Sojourn is a Heroic Fantasy Comic Book written by Ron Marz (and then, after 24 issues, Ian Edginton) and traced from porn illustrated by Greg Land.
The story is set in a Standard Fantasy Setting which is beset by a Dark Lord, Mordath, who came back from the dead. It follows the journey of two archers, Arwyn and Gareth, who are accompanied by Arwyn's dog, Kreeg, and helped by a mysterious sorceress, Neven. They must find the five fragments of an arrow that once killed Mordath to end his rule once and for all, while they are ceaselessly chased by Mordath's trolls.
Sojourn is also part of CrossGen's Sigilverse. Unfortunately, after 35 issues (including a prequel), it was cancelled due to CrossGen's bankruptcy in 2004.
This Comic Book Contains Examples Of:
- All Trolls Are Different: They make up Mordath's army. They are green-skinned with glowing eyes and sometimes horns sprouting from their heads.
- Always Chaotic Evil: Interestingly, averted with the trolls. Sure, they are not the nicest bunch of the Five Lands, but they are shown to care about their family members, they are loyal to their lords, and they were also the victims of Fantastic Racism before Mordath.
- Anti-Villain: Bohr, the troll captain. He is the leader of the pursuing trolls, yet he is not fond of unnecessary violence, is loyal and determined, and loves his family.
- Bedouin Rescue Service: In #24, Arwyn is betrayed and abandoned in the desert, but rescued by the local desert nomads.
- Came Back Wrong: Mordath. He was a megalomanical tyrant already before his death. Now he is an undead Dark Lord with the very same goals and a worse attitude.
- The Corruption: Inverted. Originally, the sigils are neutral symbols, the good part balancing the evil part; however, Mordath's malice changed that symbol into one with two evil parts.
- Cosmopolitan Council: The council of Troll governors of conquered territories: They were all Trolls, but each one was dressed in the ethnic garb of the area they governed. There was even a token She-Troll.
- Days Of Futurepast: The implication is that Quin is actually in the distant future and was once colonized by spacefaring humans.
- Dismantled MacGuffin: Arwyn and her allies are on The Quest to find and reassemble to five segments of the golden arrow: the only artifact that can the undead overlord Mordath.
- Enemy Mine: Arwyn and Gareth find an unlikely alliance with a dragon against Mordath.
- Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: Bohr. Even if this
means to Mercy Kill her.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: The Five Lands: Middelyn is medieval England, Ankhar is Ancient Egypt, Oudubai is medieval Middle East, Skarnhime is Scandinavia during the time of Vikings, while Grinbor is arguably based on the wild parts of medieval Eastern Europe.
- Handicapped Badass: Gareth has only one eye, but that does not prevent him from being the best archer in the world.
- Heroic Dog: Arwyn's dog Kreeg. Not only is he an Evil-Detecting Dog, but he is badass enough to kill a troll on his own.
- La Résistance: Arwyn and Gareth meet one in Ankar.
- Lean and Mean: Mordath, after he came back from the death. Before that, he was more of a Hunk, which just accentuates what he lost from his once self.
- Offered the Crown: In the prologue, the hero Ayden rallied an army and defeated the Dark Lord Mordath and personally struck down the villain with a magical arrow. His army then asked him to become their new king. Ayden refused, stating that he was a king once, and not a very good one. He then vanished into the horizon, promising that he would return if needed.
- Our Fairies Are Different: The little guys who guard and carve the Glade of Heroes.
- Playing with Fire: Mordath's ability.
- The Quest: To find the fragments of the arrow killed Mordath.
- Rage Against the Mentor: Neven is quite aloof, does not like telling her motives, and the team can only rely on her if every other hope is lost. Arwyn calls her out because of this.
- Rape, Pillage, and Burn: While the first part is rather implicit, the trolls show a great fondness of human and Ankharan women. Arwyn also warns a young girl that they are prone to do "nasty things."
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Mordath's eyes always glow red when he is upset or uses his powers.
- Red Right Hand: Mordath's evil nature warped the Sigil he received, so instead of a red-and-yellow yin-yang symbol it was entirely red. Receiving the Sigil in the first place brought him Back from the Dead, so he's also a zombie.
- Shout-Out: Mordath's troll majordomo is called "Halk."
- Tragic Villain: Mordath, up to a point. His family was murdered by reavers and who left him for dead.
- Team Pet: Kreeg
- Torture Technician: In the opening scenes of the story, Big Bad Mordath is seen casually torturing a man so brutally that even his Troll Mooks are Squicked by it.
- You Have Failed Me: Mordath is not the most forgiving boss...even though he can be more lenient, provided you are one of his most competent men.
- You Killed My Father: Arwyn would probably have lived her life in peaceful retirement if Mordath's forced had not razed her hometown and killed her husband and daughter. Now It's Personal.
