Haliya’s followers. An alright bunch, for cultists. There are few men in their village so they’re always looking to invite them in. See artwork of the Haliyans.
Hibi-Hibi (flashback): Yes. We need something tough and waterproof for Bakunawa's "collar".
Tammy: MERM--mmmf!
Cruz: Since we're in here, is there anything that we can use for what Hibi needs?
Tammy: Like... rope? Maybe? Seems like the obvious choice.
Keith: Oh! And maybe Haliya can lasso with it!
Haliya: It will be hard to lasso something that big, but I'll do it.
Blue Bunny Haliyan: Rope? Yep, we do have some spools here.
Hibi-Hibi: I can use these, but it could be thicker...
So… those two sweaty girls from the previous page are taking a bath (thanks Haliya). I wonder if I should draw that hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
These strips are small but since there’s a story now there’s a lot of thinking involved. I’m still bad and slow at writing, but there’s really only one way to get better!
Now, Page 199 mentions that her worshipers banned fireworks to not distract from “the glory that is the Moon”. Continuing from that idea, they’ll need people to do said prohibiting, so… forest rangers!
Are these Haliyan forest rangers real or fake? They’re real and working with, not for, the local municipal government. Both groups will benefit from protecting the forest from fire/works, illegal logging, etc., and helping hikers/campers. As for each group benefitting, the municipal won’t have to manage the forest or staff, while the Haliyans can keep people away from their village with some legal backing. The municipal don’t know where their village is though, and they’re wise enough to not piss-off them of a group that hunts monsters and have a warrior goddess leading them.
Being unmasked is tantamount to being naked, if not plain uncomfortable to Haliyans, so these forest rangers wear masks enchanted to look invisible to others. I’m not even sure when they’ll appear again after this Episode, but I imagine most Haliyans that leave their village will wear invisible masks like these. The tawlis also help them out in the forest rangers by spooking people with some scawy wind, or else just blowing them away with stronger gusts.
Interestingly, a page with none of the main characters. Naturally, they’re somewhere off-camera with dumbfounded expressions.
This also the first comic and drawing I’ve completely finished using my new gaming table. Things are certainly a lot easier to do now that I can use everything, aside from owning a cool table and freeing up space. Thanks as usual for your patronage my patrons, and the new patrons/upped pledges too of course!
Also, feel free to submit suggestions for Haliyan characters again. Or not cause it was fun designing these three and the ones from the previous page.
Sorry still for the delays and silence. Had been feeling extremely overwhelmed with all the things going on, especially that uh, legal thing with my mom. That’s actually still not over. And part of that was worrying about COVID infection since I had to go out a couple of times, but it’s been two weeks and I seem to be fine, thankfully.
Anyway, feeling a lot better now… and it’s time to get back to work again!
My computer finally has Wi-Fi now and got some cheap mesh Wi-Fi routers. Just saying cause the internet will now be more stable for art streaming. Maybe I’ll talk too since I’ve also gotten a nice pair of headphones (I can’t really work well without some tunes). No promises that I’ve got anything interesting to say though haha. Because of you patrons, I finally get to buy something nice and useful, thank you!
Also, give me some time to mentally prepare myself to come back to Discord. It’s always kinda awkward coming back after a while. 😅
Praise the moon, I finally got back from New Zealand after a week of family vacation. It’s a nice country, and it was sorta fun feeling cold as someone from the tropics, sadly no snow though. I feel quite refreshed and anxious to get back to work!
It’s not like there’s someone to teach gods how to god… except in Black and White I guess. And boy, tawlis do love moving/blowing things like skirts, flags, masks, I tell you hwat. Yeah, last panel is sorta a “prequel” for this comic.
Haliya: It's good to see you again Hibi!
Hibi-Hibi: It's only been a few centuries!
Tammy: So... the guy Hibi knows is a goddess huh.
Cruz: Well, we know a Hibi.
Tiger Haliyan: Some diwatas are deities in their own right, so it's no surprise for Haliya to have friends of the same sort. Never heard of this Hibi though.
Keith: We're neighbors.
Myan: She turned me into a human.
Tiger Haliyan: Wow.
Blonde Haliyan: Speaking of friends... come say hi little one! Haliya often comes up here to play with the Tawong Lipod*.
(*literally "wind people" I'll shorten it to tawli)
Blonde Haliyan: Well... these wind elementals can't actually say hi because they only speak in-
Tawli: whoooooosh~!
Tammy: Now that right there is a moon goddess.
Blonde Villager: You're welcome to join us in worshipping her!
Cruz: Should we like, bow or something?
Cruz: ...or make a sacrifice?
Isog: We don't do those here.
Cruz: Suure you don't...
Keith: So... where is this person who's gonna help us with our curses?
Tammy: Whaa-
Tammy: Do you... do you not see the half-naked and tattooed moon goddess standing right over there?!
[wave]
Tammy: Let's not piss off the warrior goddess that'll help us ok?!!
Keith: Well I don't see anyone... Oh! Maybe because I can't see the moon I can't see her either? This curse is something alright!
