Good morning Vados! We have a story update for our Season 4 opener, VALLEY OF FEAR, with a comic by the incredibly talented Beau Lee and Aesa Garcia!
Aesa wrote the text for this comic, and is one of our Gamerunners for DR:TX. Beau completed the art for the comic and is one of our Storytellers for Season 4, and has designed several comics for us over the last few seasons, so you might recognize their art style.
This comic references some events that occurred during our last game of Season 3, and you can find a recap of THE CICATRIX here if you don’t recall what happened after the long summer.
COMIC: “INTO THE VALLEY OF FEAR”
By Aesa Garcia and Beau Lee
PAGE 1, Artwork by Beau Lee
First panel shows an overhead view of the floating city of Waking Prime, with dark smoke rising from it from the recent accident. Second panel shows the San Saba Board is meeting, Tabitha St. Mercy and Boss Wyatt are standing in front of the Chairman, who appears to be holding a dossier. The Chairman is cloaked in shadow.
Chairman: "Boss Wyatt, these allegations are very serious.”
PAGE 2, Artwork by Beau Lee
The Chairman appears to be referencing a length dossier of the crimes of Tabitha St. Mercy.
Chairman: “Warden Tabitha St. Mercy, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Tabitha, her eyes noticeably red: "What we've accomplished in Prudence Penitentiary in my time as Warden feeds my PRIDE."
Shot of Wyatt, scoffing, with noticeably blue eyes: "Your GREED, more like"
Shot of Tabitha glaring at Wyatt: "Whatever my critics may say, I have followed the mandate of this Board and the San Saba Territories are more lawful than ever."
PAGE 3, Artwork by Beau Lee
Chairman holding up hand for silence: "Still, what good is a Justice of Sin who is run out of her own Gauntlet?"
Flashback images to May’s Gauntlet, captioned with (Bravado, earlier this year).
First panel shows Tabitha aiming her deadly psionic gauntlet at Abe Callaghan. Second panel shows Imperius taking the blow that should have killed Abe instead, other vague silhouettes behind them of the crowd at the Gauntlet. Last panel shows Tabitha being led away in chains by two “Devil Dogs”, former mercenary bodyguards that turned on her and led to her capture.
PAGE 4, Artwork by Beau Lee
Back in the office on Waking Prime, with the Chairman seated at a desk facing Tabitha and Wyatt.
Wyatt to the Chairman: “Our constituents have spoken. They will riot if this Board cannot bring them true Justice. On their behalf, I demand the resignation of Tabitha St. Mercy as Warden, and her removal from this ruling body.”
Panel shows Tabitha, smirking back: “Despite their WRATH, I’m afraid it’s not so easy to remove me from this Board, Boss Wyatt. There are protocols, as a Law Dog should know.”
Panel shows Wyatt, disgruntled at being called out on politics, but silent.
Chairman, framed by the window behind him, answering Tabitha’s challenge: “Tabitha St. Mercy is correct. It takes more than one undisciplined mob to sway this board but…”
PAGE 5, Artwork by Beau Lee
Zoom in on the Chairman’s glasses, with his answer: “I intend to investigate these allegations thoroughly. You are hereby temporarily suspended as Warden until the Board’s investigation is complete.”
Shot of Tabitha: *shocked*, followed by a shot of Wyatt: *pleased*
Shot of Tabitha’s lips, as Tabitha begins to grin ominously. “Understood, Chairman. Fortunately I have already selected my interim Warden for my absence. And if the people of Bravado want to riot…”
PAGE 6, Artwork by Beau Lee
Final panel shows Tabitha in front, with the silhouettes of Lifers behind her, emphasizing the silhouette of Adam Moriarty, the Spider of Killhouse in the front center. The Lifers from left to right: Eyeless Jack, Juliet Butcher, The Saint of Three Mouths, and Sugargums.
Tabitha’s final words, in large text at the top of the panel: “We will indulge them.”
THE VALLEY OF FEAR
One last reminder of the Story Premise for Episode 1, along with our Story Update from last week.
Before the Burning Season forced the San Saba into hibernation for the summer, dramatic changes to law and order in the wastes took root thanks to the work of the citizens of the tiny town of Bravado. A new law banning the sale and trafficking of Crystal Candy, new faces and new voting members on the San Saba Board, a mysterious accident in the floating city of Waking, and now — a missing Warden.
Tabitha St. Mercy - hounded, hunted, betrayed - caught off guard by enterprising people in Bravado, has disappeared from Prudence Penitentiary. In her place, a new Warden has taken control. Adam Moriarty, former Lifer, has stepped out from the shadows and the effects have rippled across the San Saba Territories. While major changes have been occurring at the prison commonly called “Killhouse”, life in the San Saba Territories has grown more dangerous.
People have gone missing. Roving bands of Vigilantes, often called “puppies” in a deriding fashion by some, try and help the Law Dogs. Their goal is to help enforce the newest laws, especially against Crystal Candy, and if a few skulls get broken, such is the way of things in the wastes. The Justices of Sin are more prevalent than ever, under the orders of Moriarty to help quickly pass judgement so that the Law Dogs can continue their crusade. Moriarty has even helped Wyatt break the backs of the Rotgut Family, former purveyors of the largest Crystal Candy pipeline in the San Saba and now they too sit in Prudence Penitentiary.
Despite the Board’s bold action against the drug trade of the San Saba, a prophecy of trouble has come true. Crystal Candy is still in abundance, and new pipelines are sprouting like weeds. There are even rumors of new and more addictive variations making their way to the marketplace.
And then there is Bravado - breeding ground for Saints and Miscreants - stuck in the middle of these wars between law and order, in a valley of fear…
WRAP UP
We will have an update for some last minute Rules You Need to Know for this weekend on Wednesday as usual, but if you’ve been a particularly hyper fixated type of person, you might have a noticed a few site updates here or there already…
I can’t wait to see everyone this weekend for VALLEY OF FEAR!!!