#metal rendering practice mostly

[skulltreefairy]

Guess who got a new laptop!! ;u; This picture is actually a bit oldish but I felt like I needed to post something to celebrate! Hopefully more to come soon!

[shortnotsweet]

This technically applies to my Stepmother AU in which Alicent is around six years older than Rhaenyra, and occupies a wicked stepmother role as opposed to ex ‘friends-to-first loves-to-enemies’. Despite lacking the foundation of shared girlhood, both find simultaneous comfort and rivalry in one another, and undergo a gravitational pull. A young Rhaenyra’s eagerness to participate in swordplay and political affairs at a young is accommodated for, and she grows up with a sword in one hand and the weight of experience in another, which further helps pave her way to the throne.

Alicent’s Costuming

Alicent’s clothing is almost entirely bottle, emerald, or forest green. While there is layering present in her skirts and jackets, the accent should always be a darker green than the base color. The fabric is deep, rich, and retains an undeniably high-quality luster. Look to velvets and silks. Gold embroidery lingers around her sleeves, neck, and hemline to elevate the coloring.

Metallic embellishments should be almost military-like, and appear heavy. Contribute to the imagery of chains or shackles in addition to her status

Draws inspiration from historically accurate stiffness and Victorian shapes, with a tapered waist, imposing, puffy sleeves, and a high neckline. Despite inaccuracies, this shape is evocative of someone elegantly and conservatively feminine, repressed, and capable of exerting power over others. Reference a classic, trussed hourglass shape. Skirts should be notably heavy and full; may make noise in movement

The coloring and shapes remain relatively consistent but lack variation; this is to demonstrate a lack of freedom and exploration, as well as an adherence to conventional feminine roles

Despite these limitations, her costuming should always be put-together, coordinated, and unquestionably fashionable. Tight sleeve cuffs may be accompanied by a more traditionally medieval fan sleeve

Shoes should stick mostly to slippers, or flat designs

In this AU, her hair leans more towards a dark brown instead of auburn, as her show counterpart. This is mostly due to faux-book accuracy and to simplify the sketch process, since keeping her hair darker in comparison to Rhaenyra’s lighter hair translates more easily in uncolored renderings.

Keep her hair either in a tidy bun or pulled back and loose; avoid too many intricate shapes, braids, or styles. Occasionally, the hair will hang loose. Lean into medieval or royal headpieces, clips, coverings, etc.

Rhaenyra’s Costuming

Rhaenyra’s clothes are primarily black and red, occasionally accented or substituted with neutrals such as beige, white, or gray. Exceptions may include blue or yellow, but she generally stays in this color palette.

Strong focus is drawn to her shoulders and neckline, sometimes with embroidered or embellished detailing. She often has strong, angular shoulders in her dresses or jackets, occasionally theatrically pointed. Off-the shoulder necklines emphasize her collarbones and a certain broadness.

There should be decent variety in her clothing; there is a hypothetical outfit for every occasion and more (for battle, for riding, everyday, formal, feasts, everyday, etc.), and most should be composed of multiple pieces and utilize generous layering. This includes under-fabric, belts and corsets, jackets and doublets, draped fabric for aesthetic purpose, and even functional capes.

Most of her clothes should provide visual aid for movement; additional fabric to her skirts, for example. Her clothes should be highly stylized but still easy to move in. In riding and battle gear, it is presumed that she wears pants and boots under her skirts, even if they are not visible.

Shoes lean more into boot cuts, still practical but should have a sleek and uniform quality to them. When she walks, she should make some kind of noise. Shoes should usually be black or potentially red, the latter for decorative purposes.

Overall her style should be more contemporary and lean into the fantasy element. She’s not opposed to oriental details or showing skin, and her costumes should reflect both couture-height drama and period-reliant aspects. Longer lines and diagonal hems mean she is not as devoted to an hourglass shape, and her high collars should always be decorative in some respect.

Keep her hair long and mostly loose, sometimes pulled back. Small braids should be implied as incorporated. Occasional hairstyles feature complicated braids. With the exception of highly decorative braided styles, simple buns should be avoided unless accompanied with very high necklines.

Avoid headpieces that are not either a) her crown or b) ceremonial.

[bedupolker]

hello! I love your art, it's so cute, expressiv and dynamic! I'm wondering if you have some info about the process behind your painting.

It looks like watercolour which is what I'm interested in doing. I'm finding it tricky to find resources on watercolour anthro stuff - both because I'm inexperienced in watercolour but also cos resources I've found are mostly geared to realistic/traditional watercolour, not cartoony/fantasy stuff.

Watercolour for cartoonier styles looks great when there's some bits left white, which u do really well! How do you figure out where to paint and where to do the highlights?

Also I'm not sure of simple things like whether to ink or paint first, and how to approach sketches. Also what paper to use - I'm using watercolour paper but artists like Remy Boydell use Bristol board I think 🤔

I know a lot of it is experimentation and practice, but I'd love to hear some tips/resources from someone who knows what they're doing and does it well! Thank you for reading this long ask, and I hope you have a nice day :)

I haven't had much formal training in watercolor (I have in oil and ink) so unfortunately can't really link you up to any good tutorials. If you viewers at home have any then feel fee to comment below.

Nonetheless I think it's always good to start with some baseline of realism so you can figure out how light and shadow play on things like clothes and hair. The highlights are kind of just gut instinct that comes from experimentation, usually I'd leave a bit more white on whatever side the light source is coming from, plus a little more white to accentuate the more shiny bits like sleek hair, metal, polished stone, etc. I like having white wet gouache on hand too to fix things or add in tiny choice highlights.

I usually sketch and then go over it in a thin pen, let it dry then erase pencil lines, paint over it, then use pen again to add thicker outlines or details and some cross hatching for texture. The pen bleeds a little (I'm sure you can see in some of the art I've posted) but it's not always a bad thing if you can work with it. I'm sure that's not everyone's preference but i don't mind it.

I've recently posted stuff both on Bristol-like paper and watercolor paper. I actually do like watercolor paper because it has a nice texture but if you're really going for a clean, precise look more reminiscent of cartoon art then Bristol may be easier to work with. Honestly though looking back through stuff I posted I'm not sure theres a really noticable difference, at least with how I render things.

But yeah like you mentioned it's just a lot of studying art you like and experimentation. I posted some rabbit pet portraits recently and absolutely was looking at some Beatrix Potter art to reference what fur texture she used and anatomy.

[drakmanka]

About Me

Hello there! I'm Drakmanka, an Asexual, Genderfluid/Non-Binary, plural Dragonkin. I use They/Them pronouns and often refer to myself as "This Dragon".

Current age: 31 years.

Though I am host of a plural system, this blog will predominantly or possibly exclusively be run by me, Drakmanka. My headmates prefer more private settings in which to front and share their thoughts.

DNI if anti-endo, we have nothing to say to each other.

I intend this blog to be PG so it is safe for minors.

Additional info about me and my interests below the cut

My alterhuman identities (that I am confident about) are as follows, in order of importance to me: Dragon, dinosaur, demigod (of some sort, still figuring that one out), and elf. I am also questioning a vampire 'type. I identify as both Therian and Otherkin.

I am also cat-hearted, rat-hearted, horse-hearted, and ent-hearted.

My plural system is primarily comprised of fictive walk-ins, but a few of my OCs have also shown up (this actually makes writing about them really hard with someone actively critiquing my portrayal of them).

While wearing my Human Costume(TM) I drive a school bus and make cat noises at my coworkers (some of whom do it back!). In my free time I enjoy chatting online with fellow alterhumans, working on one of my original stories, drawing (mostly dragons), reading, playing video games, and building LEGO sets and MOCs.

I have two cats: my heart-cat Layden; a grey tuxedo rescue who's been with me for over 10 years, and Jasmine the family cat; a flame-point Siamese who was rehomed to us last year when her original owner had to move to a retirement home.

I also have two pet rats: Frodo and Samwise (why yes I do like Lord of the Rings!). They're approximately the same age and were adopted at the same time. Both are old-man rats now though at almost 2.5 years old.

And lastly on the pets front, I keep a tropical freshwater aquarium. I have a betta fish, a bristlenose pleco, a banjo catfish, some corydoras catfish, and a handful of tetras of varying species. My tank just recently lost its Siamese Algae Eater to old age; she was the biggest fish in there and is dearly missed. Ask about names if you're curious!

Some of my favorite titles and franchises of various media (in no particular order) are: Bionicle, Lord of the Rings (especially the books!), Minecraft, Dishonored, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, D&D5e, Girl Genius, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Stargate SG1, Star Trek, Star Wars, Dragonriders of Pern, Super Mario Bros, Spyro (the Dragon/Legend of), Calvin and Hobbes, TES Skyrim, The Age of Fire, and Wings of Fire.

Some of my non-media-related interests are: Zoology, Paleontology, electronics, horticulture, auto mechanics, Astronomy, forestry, and Geology.

I also enjoy training my pets, practicing music (I play piano as well as ocarina, and am trying to get good at guitar), language study (I am low-level conversational in Spanish, am attempting to learn Thai, and want to learn German, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian someday), and I'm trying to raise a bonsai tree from seed but keep losing my seedlings.

I collect rocks, rubber duckies, and suffer from an affliction known as bibliophilia which has rendered my bookshelves utterly stuffed. I have a plushie collection that takes up a little over half my bed. I'm also addicted to music.

I enjoy most forms of music except jazz, rap, and blues. My favorite music genres are Alternative, Rock, Metal, World, and Ambient Music.

I live with my Found Family whom I affectionately refer to as my sister, my gramma, and Sensei/grampa.

I am adopted, which definitely makes the way I define family looser than some.

My adoptive mom, I refer to as just my mom, and same with my adoptive dad. I have an adoptive older sister who amusingly is almost the same age as my chosen sister. I have two biological half-sisters, whom I generally refer to as my bio-sisters. I refer to my biological mother as my birth mom, and my biological father as my father. I have never met either of them but I have met my bio-sisters.

I also have step-family: my dad divorced my mom many years ago now (amicably) and she remarried when I was 18. My step-dad is a pretty nice guy, and I also have a step-brother and step-sister (my step-sister is also, amusingly, almost the exact same age as my adoptive sister and chosen sister).

My family situation is a bit of a tangled mess to explain but it all makes perfect sense to me!

When I refer to "my family" I am almost always referring to my Found Family. I don't expect I will make such references often though.

If this data-dump wasn't enough for you, feel free to message me with questions!

[nan0-sp1der]

I blame @templeofvengeance and @spiderman2-99 for encouraging this. /lh /j

Helpful to get the creative juices flowing a little though.

