Tess: “Did we get him?”
Erin: “Tess, we can feel his energy. Why do you bother asking?”
Tess: “… I’m an optimist.”
Erin: “You’re an idiot.”
Tynan: “You’re both wrong. You’re dead.”
– Adapted from TFS
i don’t know what erin’s face is supposed to be conveying, but i can’t unsee just a confused toddler being like “fireball? fireball!”
i know that this is a bizarre interpretation, but erin is just giving me those no thoughts head empty vibes for someone who just filled a storm with fire
also it reminds me vaguely of the kind of idiots who fire live ammunition into a tornado as if that will stop it, but in fact only manage to add tiny deadly projectiles to the storm. not that this is the same thing, but i feel like fire is not going to be as effective anymore. at least he’s trying it out though, so we’ll know
Me: I know enough about the squishy wizard trope to see where this is- (sees final panel) … oh … never mind.
That blast was already going to be pretty powerful as Erin intended to throw it at the clouds above. All he’s done here is change that long range fireball he was charging into a short range wave of fire.
Notice how Erin is the only character in this panel. Not only does that put all our attention on him and his moves but also implies that this attack by Tynan is meant to target him specifically. Tynan’s identified him as a threat, both with his fire and in formulating the initial plan, and wants to take him out.
I love how you made Erin’s expression. It’s not abjact fear, it’s not rage or arrogance. It seems like a mix of slight fear and sheer focus, like he knows he has to get this blast off
Holy shit that’s a lot of fire. And I love the expression on Erin’s face. Seriously great work on the last three pages Red – Tynan’s powering-up has been very well conveyed.
Erin’s expression… especially in the third panel… desperate, that’s the word. Reaching for power to save his skin because, oh, f***. How did they forget Tynan was a God? And it’s not like they can cross the streams.
You know, you get water hot enough the oxygen and hydrogen separate. More fire. Which you can’t put out with water. Because putting water on it only adds more fuel. Hoping that’s the hail mary play here, but it has it’s own problem. The “How does Erin not crisp himself into an early retirement urn” problem.
Btw, is that what Tynan actually looks like now, or is it just his flashy attacks? Perhaps his mid-transformation form? ‘Cause it’d seem like he was about to come up with something creative, my personal theory dragon form, but he’s too flashy to want to do a blob shape. Or is it just me?
@Bolo BRL: Oxygen and Hydrogen aren’t things in this universe. Water is an elemental substance that can only be transformed into other kinds of water- in this case, a gaseous kind.
I feel like Erin is suddenly realizing/remembering that he is dealing with a *god*, and abruptly understanding that this won’t be a neat algorithm or equation he can just solve and everything’s fixed. The battle has only just begun.
Erin seems actually afraid. I’m thinking maybe his control over VD might be somewhat linked to him keeping his cool. Alinua is present, and VD was definitely afraid of her, so he might not make an entrance, but Erin is kind of freaking out right now so who knows.
It’s either a mid-transformation form, or the form he was going for was ‘EF5 tornado’….
Speaking of, while I understand what Erin’s trying to do here, there’s still a part of me that is questioning his logic, because he just set a tornado on fire and that’s generally not productive in making them less dangerous…
Plus, you know, there’s still the whole ‘elemental exhaustion’ and ‘opening yourself up to possession’ angles here, because that is a lot of flame.
(and I will admit, there is also the part of my brain that wants to be a meteorologist that is currently insisting that that is not how tornadoes work, but this is a god in a fantasy world in the form of one, so logic need not apply.)
It’s awesome to see Erin, someone who’s usually super calm and cocky, genuinely afraid, and yet he still manages to protect himself while keeping voidy under control. *chef’s kiss
P.S. I guess I was wrong about the void dragon coming back, but tbh I’m kinda glad
-squint-
Maybe I’m crazy, but… Does anyone else get the vibe that this LARGE of a fire spell isn’t /entirely/ Erin’s intent/control? I dunno, his expression is just making me suspect of what exactly is going on in his mind. I’m probably wrong, but I feel like the Void Dragon might be driving some influence here? Since it kinda needs Erin alive iirc.
@Leonidas1754 the vibe I’m getting is that Erin is desperate. Normally his casting is unemotional and tightly controlled — he even had a fight with Alinua about it where he said that emotion-driven casting can get out of the mage’s control. But in the face of death, raw power is more important than total control.
