I was reading this without realising how dark the room I’m in was – then I fail to register the creepy inferi thing on the ceiling, look away from the page, think “man it’s kinda creepy when it’s this dark, then look back and get jumpscared so hard I shriek
The glowing eyes are cause Falst has night vision. Some predators have an extra reflective layer around their pupils called a Tapetum Lucidum. It allows them to absorb extra light to see better. It also cause a slight glowy effect in dark areas.
Let me join the needing!
The tapetum lucidum is a shiny blue-green sheet just in front of the retina. Because of that color the eyes of animals that have it reflect blue or green when you shine light at them. Not just predators have them, many prey animals as well such as sheep. Humans don’t have them though and as a result are able to have better clarity of vision.
Though this “bright carpet” (that’s what the Latin means) only shines when light is shined into it. A phenomenon well known to everyone who ever tried to photograph a cat, or a dog, or a rabbit or a horse or a cow because those are not just for predators, and got the effect due to the flash. A mirror can never shine brighter than the light source that reflects upon it.
But visually it’s much better to have glowy eyes all the time, regardless of how much light is going into them. Since Falst doesn’t seem to be facing a source of light (the broken robot has glowy parts, but it’s behind him and to the side), his eyes shouldn’t glow; artistic license however says they should regardless, for stylistic reasons and also because it’s pretty.
Also, if we wanted to be really picky, the tapetum lucidum only reflects light out through the pupil, while in Falst’s eyes the iris is the one glowing.
Well, it’s because you tried to divide by negative 12, that’s probably why it came up with an error. And it probably wouldn’t understand the percentage of you essentially just copied and pasted the equation in your calculator.
Assuming 100%=1, you get 567/-12+0.4725=-47.25+0.4725=-46.7775=-4677.75% chance of friendliness. Assuming 100%=100, you get 567/-12+47.25=-47.25+47.25=0=0% chance of friendless. Either way, hug probability is much much less than 100%
yeah I first saw this on a tiny phone screen with low brightness. I thought they were gooey tendrils (like the stuff coming out of its eyes, which im realizing now is actually hair ?)
The only piece of dialogue this whole week, and it’s Falst burning Erin. I love it.
There’s still light coming from Bot Ock’s innards; I think that’s where they get that light source show in the chapter cover. At least they’ll be able to see the technological terrors and magical mutations coming.
I hope that cave crawler was generated by localised famine or plague, like how the extra lore Seventh Element page explains. Because if this underground section is a route to the singing caves, we really shouldn’t leave Erin unwatched else V.D. might get ideas.
Although, if an entrance to the cave is nearby, it would help explain why that automaton was programmed to recognise cave folk, elves and humans, and protect Ancients from them. Though if that were the case, why would it take Falst here, a potential cave entrance, if it wanted him to be safe? Hmm, maybe that crawler was caused by famine after all.
Prediction for next week: Falst tries to use the spear with a broken arm, either succeeding or just getting the crawler’s attention until Dainix wakes up and takes over.
note that that Cave Crawler is HUGE. like, Dainix is a pretty tall guy, but that thing is a long boi. i think it might be an Ancient that starved in here, and has been crawling about ever since. I just wonder if Cave Crawlers have a natural lifespan or not; they seem like the kind of horrifying vampiric creature that wouldn’t die unless they’re outright killed
I was just wondering: If Erin was ever able to gain control over Voidy (which is the most unlikely thing that I can imagine right now), would he be theoretically able to cure cave corruption, since it’s just the elemental corruption caused by Void? And if somebody, maybe the Floof squad, maybe someone else, was able to outright KILL Voidy, might it even be possible for Void mages to be born, since there would be a dead Primordial’s body just laying around unutilized? Or would the missing soul channels for Void make that impossible? On the other end, the Twins might create a species able to control Void, if Voidy was dead. This species might then be able to create “perfect” homunculi, if helped by mages of the other Elements. Is this an option?
@Anonymous My understanding is that even if Erin had fully controllable void powers, he would be able to cure his own cave corruption by purging himself of trace void elements, but would not be able to purge void elemental corruption from other people due to their own soul barrier.
Otherwise any group of randos would be able to make it to the centre of the storm by just purging each other’s elemental corruption as they go.
I do think that if Voidy died your hypothesis about void mages could happen though. That’d be pretty interesting.
