Hard Lessons

From Carpe Chaos

Hard Lessons

Treaty date:		Turikasuul 416
First published on:		July 1st, 2010
Race(s) featured:		Turikasuul Porgs
Pages:		16
Chapters:		1
Illustrated by:		Anthony Cournoyer
Written by:		Jason Bane Eric Carter

Comic

Titles

Hard Lessons (Official Title)

Tide Pool Lesson (Working Title)

Learning The Hard Way (Tentative Title)

Military Dynamics (Tentative Title)

A Legend at Rest (Tentative Title)

The Very Young (Tentative Title)

The Greater Plan (Tentative Title)

Balancing Above the Waves (Tentative Title)

Hostile Nature (Tentative Title)

A Volatile Breed (Tentative Title)

Summary

Setting

DATE: Turikasuul 416

Two Turikasuul of the same clan are walking along their home planet, during the end of the "drying season" or the beginning of the dry season. It's a rare sunny day and they're walking along the tidepools that haven't yet evaporated.

A rocky outcropping near a tiny shrinking inland sea in the floodplains. It is covered with tidepools and living things.

On Suulmalla during the dry season.

Atmosphere

A straightforward exhibition of ideas on a colorful and beautiful ocean backdrop.

Characters

The younger Turikasuul: He doesn't need to be named or specified. He has fought in space, and on other planets, but he is still young and inexperienced in the larger art of warfare. Most Turikasuul left to defend Turikasuul colonies are doing double duty by training new troops. This Turikasuul is the lowest ranking of the trainers; it wasn't long since he was in training too.

One of The Twin Vipers: Near the end of her life, she has returned to Suulmalla for the last months of what will likely be the last of her pregnancies. She is an accomplished military leader and is draped in fetishes (she is already an accomplished breeder). She is frustrated to be here training pups when she could be leading the greatest war in her generation. Yet it was her foolish choice to become pregnant during the trip to the Kaean system. This is her 5th child. She is 55ish years old, 5 years older than the average Turikasuul life expectancy. Turikasuul don't get decrepit in their old age though, just a little slower.

The tidepool plant thing:... is not a character...

Background

Script

The comic opens with two Turikasuul walking alone along the bottom of a steep cliff maybe 20 feet tall (remember, Turikasuul stand between 7 and 8 feet tall). They are somewhere in the vast floodplains of Suulmalla, during the dry season. It is raining, though not too strongly, and it is very wet. The cliff wall is rocky, but the ground around them is muddy. There are puddles and outcroppings of rocks, and the larger puddles (both in the mud and in the rocks) are tide pools. During the dry season, when the sea level is at its lowest, a plethora of sea life becomes stranded in the pools, lakes, and rivers that remain in the exposed seabed. Most of the sea life looks like small fish, coral, sea anemones, and worms. Go stand in a tidepool for a while, then go berserk in alienifying what you see there. The challenge will be conveying the fact that Suulmalla is always dark with very bright and colorful tidepools. The whole area is full of life, some of it just clinging off of rocks, vibrant and multi-shaded. The two Turikasuul could snack on anything lying about, but they are not hungry and mostly ignore the life around them.

One of the two Turikasuul is an old woman (about 55, and Turikasuul life expectancy is 50). Her sister is one of the leaders of the Kaean Siege (the siege is currently underway), and throughout their lives their fierceness earned them the moniker The Twin Vipers. This Twin Viper is now a high-ranking military officer and respected leader. She should be draped in military decorations, including the "fetish" corsage that symbolizes having borne many children (the small one that drapes around the heart bone, not the big one that covers it). She is home on Suulmalla because she is (visibly) pregnant - likely the last pregnancy of her life. She would much rather be fighting, but her pregnancy is preventing her from participating in the Kaean invasion (see Kaean History). Still, she is remaining active by teaching military philosophies and combat skills to enlisted Turikasuul, and she is enjoying her position of great status while she does so. She regrets becoming pregnant and needing to leave combat to give birth, necessary because of her old age. Her mood and expression at the start of the story should be a distracted, distant, and mildly frustrated one.

The other Turikasuul is a younger, male Turikasuul of about 18 or 20. While having fought in space and on other planets, he is still inexperienced and doesn't understand that war involves long-term strategy beyond each individual battle. He is back on Suulmalla as a lower-ranking, basic-combat-skills instructor. Such training duty is as good as leave to military Turikasuul. Both are of the Risingveil clan.

