The story itself

[AllieFiona]

Fortunately, it was easy to fix.

[cairn destop]

All we need is a third character unknown to the captain and this would quickly become a morph version of "who's on first."


And congratulations on facebook.  You'll have to let everyone know if there is more feedback and if it proves more constructive than these forums. 

[cairn destop]

I do find it amusing how the author has evaded the question on everyone's mind.  What is Sandy's real name?  If our wolf cub made it off the ship, that question might go unresolved well into the year 2011. 

[cairn destop]

Quoted from the strip of 12/29/09:
When we catch that mutt, Rufi will keelhaul him!




Compare this to the story proffered by Sandy regarding how he came to have the sextant.  Methinks our pup is not the innocent babe our writers would want us to think.  I wonder if he stole the sextant and then fell overboard while being pursued by the crew.  It would explain why the captain expended so much energy recapturing a member of his crew that severved no vital function.

[AllieFiona]

Even if Sandy was telling the truth, it would probably look like he stole it.  He disappeared with it after Rufi gave it to him.

Rufi would have a special interest in finding him, as the Captain had entrusted the sextant to HIM.  I'm sure Rufi did not escape punishment when the sextant disappeared.

[WyrmMaster]

Strip 179 gives an accurate description of how Sandy went overboard -- it's his narration that's embellished.

[cairn destop]

Strip 179 gives an accurate description of how Sandy went overboard -- it's his narration that's embellished.

Considering Sandy's past, I wonder.  He has kept too many secrets and when pushed, comes up with half truths or embellished tales.  Either could be lies, which we as readers are yet to learn.  Even if Sandy's version of events is the truth, his actions puts a doubt into his honesty.  Just remember the old saying about stories - "There are two sides to every story and the truth usually lies somewhere between the two."

As to Rufi having a special interest in recovering the sextant, I would agree.  Based on what we have seen of the captain, he wouldn't accept any excuse.  It may well be a case of "either - or."  Either Rufi or Sandy will face the captain's ire.

[cairn destop]

Yeah, double post.



The old hedgehog has been wondering when anyone would comment on all the inconsistancies in this current story arc.  Either I'm the guy who is out of step or the parade is out of sync.


Let me start with Strip #186.  Notice how calm the residents are when the Black Raccoon is first spotted.  In Strip #191 the crew come to the wolf healer without an armed escort or weapons visible.  All stroll back to the ship.  The ship is provisioned by the town and its crew is known to them.  Yet in Strip #226, the captain indicates zap sticks are needed to insure the town's cooperation.  I see this as a complete contradiction.

Next I want to reference Strip #214.  Sandy went out the window, which is the only way out of the room.  In Strip #225 the ship is searched.  Sandy isn't aboard.  In Strip #228 Sandy attacks the captain from behind.  With the captain and first mate being so efficient, I'll not believe the crew so incompetent that Sandy could evade a full scale search.

And the final inconsistency in the current strip.  Riff recounts the facts from an earlier strip where Sandy throws the power cells out the window.  In the third panel, Riff acts surprised to see the clock.  How could he forget holding the clock between his feet from Strip #114, him saving the clock before saving himself in Strip #115, or him telling Sandy about power cells being interchangable in Strip #148?

I find the crew's submissiveness odd too.  Sandy is but a cub.  Yes, he has a zap stick, but if the crew rushes him, he could be overpowered.  Second, Sandy's back is exposed to anyone coming from the aft end.  Since the crew knows a zap stick does no permanent damage, why are they so meek?

[WyrmMaster]

There are upcoming strips that explain most of the things you are having trouble with right now -- including the next strip!

Riff recounts the facts from an earlier strip where Sandy throws the power cells out the window.  In the third panel, Riff acts surprised to see the clock.  How could he forget holding the clock between his feet from Strip #114, him saving the clock before saving himself in Strip #115, or him telling Sandy about power cells being interchangeable in Strip #148?

Rif is not surprised by the clock itself, just that Sandy thought to get the power cell from the clock. And then he jokingly refers to the incident where Sandy threw the clock over the cliff.

[WyrmMaster]

The last panel of strip 229 does show the rope Sandy used to climb to the upper level of the ship, but it's hard to see. Here is an enlarged version of that panel.



Allie may redo this strip at a later date. (Right, Allie?)

So, Sandy wasn't technically "on-board" the ship during the search -_-

[cairn destop]

And the crew never saw the rope hanging over the side?  I think not.  Especially when that rope was hanging down by the captain's cabin where anyone looking out would have seen it.

[AllieFiona]

 They don't know that Rif and Sandy were in the cabin together.  Rif never got out the window, so his captors didn't think to look there.  The rope is on the far side of the ship, not visible from the dock.  And if you'll remember, the crew is not too bright. (Recall the debacle at the sheep village).  Perhaps, given a lot of time, someone might think to look over the far back corner of the ship for someone hanging by a rope, but they had only enough time to look in the obvious places.  Only a few minutes have elapsed since Rif was found in the cabin.

One of the reasons the tied rope in panel 4 was so subtle was to make it hidden enough for the captain not to notice.  Unfortunately, once the comic was reduced in size to fit online, it was hard for even the readers to see.

[WyrmMaster]

And if you'll remember, the crew is not too bright.

And tired and injured.

[cairn destop]

Just to let you know, the link to the enlarged picture has become the old red X.  (Reply #324)  May I suggest you repost that highlighted comic frame as a "classic artwork" selection.

[WyrmMaster]

The ITE comic website was recently moved to a new server, and the permissions on that image were wrong. It's fixed now.