Here’s a thought I had awhile back: the invoker of Stone’s truename might have accidentally called upon some principle of Void. We know they got consumed by the Singing Caves after venturing into where the power of Stone was purest.
It appears that Stone and Void might be paired elements, as theorized in the extra lore page
This whole idea came to me from rereading Arc 1, where when we hear Erin describe the Storm of Magic he gives a pretty notable description
Specifically describing the earth as “hungry” feels like a notable decision, Red could have chosen a different word but she specifically chose “hungry.” This property of Stone feels a bit odd, because the other sectors of the Storm were pretty self explanatory: Water? Lots of rain. Wind? Lots of wind.
This isn’t a matter of Stone being a material element rather than an energy element. This entire thing is even more jarring considering Stone’s higher property is stability, why would the apogee of Stone energy concentration be constantly shifting rock? I think it’s possible that somehow calling upon Stone’s truename within the depths of the Singing Caves bonded the natures of both elements together. Perhaps Void being present in stone was merely a result of Walter’s current imprisonment
Maybe there’s something to be said about how both elements reflect in one another, as Stone may demonstrate qualities of Void’s insatiable hunger perhaps Stone leaks into Void. Much like the original Primordial, the hunger of the Void Dragon is insatiable. Eternal. Ever-enduring.
Ok so in the webcomic Aurora, the “main” character Kendal is an entirely new uncategoriseable entity, a god’s incarnation that survived the god leaving it and developed its own mind and personality.
Now the god that this happens to is the hero god of the city Vash and, like the Ancient Greek Eros or Nike is named after his domain. So what we know about Vash is that he cut his teeth in this god business by defending his city from and defeating the storm god Tynan, the way he does this is explained here with an in universe telling of the story. What we know is that an alien metal and jewel was worked into an incarnation of Vash at a thematically appropriate moment and became an extremely effective power up, enabling Vash to defeat the hitherto undefeated Tynan.
Now how this works in the world built magic system of Aurora is really interesting. So in Aurora it appears they're are two (or eight depending on how you count it) fundamental substances of magic, the elements and soul energy, now we know where elemental magic comes from as a central piece of lore in the main storyline so far has been about the ancient war between the elementals and a Void Dragon and how the elementals died defeating this Void Dragon and their bodies meshed together supplying the materials as the world, but the elements still count, and can be persuaded to act, as one body essentially unique to the other elements and so because they belonged to a living entity with a soul can exist in two states, the material element and a sort of potential/soul element held in other materials or channeled by mages to enact elemental effects.
Now soul energy is something very different and despite the excessive amount of time I've spent explaining the elements, is what we’re focusing on here. Soul energy is what living things are “made of” being literally the material of souls, now I could be wrong but from I can figure out everything alive contains and in someway uses soul energy, and soul energy has a connection with other soul constructs allowing for an in any capacity uniform group of living things to develop a larger social soul that becomes a god. Vash for instance is a city of people and so through the interaction of their soul energy, construction of early incarnations, and people assigning these incarnations personality or motivations became the hero god the city imagined, as the god itself is made up of the whole cities population who once saw incarnation interpreted them a certain way and influenced some of their aspect. Basically, because the god is their domain how they are viewed by the creatures in their domain effects their personality and most comfortable form.
So what does this really have to do with Kendal. Well if Vash’s sword was constructed from an alien metal, a solid substance, which issomething almost impossible to make without an elemental, after Vash worked his soul energy into like soul shaper monks do with human prosthetics, which would more than likely work some of this starmetal soul energy into his own soul lattice. Then its likely that Kendal’s soul is made of what little of soul star metal was in the solid material of the meteor. And it’s not just background lore magic systems backing this up.
In the series of pages telling the mythical story of Vash’s Sword we find out that it’s being told through the framing device of the smith god who forged it, to a similar style god to Vash of the Fire influenced race of Ignans. Now while why they're talking and what this incredibly effective smith who uses the arcs and emotional journeys of the wielders of his weapons in his smithing process is doing with a god of fire and fire people directly related to one of our adventuring party is incredibly plot important and personally intriguing, there is something else I wanted to focus on here.
