eye_balling says:
get a gun and stand really, really far away.
Nay says:
They offered to arm you, see if you can get a gun. If not, hopefully you’re as good a shot with a crossbow or some other ranged weapon, which would also give you a good excuse to hang back for an easy escape in case things go wrong.
Given that you prefer to not even be here, hanging back with the tools that you’re more familiar with seems like the safest bet.
“I used to hunt with my dad. He taught me how to shoot while riding.”
“You hunted with your father?” Yenkaran’s face lights up. “Riding… what?”
“Tramplers. Biggest, hairiest, and nastiest beasts in the land.”
“Riding a top of a beast? Sounds like something out of a book.” he chuckles, “Those heretics must have been terrified. I can only imagine how easy our hunts would be if we had such companions over here.”
“Heh, yeah…” your fake smile widens, “Prey’s much bigger back home.”
“Gnomanya sounds like quite the mystical realm. Peradventure one day you can show me your home; you’ve certainly piqued my curiosities.”
“Yen, come here.” Effrenka calls over. “She’s ready.”
“You see this?” She wipes her fingers on the machinery.
“Uh… is this a trick question?”
“It’s not; The wheel is bone-dry. You need to grease it or it’s going to seize. Or worse.”
“I- I see.”
“You’re a man, Yen. You need to know this. Okay?”
He nods, “Okay.”
“Right then. We’ll grease it after tonight, but you need to stay on top of these things; Mainsprings can still kill you.”
You watch Effrenka attach a tiller to the rest of the mechanism. With the oars stowed away, and after a few mechanical clicks, the boat moves on its own onto the open water.
Yenkaran reaches into a compartment and pulls out one of those strange bows you’ve had a bad encounter with. “Unfortunately, we don’t have any muskets, but I feel we might have a suitable substitute. Try it out…”
You reach out hesitantly, afraid it might bite you, “So is it like a bow?”
“A crossbow! Just pull the string back and it will be cocked. It’s a handy device… made by heretics.”
You take the bow and realize just how hard the string is to pull back. You take off your bag and sit down to put your feet on the metal limbs. Even with all your might you can hardly get it anywhere.
In your struggle, Effrenka scoffs, “Are you joking? Hard to believe you traveled this far across the realm only to embarrass yourself.”
You growl, “Don’t these things come with… tools to pull it back?”
She snatches the crossbow, “Yeah.” she grunts while cocking it, “Why?”
You stare in silent loathing.
“Alright, Freckles, here’s how this is going to work: Forget the crossbow— you’re going to stay low and shut up while we do our hunt. I mean, we’re not even sure if your meatbag was being forthright, so I’d prefer I not play babysitter to some dead-weight when things get serious. Got it?”
You click your mouth in acknowledgement.
“I’ll take it.” she uncocks the crossbow and stows it.
Mimy says:
No matter how you “hunt,” it’s looking like you’re on the hook for killing people, are you prepared for that?
Not without that crossbow you won’t. Which is honestly what you’ve been hoping for. If this means that you’ll stay out of hot water, then you’ll do what cake-mom tells you.
The Hunger says:
You need to eat soon.
Right, you are a little hungry. Hope you can get a good meal when this is all done. You are craving that fish stew Zeb gave you last night.
After some time, you make it back to the coast of the city. The Near Moon is still looming over you, but its glow looks to be only a sliver compared to its fullness from earlier. Strange how quickly it’s waned. The moon you know takes its time.
As you proceed, you notice the buildings around start to twist and warp and stack haphazardly. Wooden and plaster boxes tower over you bent, rotted, and chipped away from time and neglect and ridiculous oversight. The water beneath grows murky, and pulpy. Reminds you of home. Forlorn filth.
You almost smile.
You stop beneath a few hovels and peer at a massive crane atop a ship. Next to it, you see a smaller ship docked. The Stacks would be silent if it weren’t for the slapping and thudding of flotsam and garbage against the crank boat. The two cannibals go to kneel down in front.
“Looks like your meatbag was telling the truth. There’s the cranehulk… And that must be the pinnace. Checks out.
“Wish I had my spyglass, though; I’d be able to have a better look. You got a spyglass, Freckles? Wait— no, I bet you don’t huh?”
You want to stick her head in the filth.