I am so 100% creating a page break because this is technically violating my own rules. READER BEWARE! Read at your discretion! Subtle mentions of sexual themes and anatomy--in a medical tense, though.

Pretend the typos aren't there I wrote this at the crack of dawn on my side of the pond.

> The Bodily Anatomy and Properties of the H.A.S.S.

Due to the nature of Bridge's construction--being made entirely out of millions of nanomachines--she doesn't necessarily have to take on the appearance she usually does, though she does for the sake of maintaining a sense of identity.

Therefore, she can mimick the apprarance of others or create her own if she so chooses.

By these means, gender is a mere construct to Bridge, as she can replicate the physical appearance of the genetalia of either gender. 

Of course, they are non-functional besides their physical properties: pregnancy, for example, is impossible as she has no way of producing viable ovules to inseminate. Insemination is impossible as well. 

Besides this, either appendage appears to function as they should.

She is capable of recieving touch input through these appendages and thus can--hypothetically--engage in intercourse practically. She has not done so in over a thousand years, and (likely) never will.

At any given time, until necessary, these appendages do not exist as there is no practical need for them. Therefore, despite appearances, Bridge typically walks around sexless (literally and physically). When needed, she simply forms the body part as soon as its visible.

It is important to note that Bridge will still imitate the appearance of breasts, as she was created seeing herself as mostly feminine-leaning, though she does not truly retain an attachment to this gender asides from adhering to societal norms, as-is part of her functions. There may be some sentimental attachment as well, but that is ambiguous at best.

While on the subject, it is important to note that while Bridge can mimick the appearance of other organs and thei placements, they are otherwise useless and serve no purpose. This does not exclude blood--makes for a gory visual if she were to be cut open and needed to pretend to be human. Though, realisically, it would just be coolant that spills out.

ON THAT NOTE; Bridge can bleed, and if she looses enough coolant, she will very likely overheat and shut down.

The only way to actually kill her would be to fully corrupt her programming. Magnetization is effective at doing so and would render her completely useless--hardware and software included.

She can lose or break off portions of her body mass. If this portion of mass is lost, she can simply retireve metal from a viable source to recreate it atom-for-atom, re-building the nanomachines from scratch with the remaining units in her body. This makes self-servicing relatively simple.

That being said, if she loses too much of her mass, it will become considerably difficult to re-build herself. She will need assistance at that point as she will likely not have adequate energy reserves to carry out the process.

[artisplatters]

Purple Afro

mostly just metal rendering practice and remembering I have brushes I don't use

[krisp-xyz]

Found your work. You inspired me to take another shot at technical art and graphics programming. Do you recommend any specific resources for getting started and beyond?

Thanks so much! Really glad I could inspire you to do that bc graphics and tech art things are so much fun :D

(Also sorry for the late response. I've been a bit busy and was also thinking about how I wanted to format this)

I'm mostly self taught with a lot of stuff and have done lots of research on a per-project basis, but Acerola and Freya Holmer are two of my favorite channels for learning graphics or technical art things. Shadertoy is also an amazing resource to not only create and view other's shaders, but learn about algorithms and see how people do things!

While I don't have many general resources. I'll steal these resources for graphics programming that Acerola shared in his discord server:

For getting started with graphics engine development: DX11: https://www.rastertek.com/tutdx11s3.html OpenGL: https://learnopengl.com/ DX12: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3d12/directx-12-programming-guide Vulkan: https://vulkan-tutorial.com/

For getting started with shaders: catlikecoding: https://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/rendering/ the book of shaders: https://thebookofshaders.com/ daniel ilett's image effects series: https://danielilett.com/2019-04-24-tut1-intro-smo/

For getting started with compute shaders: Kyle Halladay: http://kylehalladay.com/blog/tutorial/2014/06/27/Compute-Shaders-Are-Nifty.html Ronja: https://www.ronja-tutorials.com/post/050-compute-shader/ Three Eyed Games (this one teaches ray tracing AND compute shaders, what a bargain!): http://three-eyed-games.com/2018/05/03/gpu-ray-tracing-in-unity-part-1/

I also wanted to talk a little bit about I do research for projects!

A lot of my proficiency in shaders just comes from practice and slowly building a better understanding of how to best utilize the tools at my disposal, almost like each project is solving a puzzle and I want to find the most optimal solution I can come up with.

This is definitely easier said than done and while a lot of my proficiency comes from just doodling around with projects and practicing, I understand that "just practice more lol" is a boring and kinda unhelpful answer. When it comes to projects like my lighting engine, I came up with a lot of the algorithm stuff myself, but there were certainly lots of details that I learned about from past projects and research like ray marching (calculating the ray intersection of a distance function) and I learned about the jump flood algorithm from a tech artist friend (calculating distance functions from textures)

Each new algorithm you learn in various projects ends up being another tool in your toolbox, and each project becomes a combination of researching new tools and applying the tools you've learned in the past.

One last example. I made a Chladni plate simulation in blender (that thing where you put sand on a metal plate and play noises and it makes patterns) and it started with me researching and looking up chladni plates, I watched youtube videos related to why the sand forms the patterns it does, which ended up being due to how the sound waves displaced the plane. I googled some more and found the actual equation that represents it, and used it to simulate particle motion.

Figure out some projects you want to do and just do some googling or ask for help in game dev discord servers or whatever. Lot's of research on a per-project basis is honestly how you'll learn the most imo :3

[mythriteshah]

A Scintillant Spectacle

"Did you hear?" asked a young Hyune male to an Eldite woman with whom he was conversing, "There's been a whole slew of challengers wanting a piece of the action in the Arcadion since it reopened!"

"As if I'd miss a single beat of the know!" the Eldite replied with a chuckle, strolling down True Vue amidst a crowd of other Alexandrians. "I hear tonight's match wasn't planned, but it should be nothing the Gem Lancer can't handle!"

Solution Nine - the popular residential district within Everkeep - was apparently abuzz with rumors of an upcoming shotgun match with one of Alexandria's renowned fighters taking on a yet-unknown combatant. The sheltered people living within the electrope dome were practically starving for entertainment - any means of escape from the recent tragedy of their beloved Queen Sphene. With the revival of the Arcadion (pun not intended), however, that need would be assuaged. Along with new connections beyond the dome being made possible, the Alexandrians now had the opportunity to explore a realm as foreign to them as it would be for those coming into Yyasulani. And whilst some embraced this monumental shift, others could not dare to turn down a spectacle of martial and magical prowess the likes that only the Ascension Arcadia Championship could provide.

Within the confines of the great tower which loomed over True Vue, a woman slowly made her way down a long, dark tunnel, her strides slow, confident, and dignified - the hallmarks not unlike that of a princess's. As her footfalls echoed throughout this long hallway, the quiet roar of cheering could be heard as she proceeded closer and closer towards the blinding light at its end.

Save for the ubiquitous regulator resting upon her left temple, this Hyune woman was of fair skin and sported a maroon-and-ivory corset dress, with puffy sleeves and two light purple swirly bracelets that traveled up her forearms. She also had upon her head a light purple headband tiara with a large red jewel that appeared to be a jasper. She had wavy, pale blonde hair that trailed at the hips, with a single long curl draped over her right shoulder; thin, ruby red lips, and orbs of amber or a citron orange, with eyeshadow to match.

"How audacious - that people from beyond the dome would be so brazen as to challenge Alexandria's finest warriors with no enhancements. Well, I suppose it will do for a good show. If they wish to risk life and limb before an audience of thousands, then more power to them. I'll ensure this upstart's arc comes to a jewel-spangled conclusion!" the woman mused inside her head, a smirk creeping along her features. The cheering of the crowd grew louder as she neared the blinding light at the tunnel's end, letting it envelop and invigorate her, the crowd's cries reaching a crescendo as she crossed the threshold...

[The day prior...]

Outside of Everkeep, the cacophony of levin striking the ground and pylons filled the air. Far beyond the Ward - the great electrope wall which split the eastern and western reaches of Yyasulani - stood what remained of Alexandria, with the former royal palace in the horizon, now lying within a crater of lightning which seemed to crackle and churn endlessly. Amidst these submerged and derelict ruins were scenes of battle - broken husks of what was once automated sentries, now rendered defunct and haywire due to... neglect? Errors in code? Whatever the case, there were a fair number of them strewn about, and the sharp sound of steel against steel was heard as another would be cut down before ultimately being defenestrated from a worn-down two-story house, landing on the submerged ground in a chorus of clanking metal.

This particular manse was one of the more fortunate to withstand both time and calamity, though its interior left much to be desired. The roof was kept mostly intact, allowing little light within the attic. When the sentry was sent crashing below, however, a bright flash shot out from the broken window, as if yearning to be free. The one who bore witness to this was a lone Milalla, garbed in the kind of attire in which someone of a noble house would be seen, with a large capeline hat of royal blue adorning her head.

Resting on her hip was a grimoire of peculiar make, boasting a bluish covering, and within its contents were the etchings and geometries of an involute tome. Disregarding the mechanical corpse, she would remove this grimoire from its bindings and slowly remove the quill. A moment later, three other blonde-haired Milalla armored in the effects of the local Yyasulani Hunters - and each boasting full masks of different colors - would emerge from the hole in the wall, waving down to their blue companion as though signaling her.

With a silent nod, she would take a deep breath before putting pen to paper, tracing her quill along the intricate glyphs as a circle of power began to form around her. As she traced, it would shift in color - from green, to red, to blue... and finally orange. Once this happened, she would complete her murmured incantation, slapping the page with an open palm before raising it into the air, completing the summoning...

... to reveal an orangish-brown Carbuncle. The Milalla pumped her fist in the air, silently reveling in her successful incantation; the three Milalla followed with applause. Their brief moment of celebration over, it was time to investigate the scene. The dapper Milalla arcanist entered the ruined establishment, ascending the stairs to be greeted by her compatriots surrounding a large orb. It was opaque in look and texture, with a white-to-blue gradient, and levitated several fulms from the floor. Any attempts to get near it would be repulsed by a thin tessellating barrier that shimmered periodically in and out of view.

Whatever this diminutive quartet was after, it lied within that massive marble. Opening her grimoire once more, the blue Milalla channeled aether into the orange Carbuncle, empowering it as it curled into a ball, spinning in place as it rapidly gained speed. At the height of its acceleration, it would propel itself forward, crashing into the orb. The resulting clash of aetherial signatures would cause a reaction within the sphere, shattering the barrier and eventually causing cracks to form upon its surface. The fractures would split and creep along the circumference of the orb, streaks of whitish-blue light escaping from the needle-thin spaces... until finally bathing the area in an ivory radiance as the orb finally shattered.

