In the Shadow of the Palace

AND AS HE CAME DOWN I SAW HIM HOLDING A SHINING KNIFE TRYING TO CUT HIS NAME ON A PIECE OF WOOD.

THIS IS A BACHELOR PROJECT FROM GRAPHIC STORYTELLING, THE ANIMATION WORKSHOP, VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 2021-COVER-In the shadow to the palce.indd 1

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COPYRIGHT. 2021 IN THE SHADOW OF THE PALACE GABRIEL TIEDT LANGE

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I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS COMIC WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE AND HELP FROM MANY WONDERFUL AND TALENTED PEOPLE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK! MY COORDINATORS ERIK BARKMAN AND PETER DYRING, FOR THEIR FANTASTIC EFFORT, IN MAKING GRAPHIC STORYTELLING SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE TO STUDY.

MY WONDERFUL CLASSMATES, I COULD NOT IMAGINE GRAPHIC STORYTELLING WITHOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! AND I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MET YOU AND BEEN ON THIS CRAZY JOURNEY WITH YOU.

ALL THE TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE HAD DURING THE YEARS, THERE WERE A LOT. BUT I THINK THAT YOU ALL MADE AN IMPRESSION ON US AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.

MY MENTOR MARTIN FLINK, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE DURING MY PRODUCTION. YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP.

FINALLY A BIG THANKS TO MY BELOVED EMMA! FOR ALL YOUR GREAT IDEAS, HELPFULNESS AND WISDOM!

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I SAW A WORKMAN FALL WITH HIS SCAFFOLDING

RIGHT FROM THE SUMMIT OF SOME VAST TEMPLE TOWER.

AND AS HE CAME DOWN I SAW HIM HOLDING A SHINING KNIFE

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TRYING TO CUT HIS NAME ON A PIECE OF WOOD

HE HAD TIME TO TRY AND DO THIS, FOR IT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY

FOR HE MUST HAVE HAD NEARLY FIVE HUNDRED FEET TO FALL.

FOR NOT ONLY WOULD THE MAN BE UNRECOGNIZABLE DEAD IN THREE SECONDS,

AND I COULD THINK OF NOTHING BUT HIS FOLLY IN DOING THIS FUTILE THING,

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BUT THE VERY PIECE OF WOOD ON WHICH HE TRIED TO CARVE OUT WHATEVER OF HIS NAME HE COULD,

WAS CERTAIN TO BE BURNED IN A FEW WEEKS FOR FIREWOOD.

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IN THE SHADOW OF THE PALACE

INSPIRED BY LORD DUNSANY'S BOOK FIFTY-ONE TALES.

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WORKERS... WORKERS! I''M REX YOUR PRINCE AND HEIR TO THIS KINGDOM! BUT ALAS! I HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF MY BIRTH RIGHT!

... THE SCRIPT DONJO! HURRY!

THE KING LIVES FOREVER IN THE ARTIFICIAL AFTERLIFE! AND I'LL NEVER ASCEND THE THRONE!!

I SENSE YOU ARE ALL EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROSPECT AND ARE EAGER TO JOIN ME! ...

HMM WHERE WAS I...

I KNOW LIFE IS MEANINGLESS AND WITHOUT PURPOSE.. DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE! I WILL GIVE YOU PURPOSE! JOIN MY GRAND ARMEE! AND REVOLT!

"WHO IS THAT?" "SOME WEIRDO" FROM THE PALACE.

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WITH YOU BY MY SIDE I PROMISE A BETTER TOMORROW! FREEDOM! HOPE!

SIR! WATCH OUT...

A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL.

NOT NOW DONJO!

ONE AT A TIME, ONE AT A TIME.

I SEE YOU ARE ALL EAGER TO JOIN MY BANNERS.

BUT SIR!!.

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AGAIN? HOW I HATE HIM! NOW WE HAVE TO SPEND DAYS FINDING HIM! AND WHEN WAS THIS TAPED?

WHY? WE BOTH KNOW HE'LL NEVER BE KING, BESIDES WHY DO THE NOBLES CARE?

