This is the most OSP Red joke that has yet appeared in the comic. This is the kind of joke that Red makes all the time at tense moments on Rolling With Difficulty, or during her podcast with Blue. Also, it’s bathos, in the bathyscape, and while bathos can be misused, it’s always funny when it happens to Erin Ruunaser.
…Who needs to learn the Heat Exposure Lessening Posture. Watching him sink in a kneeling posture is making me feel cold.
Bluesky Text: all my haters become gators when they have so many scary sharp teeth 🙁
Tumblr Text: sounds like *someone* isn’t devoting full time to floating
Text markup works with these marks: . In-between, use “i” for italic, “b” for bold, or “u” for underline. Put a backslash (/) after the < of the closing markup.
Hi, Selach. God, I can only imagine Erin with the girliest of screams here. XD
Also, Walter with the “You’re bothered by the dark because there can be things in there that want to eat you. I’m bothered by the dark because there is nothing in it. We are not the same.”
Either: We’re saved, Alinua and the Northern Wyrm are right behind Selach, things can begin to get better now.
Or: Erin’s fright and surprise breaks his concentration, the fire spell goes out (and with it all the light) and Walter takes control. Meaning Selach is in terrible danger
secret third option:selach gives erin one of those breath mask bad bois she had back when alinua first fell into the water while caturus continues to play fry the dragon, alinua and the northern wyrm are managing other fronts
I am so happy to see Selach again.
Also I’m glad Red found a chance to address the inherent fear of the whole situation. the discussion between Erin and the Void Dragon being a lot of fun to read. If the Void Dragon doesn’t like solitude does that mean there is life in outerspace, if so it does explain an aspect of the Dragon’s personality, if the VD was used to being alone than he wouldn’t be this conversational, being able to toy with people and muse on their perspectives, so does that mean he used to interact with people or victims before he was imprisoned.
Interesting that Walter doesn’t like being alone. I was under the impression that, prior to his imprisonment, everything was either something to consume or something getting in the way of consuming. Not that I thought his confinement was a lark, but I thought the worst of it to him would be the confinement, not the solitude.
Does he miss the hunt? Did he actually spend time chatting with potential prey? Did other stars he consumed have other primordials who allowed their suns to be consumed in exchange for their own lives? Did he spend a little time socializing with these others before searching out another target?
And if the Lady is his other, what was she doing while he was eating stars? Did she help the primordials trap him? I need backstory!
SELACH!! Studio audience cheers. I thought those claws were of the very monsters Erin and VD were talking about, but I’m so glad they were hers. Also I can’t help but imagine how jarring that must’ve been for Erin. We got a whole lot of warning this would happen, but he went from grimly holding on, balancing the threat of possesion if he fell unconscious with the imminent dangers of the sea, to “Hi!” 😀 *wave*
The last panel feels like it could be a meme. I’m not the best with memes but you see it. Though I was honestly expecting Alinua to be the one saving Erin. Still, Selach can still turn around and yell “I found him!” And then Alinua can show up and give him a hug. Or a slap, actually, given how they left. She is the only one he hasn’t apologized to yet. Or a “where the fuck is Kendal”. Loved this page.
It’s a good thing that Erin is immersed in water right now because I imagine he would’ve peed himself at that moment.
Is Erin slowly sinking down or is he maintaining his depth level? Also does his magic keeping the air bubble around his head prevent carbon dioxide and oxygen from diffusing in and out of the water?
I think Red once explained how that works in Aurora. There is no oxigen or carbon dioxide, just different forms of “wind”. Ok I checked and Red says there is no meaningful amount of wind floating around in water, so I think diffusion just doesn’t happen in this world.
Depending on how deep he is, the pressure may be enough that he’s just suspended in place and won’t go anywhere unless he actively tries to swim up or down.
(Spoilers in this comment for the Dresden Files, up through… I guess White Night (Book 9)?)