Some time would pass. It was now a half-bell before the bout.

Within the lobby of the Arcadion, the entire area was vacant save for a lone Milalla male, sitting upon a bench. His face was obscured by an argent helmet, with white tufts of fur jutting from the bottom end. His entire upper body was bare, revealing a rather lean form with some musculature, and even boasting six-pack abs. Finally, he had on a pair of ice blue brais that was tucked into a pair of sabatons.

About five ticks later, the double doors leading deeper into the compound would open; a Hyune woman with medium-length tresses and wearing in a tuxedo and skirt - all in white - strode towards the Milalla with a smile. Chained to her left wrist was a strongbox that was reinforced in some dark metal - different from that of electrope. Once within arm's reach of the man, she would take out a key from her inner breast pocket, freeing her fettered forearm and laying the case beside him on the bench, before finally greeting him with a low bow. As she rose from it, she would slide him a wink, to which he would simply respond with a curt nod of the head.

"Hello, North Wind," she began, "And welcome to the Arcadion! I am known as Howlita, and I have been chosen as your sponsor for this upcoming match-up. As you are aware, the Arcadion boasts a large roster of Alexandria's most talented fighters, and to proceed in any matches throughout the Ascenion Arcadia Championship, you will require a second to vouch for your skills. Fortunately, however, your opponent is not a champion, but is a combatant of the Cruiserweight tier, so further approval was required in order to authorize this coming duel. I have done extensive research on your abilities, and the higher-ups have deemed you worthy of participating in Alexandria's greatest entertainment venue! But with that out of the way, let us proceed to the opponent you will be facing shortly."

Gesturing towards the large phasmascape-like screens flanking him, they would begin to activate as if on cue, fading into a white screen that remained static for several seconds before it transitioned to his adversary...

"Your opponent tonight is the one and only 'Princess Diaspro', known by her peers and fans within the Arcadion as 'Gem Lancer'. Despite being labeled as such, she holds no true claim over the royal line, and it is merely a title she has earned due to her uncanny knowledge of gemstones and jewelry. As her name suggestions, she boasts some proficiency with the polearm, but contrarily, it is not where lies her true strength. She commands a wide variety of magicks pertaining to that of gemstones, which implies her true mastery lies in arcanima, bringing the full potential of gems to bear upon her foes."

Her gaze would shift from the screen to momentarily focus upon the strongbox with which she had entered. "The special gear contained within that case should help make up for your chosen combat style's inherent lack of ranged capabilities. Furthermore, as a reminder: Arcadion fighters augment their abilities with feral souls, with the potency and variance depending on the tier. The Gem Lancer is a contender of the Cruiserweight tier, and as such, has a rather unique feral soul that sets her apart from her peers. Through her influence, she gained clearance to command the powers belonging to that of a faerie-like creature, which enhances her manipulation of gemcraft and, of course, granting her the ability of flight."

After that rather in-depth analysis of the Gem Lancer concluded, the screen would then transition to the view of a round chamber, connected at both ends by tunnels which both combatants would enter. It was a resplendent battlefield glinting with floating jewels of all colors, shapes, and sizes. The ring itself was circular, and had upon its surface the silhouette of the Gem Lancer's head facing sideways. "The Arcadion also creates arenas befitting that of its fighters," Howlita continued, "and the area upon which you will be dueling her is known as 'The Glimmering'. The entire arena is crystalline, including the very floor upon which you'll stand, but it is durable enough to withstand heavy impacts, so fear of falling is nonexistent. As an affirmation, the boundaries are protected by invisible barriers; the Gem Lancer prefers a fair fight."

With the explanations finished, Howlita would turn back to the Milalla - known apparently as the North Wind - with a confident grin. "I was also told that you wish to face this Princess of Gems without a regulator - and without backup. That is very bold of you, sir, and while I am certain you have your reasons..." She would pause to flash him another wink. "... I should still advise you to use caution. With that being said, I will be watching the entire spectacle with much interest! Good luck, and have fun!"

Once more time would march on, and the hour of the battle had now arrived.

The crowd's cheers intensified upon the arrival of the Gem Lancer, her beloved fans waving signs and glowsticks frantically, eager to gain her attention. She kept a rather lofty disposition, her arms crossed as she maintained her confident strides towards the arena.

"There she is, folks! The Bejewelling Beata - the Princess of Gemlight - the dazzling and daring... GEEEEM LANCERRRRR!" cried the announcer.

From the opposite side, the Milalla, now fully equipped in his battle attire, gave off a faint shine as tiny lights danced around the cloth of his vest and skirt. Armed with naught but a pair of glowing Nyepels, he was intending to fight lance with fist.

"She will doubtless harry me from afar and above with her magicks. While my choice of discipline is not optimal against an opponent capable of flight, the Gemweave enhancements upon my gear should help weaken, if not outright nullify, some of her deadlier techniques. I will need to study and observe her closely, and force her into melee combat, where I will be able to strike past her defenses and wear her down," the North Wind said in his mind. He made his way out of the tunnel, meeting the cheers of the crowd - though not nearly as enthusiastic as that of his foe's.

"And the challenger: an underdog from beyond the barrier - the Monk that heralds a chilling tomorrow... THE NORRRRTH WIIIIIIND!"

Within the audience were the same four Milalla that were scavenging around Archeo Alexandria, all nodding to one another as they began to make calls on their linkpearls, engaging in hushed conversations - the details of which were easily drowned out by the roaring fans. At center stage, meanwhile, the Gem Lancer sized up her miniature opponent, taking note of his veiled appearance and seemingly unkempt attire, the faint glint irritating her eyesight somewhat.

"I can see why you'd hide your face so," she taunted: "such a garb made gaudy with shiny baubles will avail you little in this place! But I can tell you're the strong, silent type, so I'll give you that much. Still, you're rather brave or foolish standing before me unenhanced."

The North Wind simply brought his hands behind his back, staring down the Hyune from within his helmet. He did not seem to talk much, or was just laser-focused at the fight ahead. Whatever the case, she would toss her cloak in a dramatic fashion, people grasping at it wantonly as her regulator began to glow bright red. "Fine - don't try and defend yourself with words. Let your actions speak for you!"

"DIASPRO... GEMLIGHT!!" the audience cried as her entire form became enveloped in a cloud of orange sparkles. She would ascend into the air as her body began shimmering from her feet to her head; regular attire began to change form. As if completely swapping her color scheme, she now sported a dress out of an ivory bodice with a collar connected to it and a red skirt. Her maroon boots remained the same, only slightly longer, stopping just below the knees, and her puffy sleeves gave way to a red bracelet and hair piece. A pair of maroon wings with red tips formed on her back, and her transformation was culminated with a headband that was further decorated with jewels and feathers. With an outstretched hand she would gather a multitude of reddish-orange jewels that formed into her signature lance, grasping its shaft once it fully materialized before pointing it at her foe. The North Wind slowly placed his hands into his Nyepels - though not as flashy a response, he still got himself battle-ready as the bell sounded, officially commencing the start of the match.

Making the first move, the Gem Lancer raises her lance towards the ceiling, discharging a bright red light from its tip as she cried, "Gem Flash!" The Milalla would shield his eyes from the radiance, lowering his guard once it subsided - only to find that his foe had vanished! Ruling out that an invisibility spell was possible, the only obvious conclusion was that she sprung into the air in an attempt to confound him; he took this brief moment of calm to survey the battlefield for any immediate changes and noticed the outer edges of the ring surrounded by six clear crystals lying horizontally in the air - all of which began glowing a maroon color - possibly having absorbed the residual aether from her opening gambit.

Having deduced enough from his cursory glance, he would hop to his right, and about second later the center of the ring would be struck by a descending Gem Lancer, who sought to end things quickly with a dive. The North Wind would respond in kind with a wind-infused Shoulder Tackle, lightly damaging and forcing her back at least ten yalms before catching herself, her faerie wings beating rapidly to break her fall.

"Beautifully dodged AND countered! Looks like we have ourselves a battle!" the announcer commented. The Gem Lancer sighed, hiding her approval behind the disappointment that her opponent had his wits about him. Clearly she had counted on a quick end, but now it seemed she had to actually work for it. The North Wind, taking the offensive, charged at his recovering quarry, raising his right fist to strike. A straight jab to the ribcage would be in the Gem Lancer's immediate future, but regained her footing enough to avoid the assault with a frontwards flip, causing the Milalla monk's fist to connect with an invisible barrier. As the Bejewelling Beata landed once more on her feet, her foe would push off from said barrier, twisting around to deliver a downwards slam with his left fist; once more would the Gem Lancer avoid danger with a light hop into the air, leaving naught but another crack on the crystalline floor. The North Wind pressed the attack, jumping up to meet his opponent in midair before twirling to deliver a firm kick with his armored boot. In the nick of time, the Gem Lancer was able to erect a red barrier with an outstretched hand, but the defenses were meager at best given the short window, sustaining some damage as she was once again pushed back.

"The challenger's answered her opening move with his own flurry of attacks! But both combatants have barely begun to fight!"

The crowd's excitement ramped up as the initial exchange of attacks left everyone eager to see how the rest of the battle will unfold. With the measure of her foe now taken, it was time for the Gem Lancer to switch things up.

"Let's see if your vision is as good as your fists!" the Gem Lancer challenged, her voice echoing throughout the Glimmering. Swooping down through the center of the arena, the North Wind would duck out of harm's way as he turned around to notice the Hyune fighter had flown into one of the crystals; they would slowly raise right-side up, with the silhouette of the Gem Lancer made visible in the crystal with which she merged. The six crystals span rapidly counterclockwise, descending out of view for a brief moment before ascending once more, the reddened jewels now spread out evenly around the outer rim.

"Blink and you'll miss it, folks: here comes her Gemflare Dive! Let's see how the challenger fares!" the announcer stated. His gaze now shifting between any of the six crystals, the North Wind remembered the Gem Flash, and that these jewels would likely mimic that same ability. It was merely a matter of when. Facing northward, he relaxed his nerves and waited for a sign: the six jewels were still for now... but he would hear faint humming from behind him; the southeastern crystal was where she would attack.

With little warning, the Gem Lancer shot out from said crystal, lance pointed before her as she dashed across the center at high speeds. While the North Wind was able to successfully read the initial attack, the gem from where appeared his foe would begin shooting reddish beams into the air, showering the area in a rain of red lights. This runoff was unavoidable, however, so the North Wind shielded himself with his Nyepels as best he could to soften the blow. When the Gem Lancer resolved her dive, she entered the gem across from her whilst the previous one began to crack and splinter, until finally detonating into a flash of red light. Thankfully, the North Wind was not facing that direction, and the blinding effect would be nullified.