Yenkaran leans in, “Sister, are you sure that is a proper pinnace, it is quite large—”
“Okay—you need to stop— I am not having this argument with you again.” she barks. “It’s the only thing next to that rotten tub so drop it.”
She sighs. “Look, there’s two men on deck. A Bovani, and a… big bastard… can’t quite see him. Wait… I think these are the Nerkogos. We’re robbing the Nerkogos?”
You tepidly answer, “Uh… yes?”
“Freckles, how long have you been in Siltria?
“Bout a few days.”
Effrenka taps her mitten on the boat. “Come up here.”
Reluctantly, you join them up front and squeeze in between them.
She lowers her voice, “Can you tell me who the Nerkogos are?”
“I was told they’re a gang of… Nanzuul?” you say.
“Not Nanzuul.” she shakes her head. “Don’t you think it’s important to know who runs The Stacks before you rob them?”
Yenkaran chimes in, “It’s a fair assumption, Sister. Does it really matter whose name you cry out if they’d pare the fangs from your maw and dock your tail all the same?”
She sighs, “You should always know who you are fighting, especially when you have to share a home with them.”
You speak up, “So, tell me. These guys any tough?”
She looks out towards them, “We’re not exactly shucking a Nanzuul Knight out of their harness. They’re soft targets… Aside from the fact that we don’t know how many are on the longshore, in the cranehulk, or below deck. That we are severely undermanned, hungry, and that a third of us can’t load a crossbow. And that we just met you and are staking our lives over the frantic confessions from a bowl of Bovani stew— Then I’d consider it an easy job.”
A sigh leaves your nose, “Look, it’s the best I got. You wanna eat your trampler, then go for it.”
“Is that supposed to be a metaphor? Because that doesn’t make any sense.”
“No, it’s an idiom.” You and Yenkaran say in unison.
“Well caught, Glass.” Yenkaran compliments.
“Both of you can shut the hell up. The point is that we’re disadvantaged here and only a fool would just wander in like this.
“Idiom.” she mutters, “You’re a pair of idioms.”
“So, is it off?” he asks.
Effrenka pauses for a second and takes in the details.
“No… We’re doing it; Hunger makes you do stupid things— Except for this one here. She’ll do stupid things on a full belly, won’t she?” She says, condescendingly.
Against your better judgement, you snap back, “Yeah, and I got plenty more for you.”
“Pfft. The strength of a with the mouth of a privy. Where the hell did you find this creature, Yen?” She eyes you up and down, “How old are you, anyway?”
“I don’t know. What’s it to you?”
“You don’t know how old you are?”
Yenakaran interjects, “Why’s this important right now?”
“Because I want to know if I should feel bad about tossing her into the slop.”
“I promise you won’t do that without losing another headlamp.” you growl.
”Sisters, please. The night only grows shorter and I’d really like to get this done and over with, yes? I am starting to grow weary of having to get in between you.”
“Fine, you’re right, Yen.” She shakes her head.
Effrenka straightens up, “Alright, I want to clear off some of the unknowns here. Yen, I will drop you off so you can poke around for any longshoreman or anyone else that might have direct line of sight of us. If it’s not clear, make it clear.
“When you are done with that then you’ll draw out the guards above deck and we board. Knowing these guys, they’ll probably just harass you. I mean, you dress like a Qoth. I’d harass you. It’s perfect.
“Take a long look at where you need to be. Freckles and I will board from the larboard side. And once you’re done, meet us on the weatherdeck and watch for more. We’ll go below deck and we will grab what we can and leave. But not before we bag one. I don’t like our odds, so this needs to be swift.
“Now if we don’t see you for a while. Then we’ll just assume you had to run. Then it’s off. If there’s more Nerkogos than you can count on your fingers, then it’s off. If we don’t find anything larger than a fork on board, then it’s off.”
“So if it’s off, then I suppose we’ll meet at The Fool’s then?”
“Eh… No. J-just you. Meet me back at our spot— or us… assuming this woman makes it out with me.”
You pull up to a discreet bit of dock as Yenkaran steps off. He pulls up his mask and dons a well-adorned hat.
“Got everything you need?” she asks.
Yenkaran nods and goes to disappear into the shadows, but not before turning around. “Oh and, madams? Try not to kill each other, please? It would break my heart.”
“Go to hell, Yen.”
He bows sarcastically.
“And… please be careful.”
“I shall. Happy hunting.”
