2.7.5
on April 1, 2026
at 3:00 am
happy april fool’s day! that has no bearing on what’s happening here but I’d feel weird if I didn’t acknowledge it.
Aurora
A fantasy webcomic. Updates M-W-F.
happy april fool’s day! that has no bearing on what’s happening here but I’d feel weird if I didn’t acknowledge it.
Waahh so many good expressions this page :0 especially Erin’s utter panic in the third panel
I think it’s also partially a “reflexively taking Kendal’s “slowing him down” comment as a personal comment on his skill” face.
But mostly, part of him thinks he has responsibility of leading the group back to a safer situation.
So, he had to switch from “this mess is my fault and I need to make it up to them” to “this mess is my fault and the safe play does not let me make it up”/”this mess is my fault and the safe play is to abandon me”
so… dread rather than panic?
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: it’s gauche to look directly at the camera and ask for divine intervention fyi
Image source: help
tumblr text: at least we’ve got a plan! ish
Bluesky text: it is wednesday my dudes
In Aurora, everyone’s a fool
Hmm. I think we’re going to cut to someone else now come Friday. Place your bets, folks! Will it be:
* The Paladins again!
* Falst having an emotional breakdown!
* Alinua deep unda da sea!
I think it will be Alinua.
In the last panel Erin says they need all the help they can get, and Alinua have just made some new friends
Actually, given the focus on the caldera and Erin’s comment about needing whatever help they can get, I wonder if we won’t see some involvement from the local Ignans?
Oh what a relief! Don’t worry, everyone, Falst freaking out and leaving is just an April Fools! 😀
Oooh, a second possible connecting point to Alinua.
I’m still not quite sure when we are in relation to Alinua’s chapter. Could be a nasty surprise for Kendal if he finds the Wyrm not yet de-mutated in his contact attempt…
Oof. “He’ll be safer without the rest of us slowing him down.”
You were right to run from me
“The Paladins are tracking you. Staying away is the safest thing Falst could be doing.”
Running away up a tree when things get too much for them and making their friends worried.
Falst, you are not beating the domestic cat stereotype allegations.
Kendal’s right, as much as I hate Falst splitting from the party, it makes sense; staying away from the others will allow the stealthiest member of the team some respite, from all sides. After the volcano heist, the Paladin & dragon fight, and the anguish from last page (nicely summarised by @sky-squido), Falst could do with a moment of calm.
He’s done similar things before, scouting around while Kendal was learning to sleep, hanging above the Ancient ruins post-Zuurith; just never in the middle of an active threat before. Needs must I suppose.
It’s interesting seeing how different Erin is here compared to how he was fighting Tynan. Circumstances are different admittedly, but he seems a lot more open to other’s suggestions and ideas compared to when he was smugly treating a dangerous storm god as an equation to be solved.
This may just be desperation stemming from a lack of power, time, and alternatives, but if this plan works out right thanks to the input of others, this could be a good long-term change.
Good, another connection to the ocean; if Erin and Dainix’s salvage trip doesn’t reunite them with Alinua, Kendal’s plea to the Northern Wyrm will. All these plans hinge on getting to the shoreline, though I guess it doesn’t have to be the one the Paladins are landing on. All the same, the opening of that Singing Caves entrance as a distraction looks more vital than ever.
Oh no. They spoke out all their plans out loud.
Rakhn might have a whole lot of new experiences shortly.
I love that Erin is also really worried about Falst. It comes from a different place than it does for Dainix, but I still did NOT have that on my bingo card
“I can do what I need to do” not what he asked! you know, for all Dainix’s emotional intelligence, he kind of has a really solid track record of just utterly not taking care of himself beyond what’s necessary to keep himself functional enough to keep other people safe—him accepting the fact that Tynan would probably kill him in the fight because his intervention could save the others, him staying belowdecks and trying to hide the fact that he’s slowly going crucible even though it’s hurting him, him physically shoving falst away and telling him to run when falst tries to get the magic light crown of pain off his head, etc.. like his long term goal is to become a living weapon that could be used to protect his people, and it *shows*
best april’s fools: “haha the joke is that there’s no joke :p ”
*sighs in relief*
yes, yes, find the Northern Wyrm, that is the correct direction to be going, yes.
