain Rie 3: "But I've come to a point where it does not frighten me as it did when I was a youth of your age."

Panel 4: Seta looking shocked, Tain Rie merely brushing the snow off his clothing as he looks to the remaining chunks on the ground with what only could be described as disappointment.

Tain Rie: "If anything, I wish to embrace it, slip away and rejoin the well of souls.:

Seta: "Don't say that! You are our chief, our Rie."

Seta 2: "We need you!"

Seta (thinking) 3: "I need you..."

Page 8:
Panel 1: Tain Rie speaking with a dry somber face.

Tain Rie: "I grew up here in Desu, as a man with many friends."

Tain Rie 2: "I watched them grow older, having children and then grandchildren."

Tain Rie 3: "I saw them die and still I lived on."

Tain Rie 4: "Now my closest friend is one who doesn't even live here, one who can only visit once a month, if even that. Most of what I thought I knew in my youth has changed."

Tain Rie 5: "I have changed."

Panel 2: Tain Rie's face crying and Seta coming to this realization.

Tain Rie: "No."

Tain Rie 2: "No, my village has outgrown me."

Tain Rie 3: "It no longer needs me."

Panel 3: Tain wiping his face with the back of his hand, smiling lightly as he realized Seta saw that.

Tain Rie: "Don't fear for me yet, Seta."

Tain Rie 2: "I may be old, but I haven't passed on yet."

Panel 4: Seta relaxing and dipping his head. Tain Rie is barely in the panel here.

Tain Rie: "I was just..."

Tain Rie 2: "Remembering times in the past fondly."

Seta: "I understand."

Panel 5: Tain Rie leaning on his staff and starting to walk off toward the palace again, as seen from behind, Seta following after, the crescent shattered moon high above them.

Tain Rie (whispering to himself, small): "Do you really though?"

Tain Rie (normal, not joined to the other): "Come, let us return home."

Page 9:
Panel 1: Seta eating at the tining table alone having a breakfast of goat milk, cheese and two hot buns.

Panel 2: Seta walking toward the exit of the palace, but Tain Rie motioning him to approach, standing outside the Desun Council room.

Panel 3: Seta entering, see seen from over his shoulder with Tain Rie putting a hand on his other shoulder. Inside is the man from Ard'or seen before.

Tain Rie: "Kade, this is my nephew, Seta.”

Panel 4: Kade smiling, Tain Rie looking at the Seta in confusion, seen from the side with Tain Rie between the two.

Kade: "Yes, the one you've often told me of."

Kade 2: "It is a pleasure to bump into you again Seta."

Kade 3: "Have you tried practicing your act yet?"

Tain Rie: "Seta, this is Kade Rie, cheifain of..."

Seta: "Ard'or, I know."

Page 10:
Panel 1: Seta speaking, his face barely in panel, one of Kade's gray eyebrows raised in response to Seta's comment.

Seta: "We met in the temple."

Seta 2: "Well, sort of."

Panel 2: Kade Rie's resuming its natural expression of noble resolve.

Kade Rie: "Do you mind if I bother you to ask a few questions, Seta?"

Seta (off-panel): "No bother at all."

Seta (same) 2: "How may I be of service?"

Panel 3: Seta sneaking an inquisitive glance at his uncle, who merely watches the exchange with mild interest.

Kade Rie: "Seta, how long have you lived in Desu?"

Seta: "All sixteen years of my life."

Kade Rie: "And how well do you think you know your village?

Panel 4: Kade glancing over at Tain Rie as if asking a silent question, Seta's uncle tipping his head slightly and silently coughing into his hand.

Seta (off-panel): "I know only what I am experiencing now and what I think I have experienced."

Seta (same) 2: "I believe I know my people and my village."

Seta (same) 3: "Which are you wanting to know about?"

Seta (same) 4: "My people or my village?"

Panel 5: Kade Rie sighing lightly. Seta's face clear and determined, answering without hesitation.

Kade Rie: "Who has the most important role in Desu?"

Seta: "The hunter."

Panel 6: Kade Rie puzzled and Tain Rie closing his eyes in deep thought as Seta explains.

Kade Rie: "Not the Rie?"

Seta: "Without the hunter, we would have no meat."