ORDERS ARE ORDERS..

THIS MORNING AT 1045 HOURS JUST KEEP LOOKING!

THEY ARE ARMED..

PROLETARIAN SCUM! I FOUND SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HIM.. NO WAIT, IT'S JUST WORKERS..

WHAT ARE THEY UP TO? FOOD? MEDICINE? STARVED BASTARDS.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING OUTSIDE THEIR ZONE? WHERE ARE THE GUARDS?

THEY NEVER COME THIS CLOSE TO THE PALACE.. LOOK THEY ARE CUTTING OPEN THE SEWER GATE..

QUICK! CONTACT THE PALACE GARRISON THE KINGS TOMB MIGHT BE IN DANGER.

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WHAT ABOUT PRINCE REX?

HE CAN WAIT! BET HE IS LOST SOMEWHERE.. AGAIN..

IDIOT!

CAREFUL WITH THE EXPLOSIVES! I'VE SPENT TO MUCH TIME GATHERING IT! WE ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT AT THIS.

TERO AND ELLAH YOU STAY HERE WITH THE RADIO AND WAIT FOR MY SIGNAL.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE ACTUALLY GOT IN.

KEEP IT DOWN! GUARDS!

ARE WE CLOSE TO THE TOMB?

ONLY 300 METERS,

OKAY NICE AND EASY. NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

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JUST A LITTLE BITE..

GET BACK HERE! NO!

WHAT'S HE DOING?

K!

N LO

C

HEY HEY! DON'T PUSH!

WOW THIS IS AMAZING!

REAL FRUIT! GIVE ME SOME OF THAT!

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I'M FREAKING OUT! WHERE ARE THEY? NO EXPLOSION, NO CALL BACK.

OKAY OKAY, I'LL TRY TO CONTACT THEM AGAIN!

RELAX TERO! I'M PICKING UP SOMETHING NOW.

I'M TELLING YOU IT'S TAKING TOO LONG ELLAH! SHH!

SCRAT SCRAT RUN... SCRAT..

THIS WAY..

OH SHIT..

THIS IS NO FOOD RAID! I KNEW IT WOULD GO WRONG! I JUST KNEW IT! GOING DEEP INTO THE PALACE.. IT'S CRAZY!

STOP RIGHT THERE! TERO? WAIT!!

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HEY W A IT AS TCH SHOLE !

THERE YOU ARE!

"I'M INNOCENT" I NEVER MISSED A DAYS WORK! "SHUT UP!"

BUT WHERE IS THE OTHER ONE?

LET'S JUST BRING THIS ONE BACK.

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THEY DROPPED THIS RADIO.

OLD MODEL, IS IT ON?

IS THAT ELLAH?

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

WHAT? WHERE?

UP THERE!

SHE'S GETTING AWAY!

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IF THEY WOULD JUST LISTEN TO ME!

HAND ME THE MAP DONJO.

IF WE CAN GET TO THEM AND THE TALES ARE TRUE, THEN THE CROWN IS MINE. JUST WAIT AND SEE...

OKAY, WE ARE HERE AND THE FANATICS SHOULD LIVE DOWN HERE... BENEATH THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE CITY.

HMM...

BUT WE NEED A GUIDE FOR THE SEWERS, LETS TRY A LOWER LEVEL.

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CAN'T YOU SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WORKER! STOP RIGHT THERE!!

OHH NO...

SORRY...

"HEY!" CALL CENTRAL, AND TELL THEM WE GOT THE LAST ONE!

MOVE ASIDE.

DUNGEONS! SHE IS A PROLETARIAN RESISTANCE FIGHTER AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS WILL YOU!

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING HER? WHAT HAS SHE DONE?

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DUNGEONS? RESISTANCE FIGHTER?

COULDN'T WE USE HER? TO GUIDE US..

SHE WOULD GLADLY HELP US!

"YEA"...

GUARDS! RELEASE HER!

DON'T YOU RECOGNIZE ROYALTY WHEN YOU SEE IT? I'M REX! THE PRINCE OF THIS KINGDOM! AND THIS IS MY LOYAL RETAINER DONJO.

