The story itself

[WyrmMaster]

There are non-Morph squirrels in the original game -- they appear in some forest clearings when Kylas Honeyfoot is not there.

[WolfieInu]

Oh ja, them. . . but since there is also a reference to unmorphed foxes in the cartoon, I take it that all Morph (sub?)species have unmorphed equivalents? (But not every unmorphed animal species necessarily has a Morph equivalent.)

Or am I extrapolating too far now - are there some Morph kinds that no longer possess unmorphed variants?

Before I do things like some of the Star Wars Expanded Universe writers, who go off on a tangent and write stuff that contradicts canon facts...

[WolfieInu]

New comic: ja you see, Sandy? You asked for it, you got it. I like his expression in panel 3, you can almost feel sorry for him.

What I'm wondering is, what is he running to/from that he doesn't even want to let Rif into his confidence when he has every indication that Rif's only there to help? I'm thinking, either Sandy's just plain a fickle and self-centered individual, or something extremely unpleasant is after him...

[AllieFiona]

either Sandy's just plain a fickle and self-centered individual, or something extremely unpleasant is after him...

Or both.

[WolfieInu]

Wat 'n idee... perhaps the otter who's chasing him has a good motive, then

Otter: "Just trying to remove a pest from the surface of the Earth, Mr. Rif."
Rif: "What, Sandy?"
Otter: "Yes."
Rif: "But, why?"
Otter: "Eugenics."
Rif: "Go ahead..."

[cairn destop]

Thanks to this week's strip, had to do a modification to my soon-to-be posted story about Sandy's pre-history.  (Hoping I can post that in another 9 hours.)  Am also wishing the caption contest was still running.  The last panel would have Rif saying "Take one giant step forward."  That look on the fox's face is priceless.  A tip of the old fedora to the artist for that one.

Now I didn't want to be a thread (hedge)hog, but I do have a question about the previous week's strip.  Is Rif's foot injured or sore? 

Oh yes, and how many noticed the pictograms on the wall?  Looks like two humans, one in the rain and one dry.  (Look over Sandy's head.)  Can make out another by Rif's foot, but not sure if that isn't a repeat of the same etching.

[AllieFiona]

Ah, the rock carvings.  Here's a little mystery.  Those aren't rain clouds depicted on the cliff wall.  Can anyone out there tell us where they've been seen before?

[Oxanna]

Oh, ja, the giant protozoan... AGAIN!

I noticed the pictograms once while re-reading the comics for the 50th time. Three of them actually look like Rif, Okk and Eeah...
The carvings can't have been by Rats, for one thing. They look totally different from the paintings at the start of the game. In other words, those protozoan-stuff can't have been a mistake by the Rats. Thus, they must have been real... goodbye, all my favourite fan theories!

[cairn destop]

Ah, the rock carvings.  Here's a little mystery.  Those aren't rain clouds depicted on the cliff wall.  Can anyone out there tell us where they've been seen before?

Thought at first it was on the building where the Orb was guarded by the hares.  Then I thought of the rats.  Finally, I went to the dog castle.  Didn't see it at any of these places.  As to the "rain," I must admit my first impression was an artist effect for texture and dimension.

While we're discussing earlier strips, when will Elara reveal what she knows about Sandy?

[WyrmMaster]

While we're discussing earlier strips, when will Elara reveal what she knows about Sandy?

http://www.inherittheearth.net/comic.shtml?0076

[Oxanna]

Thought at first it was on the building where the Orb was guarded by the hares.  Then I thought of the rats.  Finally, I went to the dog castle.  Didn't see it at any of these places.

The 'rain cloud' was in a cave painting for the opening scene of the game. According to the cave painting, it chased away the Humans or something... (while you see that specific painting, the Rat who's reciting an ancient poem says, 'and we wonder, why did they leave..?')
The cliff is the only place the 'rain cloud' has been seen in the comic as far as I know, seeing as the Orb temple would be too new, the Rats' place made of steel or ceramic or something, and the Dog Castle made of bricks, which would make it hard for carving.

By the way - how come Rif can't climb mountains in the game (oh, boy, did that cause frustration !) but suddenly he can?
That specific mountain was easy to climb, yes, but how did it suddenly crop up?
Or, if its deeper into the Wild Lands, how did he get there without going through the only pass in the mountains: the Dog Castle?

[WolfieInu]

Maybe there was a rockfall or a mudslide?

[AllieFiona]

After confering with Joe, I've learned that the passage guarded by the Dogs is the only easy path into the Wild
Lands from the south.

Mama Bear's cave is close to the border of the Wild lands.  Getting to the heart pf it (as we've seen Rif and Sandy attempt to do) is not so easy.

[Oxanna]

Wish Rif was in the mood to hike in the game . Then again, the game would be much shorter...
Acutally, I'm glad he was too lazy.

[cairn destop]

So the only place this particular pictograph appears is in the game.  Hedgehog feels like he was asked a question that couldn't be answered unless he had the game.  Most diabolical, and a sneeky way of getting in a plug for the game. 

The comment about them not being rain clouds has me wondering what it could be, but not that curious to delve into that mystery just yet.