Harsh Days Vol. 1-3

Harsh Days is a Graphic Novel purchased by the Spiritual Travelers on Nurend 18, 308 while they were visiting The Night City of Dorchar.
This graphic novel appears to be about a young Dorchar Eadarling named Croak. According to the introductory chapters he apparently woke up one day during the Day, something that has never previously occurred and has yet to ever occur since. This makes Croak quite the oddity and would explain his ability to walk during both the day and night and the Aotri Barista's confusion about the being.
Though this novel does claim to have a history of Croak, it may all just be a fiction weaved by other Eadarling, other fae, or even other outsiders. The Spiritual Travelers have their own theory about Croak, after all, one that involves him perhaps being an outsider as well.

---

This book in particular is the first three volumes of Harsh Days. It everything but the most recent releases which are being released as separate chapters until the next full volume can be released. Volume 4 is expected to be the last volume of the series, and fans are divisive on whether it is the best or the worst.
There's a shocking amount of difference between the art seen in Volume 1 and the art seen in Volume 3, though the gradual improvement is visible throughout all three volumes.
Contents

Volume 1: Wake up New

1. Wake up New

The story opens on our hero, Croak, as he tucks in for the day about to vanish from existence as is standard for Eadarling. Rather than vanishing, however, he instead "wakes up" in the middle of a dusty street as the sun is rising. The familiar feeling of being alive is present, but he now feels the unfamiliar sensation of sunlight touching his flesh. All the new sights cause this poor frog to panic, and he begins to inadvertently terrorize The Daytime Village of Aotri.

2. Strangers

The nearby Eadarling of this village were frightened of this newcomer. Harsh words were spoken to him from the locals, things like "You are not of the Day, You are not of our Light." They were all terribly confused, but as Croak began to calm and speak to them politely they also began to calm. It is clear from the illustrated expressions that these frogs don't trust Croak, and he is skeptical of his situation as well. Such a thing was unheard of, and he had no idea what needed to be done to get back to his own bed.

3. My Own Bed Again

Croak finds himself hopelessly wandering around this town. The chapter is largely just him awkwardly conversing with the locals and trying very hard to find out how to get back home. The investigation turns up mostly nothing, however, many antics are thankfully observed. A comedic chapter mixed with a strange sense of dread. The chapter ends with Croak watching the sunset at Measan's and sipping on some champagne.

4. The Night is Welcoming

Croak has somehow found himself back home! What a wild trip that was, a whole 3 chapters. He watched the sun set, an unusual occurrence for a Dorchar Eadarling, and found his usual home coming back into existence. He witnessed Dorcha transform, and he met with her to find answers to his dilemma. Her and the rest of the Dorchar were just as welcoming as usual, though they likely had no idea that he was experiencing such things. Dorcha provided some insight, though her experience was limited. The Night Cannot See the Day, she says, and the plots of her sister are hidden from her just as her own plots are hidden from her sister. She recommended using this newfound power to form a bridge between the two cultures though, becoming an important figure.

5. Sleepless

While he is growing more and more exhausted he finds that he is incapable of sleeping. Existing for this long is not something an Eadarling normally experiences. He watches another Night go by, hanging out with his friends and thinking about what the Day will bring this time. This chapter is bittersweet, has meaningful conversations with Croak and his old friends.

6. Learning New Customs, Making New Friends

With another Day to live, Croak finds his way to the different shops, produce stands, and just the citizens in general of this strange village. He observes their culture, their habits, their way of life and learns who they are. He begins practicing the customs himself, doing what he can to fit in better, and he even tries his best to do as Dorcha commanded to be a bridge between the different civilizations. The chapter and volume ends with Croak sitting on the roof of a building looking at the sunlit sky.

Volume 2: No Real Home

7. Lost Between Cycles

Croak, while trying, is struggling to find his way. Eadarling normally fade from existence when their sky is gone. Croak can't cycle, and he's beginning to notice mental and physical changes as he starts to understand. By the end of the chapter he begins to find his strength in being outside these cycles and embraces a new identity: a Twilight Eadarling, one between the Night and the Day. Though he has lost an identity as someone of the Night he gained something new and can begin struggling with disrupted circadian rhythms.

8. Lost Without Rhythms

Croak finds himself struggling again. For Mortals and certain Fae, the circadian rhythms of light levels experienced by the eyes determine points of rest. Croak, being sleepless and both nocturnal and not, is disconnecting from these rhythms. Without a Cycle or any Rhythms the days begin to bleed into each other. This chapter follows the summarized events of several months as Croak evolves past the need for individual days, and his views of certain biological needs change. He is beginning to see himself and the days in a new light.