After you see him vanish, Effrenka reaches into the engine and reverses the boat back the way you came.
“No… We’re doing it; Hunger makes you do stupid things— Except for this one here. She’ll do stupid things on a full belly, won’t she?” She says, condescendingly.
Technically not, since Glass lost her lunch due to seasickness before she assaulted Effi.
What would you guys the countries Siltra is based off on are? Tinderkell is set in the late 16th/early 17th centuries. At this time, European colonisation was confined to the New World (North America, Central America, South America), small parts of Africa, and small parts India and Indonesia. It seems the Qoths run Siltra similar to how the East India… Read more »
The more I look at her in these entries, the more I realise that bandaged-up Glass looks like Ryan Gosling from Blade Runner.
I wonder if they’ll have pancakes on board…
If they don’t, Effi will make pancakes out of them. She’s a baker, after all. Or maybe they’ll make pancakes out of Glass, Effi and Yenkaran. We have no idea what’s on board, and judging by the feel of the place, i have a feeling it’s something that can smash them into a Glasscake, Efficake, or Yenkarancake, a creature to… Read more »
I just had an idea. Kivari told us to get names and identities, right? Why do we use this as an opportunity to break the ice between Effi and get to know her so to supply the information to Kivari? Also, I want to know more about the Circle, so she if she can tell us about that. We should… Read more »
Wait, first Effi told her stay low and shut up while they do their work, but then she says she and Glass will go below deck together. I assume staying low means staying on the rowboat or hiding on the docks, not going with them, putting herself in danger, and forcing Effi to help her like she doesn’t want to.… Read more »
I was thinking who could voice some of these characters, and I thought Ashley Nichols (who voices Zooble from TADC) would fit Effi. For Yenkaran, I was thinking Liam O’Brian, who voices Infinite in Sonic Forces. I see a lot of similarities of Effi to Zooble, especially with her abrasive stubbornness. Same with Yenkaran and Infinite, both having this husky,… Read more »
I just noticed something. In the last panel in entry 59, where Effi is looking at the engine, her pupil of her bad eye is looking at the engine. In the first panel here, you can see she is now what seems to be aggressively side eyeing Yenkaran and Glass as they talk. She’s getting mad that Yenkaran admiring Glass’s… Read more »
It would be good to see the Tinderkell universe but modern day
Well, that would basically be Zootopia. Or perhaps Sonic. Imagine Eggman rolling up in Siltra….
I was scrolling through a second time to admire the artwork and seeing Effrenka’s muscles flex as she cocked that crossbow gave me gay panic.
How hard is it to cock a crossbow? Was it that she is actually strong, or is Glass’s malnutrition to blame?
She is actually very very strong
I wonder how strong Yenkaran is compared to her. Also, Glass doesn’t seem that strong, but how does Zeb compare to Glass? Trying to set a strength power scale.
They can be pretty tough to cock, especially just as you’re trying to get the string over the release hook. A lot of them have a winder mechanism to pull the string back, but this one appears to be fairly basic.
From what glass said about it and the setting, I think it was supposed to use a cranequin and effrenka was able to just pull back potentially hundreds of pounds without it.
Legit ‘bakana’ level strength right there
Effi seems to do a lot with the cranks and engine of the boat. Perhaps that is why she is strong. By that logic, perhaps Zeb might have the strength to pull the string back. It just think it would be funny if that was the case, especially what Glass’s reaction would be.
Oh, probably what would be even funnier is Yenkaran’s reaction. Not just about the crossbow, but about Zeb’s mechanical skills in general. Picture this: noble hunter, valiant member of the Circle and protector of hunter kind, is outdone in mechanical prowess by a skinny grazer heretic.
To answer your question about crossbows, they tend to have much higher draw weights compared to their actual power, so if you want one that actually does any damage, the draw weight is gonna be pretty big. Really the only bonus you get over regular bows is the crossbows being easier to train, their meant for arming a lot of… Read more »
Heavy bow training, typically beyond 80 pounds, is best started young when skeletal structure is still morphing. An adult needs to start real slow or else they would be beset with injuries, even then they can’t pull like the person who started out as a kid. It is not just about muscle, it is the quadfecta of muscle, technique, bone… Read more »
The bone structure thing is… I don’t remember if it was an outright myth or merely an exaggeration, but very few archers had abnormal bone structure.
