Since my comment didn’t work last time (on mobile) let’s try this again.
Finally caught up and reading live! Now begins the regularly-scheduled update dance where I start checking this bookmark even when I know there’s nothing new to see.
This feels very much like a hope spot … I wonder if the next page will conclude this arc. I’m reminded a lot of the 2011 ‘Thundercats’, though we all know that unlike that show, Aurora will be continuing, rather than being forced to end, though on a hopeful note, midway through it’s run.
Also, it is weird to see no other comments on the page even though I know there’s probably a few being processed. Unless I’m actually the first one here?
“Processed?” Do some comments not get through the filter? Because sometimes it says “comment awaiting moderation” and then deletes my comment. Is that normal?
I’m not sure how the moderation’s done–I would assume it’s automated, but I had one disappear a while back and I thought it might have been due to accidentally uncovering a major plot twist. Granted, said theory seems to be pretty well debunked at this point, but the comment never showed up… The system just eats them on occasion, I think. Must be some sort of internal comment tax, like how a claw machine only gives out a prize once a certain amount of money has been paid into it. Though obviously reversed, since it’s taking a comment after a certain number have been released.
Kidding. It’s probably just a glitch of some kind.
You don’t just leave the shot on hands about to grasp each other like that without something about to happen. Whether that’s a cool handshake moment or void dragon or someone deciding screw self preservation I can’t let this wholesomeness continue in my story I can’t decide. Maybe upcoming exams are just making me paranoid. Also I’d suggest before getting void dragon under control (which is maybe not the best idea) and trying to save vash perhaps maybe you should take a nap, have a beach episode or something IDK because you’ve been going pretty non-stop so far.
Erin: And that covers up any incriminating damage.
Kendal: What?
Erin: I said, that seals up the entrance to the caves.
An infodump on current events isn’t quite Erin’s forte, but he’ll take it. The mission is broadly unchanged, but the situation has changed with the Paladin’s being aware of Erin and members of his group, and the Collector aware of “something” connecting Vash to the outside world. If either party acts swiftly, the mission may be altered.
Nice offer Tess and we know you’re strong, but it took several chapters of dungeon trauma bonding and tragic backstory reveals for Dainix to be allowed to do this. It isn’t like Alinua where hugs and bridal carries come easy; maybe check with her when (if?) she lets go of Kendal.
Anyone else get the feeling that this handshake between Kendal and Erin will be interrupted by someone, maybe that Paladin we saw many, many pages ago? With the way the handshake is structured, it feels like it’s begging to be interrupted.
Alinua seems to be a little sleepy. Good, she needs rest after all the magic she’s performing.
Erin, on the other hand, produces coffee from his own carefully-grown coffee organ.
Erin DMs, and has to resist the urge to infodump his 2k+ page lore document at the players before they start playing.
Kendal plays a LG Paladin because he can’t even imagine himself as anything else.
Alinua plays a Druid. She initially thinks she’s going to focus on healing spells that stop everyone else from going down, but she realizes that healing isn’t as effective in D&D and goes full battle mode.
Tess plays a Wizard because playing as a smart character gives her the perfect opportunity to infodump the party, but she deliberately gets everything wrong to annoy Erin.
Dainix plays a Rogue because he plays to escape his set of magic and that’s as far from his abilities as possible.
Falst plays a Cleric because he doesn’t want to be a burden on anyone else and they can do everything. It’s a running gag that he never prepares healing spells for the party.
When Erin needs a break from being Forever DM, Falst takes over and runs the party through a dungeon that’s technically level-appropriate but absolutely brutal due to dirty tricks from the NPCs. Luckily the party has Erin’s min-maxed barbarian to “disarm” all the traps for them…
Erin would DM, because he can’t stand not being in control, Kendal would be a Paladin, either human or elven, Falst would be a halfling Rogue, Alinua would be an elvish Druid or Cleric, Tess would be a dragonborn Barbarian, and Dainix would be a fire genasi Wizard just so he can cast Fireball.
