Line #40 Webcomic/TalesOfElysium


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6ca7ef89fc421a0c488b8a65c3c225d6_5.jpg]]
2
3	''[[http://ssp-comics.com/comics/toe/ Tales of Elysium]]'' is a webcomic by Haychel and [=SlyGrovyle=] inspired by the VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon series of games, but going in [[DarkerAndEdgier a very different direction]] than the games usually do. It updates on Sunday and Tuesday.
4
5	The characters and plot points originated in comics and literature that the authors created for ''Fanfic/PMDExplorers''. By Mission 7, Haychel and Sly decided to abandon the storyline and create an alternate canon story incorporating their characters and their backstories.
6
7	Leon is a Riolu without a past, save for memories of ColdBloodedTorture and a mysterious book with ever-changing content that [[LoyalPhlebotinum only he can open]]. Vagus the Totodile is part of a rescue team that leaves their guild after being fed up with their corrupt boss. Together, they search for the mythical land of Elysium in hopes of finding answers to their past, present, and future.
8
9	----
10	!!This webcomic provides examples of:
11
12	* AbusiveParents: While Mycaelis and Vagus's Charizard mother Divina doesn't appear to have been this, their father, a Feraligatr named Gaius, constantly pushed them both to be stronger using TrainingFromHell. This has also had a bad effect on Mycaelis's personality. To put only one example, their father once caught a child-killing Sneasel and offered to let him go free...if he could kill Vagus. And he showed no signs of intervening when it looked like Vagus actually ''would'' die. And then punished Mycaelis when he intervened.
13	* ActionPrologue: Featuring a Slowpoke caught in the middle of a battle between Rayquaza and Deoxys.
14	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Compared to Nintendo's official designs for [[https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/riolu Riolu]] and [[https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/totodile Totodile]], it's clear Haychel has deliberately given the protagonists a [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter more enchanting]] appearance.
15	* AgonyBeam: One of the methods in which Leon was tortured.
16	* AllThereInTheManual: [=SlyGrovyle=] has also written some [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/SlyGrovyle canon prequels]] that explore the childhood of Mycaelis and Vagus before and after losing their parents.
17	* AncientArtifact: The book first appears in the prologue, 500 years before the story begins. Even then, it appeared to be in existence for quite some time.
18	* ArcSymbol: The armbands worn by Team Spartan bear a Laconian symbol.
19	* ArtEvolution: Compared to the beginning of comic, there is a noticeable refinement in the illustrations by the end of Volume 1.
20	* AssholeVictim: While Vagus and Mycaelis losing their parents was a tragedy, it can be said that their father deserved it due to his abhorrent treatment of both of them in order to make them strong.
21	%%* AwesomeAussie: WordOfGod is that Mycaelis's demeanour and his way of speaking are based on this stereotype.
22	* BadassFamily: Team Spartan is composed of two brothers and their adopted daughter.
23	%%* BattleCouple: Leon and Vagus provide one of the rare gay examples of this trope.
24	* BerserkButton: Don’t ever make a big mess in front of Aamon the Espurr; His crewmates warn Vagus that he doesn't like being talked to or given orders either.
25	* BewareTheQuietOnes: Foreshadowed when the crew warns Vagus about Aamon the Espurr.
26	* ChekhovsSkill: At one point Leon's book shows him a number of different rope knots. Cue he and Vagus being accepted onto the Argo because he can tie a bowline knot (and is therefore of use to the crew) due to studying the book.
27	* TheChosenMany: The Laconians are said to have once been the protectors of Elysium.
28	* CurbStompCushion: [[spoiler: Mycaelis]] gets in a few good hits on [[spoiler:Lorenzo]] but still winds up taking a serious beating.
29	* ElementalPowers: Well, they are Pokémon, after all...
30	* FamilyOfChoice: Meri and Noir are this for Leon; Kareena and Narda are this for Mycaelis and Vagus.
31	* FatBastard: Team Spartan's guildmaster, a Toxicroak named Crass is quite on the chubby side, and is nothing short of arrogant and dishonest. He is evasive when Team Spartan accuses him of colluding with criminals and attempts to bribe Mycaelis and Vagus with a higher commission if they would drop the matter entirely.
32	* FlashbackNightmare: Poor Leon relives his memories of torture and imprisonment whenever he goes to sleep.
33	* FourthWallMailSlot: This webcomic staple makes an appearance before the start of Book 2.
34	* GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath: While the 'hosts' are various Pokémon species, they all possess the same attribute: one eyelight each.
35	* GreatBigBookOfEverything: Leon's book straddles the line between this and [[TomesOfProphecyAndFate Tome of Prophecy/Fate]]: it shows Leon what it thinks he needs to know, although it's not very good at telling Leon why he needs to know it.
36	* HarmfulToMinors: Before being abducted and brutally tortured as child, Leon witnessed the gruesome murder of a [[spoiler: Swellow]] he had just healed.
