On a kinda different note, maybe someone from the comments can help me out with a question:
Why was Tess looking for Erin back in chapter 11 when she first met Falst?
I know she said she wanted to talk to him because of the storm, but the last page of chapter 11 is Tess seeing Tynan on the horizon for seemingly the first time, so he can’t have been the reason over 8 pages before she knew about him. So, why else was she looking for Erin? What has she not told us/them yet?
Wait. What if the Void Dragon comes out of Erin while he’s fighting Tynan and the Junior Archivist (are we calling her June now) sees? I mean, neither Alinua or Kendal are currently around him, so the situation is very treacherous in that sense as well.
Also this is a very dramatic first panel for a new chapter and i feel like the party is going to split by the end of this arc; i mean, if we include Tess and Dainix in the Floof Squad, then that brings up us to six members. Quite a crowd.
@ihadasquirrelnamedfloofy 08:00 AM GMT for me. quite nice to wake up to this but not have to stay up for it
I don’t know if Kendal’s sword is going to be up to the task …. But a Life Mage could be handy. Trees are good insulators,, wind breaks, and soak a lot water. I call team Alunia to the rescuer!
Someone else may have already spotted this, but the cover art for this chapter looks like kendal’s shadow is being stabbed by the other shadow that has vash’s eyes. idk I might be reading too much into it but I’m concerned for what our boy thinks he’s gotta do
@veggiesnake: I’m also on team Void Mage Erin, but maybe not even on accident. For one, it’s been teased a lot that he could in theory do it. He even had a “I’m (still) not strong enough” moment a little earlier. And if he does break out the void magic, losing against Tynan would be a massive let down to 10 entire chapters of buildup. And lastly, it would (because of the Junior Archivist) transition nicely into the probable next stage of the story; the paladins and their monster-slaying angel hunting the floof squad because of Erin
First Vash, now Kendal; there’s just something so kidnappable about these blondies.
Oh this page, just beautiful. I particularly like the rain effects, both with individual drop and the whole downpour; really makes this rain heavier and overwhelming than the drizzle we had before. That intermixed with all the different light sources of each panel go really well together; great start to the chapter.
So, the borb did divert it’s direction as some people predicted; wherever Tynan is taking Kendal, Falst and Alinua will probably arrive there first (them or an impatient thunder-jumping Tess). Well, that just leaves time for Dainix to pull himself together, resolve to help Kendal and arrive arms a blazin’ at the last minute to save the day.
Wasn’t expecting the J.A. to appear again; this could be trouble. Don’t get me wrong, I love her character. But the longer she stays close to the protags, especially Erin, the greater the chance of her finding out about V.D. and telling her order. Even her finding out Erin is the elemental magus could clue them in since they could be aware that only he could have stopped the storm.
Dang thats pretty. And the alt text had me *laughing* (“never split the party”).
Wait the rain is tilted in different directions depending on location/perspective… nice detail! Congrats to whoever theorized that June would see this, looks like you were right.
@I had a squirrel named Floofy: 3 am! Which is why I’m almost never one of the top comments.
@Rai626: I dont think we know yet but she started following them after seeing the first explosions from VD in the desert, so maybe she was just trying to get more info/check up on him.
@ I Had A Squirrel Named Floofy
3:00 A.M., hence why I am always late
The new chapter title page is incredible, and I’d like to also highlight the name of this chapter, Downburst. I’m really curious about this choice of title and I’m probably just thinking about it too much. The previous chapter titles, “Clouds Gather”, and “Shadow of Thunder” are bits of foreshadowing telling exactly what the plot is doing. The sudden “Downburst” of plot could be very dangerous for our heroes. I’m curious as to what everyone else thinks.
I have no idea how to talk early in the morning so I tried to give my thoughts in the most coherent way I can.
Now this is a valentines day present, these pages look sooo good!
Rai626:
I thought Tess was looking for Erin due to the storm disappearing. She showed up several times in the background in Windcrest, so she was right there for it disappearing. And she knows Erin well enough that he might have some sort of info on what just happened.
i think i know where Tynan is taking Kendal: the roof of the Paladin’s Archive. If you look at the art for the title of chapter 16 in the archive, you can see it looks like that same curved blue crystal glass that surrounded Erin and June while they were in the Archive. I don’t know why this location is significant to Tynan, unless it’s just a very visible rooftop that the whole city can see. After all, he’s already terrified everyone in the arena audience, so it’s time to find some other citizens to panic
Don’t you know~
You never split the party~
The Cleric in the back~
Keeps the Fighter hale and hearty~
The Wizard in the middle~
Where he can shed some light~
And you never let that damn thief out of siiiiiight~
Red, why? I could’ve lived in blissful ignorance, forgetting today was one of my least favorite “holidays”. But here we are, so in retaliation for being reminded of a day that encourages people to treat someone like me as fundamentally wrong and incomplete, I shall remind everyone else that Valentine was also the patron saint of plague (and also bees). Happy Covid/Pollination Day, everyone.
