#like is it the magic of dyeing + a wig for the upper length? if so...why the variation lol. i just don't know i really do not

[unproduciblesmackdown]

asia kate dillon amongst group pics of the cast of the mysteries at the flea theater

[vigilskeep]

various and sundry artbook tidbits i found interesting (SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE VEILGUARD ARTBOOK. obviously)

faction & location stuff:

a sketch page from the very early days exploring shape languages for factions like elves, dwarves, wardens, the necropolis, tevinter, and rivain, also includes concepts for the mages’ college and the ben-hassrath

early rivain concept arts have npcs with a similar armour patterning to duncan’s, suggesting it’s a mark of his rivaini heritage like i always thought!

the depiction of the ““creation story”” suggests elves were mimicking the bodies of dwarves when they formed their own, not humans like i think mythal says in game flashbacks, which would make more sense timeline wise

there’s concept art of the city of ventus, which i believe is of particular relevance to mercar players? it’s right on the border of arlathan forest, and surrounded by magical statues holding out raised hands forming a ward along the tree line to keep it from encroaching

the home base was going to be a lovable fixer-upper of a ship given to us by isabela, named the dumat. this didn’t fit the spy theme they were originally going for, so they tried really really hard to make it a submarine without feeling anachronistic by making it sort of sea monster shaped. there are a lot of cutaways and schematics. they were going to give it a mystery engine that you would get light fetch quests to feed random objects: “ten dried lavender flowers, five quail’s eggs, three brass belt buckles, etc.....” the submarine then turned into an undersea mansion on the back of some giant shambling sea creature you would never get a good look at

later on there were some funny takes on the lighthouse specifically, like bringing back the sea creature theme to put it on the back of an interdimensional veil whale, or having it be the true location of the black emporium with a collection of eluvians that xenon the antiquarian lets you use

there’s a tiny concept art for a “high-speed aravel chase” in a canyon like a western

tevinter gladiators are mentioned a couple times. we WEREEE going to get to see the minrathous proving grounds :( there’s also a dwarven embassy concept art somebody take me out back and shoot me

there are a lot of ghilan’nain creature designs that didn’t make it into the game which is a shame but i can see why they would have been resource heavy

the antiva concept arts are so gorgeous. a lot of it got through! and definitely the overall Vibe made it. at some point it seems to have been antiva city itself; they don’t call it treviso and they mention the circle of magi as a major landmark

“The entrance to the Necropolis is like an inverted Tower of Babel. They seek knowledge in the grave instead of heaven.” <- this just rules as a line

for arlathan: “To differentiate it from previous forest and jungle locations in Dragon Age, we went with an autumnal colour palette. It has the benefit to feeling ominously like the end.”

the veil jumpers have a “skull halla” symbol that “implies their willingness to risk death”. did that end up in the game?

“With each faction, we explored a range of aspirational fantasies. For the Wardens, this ranged from knights in shining armour to butal tanks to a Nietzche quote: ‘Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster.’”

there’s this concept among the warden armours for an insane orlesian noblewoman look with the winter palace morrigan corset and a piled high wig, but the skirts torn knee length and a serrated fan in hand. i’m kind of obsessed

“To bring more life to the world, we thought about what industries would keep the Anderfels afloat. We took the prominent Warden blue colour and envisioned an industry harvesting flowers, creating dye, and then weaving copious amounts of blue fabric.” this is probably where the flower quests in the hossberg wetlands started off conceptually? v cute

character stuff:

in completely different early versions of the game, solas had a “bad cop” right hand woman called reva

imshael the desire demon/choice spirit from the masked empire and inquisition was going to be a two-handed weapon warrior companion, and also sexualised now while in largely feminine form, which would have been a Choice. there is one art of him in masculine form, also sexy but still not showing as much skin as the feminine one

as i said, neve was going to be calpernia

taash was a rogue. (they’re still a light-armoured dual wielder so that checks out.) it seems like davrin was briefly a mage. at some points harding seems to have inherited bianca