All of this Walter talk has really made me feel Lasciel / Lash thoughts. For those not familiar with the Dresden Files, the main character (Harry) gets possessed by a fallen angel named Lasciel, who is trapped within a magic coin and wants Harry to free her. However, it’s revealed that the entity that is talking in Harry’s head is more of a… shadow, a piece-of-Lasciel instead of the full thing. While they start out as enemies, eventually Harry starts showing sympathy towards her. He gives her a new name (Lash), she starts helping him and opening up about her own fears / worries (there’s this great scene of them in a church where she is talking about missing home (Heaven) and not being able to return because she’s a Fallen).
I do wonder if something similar is going to go on here with Voidy, or if my feelings of “Erin is my favorite character” and “the scenes of him talking with Walter are some of my favorite in the entire comic” is biasing me haha. We shall see!
One wonders if they could use the power of friendship to make the Void Dragon less intent on eating everything. It doesn’t seem to be strictly necessary for him to live, or he’d presumably be dead by now. If he’s actually gotten lonely… that might be an opening for him to start to want to change.
Mer friend!
It’s not Alinua but it’s close enough, for now.
Also I think my books are coming tomorrow!
-Signed The Vessels Of A Glowing God
(aka The Princess)
This being my first attempt, I don’t
Really think it’s very good (Or readable)
You can tell me what you think
It may be that I should leave this to others.
No? Do you think I should continue?
Go on? Well, maybe.
New acrostic poster!
It’s awesome to see how you
Captured the page and
Employed the acrostic form. I’m impressed by
Just how naturally the phrases in your lines fit together.
Often I have to twist the structure around in weird ways to make things work. It would
Be great to see more from you if you had fun writing these.
You know, if Voidy wasn’t alone in space, this is lending some credence to the stars-are-soul-generators theory i’ve been waiting for an opening to share in the comments. (basically, soul energy just kinda accumulates on the planet’s surface, which sounds like fantasy solar power to me, and we’ve had it confirmed that soulfire is NOT fire, so… maybe?)
I love this entire page. If I have just my general physics right, every time Erin talks the air around him would vibrate I think? Like when Selach scares him the bubble spikes, which is just a funny bit and I think accurate?
Also what are Selach’s pronouns? Also, also, do they only have four fingers? Is it just them?
Merfolk don’t really care about gender and don’t have any dimorphism in their species, however, they know gender is a thing the elder races care about, so they all use she/they pronouns because, to the elder races, they all look vaguely female. So you can call Selach she or they.
And yes, merfolk have four fingers while the Sekrai (an elder race) have five.
“Does the dark actually bother you?” Erin asks in the sea.
Answer “It does” but not through fear “Your projection insults me.”
Rather than hungry life, the dead empty silence explains why
Kicks up yelling “AAAAAA” in surprise as smiling Selach says “Hi!”
Gee Mr. Dark Primordial of Hunger sitting in a dark prison, I wonder why the guy you’re possessing to end the world would fear hungry things in the dark? In all seriousness though it’s interesting to get more insight on just how much the Void Dragon sees the isolation of his imprisonment as the worst element with Erin as the first person he’s been able to talk to for centuries. Especially since it is carrying Voidy that has exacerbated Erin’s feeling of having to ultimately be able to shoulder things alone despite having friends beside him to aid him.
First comment!
OH YEAH A DOUBLE!
the contrast between the two last panels is killing me
This is the most OSP Red joke that has yet appeared in the comic. This is the kind of joke that Red makes all the time at tense moments on Rolling With Difficulty, or during her podcast with Blue. Also, it’s bathos, in the bathyscape, and while bathos can be misused, it’s always funny when it happens to Erin Ruunaser.
…Who needs to learn the Heat Exposure Lessening Posture. Watching him sink in a kneeling posture is making me feel cold.
wait, what’s the correct posture?
Fetal position if you are alone, cuddling with others if you have someone nearby, it helps keeping your core warm and not dying from hypothermia
True, and the fetal position is by far the most depressing position to die from at that!
“So years from now, someone finally gets back to just find skeletons in the fetal position?”