There is a socket inside the shoulder that can constrict muscle growth, some record setters surgically enlarged that hole so the muscle fibers had more room to grow…. or they could have just started younger.
I am awaiting the return of both kivari and savco 🫡
I think Yitexity is putting all attention into Tinderkell. So…. I don’t know if SAVCO will completed for a while. Like I said before, maybe Yitexity is revamping it to fit with Zootopia 2 now. To update the lore, since SAVCO used the lore available to the first movie. I don’t know… just a theory. Would love to see Yitexity… Read more »
Sorry, I was just clarifying that with the Anonymous user.
I just had an interesting thought. What if the person who saved Glass is on board that ship? I don’t know why I thought this, perhaps because the setting is ominous. But why would Glass meeting her rescuer be ominous I here you ask? Well, I also thought that it didn’t make sense about the rescuer looking like Kivari until… Read more »
How dare the internet keep this story from me discovering it for this long!
welcome! ^w^
It’s good that is gotten more attention, as well as Yitexity putting out more content. That helps put it into the algorithm. Before, when Tinderkell was only a few entries, the search engine kept asking if I meant to type in Tinkerbell.
“So if it’s off, then I suppose we’ll meet at The Fool’s then?”
“Eh… No. J-just you. Meet me back at our spot— or us… assuming this woman makes it out with me.”
Why was she so nervous about that? Maybe because she wanted to spend some… ‘private time’ with Yenkaran.
they really are two halves of a whole idiom
Wait… so Kivari told Glass that it was the Nanzuul who were behind this, but it appears that they might not be directly involved. What Kivari told Glass might not be wrong, but I get the feeling that it was not the complete truth. If that’s the case, than it looks to me like Kivari has put Glass in a… Read more »
This place… I have a feeling something much more interesting is on board that boat, whatever it’s called. I was getting Innsmouth feelings before, but now…. I wouldn’t be surprised if the men on board were half-fish, or rather Deep Ones.
“You see this?” She wipes her fingers on the machinery. “Uh… is this a trick question?” “It’s not; The wheel is bone-dry. You need to grease it or it’s going to seize. Or worse.” “I- I see.” “You’re a man, Yen. You need to know this. Okay?” From the looks of it, Yenkaran doesn’t get himself involved in menial labour… Read more »
That’s why this one took so long! The animation is really damn good, and the background as well. Really well done, Yitexity. I noticed the updates on Patreon aren’t coming in as frequently, though. Are your hands full?
I mean, the LEAST they could’ve done is put a stirrup on the crossbow so you can cock it with both hands, since it’s clear they haven’t got a kiddie-sized one for Glass.
Glass is grumpy because those two are suited up enough for catwalks while she looks like an undergrown peasant girl.
lmao
Selling these dillweeds out is going to be so satisfying
That assuming Glass doesn’t get sold out with them.
I don’t know why, but the idea of selling these guys out behind their backs doesn’t sit right with me. For instance, I don’t want to wait for them to go aboard the ship and then try to steal the boat and leave them there. I like the idea of looking them in the eye and telling them, though with… Read more »
Honestly, I am more looking forward to seeing their reaction when they just find out Glass is not part of the Circle and tricked them to rescue Zeb. I imagine that despite Glass being the one who tricked them, Effi is going to be livid at Yenkaran for bringing her. Now that is a discussion not to miss!
I said I was starting to like Yen last time- now I just love him. And your writing for the three of them here is an absolute hoot XD Setting up scavs (scavengers?) as a group apart from grazers and hunters is very interesting- I look forward to finding out how they factor into Pasturist beliefs. Zeb mentioned that only… Read more »
“The Near Moon is still looming over you, but it’s glow looks to be only a sliver compared to its fullness from earlier.”
Should be “its glow”, not “it’s glow”. “it’s” is the contraction of “it is”, and not a possessive pronoun.
ty…
Interesting dynamic here. Effie seems to be a bit book-dumb, but also appears to be the group’s natural tactician. Which makes it all the more dangerous for Glass that Effie clearly hates her.
Also, just wanted to say that the bickering and overall dynamics between these three goofballs are hilarious ina dark sort of way.
hahaha
It’s already goofy now, but imagine what happens if you add Zeb to the mix. The four are forced to work together when on the run from the law. It would basically boil down to “I hate you with a burning passion, but I don’t want to rot in prison, so I’ll put up with you… for now”, and so… Read more »