In these panels Tahraim appears to be talking about Dainix, a character Kendal is currently imprisoned with and who are jelling suspiciously well. Now we can see that Tahraim is using his Xanatos gambit forging technique of social engineering to forge out a weapon and fighter for Caliban (probably to fight the fire demon from Dainix’s backstory (who is probably another elemental emissary for Fire (like two other characters currently being heavily associated star metal soul Kendall (I see you Red, with each subsequent layer of brackets I get closer to the truth, witness as my bracketry grows)))) and describing some of the forging fires he’s using fo this weapon (who is probably Dainix, if not definitely)calls one of them “the divine blade”, referring to Vash’s starmetal sword currently held by Kendal, but the blade its self is isnt world shaking, its been around for millennia and everyone is very familiar with its power and prowess as a sword because Vash is an incredibly well known god. But that’s only as a sword, and we know Kendal is world shaking after his discussion with Ilia here where he is told explicitly that the gods fear what he represents but respect the fact that he is an incredibly powerful being with all the strength and ability of a godly incarnation but with no responsibilities of upholding a domain or the limits of staying within they’re domains range. And so the theoretical soul that is Kendal in this incarnation must be made of whatever remainder of star metal soul is left from the solid star metal in the sword. That had been given the shape and properties of a human/incarnation soul by being weaved into and by Vash and then had the Vash soul ripped apart from they’re shared incarnation leaving the star metal soul to have to develop as its own being in this body
And if all you wanted is proof of this theory you can honestly stop reading here. So far this is dense and a lot and I wanna run through some stuff with this head cannon to nerd out. So if you don't wanna have to read anymore, my argument for this theory is basically through
Kendal being the star metal soul can provide a reason for, guess plot dent instead of plot hole? when Vash takes Kendal to where he is being held by the Collector. The reason this could be a plot dent is that one of the working theories for why Kendal exists can be found in the Sentinels. Essentially building sized stone statues animated by a god semi incarnating in them, its hard to explain so if your interested read here (Also read the comic, it’s really, really good. Like really good. If you get into the extra lore on the website and then scroll through Red’s Aurora Tumblr answers you get to appreciate how truly spectacular her worldbuilding and magic systems are. I mean clearly they’re cohesive and well thought out enough that just off of the magic system you could make a (if I don't say so myself) well reasoned prediction for a major character reveal.) the theory being that because these Sentinels can develop these echoes after being un-possessed by a god over time, the unique way Vash was taken out of his incarnation without dis-corporating it that the body developed a similar echo and is now ambient soul energy drawn into the empty body. However, this wouldn't make sense with Vash taking Kendal to the Collector’s hideaway in his sleep, as if Kendal is made of ambient soul energy he has no actual connection with Vash’s soul and so Vash shouldn't be able to bring him to the crystal he is being held in. But, if Kendal is in fact the star metal soul then he would still have that connection with Vash, as they are the same soul but different parts made of different materials, and so ca operate separately whilst still being so intricately connected.
On one final note, there is one character that already seems to know all this, Tahraim. That Kendal in everyway is the weapon he forged, that they're is a capacity for new elements and therefore different soul energies, that Erin has been possessed by the Void Dragon, and that the Collector has revived life, who has taken Alinua as an emissary, and is using this information not for his own divine or dastardly machinations but on commission. Which is A) a potential threat if Tahraim turns out to be a tad more amoral than he first appears, working as effectively for the next customer instead of esoterically guiding events for the cause of good and B) show cases an incredible mesh of world building and character work with gods being influenced by how their perceived and a god perceived and heralded as an unachievably proficient smith knowing more than any other character or entity we’ve ever seen before and doing exactly what is necessary to forge his commissioned weapons into the most powerful and effective instruments they can be almost only because of how in the magic system some gods are made from ideals and interpretations instead of groups of living things and actually fits the way they are most commonly perceived
“Lynx, have you ever wondered what happened to the Dawnbreaker and Duskbreaker,” Elise asked the green Elysian.
“You mean the blades from legend? Weren’t they wiped out with the Aurorans?”
“No.“ Elise paused for a few beats. “Marigold tasked me with camouflaging them, to keep them away from Phantom.” She held out her hand, a small grin appearing on her face. “Do you still have my sword?”
Pulling the weapon off of his back, Lynx placed the handle into her palm, before she gripped onto it. She then raised it skyward, the blade splitting to reveal a beam of energy. However, it was more powerful than normal. The gaps in the weapon began to glow as the guard shone brightly.
