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Howdy, New Readers! Thanks for reading Exiern!
Written by Scott T. Hicken with art by Antipus, the comic updates Mondays. Please check out the Archive to enjoy the earlier adventures of Typh and Peonie!
Exiern contains mature themes and is best for readers 18+.
So no one else noticed how decidedly non-Medieval that last room appears—compared to everything else in this world. In fact, the tiles on the wall and floor look like a shower room in a 20th-Centery-or-later gym.
@ Chaucer, there are certainly quite a few oddities in the Exiern universe. Some characters, like Faden, have knowledge of things like Hallmark Cards, and Typh knows about “Demons that attack with their genitals.” As well as at least one shopkeeper that carries outfits for “magical girls.” Whatever the Darkness that is. 😉 As for our good king, OUCH! Those are some scars.
I can wait to see the document, certainly I can wait through half a dozen strips of Urtica taking his long soapy shower. Dialogue isn’t even necessary.
The Romans had elaborately tiled bath houses, with glazed tiles, so I don’t see his bathing area as being unrealistic in construction. In mediaeval era the technology was available, even if unfashionable.
Yes, kiddies, I’m aware of the sprinkling of anachronisms throughout the Exierniverse. Generally they haven’t been quite so blatantly architectural (one exception—the windows in Princess P’s bedroom).
Roman glazed tiles never had that perfectly uniform, mass-produced look you see in Urtica’s shower room, nor were Roman or Medieval (or any prior to the 20th Century) ever as bright as modern titanium-white glazes.
Chaucer59@ there a lot of assumptions here. First that Exierniverse is Primitive Medieval its not.Nor was it ever stated it was anywear. We Seen Robots Cyborgs and Glasses.
Second That there no mass-produced Products.. Mass-produced Products was a Henry Ford Technique and had Nothing to do with Science teck Level. And Could be applied to any civilization. ne man fits the parts together, so that the bolt holes come right. The next man fits the bolt holes into place. The next has a pan of nuts before him and all day he scoops them up and with his fingers starts them on the thread of the bolts. The next man has a wrench and he gives the final twist that makes them tight… I believe Exierniverse more like early Japan or Pre Renaissance Europe Repressing Technology to remain in control. But Never once has it been stated that Exierniverse is a Medieval world in Fact as I said Quite the Opposite. It was once said a long time ago that Science was treated as sort of like Necromancy.. Yes we can do it but WHY! It’s Evil! It was way back When Tiff got turned into a cyborg after drinking a Science based healing poition and the story was all a dream and later retconned (or deleted). Point is they got Science there just not fond of it. And are they wrong? Look what Environmental Damage its done here.
For those of you worried that the perfectly symmetrical tile layout does not match the ‘ambiance’ of the period, I have two words for you: Artistic Expedience. You try drawing several hundred little squares totally by hand.
Ancient tech. That might not be a bathroom after all. Whatever it is, it’s clearly a private royal chamber… and it might very well be constructed by the same authorities responsible for the robot guards and the high tech prison with doors that Samus Aran might shoot at before walking through. After all, kings traditionally ruled by Divine Mandate.
For me, the “primary assumption” has nothing to do with technology level. It’s that the entire esthetic is a mismatch with the rest of the Exiern world. There’s nothing in the image that couldn’t be done in medieval times, or for that matter by the Romans or even classical Greeks; it just doesn’t look right.
Looks like the king is not going to let a good opportunity like Tiff’s banishing go to waste. Banished yes still working for him for sure.
If you don’t have plans in your plan then you are not planning enough.
@50srefugee thats kind my point. It’s that the entire esthetic is a mismatch IS EXIERN WORLD! Robots and Swords Barbarians and Mages With Dragons And Cyborgs…
Two things:
1- I hope wherever it is, Typh doesn’t need a sword. Doesn’t have one any more and it could get a Lil Bit tetchy with out one if it was needed.
2- My, isn’t he in good form for a seemingly old bird. That’s one fine fiddle of a fit rooster right there. Complete with the cock-fighting scars. If the new “queen” is of the mind, there won’t be any shortage of eye candy in That royal chamber bedroom.
~I’m still not sure of which side the bread’s buttered for the new queen even if we’ve been given a clue about Typh.~
@Chaucer
There is really no difference between the tiles in the pictured bath and tiles you would find in a fancy Roman villa – 2000 years ago
Some things are just timeless.
Okay – what is Mr Devious up yo now?
I am hoping that those scars are from battle and not from self inflicted um… “fun”
Presumably, those scars are from a time when he was busy not being an excellent statesman.
@Mark: it doesn’t need to be self-inflicted to be fun.
So no one else noticed how decidedly non-Medieval that last room appears—compared to everything else in this world. In fact, the tiles on the wall and floor look like a shower room in a 20th-Centery-or-later gym.
Oh, I can’t wait to see what King Fine Print is up to.