The process would repeat itself, with the remaining five gems spinning counterclockwise before spreading apart evenly around the field's outer rim. In the time between the next dive, the Milalla faced northward once more took to a defensive stance, releasing his chakra into aetheric patterns of concentric yellow rings; he braced himself for the impending laser rain with the Riddle of Earth.

A momentary pause... and another gem would resonate softly with energy to his immediate left. With a forward roll he would easily foresee the incoming dive, once more watching the Gem Lancer zoom by in a streak of maroon and ivory, followed by the harrying laser shower. Having sustained damage, Earth's Rumination was complete, and he would perform another series of gestures with his arms, answering with Earth's Reply to negate the minor injuries sustained from the initial two blasts.

As the Gem Lancer launched herself inside another gem, the North Wind turned to his right to avoid getting blinded by the exploding gem, and unleashed the chakra within his body to detonate a bluish blast of aether that would cause the two gems to the north and northeast to splinter as well, reducing the total to a meager two.

"The North Wind's not one to wait things out, it looks like! Clever!"

The announcer's commentary would be answered with applause as the two crystals would repeat the process one final time. As they would ascend from below, one gem stood along the east, and the other, on the west. It was at this time that the North Wind saw the glinting in his vest intensifying, having gathered sufficient ambient aether to be of use. With one final pause, he would anticipate the next dash... coming from the west.

With a knee-jerk reaction, he pointed his right fist towards the eastern gem, and several tiny beams of bluish light shot into the maroon crystal, turning it a deep violet. The Gem Lancer would emerge once more from the opposite end, heading straight for her opponent, who had but barely avoided the dive with a hop to the left. A loud thunk would ring as the Gem Lancer slammed into the amethyst crystal.

"OW...! What the -? How did you...?!" she said in astonishment, rubbing her head as she gazed upon her reflection. The Hyune would gasp lightly as the large jewel began to crack. Disregarding the exploding crystal from which she dove, this final one would shortly detonate as well, but it did not blind either combatant. Instead, it discharged a shockwave of purple aether akin to that of levin, sending both of them sliding across the floor; the two would break their fall, each dropping to a knee as the resulting blast immobilized them temporarily.

"Amazing! The challenger saw right through her Gemflare Dive, and even turned it against her! What other marvels await in this jewel-blessed bout?!"

The crowd roared once more with applause, urging the two fighters to continue. The blonde-haired Hyune grit her teeth through the paralysis, staring down her foe with a glare that belied both amazement and annoyance.

"So... it would appear that the rumors about you are true..." she grumbled. The North Wind did not waste his energy with a retort, and instead used this reprieve to allow his wounds to knit, feeling Earth's Reply wearing off. Once their paralysis would wear off, Diaspro would pick her lance up from the floor and call forth several oblong-shaped jewels of scarlet red, levitating above her head as she resumed with her sentiment, "but you are still unenhanced!" before charging towards the North Wind, her jewels now shooting red beams of energy to harry and distract him.

The Milalla was unfazed, having her right where he wanted her, and engaged in a melee skirmish with the Gem Lancer. As he had surmised from his previous briefing, her skills with the polearm were considerable, but her movements were telltale and easily readable; her swipes and thrusts would be deflected if not outright dodged, and though his own martial prowess easily overshadowed hers by leagues, her gift of flight helped tip the scales by quickly disengaging from any blows she could not otherwise avoid.

"A brawl of fist, lance, and magic! It's still anyone's game, with neither side letting up!"

The four Milalla were murmuring to themselves as the fight ensued, seemingly awestruck by how things have thus far transpired. Some moments into their discourse, one of the masked ones pointed back towards the action, noticing the North Wind was getting the upper hand, now leaping onto his foe with his strikes, but aiming for the jewels which provided fire support, shattering them to her chagrin.

With a strong punch to her midsection, the Gem Lancer would be pushed back towards the northern end of the arena. The anger welling within her was made apparent as she grumbled through grit teeth, dissipating her lance now and took to the skies once more, beyond the North Wind's reach. With arms outstretched, she called forth the jewels which floated around the Glimmering, those of matching colors forming together into large conglomerates - just an ilm or so shorter than a full-grown Milalla.

"Jasper... Garnet... Amethyst... Citrine! Emerge from gem-rest and bring me victory!" the Gem Lancer incanted, tracing geometric sigils along the jewels' surface with her finger.

"A bejeweled summoning! The Gem Lancer's calling in reinforcements!" The announcer's forewarning puzzled the Milalla monk, now intrigued by her... unusual methods of bringing forth aetherial constructs. He watched as he would now be surrounded by four large globes of light - one shooting forth from each crystal before landing upon an intercardinal quadrant. These intangible masses would soon take form into Carbuncles - slightly larger in size than the average familiar, and sporting bodies made entirely out of the gems from which they were born. The four larger gems, meanwhile, levitated idly before Diaspro, flanking her from either side.

The North Wind's gaze switched between the amethyst Carbuncle on his left, and the jasper one on his right. He remained still, trying to analyze this predicament before he found himself swarmed. All four maintained a mien of passivity as they stared down their Milalla adversary with their beady, onyx eyes. After making a calm step to the right, the crystalline quartet all took to a low stance, as if preparing to pounce. After a beat, their bodies would begin radiating their respective colors, giving the North Wind some unease. The Gem Lancer levitated calmly from her aerial vantage point, curious to see how her foe would fare this time.

"They're gathering aether from the surrounds..." the North Wind deduced in his mind. As before, the tiny latticed jewels within his battlegarb would glint - the counterattack was imminent. With his palms outstretched, he would focus his ire on the amethyst Carbuncle first - maybe due to a preference in color. Another array of bluish-white beams would fire upon the purple construct, shattering a thin defensive barrier before chipping away at its body. Soon, it would sustain too much damage to maintain its form, and dissipated into aether, transferring its gathered strength to the larger one which stood beside Diaspro.

"Hey! How are you doing that?!" she growled in annoyance, gathering another assortment of red jewels to assail him. "Stop that at once!" The North Wind kept his silent composure, taking note of the approaching rays as he rose his gauntlet in time to deflect them, sending the rays careening in all directions, with a few errant blasts striking the citrine Carbuncle to the southeast, leaving the garnet and jasper ones remaining. Seeing her attack fail once more, she seethed, tightening the grip on her weapon as the aether from the citrine Carbuncle would transfer over to the larger jewel.

With two more constructs remaining, the North Wind took to an offensive stance, a pinkish aetherial lotus blossoming several ilms above his helmed head. With a flourish, the lotus would disperse its beautiful petals, and enhance his blows - the Riddle of Fire has begun. With a graceful turn on the ball of his right heel, he focused his chakra as he wheeled around, punching the space before him with great force as a ball of icy flames would launch at the garnet Carbuncle. A delightful explosion of ice and fire would make quick work of the third construct, leaving the jasper one by its lonesome. He leapt into the air and rose his left leg, preparing to deliver a telling heel drop. Surprisingly, however, the jasper Carbuncle hopped to the side, avoiding a swift demise. The Milalla monastic, however, followed up with a radial sweep with his right leg, but the crystalline critter was light on its feet, hopping into the air to avoid the second strike. Clearly this particular gemstone was the Hyune's favorite to last this long. But despite these few extra seconds, its life would also prove ephemeral as the North Wind would drag his left fist along the floor, sparks forming along the spikes of the Nyepels before he brought it up in a sharp, explosive uppercut, unleashing The Forbidden Chakra on the airborne construct.

"No...!" gasped the Gem Lancer as the jasper one shattered before her eyes. With her quartet crushed, the aether they had gathered to the best of their abilities would be housed within their respective jewels. Now refocusing on her quarry, she waves her free hand as the four jewels began to glow brightly, looming over the North Wind as they surrounded him. "My friends have gathered enough aether to best you! Fall before my Gemlight Barrage!"

There was no getting out of this one, it seemed, as no other recourse remained for him but to weather the coming storm. With a deep inhale, the North Wind gathered himself, and as he exhaled, a cloud of cold air would permeate through his helmet, taking to another defensive stance, but unlike that of the Riddle of Earth. Instead, he spread his arms apart as spikes of aetherial ice took shape before him. Bringing his hands together with a robust clap of his gauntlets, the spikes would shatter, and tucking in his arms, the icicles formed mandala patterns around his very being, encasing him in what appeared to be a layer of frost.

"A never-before-seen technique from the challenger! But will it be enough to endure the Gemlight Barrage?!"

The audience watched with bated breath as they beheld the sight of the North Wind being battered relentlessly by her aetheric barrage. The Hyune combatant squinted her eyes as she tried to keep the North Wind in view, the deluge of beams obscuring him. This "Riddle of Ice" appeared to have been working with great effect, withstanding the brunt of the assault. Before too long, however, bits of ice would begin to chip and break, the shell of aetheric ice struggling to maintain itself. The Milalla within the crowds were especially concerned by how things would turn out as this appeared to be rather grim for the upstart.

With the last vestiges of their stored aether, each of the crystals would release a final, larger blast simultaneously, shattering the barrier of ice and moderately damaging the North Wind - his Hyune opponent giving a harrumph of approval, finally dealing a strong hit. A large cloud of smoke hid the North Wind from view, and the audience fell quiet, assuming the worst for the underdog.

"Is... Is it over already?!" asked the announcer, his clarion voice booming throughout the stadium. After a long series of beats, a bluish glow could barely be made out from inside the cloud. The Gem Lancer arched a brow, leaning forward slightly to ensure it wasn't just a trick of the light. The cloud would pulse a second time with that same bluish light, before she would behold a large snowflake headed straight for her!

She parted her lips with a gasp as she veered to the right, the icy projectile just glancing the left side of her head before detonating in a dazzling display of ice and snow. The cloud would be dispersed with a chilling breeze created from the North Wind's namesake: Ice's Reply. Though there were signs of visible damage on his gear, he was still standing.

The Glimmering would once again be filled with cheers and applause, the audience displaying their collective relief that the North Wind was still lucid. "A spectacular defensive gambit by the North Wind! He endured the endless fusillade, and even answered the Gem Lancer with a glancing yet firm rebuttal!"

