1.22.5
on July 12, 2023
at 3:00 am
“yeah DM Mold Earth is a cantrip so I can cast it as many times as I want so-“
Aurora
A fantasy webcomic. Updates M-W-F.
“yeah DM Mold Earth is a cantrip so I can cast it as many times as I want so-“
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: as the writer, hell yeah. as a noted ancient ruins fan, aaaaaaaaaurgh
Image source: rock
I’d say when the ancient ruins start actively kidnapping your friends into deadly situations, you can plead defensive action.
I’d say the same, but don’t forget that the academy is apparently one of *those* places.
Prime Directive? More like prime suggestion!
Not again, Kirk!
oh god the archeologist in me is crying out in pain
This just saves time on digging
Aurora Question #74: What is your Biggest question about the Ancients?
Personally, I’m curious as to what they were trying to do with the pedestal before VD stepped in
were they Human??? Elven??? CHEESEMEN?!?!?! WHAT WERE YOUUUU
Were they dancer??
None of the above. They were a separate species that shared physical traits with elves, along with added height, and were also closed to the elements.
But are they Cheesemen
They were of the cheese element, but didn’t invent cheese so never found out
Don’t panic, @Nuo! If you go back to Aurora’s Home page, click on EXTRA LORE tab then choose choose Three Elder Races and read the bottom-most entry (about the Ancients). If that is too much reading scroll down to the picture at bottom and you can see a human, an elf and an Ancient (from let to right in picture). If that doesn’t answer your need, then read the text about Humans, Elves and Ancients (and take the time to appreciate the look at different the variations of humans and Elves. If you want more info a Ferins check the last entre in Exta Lore.
What the exact story of the Ancients’ downfall of their civilization was. But perhaps that is a different tale than this one?
How did they go extinct? (Maybe this was already answered somewhere and I just don’t remember. Someone enlighten me)
Its in Extra Lore. The Three Elder Races, ‘Ancients’ section (third entry).
Thank you
Is Falst an ancient? Or a descendant of one? Why did the technology that seems to be of the Ancients recognize him?
I wonder what Erin means by “it doesn’t matter.”
Well, these Ancient ruins are a site of archeological interest so Erin is hesitant to damage them anymore than they already are. However, because these ruins are well documented (and according to Erin, boring), and there are lives at risk, he deems that it’s worth doing a bit of damage to save Falst and Dainix; the ends justify the means.
Just that it doesnt matter if theyre in the caves cuz theyre going in
I think he means that given Falst and Dainix are underground with no way of getting out themselves and with presumably hostile lifeforms around, every second matters regardless of whether this is the caves or no – lack of oxygen or hostiles might get them before cage corruption.
I’m pretty sure it’s about the void dragon. Going into the caves is risky for him.
I agree with @Evil Tree that Erin is slightly worried about his reputation as a scholar but since Erin’s life has already been ruined by Voidy ((Walter hehe)) Dainix and Falst’s lives are more important to consider then any ill-will from the Asera Emissary group.
I think he means it doesn’t matter if they’re in the singing caves or just a basement in the ruins, they’ve got to get down and help either was
Alinua: It was like that when we got here.
Academy official: But how did an entire forest grow inside the ruins, by itself, in such a short-
Erin: (sweating bullets) Like that when we got here.
I understand the want to not damage the ruins of an extinct people, but needs must; on the bright side they might find something new, like that dome, in doing this. You could also argue that Erin has already given the academy a new set of ruins to investigate when he stopped the storm and exposed the city in the middle.
I’m on a slow read of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Alinua’s ability to cut through stone via her plants, here and in Zuurith, brings to mind the Ent destruction of Isengard. How tree roots can cut through the hardest earth given enough time, and how magical use of plants can turn that time from decades to minutes.
Neat point by Erin about the ground being harder to move the longer it’s left to soak up soul energy; neatly ties into what he said in 1-6-17 about how the singing caves can’t be reshaped. Depending on how long Stone was alive for, and how omnipresent soul energy is in the universe, it makes sense how hardy his veins and arteries are.
Nooooo not the historically significant sight, What do you think you’re doing!?
Saving lives.
That’s one hell of a ‘white lie’ you want to pass off there Erin…
A mention of “soul energy”!
I think maybe the Primordials were composed of their respective element plus some soul energy keeping them together, when all six of them fused together to form the adamantine prison, the soul energy combined and formed the Light Dragon. Just a thought, as it also raises more questions– such as if Life is awake now, did she get the soul energy back? Apparently she can be awake and not undo the adamantine, so maybe she doesn’t need it back, or I might be totally wrong. Just a theory after all!
Any thoughts y’all?
Ah, and as @Evil Tree pointed out, soul energy makes the ground harder to reshape the more of it there is. Possible tie to soul barrier making magic unable to manipulate the body?