Seta 2: "Without the hunter, we would not have large furs to protect us from the cold, nor fat for our candles, nor bones for our soup."

Seta 3: "The Rie is a very necessary part of our village, but without the hunter we would all surely die.”

Page 11:
Panel 1: Seta bowing. Kade Rie and Tain Rie are off-panel.

Kade Rie: "That is all I have to ask for now."

Kade Rie 2: "Thank you for your time."

Panel 2: Tain Rie standing on a balcony watching as the soft snow fell upon the white village of Desu, his cloak swaying in the cold breeze, his nephew barely visible in the background heading toward Tso towers in the distance. Tain Rie is rubbing his hands together.

Tain Rie: "I'm getting to old for this."

Panel 3: Kade Rie walking up next to his friend, Tain Rie's eyes closed now.

Kade Rie: "We both are, my friend."

Kade Rie 2: "I sent for the others before coming here."

Kade Rie 3: "They should be here within the week."

Panel 4: Tain Rie's weary eyes opening and facing his friend as Kade Rie put a hand gently on Tain Rie's shoulder.

Tain Rie: "Thank you Kade."

Tain Rie 2: "I do not know if I will last till then though."

Tain Rie 3: "My condition has worsened gravely since we last spoke."

Panel 5: Tain coughing into his hand and looking at Kade Rie pleadingly.

Tain Rie: "You will give Seta the letter, yes?"

Tain Rie 2: "And tell the council my decision?"

Kade Rie: "Yes, I already have it all arranged."

Kade Rie 2: "But you need your rest."

Panel 6: Kade watching his friend walk away from the balcony back toward the door, Tain leaning on his scepter.

Kade Rie: "Go to bed, sleep and dream.”

Page 12:
Panel 1: Seta barging out of the tower door and into the dark sky and icy street, running toward the palace.

Panel 2: Seta slipping on the ice as he rounded a corner and falling, crashing his skull against a wooden sign post, snow falling down on him.

Panel 3: Seta rubbing his head and brushing the snow off as a little girl runs up to him.

Seta: "Nnghhnn..."

Little Girl: "Are you alright, Seta Suri?"

Panel 4: Seta rising and excited.

Seta: "Yes, yes."

Seta 2: "Quite unharmed."

Seta 3: "In fact, I'm better than alright, I'm great!"

Page 13:
Panel 1: The girl shrugging as Seta runs off again.

Seta: "Wait till I tell uncle!"

Panel 2: Seta arriving at the palace's large door, Tain Rie's chief adviser Nati holding it open and trying to tell Seta something, but the youth is in too much of a hurry, running up the stairs inside the palace.

Nati: "Seta-"

Panel 3: Seta sliding down the hall as he turns a corner, Kade up ahead, reaching into his cloak.

Kade Rie: "Seta, there is something I must give you."

Panel 4: Seta shaking his head and snapping at Kade Rie, but still running.

Seta: "Not now. I have something of great importance to tell the Rie."

Kade Rie (off-panel): "But Seta-"

Seta (snapping): "Not now!"

Page 14:
Panel 1: Seta in his uncle's chambers, the doors wide open, Kade looking surprised and standing outside. Seta is reaching into his pack and pulling out a scroll. We can't see Tain Rie's face, just part of his body covered in blankets and his bed in the foreground. There is torchlight in the hall and only moonlight in the chamber, mostly on Seta's face. Tall, wide panel.

Seta: "Uncle, I have found the cure!"

Panel 2: Seta shaking the bed. Tall panel.

Seta: "Uncle?"

Seta 2: "What's wrong? Didn't you hear me?"

Seta 3: "I've found the cure for your ailments!"

Panel 3: Kade Rie walking up to Seta, the moonlight on the bottom of his robes, his face in shadow, the torchlight behind him.

Kade Rie: "No cure on all of Delni will help him now."

Panel 4: Seta's face turned, gulping.

Seta: "What-what do you mean?"

Page 15:
Panel 1: The moonlight on Kade Rie's face, his eyes sad but his face firm, as if carved out of granite.

Kade Rie: "He has left to go to the land of undying light."

Kade Rie: "To await his return to the Well of Souls."

Kade Rie: "He passed away just before sunset."

