History Webcomic / Blindsprings

* HomeFieldAdvantage: [[http://www.blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-two-hundred-and-sixty-five Each country has differences in the nature of their magic because of the Spirits' territorial nature]]. Foreigns can use BloodMagic to connect a small portion with their homeland for a short while (basically cheating) but they shouldn't if they wish to be discreet, as the use of different magic sets an alarm on any Orphic close by. [[spoiler:This explains why Rajani calls Harris "a link between Aberwellian and Khalan magic" and why it's so relevant.]]

* HomeFieldAdvantage: Each country has differences in the nature of their magic because of the Spirits' territorial nature. Foreigns can use BloodMagic to connect a small portion with their homeland for a short while (basically cheating) but they shouldn't if they wish to be discreet, as the use of different magic sets an alarm on any Orphic close by. [[spoiler:This explains why Rajani calls Harris "a link between Aberwellian and Khalan magic" and why it's so relevant.]]

** [[spoiler:Academic magic is revealed to be a modified, more complicated version of Orphic magic so those who're very talented at it have to thank a little bit of Orphic blood inside them for it. It is also implied that Academic magic only works as long as there are Orphics using their own magic, because by sealing them, the Academists are cutting themselves off from their own magic source.]]

* HomeFieldAdvantage: The reason Rajani [[spoiler:couldn't heal Harris herself.]] It seems Khalan Orphics are unable to use Aberwelle's magic existing in its air, suggesting that each country has differences in the nature of their magic. And while Khalans can use BloodMagic (seen when Rajani first summoned Indra) they shouldn't if they wish to be discreet, as the use of different magic sets an alarm on any Orphic close by (explaining why she was in a house-arrest of sorts after her little stunt). [[spoiler:This explains why she calls Harris "a link between Aberwellian and Khalan magic" and why it's so relevant.]]

* LoopholeAbuse: [[spoiler: The thorns around Tammy's Seal are a loophole added by the spirits that allow her to use the ambient magic around her even though her own magic is sealed. That is why she still has Sight and can turn sigil magic on Academists.]]

* TheMagicGoesAway: [[spoiler:It's eventually revealed that, for some reason, all magic is slowly disappearing from Kirkhall.]]

->"Once upon a time, there was a girl. She was young and kind and innocent, and lived with the fairies in the great forest. She was alone but she didn't mind. She had her duties to attend to."\\

* AerithAndBob: The two main characters are named [[OverlyLongName Tamaura Bernice Rhodizia Adelaide Llyn]] and Harris. The latter calls the former [[AffectionateNickname "Tammy."]] [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] since [[spoiler: Tamaura is royalty.]]

** The Orphics effectively had a caste system based on whether a person has magic InTheBlood, and at least some of them are willing to engage in terrorism to fight the Acaddemics. (Also, they may have had own penchant for oppression, depending on how truthful the Academists' PropagandaMachine is on that subject.)

* GreyAndGrayMorality: None of the factions are purely good guys. The beautiful nature spirits consider humans useful but ultimately expendable tools; the Academists bring order and civilization if you don't mind a side-order of dystopic PoliceState; and the Orphics that the Academics overthrew effectively had a caste system based on whether a person has magic InTheBlood. (And may have had own penchant for oppression, depending on how truthful the Academists' PropagandaMachine is on that subject.)

* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Ariel constantly interupts Ember, does not pay them much respect and sarcastically mocks them. Imogen to a lesser degree, because she is chafing for a larger role than Irelia believes is safe. Tammy appears to have been one as well, though that appears to have been largely her mother's fault for passing Aliana over for high priestess.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Grigoire seems to be of this mindset.

* SecretLegacy: [[spoiler: Harris, son of Layla, the Khalan High Priestess.]]

* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Ariel constantly interupts Ember, does not pay them much respect and sarcastically mocks them. Imogen to a lesser degree, because she is chafing for a larger role than Irelia believes is safe. Tammy appears to have been one as well, though that appears to have been largely her mother's fault for passing Ariana over for high priestess.

** Inversely, Tammy is desperate to save her older sister Ariana, despite Ariana's jealousy at being passed over for priestess.

* YoungestChildWins: Ariana was very upset when Tammy was named high priestess.

* SuccessionCrisis: The Llyns' last generation. The last Empress and Emperor got [[HeirClubForMen eight daughters]], three [[DeathByChildbirth died in childbirth alongside their babies]], three were married but [[LawOfInverseFertility unable to have children]], and the last two were too young. And apparently, The Llyn bloodline '''needed''' to rule, for reasons regarding the spirits.

* TrueSight: A gift that most Orphics are born with, when they get their magic sealed they lose it. Tammy is an exception due to her Loophole.

