Line #58 Webcomic/TalesFromAlderwood


1	[[quoteright:943:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/46872a1620104557b76239f2134934146_9.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:943:Katherine and Creampuff]]
3
4	[[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/ Tales From Alderwood]] is a fantasy webcomic staring Katherine (Kat), a thief and aspiring mage, and her owl familiar, Creampuff. When a magical accident deposits Kat in the bathtub of famous mage and businessman Hechoton Sinclair, her formerly aimless life takes on a new direction -- one with far more adventure, danger and shenanigans.
5
6	Created by medli20 and Bobsplosion, based on a Dungeons & Dragons game run by medli20 where Kat was Bobsplosion's character, itself based on a high-school story written by medli20. WordOfGod states that almost nothing remains, plot- and character-wise, from the original incarnation.
7
8	You can find the first page [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/1/ here]]
9
10
11
12	----
13	!! Tales From Alderwood contain examples of:
14
15	* AccidentalMurder: Kat accidentally breaks [[spoiler:Smorgus Dinkley]]'s neck in chapter 2 after hitting him with a crowbar in self-defense. Fortunately, force-feeding him a healing potion brings him back.
16	* AchievementsInIgnorance: Katherine is unaware of how impossible it is for her to cast a a 5th level spell, having only cast 1st level before, so she [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/37#content-start does it anyway]].
17	--> '''Hechoton''': Oh my gods. Did you ''actually'' stupid your way into my house.\
18	'''Kat''': That's kind of a rude way to put it, but... yeah, maybe?
19	* AltText: Most pages have them, the creators even included a box below the comic so readers who can't access in normally can still read the text.
20	* AttackItsWeakPoint: Grant, the earth dragonkin, is very difficult to hurt. Kat, however, notices that he reacts much more strongly when hit [[spoiler:on the back of his head]], and is able to take him out [[spoiler:by copying his earth-spike attack and knocking him out]].
21	* AttackReflector: One of Kat's first magical innovations while working as a lab tech for Hechoton is a version of the Shield spell that explodes when hit. It... doesn't quite work in the way she was expecting.
22	* BadassBookworm: Kat is one, by definition as a wizard.
23	* BadGuyBar: The bandit safehouse Kat infiltrates has one. Downplayed in that they're pretty accepting of adventurers, even good-aligned ones, and they treat underage drinking as a ''very'' serious offence.
24	* BaitAndSwitchBoss: After capturing Smorgus Dinkley, Trish stops keeping watch, assuming they've taken out the threat. Kat is more savvy.
25	* BenevolentBoss: Hechoton Sinclair has a track record of hiring directionless "weirdos" who nonetheless show magical potential, among them Katherine, Smorgus Dinkley, [[spoiler:and eventually the two dragonkin bandits]], so they can hone their abilities in a (relatively) safe and controlled workplace. In that capacity, he takes on the role of TheMentor for Kat, cautioning her to avoid biting off more than she can chew, and is visibly distressed to learn that she got stabbed through the shoulder running an errand for him.
26	* BewareTheSillyOnes: Trish comes across as lighthearted, friendly, and a bit of a buffoon, but is absolutely brutal in combat.
27	* BigBrotherInstinct: Grant instinctively shields Locke from a thrown crowbar, and later leaps into battle to defend them from an empowered Trish. [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/214/ Supplementary material]] reveals that when Locke abandoned the adventuring life and struck out on their own, Grant went with them to make sure they wouldn't get hurt.
28	* BizarreAlienReproduction: How the dragonkin reproduce is a closely-guarded secret in-universe. The most we've learned so far is it involves making a journey somewhere, and that they'll all siblings, but do not have parents at all.
29	* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Trish displays shades of this, especially when she immediately punches a man in the face with zero reason, purely because he's in a bandit base, and therefore must be a bad guy.
30	-->'''Kat''': WHY did you just punch that guy in the face?\
31	'''Trish''': He's a bad guy!
32	** Takes on a much darker tone during the dragonkin fight; Trish coldly declares that they sold their souls by becoming bandits and are now no more than "meat" to be slain without remorse.
33	* BloodKnight: Trish is far too eager to fight and has to be reined in by Kat to stop her outright killing people instead of knocking them out.
34	* BookcasePassage: Hechoton Sinclair has one in his office. Behind it is... another, hidden bookcase.
