Val Salia is an exciting location to explore while on shore leave, free from many constraints typical of the average Monarch-nation! Be sure to visit the Trade and Entertainment districts at least once, if allowed by your Captain or employer.
Raptie does character colors/shades
Fate is a funny thing sometimes!
Reading expressions precisely in comics is a dubious idea, but it would seem that Fraller is seeing Isher as she passes by. Now, does she get out of sight as he gets the others to look behind? And how many times can we milk the gag of him seeing her, but her getting out of sight before he can get the others to look in the indicated direction?
However, Isher is a well-known sight to most, if not all, of the town. They may not know much about her. [9 feet of muscle and claws does tend to discourage curiosity.] But they may view her as harmless. All those break ins at her place may be just because they know they can get away with it, until Isher has to make threats to remind them she could be dangerous.
How… do they not hear her walking around?
It /is/ a bar.
Maybe she’s learned to step lightly. Oh, and it _is_ a bar, too. 😉
I wondered what species Isher really is, and apparently so to do well travelled sailors. Kinda makes me wonder what exactly is Isher? Is she a hybrid of two species? Is she some kind of Dragon? Really we know the least about Isher’s species, and yet possibly the most of any OOP in character development.
Ran seems on the verge of calling her a half-breed, or half-something, before Isher cuts him off.
Ran might know, but If Isher is a half breed, it must be of a non sapient race, or trading species like Humans would recognize Isher. If her native species is sapient, they would do well in all likelihood compared to Humans of whom are weaker, and similarly intelligent. Or compared to Baxxid, while this world’s most intelligent creatures (probably) they lack the ability to manipulate objects easily. Isher’s type would be almost as strong as a Baxxid, and as smart as a Human. That such a species isn’t already well known is either far geographical separation (Isher being shipwrecked and stranded from a undiscovered landmass) or she is indeed a Hybrid of 2 species.
I though she was half Baxxid.
But you are right, it doesn’t make sense that such hybrid would be so rare to the point of being unheard of is both species coexist so well for so long. It also doesn’t explain why she would want to keep this information a secret.
If she is a hybrid of a non sapient race it would make narrative sense that such creature would have being already introduced in the story for foreshadow purposes. I can’t think of what being resemble her.What do you think it is?
Closest thing so far is the Skeleton hanging in Ran’s classroom in “Intermission: A Very Special Lesson with Ran Ste-Su G’Mindel” being draconic generally. Also could be in the same general family as Yinglets (bipedal, tailed, same ears) but it is good to remember that the Discovery of Yinglets is only 200 years ago. This world is very much a open question, but Isher remains as much a enigma to us as to the sailor in the comic.
Ran does say Isher might be a ha…, before being shushed. And half-breed might fit her reluctance to be so named, but as noted, we don’t seem to have either parent in the story so far. And we have a lot of unexplored world. And merchants don’t explore, until they get a hint there is money to be made.
I’d like to think the humans close to Val Salia to be close to what the Portugese were in the 1500-1600’s, sampling most of every culture they could trade profitably with. Not the master colonizers the English became, or the Religious zealots the Spanish were, but forming a vast global trade network spreading European knowledge and culture without much effort into conquest or even colonizing the native populations. Yes the Portuguese weren’t saints (See history of Brazil for a clue) but they are (IMHO) the closest to the people of Val Salia Earth had IRL.
Hmm… now that I think on it, Isher as a half-Baxxid, half-human seems not so impossible. Totally weird, but she is at least vaguely humanoid and has small bones that could be weak expression of large baxxid bones. She has to have been born elsewhere in any case since nobody here seems to know what she is. But that is convenient for the story. Since she is a foreigner, nobody would be expected to know much about her.
EEEEE… no waits. *blink blinkies*
Zhat is such ze CUTES waptor faun zhingy females…
…
But she probably no likies ze clams juice.
Whats? O_o
So a unicorn walks into a bar.
Bartender says, “hey, you’re lookin’ pretty horny tonight”.