With her still reeling, it was finally time for the North Wind to go on the offensive. Leaping diagonally upwards towards the Gem Lancer, he would charge for a fierce flurry, frozen aether gathering in his fist. In a surprising twist, however, a haze of purplish lines and sigils appeared between him and his quarry, and in a violet flash of light, he would bump into an outrunner - one of the mechanical constructs produced in Alexandria. It teleported into the fray, colliding with the North Wind's helmet with a clunk, and rebounding him back down to earth.

"HOLD!" the outrunner succinctly commanded with its adorable glove-like palms outstretched, the screen representing its face turning red with an expression resembling that of an agape mouth, as though shocked or surprised. The cheering quickly dissipated as everyone in the vicinity now stood silent, the referee now making its way towards the arena.

"There's been a call for a hold by the referee! What could this mean?!"

After softening his landing with an ukemi as he touched the floor, the Milalla monk silently watched the referee float past him from his knelt state, towards the southern edge of the arena. The Gem Lancer, recovering from his gelid attack with a hand on her head, opened an eye to view what was going on... only to gasp in terror at the revelation. Her fair-skinned features dimmed and her lips quivered; the Milalla quartet within the audience took note of her sudden pangs of dread, and huddled together, expecting a most shocking turn of events.

One of the numerous cameras within the arena would zoom in on the referee grabbing something off the floor, and as it turned around slowly, it unfurled its gloved hand to reveal it...

"Source detected: this regulator was destroyed, but combatant Gem Lancer retains her enhanced form! Awaiting this battle's judgment!"

The outrunner's screen would turn blue as it would now cycle through an ellipsis; the audience gasped, exchanging glares and whispers galore, utterly baffled by what they're seeing right now. As for the Milalla, their expressions were also of astonishment, but kept their eyes glued on the Gem Lancer. As for her opponent, his eyes went half-lidded beneath his helmet, turning his gaze from the shattered regulator, to the deliberating referee-bot, and then his quarry, who still flew high above the crowd.

When the Gem Lancer saw the revealed regulator, her heart skipped a beat. It was a vain hope that someone else's just somehow got shot off amidst the duel, but it would be all too plain to see when she removed her hand from the left side of her head where she had but previously endured the glacial blast.

"That regulator... Could it be the Gem Lancer's?! But if so, she would have been knocked out of her enhanced state!" the announcer blurted out. "The referee is now deciding on whether the match should continue, but what does the audience think?!"

"Let them fight, obviously," one of the masked Milalla - specifically the emerald-masked one - immediately answered aloud with a raised voice. "The Gem Lancer's a whole different breed of fighter if she didn't need the regulator to enhance herself to begin with." After a moment's pause, several onlookers began to nod in agreement with the diminutive damsel's sentiment, and a moment later they would raise their voices, clapping their hands and chanting: "Let them fight! Let them fight! Let them fight!"

The uproar would continue as the referee would resume its deliberations, but the Gem Lancer, still dumbfounded by this unlikely turn of events, could only feel herself welling up with anger, having her secret be exposed. Before too long into the chanting, the referee would arouse from its stupor, the entire Glimmering flashing a bright green as it waved its hands energetically, unintentionally tossing the device off into the scintillating abyss.

"The Gem Lancer maintains her enhanced form, and is deemed able to continue fighting. The North Wind has not been disqualified as a result on counts of foul play! Resume the match!"

The bell would sound once more, declaring the battle's continuation as the referee would fly out of view.

"WE'RE STILL IN IT, FOLKS! The Gem Lancer, despite no longer with her regulator, has maintained control over her feral soul! This is the caliber of warrior you can only find in the upper tiers of the Arcadion! But now we approach the climax! Will our upstart claim victory, or will the Bejewelling Beata give the North Wind a crash course on cruiserweight-tier battlers?!"

The announcer was chewing the scenery for all its worth now, with the audience cheering once more with renewed gusto. The North Wind gave a slight sigh of relief, supposedly thankful he did not lose on a technicality. But his patting of the back would be cut short as the area began to glow - from the numerous jewels to the very arena floor upon which he stood - and raised his head towards the source...

"You think to outshine me? The brightest jewel here - in her own home turf?!" a rather perturbed Gem Lancer exclaimed, her left hand conjuring a whitish-blue orb, whilst twelve larger cylindrical gems - no doubt one for each moon in a cycle - floated along the arena's edge, spreading out equidistantly in a manner not unlike her Gemflare dive startup. "You've gotten lucky this far, withstanding two of my special maneuvers, but THIS ONE's going to leave you dazzled and down for the count! Take this, 'Northern Upstart'!"

As she reared back her left hand, all but one of the four Milalla gasped as the realization just dawned upon them, with the blue behatted one merely bearing an intrigued countenance.

"Wait, is that--?" uttered the aqua blue-masked lass. When the Gem Lancer tossed the orb towards the North Wind, he knew there was no retreat, so the only other recourse was to face the danger head-on. Gathering the residual ice-aspected aether left behind by his previous counterattack, he would attempt to stop the projectile dead with a straight punch, only for the orb to splinter off into numerous smaller simulacra, surrounding him from all sides before materializing into a transparent crystal-like formation. Thus immobilized, the Gem Lancer called forth her jasper javelin, appearing in her right hand as she then began to fly clockwise along the edges of the arena, while also leaving behind a wake of faerie dust and driving her lance through each of the twelve crystals, shattering them and leaving behind a cloud of its aetherial signature. "It's the Moonstone prison! Look at that familiar sheen of white and blue!" the aqua blue Milalla confirmed.

"Worry you not, madam," the debonair Milalla reassured with a smile, "for I am certain the North Wind has a response for it."

"Ohoho! You know what this means, everyone! This could be the deciding finish! Get ready for the windup...!" the announcer blared out, heralding what may as well be the Gem Lancer's ace-in-the-hole. Once the Hyune would complete her lap around the Glimmering, she zoomed toward the far northern reaches of the arena, high above the crowd as she raised her weapon skyward, and the duodecim of crystalline remnants would be absorbed into her weapon, whilst a multitude of multicolored rings began forming a tunnel starting from her and ending just fulms away from the North Wind.

Her opponent seemed a goner, punching against this barrier of white and blue; though he had begun to make a few cracks here and there, it would not break in time for him to mount a proper defense against the Gem Lancer.

However... his battlegarb would, for a third time, begin to sparkle all over his body - this reaction was no doubt a result of the Gem Lancer's enraged state influencing the battleground, and empowered not only herself, but his latticed gear as well. The North Wind sheathed his Nyepels, gathered his chakra, and would turn the bluish lights a red-orange, altering its properties before thrusting his arms laterally, sending an omnidirectional blast of lasers that would pierce through the moonstone prison like a hot knife through butter, and ultimately freeing him from his predicament.

As the crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch, the diminutive duelist now stared down the kaleidoscopic conundrum that was the Gem Lancer's flashy, ultimate attack. Again, retreat was no option, and defending against a strike of this caliber would only spell his defeat. There was only one other alternative...

With a gentle exhale, he lowered his head and brought his right fist into his left palm. In his mind the area around him quieted to a low muffle as his chakra was being expelled into a small aura around him, a bluish-white flame against the multicolored radiance of the Gem Lancer. He seemed to have been... meditating? Ascending? Finding inner peace even in what may be his final moments?

Meanwhile, the polearm within the Hyune's hands had gathered all the aether it could, turning into a rainbow spear that vacillated ceaselessly with the borrowed strength of the other crystals.

"EVERYBODY!" the Gem Lancer shouted with a commanding tone, "WHAT IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND?!"

"G! E! M! S!" the crowd chanted.

"THE POWER OF...!"

"GEMS!"

After that brief call-and-response, she hurled her lance through the tunnel of rings, drawing closer and closer as everyone was practically jumping out of their seats to witness the inevitable impact. The North Wind, even with his visage obscured, remained the picture of calm, and when the lance would pass through the final ring...

... He pivoted on his right foot, turning ninety degrees to the left. This allowed the lance to miss him by mere ilms, but he would also reach out his right hand to catch the weapon mid-flight before it would touch the floor. The momentum of the weapon would cause the North Wind to spin at impossible speeds - so fast, even, that he had begun to levitate several fulms off the floor, which resulted in a rather impressive spectacle of a rainbow trail forming into a small pillar.

When he would eventually decelerate, he faced the Gem Lancer, her own weapon now being raised against her. And with his first utterance since this battle even began, the North Wind would give an addendum to Diaspro's claim:

"Actually... it's Diamonds."

... before returning the javelin to sender. Utterly dumbfounded for the third and final time, the Gem Lancer stood there in shock, only having enough time to bring her arms before her face in a vain attempt to shield herself. The lance would find its mark, and detonate into a fantastic display of multicolored stars and sparkles, with the North Wind touching back down with his back turned to the explosion.

The referee floated down toward the Gem Lancer's body once the gem dust settled, inspecting it from multiple angles for any signs of activity. After a brief moment, it would throw its gloved arms up and declare: "K.O.!"

"THE MATCH... IS DECIDED! VICTORY GOES TO THE NORTH WIND!"

The Milalla quartet heaved a collective sigh of relief, with the audience going ballistic over the bout they had all witnessed - fireworks and confetti had erupted all over the gem-speckled stadium, celebrating the conclusion of this brilliant duel. The North Wind, prior to taking his leave of the arena, would give gentle waves and flowing bows to the stands, returning the admiration in kind...

This concludes the main portion of this story. If you wish to read further for the denouement and big reveal, you are welcome to press on by clicking the "keep reading" line below!

With the battle thus concluded, the Milalla monk dusted himself off and began his slow trek down his respective entrance tunnel. Whilst his opponent was barely coming to, she could make out the diminishing visage of the Milalla, a dogged determination in her citron amber orbs to as his silhouette faded from view...

Soon he would exit the Arcadion proper after being congratulated by Howlita, who was standing by in the lobby and tended to any hurts he sustained prior to taking her leave. Now back in True Vue, he would be met with a venerable ovation from a large crowd of Alexandrians flanking the stairs which led to the plaza. He would acquiesce to some of his newfound fans' requests to take pictures with this rising star from beyond the barrier, and even struck a few poses for the crowd.

"Haha! That was an astounding spectacle!" the Hyune male said to his female Eldite accomplice. "Who'd have guessed the Gem Lancer possesses such power even without the regulators?!"

"I hope this gets published into the Cruiserweight's edition of AAC Illustrated!" she replied giddily.

Getting away from that section of Solution Nine about a half-bell's worth of time later, the masked monk relaxed at the Residential Sector, enjoying the pristine emerald grasses within the park as he reclined upon a bench. During this time he brought a finger to his ear, and a series of short chimes would sound...