35	* BreathWeapon: Locke, the water dragonkin, can blow pressure-washer-style jets of water at their enemies. Trish is not happy after being hit with one.
36	-->'''Trish''':...Did you just throw up on me?
37	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Hechoton describes Smorgus Dinkley as "a competent arcanist who should not be underestimated." He also mentions that he insists on wearing a large top-hat that looks like a birthday cake.
38	* CheekyMouth: Lampshaded in the alt text on [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/118/ this page]].
39	* CityGuards: Algerith, Hechoton's son, is a member of the Meadowbrooke city guard.
40	* ClarkKenting: Hechoton, a celebrity, wears sunglasses and a hat in public. It helps that the hat is enchanted to make the wearer inconspicuous to those around them.
41	* CombatPragmatist: Kat is a good wizard, but she's not afraid to use a crowbar or a brick if she needs to. Nor is she concerned about faking a surrender or attacking someone [[TalkToTheFist while they're monologuing]].
42	* CompellingVoice: In their first meeting, Hechoton is able to command Kat to "explain yourself at once" and later to stay stuck to an armchair. Later he uses it to stop some guards harassing Kat. She later notes that both spells are illegal in the kingdom.
43	* CoolOldGuy: Hechoton definitely counts. Fans have described him as having "uncle energy."
44	* CouldntFindAPen: [[spoiler:In chapter 2, Kat -- pinned to a wall and unable to reach her charcoal stylus -- uses the blood from her shoulder wound to finish transcribing a spell to free herself]].
45	* CrashingDreams: A particularly creepy example. While Smorgus Dinkley is sitting in his cell, mumbling Kat's name over and over again [[spoiler:and apparently transforming into some kind of creature]], Kat is woken from a nightmare by someone calling her name.
46	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Judging by her nightmare in Hechoton's house, her flashback during the dragonkin fight, and some odd reactions to seemingly innocent questions, Kat seems to have one.
47	* DeadpanSnarker: Hechoton is a truly masterful one.
48	* DeclarationOfProtection: When Kat points out that the spell Hechoton used to rescue her from two guards is illegal in Alderwood, he replies that he'll use any means at his disposal to protect those he cares about.
49	* ElementalPunch: Grant often fights with large rock gauntlets that he manifests using his earth powers.
50	* EyepatchOfPower: {{Invoked\|Trope}} by one of the bandits, who apparently only wears his eyepatch because it looks cool.
51	* EyesDoNotBelongThere: We have yet to learn what exactly is causing this, but it seems that there's a mysterious entity following our protagonists, which seems to manifest as eyes in their shadows.
52	* {{Familiar}}: Creampuff, the owl.
53	* FantasticRacism: Hechoton isn't allowed to join the nobility despite his wealth and power because he's half-elf.
54	* FieryRedhead: It's difficult to tell because the comic is in black and white, but color panels show that Trish is one.
55	* FiveFingerDiscount: How Kat made ends meet before being hired by Hechoton.
56	* FlashbackNightmare: Kat appears to have one at the start of the third chapter.
57	* FrogMen: Despite only being seen in one panel (giving Kat directions to the bandit base) a frog-man bard in a troubadour outfit was listed by several readers as their favorite character in the community poll.
58	* FrustratedOverheadScribble: One mook's reaction to taking a crate to the face.
59	* GentleGiant: Grant, by far the tallest and most physically imposing character introduced yet, is extremely shy and taciturn, most of his lines starting with a long "....". He is, however, not afraid to fight when necessary, nor immune to getting angry in said fight.
60	* GoForTheEye: Kat's advice to Trish when fighting Locke.
61	-->'''Kat''': Finger them in the eye!
62	* TheGoodKing: Alderwood seems to have one, at least according to Hechoton.
63	* HarshWordImpact: Used against Grant and Locke [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/230/ here]].
64	* HealingPotion: Trish has a stash of these, having come from a wealthy family that can afford them.
65	* HumanoidAbomination: The "[[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/294/ Smiling Strangers]]" are beings who sport a permanent SlasherSmile and try to ensnare victims by engaging them in conversation using a CompellingVoice. Hechoton calls them "weird cultist bastards", implying that their otherworldly powers comes from worshipping some higher being. The Strangers are apparently enough of a problem that there are posters scattered around Highport warning passerby not to speak or listen to them.
66	* HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace: Teleportation can be rather [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/27 disturbing]]. Even when it's done [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/260/ correctly]].
