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[Drathorin]

Hey, I was told by Tarsier that this webcomic was worth reading. And netherless he's right. I really enjoy reading it , and I liked how much detail was into the magic and markings. Some people might not put that much backstory or knowledge into something like this.

Though I must say. . .I liked the dragon the best ^_^; Heh, just something I have with dragons. And keep up the good work Author! =D

[Tarsier]

Hey, I was told by Tarsier that this webcomic was worth reading. And netherless he's right. I really enjoy reading it.

Hmm, lets see told him he'd like is several months ago.... week or so ago he is accidentally sent a link to the Yin and Yang site with a picture. finally goes to look at the comic ... *Pulls out balance scale* sets weight given Tarsier's opinion on one side and a small downy feather on the other. *CLANG* wow never saw a feather dent a table before.

[Drathorin]

Well considering it was YOU that showed me the picture the fanart you colored. I think it was well you. *CLANG* Ooooh lookit that, a hole in the floor.

[Siece]

I liked how much detail was into the magic and markings. Some people might not put that much backstory or knowledge into something like this.

Speaking of which, I've pretty much been taking it on faith that the markings and magic actually do have meaning. There's a pattern that I can almost see, but meaning has so far eluded me.

From your remarks it's clear that there is meaning, and that you know what it is. Any chance you'd be willing to teach me? Feel free to respond by PM or to email me at siece@jokeaday.net if you don't feel comfortable replying here.

TIA,

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Siece, CI & PIQE
Too nice to stick his huge.sig on a short post...this time.

[Drathorin]

It's not so much of just knowing what the symbols mean. It's more of kinda having a feeling that theirs a meaning behind them that isn't apparent at first. That's all. ^_^ Though some things feel familiar, like the ley line markings on Jame's godself. Just things like that

[Siece]

It's not so much of just knowing what the symbols mean. It's more of kinda having a feeling that theirs a meaning behind them

So, how do you find out what that meaning is?

[Tarsier]

It's not so much of just knowing what the symbols mean. It's more of kinda having a feeling that theirs a meaning behind them

So, how do you find out what that meaning is?

I usually just ask Jess on questions involving the comic I figure she would know.

[JesIdres]

I usually just ask Jess on questions involving the comic I figure she would know.

I hope I would know!
heh.
Anyhow- as to the markings, most of the design is taken from both tribal ideas of tattoos. The Marks, for instance, on James's face, are like an archaic power grid-the more that light up, the higher he is. It also means that when their's an odd number of marks-like, for instance, when James's marks first appeared- He was a tad unbalanced. It you go back to the section where his Godself (the whitehair one from the dream sequence of Double Lives) has two sets of markings on either cheek, each with an even number of marks.
Jessica, while she has no visible marks at the moment, can increase her power flow by decorating her body with spells-making herself a sort of living tapestry. This is why she was wearing a long outfit when at the washington party- she had slapped wards all over herself. Another comic that used this idea (in sorts) was Orion. Ah! My Goddess! uses markings as well, but they don't ever disappear. James's don't unlock as theirs do, and if he really tried, and sat down and actually read all the stuff that Jess found on him, he could have them form in different shapes-the ones he has now are the same ones he had when he actually was a god, before the world was remade. (Whoops, did I give that away?) He has exactly half the markings his father has, and his da can make his into the wards that actually make up the markings-making him look like a wizard would. The marks are actually hundreds upon hundreds lines of god-spells. The shape they take (but not the number) is mostly up to the will of the marked.

Confused? I am.

And the dragon, as well as others, appear again soon. Particularly after Timora (Timmy!) explains about the Immortals, and why they want Jessica.

[Drathorin]

Oooooh. Sounds like someone engraved it on your brain =D

[Siece]

Sounds like someone engraved it on your brain

Actually, it sounds like she's been reading Roger Zelazney, but Zelazney got his stuff from the Real World, so it could be that she and Zelazny simply used the same source material...On second thought, I'm pretty sure Jes uses the original. While they definitely have the same roots, Jes's marking system has too many differences from the Pattern/Signs of Chaos for it to be a direct derivation.

Here's a more general question for you, Jes:

As I've said before, I'm aware that the marking used in your comic (and in most traditional schools of magic out here in the Real World) do have meaning, and that in some cases the meanings were complex enough for the marks/runes to be considered a language in their own right.

I've been looking for a way to learn what those meanings are for some time, but all the standard methods of research have led me only to dead ends, with every lead turning out to be either pure fantasy, or leading to groups that were totally wiped out by the Inquisition. Where would I look to learn the true meanings behind the Real World markings/runes, and what would the teachers of such typically expect in return?

TIA,

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Siece, CI & PIQE