The ferocious female Turikasuul advising and dominating the younger, headstrong, male Turikasuul shows the gender-neutral aspect of Turikasuul society and culture. Regardless of gender, anyone can rise to the top ranks if they are strong (as the Turikasuul define strong). Turikasuul gain military promotions by garnering respect amongst their peers and superiors, and by demonstrating spirit and strength. The younger Turikasuul is trying to do just that in this story—to impress the Twin Viper—but he acts confident when he should show deference and ends up coming off as foolhardy, reckless, and disrespectful.

They walk alongside one another in an informal way, just two trainers (of disparate rank) on a break. The shots leading up to the opening dialog (while not necessarily the opening shot) should show them at a medium distance, approaching a specific outcropping of rock maybe 15 feet away from the cliff wall. From this point-of-view, facing the two Turikasuul, the cliff is on the right, the outcropping to the left, and the horizon is obscured by the falling rain.

When they reach the outcropping of rock, they stop. The rocks frame a pool of water about 12 feet across with a large, spiked sea anemone partially submerged in the center; its tallest spikes break the surface of the water (the longest spikes are about 6 inches long). The spikes are thin and sparse, and the sea anemone's fleshy body is visible between them (the body itself is maybe 1.5 feet tall at its peak, and at least 10 feet wide). The artist should not draw attention to this large creature—it is important, but at this stage of the story just another of the many creatures littered across the scene.

Younger Turikasuul (enthusiastically, happy for the chance to hang out with such a famous Turikasuul as this Twin Viper): So I was teaching this group of recruits how to engage a team of Breydolans and one of them actually says to me, "I would stand my ground until they were almost on me, and when they closed in I would jump above them. I'd be behind them before they could react."

Twin Viper (with a bit of a faint smile): Hah.

Younger Turikasuul (Twin Viper should look displeased after Younger Turikasuul says "Blood Everywhere." Younger Turikasuul should be making large motions with his arms because he is telling an entertaining story to impress Twin Viper. He should be smiling because he is pleased with himself and with the story): Right, she's never faced any, so I asked her if she could demonstrate this technique to the unit. I got down low, charged her, and when she jumped I rose to meet her in the air and put one of my arms through her gut. Blood everywhere. And then, as she's squirming on the ground I say to the unit, "I don't know what your mommies and daddies told you, but Breydolans can jump too."

Twin Viper (mildly surprised and mildly annoyed): That's a bit harsh. Did you kill her?

Younger Turikasuul (haughtily, still smiling, even grinning): I doubt it. Some medics took her away. It was a vivid demonstration.

Twin Viper (not amused): Mmm.

Awkward silence because Twin Viper wasn't into his pointlessly violent story.

Younger Turikasuul (gesturing toward Twin Viper's bulging chest, referring to her pregnancy): Is that your first child?

Twin Viper: My fifth.

Younger Turikasuul: You had four kids while you were off fighting wars?

Twin Viper wanted very much to be fighting, but the clan and the species come before the personal in Turikasuul society. This does not need to be articulated.

Twin Viper (mindful of the sacrifices she's made): Yes, and back then I was still young enough to fight when I was pregnant. I didn't need to leave the front lines.

Younger Turikasuul: Yeah, training duty is almost like leave. It's been a good break for me too, training the pups, but I wanna get back out there.

Twin Viper (distantly): Yes... I miss it. This war was supposed to belong to my sister and I.

Younger Turikasuul: Does your sister have any kids?

Twin Viper (snapped out of her nostalgia at the question, this is a point of contention between she and her sister, and she doesn't want to talk about it): No.

There should be a pause here as Younger Turikasuul notices her anger and waits for it to subside. That means at least one frame of no dialog.

Younger Turikasuul (as he says this, the frame should show the minor childbirth fetish on Twin Viper's chest to make it clear that's what he's talking about): Why do you wear the birthing fetish? I didn't even know those were still around.

Twin Viper (showing her teeth because this is getting too personal again, and raising her voice a little): My sacrifice has earned this honor. Women's dedication to filling our colonies allowed us to wage this invasion.

Younger Turikasuul (again gesturing to Twin Viper's chest when he says "Which is why you're here," through not as directly as the first time): Which is why you're here. The old "as our numbers increase, so does our power," right?

Twin Viper: Yes. But we must also begin to look for power in new places.

Younger Turikasuul (starting to get to his point): You must have seen our clan grow powerful during your lifetime.

Twin Viper (still not happy with Younger Turikasul): I have.

