Pandemonium: Chapter 1

## Chapter 1

Chapter opens with an exhausted Zipher searching for the Wizard Village.

*"I finally arrived!!! At the place I was searching for!"*

— Zipher, after waking up in the village
Chapter 1 is the opening act of the Pandemonium: Wizard Village manga, written and illustrated by Shibamoto Sho. Published by Shogakkan Monthly IKKI's WEB Comic Series, it was released simultaneously in both Japanese and English. The first chapter was released on January 11th 2013.

## Overview

Chapter 1 serves to introduce the core cast of the manga and set up multiple recurring mysteries and themes, such as the contents of the box Zipher carries. It introduces the setting of the manga and the threat of the Sky Golems is established.

The story starts with the protagonist Zipher pushing through isolated wilderness. Throughout the chapter, a consistent sense of mystery is maintained, as only a few things are explained in a flashback. Zipher is shown to be on a vaguely defined quest to find the mysterious variant village. Carrying an enormous box of unknown contents for days at an end proves to be too much for him as he collapses from exhaustion.

He is found by the denizens of the exact village he was searching for. Villagers are introduced and even though initially nobody wants to help Zipher, a villager called Domika reaches out to him.

## Summary

The manga opens with Zipher carrying a mysterious box. He laments accidentally dropping all of his food and water supplies off a cliff a few days earlier. Through his inner monologue, it is revealed that he has been walking for more than a week. After pushing forward some more in the hopes that his goal is nearby, Zipher collapses from exhaustion. He is found by two hooded figures.

A flashback introduces a town. Taking over as a narrator, Zipher tells the story of how Arkhamheim was attacked by "The Sky People", leaving destruction in their wake and ruining the land forever. Their attacks are described as *Straight Thunders* and are shown leaving deep holes in the earth. It is stated that *Sky Golems* can't be fought against due to their superior destructive and defensive possibilities. Soon after the destruction of Arkhamheim, a rumor which tells of a Sky Golem den's north of the coastal town of Enoth, reaches Zipher. Their land is described as desolate and poisonous place named "Land of the Variants".

Seven cloaked figures are shown carrying an unconscious Zipher. The hooded figure who found Zipher is revealed to be Domika. Discussing Zipher's locked box, the others question her decision to take him into their village. As Domika takes responsibility for whatever may happen, Molte ominously laughs, calling Zipher bad news. By the time they reach the village, it is decided to allow Zipher to stay until he heals.

Zipher wakes from a semi-conscious gaze after the villagers remove their cloaks, revealing monstrous figures underneath. In panic, he quickly runs until confronted by Malsus at the entrance of the Wizard Village. Zipher's panic subsides and quickly turns into ecstasy as he proclaims he had finally arrived. Bowing down to Malsus, Zipher requests to immediately see the village chief. Seeing how he's still exhausted from the trip, Domika reaches towards Zipher with her hand.

The chapter ends with Zipher taking the role of the narrator once again:

"*In this village I met her [Domika] - a variant*."

## Characters

*See: List of Pandemonium: Wizard Village Characters*

#### **Main characters**

Zipher

Domika

Molte

Malsus

#### **Villagers**

In order of appearance:

* Gulon, Eva, Neil, Brepa
* Agare, Ipiria, Ipos, Kerone, Leto, Makara, Memeko, Purso, Rono, Solato, Varak
* Andras, Boty, Cornu, Grif, Peryu, Sius

## Trivia

* An unconscious Zipher is found by Domika and Molte at the start of the chapter during a full moon night.
* A semi-conscious Zipher notices the smell of flowers when Domika first finds him. Near the end of the chapter, when Domika approaches Zipher, the flower motif is repeated.
* This is the first time in Sho's works that the lullaby about the Sky Golems and Thunder Beasts is heard, though not to completion.
* Dolls of Super-Nyan and The Behemoth can be seen during the flashback. Super-Nyan previously appeared in Tsunousagi, while The Behemoth was only featured in supplemental material.
* Pages 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Chapter 1 are among the rare few pages of Pandemonium: Wizard Village which feature no characters at all and page 12 is one of the only pages that contain no dialogue or sound effects.
* When Molte appears in full for the first time on page 16, her locket is highlighted, making a "CLINK" sound from rocking on its rope.
* The cloaked figures carrying Zipher and his box to the village are Domika, Molte, Malsus, Gulon, Brepa, Neil and Eva.
* Near the end of the chapter, Zipher asks himself whether it would've been better if he had died and wonders what God wants to do with him.

## Gallery

Zipher carrying a mysterious box.A collapsed stranger is found by Domika and Molte.A section of Sky Golem's lullaby is featured in the flashback.Land of the Variants, an inhospitable and mysterious land.Mysterious figures rescue Zipher.Terror upon facing a variant.Malsus faces the newcomer.Denizens of the Wizard Village.Domika reaches out to Zipher.

## References

1. ↑ https://profile.ameba.jp/ameba/simona-com
2. ↑ http://hiyokonikki.blog.shinobi.jp/%E3%81%8A%E3%81%97%E3%82%89%E3%81%9B/pandemonium%E3%80%80-%E9%AD%94%E8%A1%93%E5%B8%AB%E3%81%AE%E6%9D%91-