Panel 2: Seta standing there, staring at his uncle's corpse silently. In the background we see Kade reaching into his cloak and pulling out a package.

Kade Rie: "Seta, before he passed on Tain asked me to give you something important."

Panel 3: Seta turned to stare at Kade Rie with teary eyes.

Panel 4: Seta running past Kade Rie, almost shoving him aside in his hurry.

Panel 5: Kade at the main stairs, Seta a floor below, at the door already, moving the bolt holding it shut.

Kade Rie (shouting): "Seta!"

Page 16:
Panel 1: Seta running out into the bone-chilling night, the palace far behind him. Full width of page, only 1/3 height.

Panel 2: Seta going up the mountain trail as far as his legs would take him. Tall panel, 1/3 width.

Panel 3: Rest of the page, Seta falling on his knees in the snow, hands spread apart, crying out to the skies in tearful agony.

Seta: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHH!"

Description
The Chronicles of Delni
Issue 1: Into the Cold
Written by M.R.Maloney

Page 1:
Panel 1: A bronze bowl falling on the frosted ancient stone floor with a clang, cheese somewhat bouncing up with its impact.

SFX: "CLANG!"

Panel 2: We see Seta, our protagonist, a fair-haired youth of sixteen, dressed in the traditions of his city Desu, white and light blue robes with fur lining visible around the neck, a white ribbon tied around his neck.

Seta (barely visible word balloon at the bottom of the panel, hissing): "Katha!"

Panel 3: Seta squatting, picking up the bowl and its spilled contents, holding the bowl in one hand with some cheese in it, more on the floor.

Panel 4: Seta's hand reaching for the final block of cheese, a pair of sandaled feet next to it.

Page 2:
Panel 1: Seta putting the cheese into the bowl, looking up at outsider. From the look of his gray hair, and ash-covered dark brown skin, Seta knows the man is from Ard'or, a village the resides within the rock of a dormant volcano. His clothing is multi-layered and thick red and orange-dyed leather mostly with a red and black striped feather in his hair. The man is extending a hand to Seta.

Panel 2: Seta sheepishly taking the extended hand and standing up, barely able to make eye contact, let alone speak, but manages.

Seta (wavering, small): "Thank you, Suri."

Panel 3: The man nodding with a smile and a wink.

The Stranger: "Next time, I suggest carrying it with your hands, not your head."

The Stranger 2: "Although, with a little practice you could show us your act at the festival."

Panel 4: The Stranger walking out of the temple with a smirk, Seta in the background shaking his head.

Seta (thinking): "What a strange old man."

SFX (in the distance): "BONG!"

Page 3:
Panel 1: Seta groaning, firmly clenching the bowl to his chest as he runs out of the temple and down a different path than the old man took which isn't paved with stone steps, heading toward the village, finally letting us see Desu in its glory. The village is made of stone, snow and ice, a masterpiece of design nestled in a wide box canyon on the mountain, whose entire surface is covered in ice and snow from what we see of the mountain here. There are tall towers of ice with ribbon and leather hanging off of them, very little wood visible on the outside of the buildings, though a few shops here and there with signs designed in such a way that snow falls off the top of them instead of covering any lettering or design on them. One building in the background is completely covered in cloth with people shoveling snow off the top of it and a lot of people gathered around its base. The sun is high in the sky.

Seta: "Oh no!"

Seta 2: "I'll be late for the dedication!"

Page 4:
Panel 1: The chieftain of Desu stands in the background with his stone and crystal aloft in front of a tarp-covered wall, delivering his speech as Seta finds his way to the start of the crowd in the foreground.

Chieftain: "...and this great building will stand forever as a testament to our achievements."

Chieftain 2: "It shall bear a new age of the arts..."

Panel 2: Seta pushing through the crowd, a few adults glaring at him, but he ignores them as he moves through the sea of people towards the stand, his breath hanging in the air in front of him. Seta is heading toward the reader, most people facing the chieftain who is off-panel up ahead.

Chieftain (coming from off-panel ahead of Seta): "...our descendants shall visit this hall and learn about us through our works."

Panel 3: The chieftain looking up toward the building as the tarp starts being dropped.

Chieftain: "Thus we dedicate this Hall of Sie."

