. “Okay,” Tess says softly as she sits on a ledge of dirt. She watches as the Paladins’ dragons lift off from the beach, silver boats hanging beneath some of them, shapes dwindling as they fly into the night.
. “Options:” Tess starts, tilting her head as it rests against her dusty fist. Her whole body is dirty and bruised, one eye closed to block out the light. “Can’t fly. Can’t breathe underwater. Can’t really swim, even.” Towering far behind her, Rakhn’s volcano glows as small bursts of lava spew from the top, lighting the night orange. More overflows from the caldera and runs down the mountain, small streams visible on the hill that Tess’s ledge juts out from. “Can’t jump far enough to hit Helm. And probably can’t survive a volcano.” She tilts her head up, watching a smaller red dragon fly over her. “Guess there’s only one thing I CAN do.” She shifts into a kneeling position, lightning crackling on the ground around her. “Make new friends.” Then she pushes off, flying with a thunderous crack into the air and arcing down toward one of the flying dragons.
Good enough. My school schedule has a free period on mon/wed/fri, which is very convenient for doing this when it’s *not* been like 18 hours since it posted!
And the other three are pretty close togther (assuming Alinua is close behind Selach). There is only an underwater iceberg and anxious dragon in between Erin and Dainix
You know, this is going about as well as it did when my DnD party encountered a dragon. That is to say, they managed to split the party five ways – as a five man party.
Wishing the floof squad the best of luck! (Because it looks like they’re going to need it)
Tess: So, they used their lady’s gift to induct two of every dragon on Aurora, then they saddled them with boats, and now I’m gonna beat the c**p out of every single one.
Love the way all the separate background elements are uniquely drawn and styled to make them stand out. Purple shining sky, calm grey-wisped ocean, sharp leaves on the bushes, round clouds, and half-flowing half-sputtering lava. Really makes each section stand out.
After the last couple of pages began to put my mind at ease, it was time for Red to make me scared again. Bravo. Tess is still not in great shape and I’m willing to bet the Paladins know a thing or two about aerial combat. That’s even if she’s going to put up a fight; there is a non-zero chance she’ll opt for surrender if it means survival.
On the other hand, the Paladin evacuation is rather rushed; she might be able to hop onto a small, rider-less dragon on the sidelines without being noticed. The dragons have shown they’re less disciplined than the Paladins, so her forcing one to fly her to Helm at fist-point is not out of the question.
… Or she fails in her attempt and, to avoid capture and her mind being read, falls into the ocean. Then it’ll be touch and go whether the ocean-bound allies can get to her in time. This would also be the only way for the party to learn that Falst smuggled onto the Paladin’s boats to go after Kendal.
Like I said, I’m scared now.
Another thing to add: I love how the mud and dust on Tess fully looks like brush-strokes because her skin is smooth metal. It doesn’t absorb or bruise or stain.
Also, it would be SO bad if Tess got captured and they read her mind, because she knows more about Erin than anyone else in the Squad (and maybe the world). That might even be how Erin’s Secret comes out, whatever it is.
Well, the underwater group is going to have to find out that the other half of the Floof sguad is not on the island anymore on their own, actualy The northern wyrm could know that Kendal (the person, not the sword) is not there and where he actualy is, but they still won’t know Falst and Tess already left.
So, about Tess making a new “friend”, do you think it’s the same dragon she punched earlier? Becouse if it is it’s gonna be funny. But not for the dragon.
I thought Tess would be joining the Carried-Away-By-Dragons Crew! It makes sense to have one half of the party off in paladin land and the other half extremely anxious about the people they care most about- Alinua worried about Kendal, Dainix worried about Falst, Erin worried about Tess.
I’m very worried about, well, everyone.
Alinua still hasn’t shown up.
Kendal is currently being Kendalnapped.
I’m not entirely sure wear Falst is but I’m guessing he’s still on that boat.
At the very least Dainix and Erin are being saved by Alinua’s fish friends.
Also my books are coming today!!!!!
-Signed The Vessel Of A Glowing God
(aka The Princess)
And Tess is hitching a ride on a dragon.
To be honest I’m the least worried about Tess.
Right now Tess is the member of The Floof Squad™ in the least amount of physical or mental distress.
Ya’know, I wasn’t sure, (from a repetition/storybeat perspective) about Kendal getting captured again so soon after Zuurith, but now I understand. All the main duos are being split, and concerningly, it’s all of the more reckless ones in one “group,” which is headed into danger, and the more cautious ones in the other group that will have to play rescue.
Danger and fire spewing above,
Reckless puncher of dragons considers her options.
Air is unavailable,
Ground ends here,
Ocean is inaccessible to one who cannot swim,
No, wait, air is available… time for a rocket jump!
“Okay” says Tess looking up at the sky
Plenty of dragons taking off to fly.