Another frame of no dialog and awkward silence. The awkwardness can be portrayed by the two of them standing there, with Twin Viper looking angry and looking off into the distance, and with Younger Turikasuul looking at her without facing his body toward her, but if you have another idea, try it out. Younger Turikasuul's next move is to try to impress her with his ferocity and ambition. In Turikasuul culture, the superiors (elders) promote the younger ones based on ferocity, strength, and force of will (among other things). Twin Viper is smart and experienced enough not to mistake blind aggression for strength, but Younger Turikasuul is not.

Younger Turikasuul (getting more serious): After colonizing the Kaean system, what stops us from taking Porg territory?

Twin Viper (genuinely surprised): What?

Younger Turikasuul (defending himself, but also happy to be having the debate): You've seen how poorly they defend their settlements. We have worked hard to fill our garrisons, but the Porgs are fools... they've spread their military across more than 200 systems! With a coordinated attack, we could conquer half of them before they had time to respond, and by then we would hold the advantage. Why do we allow those jellyfish to float so freely through the galaxy?

Twin Viper (with distaste figuratively dripping from her tongue): Is this what you teach your students while your commanders are off at war?

Younger Turikasuul (surprised a bit): Surely you agree that their vulnerability is obvious.

She should say the following as she pauses to think about how best to deal with Younger Turikasuul. She could be smiling in a mean way because she thinks Younger Turikasuul is stupid, or she could just be in disbelief at Younger Turikasuul's ignorance.

Twin Viper (after she has considered her response): Do you not see their value? The Porgs manage the known galaxy. They negotiate treaties, trade agreements... they work toward peace, which means economic stability. For the time being, that benefits us greatly. Do you think you could do a better job administering the agreements that profit our clan?

Younger Turikasuul: Who gives a shit? I am sick of dancing around these endless Porg agreements. Please, tell me how we would benefit less if we began raiding their settlements and claiming their systems. That's where the real profit is! Sitting out in the open like berries on a bush!

Twin Viper is annoyed at training young Turikasuul with stupid ideas like Younger Turikasuul. She doesn't like being put in the defensive position, but it's not hard to defend the obvious.

Twin Viper (quietly, under her breath, in a smaller font size because Younger Turikasuul does not hear her): Stuck training pups...

Twin Viper (super serious, to Younger Turikasuul again. This could be in the same frame as her previous dialog, but in a different speech balloon, or in a new frame altogether): All my life I have helped strengthen and expand our empire. The Porgs and Xotron have been in space for nearly two thousand years*, and we are still catching up. If we had tried to fight the Porgs when we first threw off the Xotron, we would have fared little better than children in passenger shuttles. (new chat bubble, connected or not connected) We gain much by operating within the Porg bureaucracy. They have given us technology, and they continue to trade and share valuable information—this is why we maintain good relations. (angrily, showing impatience) We wouldn't even know the location or population of half their systems are if they hadn't shared their map data!

The following translator's note should be added in a box at the bottom of the frame that contains the "nearly two thousand years" dialog.

*Translator's note: A Turikasuul year lasts approximately 410 24-hour days

Younger Turikasuul (debating instead of listening): Yes, in the past we took great advantage of their science. But now we have our own science, our own engineers, our own factories, our own weapons. We have our own explorers. We don't need the Porgs any more. The Porgs are so few in the systems they claim! Why do we continue to respect their space? Because they taught us some technology and share their tube network maps? They are too comfortable. We should take them while they are unsuspecting.

Note: Younger Turikasuul's insistence, although sincere, serves his purpose of vying for recognition and eventual promotion by appearing more powerful, dominant, strong, and fearless than the current leaders, which is how Turikasuul retire old leaders and instate new ones. The elder one here is in no position to be replaced (she will die before she retires); the younger one is trying only to be recognized by someone as high ranking and famous as herself.

Twin Viper should be visibly frustrated and pissed at this point.

Twin Viper (condescending): If you can't understand their value, then understand this: to wage war against the Porgs would end our species.

Younger Turikasuul (backpedaling. He should literally take a step backward as he says this): They will be too busy trying to defend their systems to attack us. We could raid their undefended colonies constantly, and dodge their counterattacks as easily as we outrun them on foot.

Twin Viper (extremely extremely extremely vexed. She should say the following with vehemence. She is threatening him).: Idiot. Have you never seen a Porg wake cruiser? (new frame) Your foolishness is trying my patience. I brought you along to help me in case I go into labor, not to irritate me with your stupid plans for conquest. (she should be snarling at this point) Did you know that when my sister and I were born we ate enough of my mother to kill her?