WHAT! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

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BUT... FREE HER? SHE IS RADICALIZED-

FORGIVE ME MY PRINCE! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BY YOUR FINE CLOTHING!

ENOUGH! MY PLANS ARE NON OF YOUR CONCERNS! FOR NOW I JUST NEED A GUIDE, I COULD USE HER...

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

HEY!

EXCELLENT! FINALLY SOMEONE WITH BRAINS IN THIS HOLE!

ELLAH!

BUT MY PRINCE, WE HAVE STRICT ORDERS!

LET IT GO, IT'LL BE HIS FUNERAL...

THE NOBLES DON'T CARE...

YOU'RE IN A HURRY...

DETERMINATION, I LIKE THAT!

COME ALONG NOW.

I'LL EXPLAIN THAT LATER...

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ARE YOU SURE THIS IS THE WAY? I ALREADY FEEL LOST AND MY FEET ARE NUMB.

YOU SAID OUT OF THE CITY, NOW COME ON! SLOW DOWN!

REVOLUTION? SO THAT'S WHY YOU WERE IN SUCH A HURRY.

BUT FINE WE HAVE A DEAL! IF YOU HELP ME TAKE THE CROWN, I'LL PARDON YOU AND YOUR..

RADICAL FRIENDS.. THAT'S MORE THAN THEY DESERVE.

AND GRANT...

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YOU'RE ASKING A LOT YOU DO KNOW THAT? YOU'RE JUST LUCKY I'M WILLING TO PARDON YOU, WHEN THIS IS OVER...

REVOLUTION.. BREAKING IN TO THE PALACE...

YES YES! AND GRANT THE PROLETARIANS A PLACE IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT AND FREE THE WORKERS.

WHO OF YOUR FINE FRIENDS CAN NAVIGATE IN THE PALACE SEWERS LIKE I CAN?

DIDN'T THINK SO. YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE TOO FINE TO COME DOWN HERE. WHERE YOUR OWN SHIT IS FLOATING AROUND.

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HAVE I EVEN TOLD YOU WHAT OR WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR?

YOU HAVE STARED AT IT FOR HOURS, LET ME SEE IT.

I NEED HELP, BUT NOT FOR MAP READING.

NO... WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

IF YOU WILL EXCUSE US, COME ALONG DONJO.

I CAN'T TELL YOU.. IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.

DON'T BE MAD! I'M JUST... WHAT'S THE WORD DONJO...

JOKING, MASTER?

YES! JOCKING!

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COME ON DONJO! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO I'M HELPING.

HAS REX ALWAYS BEEN A PAIN IN THE ASS? I BET HE HAS! THEY ALL ARE!

BESIDES WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE. WORKERS! HE WOULDN'T LAST LONG DOWN HERE WITHOUT US!

SAY SOMETHING! IT'S OUR SECRET.

OKAY...

ONE TIMETO MANY WORDS I MEAN DOWN IS DOWN! HOW HARD CAN IT BE!

DARN IT,THIS MAP IS TOO COMPLICATED.

HAVING FUN?

NO...

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WE ARE GOING IN CIRCLES REX.

YOU ALREADY HAD HOURS!

JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE OKAY!

IT'S COMPLICATED ELLAH, OKAY? NOT SOMETHING A LOW BORN WORKER LIKE YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND. THIS IS A THREE DIMENSIONAL MAP, FROM THE ROYAL LIBRARY!

PRETENDING THIS WHOLE TIME..

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YOU CAN'T READ IT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN PRETENDING? THIS IS ABSURD.

ACTUALLY! I HAVE A LONG EDUCATION IN THE ARTS OF MAP READING. IT'S A VERY LONG AND DELICATE MATTER, NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE-

JUST ADMIT IT! YOU CAN'T READ THE FUCKING MAP!

ELLAH, WAIT?

...

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H!"

"ELLA

"ELLAH!"

!"

H "ELLA

FUCKING IDIOT, GREW UP IN A GOLD CAGE AND CAN'T EVEN READ A MAP.