37	* HealingPotion: Fabius possesses a potion that can revive the [[OnlyMostlyDead nearly departed]], but it cannot heal fatal injuries or take away the pain.
38	* HeresJohnnyHomage: Vagus references the iconic scene in [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheShining Kubrick's The Shining]] while invading Slade's hideout.
39	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Olly the Scrafty]], who puts himself in the way of a lethal blow meant for Vagus before punching him off the ''Argo.''
40	* [[HumanShield Pokemon Shield]]: One of the early villains, an Aggron named Slade, tries to pull this against Mycaelis. [[spoiler:Mycaelis calls his bluff.]]
41	* ISeeDeadPeople: [[spoiler:Kareena]] discovers they have the ability to see [[MonochromeApparition monochrome apparitions]] that are [[LivingMemory living memories]], a trait that is shared by all [[spoiler:abnormals]].
42	* TheKlutz: Olly the Scrafty.
43	* LoopholeAbuse: Mycaelis promises Slade the Aggron to spare his life if he releases his hostage, [[spoiler:but he never promised that Kareena would do the same...]]
44	* LoyalPhlebotinum: The Book is very choosy on who is able to open it.
45	* MadeOfIndestructium: The Book. It's later revealed that [[spoiler:Laconian armbands]] also have the same properties.
46	* NightOfTheLivingMooks: The fate of Mycaelis and Vagus's parents.
47	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Levi ends up on the receiving end of one, courtesy of a furious [[spoiler:Mycaelis]], followed by some PunctuatedPounding.
48	-->[[spoiler:'''Mycaelis''']]: '''YOU [[RuleofThree BAM GUTLESS THUD GUTLESS BAM GUTLESS]] FUCKING CUNT!! CRACK'''
49	* ObliviousJanitorCut: The Argo is under attack, yet Aamon the Espurr would rather concentrate on swabbing the lower deck.
50	* OffWithHisHead: [[spoiler:Crass]] killed by [[spoiler:Levi]]
51	* OminousFog: When the Argo enters the mist that surrounds Elyisium, things start taking a turn for the worse...
52	* ParentalSubstitute: Marvin the Floatzel and Narda the Lanturn were this for the orphaned Mycaelis and Vagus; Kareena is also an orphan and was raised since infancy by Mycaelis and Vagus.
53	* PenalColony: Elysians exile their criminals to [[spoiler:Tartarus]], a nearby island.
54	* {{Pirate}}: The crew of the Argo.
55	* PunnyName: The Argo's Bronzong (known as the Bronze Bell Pokémon) is named... Isabell.
56	* RealityWritingBook: Solon the Slowking explains that The Book is ever changing due to the changing nature of fate.
57	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Before leaving on his adventure, Vagus gives one to Mycaelis. Guess how well he takes it...
58	* RedOniBlueOni: Mycaelis and Vagus, which is also an ElementalRivalry. The same could be said of their parents, albeit with the colours/elements reversed.
59	* RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain: One of the few vulnerabilities of the 'hosts' since Fabius has yet to successfully reanimate a headless cadaver.
60	* SpoilerCover: The cover image for the first volume gives away [[spoiler:how the voyage on the Argo will end for Leon and Vagus]].
61	* SuperpowerfulGenetics: The Laconians.
62	* {{Teleportation}}: While some Pokémon like Levi the Gallade possess this ability as a psychic move, the magnagates (and the magic ability to use them with entercards) from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonGatesToInfinity PMD: Gates to Infinity]]'' also exist in this universe.
63	* SuspiciousSpending: Vagus calls Crass out for the [[ConspicuousConsumption luxury items]] that decorate his office and would be beyond the means of an honest guildmaster.
64	* ThemeNaming: Very much a thing in this comic. Team Spartan uses a Laconian symbol; Theseus is the first mate of a ship named the Argo (which was originally sailing in the direction of Tartarus) and at least five other crew members (Idas, Tiphys, Atalanta, Castor and Pollux) are also named after Argonauts; Leon's name is [[AllThereInTheManual short for Leonidas]]; and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon Solon]] [[spoiler:is the first current resident of Elysium referred to by name]].
65	* TomesOfProphecyAndFate: The book qualifies as a tome of prophecy and [[spoiler:its ability to rewrite its prophecies]] qualifies it as a tome of fate.
66	* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler: When [[FatBastard Crass]] is cornered by Kareena, he attempts to block her blade attack ''with his arm.'' He's lucky it's little more than a deep cut and his arm didn't get [[AnArmAndALeg lopped off entirely.]]]]
67	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: The crew of the Argo believes the Laconians to have been this.
68	* WeHardlyKnewYe: The first casualties in the attack on the Argo are [[spoiler:crew members that had yet to be named in the story]].
69	* WritingAroundTrademarks: In ''Fanfic/PMDExplorers'', the Pokémon village is named Tao. For ''Tales of Elysium'', the village is renamed 'Oat.'

Context Webcomic / TalesOfElysium