35.01 Let Horse be Bridled, Horn be Sounded!
“Let Horse be Bridled, Horn be Sounded!” Well, this comic did get delayed – I caught the seasonal sick and that took the wind out of my sail. So, getting this up late Friday/early Saturday was a no-go. I was planning on doing another comic for this Friday but we might have to wait until 2026. If so, I hope you all have a Happy Holiday! Now to the comic.
Are you surprised at what was inside the gift? It only made a couple appearances: seen in the very first comic, and then its fate referenced soon after. Apparently, it got better! And I’m sure you all know the four from before. Besides being introduced when the hobby-horse was “leaving”, they had a tendency of showing here and there… and apparently have a room next door. What are the chances?
Be careful out there.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1
From a bird's eye view of a room door upstairs inside the tavern, a long, thin package with a large section at the top, wrapped up in a sack and tied up tight with leather laces, lies across the threshold.
Panel 2
It is the point of view of Hob, who's gnomish arm - disguised like the rest of the gobos by illusory magic - reaches down to pick up the package.
Panel 3
In a closeup, Hob holds the item with large side up at arms length while pulling a leather lace with the other hand, staring at the top section intensely, yet with a touch of hope...
Panel 4
...that is rewarded as the wrapping falls away revealing the top of the hobbyhorse that was left broken back at their cave. Hob smiles, a tear welling up in one eye.
Panel 5
A wider shot of the balcony shows Hob, wiping away the tear, Nak glancing left with one hand on a sword hilt and the other carrying a twine-tied box, and Fip strolling in from the right, trying to catch a glimpse of what Hob is holding. Puccini is behind the archer, his hand just in frame.
Nak, whispering: "<They're here. Somewhere.>"
Panel 6
While Hob - cheeks dry - is still awed by the surprise, Fip comes in close and sets a hand on an armored shoulder. Recognition strikes the archer suddenly. Nak straightens and glances right and as a mostly obscured Puccini comes to a stop and askes a question...
Puccini, whispering: "Who? Those thugs?"
Panel 7
...Nak glances up to respond as the camera zooms in. But before the response can be given, Fip turns a head, full of excitement, and gives Puccini the information.
Nak, whispering: "<No. They are - - >
Fip, interrupting: "<It's the four from before!>"
Panel 8
Realizing the exhilaration had elevated the volume of the spoken words, Fip clenches and freezes, a claw-like hand never making it to cover a mouth and eyes full of fright. Nak's head lowers and appears to be looking right at the viewer, eye twitching slightly.
Panel 9
The left half of the group looks down the left side of the balcony. The nearest is a wild-eyed Nik with a dagger raised in one hand, the other - like Nak - still carrying a package, with an intense and determined Hob just behind. Fip, hand still on the right scale-clad shoulder, peeks around Hob's helmet tentatively.
Panel 10
From their point of view, the balcony is empty, save for a single padded chair at the the end of the walkway set under a window. The moon is just visible in the night sky.
Nik, whispering offscreen: "<Clear.>"
Panel 11
The right half of the group looks down the right side of the balcony. Wak lets both packages drop to the floor, spreading arms wide and getting into a lower stance to charge forth with a snarl. Puccini - from what can be seen of him in the shot - has turned away from Nak, hand raised in case a spell needs to be cast. From behind a calm yet scowling Nak, Fip turns and leans back into view to join the three in their observation.
Panel 12
From their point of view, they can see the walkway that runs the length above the bar and three room doors along the upper level wall, along with the stairs that run parallel to their balcony. But theirs is occupied by Pōk, who has finally caught up with the rest of them. Still holding the stack of tied up fabric items, the one-eyed gobo, responds to the stares curiously.
Pōk, whispering: "<Clear?>"
Panel 13
In a closer shot than before, Fip curls up some, defensive with a shameful expression and tapping forefingers together as Nak turns to the archer with scolding scorn.
Nak, whispering: "<Sloppy.>"
Panel 14
The view switched to Puccini who watches the conversation, specifically Fip (offscreen)...
Nak, whispering offscreen: "<You know better. Raising voices in unsecure areas? You put us at risk.>"
Panel 15
...before his eyes shift over to Nak (offscreen), his demeanor becoming insistent and halting.
Puccini, whispering: "Hey. No one heard a thing. Let's just move this into the rooms."