67	* HypocriticalHeartwarming: Subverted with Locke.
68	-->'''Locke:''' So...''you're'' the ones who beat our boys.\
69	'''Grant:'''...only ''we'' can beat our boys. Who do you think you are?\
70	[later]\
71	'''Grant:'''...Just to be clear, that was a joke earlier. Locke and I respect our boys. Nobody is getting beat.\
72	'''Locke:''' Except you two.\
73	'''Grant:''' ...yeah.
74	* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Algerith seems to have a lot of insecurities about being the son of a famous and powerful wizard, but being himself not very magically gifted and having to work twice as hard to master even simple spells. It makes him resentful of Kat and doesn't help their already fractious relationship.
75	* JokeItem: A series of magic items that seem promising, [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/12#content-start but have certain limitations...]]. Turns out there is [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/17 a good reason]] for that.
76	* LizardFolk: Grant and Locke are dragonkin, a race inspired by the dragonborn from ''D&D''.
77	* MagicalEye: Katherine is an [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/271/ owl eye savant]], who can determine the properties of objects and learn magic spells by observing them.
78	* MookChivalry: Defied and lampshaded [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/117/#content-start here]].
79	* MotherNature: One of the deities in this setting is Gaia. Though we haven't really seen her yet, it's to be assumed she's this.
80	* NoodleIncident: When Kat apologizes for her atrocious job interview, Hechoton deadpans that he's seen worse.
81	* NotSoAboveItAll: Hechoton is TheComicallySerious most of the time, but he does find Kat's antics amusing from time to time, and isn't above trolling her in return.
82	* PerpetualFrowner: Hechoton's default expression, [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/45 as even he admits]].
83	* RedIsHeroic: Kat's outfit of choice is red and white. Trish has red hair.
84	* RichesToRags: Various hints have been dropped, that [[spoiler: Katherine]] is from a wealthy noble family including not revealing their last name, being evasive when asked about nobles and suggesting being able to afford expensive services in the past.
85	* RPGMechanicsVerse: Kat's [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/271/ talent]] allows her to perceive items and spells this way, with stats and limitations she can learn or exploit on the fly.
86	* ServileSnarker: While we the audience can't understand Creampuff's hoots, judging from her facial expressions, she's this.
87	* ShoutOut: In [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/144/ one strip]], Kat re-creates the "[[Webcomic/{{Gunshow}} I guess]]" meme.
88	* SplashOfColor: While the comic is usually in monochrome, occasional items and title pages will be in colour -- most notably a type of magic crystal called Stygian steel.
89	* SquishyWizard: Kat freely admits to having "wimpy wizard arms", and mainly relies on her spells -- or the occasional blunt object -- in combat.
90	* TalkToTheFist: Locke is quite upset when Kat tries to hit them with a crowbar in the middle of their dramatic speech.
91	* ThouShaltNotKill: Kat refuses to inflict lethal injuries, and manages to [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/128/ talk Trish down]] from finishing off a wounded {{mook}}.
92	-->'''Kat''': They are not monsters, and neither are we. Send them to the temple to recover, not the graveyard.\
93	'''Trish''': Did you not just electrocute that guy?\
94	'''Kat''': I ''nonlethally'' electrocuted that guy. He's alive and well.\
95	'''Mook''': ''(groans)''\
96	'''Kat''': ...or he will be with some rest.\
97	'''Trish''': You bricked that other guy in the face.\
98	'''Kat''': I have wimpy wizard arms, he'll be fine!
99	* TranquilFury: When one of the warehouse mooks kills Creampuff by throwing her against a wall, Kat calmly knocks him down, grabs his head, and electrocutes him point-blank. [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/121/ Her expression]] says it all.
100	* TraumaticHaircut: Locke [[https://alderwood.the-comic.org/comics/178/ threatens]] to do this to Trish after incapacitating her. Unfortunately for them, Trish is still conscious and picks that moment to cross the RageBreakingPoint.
101	* TruthSerums: Truth magic, useful for gathering information and... too much information.
102	-->'''Kat:''' ''(forced truth speech)'' I was really hoping to borrow your nice bathtub later because I haven't bathed in a week\
103	'''Ka:''' ''(normal speech)'' Please let me stop saying this extremely embarrassing stuff

Context Webcomic / TalesFromAlderwood