[M][Comic] Unnamed Comic by GAT The Knight.
Jun 26, 2017 10:01:48 GMT -6
Post by GAT The Knight on Jun 26, 2017 10:01:48 GMT -6
This a comic I've been working on for about six months now. I'm working on it over on my own discord server, but after joining The Sewer, I figured it would be cool to do a topic for it here, as well as a Comicfury page for the comic itself, a Discord Server for live development updates, and a DeviantArt page for archiving it throughout development.
As you can see, I kinda went deep with the development of this thing.
It started out as a hand-drawn comic with a post-apocalyptic theme. I was doing it in more of an ironic/satirical sense, with the focus of the comic being a character study of what it would be like for these people to adjust to the idea of demons living on earth alongside somewhat modern civilization with the occasional romance and action subplot.
Over the course of 6 months, it completely changed. It went from gritty, high-detail comic illustrations to cute, Paper Mario-esque characters in a fantasy setting with the contrast of horrifying gore and terrifying monsters.
Now its a minimalist Pixel Art comic, which has retained the concept of Hell and Demons but has moved to a fictional fantasy setting, with outlandish pop-culture versions of famous historical concepts, like Katanas that function like magical lasers that cut through everything and Vikings with horned helmets that TOTALLY existed.
The Retro Video Game aesthetic came later in development when I did close ups of the characters for dialogue. It reminded me of the Megaman X dialogue boxes with the facial animation. I really enjoyed the idea of making it look like a game when I started visualizing it, so I went off to create weapon sprites and UI, like the downward arrow informing the player to press a button to advance the dialogue.
Initially, there was no Radar, and the Type Face being used was inspired by Resident Evil/Dead Rising, due to Dead Rising being one of my favorite games of all time. The type face isn't exact, but when I started using it, it immediately put me into that head space and atmosphere, and I tinkered with it a bit further. The issue I ran into, however, was that other people who didn't share this experience felt that it visually clashed with everything else, and I cut it in favor of "Lucidia Console Regular" at 18 pt, No filter.
These are all the portraits of the characters as of 6/26/2017, including damaged portraits and items. Not much else to add, really. I just thought I'd share them.
These are all the Backgrounds. Again, nothing to add, I just think it's good to have everything added here so people can get an idea of the final product.
These are all the characters as they'll appear within the panel/in action, if that wasn't obvious from the preview above.
This is the world map, with borders. I have a labeled version, with numbers, as well as a few descriptions of locations and their history.
---{1.} Richter's Keep.. }---
A once prosperous land with borders reaching nearly half the continent, Richter's Keep is a sad shell of what it once was. It now sits as a dried-out pit in the desert, that receeded in on itself to a small, circular, walled in kingdom.
Its Ruler, King Richter, founded it many years ago after succeeding from the Darkroot Empire (Now known as Darkroot forest (#4) King Richter lead a noble army and brought religious freedom to a prosecuted class under the Darkroot Empire's corrupt bootheel.
Soon after, King Richter rose to power and, as stated before, owned nearly half of the continent, wiping out all competition in his path. He became a tyrant himself, pushed by a complacent attitude, having anything he could ever want.
The Darkroot Empire, losing half of its land in the proccess of Richter's reign, felt that they had one option; kill Richter and insurrect the Kingdom by force.
Richter was later assasinated by a hellfire of arrows. The 2 Darkroot Soldiers responsible for the assasination died literal moments later, being eviscerated by Royal Guards. The insurrection was unsuccessful, but over time, Richter's Legacy was tarnished by poor leadership by those who came after him. Soon enough, Richter's entire Kingdom splintered into independent, hateful factions, before disappearing altogether.
All that was left, in the end, was a failing, walled-in Keep, despised by all in the political climate of Shima. It now sits crumbling within the confines of its own walls, thought to be abandoned.
---{2.} The Waste/The Roof of Hell. }---
The Waste is an empty, unforgiving, unclaimed Desert that once belonged to Darkroot and Richter, which was ravaged by their war over the property.
Years ago, The Waste was a Forest like all of Shima once was. Darkroot Empire owned it, before Richter rose to power and took it by force. Rampant resource wars and deforestation ruined the land, ironically enough, completely defeating the point of why either side wanted it in the first place. Their conflict for ownership ruined its value, and the wounds haven't mended, even with an immense amount of time passing since.