Erin DMing makes sense, but I like the idea of Tess as the DM running a very silly campaign. Erin is then the one that really wanted to play a more serious game, Kendal is going along with the chaos but still finding time to put in some really good character moments, and Falst is the one causing problems.
I agree that Kendal only knows how to play paladin, but I feel like the rest of the crew is likely to switch it up based on how they feel during character creation time and/or if they’re aware of the theme of the campaign. I can see Alunia being and exasperated DM as easily as I can see Erin being DM.
LMAO at Tess. Yes. Good. Excellent. Peak Tess confidence, and I fully believe she could. Dainix’s and Falst’s drastically different reactions also made me giggle. (And yet, Falst is letting Dainix support him. A testament to the friendship they forged in fire. :3)
Re: the alt text: ah yes, absolutely, it’s not like there are a thousand and one pending complications to generate several more arcs of story, or anything.
Zuurith has a city to rebuild so his resources are staying put there. He’s far to preoccupied to bother the gang, especially if he still has bought Vash’s bluff about him returning. Others in Zuurith, like Shrike, are another story.
The Collector knows Vash has a link on the outside, but no clue as to what that might be. With Vash likely staying tight lipped, the Collector will need to do her own research topside before even suspecting the existence of Kendal, let alone where he is.
Thus I’m betting it’s either going to be the Paladins who cause trouble or someone/something new. If I had to make a wild guess, I’d say the Paladins could put a bounty on Erin, and/or info about him, to complicate them chartering a ship to Helm.
Almost every character has at least one “string” at this point that could pull them away from the “VD & Vash” Plan:
Kendal has The Collector and Tahraim.
Alinua has Life, The Collector, and whatever local crises pop up.
Erin has VD, his family, and the Paladins (including The Champion).
Falst has HIS family and The Lady (if he is beginning to connect with her).
Dainix has HIS FAMILY TOO, Caliban, and Tahraim (who clearly have a whole separate agenda going on).
Tess has… Well, the person most likely to pull Tess off task is also Tess. Otherwise, not much.
Tess: “Well, I manage my own department, and I’ve been doing that for several years now.”
Erin: “Your department’s just you, right?”
Tess: “Yes Erin, but I am not easy to manage.”
Erin: “Okay, what are your weaknesses?”
Tess: “I don’t have any, asshole.”
Everything is going to complicate the plan. Every time a new thread is introduced, it’s tied up with at least one other major plot point. It’s about to start getting crazy-go-nuts!
And by the way, we still don’t know why the ancient tech recognized Falst…
My bet is June and Partners Shrike and Trusk as they are nearest, June is very motivated to punish the puppet of the Void Dragon with the silver tongue and honeyed praise.
see, i don’t like that handshake shot. something always interrupts it before it can be completed. and frankly, if something else stops this group from getting one good nights rest, im going to scream. let them sleep already red…
I forgot, when did Erin talk to Vash?
Also, this page and the dialogue seems like it would be a nice way to wrap up an arc. I’m very excited for arc 2, hopefully we will get to see the floofy paladin champion again.
Looks like Michel (until his actual name is known) the paladin’s champion is going to complicate the plan. Think that he’ll react or know that Falst can use soul magic?
Oh yo slight sidenote on the imminent shenaniganery that’s about to interrupt that handshake, but Kendal looks like he’s glowing. Like, he’s not being lit by the sunrise in the same way everyone else is; if you look closely at his fingers in the last panel, they look kinda blue. Not sure if we’ve noticed that Kendal is glow-in-the-dark before, but I’VE never noticed that before. Cool!
Also aww, Erin, trying to emphasize team cohesion so Kendal doesn’t do something foolish again, huh? Also also, Tess, if you want to be able to help Falst around, then you gotta go back down into the caves with him to have your own zombie dungeon funtime adventure and unlock all his trauma
This might not mean anything but I found it interesting that the first panel has similar imagery to the first panel of https://comicaurora.com/aurora/1-1-10/
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: surely nothing could complicate this flawless plan
Image source: plan
I’m not on mobile, but how do you find the image source?
