Description
Panel One: The Map. Ocaton has been X'ed out, and not far off we see Yersinia, represented by a Plague Doctor icon. There are other towns and such, but in the upper left corner is a large star with the name "Newwick" next to it, along with a date: 11/23
Panel Two: The Merchant checks his pocketwatch. We can just see the design on the back through his fingers; a winged hourglass.
Panel Three: The Merchant writes the date 5/14 on his map next to Ocaton, and thinks to himself, "And that makes three. That kid, though. That was weird."
Panel Four: He drinks his coffee and starts to fold his map back up. He thinks, "Whatever. He's worm food. Just gotta lay low until they leave. No sense infecting a place if they're around to stop it."
Panel Five: The Merchant stretches his legs out and leans back, his back propped comfortably up on a backpack. He looks very relaxed and satisfied. He thinks, "Oh, well. That's all right. I've got plenty of time."
Author Note
Oooh, look - A TIMELINE!
Yes, we have a little glimpse into his plans. But the bigger question remains - Why is he doing this? Hmm... That's a thing for Future You to learn!
Or, honestly, if you're dying and can't wait or have other questions you'd like to ask, I have a Discord Server with a section specifically for SPOILERS. Yes, I am letting you ask questions. All answers are under blackout text, and I ask that if you post follow-ups that could be spoilery, that you black those out, too. This will keep people who want to know simple things, like "What does 'DJ' stand for?" from knowing big questions, like "Who is The Merchant and Why is he doing this?" You can join the server here: https://discord.gg/4AgC57fVCE
Anyway, I hit a bit of a script roadbump for Issue 2, but I figured it out! The oppressive heat WASN'T helping. Here's to actually making progress on it tonight if the storms doesn't get too bad and the power holds out! And to all of you in the Pacific Northwest - Be safe, okay? Stay inside, drink water, and if you need to cool down fast, cold, wet compresses on blood vessels close to the skin (neck and forearms are easy to do) can help cool your core. Failing that, any water on those locations will help cool as it evaporates, or, in a pinch, hand sanitizer. It'll evaporate quickly and it's better than nothing.
Stay Hydrated,
- Bran