The battered metal-caste thinks on her choices
If she can’t fly or breath water she voices
Or really swim or to far Helms’ way go
Nor survive the erupting volcano
She’ll try to “Make new friends,” bolting up high.
Tess… honey… love of my life… make- friends??? How do you plan to do this? Are you just gonna hop from unconscious falling dragon to unconscious falling dragon???
Also, I know Red doesn’t read these, but: I thought we were trying to get the squad BACK TOGETHER, not RUN 6 CONCURRENT SOLO MISSIONS?! In order of when we last saw them, the party is:
Tess: hijacking a Paladin dragon boat?
Erin: underwater with Selach
Dainix: underwater with Caturus
Falst: stowed away on a Paladin dragon boat?
Kendal: captured
Alinua: hopefully showing up soon?????? (I’m not counting 2.8.12 as her showing up because it’s a “flashback” to 2.5.43)
Again I’m reminded just how POWERFUL the party are. “Hmm, an exploding volcano. Can’t quite tank the hit or jump to the next continent, so I suppose I’ll just hijack one of the army of dragons who are in constant telepathic communication.” And she’s definitely one of the weaker people in the party.
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: if you encounter a problem you can’t rocket-jump away from you’re not rocket-jumping hard enough
Image source: options
Tumblr text: would this leap be more impressive with a tall building for scale
Bluesky text: up, up and away (but not too far!)
. “Okay,” Tess says softly as she sits on a ledge of dirt. She watches as the Paladins’ dragons lift off from the beach, silver boats hanging beneath some of them, shapes dwindling as they fly into the night.
. “Options:” Tess starts, tilting her head as it rests against her dusty fist. Her whole body is dirty and bruised, one eye closed to block out the light. “Can’t fly. Can’t breathe underwater. Can’t really swim, even.” Towering far behind her, Rakhn’s volcano glows as small bursts of lava spew from the top, lighting the night orange. More overflows from the caldera and runs down the mountain, small streams visible on the hill that Tess’s ledge juts out from. “Can’t jump far enough to hit Helm. And probably can’t survive a volcano.” She tilts her head up, watching a smaller red dragon fly over her. “Guess there’s only one thing I CAN do.” She shifts into a kneeling position, lightning crackling on the ground around her. “Make new friends.” Then she pushes off, flying with a thunderous crack into the air and arcing down toward one of the flying dragons.
Good enough. My school schedule has a free period on mon/wed/fri, which is very convenient for doing this when it’s *not* been like 18 hours since it posted!
Oh dear… we’re reaching new levels of “split the party” here.
Not a single one of them with any other single one of them. They’re really giving the GM some headaches.
In fairness, some of them are at least going in roughly the same direction as each other, or on track to be?
And the other three are pretty close togther (assuming Alinua is close behind Selach). There is only an underwater iceberg and anxious dragon in between Erin and Dainix
Kendal, Falst and Tess are at least going in the same direction.
Alinua is picking up Erin and Dainix.
So at least it was only split on two axis.
Some people say that punching dragons with lightning requires a cooldown period.
In truth the only limitation is how hard you can ball.
hello, random dragon- please, stop screaming, i’m trying to have a conversation, anyway, flying’s great, amirite?
Goddammit, we just got back together (mostly) after That Damn Boat.
Okay I thought we were going to reunite the party when this chapter was starting.
I can see how it might happen but it will clearly take a while.
Oh, Tess…
She’s so cool and I am so worried.
At this point half the squard is under the sea, the other half is in the skies
Under da sea~
You know, this is going about as well as it did when my DnD party encountered a dragon. That is to say, they managed to split the party five ways – as a five man party.
Wishing the floof squad the best of luck! (Because it looks like they’re going to need it)
“you know not the limits of my power.” -Party member before split
“AAAAAH!”-Party member after split
Hey, they’re still doing pretty well! Some parties that get split five ways by a dragon used to be four-person!
*snrks with laughter*
Magical.
Tess: So, they used their lady’s gift to induct two of every dragon on Aurora, then they saddled them with boats, and now I’m gonna beat the c**p out of every single one.
Love the way all the separate background elements are uniquely drawn and styled to make them stand out. Purple shining sky, calm grey-wisped ocean, sharp leaves on the bushes, round clouds, and half-flowing half-sputtering lava. Really makes each section stand out.
After the last couple of pages began to put my mind at ease, it was time for Red to make me scared again. Bravo. Tess is still not in great shape and I’m willing to bet the Paladins know a thing or two about aerial combat. That’s even if she’s going to put up a fight; there is a non-zero chance she’ll opt for surrender if it means survival.
On the other hand, the Paladin evacuation is rather rushed; she might be able to hop onto a small, rider-less dragon on the sidelines without being noticed. The dragons have shown they’re less disciplined than the Paladins, so her forcing one to fly her to Helm at fist-point is not out of the question.