Huh. So Tynan is taking Kendal outside of the city? That seems somewhat antithetical to his whole shtick, but it looks like the crowd heeded his words from two pages ago, and is now in a full-on panic, so there’s no need to spread the word himself anymore. Now, he can enact his revenge upon Totally 100% Vash in peace.
Well, at least the rain doesn’t seem to be harmful to Dainix, so he’s not in any further danger. He can probably realize that this is the perfect time to bust out of prison, since all the administrators are either preoccupied with Tynan or disincarnated while hovering angrily over a sad little dust pile (I imagine).
Ah, conveniently placed bangs. The perfect concealer. We’ll see what’s under there eventually, I can wait.
Red will give new information in a seemingly unimportant comment from a major, plot-driving character, that, when examined (usually after the fact), tells us where the plot is headed. So Zuurith mentioning how Vash was a fool to put so much effort into building his incarceration seemed innocent at the time, but it highlights desperately important information for the future: Zuurith isn’t built to last. (Knowing Red, this is probably true of both the city and the god, because the god reflects his domain, so I don’t think the city will survive.)
Now we have the information that Zuurith is a valley. The title is Downburst. The party is split–oh, and the members who can do the most to help Kendal are the farthest away–and Tynan is a theatrical Evil Villain. A smart theatrical Evil Villain. Out to make an example of Kendal to the citizens of all the cities once protected by Vash. So Tynan’s going to set up either The Impossible Task or The Impossible Choice.
Tynan knows that Vash at least was motivated by caring for his people, so he’ll set up an Impossible Task that is a moral dilemma. He’ll put Kendal in a position where he alone has to save people–and this time he can’t. An Impossible Task that if he ignores and goes after Tynan with his sword, people will die.
Will the sword work against Tynan when it’s not wielded by a god? Perhaps.
Will the sword work against a flood? Uh, no.
The wise move would be to ignore the threat you can’t handle, and tackle the threat that causes it. But a Vash or Kendal can’t ruthlessly let people die.
Yet Tynan doesn’t know about Alinua, and it seems reasonable that plants could at least slow down a flood, since leaving plant growth will stabilize flood-prone lands… forcing large torrents into multiple tiny streams.
And we don’t know yet what Dainix can do. Not even Dainix knows. And that tiny “…no” indicates that he’s going to fight Tynan. Tynan hasn’t banked on that either. The Junior Archivist is also involved, which means information about the Void Dragon is going to be important in the coming arc.
“The wise move would be to ignore the threat you can’t handle, and tackle the threat that causes it.”
thus many different translations of The Book of Five Rings can be found.
I also have that sweet 3 am drop time, the sad thing is sometimes I’m awake for it:( but getting to read it is the best part about haveing to stay up that late into the night.
@leapyeargirl96 I don’t remember that one, but wouldn’t be surprised if I’d seen it because I do (did?) enjoy Studio C. All-time fave is their Google Translate skit…
New pages for me seem to drop around 2 am, though if I comment that early the page thinks it’s 3 am. Not sure if that’s a time zone related glitch or not. Either way, it’s at a time I’d rather be sleeping (I need about eight hours to function).
(Hello to my fellow members of the ‘it’s too early for me to read Aurora’ club)
And…I can’t remember if I already said this, but my condolences on the loss of your squirrel.
@Eucalyptus I’d like to take a stab at speculating about the cover image as well because it is just so good. So Tynan’s lightning is casting two shadows behind Kendall, one where the sword is visible in his hand and he has vash’s eyes (on the right) and one where to me it looks like he’s still held captive but now by the sword that the other side is holding. The light on his actual person is coming from the right though which suggests the real shadow is on the left and idk I think it’s really cool it seems like the right is what’s supposed to be happening or maybe a symbolic representation of what’s already happened with vash and Tynan, and the left is the truth
Hm… My gut’s pointing toward a floof squad victory, but not a decisive one. It still feels too early for a proper “the protagonists get defeated and need to pick themselves back up and put themselves back together” ordeal, given that we have yet to properly integrate Dainix into the group. At the same time… Kendal may have Kendal, the sword, but he’s not Vash. I don’t think he has the oomph to properly reinstate Tynan’s banishment. Maybe I’m just saying this because I can’t quite imagine Tynan not being a recurring villain, he’s too fun.
Also, probably lots of collateral damage as the party tries to save people in the city.
this page looks awesome.
also, as it’s been pointed out, today is valentines day, or as i call it since i’m aro ace, “free excuse to give small gifts to friends day”, though i ended up not doing it this year, partly because i forgot to make the small gifts this weekend(i was planning on making small watercolor pictures), and partly because the few friends i have are relatively new and therefore unaware that i usually do that and i can get away with forgeting.
Just out of curiosity…And I the only one who feels that this page would have made a great close to the previous chapter? Because tbh it feels more like the final page of a chapter (and possibly even a book) than the start of a new one…
@skye yeah
it honestly feels like it should be the end of the last one.
@Veggie Snake
I believe I once saw someone call her June a while back (I think Steve lord of darkness but I’m not sure) and I guess I kinda just stuck with it. So now you and I are calling her June but I don’t see anybody else doing that.
