Comic:Tales of the Traveling Gnome
From CGWiki
| Tales of the Traveling Gnome | |
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| Artist: | Michelle Mayo |
| Writer: | Matt Summers |
| Characters: | Dottiar, gnome sorcerer; Lizelle, human healer; Aroni, halfelf ranger; Svein & Sven, human barbarians; Imp, familiar to Dottiar; Tobec, human thief |
| Updates: | monthly |
| Began: | January 2005 |
| Ended: | ongoing |
| Art style: | realistic serial |
| Rating: | Web-14 |
| Website | Website |
Contents |
About TTG
A collaborative comic between Michelle Mayo (dragonmajik on the forums, artist) and Matt Summers (netpoet on the forums, writer) that came from a small story Matt wrote for one of Michelle's pictures once upon a while ago... the original short story has now become the first chapter of this tale, with more chapters very likely to follow. TTG is the story of Dottiar, a gnome sorcerer, and his creation of his memoirs.
The story itself focuses on all the adventures, trials and tribulations that he experienced during his youth. The story is linear and long; the first chapter alone will likely be over 40 pages. The page creation is in the hands of the wonderfully talented Michelle, who gives us a remarkable vision into a world of conflict:
The pages come monthly, as Michelle only has a few days a week to work on the pages. The story is rated PG-13 for violence and some language. In 2006, Michelle was nominated as the best Artist for 2006 by the WCCA awards.
Plot Summary
Warning, potential spoilers ahead
plot synopsys as of June 2007's comic
The story begins with Dottiar, the gnome for whom the comic is named, is writing his journal in his elder years. His thoughts wander back to the many things that happened to him and his friends, and the chapter begins with the group arriving at a broken down castle in search of the Amulet of Ba'ra.
Immediately upon entering the castle, they are attacked by glass golems. Sven, one of the barbarian twins, is killed immediately, sending his twin Svein into a berserk rage. Svein is cut down just as Aroni tries to reach her, and Aroni is forced to drag her body to safety as Dottiar holds off the golems.
Once secured behind a magically-sealed area off the main hallway, the group is allowed a chance to recover. Lizelle is introduced then as the party's main healing spellcaster, and she sets about the task of returning the barbarian twins to life while Aroni and Dottiar venture further into the castle in search of a way out that avoids the still-waiting glass golems.
During this search, Aroni and Dottiar run into their wayward rogue, Tobec. It is revealed that Tobec brought them here specifically to bring Lizelle to the Sorceress, and a fight begins between him and Aroni. The fight is over quickly, though Tobec reveals his sneaky nature as he flees the scene after a hobgoblin springs a trap of undetermined strength and origin.
When the trap explodes, Svein(freshly revived from the dead) and Lizelle are startled. When Svein threatens to leave to go find the others, even weaponless and without a shred of clothing from the waist up, Lizelle is forced to reason with the barbarian to get her to stay behind until her brother is also returned from the dead. Svein finally reluctantly agrees.
When Dottiar awakens, he discovered that though he'd survived, the floor underneath them had collapsed, dropping at least himself and very likely Aroni into a tunnel of some form. When he began his search to find Aroni, he found himself surrounded by hobgoblins and, being still somewhat rattled from the exploding trap, rather defenseless.
Characters
Dottiar
Dottiar is a gnome sorcerer that is whom the comic is named after. He travels with Lizelle as her erstwhile defender, and though he is strong with sorcery, still retains some of the healing abilities he received when he was training as a healer/priest. Logical thinker and the voice of reason, Dottiar is the cautious one of the group.
Aroni
Aroni is a half-elf mercenary that travels with the group as its natural leader. He is very forceful and set in his ways, and expects people to follow what he wishes to happen. A skilled fighter and defender.
Imp
Imp is Dottiar's familiar, and her presence gives Dottiar a much greater control over the element of fire. Not much has been revealed about her presence and origins at this time.
Lizelle
Lizelle is the healer/priestess that is one of the strongest of her kind to been seen in many, many generations. She is even able to bring back the recently dead, a fact of which likely will be beneficial quite often, if the deaths of Sven and Svein so early into the first chapter are any indication of their path. She is best friends with Dottiar, and he travels with her to keep her safe.
Sven and Svein
Barbarian twins that provide the heavy muscle for the group, both of these two died during the first few pages of TTG. Lizelle will be able to bring them back to life, however, and more will be revealed about these two then.
Tobec
Tobec is the rogue that brought them to this castle in the first place, triggered the trap that now keeps them prisoner within the castle walls, and has now triggered the trap that could potentially kill Aroni and Dottiar. He is working for the Sorceress Jeneia, of which very little has been revealed to this point.
Sorceress Jeneia
Not much has been revealed of the Sorceress to this point. She has lived over two hundred years at least, and her home is guarded by hobgoblins and glass golems.
