#abyssweek2022

[paper-mache-stars]

Abyssweek 6: Grand Cross / redemption / "You've been given a second chance."

The Tower of Rem still messes me up to this day, a very powerful section of the game. Watching Luke rationalize his death as a chance at redemption is always painful to watch play out.

[daily-rayless]

Abyssweek Day 1: Nightmare / sleep / “Time for some rest.”

1/7: Day 2

For ages, I've wanted to try doing a longer-form comic, and I thought this would be a good opportunity, taking each day's prompt and combining them to write a single scene between Asch and Natalia. There was a lot of trial and error, so I've left some notes about my process under the cut.

The first thing to do is to set the scene in Ortion Cavern, because when you're after Aschtalia, Ortion is fertile ground. I decided the plot would be about them arguing through some of the issues that only get touched on in-game.

So in mid-December, I threw together a very skeletal outline to see what ideas I’d cover. Then I did another draft, figuring out how I wanted to pace each panel. (Being honest, I didn't know what snarky thing Jade was going to say until I actually had to write it out.) From there, I had my format, though I did smooth out some lines when it came to finalizing things.

Then a very rough sketch to figure out where to position figures and speech bubbles, then a more or less final sketch, then inking, then coloring. If you have a good eye, you'll also notice I hand-wrote my text but darkened/enlarged it after scanning.  

So this was my process. Over the next posts, I'll talk more about the dialogue and characters and anything else I think is interesting.

[abyssweek]

Announcing AbyssWeek, a fan week celebrating Tales of the Abyss.

The week will take place March 8 through March 14 (Lorelei Day), with prompts for each day.

Any types of fanwork are acceptable: fanfiction, fanart, cosplay, meta or headcanons, graphics, etc.

Tag with #AbyssWeek2022 so we can reblog your creations!

The prompts for this year are based on Yulia's Fonic Hymns.

[Photo text transcription:

Week of the Abyss

1. Nightmare / sleep / "Time for some rest."

2. Force Field / protection / "Get behind me!"

3. Holy Song / inspiration / "I have an idea!"

4. Revitalize / recovery / "I'm feeling better now!"

5. Judgment / blame / "It's not my fault!"

6. Grand Cross / redemption / "You've been given a second chance."

7. Grand Fonic Hymn / free for all]

[paper-mache-stars]

Abyssweek Day 5: Judgment / blame / "It's not my fault!"

Thinking about the two kids who have a lot of burden on their shoulders...

[daily-rayless]

Abyssweek Day 4: Revitalize / recovery / “I’m feeling better now!”

4/7 : Day 1: Day 3 : Day 5

Natalia blamed Luke for not remembering, but just as much she blamed herself for not being able to help him.

Like I said in my earlier notes, I think the whole “Luke has amnesia” thing would have been traumatic for Natalia as well. That's three kids with huge psychological injuries done to them, from one lie. 

[paper-mache-stars]

Abyssweek Day 4: Revitalize / recovery / "I'm feeling better now!"

Sometimes you need two healers to patch up your swordsmen.

Anything to help Glassy Guy make it through a boss fight!

[daily-rayless]

Abyssweek Day 6: Grand Cross / redemption / “You’ve been given a second chance.”

6/7 : Day 1 : Day 5 : Day 7

I think what matters very deeply to Asch – and something I don't think he really internalizes for most of the game –  is the idea that Luke didn't completely replace him. That his family didn't go on as they had before – that there was something missing, something they'd only had with him – something only he brought to their lives.

In game, we see Natalia not being shy about standing up to people, even if it's confrontational. (Peony could tell you.) But what about with Asch? She does criticize him, but much of the time she lets his bad behavior slide, even being submissive when he shows her coldness. I think it speaks to how precarious she feels their relationship is. She knows she's hurt him, and she's afraid of him leaving her life again, so she's willing to keep her mouth shut in order not to set him off. It's extremely unhealthy.

But now she’s ready to fire back.

Her counterarguments aren't perfect. I went back and forth a bit on this line, because I think there's something unfair about it. But it strikes to the deeper issue, that Asch declaring he's not Luke and doesn't care about his past has been a way of deflecting his pain, not healing it. It's never been the real issue.

Ultimately, the healthiest thing for both Asch and Natalia is for her to stand up to him.

On another note, while I'm not going to itemize points where I think this comic is weak or could be improved on... I really struggled with the transition here, Asch and Natalia moving from arguing to gravitating back to each other. I wanted to show a bit of time has passed, and I couldn't think of any good way to do it. And the visual of Natalia tending to her arrows kept suggesting itself, so that's what I went with.

Fully knowing it kind of looks like he's pushed her too far and she's about to plug him in his unprotected back.

[paper-mache-stars]

Abyssweek Day 1: Nightmare / sleep / “Time for some rest.” Honestly I"ve always kind of like how Abyss keep's Luke's trauma and fears over having to fight and kill other humans throughout the game. Even if it's not the fore front of the plot them having his end battle quotes change, and referencing the nightmares that follow him always stuck with me. It was a good way to show that Luke was kind and didn't know how to show it, and then it complies with his guilt.