@ Chaucer, there are certainly quite a few oddities in the Exiern universe. Some characters, like Faden, have knowledge of things like Hallmark Cards, and Typh knows about “Demons that attack with their genitals.” As well as at least one shopkeeper that carries outfits for “magical girls.” Whatever the Darkness that is. 😉 As for our good king, OUCH! Those are some scars.
I can wait to see the document, certainly I can wait through half a dozen strips of Urtica taking his long soapy shower. Dialogue isn’t even necessary.
The Romans had elaborately tiled bath houses, with glazed tiles, so I don’t see his bathing area as being unrealistic in construction. In mediaeval era the technology was available, even if unfashionable.
Yes, kiddies, I’m aware of the sprinkling of anachronisms throughout the Exierniverse. Generally they haven’t been quite so blatantly architectural (one exception—the windows in Princess P’s bedroom).
Roman glazed tiles never had that perfectly uniform, mass-produced look you see in Urtica’s shower room, nor were Roman or Medieval (or any prior to the 20th Century) ever as bright as modern titanium-white glazes.
Chaucer59@ there a lot of assumptions here. First that Exierniverse is Primitive Medieval its not.Nor was it ever stated it was anywear. We Seen Robots Cyborgs and Glasses.
Second That there no mass-produced Products.. Mass-produced Products was a Henry Ford Technique and had Nothing to do with Science teck Level. And Could be applied to any civilization. ne man fits the parts together, so that the bolt holes come right. The next man fits the bolt holes into place. The next has a pan of nuts before him and all day he scoops them up and with his fingers starts them on the thread of the bolts. The next man has a wrench and he gives the final twist that makes them tight… I believe Exierniverse more like early Japan or Pre Renaissance Europe Repressing Technology to remain in control. But Never once has it been stated that Exierniverse is a Medieval world in Fact as I said Quite the Opposite. It was once said a long time ago that Science was treated as sort of like Necromancy.. Yes we can do it but WHY! It’s Evil! It was way back When Tiff got turned into a cyborg after drinking a Science based healing poition and the story was all a dream and later retconned (or deleted). Point is they got Science there just not fond of it. And are they wrong? Look what Environmental Damage its done here.
Has anyone else gotten an ominous “King’s gonna get shanked in the bath” vibe?
For those of you worried that the perfectly symmetrical tile layout does not match the ‘ambiance’ of the period, I have two words for you: Artistic Expedience. You try drawing several hundred little squares totally by hand.
Tiles were indeed available at the time, as Random22 pointed out. More than that… technology does exist in this setting:
http://www.exiern.com/2009/07/16/push/
Ancient tech. That might not be a bathroom after all. Whatever it is, it’s clearly a private royal chamber… and it might very well be constructed by the same authorities responsible for the robot guards and the high tech prison with doors that Samus Aran might shoot at before walking through. After all, kings traditionally ruled by Divine Mandate.
Hmmm… signs of a little self-flagellation there?
I’m thinking it’s traces of the most skilled assassins that were sent his way before people learned better. 🙂
Remember what the Dragon Lady said, “Remember what I am to you” or something like that. Those could be claw marks…
@jonathan d wint:
For me, the “primary assumption” has nothing to do with technology level. It’s that the entire esthetic is a mismatch with the rest of the Exiern world. There’s nothing in the image that couldn’t be done in medieval times, or for that matter by the Romans or even classical Greeks; it just doesn’t look right.
Looks like the king is not going to let a good opportunity like Tiff’s banishing go to waste. Banished yes still working for him for sure.
If you don’t have plans in your plan then you are not planning enough.
He looks pleased with the destination
Wait! Why is he leaving it out in the open like that? o_O
Those are not flagellation marks
I don’t care about the tile work, looks high grade to me. What I wonder is if his new bride is going to be joining him in the shower 🙂
@50srefugee thats kind my point. It’s that the entire esthetic is a mismatch IS EXIERN WORLD! Robots and Swords Barbarians and Mages With Dragons And Cyborgs…
Two things:
1- I hope wherever it is, Typh doesn’t need a sword. Doesn’t have one any more and it could get a Lil Bit tetchy with out one if it was needed.
2- My, isn’t he in good form for a seemingly old bird. That’s one fine fiddle of a fit rooster right there. Complete with the cock-fighting scars. If the new “queen” is of the mind, there won’t be any shortage of eye candy in That royal chamber bedroom.
~I’m still not sure of which side the bread’s buttered for the new queen even if we’ve been given a clue about Typh.~
I vote the king is going to change into a frilly dress and dance in front of the mirror. No, y
@Bad Taiming By George, I think you’ve got it. Seriously though, I would not be surprised if this turns out to be the case
Hi Scott,
Please email me at podcast@patreon.com? I can’t get through to you via email and would like to talk with you for the podcast.
@Chaucer
There is really no difference between the tiles in the pictured bath and tiles you would find in a fancy Roman villa – 2000 years ago
Some things are just timeless.