… Or she fails in her attempt and, to avoid capture and her mind being read, falls into the ocean. Then it’ll be touch and go whether the ocean-bound allies can get to her in time. This would also be the only way for the party to learn that Falst smuggled onto the Paladin’s boats to go after Kendal.
Like I said, I’m scared now.
Another thing to add: I love how the mud and dust on Tess fully looks like brush-strokes because her skin is smooth metal. It doesn’t absorb or bruise or stain.
Also, it would be SO bad if Tess got captured and they read her mind, because she knows more about Erin than anyone else in the Squad (and maybe the world). That might even be how Erin’s Secret comes out, whatever it is.
Unsurprisingly, Tess’ thought process is as amazing as she is lmao
All hail Tess the lord of friendship
“friends” okay but soujnds like it’s going to be a pretty one-sided friendship soooo… ^^°
yeah, I think “make new friends” in Tess-speak in this case means “bronco-busting a dragon”
Dragon punching is a surprisingly versatile life skill that can, apparently, get you out of a variety of difficult situations.
I really hope Tess’s soon to be new friend means the gang gets Close Air Support moving forward.
Well, the underwater group is going to have to find out that the other half of the Floof sguad is not on the island anymore on their own, actualy The northern wyrm could know that Kendal (the person, not the sword) is not there and where he actualy is, but they still won’t know Falst and Tess already left.
So, about Tess making a new “friend”, do you think it’s the same dragon she punched earlier? Becouse if it is it’s gonna be funny. But not for the dragon.
Was literally thinking, please land on Aryss. That would be incredible.
“Hi–”
“YOU.”
“Oh, my bad, wrong dragon.”
I thought Tess would be joining the Carried-Away-By-Dragons Crew! It makes sense to have one half of the party off in paladin land and the other half extremely anxious about the people they care most about- Alinua worried about Kendal, Dainix worried about Falst, Erin worried about Tess.
I love Tess so much
I’m very worried about, well, everyone.
Alinua still hasn’t shown up.
Kendal is currently being Kendalnapped.
I’m not entirely sure wear Falst is but I’m guessing he’s still on that boat.
At the very least Dainix and Erin are being saved by Alinua’s fish friends.
Also my books are coming today!!!!!
-Signed The Vessel Of A Glowing God
(aka The Princess)
And Tess is hitching a ride on a dragon.
To be honest I’m the least worried about Tess.
Right now Tess is the member of The Floof Squad™ in the least amount of physical or mental distress.
Also can I just say the first panel is gorgeous!
THE BOOKS ARE FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is probably one of the best days of my life!
Ya’know, I wasn’t sure, (from a repetition/storybeat perspective) about Kendal getting captured again so soon after Zuurith, but now I understand. All the main duos are being split, and concerningly, it’s all of the more reckless ones in one “group,” which is headed into danger, and the more cautious ones in the other group that will have to play rescue.
Danger and fire spewing above,
Reckless puncher of dragons considers her options.
Air is unavailable,
Ground ends here,
Ocean is inaccessible to one who cannot swim,
No, wait, air is available… time for a rocket jump!
Tess? Making friends with a dragon? Times must truly be desperate!
It looks like she’s going after Aryss specifically as well. Not as much making ‘new’ friends as hitting up old friends.
“Okay” says Tess looking up at the sky
Plenty of dragons taking off to fly.
The battered metal-caste thinks on her choices
If she can’t fly or breath water she voices
Or really swim or to far Helms’ way go
Nor survive the erupting volcano
She’ll try to “Make new friends,” bolting up high.
God I love Tess
Tess… honey… love of my life… make- friends??? How do you plan to do this? Are you just gonna hop from unconscious falling dragon to unconscious falling dragon???
Hi Tess, I love you Tess.
Also, I know Red doesn’t read these, but: I thought we were trying to get the squad BACK TOGETHER, not RUN 6 CONCURRENT SOLO MISSIONS?! In order of when we last saw them, the party is:
Tess: hijacking a Paladin dragon boat?
Erin: underwater with Selach
Dainix: underwater with Caturus
Falst: stowed away on a Paladin dragon boat?
Kendal: captured
Alinua: hopefully showing up soon?????? (I’m not counting 2.8.12 as her showing up because it’s a “flashback” to 2.5.43)
Listen, Red hate’s splitting the party that *she’s* in, but Red LOVES splitting her favorite group of punching bags.
*hates
Again I’m reminded just how POWERFUL the party are. “Hmm, an exploding volcano. Can’t quite tank the hit or jump to the next continent, so I suppose I’ll just hijack one of the army of dragons who are in constant telepathic communication.” And she’s definitely one of the weaker people in the party.
Nonsense, they are all equal and we should all love them very much.
Keep in mind it’s bad to play favorites with you children.