The Waste is often referred to as "The Roof of Hell" due to the intense heat, lack of vegetation, painfully coarse sand and rock faces, and unforgiving climate. It is downright inhospitable for any living creature, and many who attempt to cross it succumb to the heat and are never seen again.
Most Criminals flee to The Waste/The Roof of Hell in hopes of reaching Richter Keep to avoid prosecution for their crimes. Most respective Kingdoms allow the Criminals to do so, knowing that the punishment Mother Nature gives out is infinitely more cruel than any blade could.
Some say there's treasure buried out there... Hidden towns... Roving bands of Pirates... Demons... Aliens... Anything you can imagine. The land is so barren and so dangerous, many can't substantiate these rumours, making The Waste one of the most dangerous, and mysterious, places in Shima.
---{3.} Luntepar. }---
Luntepar is a now-defunct Nothern Darkroot Empire Kingdom. Much of the Darkroot Empire's Kingdoms have been lost to time, reclaimed by Mother Nature after falling into disrepair when their conflict with Richter Keep destroyed them both from the inside-out. Interestingly, however, only the Luntepar Castle has fallen to ruin. The civilization of Luntepar is thriving, based around the beliefs of their founders.
Luntepar was the name of a Darkroot Empire Commander, who quickly gained popularity amongst the Empire as a successful, kind leader who took care of his men and fed his civillians. He died in battle against a group of Richter's Knights during a raid, personally defending the people from their tyranny. The Darkroot Kingdom was later dedicated to him, being named "The Luntepar Castle."
Over time, more Darkroot men died similarly to Commander Luntepar due to poor planning from Battle Strategists or late information of raids from the messengers. The Darkroot Knights soon persuaded the people of Luntepar Castle to defect, and they fought to become their own independent Territory. Their defect was successful.
Luntepar still exists to this day, though its militaristic and political presence is minimal. They're mostly a small village within the cracked walls erected by Darkroot many years ago. They don't make many waves, as stated before, due to their minimal presence in Shima's politics or military. Many people live telling exaggerated versions of the events listed above, making Luntepar himself a martyr, some even believing him to be a servant of God.
---{4.} Darkroot Forest (Originally the Darkroot Empire.) }---
Darkroot Forest is the last Darkroot-owned territory that remains firm in its beliefs and practices, housing the last of the Darkroot Empire. It's now referred to by the rest of Shima as "Darkroot Forest" because of the dense forestry and minimal architectural presence (Though this is mostly due to the dense foliage hiding it. The Darkroot Empire's architecture, when in full view, rivals that of their presence during the dawn of the Darkroot Empire, and even Shima itself.)
When Richter's Army conquered most of Shima, and by extension, Darkroot's Territory, they had no choice but to flee back to their main base of operations, their original forest Kingdom. They did everything they could to build a wall and plant a confusing, maze-like forest, waiting for a raid from Richter's Army that never actually came. When Richter's Army fell, and they receeded to nothing but the small walled-in Keep, the base of operations Darkroot had left was thriving, with perfect cover and great industry. Though the Darkroot Empire had come and gone, the culture of the Darkroot people themselves was never more assured in their continued existence.
Many have never been able to penetrate the walls in their years of smaller skirmishes, and even getting into the kingdom when invited is a somewhat daunting task. The complex forest, mixed with the daunting walls and aggressive guards makes for a situation that could turn potentially deadly at any time. Getting invited to the Darkroot Forest's Kingdom is a high honor amongst the other Kingdoms in the political climate of Shima, and turning it down is considered an act of treason within Darkroot's circle, which can get you marked for death.
---{5.} Paradaisubīchi (Paradise Beach) And the Kenzo Empire. }---
Paradaisubīchi is the most successful territory owned by the Kenzo Empire. Kenzo Village was erected here during the early years of the Kenzo Empire, and the rise of the Samurai. The Kenzo Empire stayed out of the Darkroot-Richter Conflict, deciding to instead stay focused on their own affairs, dealing with industry and militarization. The Kenzo Empire was formed by Shima Natives to defend the belief that they are entitled to this land and are the true aires to the earth and all it has to offer.
The Kenzo Empire had a racist, nationalist agenda, which included stoking the flame between Richter and Darkroot, hoping to cause further infighting. They wanted to come in and take care of them once they had weakened eachother, basically striking when the others were weak from their conflict. This proved to be an effective method, having little opposition when invading Richter Army Castles and killing their Knights, earning them Suna no teikoku (Empire of Sand (#8)
The Kenzo Empire expaned their reach to the East and North, creating great locales like Hana Village, with excellent industry and excellent warriors. Soon enough, all Kenzo Empire controlled territories were enforcing mandatory military participation for young men and women, creating many experienced, talented, loyal Samurai.
