Damn creepy necromancers playing hell with the natural order for their little egos! Those folks were supposed to haunt the landscape for centuries, but Gravedust just had to screw that all up.
As I was a-walking one morning at ease
A-viewing the leaves as they hung from the trees.
All in full motion appearing to be
And those that were withered, they fell from the trees
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
If you had seen the leaves just a few days ago,
How bright and how beautiful they all seemed to grow
A frost came and bit them and withered them all
A storm came upon them and down they did fall.
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
Now a man is like a leaf near the last autumn day
Revealing full colors while bearing decay.
Yet a man has a charge on the journey from seed:
His story to honor and calling to heed
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
But the life of mankind is the life of the tree
It grows in the roots, in the branches, the leaves
Although, when they fall, it may seem that it’s gone
In the seasonsth at follow, we see life goes on.
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
– Traditional. Additional verses by Barry Luft and Dave Watt.
One part about this bugs me. Are the mystics that important, despite their small numbers, that all dead need them to send them to a different place? Or is this just Gravedust messing with the wood elven burial rituals?
I will confirm this: Their role is such that their rituals guarantee passage. It still happens plenty organically. And, as Marcus said, it helps expedite the process.
Yo, Gravytrain! Mind hoppin’ over to my world, for a bit? Me and Sam will buy you a brew, if you’ll do that voodoo that you do… ’cause we’re in kind of a stew.
We… uh… kinda’ broke the gates to Purgatory… again, and we could use a hand rounding up like a whole mess of spirits.
Uh … yeah, among the Avians, there are some female among their fighting units. But the female I spoke about were elves. And they looked nothing like soldiers, dressed in plain civvy clothes and all.
But well.
Also not a surprise, sadly – given the nature of the attack, they were basically out to raze the elven community. Women would have been (for their tactics and goals) fair game. It’s also very likely that those women died fighting, whether they were trained for it or not. Most of the elves don’t seem to be the type to faint at the first sign of danger…
It’s sad that they died, but really that is true of all dead, anywhere.
“Welcome to the Afterlife. Please form a single file line and wait your turn. Our representatives will be with you shortly to tally up your score and place you on the Leaderboards. You will then have the option of filling out a short survey before respawning in your factions graveyard. Thank you for participating in the “War of the Fruity Elves” server event, and have a wonderful day.”
I like how you used a ghost in the second panel to separate the two sides, it fits in well and doesn’t interrupt the panel while clearly striking a difference between the two groups and what they should expect.
Depends on your point of view, I suppose. After all, one side *did* want to destroy the woods and the elves in order to summon a giant fiery god of destruction.
WOW, great writing! Man that’s a lot of dead people.
Both sides got gypped.
Death – The Great Equalizer
Don’t you mean – The Great Fertilizer
stegosaurus – the great Thagomizer
Tempted to quote Hamlet, but I don’t have the patience and I doubt you have the time to read it…
That’s just beautiful and poetic. Kudos to the people behind the plot and art of this comic.
any little bit of Vonnegut is a good little bit.
I’m glad that I’m not the only one to notice that on the first read-through.
That’s lovely.
Wish i believed anything like it, even a little bit.
Damn creepy necromancers playing hell with the natural order for their little egos! Those folks were supposed to haunt the landscape for centuries, but Gravedust just had to screw that all up.
As I was a-walking one morning at ease
A-viewing the leaves as they hung from the trees.
All in full motion appearing to be
And those that were withered, they fell from the trees
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
If you had seen the leaves just a few days ago,
How bright and how beautiful they all seemed to grow
A frost came and bit them and withered them all
A storm came upon them and down they did fall.
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
Now a man is like a leaf near the last autumn day
Revealing full colors while bearing decay.
Yet a man has a charge on the journey from seed:
His story to honor and calling to heed
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
But the life of mankind is the life of the tree
It grows in the roots, in the branches, the leaves
Although, when they fall, it may seem that it’s gone
In the seasonsth at follow, we see life goes on.