Chieftain 2: "May our futures be bright.”

Panel 4: The sun's rays hit the building's icy surface and reflect onto the huge mountain wall behind it with an image of a scroll on both the building clearly and partially in the reflection as a shadow within the reflection. Hand are raised in cheer.

SFX: CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Crowd (coming from multiple places): "May our futures be bright!"

Page 5:
Panel 1: The chieftain, Tain Rie, walks down from the stand just as Seta arrives, bowl in hand, his breath heavy in the air. Tain is shaking his head and smiling, a pleasant glimmer in his eyes and a broad smile on his face.

Tain Rie: "Seta, you are a godsend."

Tain Rie 2: "Just when I was afraid we would have to postpone the banquet you arrive with the final piece."

Panel 2: Seta nervously grinning and bowing.

Seta: "I hope this small dish will appease the builder's wrath."

Seta 2: "If not, I suppose we could finish it together."

Panel 3: Tain smirking and leading Seta to the banquet table.

Panel 4: Seta setting the bowl on the table in the only empty spot and follows his uncle to the chieftain seat.

Tain Rie: "Tell me more about this tale you have found in the Tso Towers of Knowledge."

Panel 5: Seta next to his uncle and mentor as they both reach their places and sit, others in the background still milling about talking. Tain Rie's chief adviser Nati is glancing at Seta though his face is stern, but Seta and his uncle seem to not notice it.

Seta: "There once was a time of magic and wonder far beyond our own. It was..."

Page 6:
Panel 1: Tain coughing terribly as he and Seta walk along the moonlit street edging the wall of snow and ice at the back of Desu toward the palace in the distance which was too far to see in earlier panels and still distant here. Thin but tall panel.

Tain Rie (harsh): "KAAF KOOF!"

Tain Rie 2: "Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered if there was more out there than what we see?"

Panel 2: Tain Rie glimpsing up at the celestial bodies in awe and wonder. The stars are myriad in number, far brighter than any place on Earth due to the lack of light pollution and a clear sky. The moon is risen and clearly shattered, and yet is reforming into a spherical shape again, with most of its own satellite pieces close to the largest piece. It is in cresent now. Very tall, wide panel.

Tain Rie (barely more than a whisper): "Farther than our telescopes can see?"

Panel 3: Tain looking down at Seta.

Seta: "Yes... But only for a moment."

Seta 2: "We must accept that even if there was more out there, we will never reach it."

Seta 3: "Not within our lifetimes or that of even my grandchildren."

Panel 4: Tain shuddering noticeably and we can see that his attire is comprised of four layers. Tain's breath hovers in the air. Behind them to the right side of the panel we see the mountain and the sound is near the top of the panel.

SFX (coming from the mountain where we see a crack: "KRRTKK!"

Page 7:
Panel 1: Tain Rie staring up at the falling snow and ice as if in a trance, Seta grabbing hold of his arm.

Panel 2: The chunk of snow and ice hitting the ground with a cloud of snow falling into the air. It looks like Seta has pulled them out of the way, but the snow is obscuring their bodies from being completely viewable to the readers.

SFX: "FHWUUMMP!"

Panel 3: Seta gasping for air and tugging to help Tain Rie up, looking at his uncle in worry.

Tain Rie: "I can still hear it, you know?"

Tain Rie 2: "The ice as it falls?"

Tain Rie 3: "But I've come to a point where it does not frighten me as it did when I was a youth of your age."

Panel 4: Seta looking shocked, Tain Rie merely brushing the snow off his clothing as he looks to the remaining chunks on the ground with what only could be described as disappointment.

Tain Rie: "If anything, I wish to embrace it, slip away and rejoin the well of souls.:

Seta: "Don't say that! You are our chief, our Rie."

Seta 2: "We need you!"

Seta (thinking) 3: "I need you..."

Page 8:
Panel 1: Tain Rie speaking with a dry somber face.

Tain Rie: "I grew up here in Desu, as a man with many friends."

Tain Rie 2: "I watched them grow older, having children and then grandchildren."

Tain Rie 3: "I saw them die and still I lived on."

Tain Rie 4: "Now my closest friend is one who doesn't even live here, one who can only visit once a month, if even that. Most of what I thought I knew in my youth has changed."

