Line #27 Webcomic/CwensQuest


1	''[[http://www.cwensquest.com/ Cwen's Quest]]'' is a webcomic written by Nick Stroffolino and drawn by Sarah N. It stars Cwen, an angry ex-princess with tiny wings; Riddly, her mysterious life slave, and Wendy, her cute stuffed animal companion and wise sage, all on Cwen's titular quest for revenge against her father. Despite the premise, the comic has thus far avoided getting too serious and tends to address serious situations with black humor.
2
3	The story takes place in a strange fantasy world years after the titular character, Cwen, has been exiled via a swift kick off a cliff, and left for dead by her father Lord Attez. When Cwen returns, she finds her father long gone and chaos in his absence. Cwen's interest is in getting even with her father, but she is forced to help some people along the way in order to find him, gaining a few allies as she does so. The story tends to jump between the past and the present frequently through various narrative devices to show various characters' back stories and dropping plot points to be explained in the present.
4
5	What makes ''Cwen's Quest'' stand out, though, is its bizarre original setting, which fuels much of its humor and doesn't dip into the usual sources like ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Tabletopgame/DungeonsAndDragons'' or ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''. In a world where wolf-men run hordes of invaders as tight-fisted CEO, the mysterious [=FauX=] group runs magic like science, a girl has a paralyzing fear of hats, and giant apes with British accents fight dragons, hilarity seems to be the only option left to most characters.
6
7	''Cwen's Quest'' also features a creator blog which dives into mostly unrelated side stories about other adventures living in the CQ universe. The author himself seems to be an avid TV Tropes fan, as he has written trope examples at least twice into the comic in response to people putting the comic as examples on tropes that didn't really fit.
8
9	This comic stopped updating in 2013. While the official website is dead, some of the comics are still archived [[https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Cwens_Quest/ here]].
10
11	----
12	!!This comic provides examples of:
13	* AbusiveParents: Lord Attez shouldn't be allowed to have children...and he has many!
14	* TheAce: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-2-page-6-enter-gram-trellion Gram Trellion]]
15	* ActionGirl: Cwen.
16	* AmusingInjuries: Inverted. While many characters have suffered amusingly painful slap stick style harm character has consistently shown to be actually harmed by these including keeping broken limbs for whole story arcs and secondary characters keep scars from being set on fire.
17	* AprilFoolsDay: A fake cover was put up for chapter 5; it helped that the update naturally fell on April 1.
18	* ArtShift: A small one when the comic gained limited color, ''ComicBook/SinCity'' style.
19	* ArtifactTitle: Gram calls Cwen by the name "Lady of Seven" because when she met him years before she wanted to seem mature to impress him, so she called herself a "Lady of Seven Years". Cwen's a lot older now, but the name sort of stuck
20	* ArtificialLimbs: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-7-page-1-sabril-and-sabril One of the Sabrils has one of these.]]
21	* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: Cwen and Sabril settle the issue of who should be the Witch Queen by building things to fight for them.
22	* BackStory: We frequently get flashbacks to Cwen's and later Sven's past.
23	* BadassBoast: Riddly has a few of these when he isn't having a bad day.
24	* BattleAura: Riddly gets one of these a couple of time when he is particularly powerful. No idea what triggers them.
25	* BerserkButton: Trel does not like hats. AT ALL.
26	* BestServedCold: The point of Cwen's...well, quest!
27	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Riddly is a nice happy-go-lucky guy who will beat someone to death with a fish if you ask him.
28	* BigBrotherMentor: More like big sister, Wendy.
29	* BigScrewedUpFamily: The Attez family. Attez personally screws up all his kids and the fan theory is he kills his wives.
30	* BloodyHilarious: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-1-page-11-splat On the page aptly titled SPLAT.]]
31	* BoomerangBigot: Sabril despises Gypsies due to ParentalAbandonment.
32	* BullyingADragon: A very literal example that [[spoiler:gets Attez killed]].
33	* CallingYourAttacks: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-4-page-19-bail-out Blind side attack fool!]]
34	* TheCameo: Mostly from the artist's other comic, ''Webcomic/VampirePhantasm'', and the author's wife's comic, ''Webcomic/CharbyTheVampirate''. Some have even become regular characters in ''Cwen's Quest''.
35	** In one bonus page, Riddly asks Jack of ''Vampire Phantasm'' why he [Jack] is the one to get all the fan art. Jack then explains that it's his dark allure, and that Riddly would probably get more if he came over to their more serious story for a little bit. Riddly then pictures himself getting stabbed by [[BigBad Orlock]], as Jack often does, and chooses to turn him down. Ironically, Jack and Orlock would later run into Riddly and give him help in tracking down Attez.