Heat Escape Lessening Posture linked at my username. Basically you hug your knees to try and prevent cold water taking your body heat as quickly.
Talk about jump scare!
“Fear of the dark” by Iron Maiden starts playing.
Glad I’m not the only one that had that thought!
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: thunderous applause
Image source: dark
the alt text is correct 👏👏👏
Bluesky Text: all my haters become gators when they have so many scary sharp teeth 🙁
Tumblr Text: sounds like *someone* isn’t devoting full time to floating
Tumblr text (with correct formatting): seems like someone isn’t devoting full time to floating
Italics work like this, without the spaces in-between: [text]
Text markup works with these marks: . In-between, use “i” for italic, “b” for bold, or “u” for underline. Put a backslash (/) after the < of the closing markup.
Is it HTML with a few filters?
test
test2
Hi, Selach. God, I can only imagine Erin with the girliest of screams here. XD
Also, Walter with the “You’re bothered by the dark because there can be things in there that want to eat you. I’m bothered by the dark because there is nothing in it. We are not the same.”
Walter not beating the “do you have games on your phone” allegations
Yang:Alinua: Some girl’s in trouble! Wyrm, did you hear that?(Really hoping the strikethrough works)
…Oh my God, Selach, I love you. Also, Erin, if you’re low on air, maybe don’t talk to the evil manipulative dragon.
Erin looks so tiny in the first panel. Also, he’s freezing, but the lines of magma imply that water might be getting very warm soon…
To be fair to Erin about the air, he is still transmuting it so he won’t run out of breathable air unless he loses control of the bubble.
Oh dear, they’re definitely still in range of Rakhn’s eruption, judging by all the lava…
It’s probably not that much of a problem since they’re underwater, but I don’t wanna jinx it
Yeah, the eruption might not be as bad underwater as it is on land, but I wager it’ll make the whole “being underwater” problem worse.
The “sneerrrkkk!” I made at that last, glorious panel…!
Wonderful little exchange between the two darkness-bois here.
Even when he was unbound, the Void Dragon seemed to spend his time eating stars, by himself. Yet he fears solitude now? Interesting
We don’t yet know what stars are, though… Maybe they were other gods. Maybe they spoke.
You can see her hands in panel 4.
IDK that fanged nightmare looks really sweet.
(All according to Red’s design.)
Either: We’re saved, Alinua and the Northern Wyrm are right behind Selach, things can begin to get better now.
Or: Erin’s fright and surprise breaks his concentration, the fire spell goes out (and with it all the light) and Walter takes control. Meaning Selach is in terrible danger
secret third option:selach gives erin one of those breath mask bad bois she had back when alinua first fell into the water while caturus continues to play fry the dragon, alinua and the northern wyrm are managing other fronts
Aurora Question #68: Do you think weekly tea parties would fix Walter?
If the tea is just as satisfying as eating stars then yes
Absolutely
If it was tea party’s with Argist then yes
Only if it was with Iroh and/or was Stardrop tea from Stardew Valley
omg Selach! Hiii!
I am so happy to see Selach again.
Also I’m glad Red found a chance to address the inherent fear of the whole situation. the discussion between Erin and the Void Dragon being a lot of fun to read. If the Void Dragon doesn’t like solitude does that mean there is life in outerspace, if so it does explain an aspect of the Dragon’s personality, if the VD was used to being alone than he wouldn’t be this conversational, being able to toy with people and muse on their perspectives, so does that mean he used to interact with people or victims before he was imprisoned.
And thus we have an adorable mermaid! Truly a terror of the open ocean.
Personally, I love all the ocean dwellers.
hey! heard you talking about being jumpscared by a “fanged nightmare in the dark” wait, why are you screaming?
Alinua is going to be soooo pissed. she disappears for a few hours and everything falls apart.
LMFAO
JUMPSCARE!
