Rhan, I’m starting to think that’s possible, although I think it’s significant that shadow child’s a child. I don’t think they’re the same, but I definitely think they are related.
Well, I’m reasonably sure that Shadowchild is NOT Sweetgrass Voice, as the Oracular slug was seen in a panel some ways back saying that their “mission” such as it is, would surely fail if the shadowchild WASN’T with them. I would presume that, if demons that possess people are major bad mojo, demons that possess gods are undescribably worse.
Also if Shadowchild is a demon, it’s like Ed said – Demons are a bigness, not necessarily a wrongness. To paraphrase “Fire demon is being fire, not good, not bad, just fire.”
KNO3 said “Bind them both, not solve the problem. Always fix problems.”
That’s the challenge of dealing with gods: the problems they have (and cause) are all too often not on a mortal scale to fix, and if they don’t have deity-level allies or properly motivated enemies there’s not a lot they can do. So they enlist mortals, attempt to communicate with them in the midst of blinding pain (or equivalent) from their curse, and everything gets set just a few degrees to the blue of “corrected”.
I just caught up with the story – having only discovered Digger about eight days ago. Reading through the archives was a pleasure, and now it’s just the anticipation of updates! Yay!
And yes, I think Ed’s story of He-Is and She-Is will link back to this in some way. Although…maybe not in a way we expect.
never mind the truly rude and unappreciating nature of the “laziness” comment, but really, how else is Ursula supposed to illustrate a narrative about a mad god pleading for help through a sad bird?
It’s all dark grass, and the bird’s been getting smaller and smaller amongst it. Emptiness fits He-Is’ mental state with Sweetgrass Voice and his own sorrow crowding out the rest of his mind far better than anything else would.
If you remember Ed’s story, there were many who followed He-Is and the SweetGrass voice.
I’d bet my money that the evil hyenas (the “Cold Ones”) are either the same ones or the descendants of the original group.
Also, Shadowchild could still be born of He-Is bird form; nobody has asked how long the demonspawn was there, nor his age, and they never really tell how long Demons (or Shadowspawn or whatever he really is) are children. I doubt it personally, but it’s a valid theory nevertheless. The theory that shadowchild could be It-Might-Have-Been is probably more likely, all things considered.
The question I’m having is this: Was the reason shadowchild was sent to hear the story and, I don’t know, do some good with the knowledge, or was it already fulfilled by helping them out of the crevasse? I think that maybe, just maybe, he’s meant to eat SweetGrass Voice, but that theory’s a longshot considering the advantage of age, wisdom (and most importantly) power…. unless we’re assuming “Good” demons swat “Evil” demons like flies.
I gotta wonder if Ursula reads these posts and:
a) modifies the story to screw with us
b) writes the story based on our conversation (at least later in the story after she built the foundation)
c) doesn’t give a rats ass
d) just laughs at us tripping over ourselves
abb3w, what a wonderful theory, and I love the name “It-MIght-Have-Been” 🙂
I was thinking maybe the kingfisher was the heart of he-is (like the skin lizards said, about hearts of dead men becoming kingfishers), but now I doubt it, i don’t know, it seems to me that he-is wasn’t so dead back dead… but gods don’t die quite the same way common men do, apparently… I’m not sure anymore.
I agree with the theory that the Cold Servants are the descendants of the hyenas that followed He-Is underground. Furthermore, I believe that originally they honestly believed that they were doing good and following the wishes of their god, but they were mislead by SweetGrass Voice (who is, after all, quite adept at deception; he did fool a god into attacking his mate, after all … ).
Of course, in their present form I doubt the Cold Servants retain much of their original hyena personalities. Somehow SGV doesn’t strike me as a big fan of free will …
Dwarves with eyes of jade – a creepy image. Unless it just means they’ve got green eyes or a taste for fashionable green glasses.
That’s proper mythology-construction, the like of which is not often seen these days. *nods* Deep foundations, and well propped.
I have a feeling that a shadow might be coming in or out of this tale…
So Sweetgrass Voice dies when the god formerly known as He-is dies… that’d explain why he’s being kept alive but bound.
*laughs out loud* All that poetry, and then, “That would be us,” in this dry grim tone. *laughs and laughs*
… and the shadowchild came from out of a dead bird?
Oh Snap.
The wombats Do Not Approve, apparently. Oh, bless. Helix is adorable.
Go, wombats! Whoo!
Wombats are the best, man 😀 I feel bad for the god, though. That kingfisher is the saddest bird I’ve ever seen 🙁
I think this explanes why He-is is being kept alive. Sweetgrass-voice does not want to die.
Has anyone ever asked Shadowchild how long ago and out of what type of bird it hatched?
And what if Shadowchild were Sweetgrass voice?
No offense to the author but the art has been kind of lazy lately. How many more pages are going to just be a brid on a mostly empty background?
Rhan, I’m starting to think that’s possible, although I think it’s significant that shadow child’s a child. I don’t think they’re the same, but I definitely think they are related.
Lol, you can just hear the dry disapproval in that “That would be us”.