Tain Rie 5: "I have changed."

Panel 2: Tain Rie's face crying and Seta coming to this realization.

Tain Rie: "No."

Tain Rie 2: "No, my village has outgrown me."

Tain Rie 3: "It no longer needs me."

Panel 3: Tain wiping his face with the back of his hand, smiling lightly as he realized Seta saw that.

Tain Rie: "Don't fear for me yet, Seta."

Tain Rie 2: "I may be old, but I haven't passed on yet."

Panel 4: Seta relaxing and dipping his head. Tain Rie is barely in the panel here.

Tain Rie: "I was just..."

Tain Rie 2: "Remembering times in the past fondly."

Seta: "I understand."

Panel 5: Tain Rie leaning on his staff and starting to walk off toward the palace again, as seen from behind, Seta following after, the crescent shattered moon high above them.

Tain Rie (whispering to himself, small): "Do you really though?"

Tain Rie (normal, not joined to the other): "Come, let us return home."

Page 9:
Panel 1: Seta eating at the tining table alone having a breakfast of goat milk, cheese and two hot buns.

Panel 2: Seta walking toward the exit of the palace, but Tain Rie motioning him to approach, standing outside the Desun Council room.

Panel 3: Seta entering, see seen from over his shoulder with Tain Rie putting a hand on his other shoulder. Inside is the man from Ard'or seen before.

Tain Rie: "Kade, this is my nephew, Seta.”

Panel 4: Kade smiling, Tain Rie looking at the Seta in confusion, seen from the side with Tain Rie between the two.

Kade: "Yes, the one you've often told me of."

Kade 2: "It is a pleasure to bump into you again Seta."

Kade 3: "Have you tried practicing your act yet?"

Tain Rie: "Seta, this is Kade Rie, cheifain of..."

Seta: "Ard'or, I know."

Page 10:
Panel 1: Seta speaking, his face barely in panel, one of Kade's gray eyebrows raised in response to Seta's comment.

Seta: "We met in the temple."

Seta 2: "Well, sort of."

Panel 2: Kade Rie's resuming its natural expression of noble resolve.

Kade Rie: "Do you mind if I bother you to ask a few questions, Seta?"

Seta (off-panel): "No bother at all."

Seta (same) 2: "How may I be of service?"

Panel 3: Seta sneaking an inquisitive glance at his uncle, who merely watches the exchange with mild interest.

Kade Rie: "Seta, how long have you lived in Desu?"

Seta: "All sixteen years of my life."

Kade Rie: "And how well do you think you know your village?

Panel 4: Kade glancing over at Tain Rie as if asking a silent question, Seta's uncle tipping his head slightly and silently coughing into his hand.

Seta (off-panel): "I know only what I am experiencing now and what I think I have experienced."

Seta (same) 2: "I believe I know my people and my village."

Seta (same) 3: "Which are you wanting to know about?"

Seta (same) 4: "My people or my village?"

Panel 5: Kade Rie sighing lightly. Seta's face clear and determined, answering without hesitation.

Kade Rie: "Who has the most important role in Desu?"

Seta: "The hunter."

Panel 6: Kade Rie puzzled and Tain Rie closing his eyes in deep thought as Seta explains.

Kade Rie: "Not the Rie?"

Seta: "Without the hunter, we would have no meat."

Seta 2: "Without the hunter, we would not have large furs to protect us from the cold, nor fat for our candles, nor bones for our soup."

Seta 3: "The Rie is a very necessary part of our village, but without the hunter we would all surely die.”

Page 11:
Panel 1: Seta bowing. Kade Rie and Tain Rie are off-panel.

Kade Rie: "That is all I have to ask for now."

Kade Rie 2: "Thank you for your time."

Panel 2: Tain Rie standing on a balcony watching as the soft snow fell upon the white village of Desu, his cloak swaying in the cold breeze, his nephew barely visible in the background heading toward Tso towers in the distance. Tain Rie is rubbing his hands together.

Tain Rie: "I'm getting to old for this."

Panel 3: Kade Rie walking up next to his friend, Tain Rie's eyes closed now.

Kade Rie: "We both are, my friend."

Kade Rie 2: "I sent for the others before coming here."