An interesting possible corollary arises there: if “soul energy” makes things difficult to change and provides stability, then it is in fact an “anti-entropy” in many ways. Which would explain the opposition of the light and dark dragons. But also… does that mean that all (or almost all) magic is innately tied to Void? Or is it just similar to our world, where no matter what change you make, it results in a net increase in entropy, and all magic is change?
They work so well together!
New reason for the Void Dragon to worry about Alinua: prolonged exposure to her & their combined effectiveness may lead to love. ^_^
I think many readers have forgotten that Alinua was able to purge the Void blight from her body (1.5.18-19) which is reason for Void Dragon (Walter, to those who find VD contemptable) hates her, and Primal Life (who really the purging -which I am not sure Erin really understand the implications of, or even be aware of- but you can bet VD does!)
I think one of my favorite bits of Alinua’s character is how, when presented a problem that would normally require intricate and well-studied magecraft, she just goes “oh ok” and just. Does it. No particular intricacies, just built differently. It’s like those gifs of disasters where someone goes “idk I’d just survive” except she is simply out-Greening the problem. Surely this will not have consequences.
Just one of those Sorcerer/Wizard differences. Anyone can learn, with a decade of study and complex mechanisms, but those born with the gift find it perfectly natural.
It’s like how hard it is to teach robots how to walk. We learn it almost naturally by the time we’re 2, yet programming everything is practically impossible.
I think it’s more a matter of approach- Erin has mastered multiple different spheres of magic and has very fine control while Alinua is tapping Primal Life power very deeply but not very precisely- using a fire hose vs a garden hose, weaker in power but easier to direct and use,
TL;DR: You DID NOT just see me damage probably centuries old historical ruins that scholars would LOVE to have investigated.
I can’t help but think this would be easier if they tried to make a smaller entrance.
Even after spending roughly a week and a half with Alinua and seeing what she can do, it likely mildly terrifies Erin whenever he sees just how powerful her magic is. “Struggling to lift a pillar of rock? Oh, let me just grow an entire forest underbrush layer’s worth of roots to carve it out for you. Y’know, super cazh.” (That is, if she doesn’t elect for another “Alinua was here” marker in the form of Colossal Tree #3.)
I think you are not seeing Alinua’s motives in what Alinua is doing with her power- to save Kendal from the Sentinel in chapter 3, due to compassion and empathy, her willingness to help Kendal save Vash even at the risk of her own life and soul (which made Kendal re-evaluate his priorities (I think) when Alinua realized Windcrest City would need some help to survive until it adapted to it new situation to make a source of food that would a couple months until they found solutions. In the arc (sub arc?) of Falst introduction Alinua reacts with revulsion at the twisting of animal into unnatural monsters no longer able to live in their former home. It is compassion that motivated her to free the prisoners in Zuurith’s as the city was being flooded and to help Erin save Dainix and Falst this chapter, I think that makes Alinua a Saint(ess) for certain morale standpoints. Alinua’s empathy and compassion reach/touch even such an such an alien and different being like Primal Life. It is something that belongs to Alinua herself, her inner being, not from any outer source. Sorry to rant. But that what makes me love this character. (bow in apology)
No need to apologize, I found your ‘rant’ to be quite insightful
I get passionately pedantic sometimes. Thank you for patience @Creature! (smile)
They’re disturbing the strata! Dating is going to be so much harder now!
I am so lost on how soul energy and all that works.
Don’t worry, me too!
And not a single thought was given in regards to cave-ins due to disturbing the overburden.
Oof, yeah. Hopefully Alinua’s roots can hold it up!
“CHUNK” is my new favorite sound effect in this comic
Alas, we did not get to know
But let’s just dig, and some plants grow
I… can’t NOT think of the Lorax. “Let it Grow”… Ahaaaah—
…”alas” is a nice word.
Wait…Is destroying ancient ruins going to be another piece of evidence The Junior Archivist takes for why Erin’s evil? Makin’ myself sad just imagining it.
Erin: Please understand, I’m not evil.
J.A.: You freed the Void Dragon.
Erin: By accident! I was just exploring the storm-
J.A.: Wrecked several local livelihoods by destroying the storm.
Erin: I thought it would only be temporary-
J.A.: Meddling with the elemental winds now that they’re not being drawn into the storm.
Erin: Hold on! We have no evidence to suggest that stopping the storm could have long term-
J.A.: Dismantling of Ancient ruins!
Erin: … Ok, that one was on purpose, I’ll give you that. But it was for a good reason!
J.A.: Like what?! Saving a cat?
Erin: Yes!- No! … Sort of.
Both of yours’ ideas are way too good man like really. Only Karishi’s comment makes me nervous while Evil Tree’s comment makes me chuckle internally. Heckin’ mood whiplash.
That’s the joy of sharing with others- you get interesting views you did not know about before!
The way Ali is doing this so nonchalantly is kinda worrying me
“If the academy asks, it was like this when we got here.” This is such cool line. Imma use it on my character.
But exactly how fast can he move it tho?
I just love Erin’s face of “hot damn I was not expecting this”