This continues to this day.
---{6.} Midnatt Sand Rike (Roughly translates to "Midnight Sand Kingdom") and the rise of Vikings. }---
The Midnight Sand Kingdom is the Nordic Desert Territory of the Vikings in Shima. The Midnight Sand Kingdom was the only territory that properly defended itself from both Richter and Darkroot's reign, keeping its walls defended from the invading groups trying to take their land. The Viking Warriors held their own in combat, often times overshadowing Darkroot Knights on the battlefield, completely destroying them.
The Midnight Sand Kingdom's forging is renowned in Shima as some of the best axes and shields on the entire continent. Many opposing territories in the political climate are opposed to their practices, but create peaceful alliances with them anyway simply for their superior forging and industry.
Their territory sports high walls and even higher watchtowers, with pots of boiling tar and crossbows at the ready. Footsoldiers of the Midnight Sand Kingdom are armed with heavy battleaxes and spiked clubs. Their fishing industry is booming with a great northern coast, and their farming is even better, with the moist, colder, tropical climate. Though the foliage density is low in this part of Shima, it has its fair share of flora and fauna typical of a tropical climate.
For a short period, the Vikings and The Richter Army had a peaceful alliance, trading culture and crafts, though this was short lived. Richter's Army turned on the Vikings during a trade with Richter Guards stationed outside the castle, weapons at the ready. It was the bloodiest event in the Midnight Sand Kingdom's history, with a horrific display of the Viking's raw power. Richter's men were cut down almost immediately, with wooden spiked clubs and battleaxes cleaing through and bashing in their flesh and bone.
After this event, Richter's Army never spoke of the Vikings again.
Many Vikings still recount this tale to this day, with many of the Knight's old, bloody cloaks and dented, mashed helmets on display in the Kingdom's Town Hall, showing the incredible victory over Richter's Army.
---{7.} Lord Tokugawa's Kingdom. }---
The single largest, most successful territory in Shima. Lord Tokugawa's Kingdom is a splinter of the Kenzo Empire, that went on to succeed the Kenzo Empire in every regard. Lord Tokugawa highly disliked the idea of the Shima Natives being better than other races/territories, and believed that the only way Shima could survive without eventually ripping itself apart would be through peace and cooperation. This noble belief and pursuit was soon corrupted, however, with Tokugawa's Military Strategist, Arinobu, creating a Mob-like group that would later bully other territories into giving up, essentially, all they had.
Soon enough, the public of Tokugawa's Kingdom was living in fear of what Arinobu had unleashed. He created an aggressive, independent group that rivaled their own government in influence and monetary gain. Tokugawa took the precautions he could, labeling this new group started by Arinobu, now known as "The Riot," a terrorist group and creating negative propoganda. By that point, however, it was too late. The Riot later invaded Tokugawa's Cabinet, took power through takeover, and later had Tokugawa executed.
Tokugawa's Kingdom is now a Riot-Operated Kingdom that contains some of the most successful villages and groups in Shima, and shows no signs of slowing down or stopping. The Riot's plan it to do a complete hostile takeover of all territory on Shima, using political influences from esteemed villages like Hana Village to do so.
---{8.} Suna no teikoku (Empire of Sand) Not to be confused with The Midnight Sand Kingdom. }---
The Empire of Sand is a Kenzo Empire owned territory that fights with Lord Takugawa's Kingdom for control of that territory that once belonged to the Kenzo Empire. This feud goes back to the earliest point in civilized Shima history, with the story above about Lord Takugawa's Kingdom summing up the bullet points.
The Empire of Sand now contains the most successful Coal, Iron, and Diamond mining operations in Shima, being placed directly under Supākuringumaunten (Sparkling Mountain.) This causes The Empire of Sand to be a hotly contested territory from not only The Riot, but from Darkroot and the Vikings as well. All of these groups, even hundreds of years later, are still fighting for control of Sparkling Mountain. The Diamonds are extremely durable and expensive, meaning that whoever controls Sparkling Mountain, under the right conditions, controls Shima.
