#have you heard about kingsgate?

[overstockedterrarium]

Healing regen so good I’ll never let this woman stay dead

[bobthedragon]

I really want cuttlefish fun facts now

I've been Struggling bc of the horrors lately but for you, anon (and for elliot), I crawled myself up to talk about cuttlefish!!

it's been a bit since I drew the cuttlefish page but I read and forgot so many facts about them at the time.

-> Kingsgate link to the page this is about: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=43

transcript under the cut!

---

Elliot, panel 1: "Okay, BEFORE this asshole gets to say his Obnoxious Shit on Saturday--" he says while physically grabbing Kid's face to get him to shut up Kid, muffled: "Riven- Riven you're-- Riven..."

panel 2: a cuttlefish. "First off-- Cuttlefish have 3 (three) hearts. 1 systemic heart and 2 branchial hearts. <- these supplement the gills specifically"

panel 3: a cuttlefish. "Cuttlefish also change color Mechanically* by inflating and deflating pigmented sacs, simulating specific hues similar to a CRT TV." There is a footnote that says "Simplification. *They use Several methods to display colors, that's just one"

[vikingwitchling]

Draqrin entered the room in complete silence. Didn't even spare me a look until he had unfastened his cloak and thrown it aside. I didn't move an inch, my bare feet firmly planted to the stone floors. My heart was pounding hard within my chest as if it was trying to break free, and I feared he would hear it. That he would feed off my fear and greedily try to push it farther. After all, wasn't that what the Darklings were known for? Sadistic, egocentric creatures who loathed the Light Elves.

A hatred forged long ago in a time forgotten by my generation, so deeply rooted in their souls and flesh it would never fade. Why had he agreed to marry me? Was it simply to please his father, the king? Was he frightened of what the king might do should he refuse? Or did he truly believe that by entering into an eternal union with the Light Princess, he would have a claim to the throne of Kingsgate? I dreaded to think of what would become of me when they realized. That instead of the coveted Princess, the girl they had captured would never be the Darklings' way to power. Death was certain. It was expected. But what would come before? Torture? Better it be me than her. She was what mattered. And because of my sacrifice, the Princess was safe. For now.

Draqrin moved towards me now, his cold eyes finally meeting mine. I didn't shy away. Refused to do so. I would not give him my fear so easily. Undeterred, he reached for me. One muscular arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me flush to his hard body. His proximity was terrifying. I could feel the strength and power he possessed, the magic of ancient royal blood rushing through his veins. He carried the fragrance of the wedding feast, wine, and meat, that unmistakable scent of animal flesh being charred that always threatened to make me sick.

His skin was cold, but not unpleasant to the touch. He countered my heat with ease. I could feel the tip of his nose caress the side of my neck, inhaling my scent greedily, and as he did so I heard a deep, rumbling growl vibrate deep within his chest. He turned me around, my back to his front and moved my hair away from my neck.

A sharp, piercing pain hit me there all of a sudden, and for the first time, I strained against his hold on me, groaning in discomfort, anger rising within me at the realization he had just bitten the back of my neck. It ended quickly, and he released me without further ado, striding across the room to the empty bed where he lay down and went to sleep. I remained where I was, watching the slumbering Darkling quizzically, wondering what could possibly have happened to distract him from the task he had seemed so eager to perform, absentmindedly fingering the lingering bite marks on my flesh.

-----

The moment I started to believe Aengwen and Erthor would be alright again, I was struck with the evidence that I was wrong. Dining with the Dark King and his family, my new husband among them, was not usually a pleasant affair. The table was lined with enough meat to feed an entire city, sparing only room for flagons of wine and spirits, and not much else.

There were no greens in sight. No fruit. No vegetables. Nothing that had been grown in the gardens and forests. I had already come to the conclusion the rumours of the Darklings were true - they were carnivores, each an every last one of them.

My tastes, however, could not be changed so easily. I did not eat, and nobody cared enough to make me. Resilient, as my kind had always been, the signs of hunger had only now started to show, after a few days since my last meal. I felt weaker than usual. Lightheaded. But this was not enough to sway my mind. I had never participated in the slaughter of animals and was not about to start now.

Despite the sickening selection of food, dining with the enemy had its advantages. Proud and certain in their ways, the Darklings were not afraid to spill their strategies and news while in my presence. To them, I was a prisoner, who would never be set free. Little did they know that during my husband's absence in our bed, I had explored the castle every night, particularly the lower levels and the tunnels that lead out to the Royal stables.

I had intended to give my cousins a few more days of safe travel, a few more days to reach Ondodiir, The Shadowlands, were the Darklings rarely went unless forced. Then I would make my escape, and eventually catch up so that the three of us could complete the task we had set out to do.

These plans were thwarted, however, when the Dark King received news that two Light Elves had been spotted near the borders to the Shadowlands.

"I'll take a few soldiers and ride out to kill them, Father," Draqrin declared as he rose from his seat. He looked as stoic as usual, his face frozen in a cold mask, but for the first time, I sensed his excitement. The hunt pleased him. The kill would be his reward.