@Rai626 I thought she was talking about the other storm. You know the highly magicaly one that divided magic into sectors. The one that had been going for a very long time before Erin turned it off somehow. Check the lore pages or reread. I can see how you get them mixed up though… Red seems to like magic storms (although not quite as much as she likes paragons, rescue missions and demonic possession)
To be fair, Red probably has a reason for placing it as she did–we’ll just have to see what happens with the next few pages. I’m reminded a bit of watching a Bob Ross vid–just when you think that the painting is done, he goes and does something else and it suddenly makes perfect sense.
Also, I had no idea that the Junior Archivist had a name, fanon or otherwise, but I will happily join in in calling her June until it either officially sticks or her actual name is revealed. It seems to suit her.
I would like to call everyone’s attention to the invention of a new word: “humanoidity”. It is meaningless, without practical purpose; a metaphysical tool, as all words are, but one which exists without function. A metaphorical art object, existing only for the purposes of aesthetic satisfaction and intellectual satiation. A commentary on the disconnect between humanity’s hands and its mind, an expression both of our purposelessness and our beauty. We create because we are beautiful, and we are beautiful because we create.
Man I sound like an asshole. Look, I like it when people misspell words. I’m glad it happens. That’s it that’s the point okay bye.
(this is in response to @Bibbly Boi’s comment)
Congratulations to The Aceassin and others who correctly guessed C on last weeks Pastrivia!
Happy Valentine’s Day, to all those romantic peeps. And for us non-romantics, we shall feast on the spoils of the holiday: CANDY!
Unfortunately this ace cannot partake in the post- kissy kissy day spoils because they have lactose intolerance and a dad who treats money the way Scrooge McDuck does. If he had that much.
My sympathies. Although (and if you were already aware of this my apologies for repeating it), they do make lactase enzyme tablets. You should be able to find them at your local grocer/pharmacy.
Somebody:
There’s also dark chocolate, especially among smaller chocolate manufacturers. Though if it’s too bitter for you, I completely understand, as it’s too bitter for me. If it’s any comfort, I’m not partaking in discount chocolate shopping either, as I’ve barely left my house at all in the last two years.
icarusancalion:
Same here, and I usually get here at 6am. Just goes to show that our time zone really is at the ass end of the planet. (To any Alaskans, Aleutians, and Eastern Pacific Islanders: we may not feel all of your lag, but we definitely feel most of it. Time zone solidarity.)
I do have lactose tablets at home, I just tend to save them for bigger things like a three scoop ice cream. As such, my stomach punishes me for the crime of drinking a mug of hot chocolate. I’ve tried a few dark chocolate candies but they are a tad bitter. I don’t know how my mum enjoys them!
All you folks who can, enjoy the chocolate. None for me is more for you!
@somebody i feel your pain, but ben and jerry’s do a line of vegan ice cream now, which i like to grab while they’re on sale. as for dark chocolate, i too think it tastes awful, and to be honest i’d rather face the consequences of milk than eat something that strong
If I want ice cream without having to take the pills, I usually go for Lactaid ice cream. It isn’t the best but it has vanilla and cookies and cream. And isn’t coconut milk or any other plant based milk, tried mum’s almond milk once and couldn’t stand it. I’m probably the pickiest eater I know, which is sad. There are most likely some great things out there I won’t like for no good reason.
@NiceIsNotGood That’s not what I meant. Afaik Tess never said anything on why she was looking for Erin back then. I just said that in Zuurith the reason was Tynan, but that can’t have been it before she knew about Tynan, and she was already looking for Erin at that point.
Although I’d say the collapse of the magic storm may have been the reason she was looking for him, she never mentions a storm that isn’t clearly Tynan. I just wanted to ask the community for their theories/other stuff that some people just know out of seemingly nowhere (like how to read runes).
dark chocolate tastes delicious, how dare you
of course, there’s always the posibility that my taste buds are skewed, i can’t eat store-bought cake or icing because it’s so sweet that i get an upset stomach
I love how the comments are now talking about alternatives to ice cream, it’s so far off topic of the page.
@HelloHaiku if June doesn’t already have a canon name then I hope this snowballs into a scenario where red just names her June, like how the dragon prince fandom named that one random guard Marcus
And on the topic of sweets we can’t stand, I personally can’t stand any cake flavor that isn’t cheese cake, chocolate, or ice cream. They all just taste bland to me. Then again, cheese cake and ice cream cakes are different textures from regular cakes so maybe I just have a problem with texture.
I think Breyers has some lactose-free ice cream, though I can’t remember how it stacks up to the Lactaid stuff. I can’t really do store-bought cookies and cream anymore anyway–not sure if I just got a couple bad cartons or what, but it hasn’t tasted right lately and it’s given me issues even with a pill.
You can get lactose free hot chocolate, though! Swiss Miss started selling some a couple years back, and it’s actually not bad. Little bit more expensive than I would like given how fast I burn through it, but worth not having to take a pill and risk the consequences regardless.