Also I don’t think direct aid would be a good idea for Rakhn in the first place, Kendal’s prediction is probably his best move tbh. We know Rakhn and the Wyrm beef, so it could be perceived poorly.
Gotta love Kendal being his leader self. Also look at panel 3, that definitely struck a nerve. Dainix is so obviously not okay stop lying to us king. Alinua soon? Funnily enough if we cut to her soon it will be the first time she’s appeared on page since I started reading the comic.
Agh, poor dainix 🙁 I hope this plan goes well. Also have I mentioned how much Ferinheight reminds me of EmilLalli?
SSSS FRIEND? Hello!!!!! But, yes I agree, they are both amazing ships
OH MY OH MY YES!!!
Makes sense that theres another here though, i’ve heard red did a video mentioning it.
What video? I’m not sure I’ve seen that one. I found SSSS through browsing on Hiveworks
I haven’t either, cause i don’t use youtube, but i’ve heard that red did make one on post apcalyptic stories, and mentioned SSSS in it.
This page hurts T-T Kendal is MVP for keeping a level head, trusting Falst to come back when he’s ready, calming and directing Erin, and checking in on Dainix. Petitioning the Northern Wyrm is a good idea, and one that I bet Alinua will come into play for. Perhaps she’s gotten there first.
Ough, poor Dainix. Miserable but technically functional, and answering “are you alright” with just the “technically functional” part… yeah, I get that, especially with the crisis the squad has on their hands. I think a lot of people have answered in that vein either because shit needs doing or they don’t want to disclose or discuss feelings.
How can Tess find the Caves entrance? I figured that if Erin was going underwater, Kendal would be the one to track it down, since they’re the only two with a profound connection to the Caves, but Tess seems pretty confident that she can do it.
The Northern Wyrm you say
Running montage <3 Goodness, all these panels are fantastic.
Well, Rakhn, you're going to have enough excitement for A While, looks like! Congratulations!
ERIN PANEL THREE,,, he looks so lost and sad and small and just- forlorn??? and it’s so cute that it’s Falst disappearing that did this to him. That’s like The most anguished I’ve seen him all comic, and it’s not even bc one of his plans went awry. They don’t need Falst for this plan. That face is JUST the anguish for Falst leaving, *for its own sake.* Character development! These idiots have come so far since Falst was stealing all his stuff!! don’t worry, Erin, he’ll be back. If not for tactical reasons, then for emotional ones. Falst just needs his Zuko Alone episode, first.
I think he’s also internalising the fact the safest place for his friends is as far from him as possiblem and that hurts.
While this is very sad and all, I am also sinking my teeth into this and going RHRHRGHRGRGHRRGNG
If it GETS me divine intervention, I will accept being considered gauche.
Red has a cat now, if anyone here didn’t know. Also, Blue is a dad.
Source.
WOAH. Good for them!
For absolutely no reason I just counted the total page count: 996.
My RPG roleplaying head cannon is going “don’t split the party Man! Bad stuff happens when you spilt the party!”. My book loving head cannon is going “didn’t JRR Tolkien do something like this to good effect? Interesting!” and looks forward in anticipation.
I feel like Falst is cementing himself as the lancer of the group, specifically the guy who wanders of every now-and-again because he’s fed up with the group or just used to being alone, than later reappearing in the nick of time.
Also yay! They’re going to find The Northern Wyrm, that means they’ll finally find Alinua, I’ve been missing her.
Random thought: Could holidays become gods, if they are done by enough people?
Is there is a Santa Claus/Hogfather like figure?
A Twin’s Turn Fool?
Probably not. Many holidays already have associated gods of their own who would likely fill that responsibility.
Furthering the notion, does that mean there’s a god of birthdays?
On a character development level, it would be a good time for Falst to learn more about those Light Dragon manifestations he’s pulled off a couple times…
Ohh, that tracks with what Red said on her Tumblr about this tying up several threads more eleganty
Erins face in the first panel is absolute gold like-
WAIT ALINUA’S COMING BACK
I miss that floof