Panel 16
From just over the shoulder of Puccini and looking down, Nak has turned towards the wizard and conveys compliance with a gesture of the hand. Pōk is just entering the scene, having picked up the pace to go to Fip, who's head hang lows. Hob quietly observes the archer, the hobbyhorse and box the armored gobo set on the floor quickly forgotten. In the back, Nik still stands alert looking down the balcony for anyone who might exit a room.
Nak: "<Agreed.>"
From a bird's eye view of a room door upstairs inside the tavern, a long, thin package with a large section at the top, wrapped up in a sack and tied up tight with leather laces, lies across the threshold.
Panel 2
It is the point of view of Hob, who's gnomish arm - disguised like the rest of the gobos by illusory magic - reaches down to pick up the package.
Panel 3
In a closeup, Hob holds the item with large side up at arms length while pulling a leather lace with the other hand, staring at the top section intensely, yet with a touch of hope...
Panel 4
...that is rewarded as the wrapping falls away revealing the top of the hobbyhorse that was left broken back at their cave. Hob smiles, a tear welling up in one eye.
Panel 5
A wider shot of the balcony shows Hob, wiping away the tear, Nak glancing left with one hand on a sword hilt and the other carrying a twine-tied box, and Fip strolling in from the right, trying to catch a glimpse of what Hob is holding. Puccini is behind the archer, his hand just in frame.
Nak, whispering: "<They're here. Somewhere.>"
Panel 6
While Hob - cheeks dry - is still awed by the surprise, Fip comes in close and sets a hand on an armored shoulder. Recognition strikes the archer suddenly. Nak straightens and glances right and as a mostly obscured Puccini comes to a stop and askes a question...
Puccini, whispering: "Who? Those thugs?"
Panel 7
...Nak glances up to respond as the camera zooms in. But before the response can be given, Fip turns a head, full of excitement, and gives Puccini the information.
Nak, whispering: "<No. They are - - >
Fip, interrupting: "<It's the four from before!>"
Panel 8
Realizing the exhilaration had elevated the volume of the spoken words, Fip clenches and freezes, a claw-like hand never making it to cover a mouth and eyes full of fright. Nak's head lowers and appears to be looking right at the viewer, eye twitching slightly.
Panel 9
The left half of the group looks down the left side of the balcony. The nearest is a wild-eyed Nik with a dagger raised in one hand, the other - like Nak - still carrying a package, with an intense and determined Hob just behind. Fip, hand still on the right scale-clad shoulder, peeks around Hob's helmet tentatively.
Panel 10
From their point of view, the balcony is empty, save for a single padded chair at the the end of the walkway set under a window. The moon is just visible in the night sky.
Nik, whispering offscreen: "<Clear.>"
Panel 11
The right half of the group looks down the right side of the balcony. Wak lets both packages drop to the floor, spreading arms wide and getting into a lower stance to charge forth with a snarl. Puccini - from what can be seen of him in the shot - has turned away from Nak, hand raised in case a spell needs to be cast. From behind a calm yet scowling Nak, Fip turns and leans back into view to join the three in their observation.
Panel 12
From their point of view, they can see the walkway that runs the length above the bar and three room doors along the upper level wall, along with the stairs that run parallel to their balcony. But theirs is occupied by Pōk, who has finally caught up with the rest of them. Still holding the stack of tied up fabric items, the one-eyed gobo, responds to the stares curiously.
Pōk, whispering: "<Clear?>"
Panel 13
In a closer shot than before, Fip curls up some, defensive with a shameful expression and tapping forefingers together as Nak turns to the archer with scolding scorn.
Nak, whispering: "<Sloppy.>"
Panel 14
The view switched to Puccini who watches the conversation, specifically Fip (offscreen)...
Nak, whispering offscreen: "<You know better. Raising voices in unsecure areas? You put us at risk.>"
Panel 15
...before his eyes shift over to Nak (offscreen), his demeanor becoming insistent and halting.
Puccini, whispering: "Hey. No one heard a thing. Let's just move this into the rooms."
Panel 16
From just over the shoulder of Puccini and looking down, Nak has turned towards the wizard and conveys compliance with a gesture of the hand. Pōk is just entering the scene, having picked up the pace to go to Fip, who's head hang lows. Hob quietly observes the archer, the hobbyhorse and box the armored gobo set on the floor quickly forgotten. In the back, Nik still stands alert looking down the balcony for anyone who might exit a room.
Nak: "<Agreed.>"
THE ADVENTURERS FIXED THE HOBBY HORSE!? 🤩 doees this mean they’re friendly to the gobos?!?!