Dark Horse is the code name for the latest entry in the UtEoCA canon conglomerate, this time focusing on the efforts of heroine Elaina Snowe as she treks through a swathe of post-apocalypse wasteland called Skyfall. She's, of course, looking for Colin, but also for their other best friend, Justin Parks, both having disappeared at the time of the disaster. Naturally, Elaina has reason to suspect Colin caused, or perhaps only foresaw, the miniature end of the world, which for reasons unknown only affected a few dozen square miles around their hometown of Anderson. Oh, and the apocalypse in question? The common description of it seems to be that "the sky fell." Hence the name.
Along the way, Elaina teams up with Stillman Daniels, a mercenary allegedly hired to find someone who's still wandering around in Skyfall, but who may have some motives of his own. Throughout the journey they are confronted with mutated beasts, a bevy of Eldritch Locations, and a variety of other survivors with missions of their own.
Dark Horse is slated to start production in late July of 2012.
Dark Horse contains examples of:
- Alien Sky: The sky over Skyfall throbs a variety of colors and light effects.
- Anachronic Order: The narrative often slides back to cover the unusual events surrounding Colin's house, or to illustrate the group dynamic of Elaina's friends.
- Arc Words: "Do you see that?"
- Bigger on the Inside: One of the strange occurrences in Colin's house involves a room that shouldn't physically be able to fit where it is, based on the house's dimensions.
- Eldritch Abomination: Danced around. Colin refuses to say in any certain terms why Skyfall happened or what will occur if Colin doesn't take Skyfall back to wear it came from, but it's heavily implied that something was making a beeline for the wasteland, which could be used as a bridge to get into the normal world.
- Guys Smash, Girls Shoot: Averted with Elaina and Stillman, with Elaina fighting with a modified violin bow of all things, and Stillman packing guns and rifles.
- Heroes Prefer Swords: Or in Elaina's case, violin bows with supernaturally sharp wire.
- Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Lampshaded by Colin, who's constantly joking about who wears the pants in his relationship with Elaina. He's actually not that feminine though - Elaina's just always the more serious, take-charge one.
- Our Banshees Are Louder: The Banshee is basically a perpetually beating heart with veins attached, dressed in white, floating around Skyfall and preying on anything that has blood.
- Our Ghosts Are Different: They're either memory imprints or wraiths on the other side of an invisible veil, waiting to lean in a grab you.
Characters
Elaina Snowe
Arc 3: Saving Elaina Snowe
- Berserk Button: It's advised you not mess with Colin or Delanie unless you want to be brutally murdered.
- Determinator: She stops at nothing to find Colin and Justin, and by the time the book starts she's already been back to Skyfall four times.
- Heroes Prefer Swords: Or, modified violin bows, as the case may be.
- Sleepyhead: She can fall asleep anywhere, and often chooses to.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Played with. She comes off as pretty stoic, but friendly and level-headed. However, it's masking anger that perpetually simmers below the surface.
Colin Ackartt
Arc 4: Resurrecting Colin Ackartt
- Humanoid Abomination: Probably. We're pretty sure he isn't eldritch in this canon, at least.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Often. Notable in this canon because it seems he was a certified genius, having already completed college by Skyfall.
- The Power of Rock: Apparently there's a lot of Queen on the soundtrack to his life.
- "BORN TO BE KINGS OF THE UNIVERSE"
Stillman Daniels
Arc 1: Guiding Stillman Daniels
Justin Parks
Arc 5: Finding Justin Parks
- Berserk Button: Played for laughs in the flashbacks. Elaina has compiled and regularly circulates updated copies of “Things Not to Be Spoken of In the Presence of Justin.”
- Last-Name Basis: He only ever calls Mac by his last name.
- Voice of the Legion: Has this when Elaina and Co find him during his arc. Stillman is understandably unnerved. Elaina is completely unfazed.
- Would Hit a Girl: Would like everyone to know that he would, in fact, "SHOOT A GIRL IN THE FACE!"
- ". . . REPEATEDLY!"
Amy
Arc 2: Taking Home Amy
- Escort Mission: The purpose of her arc is, obviously, to take her home.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Though she actually is quite nice, just in a quiet way.
Delanie Winne
Mackenzie "Mac" Frender
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Though the laziness only applies where schoolwork is concerned.
- No Sense of Direction: Sometimes. Delanie suspects he's faking it, though.