To veggiesnake:
Enjoy that. I’ve considered switching to plant-based milk but can’t stand most of the options out there. It’s not always a taste thing, either–oat milk’s texture is just… *shudder*
To alolanvulpix:
To be fair, that stuff is ridiculously over-sugared–the icing makes my teeth ache. But it could be a taste bud thing, too–I’m the only on in my family who eats a lot of dark chocolate, but even I have my limits.
Skye: how dark do you like your dark chocolate? i personally like 90% dark chocolate aka super bitter chocolate aka ‘are we sure this qualifies as candy’ chocolate
Everyone’s taste buds are skewed. I love cilantro and broccoli, and those are touchy foods.
However, I have this intense hatred of anything seafood. Seaweed, shellfish, fish– all of it. The moment I see it I retch and run to my room to slam the door.
Generally, I really love something or really despise it. I just have more things I despise since my grandmother shoves a thousand of anything I remotely show interest in down my throat. She’s trying to help, she believes overfeeding is a show of love. I just wish it wasn’t an egg every freaking meal when I was younger. Now I can’t stand them.
Rant aside, we all have our reasons, however unreasonable, for liking and disliking what we do.
Somebody:
Oh hey, I like cilantro too! The reason it’s a touchy food is that some people have a gene that makes it taste like soap. I differ from you on the broccoli (the leaves are tolerable, I guess, but the stem has a horrid texture) and the seafood, however. I’ve enjoyed fried shrimp with coconut flakes, canned tuna, smoked salmon, boiled crab, dried seaweed (of course), grilled eel, I’ve even had octopus a couple of times. Pretty much, I only stay away from seafood either if it’s raw (I don’t like raw/”rare” meats in general), mammalian (they’re in some deep shit thanks to overhunting), poisonous (obviously), or if it’s clams or oysters- those look too nasty for me. On the topic of chocolates: I can handle more big-brand, ultra-sweet stuff than my family can (which is to say, more than none), but even I prefer the less-sweet milk chocolates of smaller manufacturers. Again, not dark chocolate though… that’s just repulsive to me.
Yeah, that’s too strong for me–I think I’ve done 70%, and that’s about as much as I can handle (both in flavor–there’s a strange taste to it at that point–and not making myself sick). I did try baker’s chocolate once on a whim–never again.
oh my goodness what a beginning! you’ve really outdone yourself red
Oh wow Tess is REALLY buff.
I think I’m very romantic, but today I become the ugliest, most acid ARO gremlin/Grinch the world has ever seen. :[
That’s a lot of rain.
No one has an umbrella.
Now they’ll all get wet.
OOOOhh, pretty! Also, Junior Archivist! Birb making a sharp turn!
Wait, is Tynan leaving the city? Or are the Ruunaser’s not at the north(?) gate anymore?
Question for everyone: what is the exact time the comic airs for you.
3 pm for me.
Perfect Valentines day, completely forgetting to have it brought up by something wholly unrelated.
@I had a squirrel named floofy 9 in the morning.
Pretty good time.
@I had a squirrel named floofy 12:00 AM PST for me.
Wait… does this mean June is getting involved in the fight?!
Messenger Birb: Recalculating… Recalculating…When Possible Make A Legal U-Turn.
OH MY GODDDDDDD
@i had a squirrel named floofy. It airs at 4pm for me.
Ps. I was gonna comment about this earlier but I think I forgot. My condolences for your lost squirrel
This page’s image source: bzzt
On a kinda different note, maybe someone from the comments can help me out with a question:
Why was Tess looking for Erin back in chapter 11 when she first met Falst?
I know she said she wanted to talk to him because of the storm, but the last page of chapter 11 is Tess seeing Tynan on the horizon for seemingly the first time, so he can’t have been the reason over 8 pages before she knew about him. So, why else was she looking for Erin? What has she not told us/them yet?
OOOOOO i love this shot
i love the way the rain looks on this page omfg
@I had a squirrel named floofy around 12am
Wait. What if the Void Dragon comes out of Erin while he’s fighting Tynan and the Junior Archivist (are we calling her June now) sees? I mean, neither Alinua or Kendal are currently around him, so the situation is very treacherous in that sense as well.
Also this is a very dramatic first panel for a new chapter and i feel like the party is going to split by the end of this arc; i mean, if we include Tess and Dainix in the Floof Squad, then that brings up us to six members. Quite a crowd.
@ihadasquirrelnamedfloofy 08:00 AM GMT for me. quite nice to wake up to this but not have to stay up for it
I don’t know if Kendal’s sword is going to be up to the task …. But a Life Mage could be handy. Trees are good insulators,, wind breaks, and soak a lot water. I call team Alunia to the rescuer!
Someone else may have already spotted this, but the cover art for this chapter looks like kendal’s shadow is being stabbed by the other shadow that has vash’s eyes. idk I might be reading too much into it but I’m concerned for what our boy thinks he’s gotta do
@Squirrel: 9 AM
@veggiesnake: I’m also on team Void Mage Erin, but maybe not even on accident. For one, it’s been teased a lot that he could in theory do it. He even had a “I’m (still) not strong enough” moment a little earlier. And if he does break out the void magic, losing against Tynan would be a massive let down to 10 entire chapters of buildup. And lastly, it would (because of the Junior Archivist) transition nicely into the probable next stage of the story; the paladins and their monster-slaying angel hunting the floof squad because of Erin
Happy Valentines day, everyone . Nothing like some epic fireworks to start the celebration!