The name "Empire of Sand" is no longer technically accurate, as soil movement and erosion from Lord Tokugawa's Kingdom has caused The Empire of Sand to get a fair share of forestry, now growing its own tropical climate like the surrounding territories.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading.
Here's a link to the DeviantArt Archive Page!
Here's a link to the ComicFury Page!
As you can see, I kinda went deep with the development of this thing.
It started out as a hand-drawn comic with a post-apocalyptic theme. I was doing it in more of an ironic/satirical sense, with the focus of the comic being a character study of what it would be like for these people to adjust to the idea of demons living on earth alongside somewhat modern civilization with the occasional romance and action subplot.
Over the course of 6 months, it completely changed. It went from gritty, high-detail comic illustrations to cute, Paper Mario-esque characters in a fantasy setting with the contrast of horrifying gore and terrifying monsters.
Now its a minimalist Pixel Art comic, which has retained the concept of Hell and Demons but has moved to a fictional fantasy setting, with outlandish pop-culture versions of famous historical concepts, like Katanas that function like magical lasers that cut through everything and Vikings with horned helmets that TOTALLY existed.
The Retro Video Game aesthetic came later in development when I did close ups of the characters for dialogue. It reminded me of the Megaman X dialogue boxes with the facial animation. I really enjoyed the idea of making it look like a game when I started visualizing it, so I went off to create weapon sprites and UI, like the downward arrow informing the player to press a button to advance the dialogue.
Initially, there was no Radar, and the Type Face being used was inspired by Resident Evil/Dead Rising, due to Dead Rising being one of my favorite games of all time. The type face isn't exact, but when I started using it, it immediately put me into that head space and atmosphere, and I tinkered with it a bit further. The issue I ran into, however, was that other people who didn't share this experience felt that it visually clashed with everything else, and I cut it in favor of "Lucidia Console Regular" at 18 pt, No filter.
These are all the portraits of the characters as of 6/26/2017, including damaged portraits and items. Not much else to add, really. I just thought I'd share them.
These are all the Backgrounds. Again, nothing to add, I just think it's good to have everything added here so people can get an idea of the final product.
These are all the characters as they'll appear within the panel/in action, if that wasn't obvious from the preview above.
This is the world map, with borders. I have a labeled version, with numbers, as well as a few descriptions of locations and their history.
---{1.} Richter's Keep.. }---
A once prosperous land with borders reaching nearly half the continent, Richter's Keep is a sad shell of what it once was. It now sits as a dried-out pit in the desert, that receeded in on itself to a small, circular, walled in kingdom.
Its Ruler, King Richter, founded it many years ago after succeeding from the Darkroot Empire (Now known as Darkroot forest (#4) King Richter lead a noble army and brought religious freedom to a prosecuted class under the Darkroot Empire's corrupt bootheel.
Soon after, King Richter rose to power and, as stated before, owned nearly half of the continent, wiping out all competition in his path. He became a tyrant himself, pushed by a complacent attitude, having anything he could ever want.
The Darkroot Empire, losing half of its land in the proccess of Richter's reign, felt that they had one option; kill Richter and insurrect the Kingdom by force.
Richter was later assasinated by a hellfire of arrows. The 2 Darkroot Soldiers responsible for the assasination died literal moments later, being eviscerated by Royal Guards. The insurrection was unsuccessful, but over time, Richter's Legacy was tarnished by poor leadership by those who came after him. Soon enough, Richter's entire Kingdom splintered into independent, hateful factions, before disappearing altogether.
All that was left, in the end, was a failing, walled-in Keep, despised by all in the political climate of Shima. It now sits crumbling within the confines of its own walls, thought to be abandoned.
---{2.} The Waste/The Roof of Hell. }---
The Waste is an empty, unforgiving, unclaimed Desert that once belonged to Darkroot and Richter, which was ravaged by their war over the property.
Years ago, The Waste was a Forest like all of Shima once was. Darkroot Empire owned it, before Richter rose to power and took it by force. Rampant resource wars and deforestation ruined the land, ironically enough, completely defeating the point of why either side wanted it in the first place. Their conflict for ownership ruined its value, and the wounds haven't mended, even with an immense amount of time passing since.
The Waste is often referred to as "The Roof of Hell" due to the intense heat, lack of vegetation, painfully coarse sand and rock faces, and unforgiving climate. It is downright inhospitable for any living creature, and many who attempt to cross it succumb to the heat and are never seen again.