Interesting that Walter doesn’t like being alone. I was under the impression that, prior to his imprisonment, everything was either something to consume or something getting in the way of consuming. Not that I thought his confinement was a lark, but I thought the worst of it to him would be the confinement, not the solitude.
Does he miss the hunt? Did he actually spend time chatting with potential prey? Did other stars he consumed have other primordials who allowed their suns to be consumed in exchange for their own lives? Did he spend a little time socializing with these others before searching out another target?
And if the Lady is his other, what was she doing while he was eating stars? Did she help the primordials trap him? I need backstory!
i believe it’s implied, or was stated on the tumblr, that the lady didn’t really exist prior to walter’s fight with the fire primodial
Perfect timing my dude.
this erin expression brought to you by slach, everyone say thank you selach!
Thank you, Selach!
Once Alinua gets back, I’m waiting for an emotional hug with the cast, the party’s almost together again!
OH MY GOD. SELACH!!!
I love the purple AHHHH!!! as it makes it look like VD is also screaming which would be hilarious.
Selach wearing a shirt saying:
Fish want me,
Dragons fear me.
SELACH!! Studio audience cheers. I thought those claws were of the very monsters Erin and VD were talking about, but I’m so glad they were hers. Also I can’t help but imagine how jarring that must’ve been for Erin. We got a whole lot of warning this would happen, but he went from grimly holding on, balancing the threat of possesion if he fell unconscious with the imminent dangers of the sea, to “Hi!” 😀 *wave*
The last panel feels like it could be a meme. I’m not the best with memes but you see it. Though I was honestly expecting Alinua to be the one saving Erin. Still, Selach can still turn around and yell “I found him!” And then Alinua can show up and give him a hug. Or a slap, actually, given how they left. She is the only one he hasn’t apologized to yet. Or a “where the fuck is Kendal”. Loved this page.
The last pannel is a meme now I declare it
It’s a good thing that Erin is immersed in water right now because I imagine he would’ve peed himself at that moment.
Is Erin slowly sinking down or is he maintaining his depth level? Also does his magic keeping the air bubble around his head prevent carbon dioxide and oxygen from diffusing in and out of the water?
I think Red once explained how that works in Aurora. There is no oxigen or carbon dioxide, just different forms of “wind”. Ok I checked and Red says there is no meaningful amount of wind floating around in water, so I think diffusion just doesn’t happen in this world.
(The post: https://comicaurora.tumblr.com/post/789458674604195840/hi-red-first-time-asker-looong-time-reader-and)
Depending on how deep he is, the pressure may be enough that he’s just suspended in place and won’t go anywhere unless he actively tries to swim up or down.
Voidy hates being alone? To bad that if he eats all the stars he’ll be pretty alone
Walter: AAAH!
Erin: So you are scared!
Walter: I was startled, there’s a difference!
“Hi. It looks like you are trying to not drown or freeze. Can I help you with that?”
(Spoilers in this comment for the Dresden Files, up through… I guess White Night (Book 9)?)
All of this Walter talk has really made me feel Lasciel / Lash thoughts. For those not familiar with the Dresden Files, the main character (Harry) gets possessed by a fallen angel named Lasciel, who is trapped within a magic coin and wants Harry to free her. However, it’s revealed that the entity that is talking in Harry’s head is more of a… shadow, a piece-of-Lasciel instead of the full thing. While they start out as enemies, eventually Harry starts showing sympathy towards her. He gives her a new name (Lash), she starts helping him and opening up about her own fears / worries (there’s this great scene of them in a church where she is talking about missing home (Heaven) and not being able to return because she’s a Fallen).
I do wonder if something similar is going to go on here with Voidy, or if my feelings of “Erin is my favorite character” and “the scenes of him talking with Walter are some of my favorite in the entire comic” is biasing me haha. We shall see!
“Congratulations, you are being rescued. Please do not resist.”
Starting to suspect Erin is on the same page as me. Redeem the primordial evil beyond human understanding through empathy and compassion!
finally! ferb we’re getting the band back together
Insert that echoing “hi :³” sound effect
How about a fanged friend in the dark?