saarbrak, another qunari companion, seems to have lastest the longest of the abandoned concepts. he’s the only non-canon one who got as far as having a place for him sketched into designs of the lighthouse: “saarbrak’s planning room”. mentions and sightings of what might be him are sporadic and i think you only see his name on that sketch, but i’m connecting it to the description “a potential qunari companion evolved from saarebas to dapper qunari spy, offering a deeper look into qunari culture”

the embroidery on harding’s clothes is how she passes the time while “waiting for days in a sniper perch” on missions. i just thought that was cute

[atypicalacademic]

Nurlan Samal- A widowed innkeeper on the brink of a discovery.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, Devorak- and that’s no sorcery- not the kind you hate, anyway.”

Pronouns: She/Her

Nickname(s): Nur, Nura

Age: 32

Occupation: Innkeeper and Actress at the Community Theatre

LI: Julian Devorak

Favourites: Marigold, Kahwah, Pita and Chili Beef

Patron Arcana: The Sun

Zodiac Sign: Leo Sun, Capricorn Moon

Familiar: A fire salamander called Jalan

Magical Specialization: Pyromancy

Masquerade Costume: Pheonix

Physical Appearance: Light brown skin, mid-back length black hair with bright yellow streaks, strong jaw, full lips, and lilac eyes. 5′7″, voluptuous build with wide hips and strong, muscled upper arms. Amputee (knee disarticulation)- lost her left leg as a child in an accident- uses a pair of wooden crutches that she gets regularly enchanted from Asra to improve it’s ease of use, mobility, protection and comfort. She wears a full face of makeup, and what she can’t afford, she tries to mix up with dyes. Is never seen without her bright red lipstick and thickly applied kohl. Behind the lipstick, her lips and teeth are a little stained from her long-term smoking. Dresses in bright colors- has a chant to the Sun Goddess tattooed just below her rib cage. She wears a nose ring, three earrings on each side, and has her bellybutton pierced. 

Background in a nutshell: Nurlan’s family had moved from the Southern Steppes to Vesuvia before she was born (Pyromancy had been commonly practiced in her old tribe- though her own family weren’t big on the practice- Nurlan showed incredible aptitude from the start- her family taught her the basics- she’d approached Asra for a little more- she’s still figuring her way around it). She’s lived in the city all her life- they’d struggled to make ends meet- working their way up from nothing to managing to secure a space for their inn, Hardy Nook, at South End. Her family belongs to a monotheistic religion called the Maddhis,  who engage in the worship of Madeira, the eagle-headed Deity of the Sun. Faith is a very important part of Nurlan’s life- she’s actively involved in the prayers, rituals, festivals and community services undertaken by Maddhis in the Temple District and all over Vesuvia. At the age of 27, she married her sweetheart, Aida, who ran the little tea-shop where the Community theatre used to be. They lived right opposite the Doctor’s clinic in South End, and he’d taken a great deal of liking to Aida’s smoky tea. Unfortunately, as many Vesuvians did, Aida succumbed to the plague, the epidemy abruptly ending their short but blissful married life, leaving Nurlan ravaged and torn apart with grief. But she powered through, knowing that life must go on, throwing herself into what’s left of it with breathless passion. The tea-shop was closed- and she enthusiastically agreed when her fellow citizens when they approached her about the Community Theatre. Exploring her passion for acting really helped take her mind of her grief, gave her something else to focus on (she copes through distraction). There is a mystery that troubles her, though. She remembers nothing of the Masquerade when the Count died. The day had been wiped entirely from her memory, and she’d tried to explain it away on drunkenness or lapses in memory- all she remembers is waking up in the forest the morning after, dried blood on her dress and her hands. 

