Heir of Hope

Ryland Grace, the Page of Light

His aspect is Light, the aspect of knowledge, understanding, and fortune. Light governs what people know, what they seek to learn, and what information ultimately proves meaningful. On a literal level, Light players often display an affinity for light itself or extraordinary luck. Metaphorically, they embody the pursuit and application of knowledge.

For Ryland Grace, this feels almost to on the nose. A molecular biologist turned middle school science teacher, thrust into the role of astronaut to investigate the Petrova Light emitted by Astrophage. Every major conflict in Project Hail Mary is solved not through brute force, but through observation, experimentation, deduction, and education. His greatest weapon has always been his ability to understand the unknown and share that understanding with others. Light feels like the obvious answer and I genuinely struggle to imagine Grace belonging to any other aspect.

His class was harder to settle on. I spent a long time debating between Heir and Page, since both are passive classes. Ultimately, I landed on Page.

Pages are the passive exploration counterparts to Knights, the active exploitation class. They are described as beginning their journeys as weak and insecure in their aspect while possessing nearly limitless potential once that aspect matures. Their immense potential often feels like a burden, either because they fail to recognize it themselves or because everyone around them does.

Grace repeatedly rejects the idea that he is the right person for the Hail Mary mission. Despite being one to figure out Astrophage, despite training alongside professional astronauts, and despite repeatedly demonstrating that he is uniquely capable of solving problems no one else can, he insists someone better must exist. He spends much of his story trying to convince everyone, including himself, that he isn't the hero they need.

Another trait that is speculative on my part, pages seem to have a deep relationship with mentor figures. Pages frequently attract individuals who attempt to shape them into what they are capable of becoming, most of the time through force. For Grace, that mentor is unquestionably Eva Stratt.

Stratt strikes me as a Doom player. She takes control a dying world and dedicates herself to managing humanity's inevitable extinction, making impossible choices so that everyone else might survive. When she discovers Ryland, she immediately recognizes the potential he refuses to acknowledge in himself. She doesn't simply recruit him. She forces him onto the path she believes only he can walk, sending him on what is effectively a suicide mission. A doomed mission.

His growth as a Page of Light doesn't come from accepting his fate. It comes from rejecting it. (And a small helping of Rocky's hope abilities). He uses his knowledge to communicate with Rocky, Aquire Taumeba, send his knowledge to earth, save Rocky from his stalled out ship and make it all the way to Erid. Grace lives despite everything through his knowledge and a damn good amount of luck.

The design for Ryland's God Tier outfit came from CoffeeCat900

For my own self indulgence here are the twins together. A Knight of Breath and a Page of Light.

Ryland Grace if he were a Page of Light from homestuck. No this was not just an excuse to draw Ryland in orange shorts.

I ended up fighting a lot with the background and lighting and landed on this. Full break down of his class and aspect tomorrow.

Some extras

Knight of Breath, Colt Seavers

I have been obsessed with Project Hail Mary, Iorn Lung and it got me to watch The Fall Guy. Here is my interpretation of what Colt Seavers class would be in Homestuck.

His Aspect is Breath, one of Direction. Breath governs the ideas of freedom and a person's ability to move forward, whether by doing what's best for themselves or for the group. Literally, Breath grants control over wind and airflow. Metaphorically, it represents freedom. Colt's entire profession revolves around stunts and movement, making this an easy connection. Nearly every scene he's in is high-energy, with the camera constantly moving and shifting.

Colt's class is one of Exploitation. The active class of Knight fits him well: one who can make use of the Aspect given to them. Knights often have hidden insecurities that prevent them from reaching their full potential early in their story. Once they overcome those insecurities, they use their Aspect to defend and protect others, even at great personal cost. Their relationship with their Aspect is frequently challenged throughout their journey.

Spoilers for The Fall Guy

When Colt breaks his back at the beginning of the movie, he panics and hides away from the world for eighteen months, unable to face anyone he formerly worked with, including the woman he loves. Once he's pushed into a situation where he has to help someone, he keeps moving forward even when most people would throw up their hands and give up. He even risks the production of the woman he cares about by attempting to pull off the stunt jump while also getting a confession, despite knowing it isn't the smartest plan. Reluctant Knights are definitely a recurring archetype in Homestuck.

My take on Dirk as the exemplar on his planet.

Should I just finish a project before I jump to a new one? Probably.

Am I going to?

Probably not...

Bonus Jake

Nobody Praying for Me by seether