The Low Roads, Chapter 7 (comic: M/F, full body).

[Low_Roads]

Thank you for the thoughtful follow-up, Moonknight! I'll do my best to address each of your main points:

Quasi-matter. Wow. That's quite an intriguing concept, LR. I can't wait to see how Mercy first comes to the realization that she can indeed manipulate her environment in the dreamworld. She's a strong-willed girl, and I can imagine her really coming into her own and becoming quite a force to be reckoned with.

Mercy's efforts toward mastery of Dreamtime will be achingly laborious (nothing comes easy for this contrary girl!), and others will be seen making meaningful strides before she does. I don't have all the details settled yet, but expect to see something dramatic around Chapter 14 or 15... the full capabilities of matter manipulation explored (as well as its application outside the sleeping realm.

I'll also have to go back and re-read the chapter, searching for those "below the radar" shout-outs. I think I've detected another relating to Sephie's dreamtime persona, but it would be presumptuous of me to bring it to the fore. 😉

I got into trouble originally by being tricky and non-specific, so I'll just come clean and say:

The Cheshire Cat figure in the Gloominvald was inspired by the talented fetish artist Cheshire Cat. I never checked with him about a tribute, as he doesn't seem to be around anymore (plus, he and I never became friends, and I'm expending my effort on folks for whom I've developed personal affection), so the cameo can't really be considered as official (which gives me room to hide, in case he comes back some day and gripes about it! XD)

The dream-knight was originally conceived as a Kalamos tribute. Due to vagaries in a rather tangled production schedule (plus 9 months off in 2006), I lost touch with the original inspiration and started developing the character independent of its created purpose. I remembered it again during the coloring process... far too late to fix things without completely re-doing the artwork. I hadn't gotten Kal's okay, anyway. I'll come up with something else appropriate for him very soon.

On a related note, I wonder if the armoured Sephie who rode to our heroine's rescue was merely a creation of Mercy's mind (a subconscious conception of her big sister made manifest by her burgeoning matter-manipulating abilities) or if Sephie's own dreamself somehow entered the fray unbidden.

This will receive mention in Chapter 10, but it can't hurt to explain things now. The knight persona was created by Sephie as part of her dream logic (she happened to be asleep and dreaming at the time). She's naturally selfless, a take-charge type, and that attribute is ingrained into her subconscious mind. The specialized matter of Dreamtime is meant to be manipulated by dreamers... it's there to shape the sleeper's dream reality.

BTW, I enjoyed the patois once again. The knight's Shakespearian dialect was a nice touch, as was LBH's archetypal villain speech upon his adversary's approach.

Thank you! I really enjoy playing with the dialogue! In a sense, there was no way I could get the Old English speech wrong... any errors could always be chalked up to Sephie's false impressions, as her modern mind created it (same as I was doing when I wrote it).

 

[moonknight80200]

Ah, so Sephie was involved! Cool! I hope I haven't caused you to give away too much. Perhaps you'd have preferred to keep the below-the-radar tributes below-the-radar. Here's hoping my inquisitive nature hasn't caused you any undue consternation.

OK, I've delayed your return to the drawing board long enough, so I'll leave you be.

P.S. - Please don't forget about our intrepid reporter, Sparrow Hall!

Moonknight

 

[Low_Roads]

Ah, so Sephie was involved! Cool! I hope I haven't caused you to give away too much. Perhaps you'd have preferred to keep the below-the-radar tributes below-the-radar. Here's hoping my inquisitive nature hasn't caused you any undue consternation.

Not in the slightest! I've deeply appreciated your continued inquiries! Makes me feel as though I've done my job, to have inspired this sort of ongoing interest! All the details I've unveiled have been carefully considered... I can't imagine any of it will distract from from the main show or spoil continuity.

Please don't forget about our intrepid reporter, Sparrow Hall!

Sparrow will be back at the beginning of Chapter 8, a short appearance to help establish her motivations for future action. Have no fears! I'm determined that none of the characters I've introduced will receive short shrift!

OK, I've delayed your return to the drawing board long enough, so I'll leave you be.

Back I go! Actually, the next submission will be a slight detour (a sort of Chapter 7.5)... an idea suggested by a fellow forum member that should make for an entertaining interlude! It will be shorter than a normal chapter, and thus ready before too long!

 

[isabeau]

damn..i thought of the Cheshire Cat also...ok you owe me big lol...i have read all these chapters, with my computer running slow as molasses..grrr but i keep my word, and when i said i was going to do a search of your work i meant that...this series is sooo compellingly written..do you by any chance write stories other than cartoon thingies? i would love to read any that you might have written..and your artwork is so amazingly detailed...

*bump

 

[Low_Roads]

damn..i thought of the Cheshire Cat also...ok you owe me big lol...i have read all these chapters, with my computer running slow as molasses..grrr but i keep my word, and when i said i was going to do a search of your work i meant that...this series is sooo compellingly written..do you by any chance write stories other than cartoon thingies? i would love to read any that you might have written..and your artwork is so amazingly detailed...

*bump

Isabeau, I'd like to thank you once again for all the interest and support you've shown! It means a great deal to have a new friend here at the TMF! I do have further literature to offer, though most of it can only be found at the TTC (most of it in their new Non-tk Stories section... I go by "Littlebighead" over there). Also an 800+ page non-tk comic story called "Spectacles of Doom" in their Non-tk Art section. Thanks so much for asking!

PS: Here are links to all the literature and comix I've submitted to the TTC. Some of these threads contain only partially finished material:

Spectacles of Doom: A very long sci-fi graphic novel; completed:

http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=28821

Lord of the Wrongs: X-rated Tolkein parody, in screenplay form; completed:

http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=34195

Tales From the Low Roads: A series of horror short-stories in the style of urban folklore. Not related to the fetish comic, but with cross-over elements; just begun (only one story so far):

http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=35969

Pokemon Poetry: Pokemon-themed poems; just begun (only a handfull so far):

http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=35809

Vintage Scripts: 1970s-era screenplays for prospective super-8 film projects; just begun (only half of one, so far):

http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=36097