Actually, I think you’re getting elemental energy and corruption confused. The problem with the storm is the mages can only expunge elemental energies from themselves that they control; corruption is what happens after elemental energy is left too long inside them and can no longer be gotten rid of. According to the seventh element page, treatments for elemental corruption exist and can be applied to others by others but prevention of corruption must be done by themselves. That’s why a magus is needed because only they can cleanse their body of all energies before corruption can take hold.
As for the potential for Void Mages, I’d say it may be possible. I’ve had a niggling theory that V.D. may be slowly dying; with talk of the caves getting more inhospitable with more cave corruption on the surface, it sounds like void energy is seeping out from him and not returning. He hasn’t fed for thousands of years and is losing energy outwards and not replenishing it, so might be withering himself without realising it.
One potential way of killing V.D., or allowing the potential to do so, is discovering and invoking his true name. Maybe. Doing so might be a terribly bad idea looking at how invoking dead primordial names have gone; invoking a live one and one of his destructive power could as easily help V.D. as harm him. Though the fact he went to great length to hide his rune in the storm gives me the impression he may not want his true name being discovered.
Oh, I see. It wasn’t a straight drop. They fell into a laundry chute, which slowed their fall slightly. Hence the whole “not quite dead yet” aspect of this situation.
Had to up my phone brightness to see the page properly. Immediately got Falst’s eyes glowing at me. Then I scrolled down and went “Fuck no!” That dude is a big ol’ yikes.
I would have said something along the lines of ‘my preciouss’ but it looks like @SuperCharged said it for me! Couldn’t have put it better myself.
In response to @Anonymous and @LordHints: LordHints said most of it, but I was also wondering; would killing the Void Dragon result in a Void aurora or were those only present while the storm was still… uh… stormin’?
I think the Dragon was lying when he said Erin might be able to control him someday, since we’ve seen that we can only control the six primordial elements due to the fact that their consciousnesses are technically dead and cannot control those elements themselves. Although, as we’ve seen with the Light Dragon– maybe a vessel can be granted a share of the power. When we last saw Gabriel, he seemed to be controlling himself but able to directly communicate with the Light Dragon, and had the same eyes as possessed!Erin– so maybe the eye thing indicates whether they’re linked and can talk to one another.
Since Gabriel is working with the Light Dragon, there’s no need for them to fight over power/control. That’s probably why Erin wasn’t able to do the things Gabriel could do, such as control the Dragon’s powers when he was awake and not possessed.
Help me. I just spent like 30 minutes typing fan theories for a super niche webcomic.
Also, I’d again like to apologize for my inconsistency – I’m still around. Just failing to keep track of time (which should be less of a problem when school starts up again). Hopefully my inconsistency doesn’t become consistent.
Happens to the best of us; from what you’ve said, your life is usually kinda hectic, so losing track of time is understandable. I know you always return nonetheless.
I really need new glasses, they aren’t focusing properly and anything bright (especially white things) appears to be glowing. Though, in this instance, it makes the Cavern Crawler’s eyes look more ethereal and Falst’s eyes pop more, so in this instance it’s actually added some depth to the image.
Watching animé with subtitles is still annoying though, I really need a new prescription.
I got so scared when I saw this page but then when I read the translated Ancient text all I could think was:
“Stand clear of the closing doors, please.”
I don’t want to be laughing at this page, but now that I’ve discovered that the Ancients invented the subway system… I wonder if they still use it. Hmmmm.
i think i made a comment about this before, but falst looks so much younger when he’s not angry. most of the time he looks closer in age the other protags(around 20), but then panels like panel 4 happen and he looks closer to 14/early teens. and the only evidence i have that i’m not crazy and he is younger is the character page describes him as “young” and none of the other protags that way, meaning there is probably a noticeable age difference between them.
also of course the first thing falst says is something sarcastic and snarky and aimed at erin.
Red has confirmed on Tumblr that all the members of the group (except Kendal of course) are around 18-21 years old. Why she describes Falst specifically as young is anyone’s guess.
Dainix, how did you even get stuck like that?!
For real though, I did not know this was going to be a HORROR comic, oh my god that is terrifying.
Also, the glowy white wires and very spherical also glowy eyeball are only adding to my soul lacrima conspiracy board, since it seems like they are made of the same thing, and are distinct from the lightning lacrima. So they are soul lacrimas maybe they were used by the ancients to program or animate the robots due to the element’s connection with will/being alive (Kendal became a thing due to the ambient soul energy in the area, and the light dragon = soul primordial theory)? That would explain the big glowy head orb (probably acting as the main processing area) and the wiring of the same material (molded soul lacrimas to register, receive, and transmit sensory and movement data?)