Of course, that might end up giving VD Walter an opening…
I know Red likes to riff on herself for going too many pages without dialogue, but I think this is my favourite page in the entire comic this far. The visible fear in Erin’s eyes as the giant wave of F*CK YOU DRAGON crashes down on him, the huge fire spell with no protective runic circle in sight…there’s a LOT being conveyed without a single speech bubble, and it’s awesome.
Nat 20 on that saving throw
bet this is gonna make the aurora equivalent of a fire tornado
And THIS is why you don’t piss off the science nerds.
NERDS!!!
just FIREBALL
The looming presence of lightning and storm
Overshadows tiny Erin,
From trembling hands he releases a desperate wave of flame
As the Storm surges in.
The tanks are doing a great job keeping aggro, but unfortunately that doesn’t help against AoE attacks.
The danger in charging at the glass cannon is that you are charging at a CANNON.
Tess: “Did we get him?”
Erin: “Tess, we can feel his energy. Why do you bother asking?”
Tess: “… I’m an optimist.”
Erin: “You’re an idiot.”
Tynan: “You’re both wrong. You’re dead.”
– Adapted from TFS
WHOO I’M ALIVE AND ERINS ALIVE AS WELL
Erin Used Flamethrower!
It’s Super Effective!
[blasts Kakusei over the speakers]
i don’t know what erin’s face is supposed to be conveying, but i can’t unsee just a confused toddler being like “fireball? fireball!”
i know that this is a bizarre interpretation, but erin is just giving me those no thoughts head empty vibes for someone who just filled a storm with fire
also it reminds me vaguely of the kind of idiots who fire live ammunition into a tornado as if that will stop it, but in fact only manage to add tiny deadly projectiles to the storm. not that this is the same thing, but i feel like fire is not going to be as effective anymore. at least he’s trying it out though, so we’ll know
Yes because fire solves everything. To ARSON! *Evil laughter*
NO hurting the snooty glass cannon knowitall! Bad Tynan, BAD storm! No thermals for you!
He still looks very worried, but Erin does have the correct weapon to use, and he seems to have used it well.
I don’t think I’ve quite realized how powerful Erin is… dang that’s a lotta fire
Erin: I cast fireball!
DM: But you’re in range. You’ll have to do a dexterity save.
Erin: Did I stutter? I CAST FIREBALL!
Me: I know enough about the squishy wizard trope to see where this is- (sees final panel) … oh … never mind.
That blast was already going to be pretty powerful as Erin intended to throw it at the clouds above. All he’s done here is change that long range fireball he was charging into a short range wave of fire.
Notice how Erin is the only character in this panel. Not only does that put all our attention on him and his moves but also implies that this attack by Tynan is meant to target him specifically. Tynan’s identified him as a threat, both with his fire and in formulating the initial plan, and wants to take him out.
I love how you made Erin’s expression. It’s not abjact fear, it’s not rage or arrogance. It seems like a mix of slight fear and sheer focus, like he knows he has to get this blast off
TL;DR: Big storm, meet big fire.
You say “unguarded glass cannon,” I say “I’m getting out of the blast radius.”
To each their own, I guess.
Tynan feels a lot more eldritchian without his humanoid form
Holy shit that’s a lot of fire. And I love the expression on Erin’s face. Seriously great work on the last three pages Red – Tynan’s powering-up has been very well conveyed.
“whoa. that’s a lot of fire, isn’t it?”
Erin’s expression… especially in the third panel… desperate, that’s the word. Reaching for power to save his skin because, oh, f***. How did they forget Tynan was a God? And it’s not like they can cross the streams.
Oh. So that’s why he was making that face in the last page’s final panel.
Erin vs. Tynan in a nutshell: “Use Fireball and only Fireball, nothing but Fireball. Just Fireball. Just Fireball. Just Fireball.“
Erin is facing a beast of waves
That he meets with a burst of flames
Blaze it.
You know, you get water hot enough the oxygen and hydrogen separate. More fire. Which you can’t put out with water. Because putting water on it only adds more fuel. Hoping that’s the hail mary play here, but it has it’s own problem. The “How does Erin not crisp himself into an early retirement urn” problem.
Behold! A shadow of watery might
Be counterbalanced by fire, so bright
Btw, is that what Tynan actually looks like now, or is it just his flashy attacks? Perhaps his mid-transformation form? ‘Cause it’d seem like he was about to come up with something creative, my personal theory dragon form, but he’s too flashy to want to do a blob shape. Or is it just me?