BUT I CAN'T SAVE THEM MYSELF..

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HIM...

OKAY OKAY...

WHATS THE PLAN...

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"HELP!"

"HELP!" "HELP!"

POOR DONJO..

TRAPPED WITH THAT IDIOT.

BUT WITHOUT REX..

HOW CAN I?

FUCK..

I NEED HIS DUMB ASS..

PFF! WHEN THIS IS OVER..

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O! DONJ ING! METH O S O D

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YOU SAVED ME?

NO I DIDN'T.

LETS GET GOING.

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I LOST THE MAP...

WITHOUT IT WE CAN'T FIND...

FIND...

"BUT"... "BUT"...

HEY! YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT.. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR...

WHERE ARE YOU GOING ELLAH? DONJO!

WAIT... HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? DID DONJO TELL? DAMMIT DONJO! THAT'S SUPER SECRET!

DONJO DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HEARD THAT FAIRYTALE.

RECRUIT A BUNCH OF LUNATICS.

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OKAY! YOU FIGURED ME OUT! AND I ADMIT IT.

WE WERE OUT DEEP!

YEAH...

NOT GONNA FORGET THAT...

HE HE

YOU'RE WELCOME...

AND YES YOU WERE! DID YOU SEE THE TEETH ON THAT CROX?

LOOK AT THIS PLACE! HALLS OF PAST KINGS!

FORGOTTEN...

JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THEM.

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ARH!!

DID YOU SEE THAT!

HA HA RELAX DONJO! ELLAH WILL PROTECT US!!

ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

"WHAT?"

BUT..

COULD BE A CROX, COULD BE ANYTHING.

SOMETHING JUST MOVED! DOWN THERE! LOOK!

DON'T WORRY DONJO, YOU HEARD REX, I'LL PROTECT YOU! HEHE.

"MESSIAH"

ESSIAH!"

"M

COME ON DONJO!

MESSIAH

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FUCK THIS! I CAN'T GET IT OPEN! IT'S POINTLESS ANYWAYS!

JUST TRY AGAIN, WE NEED TO GET THIS GATE OPEN!

NO!

WELL YOU KNOW.. INTUITION AND WHEN WE FIND THEM (WHICH WE WILL!)

WE ARE SO CLOSE! WHEN WE GET TO THE FANATICS I'M SURE THEY WILL HELP ME...

I THINK...

AND WHY SHOULD THEY HELP US? THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG HOLES IN YOUR PLAN.

HOW DO YOU KNOW? IF THEY EVEN EXIST AND THAT'S A BIG IF!

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I DON'T TRUST THEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THEIR STUPID STORIES, AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE WHO DOES.

I'M THE ROYAL PRINCE, I'LL LET THEM RETURN TO THE SURFACE. ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY WANT IN THE STORY?

THEY ARE CALLED FANATICS...

DO YOU THINK THEY CARE ABOUT TITLES?

AND LOOK AROUND YOU! LOOK WHAT YOUR KIND HAVE MADE!

DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD TRUST ANYONE WHO CREATED THIS?

I DIDN'T CREATE THIS... I WILL CHANGE THIS! JUST WAIT AND SEE.

THEY ALL SAY THAT.

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WHAT IS THAT?

WE HAVE SPOTTED THE PRINCE, AND HIS SERVANT. WHAT'S HE DOING DOWN HERE?

THAT'S CLASSIFIED, JUST BRING HIM BACK IN ONE PIECE!

THERE IS A THIRD INDIVIDUAL, PROBABLY HIS CAPTOR.

"DRONE!"

HIDE! DON'T JUST STAND THERE!

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RADICALIZED PROLETARIAN, SHE COULD BE DANGEROUS.

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FEAR NOT YOUR HIGHNESS, WE ARE HERE TO SAVE YOU!

HH"

!

H "GAAH

DON'T MOVE WORKER! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

""

"DOWN" THERE! LOOK!

"WHAT" HAPPENED?

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I DON'T BELIEVE IT!

FANATICS! STAY CALM..