(sorry if this is a wall of text btw)
Re: alt text: Of course it’s friendly! Why else would it be up there reaching for Dainix, except to gently and politely help him down? I’m sure that any moment now, it’ll greet Falst in a jaunty English accent, and offer its services as guide to get them out of these tunnels. Light-hearted hijinks will ensue, and eventually it’ll join the party permanently as their new best friend!
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: maybe it’s friendly!
Image source: boring
The Ancient text has been translated to “Stand clear.”
It might not be friendly
I see you’re also filling the role of “Haiku About Page” today.
I was reading this without realising how dark the room I’m in was – then I fail to register the creepy inferi thing on the ceiling, look away from the page, think “man it’s kinda creepy when it’s this dark, then look back and get jumpscared so hard I shriek
He frees himself, makes a sarcastic remark
And sees Dainix in seeming peril so stark
huh
Upside-down Falst looks so pretty!
Also I love that he has glowy eyes
Also also this is why you don’t let Erin choose your holiday destination
The glowing eyes are cause Falst has night vision. Some predators have an extra reflective layer around their pupils called a Tapetum Lucidum. It allows them to absorb extra light to see better. It also cause a slight glowy effect in dark areas.
Oh don’t mind me just nerding over here.
That’s my kinda nerdin’!
Let me join the needing!
The tapetum lucidum is a shiny blue-green sheet just in front of the retina. Because of that color the eyes of animals that have it reflect blue or green when you shine light at them. Not just predators have them, many prey animals as well such as sheep. Humans don’t have them though and as a result are able to have better clarity of vision.
Though this “bright carpet” (that’s what the Latin means) only shines when light is shined into it. A phenomenon well known to everyone who ever tried to photograph a cat, or a dog, or a rabbit or a horse or a cow because those are not just for predators, and got the effect due to the flash. A mirror can never shine brighter than the light source that reflects upon it.
But visually it’s much better to have glowy eyes all the time, regardless of how much light is going into them. Since Falst doesn’t seem to be facing a source of light (the broken robot has glowy parts, but it’s behind him and to the side), his eyes shouldn’t glow; artistic license however says they should regardless, for stylistic reasons and also because it’s pretty.
Also, if we wanted to be really picky, the tapetum lucidum only reflects light out through the pupil, while in Falst’s eyes the iris is the one glowing.
You’re just showing off your kitty knowledge if I may be so catty to point out. I’ll scurry off now … or slink off depending how flak comes my way.
He’s fine
Ack NO! Red, don’t leave us like thissss
Not friendly not friendly notfriendly notfriendlynotfrIENDLYNOTFRIENDLY!!!!!
Aurora Question#22: Calculate the likelihood that it is friendly (hint: equation is 567/(86-98)+47.25%)
I put the equation into my calculator and it just said “Format Error”, but I’m fairly sure it will be 0%
It is. Also why are calling the Void Dragon “Voidy”?
Well, it’s because you tried to divide by negative 12, that’s probably why it came up with an error. And it probably wouldn’t understand the percentage of you essentially just copied and pasted the equation in your calculator.
-32, if I followed the steps right. It’s been a while since I did multi-step math.
Assuming 100%=1, you get 567/-12+0.4725=-47.25+0.4725=-46.7775=-4677.75% chance of friendliness. Assuming 100%=100, you get 567/-12+47.25=-47.25+47.25=0=0% chance of friendless. Either way, hug probability is much much less than 100%
16.09%? idk, that seems a bit high
-69.575625
Note: Remove the %, that was an inexplicable typo
While I understand your meaning that their chances are zero. I find the idea of their chances being -69 to be… nicer.
Lol
Is that the old spider woman from “Wilde Life”? (chapter 11)
Oh my goodness IT IS XD
how kind of the wires to conveniently place themselves to stop Dainix’s fall
It’s also possible that the Mr. Friendly over there just finished tying up Dainix in those wires!
yeah I first saw this on a tiny phone screen with low brightness. I thought they were gooey tendrils (like the stuff coming out of its eyes, which im realizing now is actually hair ?)
The only piece of dialogue this whole week, and it’s Falst burning Erin. I love it.
There’s still light coming from Bot Ock’s innards; I think that’s where they get that light source show in the chapter cover. At least they’ll be able to see the technological terrors and magical mutations coming.
I hope that cave crawler was generated by localised famine or plague, like how the extra lore Seventh Element page explains. Because if this underground section is a route to the singing caves, we really shouldn’t leave Erin unwatched else V.D. might get ideas.