At least Tynan thinks so…
First Vash, now Kendal; there’s just something so kidnappable about these blondies.
Oh this page, just beautiful. I particularly like the rain effects, both with individual drop and the whole downpour; really makes this rain heavier and overwhelming than the drizzle we had before. That intermixed with all the different light sources of each panel go really well together; great start to the chapter.
So, the borb did divert it’s direction as some people predicted; wherever Tynan is taking Kendal, Falst and Alinua will probably arrive there first (them or an impatient thunder-jumping Tess). Well, that just leaves time for Dainix to pull himself together, resolve to help Kendal and arrive arms a blazin’ at the last minute to save the day.
Wasn’t expecting the J.A. to appear again; this could be trouble. Don’t get me wrong, I love her character. But the longer she stays close to the protags, especially Erin, the greater the chance of her finding out about V.D. and telling her order. Even her finding out Erin is the elemental magus could clue them in since they could be aware that only he could have stopped the storm.
I am in LOVE with this page holy fuck this is beautiful
@I had a squirrel named floofy
6:00 pm where I’m from
*TACTICAL NUKE! INCOMING!*
Should have completed all those gerudo side quests
TL;DR: Follow the bird!
The what?
It just changed direction!
Look at that!
Wait, we’re chasing that??
Ahhhhhhhh!!!!
Alinua, slowly: Falst… Why is the messenger bird following that massive ball of lightning?
Falst:…
Falst: oh no
@ 4.00.p.m.
@I had a squirrel named floofy 10 am for me (at least in the Winter)
Dang thats pretty. And the alt text had me *laughing* (“never split the party”).
Wait the rain is tilted in different directions depending on location/perspective… nice detail! Congrats to whoever theorized that June would see this, looks like you were right.
@I had a squirrel named Floofy: 3 am! Which is why I’m almost never one of the top comments.
@Rai626: I dont think we know yet but she started following them after seeing the first explosions from VD in the desert, so maybe she was just trying to get more info/check up on him.
@Ranting Without A Cause podcast: PFFFFF YES LMAO- The thunderhelm would come in handy right about now…
@ I Had A Squirrel Named Floofy
3:00 A.M., hence why I am always late
The new chapter title page is incredible, and I’d like to also highlight the name of this chapter, Downburst. I’m really curious about this choice of title and I’m probably just thinking about it too much. The previous chapter titles, “Clouds Gather”, and “Shadow of Thunder” are bits of foreshadowing telling exactly what the plot is doing. The sudden “Downburst” of plot could be very dangerous for our heroes. I’m curious as to what everyone else thinks.
I have no idea how to talk early in the morning so I tried to give my thoughts in the most coherent way I can.
God damn that looks cool
“Hey Erin?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think that’s a normal thunderbolt.”
“Yeah.”
@DragonMaster66 hey, same here! What a coinkydink!
Can we talk about how gorgeous the chapter cover is?
Now this is a valentines day present, these pages look sooo good!
Rai626:
I thought Tess was looking for Erin due to the storm disappearing. She showed up several times in the background in Windcrest, so she was right there for it disappearing. And she knows Erin well enough that he might have some sort of info on what just happened.
i think i know where Tynan is taking Kendal: the roof of the Paladin’s Archive. If you look at the art for the title of chapter 16 in the archive, you can see it looks like that same curved blue crystal glass that surrounded Erin and June while they were in the Archive. I don’t know why this location is significant to Tynan, unless it’s just a very visible rooftop that the whole city can see. After all, he’s already terrified everyone in the arena audience, so it’s time to find some other citizens to panic
that or the top of the mountain prison, but i don’t know why they would have that weird starry looking material up there
I don’t know why, but my eye is very drawn to the panel with the screaming people in it on the left
Also, @i had a squirrel named floofy, I think new pages drop around 5 am, at which time I am very asleep
The bird is just like “whoop time to go in the other direction” xD
Don’t you know~
You never split the party~
The Cleric in the back~
Keeps the Fighter hale and hearty~
The Wizard in the middle~
Where he can shed some light~
And you never let that damn thief out of siiiiiight~
Red, why? I could’ve lived in blissful ignorance, forgetting today was one of my least favorite “holidays”. But here we are, so in retaliation for being reminded of a day that encourages people to treat someone like me as fundamentally wrong and incomplete, I shall remind everyone else that Valentine was also the patron saint of plague (and also bees). Happy Covid/Pollination Day, everyone.
Huh. So Tynan is taking Kendal outside of the city? That seems somewhat antithetical to his whole shtick, but it looks like the crowd heeded his words from two pages ago, and is now in a full-on panic, so there’s no need to spread the word himself anymore. Now, he can enact his revenge upon Totally 100% Vash in peace.