File name. Open the image in a new tab.
thanks
Mouse over.
Hey Zero, I read the vast majority of this on my iPad and would always make a point to come find you in the comments. Thank you for what you do!
You’re welcome!
Tumbl text: oh hey
Twitter text: nearly there!
I also read this entire comic on my phone and always go to the comments to find your post of the alt text. Thank you for your service!
You are welcome as well!
A recap: Some healing and resting is of need
With Vash gone again the plan must proceed
Let’s go, I’m finally early! . . . staying up until 2:00 is a good thing, right? I should be proud of this?
Truly you were born in the wrong timezone. My condolences for the lost sleep.
I love how, whenever they meet back up after separate exhausting character stuff and fights, Kendal just goes “Hi, Erin”. He did it at Zuurith, too.
Reminds me of that security camera video where the guy falls through a roof and says hi to his friend.
Since my comment didn’t work last time (on mobile) let’s try this again.
Finally caught up and reading live! Now begins the regularly-scheduled update dance where I start checking this bookmark even when I know there’s nothing new to see.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Tess has two shoulders.
Also I just realised Falst in this strip sounds like Fanon!Damian Wayne.
Omg, you’re so right, and now I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.
This feels very much like a hope spot … I wonder if the next page will conclude this arc. I’m reminded a lot of the 2011 ‘Thundercats’, though we all know that unlike that show, Aurora will be continuing, rather than being forced to end, though on a hopeful note, midway through it’s run.
Also, it is weird to see no other comments on the page even though I know there’s probably a few being processed. Unless I’m actually the first one here?
Comments came in! Was thinking the exact same thing haha
“Processed?” Do some comments not get through the filter? Because sometimes it says “comment awaiting moderation” and then deletes my comment. Is that normal?
I’m not sure how the moderation’s done–I would assume it’s automated, but I had one disappear a while back and I thought it might have been due to accidentally uncovering a major plot twist. Granted, said theory seems to be pretty well debunked at this point, but the comment never showed up… The system just eats them on occasion, I think. Must be some sort of internal comment tax, like how a claw machine only gives out a prize once a certain amount of money has been paid into it. Though obviously reversed, since it’s taking a comment after a certain number have been released.
Kidding. It’s probably just a glitch of some kind.
Alinua is taking a much needed break
This is the secons time this arc she passed out on someone’s boobs.
Honestly I am jealous
They don’t need to knock out Falst to heal him . . . Just get Dainix to do it 😀
Picture this: the floof squad trying to knock Falst out, and abruptly stop when Dainix goes up to him and asks if he can heal him
AND IT WORKS
No shortcuts – heh, we all know how THAT’S going to turn out – I love foreshadowing
You don’t just leave the shot on hands about to grasp each other like that without something about to happen. Whether that’s a cool handshake moment or void dragon or someone deciding screw self preservation I can’t let this wholesomeness continue in my story I can’t decide. Maybe upcoming exams are just making me paranoid. Also I’d suggest before getting void dragon under control (which is maybe not the best idea) and trying to save vash perhaps maybe you should take a nap, have a beach episode or something IDK because you’ve been going pretty non-stop so far.
Erin: And that covers up any incriminating damage.
Kendal: What?
Erin: I said, that seals up the entrance to the caves.
An infodump on current events isn’t quite Erin’s forte, but he’ll take it. The mission is broadly unchanged, but the situation has changed with the Paladin’s being aware of Erin and members of his group, and the Collector aware of “something” connecting Vash to the outside world. If either party acts swiftly, the mission may be altered.
Nice offer Tess and we know you’re strong, but it took several chapters of dungeon trauma bonding and tragic backstory reveals for Dainix to be allowed to do this. It isn’t like Alinua where hugs and bridal carries come easy; maybe check with her when (if?) she lets go of Kendal.