Hmm, this is all getting curiouser and curiouser
See, laziness. Bind them both, not solve the problem. Always fix problems.
And I would bet that Helix even said “Too much magic. Can’t promise it’ll hold.”
aha! so the dark servants are the servants of the demon, not the god. they keep the god alive so the demon will live.
Well, even if Shadowchild isn’t Sweetgrass Voice or otherwise related, I suspect he has a big part to play. Hehehe.
I wonder how this ties to the hyena’s history of madness?
Well, I’m reasonably sure that Shadowchild is NOT Sweetgrass Voice, as the Oracular slug was seen in a panel some ways back saying that their “mission” such as it is, would surely fail if the shadowchild WASN’T with them. I would presume that, if demons that possess people are major bad mojo, demons that possess gods are undescribably worse.
Also if Shadowchild is a demon, it’s like Ed said – Demons are a bigness, not necessarily a wrongness. To paraphrase “Fire demon is being fire, not good, not bad, just fire.”
KNO3 said “Bind them both, not solve the problem. Always fix problems.”
That’s the challenge of dealing with gods: the problems they have (and cause) are all too often not on a mortal scale to fix, and if they don’t have deity-level allies or properly motivated enemies there’s not a lot they can do. So they enlist mortals, attempt to communicate with them in the midst of blinding pain (or equivalent) from their curse, and everything gets set just a few degrees to the blue of “corrected”.
And in exchange we get a wonderful tale….
Light and laughter,
SongCoyote
I just caught up with the story – having only discovered Digger about eight days ago. Reading through the archives was a pleasure, and now it’s just the anticipation of updates! Yay!
And yes, I think Ed’s story of He-Is and She-Is will link back to this in some way. Although…maybe not in a way we expect.
I’m still leaning towards Shadowchild being the ghost of It-MIght-Have-Been, the unborn child-god of He-Is and She-Is.
Nice!
I love the wonderful poeticism of Hegi’s account–and then Helix’s comment at the end.
Beautifully done!
My sympathy for people who complain about the laziness of creators who have provided hundreds of great strips for free is…far less than zero.
I agree with you Treesong. Ursula is awsome.
never mind the truly rude and unappreciating nature of the “laziness” comment, but really, how else is Ursula supposed to illustrate a narrative about a mad god pleading for help through a sad bird?
My bet is the dark servants are the hyenas (or their descendants) who followed He-Is.
“Some follow Voice, and it. Not many. Most of tribe stay with She-is-Fiercer. Not match, any more, all tribe change by fight.”
And I hope the Shadowchild eats the shadow on He-Is, but I’m not confident enough to bet on that. 🙂
Laziness? It’s called symbolism.
It’s all dark grass, and the bird’s been getting smaller and smaller amongst it. Emptiness fits He-Is’ mental state with Sweetgrass Voice and his own sorrow crowding out the rest of his mind far better than anything else would.
If you remember Ed’s story, there were many who followed He-Is and the SweetGrass voice.
I’d bet my money that the evil hyenas (the “Cold Ones”) are either the same ones or the descendants of the original group.
Also, Shadowchild could still be born of He-Is bird form; nobody has asked how long the demonspawn was there, nor his age, and they never really tell how long Demons (or Shadowspawn or whatever he really is) are children. I doubt it personally, but it’s a valid theory nevertheless. The theory that shadowchild could be It-Might-Have-Been is probably more likely, all things considered.
The question I’m having is this: Was the reason shadowchild was sent to hear the story and, I don’t know, do some good with the knowledge, or was it already fulfilled by helping them out of the crevasse? I think that maybe, just maybe, he’s meant to eat SweetGrass Voice, but that theory’s a longshot considering the advantage of age, wisdom (and most importantly) power…. unless we’re assuming “Good” demons swat “Evil” demons like flies.
[/rant]
Perhaps the ghosts should take a look at shadowchild. I wonder what they would say?
I gotta wonder if Ursula reads these posts and:
a) modifies the story to screw with us
b) writes the story based on our conversation (at least later in the story after she built the foundation)
c) doesn’t give a rats ass
d) just laughs at us tripping over ourselves
🙂 just food for thought
abb3w, what a wonderful theory, and I love the name “It-MIght-Have-Been” 🙂
I was thinking maybe the kingfisher was the heart of he-is (like the skin lizards said, about hearts of dead men becoming kingfishers), but now I doubt it, i don’t know, it seems to me that he-is wasn’t so dead back dead… but gods don’t die quite the same way common men do, apparently… I’m not sure anymore.
I just read the story, and fell in love with it. Does it update often?
every tuesday and thursday, my friend 🙂
good to see you back around SongCoyote.
I agree with the theory that the Cold Servants are the descendants of the hyenas that followed He-Is underground. Furthermore, I believe that originally they honestly believed that they were doing good and following the wishes of their god, but they were mislead by SweetGrass Voice (who is, after all, quite adept at deception; he did fool a god into attacking his mate, after all … ).
Of course, in their present form I doubt the Cold Servants retain much of their original hyena personalities. Somehow SGV doesn’t strike me as a big fan of free will …
🙂