YOU MUST COME WITH US YOUR HIGHNESS IT'S YOUR ONLY HOPE! THEY WILL EAT YOU ALIVE, IF THEY GET THE CHANCE!

BEHIND US! THEY ARE SWARMING THE DRONE, WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!

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DON'T!! YOU COULD DAMAGE THE DRONE! DO YOU WANT TO BE STUCK HERE, WITH THOSE PEOPLE?

WE WILL RETURN FOR YOU MY PRINCE!

OHH SHIT...

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HEHE POINTY, WHERE IS YOUR SUPERVISOR OR PRIEST I HAVE SOME INTERESTING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS, LOTS OF FRESH AIR.

THERE YOU ARE..

HOW WE HAVE LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS DAY..

SHUT UP.

I HAVE? FINALLY YOU HAVE RETURNED TO US!

THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE SO NICE AND SOFT.

RETURNED FROM THE SURFACE! WE HAVE MISSED YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY...

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WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT YOU WILL, EVEN YOUR SERVANTS WILL UNDERSTAND.

I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND?

SERVANTS?

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YOU WILL LEAD US TO THE SURFACE, IT HAS BEEN FORETOLD AND RESTORE ORDER. YOUR SKIN SO NICE AND SOFT...

ISN'T THAT RIGHT MESSIAH?

WELL YES...

OF COURSE...

WHAT IS THIS AGAIN?

THE SURFACE HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT US, EVER SINCE THEY BUILT THEIR WICKED CITY, AND BANISHED US! BUT ALL THAT WILL SOON CHANGE. PLANTS MESSIAH.

ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN TRUST YOUR SERVANTS? WE HAVE HAD... SOME TROUBLES WITH SURFACE PEOPLE...

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THEY DO AS I BID. FOR THE MOST PART..

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GOOD GOOD..

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GO BACK? ARE YOU INSANE ELLAH?!

THERE IS ANYTHING YOU COULD EVER DREAM OF, RIGHT HERE!

JUST LOOK AT THIS PLACE, WOULD YOU EVEN IMAGINE THAT ALL THIS HAVE BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME, RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES.

WE HAD A DEAL! WHO KNOWS WHETHER THEY'RE ALREADY PREPARING THE GUILLOTINE. YOU HAVE TO PARDON MY FRIENDS.

BESIDES THEY LOVE ME! I'M THEIR SAVIOR OR WHATEVER THEY CALL ME. GO BACK.. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION..

JUST FOR A MINUTE SOAK IT IN! RELAX, TAKE A DRINK, PUT YOUR FEET UP! I DID IT, I MEAN OF COURSE I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR.. WHAT'S THE WORD.. HELP!

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"AND.. YES I'LL FREE THEM" YOUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS AND.. SAVE THE WORKERS..

HAPPY?

IT'S NOT EVERYDAY THAT A PERSON LIKE YOU FINDS YOURSELF IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.. LOOK, I'VE NOT FORGOTTEN YOUR HELP AND IN TIME I'LL RETURN TO THE SURFACE WITH A MIGHTY ARMY AND..

COULD WE JUST SPEAK IN PRIVATE FOR A MOMENT REX?

BUT WE ARE IN PRIVATE..

DON'T SCREW THIS UP!

WAIT WHERE ARE YOU GOING? ELLAH COME BACK!

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OLD WITCH...

WHAT IS SHE UP TO?

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LET THEM! A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE NEVER HURT ANYONE, BESIDES HAPPY SUBJECTS ARE LOYAL SUBJECTS. YOU ARE POKING YOUR NOSE IN STUFF YOU CAN'T HANDLE!

I'M TELLING YOU THEY ARE PLANING SOMETHING ...

SOMETHING CRAZY...

WHAT KIND OF RULER ARE YOU?

I CARE! BUT IN MY IMPORTANT AND VERY BUSY POSITION I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF EVERY LITTLE PESKY DETAIL. SO-CALLED HUMAN SACRIFICE INCLUDED.

AND BESIDES WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! WHY ARE YOU EVEN STILL HERE? DONJO WHY DON'T YOU SHOW ELLAH OUT.

