Earthsong
| Earthsong | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Crystal Yates |
| Website | http://www.earthsongsaga.com |
| Current status/schedule | Monday and Thursday |
| Launch date | June 8 2004 |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy/Adventure |
Earthsong is a popular webcomic with a manga influence. The author, Crystal Yates, started the comic on June 8, 2004. Earthsong frequently holds the top places on Topwebcomics and buzzComix.
Plot
A young woman wakes up to find herself in a strange place, with no memories of who she is or how she got there. After a short run in with the Mandragoras, the resident bad guys, she is taken in by the Haven's Guard and comes to be known as Willow. She is introduced to Earthsong, the very planet the tale takes place on, who manifests herself using a stone made of her core element.
Earthsong begins to tell Willow of the history of the planets and how soulstones, pieces of core element that leak to the surface of a unaware planet, form inside the body of one of a planet's children. Earthsong brings those with soulstones to her surface to protect them from the effects of completing a soulstone on their home planets. However, Beluosus, an older planet greedy for power, attempts to infect Earthsong and her core with the Mandragoras, whom he has coerced into his service by infecting their soulstones. Luckily, he was beaten the first time, but is now only waiting for his next chance.
Willow learns she has a soulstone forming inside of her, and although this explains why she is there, it doesn't explain Willow herself....
Characters
Haven's Guard
- Willow- The lavender-skinned central character. She recalls nothing of her past, making her a bit of a mystery to those she comes into contact with. Although seemingly naive, she has a fiery streak and doesn't take "no" for an answer.
- Earthsong- She is the youngest planet. Although she has no soulstone-bearing "children" of her own, she protects the soulstone-bearing children of other planets. Earthsong appears as a flowing white being with a purple manifest stone.
- Nanashi- The last of the pre-war children. She stopped Beluosus from destroying Earthsong, using two pure-element swords to drive him away. Nanashi is an actual human from Earth, a warrior daughter of a samurai. Her name is Japanese for "Nameless," and she is known for giving the others their names.
- K'Thonya- A green, artistic woman with the ability to shape metal. Since her hair happens to be metallic, she can influence it into many shapes, including snakes. It is no surprise then that her race inspired the Earth myth of the Gorgons. K'Thonya's name comes from chthonic, roughly meaning "pertaining to the underworld."
- Tengu- A sarcastic, yellow and black fairy-like being with the ability to control electricity. She was a military officer on her home planet, and her name comes directly from a race of spirits from Japanese mythology.
- Felucca- A purple, humanoid dragon, is able to harden her skin and create an armored carapace for herself. She is extremely energetic and clumsy, and often annoys Haven's other occupants, although it bothers her little. Her name comes from the name of a moon in the game Ultima, but is also a type of boat. Felucca's design is based on Gargoyles, the cartoon.
- Zaebos- The library's keeper. He is very knowledgable, and being a pyromancer, can wield fire. Although he is usually very serious, he has a soft spot for K'Thonya. Zaebos resembles a bright red satyr.
- Gwendolyn- A reclusive elf archer with auburn hair and green eyes. Gwendolyn hates being called Gwen, and is easily annoyed. Gwen's eyesight is intensified by her soulstone's powers.
Mandragoras
- Beluosus- An older planet bent on infecting Earthsong. He is the main antagonist, and controls the Mandragoras. His name means "full of monsters".
- Skogul- A bird-like woman with white skin and white hair speckled brown. She is a berserker and Nanashi's most dangerous enemy, second to Beluosus. Skogul is based on the Valkyries.
- Ulkurz- Strongly resembles a goblin. He is Skogul's right-hand man, though he is jealous of her favor with Beluosus.
- Richard- A blue-skinned servant of Beluosus. He was sent back to his home planet when Nanashi destroyed his soulstone in the first episode. He could extend and shape his hands, and was based on one of Yates' co-workers.
- Tristram- A vampire who usually wears somber, elegant clothes. Unlike most vampires, Tristram refuses to feed off the Minuons, a blue-skinned people his race believes were created for their benefit. Before being sent to Earthsong, Tristram -- in an attempt to force him to conform to his people -- was starved and locked in a room with a bound, unconcious Minuon. Although he tried to escape, he eventually lost control and drank the blood of the Minuon; and it is this shame which makes him so reluctant to return to his home planet, and which allows Beluosus to blackmail him -- threatening to send him home if he does not obey. Many attributes of vampires (allergic to garlic, aversion to sunlight, etc.) do not apply to Tristram and his people. Tristram and his angst is often the butt of jokes among Earthsong fans, such as "Earthsong's secret weapon: Tristram's angst! It could level entire cities!" and the nickname "Vampy McEmopants."
- Neuria- A werewolf with a tatoo on her left shoulder. She bribes Tristram into doing favors for Beluosus.
Other characters
- Poodle the Beating Stick- A conveniently placed branch used by Nanashi in an attempt to defeat Beluosus. Though it only appeared for a short four pages, it achieved its own place in the hearts of Earthsong fans, who often mourn its untimely death. It was named by Yates' friend Blix.
- The Sagest Planet- Gave Earthsong her task of protecting all who are forming soulstones.