I stiffened in my seat as my husband's words registered within my mind. Vivid and gruesome images of Princess Aengwen and Erthor meeting their end at Draqrin's sword, flashed before my mind's eye, making my stomach tighten in knots. We had come so close...sacrificed too much to let everything be ruined now. I had to help them.

-----

Even by Elven standards, I had always possessed a remarkable ability to communicate with animals, from the lowest serpent to the majestic felines of the North. The stallion before me was a magnificent creature, whose black, shiny pelt gleamed in the pale moonlight. His hooves were giant, twice the size of what seemed normal in the stables back at Kingsgate, and I had no doubt he could crush my own foot with one simple move should he so choose.

He seemed uneasy in his paddock, even before I made my presence known, as though he was waiting for something unpleasant to happen. I approached with caution, slipping inside the square, narrow pen, and walked with slow, but determined steps.

The horse froze, his eyes wide, ears flat against the back of his head. I stopped a few paces away from him, allowing him to inhale my scent and analyze my mind, proving without words that I did not mean the animal any harm. Eventually, his ears sprung forth again and he lowered his head just a fraction, signalling his acceptance of my presence. I was pleased, but not surprised. I had not yet met a horse that refused me.

Closing the distance between us, I took his head in both my hands, my forehead gently resting against his warm muzzle. He relaxed in my embrace, lowering what walls of defence he had left, and allowed me to probe his mind.

He had seen many battles and much evil. More than any such creature deserved. A flare of lightning struck the sky above us, followed by rumbling thunder a few seconds later, yet neither of us jumped at the sound. Our focus was elsewhere.

"Innocent blood will be spilt tonight," I whispered against the flat of his muzzle. "I beg of you...Carry me to the battlefields near the border, so that I may fight to save my kin."

It was not an order, but a request. A plea. I was not the beast's master. He had the right to choose. His answer came a brief moment later. As I stepped back, the stallion bent at the knees on his front legs, lowering himself to the ground so that I could climb atop his broad back. I did so, my fingers sliding through his thick mane in a firm, but gentle grasp, and he rose back to his full height. Another strike of lightning flashed above us, and we were off.

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update~ in which Kid says "Sex" and everyone is uncomfortable

Newest Page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=43 Chapter Start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

[bobthedragon]

2 page Kingsgate update this week! because I am Impatient B)

WARNINGS this week for: Gore, Holes, and vaguely yonic imagery(???) - you can head to the chapter start and enable Safe Mode before checking later pages, if you want further warnings!

page from earlier this week: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=10 chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com/

if you let me know you read literally any of my comic and didn't hate it I will love you eternally

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update!~ final page for this scene, so next page will be the start of the ch1 finale~! \o/

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=49 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

I've been on a bit of a crunch finishing up the next scene but I Finally have it down to final pass and I should have all 25 pages ready by next week, giving me a nice big buffer to thumbnail out ch2 🎉

[bobthedragon]

~ Kingsgate update! ~ In which elliot is not wearing a shirt because I got sick of drawing clothing

warning for bloody bandages and closeups of scars i guess

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=35 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

This set of pages has been affectionately called My Little Fan Disservice Scene by me because of reasons

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update~ one of my favorite pages I've done so far even if the paneling is kinda cluttered

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=42 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

we recently re-wrote the chapter finale and it's so close to being done now even though we added 2 more pages to it. special thanks to the ppl who have been cheering me on lately! things have been hard and idk how I would have managed this w/o yall \o/

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update!~ In which Elliot's fishtank makes its first appearance in a halfhearted background shot

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=51 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

I now have ALL of chapter 1 drawn and exported and queued up also 🎉celebrating with a day of chinese food and rimworld and not thinking about The Horrors

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update~ In which Cuttlefish happen

Newest Page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=44 Chapter Start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

crying screaming throwing up bc i left all the background work for the next scene for last and now i am so close and so far from having the chapter finale done. i keep starting work on ch2 to avoid working on it. I am a fool

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update!~ Introducing: More of team Elliot!

Newest Page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=50 Chapter Start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

we're onto chapter 1 finale finally \o/!! Which also means we get to say Hi to Faceplate finally, who was designed by the amazing @1ore !!

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update~ in which an agreement is made

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=48 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update!~ in which communication vaguely occurs

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=47 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

sweating as I run through my buffer bc I keep redoing pages of the next scene 🙃;;;

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update~ in which Elliot talks a Lot

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=45 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

Also, in case anyone's wondering about the RSS: we updated our rss link and you might wanna make sure you've got the new one. also we realized that feedly specifically just gives us low priority on updates bc of being a small site, so it always lags a full day behind other rss feeds??

[bobthedragon]

~Kingsgate Update~ in which Elliot finally drinks his coffee!

Newest Page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=46 Chapter Start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

I look forward to eventually not having a headache and being able to focus on drawing for more than 1 hour at a time

[bobthedragon]

~ Kingsgate updaaaate ~ in which Kid's eyeballs reach critical mass

Newest page: https://kingsgatecomic.com/?pg=40 Chapter start: https://kingsgatecomic.com

the world is scary and bad and I have no brainpower and I am just going to work on my comic and dissociate ok