** [[http://i.imgur.com/FK9tjTu.jpg Some information has been provided on basics of Sigil construction.]]

** [[http://blindsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/TB_annotations_008.jpg Some information has been provided on basics of Sigil construction.]]

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Many readers have notice that the Llyns history and massacre is very similar to the Romanov's.

* TheLostWoods: The forest otherworld in which we -- and Harris -- first meet Tamaura.
** FantasticNatureReserve: Played with. There's still plenty of magic in the outside world, but the magic from said outside is [[FunctionalMagic just more complicated.]]

** [[http://www.blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-one-hundred-and-sixty-nine "Proof"]]

* CostumePorn: Invoked with the prologue for Book 2. The author commented that she just loves to draw opulence.

* DieOrFly: [[http://www.blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-one-hundred-and-ninety-seven How Rajani plans to prove Harris is an Orphic]]. [[spoiler:She severely wounds Harris and tells him to heal himself if he wants to live.]]
** Averted, when he decides to [[spoiler: TakeaThirdOption by making himself a tourniquet and bandage up his arm with pieces torn from his sleeve.]]
* DramaticUnmask: The Chief Spirit's mask finaly fell apart. In more than a way. [[http://www.blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-two-hundred-and-five Hi there]] [[PsychoticSmirk smiley man!!!]]

Thus, Tamaura is drawn into his city and the conflict between two factions: the Orphics, the spirit-allied former rulers of the city who are now an oppressed minority; and the Academics, "scientific" wizards who have instituted a dystopian police state in their zeal to wipe them out.

* HomeFieldAdvantage: The reason Rajani [[spoiler:couldn't heal Harris herself.]] It seems Khalan Orphics are unable to use Aberwelle's magic existing in its air, suggesting that each country has differences in the nature of their magic. And while Khalans can use BloodMagic (seen when Rajani first summoned Indra) they shouldn't if they wish to be discrete, as the use of different magic sets an alarm on any Orphic close by (explaining why she was in a house-arrest of sorts after her little stun). [[spoiler:This explains why she calls Harris "a link between Aberwellian and Khalan magic" and why it's so relevant.]]

** [[spoiler:Academic magic is revealed to be a modified, more complicated version of Orphic magic so those who're very talented have to thank a little bit of Orphic blood inside them for it. It is also implied that Academic magic only work as long as there is Orphics using their own magic, by sealing them the academist are cutting themselves off from their own magic source.]]

** The [[http://blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-one-hundred-and-two cistern-like Blindspring]] where Ember and Tammy got themselfs into in chapter 3 is modeled after [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Cistern the Basilica Cistern]]. Upside down head pillars and all.

* OlderThanTheyLook: Given a Blindsprings can warp time when one is within it, Tammy has spent over 300 years inside of one without ageing: physically, mentally, or emotionally. Granted this only refers to how old she is in real world time, neither herself nor other people would be able to tell since she's essentially still 12.
** Harris, to some extent. According to [[WordofGod Word of God]], because Harris spent so much time in the Wickwold Forest blindsprings as a child while playing with Tammy, the time altering magic began to affect him, to the point where it ended up stunting his growth, so he appeared fairly small for his age for a good portion of his youth. However, once he left for Kirkhall and was away from it for long enough, he began ageing normally again and was able to grow to look like a fairly normal adult.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: [[http://www.blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-one-hundred-and-twenty-six The Rain Spirit.]] The Quail spirit when its not talking as well.

* TearsOfFear: Ewan [[CryCute shed this]] when a earthquake triggered him to remember a bombing attack from Khala.

-->'''Harris:''' [[spoiler:... Does no one else see the [[InvisibleToNormals huge tiger thing]].]]
* YoungestChildWins: Ariana was very upset when Tammy was named high priestess

** [[spoiler:Academic magic is revealed to be a modified, more complicated version of Orphic magic so those who're very talented have to thank a little bit of Orphic blood inside them for it.]]

* GreatEscape: Tamaura's [[spoiler: [[http://blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-thirty-one secondary contract]]]] with the spirits.

--->'''AltText:''' [[http://www.blindsprings.com/comic/blindsprings-page-thirty-four The cards do save on time for the Academists, but they're severely outclassed in speed by most Orphic casters. More than one Academist has died fumbling about with their cards while an Orphic mage freezes them.]]

--> '''AltText:''' Mistress Margot is a chipper seventy three, thank you very much. [[BerserkButton She does tend to]] [[PlayingWithFire singe things she despises,]] [[UnstoppableMailman like the mailman,]] [[AbusiveParents her adult children]] and [[NuttySquirrel errant squirrels.]]