ARE YOU DEAF? I'M TRYING TO WARN YOU!

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I DON'T NEED YOUR WARNING!

DONJO?

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I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING AGAINST HIM.

DIDN'T EXPECT THIS. BUT THANK YOU I GUESS..

WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? WITHOUT US...

HE HAS DREAMED OF THIS HIS WHOLE LIFE.

EVEN IF IT IS A ROLE THAT DOESN'T SUIT HIM. I ALWAYS KNEW IT WOULD COME TO THIS, I ALWAYS FEARED THIS MOMENT.

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IT'S JUST A CUP!

NO! HEY NOW HOLD ON

IT'S THE LAW TO DIE BY YOUR HAND IS AN HONOUR.

"MY HAND?"

"BUT IT'S JUST" A CUP...

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WAIT MESSIAH!

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YOU CALLED? HOPE YOU DIDN'T WAIT TOO LONG, BUT I'M AN OLD WOMAN AND THERE ARE MANY STAIRS IN THE CITADEL.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MY..

MY FRIENDS, I OVERREACTED THE OTHER DAY.

YOU HAVE OBLIGATIONS NOW, IT WOULD BE TOO GREAT A RISK FOR YOU. BESIDES YOU WILL SEE THEM SOON ENOUGH.

THE TRAITORS ARE BEST KEPT IN THE DUNGEON, THEY ARE DANGEROUS! TALKING HERESY ABOUT YOU!

BUT I DEMAND IT.

WAIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHAT PRICE? THE PRICE WE ALL HAVE TO PAY ONE DAY.. GOODNIGHT MESSIAH.

IN THE END EVEN THEY WILL UNDERSTAND THE PRICE, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY.

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18-01-2021 10:32:27

WHAT? UHH WHAT?

ELLAH! WAKE UP! SOMEONE IS COMING!

ELLAH? DONJO? ARE YOU IN HERE?

REX! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

HUU THOUGHT I WAS TOO LATE!

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SAVING YOU! WHAT ELSE? I KNOW OKAY! I WAS WRONG! HAPPY? THEY ARE ABSOLUTE CRAZY!

YOU FIGURED THAT OUT ALL BY YOURSELF?

SAVING US?

I WON'T LET THEM SACRIFICE MY FRIENDS!

FRIENDS?

SACRIFICE?

MY HEAD...

MESSIAH WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I...

SHOULD HAVE HIT HARDER...

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IT'S TOO RISKY! THE FANATICS ARE A HUGE FORCE. IF THEY GET MUCH CLOSER THEY WILL-

DESTROY THE ARTIFICIAL AFTERLIFE...

DESTROY US...

WE COULD GIVE REX THE CROWN?

BUT CAN WE CONTROL HIM?

YOU KNOW HIM AS WELL AS I.

HE'LL BE OUR PUPPET JUST LIKE HIS FATHER.

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BESIDES WE NEED NEW GENES FOR THE BREEDING PROGRAM. THE FANATICS ARE STRONG AND RESILIENT.

THE WORKERS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE DEGENERATED, AND THE LATEST MUTATION MADE THEIR APPETITE GROW EXPONENTIALLY.

BUT CAN HE CONVINCE THEM TO JOIN US? WE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM THEM.

HE IS THEIR MESSIAH, HOW HARD CAN IT BE!

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MESSIAH!

MESSIAH!

MESSIAH!

MESSIAH! "WAIT FOR ME!"

IAH!

S

MES

MES

SIAH

!

LET ME GO FREAKS!

MES

SIAH

GET OUT OF THE WAY MONKS! MOVE FOOLS!

THERE HE IS, DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!

MOVE! HE IS A TRAITOR! HE IS SELLING US OUT!

!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS BLASPHEMY!

HE IS SURFACE SCUM! THE MOTHER HAS SPOKEN, HER WORD IS FINAL!

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REX!!

GET UP IDIOT!

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COME ON DONJO.

THIS WAY! DID YOU HEAR THAT?

HOPE WE LOST THEM!