Well, at least the rain doesn’t seem to be harmful to Dainix, so he’s not in any further danger. He can probably realize that this is the perfect time to bust out of prison, since all the administrators are either preoccupied with Tynan or disincarnated while hovering angrily over a sad little dust pile (I imagine).
Ah, conveniently placed bangs. The perfect concealer. We’ll see what’s under there eventually, I can wait.
@ihadasquirrelnamedfloofy — the updates drop at 3-painful-am, so yeah, we’re at 40 comments before I see them.
Ooh, pretty.
To whoever commented about Sleepless Domain also updating a few days ago: Congratulations, you have infected me.
@I had a squirrel named floofy, 3am
Alright folks, place your predictions here: who is going to join the floof squad on a permanent basis after the boss battle?
Okay, I’m onto Red’s writing style.
Red will give new information in a seemingly unimportant comment from a major, plot-driving character, that, when examined (usually after the fact), tells us where the plot is headed. So Zuurith mentioning how Vash was a fool to put so much effort into building his incarceration seemed innocent at the time, but it highlights desperately important information for the future: Zuurith isn’t built to last. (Knowing Red, this is probably true of both the city and the god, because the god reflects his domain, so I don’t think the city will survive.)
Now we have the information that Zuurith is a valley. The title is Downburst. The party is split–oh, and the members who can do the most to help Kendal are the farthest away–and Tynan is a theatrical Evil Villain. A smart theatrical Evil Villain. Out to make an example of Kendal to the citizens of all the cities once protected by Vash. So Tynan’s going to set up either The Impossible Task or The Impossible Choice.
Tynan knows that Vash at least was motivated by caring for his people, so he’ll set up an Impossible Task that is a moral dilemma. He’ll put Kendal in a position where he alone has to save people–and this time he can’t. An Impossible Task that if he ignores and goes after Tynan with his sword, people will die.
Will the sword work against Tynan when it’s not wielded by a god? Perhaps.
Will the sword work against a flood? Uh, no.
The wise move would be to ignore the threat you can’t handle, and tackle the threat that causes it. But a Vash or Kendal can’t ruthlessly let people die.
Yet Tynan doesn’t know about Alinua, and it seems reasonable that plants could at least slow down a flood, since leaving plant growth will stabilize flood-prone lands… forcing large torrents into multiple tiny streams.
And we don’t know yet what Dainix can do. Not even Dainix knows. And that tiny “…no” indicates that he’s going to fight Tynan. Tynan hasn’t banked on that either. The Junior Archivist is also involved, which means information about the Void Dragon is going to be important in the coming arc.
“The wise move would be to ignore the threat you can’t handle, and tackle the threat that causes it.”
thus many different translations of The Book of Five Rings can be found.
Happy Discount Chocolate Eve, everyone (-;
oh my gosh this page is so beautiful, I love it so much!
@Hermit thrush, are you a studio c fan too?!
tori: ugh, I hate chocolate sale at Walgreens eve!
steven: you mean valentine’s day?
Tori: *hiss, don’t speak those words to me!
the way the lighting is i thought tess had an inexplicable tiddy window for a sec
@Werebunny131
What GPS do you use that tells you to make a LEGAL u-turn?
@ihadasquirrelnamedfloofy
3am for me, so I’m never awake when it drops.
Good start to the chapter so far, don’t you think?
I also have that sweet 3 am drop time, the sad thing is sometimes I’m awake for it:( but getting to read it is the best part about haveing to stay up that late into the night.
@leapyeargirl96 I don’t remember that one, but wouldn’t be surprised if I’d seen it because I do (did?) enjoy Studio C. All-time fave is their Google Translate skit…
To I had a squirrel named floofy:
New pages for me seem to drop around 2 am, though if I comment that early the page thinks it’s 3 am. Not sure if that’s a time zone related glitch or not. Either way, it’s at a time I’d rather be sleeping (I need about eight hours to function).
(Hello to my fellow members of the ‘it’s too early for me to read Aurora’ club)
And…I can’t remember if I already said this, but my condolences on the loss of your squirrel.
NOOOOOO THE HUMANOIDITY! All the rain will make the floof frizzy!
this page is sooooo gorgeous
Bye Kendal
@I had a squirrel named Floofy 3 AM its why i read these after seeing 10 spoilers
Woo gorgeous! I am now worried about everyone!
Hey, d’ya think anyone’s made a fandom wiki for Aurora?
That would be cool.
@i had a squirrel named floofy deepest condolences to you. I am so sorry.