Younger Turikasuul pauses and gives Twin Viper a funny look. There should be at least one frame dedicated to his funny look, with no dialog.

Younger Turikasuul (serious, still trying to act tough): I am also hungry, Viper. I am hungry for Porg riches. The Porgs have not known war for generations, and this has made them arrogant and complacent.

Twin Viper says nothing, trying to ignore him. She should take a step forward, beginning to walk away from him. But he continues, raising his voice a little.

Younger Turikasuul (becoming a little angry himself): Their very presence disgusts me. It disgusts the Suul. It would be a short campaign.

Twin Viper raises an arm spike, stopping him. She realizes she must end the argument, not dismiss it, because she is not getting through to Younger Turikasuul and his stupid ideas of attacking the Porgs. She should call Younger Turikasuul over to the 12-feet-across tide pool, and point out the giant, 10-feet-across anemone just below the surface of the water. Many poisonous spikes stick out in all directions, and the longest ones break the surface of the water of the tide pool. The longest spikes are 6 inches long. The spikes are thin and sparse, and the sea anemone's fleshy body is visible between them (the body itself rises maybe 1.5 feet above the floor of the tide pool at its peak, and again, it is 10 feet wide). They should both walk over to it.

Twin Viper (suddenly calm): I will show you. Come here.

Twin Viper: The Porgs... are like this creature. Their defenses are weak and spread out, as you say, like these spines that stick up and paralyze the smaller animals. Individually, they pose no threat to us.

Next frame.

Twin Viper (leaning forward, toward the sea anemone): But, if we were to break through these defenses and attack the Porgs...

As she says the next line, she stabs the anemone with one arm, using her arm spike tip to penetrate it.

Twin Viper: ...they would immediately organize and become unbeatable.

The anemone contracts immediately when she stabs it, as Earth anemones do, constricting and becoming a little smaller. It should then resemble a sea urchin: rounded, tough, and covered in spikes. Twin Viper should then remove her arm, which should have a bit of anemone meat dangling from the tip.

Younger Turikasuul should take a step closer to the anemone. As he steps forward, Twin Viper should use the thumb spike on her other arm to grab the meat from the tip of the arm that just stabbed the anemone, effectively swapping the bit of meat from one arm to the other. Then, as the younger Turikasuul leans over the tide pool to examine the contracted anemone, Twin Viper should forcibly push Younger Turikasuul so that he falls forward onto the anemone, using her arm that now no longer has the anemone meat on it. She hurts him with a sense of both teaching and malice, much as Younger Turikasuul did to his student as he described when the story began.

After he falls onto the spikes, he is pierced and skewered in several places. None of the spikes are long enough to go through him and poke out of his back. Twin Viper then leans over him and holds him down with her foot, pressing him into the anemone's spikes. They are poisonous, but not enough to seriously endanger Younger Turikasuul. The poison only causes him additional discomfort. Don't draw any poison—it is not visible.

The next shot should be from inside the relatively calm water of the tide pool, looking up at Younger Turikasuul impaled on the spikes, with Twin Viper leaning on his back. He should be wincing, trying to tough it out. Twin Viper's next line should be given in this panel.

Twin Viper: If you seek war with the Porgs, this is your fate. Humbled by an enemy of your own making!

The younger Turikasuul has learned the lesson "let sleeping dogs lie." He's not dead or dying (Turikasuul have amazing regenerative abilities), just badly scraped up and extremely uncomfortable from the poison. He knows better than to attack his elder clan member, so all he can do is sulk. Twin Viper should stop leaning on Younger Turikasuul and begin to walk away. As she does, she should eat the bit of anemone met she is still holding with the thumb of her other arm.

Twin Viper walks away with a bit of disgust on her face, saying nothing and chewing on her snack.

Behind her, we should see Younger Turikasuul standing with a snarl on his face. Several spines should be sticking out of his face and shoulders (but they did not impale him completely, meaning the spines did not come out his other end). In the final frame, he should stab the anemone with one of his arm spikes in frustration. The stab should not go in as deeply as Twin Viper's did when the anemone was spread out and vulnerable.

End comic.

Trivia

Hard Lessons is the first Carpe Chaos comic to feature Turikasuul.
It is also the first comic to feature one of the Twin Vipers.
Hard Lessons is the first Carpe Chaos comic to feature the Turikasuul homeworld of Suulmalla.