Fun Fact: Nurlan’s a fan favorite at the Community Theatre- her best role? That of the murderous Doctor Devorak in “The Count’s Last Masquerade.” All that long hair’s a bitch to get into the perfect auburn wig, and the plague mask is a little itchy on the nose- but her bluster more than made up for that discomfort. She’d had a little crush on Julian for ages- apologizing profusely when she spilled cigarette ash on to his wanted posters- for ruining a gorgeous face like that. When she first gave him a sample of her performance, her muse had been beside himself with elation- clapping and cheering and flailing and swooning- “You make a better man of me than myself, my dear!”

Now they’re the thespian it couple of South End- playwrights often pair them up- the mush gets a little sickening, but the audience doesn’t mind- they’re just- so cute.

[wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog]

Julianne Hough Reveals Her Brother Is Not So Secretly Obsessed With Rhinestones

After a successful stint on Fox’s television special Grease Live in 2016, Julianne Hough is in for a hectic — and exciting — new year.

The 28-year-old professional dancer and actress is embarking on an upcoming tour — “Move Beyond: Live on Tour” — with her brother, fellow dancer Derek Hough, in April. She also will return to her role as a judge on Season 24 of Dancing With the Stars. Aside from her dance-related endeavors, Hough also finds time to work on her own activewear line and share daily fitness and health tips with her loyal fan base. She also recently teamed up with Fitbit to help spread the word about one of her new favorite workout devices, the brand’s Alta HR activity tracker.

We recently caught up with Hough to discuss everything from her upcoming projects to her workout essentials.

Yahoo Style: As a professional dancer, how much of your life is focused on being healthy and fit?

Julianne Hough: Oh, my gosh, it is my life. We can’t really have one without the other, because while I’m dancing I’m obviously working out at the same time. When I’m working out, I’m doing specific things to help me when I dance.

Julianne loves wearing her Fitbit Alta HR while working out. (Photo: Fitbit)

Yoga I love, because it’s a lengthening thing that helps me stay lean and strong. I have neck injuries, so to be able to have the core stability but also strength in my upper shoulders and my neck is really helpful. Dance-specific workouts that I do too — dance cardio, trampoline work, jump-roping, and stuff like that — help with the balance and dynamics.

Are there any specific workout-enhancing products that you like?

Absolutely. I feel like my Fitbit Alta HR is my go-to savior for everything. Not only does it go really cute with all of my workout gear … but now to have the heart-rate system directly on it? That’s just the next level. That’s huge.

Julianne uses her Fitbit Alta HR to enhance her workouts. (Photo: Fitbit)

The other thing that I love so much about it is being able to remind me to go to sleep at night. Because I always feel like I can work out during the day, but if I’m not getting the rest that I need, it’s kind of a wash. I always like to think of my sleep as a second workout, and my Fitbit Alta HR definitely helps me keep track of that.

Do you have any tips to stay motivated? And does your Fitbit play a big role?

It does! That’s my favorite part. It goes off and buzzes and it’s like, “Go, get up, move!’”

Julianne’s Fitbit Alta HR helps her to stay motivated. (Photo: Fitbit)

For me that’s nice, because even though I’m dancing and working out as my lifestyle, I still am busy working on my computer, sitting down, stuff like that. Or even on a plane, getting up and being able to walk down the aisle a couple of times. It definitely helps.

You’re a major advocate for body positivity. What kind of tips do you have for staying confident?

I feel like it’s a mental thing. When I wake up in the morning, in order for me to feel motivated I have to start from the inside out. Feeling really confident in myself means thinking of me at my best self — my 10-year-old self … when I could dream big with no consequences. Getting out of my own head and projecting good things to other people — that always makes me feel the most fulfilled. … And getting cute in your workout gear and going and being around people. I think a lot of the time it’s hard when you don’t know what to do and you’re by yourself. But if you go into community-based fitness — which I love; I love taking classes because you’re around like-minded people — that is going to help you as well.

What are you most excited about as you prepare for your upcoming tour with your brother Derek? 