36	* CatGirl: Symus
37	* CatchPhrase: Only minor characters have them, it seems.
38	* ChainmailBikini: Averted. When going to war, everyone wears armor.
39	* ChallengingTheChief: This is one of two options for settling disputes over who has the right to be the Witch Queen, though like good magic using nobles they create champions rather then fight themselves.
40	* TheChewToy: Fans really seem to like it when bad things happen to Riddly.
41	* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Subverted
42	* CompanionCube: The Nemesis Cube and the Companion Pyramid.
43	* CouldntFindAPen: Inverted. Ulric likes scrawling notes on his own body, then on scantily clad assistants, then on ''naked'' assistants, and eventually on the armor of the nearest guard.
44	* CowardlyLion: Zergarem the Destroyer
45	* CreepyChild: Lyria complete with tentacles.
46	* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Riddly, mainly due to his short attention span.
47	* CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon: Cwen vs. a raccoon
48	* DayInTheLife: All of chapter 6
49	* DeadPanSnarker: Wendy Weasel.
50	* DidntSeeThatComing: Essex's reaction to a [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-4-page-9-into-the-melee Giant Ape fighting a Dragon]] derailing his battle plan.
51	* DisproportionateRetribution: A lot of people seem to want this in CQ but so far none of them have gotten any. In particular, Sven wants to ''kill'' Cwen just because their father used to mistake him for her due to the fact they look and their names sound sort of the same...and he's never even met her before!
52	* DramaticDrop: Riddly does this often.
53	* DroppedABridgeOnHim: [[spoiler:Lord Attez]] dies after BullyingADragon, resulting in said dragon accidentally killing him with a breath of flame. Riddly says that he wasn't expecting him to die like that at all, expecting his [[KarmicDeath death to be horrible]].
54	* DualWielding: Essex Forrester with both swords and axes.
55	* EqualOpportunityEvil: Team Vorg
56	* EvilChancellor: Subverted; the three chancellors are actually nicer than the Witch Queen they serve!
57	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Averted with Symus.
58	* EvilLaugh: The Witch Queen [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-3-page-9-magic a little too much]] for everyone's comfort.
59	* EvilOverlord: Lord Attez
60	* EvilSorcerer: Lord Attez
61	* FakePlatform: Lord Attez' floating island after years of neglect.
62	* FanService: Averted [[http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=453696 here]]
63	* FiveFingerFillet: Done on a fairy [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-11-page-19-cutting-edge here]].
64	* FoeTossingCharge: Riddly "in the Zone" on the battlefield.
65	* FreudianExcuse: Cwen hates her dad and her siblings.
66	* GeniusBruiser: Essex seems to be one of these.
67	* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: The Witch Queen
68	** Who Cwen accidentally killed by landing on her. Thus saving that kingdom.
69	* GoodWingsEvilWings: Cwen and Sven.
70	* GoshDangitToHeck: Frex!
71	* HandsomeLech: Gram Trellion, gentleman adventurer
72	* HitchhikerHeroes
73	* HonorBeforeReason: Averted. [[spoiler:The Witch Queen would have gladly just had Cwen killed on the spot when the queen challenged Cwen to an honor duel for the throne. The only reason she didn't was that Cwen had a very large dragon at the time.]]
74	* HumanSacrifice: The original Witch Queen had literally sacrificed all the children in her kingdom that could be found.
75	* InsaneTrollLogic: Cwen loathes her siblings just for being born because her father, whom she wants to kill, kicked her out when a younger sibling was born. She is aware that this makes no sense, but that hasn't done much to change her mind.
76	* InstantBandages
77	* IOweYouMyLife: Life slaves are part of Riddly's culture.
78	* ItOnlyWorksOnce: Riddly's powers
79	* {{Jerkass}}: Cwen can be one to people she doesn't like, but she tends to be subtle about it.
80	* LaughablyEvil: Cwen's father, Lord Attez
81	* TheLancer: Riddly Lancer, Naturally
82	* LivingToy: Wendy Weasel
83	* MadScientist: Lord Attez
84	* MoodWhiplash: It is a lot less than most adventure comedies, but still.
85	* MrExposition: Ulric gives a [=PowerPoint=]-assisted exposition twice for the benefit of a confused Riddly.
86	* MurderIsTheBestSolution: This seems to be Team Vorg's business model. "Vision, Community, Scorched Earth Tactics"
87	* MysteriousPast: We know very little of Riddly before he entered the comic. Then again, no one ever asks Riddly.
88	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: While Lord Attez was probably never completely right in the head, it was Riddly's aggressive actions that inspired him to become the EvilOverlord he is today.