Anyone else get the feeling that this handshake between Kendal and Erin will be interrupted by someone, maybe that Paladin we saw many, many pages ago? With the way the handshake is structured, it feels like it’s begging to be interrupted.
Alinua seems to be a little sleepy. Good, she needs rest after all the magic she’s performing.
Erin, on the other hand, produces coffee from his own carefully-grown coffee organ.
Anonymous Aurora Question #33: If the floof squad played dnd, who dms, and how does each of them play? Which character do they play and why?
Red actually answered this one on tumblr! Can’t find the posts right now, but I will link them later if I get a chance.
Found it! There was another one where she said Dainix wouldn’t fully understand and would end up making a ranger because that was close to his real experience, but I can’t find it.
https://comicaurora.tumblr.com/post/631392332201312256/people-have-asked-you-what-dd-alignmentclass#notes
Erin DMs, and has to resist the urge to infodump his 2k+ page lore document at the players before they start playing.
Kendal plays a LG Paladin because he can’t even imagine himself as anything else.
Alinua plays a Druid. She initially thinks she’s going to focus on healing spells that stop everyone else from going down, but she realizes that healing isn’t as effective in D&D and goes full battle mode.
Tess plays a Wizard because playing as a smart character gives her the perfect opportunity to infodump the party, but she deliberately gets everything wrong to annoy Erin.
Dainix plays a Rogue because he plays to escape his set of magic and that’s as far from his abilities as possible.
Falst plays a Cleric because he doesn’t want to be a burden on anyone else and they can do everything. It’s a running gag that he never prepares healing spells for the party.
When Erin needs a break from being Forever DM, Falst takes over and runs the party through a dungeon that’s technically level-appropriate but absolutely brutal due to dirty tricks from the NPCs. Luckily the party has Erin’s min-maxed barbarian to “disarm” all the traps for them…
Erin would DM, because he can’t stand not being in control, Kendal would be a Paladin, either human or elven, Falst would be a halfling Rogue, Alinua would be an elvish Druid or Cleric, Tess would be a dragonborn Barbarian, and Dainix would be a fire genasi Wizard just so he can cast Fireball.
Erin DMing makes sense, but I like the idea of Tess as the DM running a very silly campaign. Erin is then the one that really wanted to play a more serious game, Kendal is going along with the chaos but still finding time to put in some really good character moments, and Falst is the one causing problems.
I agree that Kendal only knows how to play paladin, but I feel like the rest of the crew is likely to switch it up based on how they feel during character creation time and/or if they’re aware of the theme of the campaign. I can see Alunia being and exasperated DM as easily as I can see Erin being DM.
Ali, fully asleep.
LMAO at Tess. Yes. Good. Excellent. Peak Tess confidence, and I fully believe she could. Dainix’s and Falst’s drastically different reactions also made me giggle. (And yet, Falst is letting Dainix support him. A testament to the friendship they forged in fire. :3)
Re: the alt text: ah yes, absolutely, it’s not like there are a thousand and one pending complications to generate several more arcs of story, or anything.
Taking bets: What do you think is going to complicate the plan?
I’m betting the Paladins show up fairly soon.
Paladins, Zurrith, The Collector trying to find where Vash went.
Zuurith has a city to rebuild so his resources are staying put there. He’s far to preoccupied to bother the gang, especially if he still has bought Vash’s bluff about him returning. Others in Zuurith, like Shrike, are another story.
The Collector knows Vash has a link on the outside, but no clue as to what that might be. With Vash likely staying tight lipped, the Collector will need to do her own research topside before even suspecting the existence of Kendal, let alone where he is.
Thus I’m betting it’s either going to be the Paladins who cause trouble or someone/something new. If I had to make a wild guess, I’d say the Paladins could put a bounty on Erin, and/or info about him, to complicate them chartering a ship to Helm.
Almost every character has at least one “string” at this point that could pull them away from the “VD & Vash” Plan:
Kendal has The Collector and Tahraim.
Alinua has Life, The Collector, and whatever local crises pop up.
