A Brief History of Grifonton, Page 18

PAGE 18, PANEL 1

The Griffin lies in a grassy clearing with townspeople around her, including children playing on her back. Houses are visible in the background.

NARRATOR: "Well, soon the whole town had relocated to the forest surrounding the Gryphon's cave."

PAGE 18, PANEL 2

The Griffin accepts a cow from the townspeople who look grateful.

NARRATOR: "The townsfolk were safe there as no marauders would dare come near the Gryphon's abode, and they were more than happy to feed her their own cattle in exchange for this protection."

PAGE 18, PANEL 3

A diagram showing the Griffin at various sizes compared to a stick figure human, demonstrating how she shrinks over time.

NARRATOR: "With time, the Gryphon grew smaller and gentler."

NARRATOR: "No one could tell if she was growing smaller as she grew gentler or if it was the other way around."

Handwritten labels: "Size reference only" with an arrow pointing to "not actual human"

PAGE 18, PANEL 4

A menacing dragon with horns and bat-like wings appears in the distance.

NARRATOR: "But, her strength was to be tested when a fierce dragon came boasting of death and fire and gold."

Everything that follows is original 2005 commentary except where noted “–RN 2012″:

The picture of the children crawling all over the huge Gryphon was the first image of the Gryphon that popped into my head when I first thought of the story.

You realize I was still working even though 24 hours were over, right?

The size reference notes were put there because I was sleepy from 24 hours of caffeine-induced pseudo-alertness, and they seemed hysterical at the time. I imagine sleepy humor is much like drunken humor or drugged humor: It makes no sense when you are back in your right mind. I had wanted to add “do not eat!” to the “not actual human” statement, and now I have no idea why.

Maybe so Gryphon readers wouldn’t attack their monitors?

I like how the Gryphon gets larger with aggression and smaller with gentleness. I wonder if there was a time when she was gigantic immediately after the crisis, like a demigod on earth? –RN 2012

Suggested listening: “I Feel Loved” by Depeche Mode

Comments (Archived)

  1. Sakebottleswing

    I love the panel with the children playing on the Gryphon’s back. They all look so happy!