89	* NotSoHarmlessVillain: [[spoiler:Ulric as he turns out to be Lord Attez]]
90	* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler: Cwen remembers Lord Attez as one of these. Later when Riddly meets him he turns out to be a brilliant scientist studying magic.]]
91	* [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]]: Wendy is frequently the one in this position. Strangely, she doesn't seem to mind.
92	* OurTimeTravelIsDifferent: Looks like it might be the wormhole type.
93	* Padding: Chapter 6; possibly forgivable if you consider that the writer and artist used them time to get a huge buffer for the comic.
94	* ParentalAbandonment: All of Attez' kids get exiled.
95	* PeopleOfHairColor: Symus the demon cat girl has blue hair, but since the comic is mostly in gray with only occasional color, we rarely get to see this. WordofGod states that blue hair is a demon trait in the CQ universe.
96	* PlanetOfHats: Er... not ''quite''. An entire dimension of hats. Nothing but hats.
97	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Averted. "Team Vorg is equal opportunity and does not judge after all."
98	* PowerGlows: Riddly when he is "in the zone".
99	* PrincessForADay: Cwen wishes she could pull this off.
100	* ThePsychoRangers: Sven, Omi, Symus and Sussex vs. Cwen, Wendy, Riddly and Essex
101	* PutOnABus: Essex, who simply left off panel between chapters with no indication of where he was going, but since Cwen owes him a ''huge'' favor, odds are good he'll be back to collect.
102	** And then there was [[spoiler:Lyria, who was not so much put on a bus as hit with one. It's questionable whether or not she survived, since she seems to be some sort of cyborg]].
103	* QuirkyMinibossSquad: Sven and Crew.
104	* RedShirtArmy: Most of Team Vorg and the Army of the Witch Queen.
105	* RegentForLife: Averted. The Witch Queen eventually took power away from her advisers when she became powerful enough.
106	* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-3-page-16-time-to-face-the-music Edwin the Egg Shaped and Magnificent]]
107	* RoyalBlood: Cwen was abducted once as a child because she has both Royal and Demon blood.
108	* RunningGag: Many lesser characters have these.
109	** [[CatchPhrase Your Mother.]]
110	* SchizoTech: For the most part CQ seems like an off beat fantasy world but if you see a [=FauX=] logo on something that seems to go out the window.
111	* SheCleansUpNicely: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-2-page-13-a-ladys-charm Subverted]]
112	* ShootTheShaggyDog: [[spoiler:Cwen has spent most of her life plotting revenge against her father. While her previous accomplishments haven't been rendered entirely meaningless, the fact remains that her father's Jerkass behavior finally caught up to him shortly before she was ready to wreak her own vengeance]].
113	* ShoutOut: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-8-page-9-questionable-companions this page]] is full of them.
114	* ShownTheirWork: Inverted. The author doesn't research since the comic runs on rules of funny but will come up with detailed explinations for questions asked by fans.
115	* SnarkyNonHumanSidekick: Wendy
116	* StableTimeLoop: The current story arc seems to be one of these.
117	* StealthHiBye
118	* SuperSoldier: Zergarem the Destroyer was supposed to be one of these, but he found he was apparently better suited to police work.
119	* TakeMyHand: Played with in chapter 1 when Cwen needs one of these and one isn't immediately forthcoming.
120	* TemporalSickness: Only when you travel forward in time.
121	* ThereAreNoTherapists: Subverted. Although she appears mostly in the side stories Doctor Elestria provides therapy to several characters. Though it is obvious some characters [[http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=432637 haven't been to see her yet]].
122	* UnusualEars: Many characters like the Witch Queen and Sven seems to have variations on pointy ears. Symus even comments on her new ears in surprise when she is turned into a cat girl.
123	* UnusualDysphemism: [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-4-page-13-soamw Son of a monkey whore!]]
124	* UnusualEuphemism: [[GroinAttack "Kick him in the pills!"]]
125	* VillainwithGoodPublicity: Averted, as Team Vorg's good name is based on their reputation for total war against those who defy them.
126	* WalkingTheEarth
127	* WeaselMascot: Wendy
128	* WebcomicTime: Made worse by a time travel arc.
129	* WhatIsEvil: Parodied on [[http://www.cwensquest.com/?comic=chapter-7-page-20-demons-are-people-too this]] page
130	* WingedHumanoid: Cwen, though her wings are useless.
131	* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Witch Queen Sabril
132	* WordofGod: The author has stated that the world of ''Cwen't Quest'' mostly runs on the rule of cool and rule of funny, so you shouldn't question things, but if you ignore this and ask the author how something works, he will explain it in detailed pseudo-science, provided it doesn't spoil the plot.
133	* ZergRush: Cwen leads one of these as the final phase of Essex's battle plan against Team Vorg.

Context Webcomic / CwensQuest