@Eucalyptus I’d like to take a stab at speculating about the cover image as well because it is just so good. So Tynan’s lightning is casting two shadows behind Kendall, one where the sword is visible in his hand and he has vash’s eyes (on the right) and one where to me it looks like he’s still held captive but now by the sword that the other side is holding. The light on his actual person is coming from the right though which suggests the real shadow is on the left and idk I think it’s really cool it seems like the right is what’s supposed to be happening or maybe a symbolic representation of what’s already happened with vash and Tynan, and the left is the truth
Hm… My gut’s pointing toward a floof squad victory, but not a decisive one. It still feels too early for a proper “the protagonists get defeated and need to pick themselves back up and put themselves back together” ordeal, given that we have yet to properly integrate Dainix into the group. At the same time… Kendal may have Kendal, the sword, but he’s not Vash. I don’t think he has the oomph to properly reinstate Tynan’s banishment. Maybe I’m just saying this because I can’t quite imagine Tynan not being a recurring villain, he’s too fun.
Also, probably lots of collateral damage as the party tries to save people in the city.
this page looks awesome.
also, as it’s been pointed out, today is valentines day, or as i call it since i’m aro ace, “free excuse to give small gifts to friends day”, though i ended up not doing it this year, partly because i forgot to make the small gifts this weekend(i was planning on making small watercolor pictures), and partly because the few friends i have are relatively new and therefore unaware that i usually do that and i can get away with forgeting.
. Shout-out to all my Aces on valentines day
@I had a squirrel named floofy 3:00 am for me. Its nice when I finidh my homework and have something nice to read.
Just out of curiosity…And I the only one who feels that this page would have made a great close to the previous chapter? Because tbh it feels more like the final page of a chapter (and possibly even a book) than the start of a new one…
@skye yeah
it honestly feels like it should be the end of the last one.
@Veggie Snake
I believe I once saw someone call her June a while back (I think Steve lord of darkness but I’m not sure) and I guess I kinda just stuck with it. So now you and I are calling her June but I don’t see anybody else doing that.
To ImuyanMangoCat:
The discord server
also refers to JA
as June sometimes too.
@Rai626 I thought she was talking about the other storm. You know the highly magicaly one that divided magic into sectors. The one that had been going for a very long time before Erin turned it off somehow. Check the lore pages or reread. I can see how you get them mixed up though… Red seems to like magic storms (although not quite as much as she likes paragons, rescue missions and demonic possession)
*magical
Message bird: It’s RUDE to change directions in the middle of the message!
To ImuyanMangoCat:
To be fair, Red probably has a reason for placing it as she did–we’ll just have to see what happens with the next few pages. I’m reminded a bit of watching a Bob Ross vid–just when you think that the painting is done, he goes and does something else and it suddenly makes perfect sense.
Also, I had no idea that the Junior Archivist had a name, fanon or otherwise, but I will happily join in in calling her June until it either officially sticks or her actual name is revealed. It seems to suit her.
I would like to call everyone’s attention to the invention of a new word: “humanoidity”. It is meaningless, without practical purpose; a metaphysical tool, as all words are, but one which exists without function. A metaphorical art object, existing only for the purposes of aesthetic satisfaction and intellectual satiation. A commentary on the disconnect between humanity’s hands and its mind, an expression both of our purposelessness and our beauty. We create because we are beautiful, and we are beautiful because we create.
Man I sound like an asshole. Look, I like it when people misspell words. I’m glad it happens. That’s it that’s the point okay bye.
(this is in response to @Bibbly Boi’s comment)
Congratulations to The Aceassin and others who correctly guessed C on last weeks Pastrivia!
Happy Valentine’s Day, to all those romantic peeps. And for us non-romantics, we shall feast on the spoils of the holiday: CANDY!
@ i had i squirrel named floofy same time, but am (3 am).
@The Lolest same! I’m a hopeless romantic 90% of the time, but the second I start seeing valentines day stuff go up, I turn into Aro-neezer Scrooge.
To Man With Arms:
There is one, as a matter of fact
https://aurorawebcomic.fandom.com/wiki/Aurora_Wiki
@Hello Haiku
So apparently it’s not just me and veggiesnake
And the comments have just reloaded. So now me, veggiesnake, and Skye are calling her june
To ImuyanMangoCat:
I like the name June
for the Junior Archivist
so count me in too! 🙂
Unfortunately this ace cannot partake in the post- kissy kissy day spoils because they have lactose intolerance and a dad who treats money the way Scrooge McDuck does. If he had that much.
To Somebody:
My sympathies. Although (and if you were already aware of this my apologies for repeating it), they do make lactase enzyme tablets. You should be able to find them at your local grocer/pharmacy.
Somebody:
There’s also dark chocolate, especially among smaller chocolate manufacturers. Though if it’s too bitter for you, I completely understand, as it’s too bitter for me. If it’s any comfort, I’m not partaking in discount chocolate shopping either, as I’ve barely left my house at all in the last two years.
icarusancalion:
Same here, and I usually get here at 6am. Just goes to show that our time zone really is at the ass end of the planet. (To any Alaskans, Aleutians, and Eastern Pacific Islanders: we may not feel all of your lag, but we definitely feel most of it. Time zone solidarity.)
@Werebunny131 that is amazing, that should have been the alt text.
Skye and TheUnknownGame:
I do have lactose tablets at home, I just tend to save them for bigger things like a three scoop ice cream. As such, my stomach punishes me for the crime of drinking a mug of hot chocolate. I’ve tried a few dark chocolate candies but they are a tad bitter. I don’t know how my mum enjoys them!