Most Criminals flee to The Waste/The Roof of Hell in hopes of reaching Richter Keep to avoid prosecution for their crimes. Most respective Kingdoms allow the Criminals to do so, knowing that the punishment Mother Nature gives out is infinitely more cruel than any blade could.
Some say there's treasure buried out there... Hidden towns... Roving bands of Pirates... Demons... Aliens... Anything you can imagine. The land is so barren and so dangerous, many can't substantiate these rumours, making The Waste one of the most dangerous, and mysterious, places in Shima.
---{3.} Luntepar. }---
Luntepar is a now-defunct Nothern Darkroot Empire Kingdom. Much of the Darkroot Empire's Kingdoms have been lost to time, reclaimed by Mother Nature after falling into disrepair when their conflict with Richter Keep destroyed them both from the inside-out. Interestingly, however, only the Luntepar Castle has fallen to ruin. The civilization of Luntepar is thriving, based around the beliefs of their founders.
Luntepar was the name of a Darkroot Empire Commander, who quickly gained popularity amongst the Empire as a successful, kind leader who took care of his men and fed his civillians. He died in battle against a group of Richter's Knights during a raid, personally defending the people from their tyranny. The Darkroot Kingdom was later dedicated to him, being named "The Luntepar Castle."
Over time, more Darkroot men died similarly to Commander Luntepar due to poor planning from Battle Strategists or late information of raids from the messengers. The Darkroot Knights soon persuaded the people of Luntepar Castle to defect, and they fought to become their own independent Territory. Their defect was successful.
Luntepar still exists to this day, though its militaristic and political presence is minimal. They're mostly a small village within the cracked walls erected by Darkroot many years ago. They don't make many waves, as stated before, due to their minimal presence in Shima's politics or military. Many people live telling exaggerated versions of the events listed above, making Luntepar himself a martyr, some even believing him to be a servant of God.
---{4.} Darkroot Forest (Originally the Darkroot Empire.) }---
Darkroot Forest is the last Darkroot-owned territory that remains firm in its beliefs and practices, housing the last of the Darkroot Empire. It's now referred to by the rest of Shima as "Darkroot Forest" because of the dense forestry and minimal architectural presence (Though this is mostly due to the dense foliage hiding it. The Darkroot Empire's architecture, when in full view, rivals that of their presence during the dawn of the Darkroot Empire, and even Shima itself.)
When Richter's Army conquered most of Shima, and by extension, Darkroot's Territory, they had no choice but to flee back to their main base of operations, their original forest Kingdom. They did everything they could to build a wall and plant a confusing, maze-like forest, waiting for a raid from Richter's Army that never actually came. When Richter's Army fell, and they receeded to nothing but the small walled-in Keep, the base of operations Darkroot had left was thriving, with perfect cover and great industry. Though the Darkroot Empire had come and gone, the culture of the Darkroot people themselves was never more assured in their continued existence.
Many have never been able to penetrate the walls in their years of smaller skirmishes, and even getting into the kingdom when invited is a somewhat daunting task. The complex forest, mixed with the daunting walls and aggressive guards makes for a situation that could turn potentially deadly at any time. Getting invited to the Darkroot Forest's Kingdom is a high honor amongst the other Kingdoms in the political climate of Shima, and turning it down is considered an act of treason within Darkroot's circle, which can get you marked for death.
---{5.} Paradaisubīchi (Paradise Beach) And the Kenzo Empire. }---
Paradaisubīchi is the most successful territory owned by the Kenzo Empire. Kenzo Village was erected here during the early years of the Kenzo Empire, and the rise of the Samurai. The Kenzo Empire stayed out of the Darkroot-Richter Conflict, deciding to instead stay focused on their own affairs, dealing with industry and militarization. The Kenzo Empire was formed by Shima Natives to defend the belief that they are entitled to this land and are the true aires to the earth and all it has to offer.
The Kenzo Empire had a racist, nationalist agenda, which included stoking the flame between Richter and Darkroot, hoping to cause further infighting. They wanted to come in and take care of them once they had weakened eachother, basically striking when the others were weak from their conflict. This proved to be an effective method, having little opposition when invading Richter Army Castles and killing their Knights, earning them Suna no teikoku (Empire of Sand (#8)
The Kenzo Empire expaned their reach to the East and North, creating great locales like Hana Village, with excellent industry and excellent warriors. Soon enough, all Kenzo Empire controlled territories were enforcing mandatory military participation for young men and women, creating many experienced, talented, loyal Samurai.