What’s the life of a man any more than a leaf?
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve?
Although in this world we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we must wither and soon fade away.
– Traditional. Additional verses by Barry Luft and Dave Watt.
nice. thanks for sharing
“Although in this world we appear fine and gay”
… HHHH, even on the internet you call me gay…
JUST BECAUSE I LIKE PINKIE PIE AND LUNA FROM MY LITTLE PONY, I’M NOT GAY, OKAY?
A little light in the hooves if you ask me, well, even if you don’t.
Looks at the ones seeking Death: “You mad, bro?”
TheAuldGrump…tyvm.
This is one of the most beautiful moments in this comic…
beautiful enough that I can’t make a pun out of it.
One part about this bugs me. Are the mystics that important, despite their small numbers, that all dead need them to send them to a different place? Or is this just Gravedust messing with the wood elven burial rituals?
Probably hes just helping their way to the afterlife. They can get on their way on their own but mystics expedite the process. Kinda like a Catalyst.
Avoids the whole lost souls and haunting bit for decades to come before they find their way to the afterlife.
Yeah, that’s the idea I got, too; mystics help the dead and related things. Help them along, help wandering ghosts find rest, etc.
I will confirm this: Their role is such that their rituals guarantee passage. It still happens plenty organically. And, as Marcus said, it helps expedite the process.
Yo, Gravytrain! Mind hoppin’ over to my world, for a bit? Me and Sam will buy you a brew, if you’ll do that voodoo that you do… ’cause we’re in kind of a stew.
We… uh… kinda’ broke the gates to Purgatory… again, and we could use a hand rounding up like a whole mess of spirits.
Jeez … there are even females among the fallen. Guess the Savage races earn their name.
For the last bubble-speech of Gravedust, I’d play some “Now, we are free.” from Gladiator soundtrack. Seems legit, right ?
There are female warriors all over the place in this series. You shouldn’t be too surprised when a few of them get killed in a battle.
Now if there were children among the dead thats a different story.
Don’t think there were, Marcus. All seem to be adult.
Uh … yeah, among the Avians, there are some female among their fighting units. But the female I spoke about were elves. And they looked nothing like soldiers, dressed in plain civvy clothes and all.
But well.
Also not a surprise, sadly – given the nature of the attack, they were basically out to raze the elven community. Women would have been (for their tactics and goals) fair game. It’s also very likely that those women died fighting, whether they were trained for it or not. Most of the elves don’t seem to be the type to faint at the first sign of danger…
It’s sad that they died, but really that is true of all dead, anywhere.
Dust. Wind. Dude.
Gold Star.
Platinum star?
IT’
gah, joke preempted by a screwy keyboard
‘S THE CIRCLE OF LIFE ~wailing chorus, elf is lifted to the sun on a cliff~
I counted like 6 dead people, was I close?
“Welcome to the Afterlife. Please form a single file line and wait your turn. Our representatives will be with you shortly to tally up your score and place you on the Leaderboards. You will then have the option of filling out a short survey before respawning in your factions graveyard. Thank you for participating in the “War of the Fruity Elves” server event, and have a wonderful day.”
I like how you used a ghost in the second panel to separate the two sides, it fits in well and doesn’t interrupt the panel while clearly striking a difference between the two groups and what they should expect.
death is the road to awe.
And then they respawn and rage about the instance being shut down so they can’t try again…
So it goes.
Slaughterhouse 5 is a great book.
In the next page, we find out this is actually an artillery strike.
It must be tough on ol’ Gravy – he looks thaumitized.
“Onwards and Upwards?” I didn’t think this was The Last Battle!
Soooo… When do I get to see Reepicheep?
Those who fought for death? Both sides were fighting for life.
Depends on your point of view, I suppose. After all, one side *did* want to destroy the woods and the elves in order to summon a giant fiery god of destruction.
Hat’s off for the mood and spirit(s) og this page, truly
Wow amazing wrting and art…very moving.