Annotated 28-28
I added roughly the second half of Harky’s speech here, addressing the conflicts of mentorship and his decision. I feel like he pretty well speaks for himself, there.
Pages from a discarded draft, which emphasized strength of character more but made Tectonicus less of a presence:
PAGE TWENTY-FOUR
- Harky’s hand grasps Penk’s wrist and hauls it up. This panel extends the height of the page.
HARKY
Well done.
- Harky pulls Penk’s whole body up with one hand. Such feats are easy for him. Penk, exhausted from the trials of the last few days, can barely speak.
PENK
But… But I failed.
HARKY
This was not a test of strength, Penk.
HARKY
It was a test of will.
HARKY
The will to break through all your limits, to persevere even when defeat seems certain.
HARKY
Will has to exist within you.
- As Harky sets Penk down, the Fireseye, the jewel in Harky’s gut, begins to glow brightly, becoming the principal light source in the scene. Harky looks down at it, and with his other hand, begins to reach for it.
HARKY
Strength can be acquired.
PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
Panel 4 is twice as tall as the other three. The money shot.
- Harky pulls out the Fireseye, and pulls out some of his own flesh with it. Trolls heal quickly, but a gesture like this isn’t painless, even to Harky. Penk, sitting up but not yet able to stand despite his interest, makes his confusion plain.
PENK
But… you’re the avatar…
HARKY
HRAAAANGK
- Reasonably close on Harky, allowing for speech balloon space. He grimaces with pain and determination.
HARKY
I no longer need the Fireseye, Penk…!
HARKY
It has done its work on me.
- Harky’s hand holds the troll-blooded Fireseye– which still shines brightly in the places it isn’t stained.
- Penk writhes in pain as the Fireseye buries itself in his gut. He begins to transform into the larger, stronger version of himself we described while laying out this chapter, but we may not see the Fireseye’s full effect on him until the next page.
PENK
UhhhhhaaaaAAAARGH!
PENK
Chieftain, my blood… my blood is boiling! Please…
HARKY
So did mine, at the end of my trials.
HARKY
I have given you agency, my herald.
HARKY
I have given you the future of the trollish race.
CAPTION
“I have given these Champions the Fireseye…”
Behold! Penkatron!
Not sure I follow “I will take your place… as you took mine?”
Is that : Harky will be the champion if Penk dies here, since Penk “took Harky’s place” at doing the trials? If Penk dies though, presumably it wasn’t “his place” after all, right?
You have it. Harky has already picked Penk for the Champions, so it’s already Penk’s spot as far as Harky’s concerned.
I like how you took the concept of “trolls with jewels in their bellies” and made it HARDCORE.