Nothing snaps you out of existential fear better than tangible fear!
One wonders if they could use the power of friendship to make the Void Dragon less intent on eating everything. It doesn’t seem to be strictly necessary for him to live, or he’d presumably be dead by now. If he’s actually gotten lonely… that might be an opening for him to start to want to change.
Mer friend!
It’s not Alinua but it’s close enough, for now.
Also I think my books are coming tomorrow!
-Signed The Vessels Of A Glowing God
(aka The Princess)
selach <33333333
Ooh I just noticed you can see Selach’s hands in panel 4
Void Dragon! If you eat all of the stars you’ll be alone in the dark again!
The line between horror and comedy is as thin as ever. Brava Red.
Gotta be the frienliest jumpscare I’ve ever seen
“Hi!” from Selach
Erin screams “AAAAAA!”
Looks like Erin may be safe from Walter?
Likely, Erin will not love this
Or he will consider it respite.
!
This being my first attempt, I don’t
Really think it’s very good (Or readable)
You can tell me what you think
It may be that I should leave this to others.
No? Do you think I should continue?
Go on? Well, maybe.
New acrostic poster!
It’s awesome to see how you
Captured the page and
Employed the acrostic form. I’m impressed by
Just how naturally the phrases in your lines fit together.
Often I have to twist the structure around in weird ways to make things work. It would
Be great to see more from you if you had fun writing these.
You know, if Voidy wasn’t alone in space, this is lending some credence to the stars-are-soul-generators theory i’ve been waiting for an opening to share in the comments. (basically, soul energy just kinda accumulates on the planet’s surface, which sounds like fantasy solar power to me, and we’ve had it confirmed that soulfire is NOT fire, so… maybe?)
*test*
”test”
test
[test]
i/
Im not fully sure how to do this
Uhm- i/
This is how you do italics, just without the dots.
This is how you do italics, just without the dots.
I don’t think it worked lol
Walter: “I’m so LONELY, you wouldn’t UNDERSTANNNND!”
Also Walter: *threatens, coerces, or harasses everyone he meets*
I love this entire page. If I have just my general physics right, every time Erin talks the air around him would vibrate I think? Like when Selach scares him the bubble spikes, which is just a funny bit and I think accurate?
Also what are Selach’s pronouns? Also, also, do they only have four fingers? Is it just them?
Merfolk don’t really care about gender and don’t have any dimorphism in their species, however, they know gender is a thing the elder races care about, so they all use she/they pronouns because, to the elder races, they all look vaguely female. So you can call Selach she or they.
And yes, merfolk have four fingers while the Sekrai (an elder race) have five.
Ohhh Ty! I don’t have access to twitter and discord so it’s hard for me to know these things, so thank you for helping!
Anyways I really like Selach like a fanged nightmare from the darkness, they are so whimsical and innocent, I love them so much <3
The last panel made my entire week. Well, unless something else happens on Wednesday that ruins it…
That last panel made my entire week. Well, unless something else happens that ruins it…
sometimes i forget this comic is red by Red from popular webcomic Aurora
“Does the dark actually bother you?” Erin asks in the sea.
Answer “It does” but not through fear “Your projection insults me.”
Rather than hungry life, the dead empty silence explains why
Kicks up yelling “AAAAAA” in surprise as smiling Selach says “Hi!”
Gee Mr. Dark Primordial of Hunger sitting in a dark prison, I wonder why the guy you’re possessing to end the world would fear hungry things in the dark? In all seriousness though it’s interesting to get more insight on just how much the Void Dragon sees the isolation of his imprisonment as the worst element with Erin as the first person he’s been able to talk to for centuries. Especially since it is carrying Voidy that has exacerbated Erin’s feeling of having to ultimately be able to shoulder things alone despite having friends beside him to aid him.
Yeah I figured something was gonna make a liar out of Veedee.
“Magus? What’s happening? What’s out there? Talk to me, Magus!”
Halloween Colors :3