Bartender gets gored.
…whaddya mean, that’s not funny? Who said it was a joke? -:/
So, I’ve got minor theories. They are in no particular order.
First is – Lopin and Ying-Kass have nearly the same build, hairstyle, and height with rather similar fur colors, the only marked difference being hair and eye color. They even have a nearly identical hairstyle. We know nothing about that Zhat Zhing thus far, and it might just be for artistic convenience or aesthetics, but I can’t help but feel Lopin’s “imprint” might have been transferred. Even if it just makes Lopin the visually similar comic stand-in for silly antics so that Kass doesn’t have to bear the entire brunt, I feel this is more significant than not, and it may explain some facet of Zhat Zhing’s operation.
Second, Ying-Kass and the Trademaster have the same color eyes, which to the best of my memory make them the only two characters who do. The Trademaster’s family took control of the region about the same time as the Yinglets became ‘uplifted’ enough to be considered a race. I’ve yet to decide the implications of this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a suspicion on the Trademaster’s part that perhaps an ancestor of his had a similar fate, and is exploring the option further now that he knows it’s technically possible – which could explain why Ran was knowledgeable about such an experiment beforehand.
Third – Narklet (ha, the Narc) has a map of suspected sites where Zhat Zhings are popping up. In OOPs #135, There are two maps on the wall, appearing in Panel 4. The rightmost one appears to be a topographic map, with the center landform appearing to be “The Teeth.” The map is east-oriented, if I’m correct, making the uppermost portion water. The map to its left is much more similar to Narklet’s own map – except it appears to have many extra locations marked and linked. Now, this could just be a normal map of trade routes and other cities, but given the context of this panel which is seeking the location of artifacts, I do believe this might be Ran’s artifact “War Room” as such, and that map might represent a much more accurate pinpointing of artifacts.
Fourth – I think Zhat Zhing is definitely responsible for the uplifting of the yinglet species as a whole, though as to how I cannot say. Yinglets are clearly capable of great intelligence, and Vizlet’s explanation about standing on the shoulders of our ancestors is probably spot on, but the yinglets as a species might represent a deus-ex-machina of sorts, crossing humans into lesser yinglets, birthing an intelligent race in rapid time. It appears to be magic, because this comic doesn’t seem to shy away from technology being the de facto standard in science and medicine and even so this particular action is singularly exceptional as there’s been nothing like it so far, so does this perhaps represent some external, god-like force out there? Are the Zhat-Zhings harnessed magic, or are they some god’s McGuffins? Functionally I guess it doesn’t matter really, the only thing that would is intent depending on if the force behind the change willfully and sapiently decided to make that action.
Fifth – I can’t help but think the “traditionalists” might even know about the Zhat-Zhings and what they are capable of, and are either trying to keep this information from getting out, or are personally trying to harness this for their own benefit. This could possibly tie into the second theory above – perhaps the Trademaster had an ancestor that became human, perhaps intentionally, so as to establish a powerful dominion. Perhaps these traditionalists are seeking the same, as becoming human would be tantamount to making them god-kings/queens in yinglet societies. I think this might perhaps be the reason Lopin gets a minor exposition about how just about every common yinglet would prefer to be human if given the chance.
I can’t seem to edit this, but I was wrong about a couple things after thinking on it and I’d like to add something also super minor.
Yinglets are being shown to have powerful instincts, which are difficult to overcome even with insight and preparation. Kass is have great difficulty keeping these instincts down. They’re also shown to have powerful instinctual attractions, and honestly while this is probably just a bit of authorial conceit (no judgement) and as much for comedy as anything, there really should be little reason why yinglets are so apparently attracted to humans (in multiple senses.)
Humans just shouldn’t tick the attraction boxes of a yinglet. This might be possibly having human instincts baked in vestigially, just as much as lesser yinglet instincts? We’re also shown that a least a few yinglets completely lack that feature such as Brakka. Perhaps that reveals a dichotomy and may even indicate a shift towards the species effectively developing its own races? We’ll have to see where that goes.