9. Lost Without Sleep

More suffering for Croak, chapter after chapter of suffering and overcoming normal "limitations". Even for a Fae realizing that one doesn't need to sleep is a challenge. Though, Croak does eventually learn the truth about himself in that there's a difference between his perceived "inability" and the true advantage that he now has. Croak's journey of suffering comes to an end by the time this chapter does, at least this portion of it, and he is on a new higher ground. The chapter features more time passing, Croak performing various deeds for the City of Stars and the Village of Daylight.

10. And I am New, a Stranger in Both Realms

Croak is fully realized, his new self awakened over the course of the last year. His great deeds made him well known between the two civilizations, though neither group really trusted him anymore. He was an outsider to them both, and he knew within his own heart that he was different than any of them as well. His old friends were awkward around him...it was like they were talking to some chosen one or something. His desire to just hang out with his friends and party was never fulfilled again, and he decided that a change of scenery would be needed. His gifts would be better used elsewhere in the world. The chapter ends with some sad goodbyes, and Croak got to experience some genuine love from his friends one last time.

11. Heading Out

Croak's journey from the home of the Eadarling begins. His travels are summarized over the course of a few months as he explores the forest and learns new magic by listening to the leaves, the animals, studying roots, and more. He learns basic alchemy, herbalism, and broadens his already expert level culinary abilities. The chapter ends with him seeing a light in the dead of night, a small lantern glowing gently and the giggling of some unknown creatures of the forest.

12. Tympi

This chapter picks up where the last one left off with Croak investigating the unusual light and giggling. He discovers a group of mothlings dancing in the forest with a much larger mothling that he would learn is called Tympi, The Lost Magician. The two of them became fast friends, mostly due to Tympi's own eagerness to be friends with everyone she meets. Croak was originally taken off-guard by her forwardness, but eventually relented and began to enjoy her company as well.

Volume 3: With Friends Like These

13. Adventure

The first chapter of Volume 3 returned after a year long hiatus from the artist. This first chapter opens up with the protagonist Croak surrounded by new faces along with one familiar face: Tympi. New characters are introduced as though they were traveling companions for some time. Meli, Spenolt, and Ilven were present at the time, and mention of another member that wasn't present, Simol The group was in the midst of an adventure, calming angry emotional spirits and liberating small communities of outlying Goblin villages.

14. Community

With the adventure in the previous chapter wrapping up, the group of community leaders and members of Tympi's old Court decided to settle down for some light celebration. They met at Tympi's House to do so. This chapter featured lots of discussion amongst the group and it provided some insight into their individual personalities.

15. Ilven

Ilven is suspicious of Croak's presence, despite him having traveled with the group for so long she still doesn't trust him. They speak with one another throughout this chapter and by the end Ilven is starting to open up, it seems she just really wanted someone to actually listen to her. The chapter ends with Ilven falling asleep, the Winter is upon the group of friends and Tympi is starting to have unsettling visions of Darkness.

16. Darkness

Tympi's visions were getting worse, though Croak was only partially aware of this as the group had temporarily separated to go alert their respective communities. He used his ability as a bridge between the two civilizations to provide this warning to all the Eadarling and preparations were made. Ilven continued to sleep, and then Darkness fell upon the land. The last few panels of this chapter were just black squares with speech bubbles from Croak's perspective voicing worry over the situation.

17. Their Hands, We are Blind

The group manages, against all odds, to be able to reconvene with Tympi just outside one of the Mothlight Tree. She had hidden away her people in the Mothlights already, and the rest of the group was confident that their people were safe as well. The next step was to find what caused this, but how could they do so when they are all completely blind? They joined hands and began an impossible journey across The Gates. This chapter features some time skips between different Gates showing off how they were all closed, void of any influence on the realm, and the imbalance may be partially to blame for what is happening.

18. Tympi Sees the Light

The final volume in this set concludes with this chapter and it ends on a cliffhanger. The group of adventurers found themselves continuing to face this impossible task, but everything suddenly began to look up. Still clutching each other's hands they felt the hands of their leader tighten and Tympi revealed the truth she had seen. This chapter shows perspective from Tympi as she witnesses a strange vision of a Mothlight Tree with roots overgrowing a throne. She explains that she needs to find Simol, and the chapter ends with this revelation and decision as the group has the first sign of hope at the end of a tunnel.

Related Characters
Croak

Location

The Night City of Dorchar