All you folks who can, enjoy the chocolate. None for me is more for you!
@somebody i feel your pain, but ben and jerry’s do a line of vegan ice cream now, which i like to grab while they’re on sale. as for dark chocolate, i too think it tastes awful, and to be honest i’d rather face the consequences of milk than eat something that strong
Veggiesnake:
If I want ice cream without having to take the pills, I usually go for Lactaid ice cream. It isn’t the best but it has vanilla and cookies and cream. And isn’t coconut milk or any other plant based milk, tried mum’s almond milk once and couldn’t stand it. I’m probably the pickiest eater I know, which is sad. There are most likely some great things out there I won’t like for no good reason.
@NiceIsNotGood That’s not what I meant. Afaik Tess never said anything on why she was looking for Erin back then. I just said that in Zuurith the reason was Tynan, but that can’t have been it before she knew about Tynan, and she was already looking for Erin at that point.
Although I’d say the collapse of the magic storm may have been the reason she was looking for him, she never mentions a storm that isn’t clearly Tynan. I just wanted to ask the community for their theories/other stuff that some people just know out of seemingly nowhere (like how to read runes).
@somebody damn. at least i have some pretty non-discriminatory tastebuds for someone who won’t eat meat and can’t eat dairy
dark chocolate tastes delicious, how dare you
of course, there’s always the posibility that my taste buds are skewed, i can’t eat store-bought cake or icing because it’s so sweet that i get an upset stomach
I love how the comments are now talking about alternatives to ice cream, it’s so far off topic of the page.
@HelloHaiku if June doesn’t already have a canon name then I hope this snowballs into a scenario where red just names her June, like how the dragon prince fandom named that one random guard Marcus
And on the topic of sweets we can’t stand, I personally can’t stand any cake flavor that isn’t cheese cake, chocolate, or ice cream. They all just taste bland to me. Then again, cheese cake and ice cream cakes are different textures from regular cakes so maybe I just have a problem with texture.
To Somebody:
I think Breyers has some lactose-free ice cream, though I can’t remember how it stacks up to the Lactaid stuff. I can’t really do store-bought cookies and cream anymore anyway–not sure if I just got a couple bad cartons or what, but it hasn’t tasted right lately and it’s given me issues even with a pill.
You can get lactose free hot chocolate, though! Swiss Miss started selling some a couple years back, and it’s actually not bad. Little bit more expensive than I would like given how fast I burn through it, but worth not having to take a pill and risk the consequences regardless.
To veggiesnake:
Enjoy that. I’ve considered switching to plant-based milk but can’t stand most of the options out there. It’s not always a taste thing, either–oat milk’s texture is just… *shudder*
To alolanvulpix:
To be fair, that stuff is ridiculously over-sugared–the icing makes my teeth ache. But it could be a taste bud thing, too–I’m the only on in my family who eats a lot of dark chocolate, but even I have my limits.
ImuyanMangoCat: me too
Skye: how dark do you like your dark chocolate? i personally like 90% dark chocolate aka super bitter chocolate aka ‘are we sure this qualifies as candy’ chocolate
Veggiesnake, alolanvulpix:
Everyone’s taste buds are skewed. I love cilantro and broccoli, and those are touchy foods.
However, I have this intense hatred of anything seafood. Seaweed, shellfish, fish– all of it. The moment I see it I retch and run to my room to slam the door.
Generally, I really love something or really despise it. I just have more things I despise since my grandmother shoves a thousand of anything I remotely show interest in down my throat. She’s trying to help, she believes overfeeding is a show of love. I just wish it wasn’t an egg every freaking meal when I was younger. Now I can’t stand them.
Rant aside, we all have our reasons, however unreasonable, for liking and disliking what we do.
Somebody:
Oh hey, I like cilantro too! The reason it’s a touchy food is that some people have a gene that makes it taste like soap. I differ from you on the broccoli (the leaves are tolerable, I guess, but the stem has a horrid texture) and the seafood, however. I’ve enjoyed fried shrimp with coconut flakes, canned tuna, smoked salmon, boiled crab, dried seaweed (of course), grilled eel, I’ve even had octopus a couple of times. Pretty much, I only stay away from seafood either if it’s raw (I don’t like raw/”rare” meats in general), mammalian (they’re in some deep shit thanks to overhunting), poisonous (obviously), or if it’s clams or oysters- those look too nasty for me. On the topic of chocolates: I can handle more big-brand, ultra-sweet stuff than my family can (which is to say, more than none), but even I prefer the less-sweet milk chocolates of smaller manufacturers. Again, not dark chocolate though… that’s just repulsive to me.
Had nice Valentine ya, riffing on old anime and eating pizza 😀 Humor is most romantic thing you can share with someone else I say ;D
To alolanvulpix:
Yeah, that’s too strong for me–I think I’ve done 70%, and that’s about as much as I can handle (both in flavor–there’s a strange taste to it at that point–and not making myself sick). I did try baker’s chocolate once on a whim–never again.
Alt text: never split the party