I was also incorrect about the eye-color thing, after a brief skim over the cast. I still feel this is a major factor, as we’re not shown too many humans with abnormal eye colors, and this might not hurt my theory as much as I expected it would. Human-Kass had blue eyes as well, which did not carry over though some traits did, such as hair color. Then again, the race could just be that damned unstable (which we did get a panel showing a while back) and these traits mean little.
I’ve always had a theory of “Zhat Zhing” being used to make the Yinglet High council members immortal. Every few years they just pop one when they feel they need rejuvenation. That would explain both the absolute need for secrecy and why Narklet is hell bent on acquiring them (success means longer than 20 years alive). Its one reason that the council is determined to keep current Yinglet society ignorant and misled. This status quo means the council members might be the oldest beings alive on the planet eventually.
That Yinglets are a bunch of rabid perverts…well have you seen Val Salia’s other comic? Yeah, its author bias. Though if you like Yinglets, hope you are following Umbrascythe on Deviant art. His comic “Learn to Live” is rather less perverted, but its quality writing so far.
I zhink (zherefore I Ying?)… I has a zheory alsos. Oh sooo pretty Lady Kass’ problem caused by… evil prop-guy! Oh sooo evil.
See, everybeing knows zhat red-shirt means troubles (just ask zhat Bonez guy who always says zheir deads Jim). So evil prop-guy sees sir Kass wearing za red-shirt. Zhen evil prop-guy gets za script and finds out where Brakka and Lopin and handsome sir Kass meets. So evil prop-guy takes glowy zhingy outta prop storage and puts where Brakka finds, knowing zhat glowy zhingy will go to Lopin… oh sooo fancy hat… zhen to ze kind and handsome sir Kass, to start Kass’ troubles.
It makes ze perfect… Yinglet… sense. Who else but evil prop-guy… oh SOOO evil… has ze key to ze prop storage locker?
Now I winz many clams… yes yes?
RP award goes to Willl (Throws clams reward) and there is a Yinget comic mashup with Star Trek on Deviantart. Though if you really want to go deep in the Yinglet Hole (that sounded dirty) consider that Yinglets can write fine “English” (whatever our common language is called) despite having a speech impediment. Fine Yinglady Kass has proven it to be possible :P.
Sorry if I sounded harsh, but before transforming into my wonderful Yinglet form, I spent 20 years imprisoned in a body damaged by a drunk driver. Many,many people when they hear someone with a impediment, they think that person is (Fit your adjective for some kind of dumbass here)just by how they speak. Compared to TF by GMC Pickup, “Zhat Zhing” was far,far better. Other than sounding like I sucked Helium while half stoned, its way better now. plus my typing speed has gone way up now that I can type with 4 hands!
(@SpecificYinglet Zhis place is my main Ying-fix, zhough “Learn to Live” is alsos very good… yes yes. And my toony old forums persona has been speaking/writings like zhis ever since ze unfortunate boopings zhat transformed me intos… well… *points at Ying-self*. So now, ozhers zhan still blamings ze boopings, cravings clammies, and taking lots of nappies for some strange reason, I shares what little I knows of ze Ying-culture… and points folks in zhis direction… wherever my travels may takes me. But… if I did offends… I am sorries. *nod nods* Now backs to our non-regularly unscheduled bit of Ying-chaos…)
*Noms clams like a… Yinglet nommings clams. Nom nom noms.* Stills don’t know why… but zhese slimy salties zhings are SOOO GOOD. Yes yes.
*points in general direction of evils prop guy* Book him Dannos!
And speaking of ze books, agrees is very wise nots to judgies a book by ze covers (unless ze covers is dusty… in which case ze book will taste dusty no matters how good is on ze insides. Remembers… always cleans ze book covers before eating zhem… yes yes).