Oh, my gosh, so we are in the thick of the creation part. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s so fun because this is our third one and we really wanted to set the bar high for ourselves — to do something that we’ve never done before. There’s a through line for the show that kind of tells a story of ups and downs and the struggles of life, but you’ve gotta keep moving, because the more you move directly affects the way that you feel.

How do pick your looks for tour appearances, and how would you describe your style on tour?

We’re really diving into fashion-forward, modern pieces with a flair of sparkle. Derek’s obsessed with rhinestones now, which is so funny.

Who wears more?

I definitely wear more, but he’s like, “Put her in more! Put her in more!” I’ll definitely try to incorporate some interesting pieces. I want to incorporate wigs and headpieces to make it feel like a fully stylized piece and a world that we’re creating, rather than just doing a choreographed number with our same hair and makeup in front of a screen.

Speaking of hair, you’ve switched yours around a lot. Why do you like to do that?

I love doing new things. I love trying new things. I think it’s an expression of who I am and what I’m going through at that time. With the tour I’m like, “We should just name it ‘The Evolution of Julianne’s Hair Length,’” because the first was a pixie cut, then it was a bob, now it’s long. You know when someone goes through a breakup the first thing they do they change their hair because it’s a sort of reinvention? Even with where I’m at, I love taking risks with my hair because I know it’s going to grow back or I can dye it a color. It’s fun to be able to play knowing it’s not forever and it can change again.

What kind of role do you play in the design process for your apparel collection, MPG Sport?

A pretty big one. There’s a whole design team that has the main collection. We got together and talked about the things that were really important to make me feel like I want to wear these clothes every day. There’s the dancer element to it too; I want to feel confident and a little sexy, but then also sometimes I like to feel really athletic because that pushes me to do a little bit more.

Julianne loves wearing trendy workout clothing with her Fitbit Alta HR. (Photo: Fitbit)

We had one meeting where we had this book from 2018, back in 2015, showing us the new color palettes and trends and stuff that were going to be popular in 2018. I was like, “This is like magic! This is like the biggest secret ever!” We got to come up with different color palettes and designs. I know that the varsity and JV stuff is kind of coming back in the fall, so we have that. I’ll give you a little hint. That’s in our fall collection coming out.

Now I’ve got some random quick-fire questions for you, if you don’t mind: What do you eat for breakfast? 

First I have hot water and lemon with green juice. Then I have either oatmeal or steamed eggs — it’s a little coconut oil, water, and then you put the eggs in, the lid on, and steam them. Avocado and tomato with some Cholula sauce.

What’s your favorite food splurge? 

Italian. Anything Italian. Pasta, pizza, bread, wine, cheese, all of that.

Favorite celebrity dance partner on DWTS?

Apolo Ohno, for sure.

If you could be a Disney princess, which one would you be? 

All of them. Oh, my gosh, it would be a big toss-up between Belle and Ariel.

Who would be your dream co-star — male or female?

I’d love to do a movie with Julia Roberts. That would be amazing.

What’s always in your bag?

Poop bags for [my dogs] Lexi and Harley. (Laughs.) With my leashes. I’ve got ChapStick in there, my Proactiv pads that clean off your makeup, and my perfume. If I’m not wearing my Fitbit Alta HR, I’ve got it in my bag. I always have a notebook. I love writing. That’s something that’s really weird — even when I’m on FaceTime with my fiancé, my way of remembering things is by writing them down, so even when he’s talking I’ll just write what he’s saying. Bullet points … Just because it helps me get it ingrained. Anyone who knows me knows that I have really bad memory.

Weirdest beauty product you’ve ever used?

This isn’t really a product, but I use toupee clips a lot for extensions or wigs. I love playing with hair.

Read More:

Julianne Hough Just Won for Most Creative Bachelorette Party Hashtags

Julianne Hough Is Here to Teach You How to Make a Tracksuit Chic

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