Although, if an entrance to the cave is nearby, it would help explain why that automaton was programmed to recognise cave folk, elves and humans, and protect Ancients from them. Though if that were the case, why would it take Falst here, a potential cave entrance, if it wanted him to be safe? Hmm, maybe that crawler was caused by famine after all.
Prediction for next week: Falst tries to use the spear with a broken arm, either succeeding or just getting the crawler’s attention until Dainix wakes up and takes over.
note that that Cave Crawler is HUGE. like, Dainix is a pretty tall guy, but that thing is a long boi. i think it might be an Ancient that starved in here, and has been crawling about ever since. I just wonder if Cave Crawlers have a natural lifespan or not; they seem like the kind of horrifying vampiric creature that wouldn’t die unless they’re outright killed
Looks like a zombie to me,,,but if it’s alive or dead it still looks hungry and that Falst and Dainix or on the menu.
It looks a lot like a cave crawler to me, so still super not good.
I was just wondering: If Erin was ever able to gain control over Voidy (which is the most unlikely thing that I can imagine right now), would he be theoretically able to cure cave corruption, since it’s just the elemental corruption caused by Void? And if somebody, maybe the Floof squad, maybe someone else, was able to outright KILL Voidy, might it even be possible for Void mages to be born, since there would be a dead Primordial’s body just laying around unutilized? Or would the missing soul channels for Void make that impossible? On the other end, the Twins might create a species able to control Void, if Voidy was dead. This species might then be able to create “perfect” homunculi, if helped by mages of the other Elements. Is this an option?
@Anonymous My understanding is that even if Erin had fully controllable void powers, he would be able to cure his own cave corruption by purging himself of trace void elements, but would not be able to purge void elemental corruption from other people due to their own soul barrier.
Otherwise any group of randos would be able to make it to the centre of the storm by just purging each other’s elemental corruption as they go.
I do think that if Voidy died your hypothesis about void mages could happen though. That’d be pretty interesting.
Actually, I think you’re getting elemental energy and corruption confused. The problem with the storm is the mages can only expunge elemental energies from themselves that they control; corruption is what happens after elemental energy is left too long inside them and can no longer be gotten rid of. According to the seventh element page, treatments for elemental corruption exist and can be applied to others by others but prevention of corruption must be done by themselves. That’s why a magus is needed because only they can cleanse their body of all energies before corruption can take hold.
As for the potential for Void Mages, I’d say it may be possible. I’ve had a niggling theory that V.D. may be slowly dying; with talk of the caves getting more inhospitable with more cave corruption on the surface, it sounds like void energy is seeping out from him and not returning. He hasn’t fed for thousands of years and is losing energy outwards and not replenishing it, so might be withering himself without realising it.
One potential way of killing V.D., or allowing the potential to do so, is discovering and invoking his true name. Maybe. Doing so might be a terribly bad idea looking at how invoking dead primordial names have gone; invoking a live one and one of his destructive power could as easily help V.D. as harm him. Though the fact he went to great length to hide his rune in the storm gives me the impression he may not want his true name being discovered.
“I traveled here once for research. It’s abandoned and disappointingly boring.”
~ Erin, Ch.19 pg.3
The “Witch” music from Left 4 Dead just started playing in my head.
okay, so whoever predicted that the bunker would open into the Singing Caves or would otherwise be occupied by Cave Crawlers…
well done. also, i hate you
Oh shoot one of those “my preeeeccciiooouuuuussssssssss”
I love it when Red reminds us how utterly terrifying her art can be and then leaves us for the weekend
That’s a big no thank you.
Ohh the color palette is so lovely 😀 god I’m actually so excited for this chapter it’s insane. THE BOYS. THEY R BONDING
AH GEEZ AH GOD
Oh, I see. It wasn’t a straight drop. They fell into a laundry chute, which slowed their fall slightly. Hence the whole “not quite dead yet” aspect of this situation.
Had to up my phone brightness to see the page properly. Immediately got Falst’s eyes glowing at me. Then I scrolled down and went “Fuck no!” That dude is a big ol’ yikes.
How did that spear get lodged into stone? Also, what’s with voidfaces feet?
This cave crawler appears to have a smaller mouth than the one that The Champion slew in chapter 7, but it still possesses similar levels of “Nnnope!”
Less spiky too
I would have said something along the lines of ‘my preciouss’ but it looks like @SuperCharged said it for me! Couldn’t have put it better myself.
In response to @Anonymous and @LordHints: LordHints said most of it, but I was also wondering; would killing the Void Dragon result in a Void aurora or were those only present while the storm was still… uh… stormin’?