"Listen closely," he said in a low tone, "the final part of this phase is about to commence. I will be keeping this channel open for the next few minutes. I ask that all listening find a place with minimal ambient noise and to remain silent until the discourse has come to a close."

A brief moment later, his solitude would be conveniently cut short as Diaspro would emerge in the distance, back in her normal, resplendent garb. Scanning the area, she would immediately single out the relaxing Milalla and ran his way.

"YOU! I demand to know who you are, stranger!" she demanded. The woman would only be met with silence, but only briefly, as the Milalla jumped from off his bench to face her.

"May we use a room first? I feel there is much for us to discuss, and privacy is recommended."

Diaspro looked at him quizzically, but did not deny the logic behind his response. With a reluctant nod she would lead him into the large apartment complex, where they would ascend the higher tiers of the electrope structure until they would arrive in what could only be Diaspro's private chambers - a gem-speckled domicile with an atmosphere not unlike that of the very Glimmering in which she just fought. The main distinction was that the decor had more faerie-like aesthetics, with silhouettes of the winged mischief makers lining the walls, and by her neat and well-kept (and jasper-lined) bed was the portrait of a fair-skinned Milalla with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore the effects befitting that of a Nymian Scholar.

"You will have to forgive me for this..." the Milalla spoke once more as Diaspro shut and secured the door behind them. He would slowly remove his helmet, and the revelation absolutely shocked the Hyune so that she staggered, nearly losing her balance and falling on her rear.

"Th-Thiji...?! But..." she gasped. The very person she fought was none other than the Diamond Sultan himself - the same Diamond Sultan she had imprisoned and held hostage for the better part of a moon. "I've never met one capable of escaping my gemstone prisons! I should've known as much when you were able to do so during our battle... which means you've won free not once, but twice!"

"Indeed," Thiji responded, "but I hold no ill will towards you, so do not feel so alarmed as to call security. If you are wondering how I was able to break free - which I am certain you are - it is due to the very motivation behind your arresting of me: I have many allies, both near and far; within the barrier and beyond it. Much like how aetherial signatures can be countered with the proper opposition, so too can gemstones, which house their own unique signature. The prison in which you encased me was made of Moonstone - a whitish-blush opaque crystal. One of my Angels - who also happens to be my sister-in-law - has learned the ways of Arcanima enough to summon a Carbuncle of an appropriate jewel needed to weaken and nullify the prison - in which case would be Sunstone. Of course, other jewels are capable of achieving this result, but Sunstone was the best candidate for this purpose."

The explanation absolutely astounded Diaspro. It was no small wonder that he was able to fulfill all those feats of martial and magical prowess during their duel. But she also could not help but feel relieved knowing that she would not be met with a fierce retribution that may have culminated with her sudden... disappearance.

Slowly pacing the floor towards her nightstand, she would gaze upon the portrait of the scholar for a brief moment before turning to face Thiji.

"I suppose I should've known better than to challenge the mind of one such as you," she commented. "I've only begun to hear about your deeds, and I must express how intrigued I am to know more about you... But I know you're more interested in learning of me."

Thiji could only nod curtly as he made himself comfortable on her sofa, placing his helmet on the table before him whilst Diaspro took the framed portrait in her hands and planted herself on the side of her bed. Unbeknownst to her, four individuals stood guard some yalms away from the door outside her room - the same Milalla warband which rescued Thiji who were, in fact, his Angels: Veeveena, Veeveera, Veeveeja, and Umimi, specifically. With their own linkpearl transmissions cut off, they ensured that no one would interfere with the discourse between Thiji and Diaspro as she began to disclose the truth to the Diamond Sultan...

"As you may have guessed by what you have seen thus far, I am not really from Alexandria. And based on your prior knowledge of Arcanima, you are doubtless aware of the Age of Enlightenment - better known as the Fifth Astral Era. More importantly, this was the point in history that the War of the Magi began to unfold. In the years leading up to that great conflict, the Milalla - no - Lalafell who ventured out from the South Sea Isles would form the maritime city-state of Nym off the shores of western Vylbrand. One of those Lalafell was a man by the name of Skyon Klyon - a man possessing great intellect and compassion. His colleagues referred to him as 'Sky', but because he was also quite proficient with the axe and blade."

Thiji already had a hunch as to what this woman truly was, but he respectfully maintained silence so that she would divulge the entire truth for him (and his eavesdropping Angels).

"Nymian scholars bind and bond with faeries to assist in their stratagems, and Skyon was of no exception. But he saw something different in this one; she was always fascinated by the glimmer and glow of gems, as it was among the first thing she beheld when she was first summoned into the corporeal realm. He understood that faeries were more than mere constructs borne from aether - they are sentient beings, capable of thought and emotion, and it is because of this that the bond they shared was different from most. He made a study out of gemstones and taught this faerie all he knew about them: how they were formed; their unique aetherial signatures; how each brought their own beauty and contribution to the world, and even the very concepts they symbolize and embody. He took note of her heavier affection towards red and orange stones, and gave this faerie a name..."

"Diaspro."

Thiji softly spoke the name, to which the Hyune could only nod in acceptance. "How convenient, then, that most native Alexandrians tend to be named after minerals or gemstones, allowing you - a Faerie - to in perfectly. But you have divulged enough, and you are forgiven for your deeds-"

"Oh, no - I appreciate your clemency, but after what I've put you through, you deserve the whole story," she interrupted, rising from her seat to face Thiji after placing the portrait of Skyon back down on the nightstand. She then paced towards the glass windows which gave a wonderful view of the entirety of Solution Nine, watching the many vehicles fly by... "That is all common knowledge, though, and I am getting too far ahead of myself. I was actually first summoned during the time of the Fourth Astral Era, before the Age of Endless Frost took the realm by icy storm. Sky was among the first settlers on an island known as Aloalo to escape the Fifth Umbral Calamity and reach this plane, taking his knowledge with him. He did not go off to fight in the War of the Magi. Instead, he would serve in the Alexandrian military, putting his arcane and martial knowledge to good use, which earned him the battlefield title of 'The Specialist'. Being a faerie, I was a peculiar sight in this realm, but a unique one, and with my aid, we fought and won no small number of battles... but then the Storm Surge happened."

"Aloalo Island is a venerable trove of history, with no small number of means to experiment with Arcanima," Thiji interjected, which impressed Diaspro.

"You know of Aloalo, too?" she asked as she turned her head.

"I lent aid to an expedition there not too long ago with two others: a Conjurer of Stillglade Fane, and a... Light-infused Miqo'te, we'll call her, and have learned much during that time - about the origins of my own people, and of the very arcane gifts we shared with the rest of the world. But I will see about putting the remaining pieces together myself: this calamity of lightning occurred, and Skyon met an untimely demise - most likely due to the erratic storms, or valiantly defending the Alexandrians you've come to cherish."

The Hyune faerie nodded sagely, confirming Thiji's statement to be correct. He would then continue: "Normally a familiar's corporeal holdings rely on the aether of their master in order to persist, and when cut off, they would inevitably dissipate when that source is removed. But my findings in Aloalo have proven that even this can be prevented. Due to the incredible life and vitality that Aloalo Island still breathes into its environs from an ancient jewel, a faerie who now calls that place home has persisted long without the presence of their master - whomever they may be. That selfsame jewel was no doubt the reason said faerie continues to exist in the material realm - but how was it that you maintained your physical form? Was it through electrope?"

"Yes," Diaspro answered firmly, "and thanks to the Lalafell - or Milalla as they were then called upon inhabiting this dimension - introducing arcanima to the world, they were able to inscribe the runes upon the ore that granted its ability to convert lightning-aspected aether into other elements. When Skyon perished, I remained, recovering whatever I could with my tiny form and magicks and sought shelter. Over the years, I persisted on the electrope that became ubiquitous after the calamity, as it helped me maintain my physical form. During this time I would pore through the tomes left behind by Sky, learning all that he knew of arcanima, while also gathering any gemstones I could find so as to pique my fascination. I also honed my own skills in secret, gaining mastery over jewelry manipulation and gemcraft. With Everkeep's construction, I no longer had any cause for worry in regards to me losing my corporeal state, but I also needed to blend in with the other Alexandrians; I assumed a Hyune form as my own aetherial signature grew enough to support one, and adopted a regulator, but I never truly needed it, nor have I made use of it. My skills in glamours made it look as though I was using a feral soul to assume a new form when I fight in the Arcadion."

She paused, reaching into her robe pocket to reveal a soul crystal, etched in the familiar shape of a Scholar's, but lacking the symbol.

"Along with the grimoires I saved, this soul crystal is all that remains of him. It's how I was able to retain all the knowledge I've gained and even add my own experiences to it. I sensed a familiar presence when you came here for the first time, and thought it too good to be true that Sky had miraculously returned."

"That makes sense," Thiji replied with a cant of his head, "and given that faeries preceded Carbuncles, and succeeded the quaqua, you were eventually capable of creating your own familiars, combining the arcanima you've learned with your mastery of gems."

"Right again. And thus did I christen myself a 'Gemlight Faerie', and became the Gem Lancer as well as the Princess of Gemstones. I lived quite well among the Alexandrians, using my know-how of crystalline gleam to become a fashionista in my own right... Though the secret is out now, and I no longer need to keep up the facade. Everyone seems even more excited knowing that I've been relying on my own strength instead of borrowing power from feral souls; I never really condoned the use of them, anyway - thanks a lot, 'King' Zoraal Ja..."

Thiji would chuckle at the not-so-subtle jab to the late King of Resolve were he able, but now that the truth was revealed to him, he would consider his task complete. Hopping off the couch, he approached Diaspro with dignified strides, his hands behind his back whilst she pocketed the soul crystal once more.

"How would you consider serving under the Higuri Regalia, then?" he offered, to which only Diaspro could gasp in response. "Your knowledge of gems is unparalleled, and as a Faerie, you possess wisdom spanning many winters, especially after being stranded in Alexandria for so long; you would prove an invaluable asset to our efforts. Through us, you will become a Queen of Gemstones."

This proposition intrigued Diaspro greatly. The prospect of having a life outside the barrier was very enticing, and to see how much the Source has changed was also of considerable interest - to see Eorzea and beyond, and to interact with its various spoken societies. Now, after decades of living and learning in Alexandria, she would finally have that chance. Thus she gave her answer:

"Make no mistake... Your Eminence - I still have a duty to fulfill in Alexandria, especially now that my true self is revealed, and people will doubtless want to know more about me with enlivened interest. But I would not properly honor my former master's legacy remaining inside this dome - let alone Everkeep - for the rest of my days, and to be honest... this place could use a bit more pizazz. Your Regalia would be the perfect answer to that; our meeting was very auspicious, it seems!"