Erin has VD, his family, and the Paladins (including The Champion).
Falst has HIS family and The Lady (if he is beginning to connect with her).
Dainix has HIS FAMILY TOO, Caliban, and Tahraim (who clearly have a whole separate agenda going on).
Tess has… Well, the person most likely to pull Tess off task is also Tess. Otherwise, not much.
Tess: “Well, I manage my own department, and I’ve been doing that for several years now.”
Erin: “Your department’s just you, right?”
Tess: “Yes Erin, but I am not easy to manage.”
Erin: “Okay, what are your weaknesses?”
Tess: “I don’t have any, asshole.”
Everything is going to complicate the plan. Every time a new thread is introduced, it’s tied up with at least one other major plot point. It’s about to start getting crazy-go-nuts!
And by the way, we still don’t know why the ancient tech recognized Falst…
My bet is June and Partners Shrike and Trusk as they are nearest, June is very motivated to punish the puppet of the Void Dragon with the silver tongue and honeyed praise.
see, i don’t like that handshake shot. something always interrupts it before it can be completed. and frankly, if something else stops this group from getting one good nights rest, im going to scream. let them sleep already red…
I forgot, when did Erin talk to Vash?
Also, this page and the dialogue seems like it would be a nice way to wrap up an arc. I’m very excited for arc 2, hopefully we will get to see the floofy paladin champion again.
Vash spoke to the whole group here: https://comicaurora.com/aurora/1-18-19/
Its been a looooooooooong 24 hours. You know, it almost feels like years…
Looks like Michel (until his actual name is known) the paladin’s champion is going to complicate the plan. Think that he’ll react or know that Falst can use soul magic?
“Oh, I’m so gonna bench these boys someday.” – Tess, probably.
Anyway, cue the Collector watching Kendal. Cue the Champion watching Erin. Cue The Lady watching Falst. Cue—
Cue Caliban watching Dainix. Cue Tahraim watching Kendal. Cue Life watching Alinua. Cue Tess watching a steel chair. Cue—
Cue The Collector being evil, cue VD watching Erin, cue Zurrith doing something, cue me being a dumbass
And I’m watching *all of them*
Floof gang: I always feel like, somebody’s watching mee…
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THIS PAGE
Alinua eepy
Falst and Dainix are SO cute, Falst being a tsun and Dainix’s precious smile is just aaaaaaaaaaaaa
Please I need fanart of Tess carrying falst and dainix. I need it NOW.
Now I want to see the floof squad try and knock Falst out so they can heal him
mmmh, Tess…
TL;DR: No no no no no don’t make plans, plans always get messed up…
Why do I have a bad feeling about those two touching hands…
You’ve gotta love Falst
Erin, you’re sounding pretty protagonisty there. “But it’s nothing we can’t handle together” sounds like a Kendal line, not a McHubris line.
I feel like Erin is legitimately starting to get onboard with the idea of getting real help from his crew if nothing more.
Oh yo slight sidenote on the imminent shenaniganery that’s about to interrupt that handshake, but Kendal looks like he’s glowing. Like, he’s not being lit by the sunrise in the same way everyone else is; if you look closely at his fingers in the last panel, they look kinda blue. Not sure if we’ve noticed that Kendal is glow-in-the-dark before, but I’VE never noticed that before. Cool!
Also aww, Erin, trying to emphasize team cohesion so Kendal doesn’t do something foolish again, huh? Also also, Tess, if you want to be able to help Falst around, then you gotta go back down into the caves with him to have your own zombie dungeon funtime adventure and unlock all his trauma
This might not mean anything but I found it interesting that the first panel has similar imagery to the first panel of https://comicaurora.com/aurora/1-1-10/
It has been around 18-ish months since Falst had a fully functional arm. He definitely needs to be knocked unconscious for more effective healing 😛
To all those who celebrate it, Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too! I hope you have plenty to be thankful for!
Omfg they’re finishing each other’s sentences I’m freaking melting 😭😍