I think the Dragon was lying when he said Erin might be able to control him someday, since we’ve seen that we can only control the six primordial elements due to the fact that their consciousnesses are technically dead and cannot control those elements themselves. Although, as we’ve seen with the Light Dragon– maybe a vessel can be granted a share of the power. When we last saw Gabriel, he seemed to be controlling himself but able to directly communicate with the Light Dragon, and had the same eyes as possessed!Erin– so maybe the eye thing indicates whether they’re linked and can talk to one another.
Since Gabriel is working with the Light Dragon, there’s no need for them to fight over power/control. That’s probably why Erin wasn’t able to do the things Gabriel could do, such as control the Dragon’s powers when he was awake and not possessed.
Help me. I just spent like 30 minutes typing fan theories for a super niche webcomic.
TL;DR: Just an average secret room where OH GOD–
Also, I’d again like to apologize for my inconsistency – I’m still around. Just failing to keep track of time (which should be less of a problem when school starts up again). Hopefully my inconsistency doesn’t become consistent.
Happens to the best of us; from what you’ve said, your life is usually kinda hectic, so losing track of time is understandable. I know you always return nonetheless.
Oh good, its Golum’s even more cursed cousin.
“Hey…. hang around here much?”
Pyotr has returned from the dead.
Red can be evil sometimes….
I really need new glasses, they aren’t focusing properly and anything bright (especially white things) appears to be glowing. Though, in this instance, it makes the Cavern Crawler’s eyes look more ethereal and Falst’s eyes pop more, so in this instance it’s actually added some depth to the image.
Watching animé with subtitles is still annoying though, I really need a new prescription.
I got so scared when I saw this page but then when I read the translated Ancient text all I could think was:
“Stand clear of the closing doors, please.”
I don’t want to be laughing at this page, but now that I’ve discovered that the Ancients invented the subway system… I wonder if they still use it. Hmmmm.
It turns out that cave crawlers are the real reason you’re supposed to “Mind the Gap” in subways.
i think i made a comment about this before, but falst looks so much younger when he’s not angry. most of the time he looks closer in age the other protags(around 20), but then panels like panel 4 happen and he looks closer to 14/early teens. and the only evidence i have that i’m not crazy and he is younger is the character page describes him as “young” and none of the other protags that way, meaning there is probably a noticeable age difference between them.
also of course the first thing falst says is something sarcastic and snarky and aimed at erin.
Red has confirmed on Tumblr that all the members of the group (except Kendal of course) are around 18-21 years old. Why she describes Falst specifically as young is anyone’s guess.
That’s gonna be a big Yikes from me, chief
Oh good! Dainix is safe!… from fall damage, that is!
oh hey that’s a cave crawler. oh no.
Dainix, how did you even get stuck like that?!
For real though, I did not know this was going to be a HORROR comic, oh my god that is terrifying.
Also, the glowy white wires and very spherical also glowy eyeball are only adding to my soul lacrima conspiracy board, since it seems like they are made of the same thing, and are distinct from the lightning lacrima. So they are soul lacrimas maybe they were used by the ancients to program or animate the robots due to the element’s connection with will/being alive (Kendal became a thing due to the ambient soul energy in the area, and the light dragon = soul primordial theory)? That would explain the big glowy head orb (probably acting as the main processing area) and the wiring of the same material (molded soul lacrimas to register, receive, and transmit sensory and movement data?)
(sorry if this is a wall of text btw)
oh hey it’s the morlocks
*Looks at emaciated creature*
Hey, that’s me!
Hello Tallum! Where’s your precious?
That is some nightmare fuel there!
What in the hell is that ;-;
Ladies, Gents, and those still deciding:
We’ve discovered The Drow.
Creepy giant friend?
it definitely looks the opposite of mushy
Re: alt text: Of course it’s friendly! Why else would it be up there reaching for Dainix, except to gently and politely help him down? I’m sure that any moment now, it’ll greet Falst in a jaunty English accent, and offer its services as guide to get them out of these tunnels. Light-hearted hijinks will ensue, and eventually it’ll join the party permanently as their new best friend!
Of course, there’s always the possibility that Gabriel (Light eyes) may take this time to show up. But monster is indeed very big yikes.
this is fine
What’s the words next to the door say?
Red saying “Oh gosh, look at the time.”
Me, realizing IT IS TWO AM: Jesus, I am more sleep deprived than I thought.
Oh, so THAT’S where my pet skin skinwalker went!