As for ze glowy zhingy, I alsos wonders if it works on all species, just non-Yingfolk, or just hoomans? Males onlies… or ozhers as well? For a species as supposedly short of females as Yings, I can sees ze glowy zhingies as a possible desperate solution to potential extinction.
But… how does ze glowy zhingy works? Is it magics… ala *POOF* you’z a llama from Ze Emperor’s new Groovy? Is it nanobotties or ozher such advanced technologies? Maybe someying’s used ze wrong filters on ze transporters (again)? And more importantly, when is ze hologram going to tells me if I’m asking ze correct questions? O_o
I guess we’ll alls just have to waits and see… (and zhrows some clams to ze jumpy snappy bird-dino zhingy) 😉
Several things the Yinglets need to be “Civilized” I suppose the first are domestication of animals. We see no critters around the Yinglets even though as a Human I found the company of such to very centering, helping to be calmer, which is something I highly recommend to my Yinglet friends, but NO CATS!! (this is something that should never, ever happen) just trust me that being a bouncy fun ying-person is irresistible to felines, and having a tail does not help things. Hard shelled things yes,yes, as they do not die easily, and are generally slow to escape, which is a plus when a Ying-Friend steals part of your fence. Flying things…turn out to be fairly OK things for Yinglets as many do the “Imprint” thing, which makes them want to stay around, but ones with vicious natures can be a problem in the future.
As to “Zhat Zhing” being Science or Magic? Really it don’t matter. What we know as Science used to be firmly in the realm of Magic once, so as Ran would say, this requires further examination/experimentation. My theory? That Zhat Zhing is meant to cause Immortality for its user. How so? You might ask, and really any drug dealer can tell you that if you want to stay in buisness, selling something that makes you happy forever would be the worst thing ever for the dealer. You sell a moment to moment high, and so “Zhat Zhing” is a temporary cure against aging, but accelerates aging in the future (the Yinglet form) so that whoever controls the supply of”Zhat Zhing” is basically a ageless being, though both Female and a Yinglet.
How would “Zhat Zhing” work? We know Yinglet Eggs grow, which breaks the laws of physics as we know them, placing this under “Magic” but we also know that being a Yinglet also does not work. Have a eye in the wrong place? How about to short arms and too long legs? Or having a single place to go pee (cloaca) or 2? We gat all these fun things and more, which to me says that Yinglets are not DNA based lifeforms, but ones that used to be something else, then became a Yinglet. The Lesser Yinglet just happened to be the matrix for the transformation’s plan. Think Werewolf, but permeant and small and fun and can’t spread it by biting, as whatever changes us, dies at birth/hatching or at transformation. This is logical if you see it as a means of control, as if it was “Alive” in us it could be reactivated, and then duplicated.
Also being what we are, the idea of having more than a single father Genetically as a DNA based organism does happen to Humans, but its very rare (See Chimera). For Yinglets, reproduction actually works better if The Matriarch has lots of fun! This should be impossible unless being a Yinglet itself is some form of changed lifeform via Magic/Technovirus/mutagen effect. How it happens is vastly less important than how to stay sane, how to not be sat upon to death (trust me, this lesson needs to be tought more) or why “Zhat Zhing” seems to have a preference for a 3 year old female Yinglet.
And lastly, Books are heavy on fiber, and Ying Digestive systems don’t work well for that. Better to learn by getting someone to change the information to Rhyme. Turns out that Young yinglets love songs and rhymes, as long as they aren’t too complicated. Tell a Yinglet kid something and 3 minutes later its forgotten. Take the time to sing it, and they will remember it a week later, even though it was telling them to do something that day. Memory is a funny thing. But hearing a Yinglet Choir…not as bad as you would think.
Happy Holidays to those who celebrate such, and to Valsalia in particular. Here’s hoping next year is a bit better, and perhaps Santa needs some skinny Yinglets to lower down chimneys in case he can’t fit. And bonus points for being cheaper than Elves also.
Yinglet Bells, Yinglet Bells, hear them a mile away…