Concluding her affirmation with a curtsey, Diaspro would thus swear her allegiance to Thiji Higuri and the Higuri Regalia; the Diamond Sultan would nod in response before he would slowly make for the door, but would be stopped by Diaspro once more.

"If I may make a request?" she said with hand outstretched.

"Of course you can model for us, Miss Diaspro, and your request to contribute to my upcoming clothing line is accepted," he replied. Diaspro was dumbfounded, a stunned countenance made apparent on her features.

"You... can read minds?"

"No," he responded, "I've just been in this line of work for so long that I've gained a profound intuition on haute couture, and those looking to make their mark upon it. We both can agree that Alexandria will be looking forward to a shock in culture when they begin venturing beyond Yyasulani en masse, but even more so will they be astounded by the aesthetics of the various locales and peoples of this realm. I have learned much and more during my time spent on this continent, this New World, and witnessing its history through sight, sound, and word of mouth has opened my own eyes, in a sense. Every single person contributed to the greater picture that is now Tuliyollal, and even Alexandria was welcoming to the native races' own ways of life when the fusion occurred."

He would pause, turning his body to meet Diaspro's gaze.

"Tural. This is the breakthrough I sought. Not just Tuliyollal and Alexandria, but the continent as a whole, with its rich history and aesthetics - now blessed by the unexpected arrival of the peoples from another reflection."

"I like it! And I will ensure you that my own contribution will be worthy of your Catalogue," Diaspro declared with a bow. "My gemlight designs will wow natives and foreigners alike! But... this Queen-to-be requires rest, as this day has been eventful, thanks to you and yours!"

"On that I've no doubt," Thiji stated. "You will be granted your rest, and I again apologize for the measures taken to undermine you. We are pleased to have you with us, Miss Diaspro, and we will ensure you do not regret this decision."

Diaspro would finally be left to her own devices as the Diamond Sultan vacated the room, now greeted further by his mother and father, who voiced their eagerness to return home after being within these levin-inundated lands for so long. With the operation thus completed, the Higuri Regalia would begin making the necessary preparations to cross the salt, now enlightened by the experiences gained from their extended stay within Tural.

Perhaps in time, the Higuri Regalia may even have a branch in the New World. But that, like everything else, will be decided by the Spinner's own hand...

[mintywolf]

A Long Road Home - Page 40 Author Notes

Page 40

She culled the Karens. ;)

Also alas Imogen can’t use Mage Hand to get things off high shelves at work because some customer would complain. Probably Esther Hayes.

In Ye Olden Times when the theory of humors in disease was still prevalent (debunked with the advent of germ theory in the 1850s but the practices based on it remained in common use until the late 19th century* ) the first treatment given to a patient would be to rid them of “excess” humors by bloodletting and inducing vomiting, doubtless rendering an already miserable person even moreso. Leeches, fire cupping, or a lancet were used for the former, and mustardseed or antimonials (made with the toxic metal antimony :[ ) were used for the latter. Mustardseed was also used to make poultices for sore throats and respiratory ailments. Licorice was used for sore throats and itchy skin. Baths from epsom salts or oatmeal were (and are) used to relieve the itchiness from rash-causing diseases like the one the town is currently experiencing.** Quinine was actually mostly used for malaria so one person is confused about what’s going around. Belladonna (aka deadly nightshade), although toxic, actually had some effectiveness as a preventative for scarlet fever if taken early after exposure. And laudanum, as I have mentioned before, was used for everything. So there’s some context for all the assorted shopping lists bombarding Imogen over the first three panels.

(* which I mention because Exandria’s technological level as of C3 seems to be early Industrial Era, although my Gelvaan aesthetic also has some 1880s and 1930s elements. And magical healing seems to be reserved for the privileged, given the high cost of healing potions, how many strings the relatively-anonymous Bells Hells had to pull to get help for Laudna, and the number of people who seem genuinely surprised when FCG offers them healing out of kindness. Most people probably rely on home remedies.)

** which hasn’t been made obvious yet but it will on the next page. You can see some suggestion of the eponymous scarlet on Imogen’s neck in the bottom left panel though.

So a long time and several fandoms ago a friend used to give me a hard time about my over-reliance on melodramatic Victorian novel disease as a plot device (specifically, targeting the heroine — or her best beloved — with it) so I imposed a rule on myself that I could only deploy it once per fandom (with the assumption that I’d have a different audience every time) and it had to drive the story forward. And friends, the time has come.

But I mean, come on. I couldn’t hang that gun on the wall and not have it go off and hit one of them.

This fandom’s enthusiasm for sickfics and whump in general has relaxed my stance a bit though. Before coming here I didn’t realize it was an entire genre and moreover, one that seems to target Imogen almost exclusively. If I had I might have leaned towards the alternative I also considered where Imogen tries futilely to convince an angry mob that obviously Laudna didn’t curse the town with a plague if she has it too. But then they’d be on the run before she had a chance to recover (you know, like after she got resurrected no I’m not still salty about it*** ) which isn’t a very satisfying chapter end. But fear not, this is all reciprocated in a later chapter.

A common thread I’ve noticed in sick Imogen fics though is that Laudna always seems to be much more calm and reassuring about it than she should be, haha. Imogen is the only thing in the world she genuinely cares about and she’s already half convinced that she’s always just a few missteps away from losing her forever. She’d be panicking.

(*** this is a lie. Also you know what else I’m still mad about? That she didn’t get that lil gryphon toy!! She clearly wanted it, she went in looking for a toy because she was feeling vulnerable and childlike and wanted the comfort of something simple intended to make a child happy. (Which is even more clear now since she was in the same regressive emotional state then as she has been recently after Ashton ate the lava shard, which she coped with by making another doll.) Fearne bought it and totally forgot about it. :( We could have had another meat-named doll character this entire time!!!

[developingskills1and2]

Practice 1: Developing Skills

Developing 2 (Week 6)

We finally arrive at the last phase of this entire assignment, lighting and rendering the scene. For that, I import the obj file of the entire dungeon scene into Marmoset and place it on the viewport.

Figure 1 (Importing the diorama scene in Marmoset)

Since, the diorama also includes two vents on the floor, I add a couple of lighting to make sure it looks illuminated as it draws the attention of the viewer towards it.

Also, just so I can see the textures properly, I set a couple of omni lights to light up the scene. Then, I go about creating materials for each of the assets present in the scene. This is a very simple procedure to do so.

On the right hand side, if you are using the default viewport, you can see a tab called 'Materials'. From there, simply click on the plus icon and you add a new material. If you click on this new material, the properties panel below will display a couple of different options with slots where you can plug in all of you materials.

Figure 2 (Creating materials for all of the assets)

I plug in my albedo, which is a fancy way of saying the color map, normal, ambient occlusion and metallic map into its corresponding slots. To be honest, you only need to plug in your albedo, normal and ambient occlusion map since that is what we are mostly working with but I also tweaked the roughness of those assets and exported an entire set of maps along with it. That is why, just to make sure all the materials, although some being empty, work properly, I assign all the maps to its slots.

Once you create a material in Marmoset, you just simply drag the material onto the asset you want it to be assigned to. This is where combining the modular assets come in hand as instead of assigning each of the assets with the material continuously, you can assign the material to a combined modular mesh and all of the assets combined with it will share the maps and you can see the result instantaneously, saving you a lot of time which is more efficient and convenient.

I create materials for all of my assets and start assigning textures to it.

Figure 3 (Assigning materials to the assets)

With this, we complete dressing up the dungeon diorama scene and now we are ready to move onto the lighting phase. This is completely subjective and you get to be creative as to how you want to light up the scene.

Figure 4 (Final textured stylized dungeon diorama in Marmoset)

[metalskills]

Mastering Stainless Steel Welding: Techniques, Challenges, and Best Practices

Stainless Welding is crucial in various industries, including food processing, medical equipment, automotive, and aerospace. However, due to its unique qualities and welding needs, welding stainless steel differs significantly from welding other metals, such as carbon steel.

Understanding Stainless Steel Properties: Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant alloy made up mostly of iron, chromium, nickel, and other metals. This material's high chromium concentration (typically greater than 10.5%) provides corrosion resistance while also posing unique welding issues. Stainless steel's high thermal expansion and limited heat conductivity render it prone to warping, deformation, and carbide precipitation if welded incorrectly.

Common Stainless Steel Types for Welding: Stainless steel is available in numerous grades, each of which is appropriate for a certain welding application:

Austenitic Stainless Steel (300 series): The most popular and versatile, with excellent ductility and corrosion resistance. Grades 304 and 316 are especially popular.

Ferritic Stainless Steel (400 series): More cheap and magnetic, it is commonly utilized in automotive applications. However, it is susceptible to embrittlement at high temperatures.

Martensitic Stainless Steel: Martensitic stainless steel, known for its exceptional strength and hardness, is often used in cutlery and tools. It is difficult to weld due to its hardening characteristics.

Duplex Stainless Steel: Duplex stainless steel is a combination of austenitic and ferritic structures that offer excellent strength and resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

Challenges in Stainless Steel Welding: Warping and distortion are caused by stainless steel's quick expansion during heating and slower cooling than other metals.

Welding can produce chromium carbide, which depletes chromium in the weld zone and increases corrosion susceptibility.

Heat Control: Excessive heat can reduce the metal's corrosion resistance and strength.

Contamination: Stainless steel is susceptible to contamination by carbon steel or iron, which can reduce its corrosion resistance.

Common Welding Techniques for Stainless Steel: Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW or TIG) is known for its precision, control, and clean welds. It is suitable for thin stainless steel and critical applications.

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW or MIG): Good for bigger sections, faster, and more accessible, but requires suitable shielding gases and filler materials to prevent corrosion.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW): Suitable for outside welding, although less widely utilized due to difficulty maintaining a clean weld.

Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW): Ideal for high-deposition rate applications and outdoor use, but susceptible to slag inclusions. 

Best Practices for Stainless Steel Welding: 

Use Proper Filler Metals: Choosing a compatible filler material helps to maintain weld integrity and corrosion resistance.

Control Heat Input: To avoid distortion, aim for low heat input with shorter welding passes and allow for cooling in between passes. Avoid contamination by cleaning the stainless steel and avoiding contact with carbon steel or iron tools.

Preheat and Post-Weld Treatment: Preheating is usually unnecessary, but post-weld treatments like passivation and pickling can help restore corrosion resistance.

