Update and development blog for BENEATH THE WOODS: a webcomic about demons, found family, and eldritch horrors : ) Updates Tuesdays on Tapas & Webtoon / Get early access updates on Patreon! (Tapas & Webtoon updates on hiatus!)
Max is done being scared. Ever since he was little, he's always been able to see ghosts – but, after being attacked by one, he's been terrified of them. But enough is enough, and he's ready to face his fears! He, unfortunately, gets more than he bargained for.
He discovers that his ability to see ghosts isn't a trick, but is a magical power – something he, a human, shouldn't have. If he's not meant to have these powers, where did they even come from? In his quest for answers, he befriends an eldritch horror, ends up in a demonic world, and starts to unravel an interdimensional mystery that could be the key to why he has these powers. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more he questions whether or not the answers should've stayed in the dark.
So long as magic exists, the cycle must continue. The debt must be repaid. Sooner or later, someone will be foolish enough to pay the price.
CHAPTERS
Chapter 1: Meet Me in the Woods
Part 1 [ Patreon ]
Part 2 [ Patreon ]
FAQ
Under the cut!
STORY
What is the story about?
Max is a human who discovers he has magic powers and wants to find out where they came from. While looking for answers, he befriends an eldritch horror, falls into another world, and fights back against demons, monsters, and long-dormant gods.
How long will the story be?
I'm anticipating at least 35 chapters right now, and I'm planning on doing a sequel as well. YUP THIS IS A LOT LOL
Can I still read the webcomic?
Yup, you can find it on Tapas!
Is the story different from the webcomic?
The premise is similar (there's a bigger focus on Max and his magical abilities), but how the story plays out is different. For example, the novel version starts by going over Max's interactions with spirits while the webcomic version has him in a nightmare dimension 😬
This has a very Gravity Falls vibe to it 👀
haha i couldn't possibly imagine why 😬😬😬 (I definitely did NOT make this because I was sad Gravity Falls was over nope lol)
UPDATES
Where can I read the story?
For the time being, I'm only posting it on my Patreon. This is so I can build an update buffer while still getting the story out into the world in some capacity. I know that not everyone can support on Patreon, so the first 6 chapters will be available for free Patrons. I will be posting them as I complete them as early access chapters for $5+ Patrons, but after they've been out for two weeks, they're available for anyone who joins my Patreon.
Is there a release schedule?
Not at this time, but new chapters will go up on Thursdays! I do my best to give a weeks' heads up before I post the new chapter 🫡
When will you post on other platforms?
After the first book / act is completed! I anticipate book 1 being about 12 chapters, so once those are done, I'll start looking into posting on other platforms.
What other platforms will you post this on?
It'll go up on Tapas as weekly updates (chapters split up into scenes) and have full chapter updates on Ao3, maybe Tumblr, and it's own website.
MISC.
Am I allowed to make fanart?
Yes!! (And, if you do, I will happy cry asdhfoiadsh) Please tag me at @ursachaotic or with this account cause I would love to see it and share it!! 🥺
I think I saw a cipher in the story asdhfodasih
If you find a code / cipher and solve it, you can send me an ask or comment!! Yes, there are ciphers and yes I want to see if you guys can solve them! : D
hi 🧍♂️ i did a bunch of stuff today and i have ANNOUNCEMENTTTTTS ✨✨✨
First: I'll be posting Beneath the Woods' first novel update on March 3rd! Except it won't be just a novel – it's an illustrated novel!! : D My goal is to make it look like an ebook but have reality break in the story during the horror / magical situations, leading to comic pages, animations and other cool stuff. This is absolutely going to be a multimedia project and I've already made some stuff for an ARG for it lol. Here's a teaser!
The full prologue will be posted on Webtoons and Tapas on March 3rd!! I'm using this as a pitch to gauge interest for a full illustrated novel version of the story, so if you like the format, please comment on it when it comes out!!
You can read it when it comes out over here!
Second: I updated the Neocities page and added a cool little ARG thing >:3 If you find it, let me know!
Max is deeply concerned about Trevor's tendency to nap in the woods, especially cause it's snowing 😬 (Also Trevor's a ghost! I don't know if I've revealed that lmao)
Trevor gets a cool nickname and Max immediately fears if Trevor's actually the bad guy (in reality he's just a grumpy cat who wants to take a nap under a tree and be left alone lmao)
trying to do more mini comics like this!! they will mostly be trevor-centric cause i love drawing him right now lmao. but this one has been plaguing me a bit cause i've been listening to "the world ender" by lord huron on loop lmao (gee i wonder where i got the name from no ideaaaaaaa 😶)
psstttttt i posted trevor's short story on ao3 👀 if you want to learn more about my favorite bad but sad boi as well as some of the worldbuilding for beneath the woods, check it out! : D
yes i'm posting this at a terrible time but i've been working on it for a month AND I WANT TO SHARE THE HORRIBLE ANGST I HAVE MADE!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I finished Trevor's short story : ) It'll be on my Patreon for a week, then I'll post it on Ao3 next week! I hope you enjoy and I'm so, so sorry for what Trevor is about to go through 😭
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Summary: The young demon Trevor appears before an ancient deity, who claims that he is to become a god. But, plagued with painful flashbacks of being burned alive, he questions his fate and the unsettling feeling like he shouldn’t be here. Slowly, he unravels the unnerving truth behind his new destiny; or at least what this god will allow him to know.
Word Count: 10.1k words
Warnings: Body horror, abuse, manipulating, gaslighting??, and descriptions of being burned alive
“Dear, I don’t have the slightest clue of what you speak of––“
No! Not this again! His eyes shot up, his blood suddenly set to a boil. He threw his arms to his sides, struggling to stand upright.
He scowled, his eyes red. “No! Tell me right now!”
This display of fury shook the deity. They narrowed their eyes before swimming down to face the young demon. Red flashed across their face.
They grabbed the demon’s face and yanked him closer. He hissed, pulling his shoulders to his ears.
“You are making an awful lot of demands for someone with no power here, infant god.”
His hand shook. But he didn’t give up. He yanked himself out of the being’s grip and stood tall, hands balled into fists at his sides. He knew he had to press on; after all, he feared that if he didn’t, he might never get the chance to.
“I’ll keep making demands until I get to the bottom of this,” he said in a fiery tone. “I know you know. Tell me.”