This continues to this day.
---{6.} Midnatt Sand Rike (Roughly translates to "Midnight Sand Kingdom") and the rise of Vikings. }---
The Midnight Sand Kingdom is the Nordic Desert Territory of the Vikings in Shima. The Midnight Sand Kingdom was the only territory that properly defended itself from both Richter and Darkroot's reign, keeping its walls defended from the invading groups trying to take their land. The Viking Warriors held their own in combat, often times overshadowing Darkroot Knights on the battlefield, completely destroying them.
The Midnight Sand Kingdom's forging is renowned in Shima as some of the best axes and shields on the entire continent. Many opposing territories in the political climate are opposed to their practices, but create peaceful alliances with them anyway simply for their superior forging and industry.
Their territory sports high walls and even higher watchtowers, with pots of boiling tar and crossbows at the ready. Footsoldiers of the Midnight Sand Kingdom are armed with heavy battleaxes and spiked clubs. Their fishing industry is booming with a great northern coast, and their farming is even better, with the moist, colder, tropical climate. Though the foliage density is low in this part of Shima, it has its fair share of flora and fauna typical of a tropical climate.
For a short period, the Vikings and The Richter Army had a peaceful alliance, trading culture and crafts, though this was short lived. Richter's Army turned on the Vikings during a trade with Richter Guards stationed outside the castle, weapons at the ready. It was the bloodiest event in the Midnight Sand Kingdom's history, with a horrific display of the Viking's raw power. Richter's men were cut down almost immediately, with wooden spiked clubs and battleaxes cleaing through and bashing in their flesh and bone.
After this event, Richter's Army never spoke of the Vikings again.
Many Vikings still recount this tale to this day, with many of the Knight's old, bloody cloaks and dented, mashed helmets on display in the Kingdom's Town Hall, showing the incredible victory over Richter's Army.
---{7.} Lord Tokugawa's Kingdom. }---
The single largest, most successful territory in Shima. Lord Tokugawa's Kingdom is a splinter of the Kenzo Empire, that went on to succeed the Kenzo Empire in every regard. Lord Tokugawa highly disliked the idea of the Shima Natives being better than other races/territories, and believed that the only way Shima could survive without eventually ripping itself apart would be through peace and cooperation. This noble belief and pursuit was soon corrupted, however, with Tokugawa's Military Strategist, Arinobu, creating a Mob-like group that would later bully other territories into giving up, essentially, all they had.
Soon enough, the public of Tokugawa's Kingdom was living in fear of what Arinobu had unleashed. He created an aggressive, independent group that rivaled their own government in influence and monetary gain. Tokugawa took the precautions he could, labeling this new group started by Arinobu, now known as "The Riot," a terrorist group and creating negative propoganda. By that point, however, it was too late. The Riot later invaded Tokugawa's Cabinet, took power through takeover, and later had Tokugawa executed.
Tokugawa's Kingdom is now a Riot-Operated Kingdom that contains some of the most successful villages and groups in Shima, and shows no signs of slowing down or stopping. The Riot's plan it to do a complete hostile takeover of all territory on Shima, using political influences from esteemed villages like Hana Village to do so.
---{8.} Suna no teikoku (Empire of Sand) Not to be confused with The Midnight Sand Kingdom. }---
The Empire of Sand is a Kenzo Empire owned territory that fights with Lord Takugawa's Kingdom for control of that territory that once belonged to the Kenzo Empire. This feud goes back to the earliest point in civilized Shima history, with the story above about Lord Takugawa's Kingdom summing up the bullet points.
The Empire of Sand now contains the most successful Coal, Iron, and Diamond mining operations in Shima, being placed directly under Supākuringumaunten (Sparkling Mountain.) This causes The Empire of Sand to be a hotly contested territory from not only The Riot, but from Darkroot and the Vikings as well. All of these groups, even hundreds of years later, are still fighting for control of Sparkling Mountain. The Diamonds are extremely durable and expensive, meaning that whoever controls Sparkling Mountain, under the right conditions, controls Shima.
The name "Empire of Sand" is no longer technically accurate, as soil movement and erosion from Lord Tokugawa's Kingdom has caused The Empire of Sand to get a fair share of forestry, now growing its own tropical climate like the surrounding territories.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading.
Here's a link to the DeviantArt Archive Page!
Here's a link to the ComicFury Page!