@Bolo BRL: Oxygen and Hydrogen aren’t things in this universe. Water is an elemental substance that can only be transformed into other kinds of water- in this case, a gaseous kind.
I feel like Erin is suddenly realizing/remembering that he is dealing with a *god*, and abruptly understanding that this won’t be a neat algorithm or equation he can just solve and everything’s fixed. The battle has only just begun.
The real magic is keeping that hair floofy in a torrential rainstorm.
Huh.
Well, okay then.
alt text: i think we got ‘im boys
Erin seems actually afraid. I’m thinking maybe his control over VD might be somewhat linked to him keeping his cool. Alinua is present, and VD was definitely afraid of her, so he might not make an entrance, but Erin is kind of freaking out right now so who knows.
OngoingConversationCouplet:
It’s either a mid-transformation form, or the form he was going for was ‘EF5 tornado’….
Speaking of, while I understand what Erin’s trying to do here, there’s still a part of me that is questioning his logic, because he just set a tornado on fire and that’s generally not productive in making them less dangerous…
Plus, you know, there’s still the whole ‘elemental exhaustion’ and ‘opening yourself up to possession’ angles here, because that is a lot of flame.
(and I will admit, there is also the part of my brain that wants to be a meteorologist that is currently insisting that that is not how tornadoes work, but this is a god in a fantasy world in the form of one, so logic need not apply.)
It’s awesome to see Erin, someone who’s usually super calm and cocky, genuinely afraid, and yet he still manages to protect himself while keeping voidy under control. *chef’s kiss
P.S. I guess I was wrong about the void dragon coming back, but tbh I’m kinda glad
“Alexa, play Inferno by Mrs. GREEN APPLE”
Never be intimidated by the second form, it’s just another health bar and fancier graphics. :3
Well, you know what they say: the best defense is a good offence.
Slay Erin
Maybe it’s plasma. Best way to bleed off electricity from a storm is to ionize everything between cloud and earth.
-squint-
Maybe I’m crazy, but… Does anyone else get the vibe that this LARGE of a fire spell isn’t /entirely/ Erin’s intent/control? I dunno, his expression is just making me suspect of what exactly is going on in his mind. I’m probably wrong, but I feel like the Void Dragon might be driving some influence here? Since it kinda needs Erin alive iirc.
da big fire.
they could use freezing co2 canisters like they attempted in raising dion.
also do glass cannons sometimes break themselves
@Leonidas1754 the vibe I’m getting is that Erin is desperate. Normally his casting is unemotional and tightly controlled — he even had a fight with Alinua about it where he said that emotion-driven casting can get out of the mage’s control. But in the face of death, raw power is more important than total control.
Of course, that might end up giving VD Walter an opening…
@hermit thrush, i totally forgot about that argument! if that is what’s happening here that would handily explain how the flame grew so quickly!!
i love your worldbuilding and subtle foreshadowing red, keep being great
@hermit thrush, i totally forgot about that argument! if that is what’s happening here that would handily explain how the flame grew so quickly!!
i love your worldbuilding and subtle foreshadowing red, keep being great!
@Hermit Thrush that’s a good point; i don’t see any of his usual runes this time.
Am I the only one who thinks Erin has fear in his eyes?
Glass cannon with an emphasis on cannon.
Sorry my comment popped up twice, the site was being glitchy
I know that looks awesome, but at the same time, Erin looks genuinely worried for his safety
“I didn’t ask where Kendal was, I said ‘I cast Burning Hands.'”
love this page
This must be one of the beautiful battles ever I am not even kidding
Please marry me now Erin.
Alinua forgot which of her teammates needs the most supporting, but it’s okay, Erin’s already 6/0/2
Also goddamn, what a pretty page.
Rereading the entire webcomic, as you do. Forgot about this page – love the artwork and scene direction so much.
this is giving me so many cool backgrounds askdksdekfrgntr
Is it just me, or is the alt text different then before? I might just have really bad memory though…..
I know Red likes to riff on herself for going too many pages without dialogue, but I think this is my favourite page in the entire comic this far. The visible fear in Erin’s eyes as the giant wave of F*CK YOU DRAGON crashes down on him, the huge fire spell with no protective runic circle in sight…there’s a LOT being conveyed without a single speech bubble, and it’s awesome.