And this concludes the chapter. Thank you all very much for reading, and for the comments and encouragement along the way. It means a great deal to me. 🙂
If you’ve enjoyed this story and the others before it, you can support the comic by taking a look at the Dark Places store and buying a comic, minicomic or poster – or hit the “support” link in the sidebar to make a donation, gratefully received.
Thank you again. 🙂
24 Comments
Ick.
It does say that this comic is also a horror one, but I have never really seen it. Until now. Those last couple panels legitimately creeped me out, and good work with that.
What’s up with her, anyway? Is Nana using her skull for something?
Back on page 11 Aled made mention of one of the stories about Nana Asphodel – namely that of Meleia the Fair who, having presumably passed the Bog Witch’s trials, was granted an enchantment that gave her beautiful silken hair.
What is not part of the story that Aled knows is that at some later point Meleia, grown vain and conceited from the admiration garnered by her lovely locks, sought out the Bog Witch again to demand some further enchantment. This time, though, she was not so successful.
Asphodel is not one to let a good enchantment go to waste. So she spins.
Eeee! How very Grimm!
“You gave Meleia the Fair hair like silk”…
The distaff was there all the time!
It was. And I have been looking forward to drawing the creepy mummified face in the distaff for ages. 😀
…I loved every story you have published so far, but, as a long-time reader (and lover) of folklore and faerie tales, this chapter really touched me. I could recognize many themes, and yet it all felt so -new- and exciting that I waited anxiously for every new page. You really are a wonderful storyteller. Alas, for now I can only support you by checking regularly the comic, and linking your FB page on my (meager) FB profile, but once I get some money in, I most surely will buy something. Keep up the wonderful work. 🙂
Thank you so much. 😀 I’ve enjoyed writing this chapter, and am very pleased at the reception it’s received – though I can’t take all of the credit, as there is a lot of resonance in the folklore that forms the basis of the story, and in the themes and tropes that infuse them. Which is probably why they’ve endured so well.
Spreading word about the comic is every bit as good a form of support as buying stuff or donating – I’d like the comic to reach as many people as possible (or rather, as many people who’d enjoy reading it), so liking it on Facebook or retweeting it on Twitter is very much appreciated. 🙂
Wow… this is indeed the end to look forward to! Well done sir!!! Well done!!! What a wonderful read this was… and i eagerly await the next installment!
Excellent ending, I had to go look up what a distaff was, but I get it now. I went back and reread the entire comic. It hangs together very well. You should be proud.
Meleia the fair
Had silk-like hair
Granted by opposing a witches dare
But for her greed she returned
and a lesson was learned
now she rests her head in Nana’s care
Fantastic ending, just as they should be.
So that means the Aled’s scaf was…
And the reason it’s “soft like silk” is…
Eeew. Perhaps that is how it will ward off the “forest beasts”. They may perceive it’s origin. 🙂
Wonderful story arc by the way. I especially enjoy how Aled was able to reach out to one so cruel and cold as the bog witch.
I will echo the previous positive comments. I have always loved fairy tales, and I appreciate a good retelling of the same. But I gotta say, unless Meleia had hair like Rapunzel, “Nana” is awfully slow with her spinning! Or maybe setting up those chores just takes a lot more time than I realize?
i was thinking that blessing was something like “you shall always have long flowing hair soft as silk” so no matter how much she takes the hair remains long
Well that went from oddly heartwarming to deeply creepy real fast…
Great storyline! It was fun finding out more about Aled.
This is basically the Brothers Grimm, but better.
The Brothers Grimm are SO nineteenth century.
Long time lurker here but now that this storyline has come to its end I’ve to say it is my favorite so far. Maybe it’s the fact that the fey in your stories are more old school. They have their own bizarre rules and limits, and are capable of both kindness and cruelty in equal measure provided the rules are followed.
Most webcomic fey tend to fall into “humans with strange appearance” category nowadays. There’s nothing “fey” in them. I’m glad that’s not the case in your stories. There are many subtle details that maintain the air of mystery and magic, ranging from their appearance, to their effect to environment (or lack of thereof), and to their behaviour itself.
My hope is we will see full story of Nana Asphodel in the future. She is a great character.
Thank you very much. 😀
And yes, it’s been a conscious decision to keep the fey characters as otherworldly and capricious as the folklore that’s inspired them. Fey in Dark Places are generally viewed with fear and mistrust, in large part due to a major incursion a few hundred years back, in which the fey nobility decided it would be a charming to play at ruling over the mortals for a while. Those were not good times.
Terry Pratchett’s elves are a pretty good take on the subject:
Not entirely sure about “bad” (since that implies that they give a damn for considerations of morality), but for most people they’re definitely dangerous. Ancient, powerful, arrogant and incredibly fickle. It’s not a good combination to be around.
I suppose elves would be prohibited as a player race in your campaigns, then?
But at least we get kobolds to compensate.
Fey elves would be restricted yes, on account of being way too scary.
Forest elves would be more appropriate – they were the losing faction in a fey civil war, exiled into the mortal world. They’re a bit more grounded, though still kind of arrogant and reclusive.
When we can expect the next chapter?
I’m aiming to resume updates this week, if things go according to plan. 🙂
Lovely work here!
When the bear helps fill the woodshed.. the panel with the massive trees jammed in to the shed. Hilarious.
I especially love above, “Thank you, nana!” to which she replies “Hmm. Yes, well” She’s quite the reluctant softie, isn’t she.
So soft, he said. Like silk, he said. And I hoped beyond hope that –
And I was right. That is *deliciously* nasty, and easily one of my favourite pages of the series.
Your comics are brilliant! I will flat-out say I’m not a fan of horror. Usually it just makes me feel either grossed out (too much gore), or depressed (no positive side, and always stupid mistakes). Or both. But every chapter I’ve read through, though comparatively short to many comics (let alone books) out there, makes a fine encapsulated narrative. Excellent, balanced doses of heartwarming and creepy.
I’m buying something to support. Please keep writing!