“Adeline, awaken,” Elise called out dramatically. On cue, the ELYS-MK I flashed white for a moment before it morphed into a more traditional sword, retaining it’s grayish green and purple color palette. The guard was made up of two wings, one of an angel, and one of a dragon. She then pointed it at Lynx, her grin showing more clearly.
“You mean, all this time, I’ve had the Dawnbreaker?”
“Yep, I just needed to make sure you were the right guy for the job of taking out Phantom for good.” She flipped the Dawnbreaker so she was holding it backhand, before tossing it to Lynx. “Everything I’ve had you do, every bit of hell I put you through, was to prepare you. ... Except for my attitude, though. I just do it because it amuses me.”
“Typical.” The new wielder of the Dawnbreaker rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t hide his own grin. Though his expression contorted into a frown as he stared into the blade of his weapon’s new form. “But, what about the part about needing Meli’s powers to be able to use Adeline’s full power?” Elise just laughed for a moment at the question.
“Part of me needing to camouflage the Space-time Weapons was also hiding the mark of Meli’s host. But now that the Dawnbreaker has been reawakened...” She went around behind Lynx, pulling up the back of his shirt and jacket to reveal the symbol of the half-dragon bloodline. “Boom. Lynx Atri, you’ve inherited the power of the Kotori family.” He turned to try and look at the mark, though his vision was blocked by his clothing and inability to turn his head completely around, before he let out a sigh.
“I’ll look at it in a mirror when I get the chance.” Elise let go of his shirt and jacket, letting the garments fall back to their natural positions. “Think I’ll end up being able to get wings and horns like Emily? Or maybe I’ll be able to...”
... ‘Telling him this early was probably a mistake,’ Emily thought to herself as she just began walking off, with her trainee trailing behind her as he listed off all the possible things he could do now that he had the powers of the Spirit Dragon.
I give Vulpes, aka the guy that will steal all your food if you don’t watch it 24/7.
Don’t expect having this little fox around to be easy, even if you’re the Guardian of Lightning. They’re the youngest and most immature of the 12 Auroran spirits.
Tips for living with Vulpes:
Make sure everything has a layer of non-conductible material.
Keep them away from any outlets if you value your wallet.
Never take them into urban areas.
In the event of angry Vulpes, you’d better be good at dodging debris!
Keep them the hell away from toasters!
In the event of Vulpes entering a toaster, prepare for combustion.
Chain mail tagged by @floor10ghost ! Ty for the tag
Last song: Mass Destruction 8-bit remix (I've never played P3 lol)
Favourite Colour: Cyan/sea green but I've recently forgiven yellow for serving cunt
Last TV show: Probably Doctor Who I don't watch it regularly
Last Movie: Get Out. Saw it for the first time with a friend and it was a delight... Absolutely fantastic movie, had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Jordan Peele is a genius!
Favourite Flavour: Sweet and/or Tangy
Tea or Coffee: Tea
Last thing I searched: We are nature defending itself
Most Elysians are born with a single tail that splits into two at some point during puberty. The tail is one of the ways an Elysian is capable of devouring atmospheric aether, same as anywhere where their soul color glows. However, in the last few thousand years, there has been an uptick of Elysians that remain to only have one tail, even as they become elders. It's widely believed that this is due to a lack of aether in the atmosphere throughout their early life, causing their bodies to adapt to the thinner amounts.
While these Elysians aren't capable of using as powerful magic as their twin-tailed counterparts, they do have much greater long-term stamina due to their body burning less aether. The places single-tailed Elysians are most common are, as one might expect, worlds that have a low density of atmospheric aether. Though some are known to sprout up in places with a dense Elysian population and low to average amounts of aether, likely due to the others around them that devour the majority of it. Thus their bodies adapt to the thinner amounts as they age, and their tail never splits.
The splitting of a tail itself normally devours all the aether in the atmosphere around the Elysian, effectively supercharging them, as well as finally giving them full access to and control over their bound weapon, whatever that may be. As well, the massive intake causes, however brief it may be, a great increase in their physical and magical abilities, and allows the wounds and exhaustion they've sustained to heal almost instantly. These factors make it incredibly beneficial during a battle, though it's also rare to happen during one, as if the Elysian's opponent has any amount of magical ability, they'll be pulling in most of the aether in the immediate atmosphere already.