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HE STILL LOOKS LIKE AN IDIOT, HOPE YOUR PLAN WILL WORK. OTHERWISE WE ARE FUCKED.

IT WILL! NOW SMILE..

MY PRINCE! SO GOOD TO SEE YOU! WE HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK FOR YOU, SINCE YOUR SOMEWHAT.. MAY I SAY DISCREET DEPARTURE FROM THE PALACE. BUT WE HAVE HEARD TALES AND RUMORS..

OF YOUR COURAGE!

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OF COURSE!!

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DISCUSS. AFTER YOUR GLORIOUS ADVENTURE! MUCH HAS CHANGED.

YOU HAVE?

REALLY? ABOUT HIM?

BRING IT HERE!

YOUR CROWN!

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"WHEN THE KING HEARD OF YOUR BRAVE" ENDEAVORS, HE IMMEDIATELY ABDICATED. IN HIS GREAT WISDOM, HE REALIZED THAT YOU ARE READY TO RULE IN HIS STEAD!

OF COURSE!

REALLY?

IT'S YOUR OBLIGATION THAT YOU MUST FULFILL.

WHY ME?

YES TAMED THE SAVAGES! AND BESIDES IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO RULE! YOUR DESTINY!

YOU'RE THE PRINCE OF COURSE AND YOU HAVE ALREADY TAMED THE FANATICS. A GREAT DEED!

YES...

ABOUT THAT...

TAMED-

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ABOUT THAT...

LIKE WE SAID, A GREAT HONOUR, A EVEN GREATER HONOUR TO SERVE YOU!

NO! NO... WE HAVE TO LEAVE...

WHAT?

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YOU LEAVE? REFUSE?

"GASP" "LEAVE"

WAIT! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

GUARDS!

GUARDS?

SOMETHING IS COMING!

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OOH NO..

DOWN HERE! HURRY!

GET BACK! RUN FOOLS! GET BACK TO THE PALACE!

FANATICS! ALREADY?

REX!

REX!

DONJO! HURRY HELP ME WITH THIS.

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"REX!" "REX!"

"REX!"

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WE HAVE KILLED ALL THE WICKED NOBLES AS YOU COMMANDED MOTHER. BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND HIM YET!

WE HAVE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR THE TRAITOR..

HE CAN WAIT, BESIDES WE HAVE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.

SHOULD WE CONTINUE THE SEARCH FOR HIM?

HE ABANDONED US! YOU SAID SO YOURSELF!

YES..

BUT..

HUSH LET ME WORRY ABOUT THAT!

THE PROPHECY WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY!

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CAN YOU HEAR THAT?

WHAT IS IT? UP AHEAD.

WORKERS!

WAIT! ELLAH, DONJO...

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NO. HAVEN'T SEEN THEM.

WE THOUGHT WE'D NEVER SEE YOU!

ELLAH! OVER HERE!

HOW DID YOU ESCAPE? IT'S A MIRACLE!

FUCK! IS THAT ELLAH!

BY THE WAY WHO ARE THOSE TWO... SOMEONE YOU TRUST?

THE FANATICS! EVERYTHING WAS CHAOS MAN!

"NOBLES"

"THEY ARE" MY FRIENDS!

THEY STORMED THE PALACE! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

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WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

OUT! THE FANATICS PROMISED A BETTER WORLD... BUT THEY RAN AMOK.. WE ARE LEAVING THE CITY.

WHEN WE SAW WHAT THEY DID TO THE NOBLES WE FELT THE URGE TO LEAVE.

THE NOBLES?

GONE! YOU SHOULD LEAVE TOO. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR PRETTY HEAD.

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COPYRIGHT. 2021 IN THE SHADOW OF THE PALACE GABRIEL TIEDT LANGE

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AND AS HE CAME DOWN I SAW HIM HOLDING A SHINING KNIFE TRYING TO CUT HIS NAME ON A PIECE OF WOOD.

THIS IS A BACHELOR PROJECT FROM GRAPHIC STORYTELLING, THE ANIMATION WORKSHOP, VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 2021-COVER-In the shadow to the palce.indd 1

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