The Gods of Arr-Kelaan was a fantasy/humor webcomic drawn and written by illustrator Chuck Rowles and aided with visual effects and the coloring help of his brother Steve Rowles. It is hosted on its own site, as well as some publications still found on a webcomic portal/community known as The Duck (formerly Drunk Duck).
The comic has been on hiatus since Early 2010. The comic at its most popular updated twice a week, and gathered approximately 4400 unique hits per day. It has been featured on Comixpedia, the Webcomics Examiner and Comic World News, and in print in the Weekender. Rowles has also done book signings.
The world of Arr-Kelaan was created in 1986 by Len Zaikoski, a friend of Chuck Rowles, for use in a role-playing game. Rowles initially contributed one deity, then a few more, then found himself with a full pantheon and stories to tell about them. He started drawing the comic to do so, initially intending it to be in pamphlet form but ending up taking it online. [http://www.rmcomics.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=113&highlight=#113] Gods has been published in several paperback print collections, and one of its five major story arcs is only available in print.
right|thumb|Arr-Kelaan from or near the equator. In the upper left is the sea of Taal Immerisan, the center of the campaign setting.
Setting
As the interstellar cruise ship Traveller on its maiden voyage (with Earthling passengers and a multiplanetary crew) comes under pirate attack, its captain panics and does the impossible, sending his vessel plunging into an alternate dimension. Upon waking on the world of Arr-Kelaan, the survivors discover they have gained the power of gods: they are indestructible, they can hear the thoughts of mortals, create anything with a mere thought and even bring back the dead. Arr-Kelaan itself is something out of a fantasy novel, with mages and dragons.
Campaign
Zaikoski's Arr-Kelaan grew into a full-scale Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, compatible with 2nd edition rules and available online. In contrast to many RPG-derived works, Rowles' Arr-Kelaan is scantly recognizable.