Kade Rie 3: "They should be here within the week."

Panel 4: Tain Rie's weary eyes opening and facing his friend as Kade Rie put a hand gently on Tain Rie's shoulder.

Tain Rie: "Thank you Kade."

Tain Rie 2: "I do not know if I will last till then though."

Tain Rie 3: "My condition has worsened gravely since we last spoke."

Panel 5: Tain coughing into his hand and looking at Kade Rie pleadingly.

Tain Rie: "You will give Seta the letter, yes?"

Tain Rie 2: "And tell the council my decision?"

Kade Rie: "Yes, I already have it all arranged."

Kade Rie 2: "But you need your rest."

Panel 6: Kade watching his friend walk away from the balcony back toward the door, Tain leaning on his scepter.

Kade Rie: "Go to bed, sleep and dream.”

Page 12:
Panel 1: Seta barging out of the tower door and into the dark sky and icy street, running toward the palace.

Panel 2: Seta slipping on the ice as he rounded a corner and falling, crashing his skull against a wooden sign post, snow falling down on him.

Panel 3: Seta rubbing his head and brushing the snow off as a little girl runs up to him.

Seta: "Nnghhnn..."

Little Girl: "Are you alright, Seta Suri?"

Panel 4: Seta rising and excited.

Seta: "Yes, yes."

Seta 2: "Quite unharmed."

Seta 3: "In fact, I'm better than alright, I'm great!"

Page 13:
Panel 1: The girl shrugging as Seta runs off again.

Seta: "Wait till I tell uncle!"

Panel 2: Seta arriving at the palace's large door, Tain Rie's chief adviser Nati holding it open and trying to tell Seta something, but the youth is in too much of a hurry, running up the stairs inside the palace.

Nati: "Seta-"

Panel 3: Seta sliding down the hall as he turns a corner, Kade up ahead, reaching into his cloak.

Kade Rie: "Seta, there is something I must give you."

Panel 4: Seta shaking his head and snapping at Kade Rie, but still running.

Seta: "Not now. I have something of great importance to tell the Rie."

Kade Rie (off-panel): "But Seta-"

Seta (snapping): "Not now!"

Page 14:
Panel 1: Seta in his uncle's chambers, the doors wide open, Kade looking surprised and standing outside. Seta is reaching into his pack and pulling out a scroll. We can't see Tain Rie's face, just part of his body covered in blankets and his bed in the foreground. There is torchlight in the hall and only moonlight in the chamber, mostly on Seta's face. Tall, wide panel.

Seta: "Uncle, I have found the cure!"

Panel 2: Seta shaking the bed. Tall panel.

Seta: "Uncle?"

Seta 2: "What's wrong? Didn't you hear me?"

Seta 3: "I've found the cure for your ailments!"

Panel 3: Kade Rie walking up to Seta, the moonlight on the bottom of his robes, his face in shadow, the torchlight behind him.

Kade Rie: "No cure on all of Delni will help him now."

Panel 4: Seta's face turned, gulping.

Seta: "What-what do you mean?"

Page 15:
Panel 1: The moonlight on Kade Rie's face, his eyes sad but his face firm, as if carved out of granite.

Kade Rie: "He has left to go to the land of undying light."

Kade Rie: "To await his return to the Well of Souls."

Kade Rie: "He passed away just before sunset."

Panel 2: Seta standing there, staring at his uncle's corpse silently. In the background we see Kade reaching into his cloak and pulling out a package.

Kade Rie: "Seta, before he passed on Tain asked me to give you something important."

Panel 3: Seta turned to stare at Kade Rie with teary eyes.

Panel 4: Seta running past Kade Rie, almost shoving him aside in his hurry.

Panel 5: Kade at the main stairs, Seta a floor below, at the door already, moving the bolt holding it shut.

Kade Rie (shouting): "Seta!"

Page 16:
Panel 1: Seta running out into the bone-chilling night, the palace far behind him. Full width of page, only 1/3 height.

Panel 2: Seta going up the mountain trail as far as his legs would take him. Tall panel, 1/3 width.

Panel 3: Rest of the page, Seta falling on his knees in the snow, hands spread apart, crying out to the skies in tearful agony.

Seta: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHH!"