Use Proper Shielding Gas: Argon, occasionally mixed with helium or small amounts of hydrogen, is commonly used to shield the weld pool.

Safety and Environmental Considerations: Welding stainless steel produces hexavalent chromium, a hazardous chemical. Proper ventilation, personal protective equipment, and fume extraction systems are critical to the welder's safety.

Future Trends in Stainless Steel Welding: New improvements in welding technology, such as laser and friction stir welding, are increasingly being used on stainless steel. These technologies provide higher precision, less heat-affected zones, and less post-weld cleanup.

Conclusion: Mastering stainless steel welding is a valuable talent in modern fabrication; it involves a thorough study of material qualities, careful process selection, and adherence to best practices. Stainless steel welds, when properly done, provide strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, all of which are crucial in high-performance applications.

[decorworks]

Eight Australian houses with sculptural shapes and angular facades

Our latest roundup showcases innovative Australian homes, including a house with a fish-pond atrium and a residence with a faceted black-metal extension. Mostly located in Melbourne and Sydney, these eight homes are united by their sculptural designs. While some have unusually shaped floorplans, others use detailed facades, cantilevers, roof cutouts and geometrical aluminium awnings to create eye-catching details. Read on for eight examples of sculptural Australian houses from Dezeen's archive:

Photo by Timothy KayePeninsula House, Flinders, by Wood Marsh Designed to echo Australia's "windswept" coastline, this home south of Melbourne has curving walls of charred timber and rammed earth. Local studio Wood Marsh also drew on meandering paths leading to the site when creating the shape of the house, which has a curving form with long "arms" wrapping a swimming pool terrace and a driveway. Find out more about Peninsula House ›

Photo by Shannon McGrath and Timothy KayeSt Martins Lane, Melbourne, by Matt Gibson This Victorian home in the South Yarra suburb of Melbourne was given a sculptural update with a faceted extension clad in black metal. Architect Matt Gibson decorated the facade of the extension, which contains a living space, two bedrooms, a study and a cascading terrace, with a laser-cut pattern that references the original architecture of the house. Find out more about St Martins Lane ›

Photo by Rory GardinerMossy Point home, New South Wales, by Edition Office A cutout roof animates this fibre-cement-clad home, which architecture studio Edition Office elevated on parallel blockwork walls within a woody area in Mossy Point. The aperture in the roofline, designed to resemble a bird's mouth, creates a sheltered outdoor dining space. A void at the centre of the roof lets natural light into the gabled building. Find out more about Mossy Point ›

Photo by Tom RossMerricks Farmhouse, Melbourne, by Michael Lumby Architecture and Nielsen Jenkins Concrete blocks were used to construct Merricks Farmhouse, a home designed as a "refuge" in an exposed coastal setting on the Mornington Peninsula. South African studio Michael Lumby Architecture and Brisbane practice Nielsen Jenkins gave the home strong geometrical shapes by splitting it into a series of blocks that surround a courtyard. Find out more about Merricks Farmhouse ›

Photo by David ChatfieldTallowood Cabin, Queensland, by Fouché Architects Australian studio Fouché Architects created the angular Tallowwood Cabin to cantilever over its plot on a Queensland hillside. Its top-heavy geometric form, clad in black-cement boards, balances on a concrete plinth. A sloping walkway leads into the house, which is designed to "disappear" into the surrounding bushland. Find out more about Tallowood Cabin ›

Photo by Jack LovelProclamation House, Perth, by State of Kin The innovative facade of this Perth house was created by combining olive-coloured hemp render with aluminium awnings that add tactility to the exterior. It encases a sculptural concrete form with a rounded, sloping roof and is designed to exaggerate the traditional features of local cottages, architecture studio State of Kind told Dezeen. Find out more about Proclamation House ›

Photo by Derek SwalwellHelvetia, Melbourne, by Austin Maynard Architects One of the most unusual designs on the list, this Melbourne home has a fish-pond atrium in its entrance space and also features five distinct garden areas. At its rear, the building has a garage that Australian firm Austin Maynard Architects topped with an "urban farm". This is enclosed with a barrel-vaulted wire mesh to keep out possums. Find out more about Helvetia ›

Photo by Felix ForestMatopos, Sydney, by Atelier Andy Carson Local studio Atelier Andy Carson married a curved bronze facade with a sandstone podium at this home for a gallerist in the Sydney suburb of Freshwater. Called Matopos, the house has an undulating sculptural shape and large windows designed to frame views of the nearby sea. Find out more about Matopos › Read the full article

[monatomicgoldpowder]

Unlocking the Mysteries of Ormus Gold: An Insight into the Lows of Inorganic Advancement

Ormus gold, (or atomic ormon gold, and monatomic gold) are fascinating compounds that made everyone want to take a closer look at spirituality, alchemy, and healthiness. These secret materials, which are virtually everywhere with an approximate value of gold, are alleged to be crucial sources of magic that favour humans in the progression of growth and wholeness.

Besides, ormus gold resembles the same noble metal honoured for its material value, ormus gold is the separation of the ordinary symbolism ornorms. As compared to its atomic form, gold atoms are mostly in a singular and isolated state, they are not bonded together with the normal pattern of metallic bonds. Resonating with this configuration the Ormus gold is thought to endow it with even greater energetic features, rendering it a powerful tool for spiritual change and evolution.

Atomic ormus, which is one of the names used in place of ormus metal, has a long history connected to alchemists who had a passion for secret knowledge and esotericism. Alchemical literature while working on the biotransformation of the base substances into gold, alchemists and mystics, as a trusted part of ancient lore seek to unveil its secret potential which is supposedly leading to the level of enlightenment and immortality.

Despite the controversial scripts of science behind ormus gold or Monatomic gold substances, anecdotal stories still show a large number of people who have claimed to have gained spiritual aid and healing through the use of these substances. The diversity of practices in which the ormus gold is applied, meditation, energy healing, and personal growth work, among others, such gold continues to captivate and fascinate those who desire to find the answers concerning the mysteries of consciousness and explore new possibilities of the human potential.

Conclusion:

To briefly encompass the three subjects, ormus gold, atomic ormus, and monatomic gold are amazing collisions of past and current knowledge with spiritual experience. The evolution of our awareness regarding these mystifying molecules also comes along with the acknowledgement that they may significantly impact our lives in the most profound way possible. This newbie may also help us to better comprehend the subject.

For original source visit: https://monatomicgoldpowder.over-blog.com/2024/06/delving-into-david-hudson-s-ormus-elixir-unraveling-the-mysteries-of-goldwater.html

[contemporarybloggg]

Cos Ahmet

Cos Ahmet is an artist interested in the textures and properties of different materials when making his art. When doing his BA in Fine Art, he focused on woven materials, however found that it was a slow art as you are making the material from its original forms, which can be restrictive. He had decided to push it aside and start from scratch. He was completing his master’s in Fine Art and John Moore’s remotely due to the pandemic, this would be challenging due to art being such a tactile and physically reliant form of creating. His work consists of performance pieces and sculpture. He would use objects such as piping to represent the human body, as ‘choreographic objects’. This is shown in his ‘Instructions for a body’ art works, where he used domestic pipes to represent the body, conduits acted as elbow joints and sleeves which is appropriate due to them being named after human body parts already. The pieces of the plaster, fragmented body was laid out like the remains from an architectural dig, the plaster acted as a way to repair and fix ‘fractures’.

When moving towards alternative materials such as tape, he moved away from the obvious, overt signs of body parts. For example, he spoke mostly on his practice of using clear tape to make geometric constructions and objects. The quality of the material allows for a small element of structural integrity; however the tensile strength doesn’t allow for his structures to support themselves indefinitely due to it being take from its usual context. An extension of his experimentation with tape is done within his performances. The tape is used as a choreographic object which allow for the performers to sense the in betweenness of the 7 meters between them. Ahmet uses instructions, similar to how Franz Erhard Walther does in Plastische, then the performers enact their interpretations of them. The lack of touching from the figures was partially enforced by the echoes of the pandemic, showing the separation everyone had to endure.

The continuation of the tape is shown in ‘A Meniscus’ where it acts as a second skin. He displays the haptic nuances of everyday gestures by removing himself and allowing the performers to enact the piece. He added a set of instructions to ensure there is a base reference for them.

Drifting away from clear tape, Ahmet experimented in using metallic survival rescue blankets. He had created an spherical orb object to enclose himself within, this erases the human subject whilst keeping the human as the operator of the object. In ‘Curious Being’ he reinforces the survival blanket with tape to increase the structural integrity. The piece focuses on how the body can disappear, as well as how you often feel safer in an enclosed space. The metallic object brings the question of when a body stops being a body and starts becoming the material, creating a new type of being. When moving around in the real world in the creation, the sound of the material became overpowering which reduced Ahmet’s hearing and eyesight, rendering him blind and deaf.

[your-local-crypt1d]

Decided to render part of this for the hell of it. Dirty Scrungly man covered in redstone (probably ate some)

Also some notes under the cut

First are foremost, the jacket: it used to be Wilburs' old coat which I've always thought of as a brown leather trench coat, torn up and stained from years of use.

Tommy and one or two of the royal seamsters worked together on his new clothes; fixing the holes and loose threads, removing old worn patches, shortening it to its new length, and re-dying it red to cover up the soot stains.

A very Grimmish thing on clothes are zippers, so a zipper was added to Tommys' jacket as well, along with some new pockets and silver buttons. They source the metal for their zippers from Mythland iron imports.

The extra fabric from the jacket was reused to make the gloves, they kept the original colour and just fixed up the previously mentioned holes and whatnot

The "three" belts are just one combined together like this, it's mostly decorative but also somewhat practical with the bag and hooks to hold things. fWhip dug it out of his closet and gave it to Tommy to keep

The external steel cap boots are also from fWhip, they're about the same shoe size

Tommys' shirt and bandana from Tubbo are faded from being worn all the time in the sun

Tommy will get his own pair of steampunk-esque goggles like fWhip does, a matching pair, but I haven't designed it yet 🥲👍

Also, the little X's on Tommys' earlobes are piercings, he just doesn't wear any earrings anymore (it's not safe to do so in the forge)

I made this reference sheet thing for my empires!tommy au. I took a bit of inspo from Arcane on the clothes since I feel the vibes fit the Grimlands well :D

Edit: dear god tap for better quality 😭

(Pose reference by solktaalik on DeviantArt)

[ameserly]

i’ve scrolled past countless tutorials on how to paint jewels/gems but now in my current WIP i have like 7 jewels to paint so i needed a bit of practice. behold, my first official jewel painting 🎉 am i a real concept artist now?