lethesbeastie

[lethesbeastie]

Evil thing about making a creative work is you gotta make the creative work and you can't really progress until you've made progress

[lethesbeastie]

oc guy moodboard

[lethesbeastie]

I showed a few parts of this larger ref while responding to asks yesterday, so might as well post the whole thing akfhskfhskf

Version without texture overlay + character design thoughts and lore under the cut!

I'm gonna start this off by saying that I am not a biologist and that my attempts at speculative biology are operating by "rule of cool" in some parts of this design.

Wraith's design is largely based on cephalopods, with mimic octopus, bobtail squid, and cuttlefish playing a key role as design inspirations. My goal for their design in this form was to keep their anatomy and physiology as close to the typical structure of cephalopods as possible without sacrificing the necessary physical features that would allow them to adapt to life outside of the water. I wanted them to look alien, but still endearing, and to emphasize the fact that they are very much still a child despite their size and strangeness.

A quick note on some terms from the flavor text on the image:

Buccal mass: mouthparts of a cephalopod, including the beak and the musculature that allows it to open and close

Mantle: the main body of a cephalopod that protects and contains all of its major organs

Flavor text:

Arms Vs. Tentacles: on cephalopods, Arms refer to appendages which have suckers along the entire length of the limbs underside, while Tentalces only have suckers at the club-like end

1. Blue of blood shows through in membranes/thinner areas of flesh

2. Primary mouth/buccal mass

3. External gills

4. Siphon

5. Ridges flare when threatened

6. Tentacles and rear arm merge, acts as counterweight to aid in bipedal locomotion

7. Lower anterior arms merge to form legs; lack of proper bones means bipedal locomotion is unsteady

8. Upper arms adapted hands to better manipulate objects

9. The two rear-most appendages are proper tentacles, and are capable of manipulating objects almost as effectively as main hands

10. Two mouths, one form consumption, one for speech*

- 10A. Secondary mouth hidden by barbles, chitin** structure within resembles a fused set of teeth. This mouth can be used to eat, but there's a high risk of choking

- 10B. Resting position of beak in primary mouth, retracted into buccal mass

- 10C. Extended position of beak in primary mouth; capable of breaking down mollusk shells and biting through bone

11. Natural posture when unfurled

12. Defensive stance

13. The skin covering the mantel forms a cavity into which the head can partially withdraw

14. Capable of spitting ink from secondary mouth when in distress

15. Eyes are large with highly reflective pupils; excellent dark vision

16. Nictitating membrane rises to protect the eye when biting, may also rise when distressed

17. Retractable claws inside suckers

Extra design lore and speculative biology:

18. Blood is a deep blue, appears black under water, and turns clear as it dries. Texture is thick and viscous

** in the image I wrote keratin, but research has shown me that a squids beak is actually made of chitin rather than keratin! Keratin may still be present, but it's not the main polymer in the makeup of the beak structure. I know this is a silly fun character design, but I try to remain somewhat accurate with how I engage the biological aspects, so I wanted to correct my mistake

At the current moment of this design, Wraith is 11 years old, and stands at 5 ft 4 in [168 cm] when using their legs. They measure 6 ft [183 cm] long from head to tail when unfurled/in the water. Their height and size relative to their age is above average compared to humans, but is more or less in line with the normal growth rate for deep sea tritons, which are the largest of the triton variants. Their height out of the water is limited by their physiology; Wraith lacks proper bones, so maintaining an upright form requires a lot more effort and energy. They rely heavily on mobility aids (rollator, cane, wheelchair) if they'll be walking or standing for long periods of time in their true form.

The changeling magic that enables their shape-shifting provides a level of structural stability to their body when in disguise that makes life outside of the water easier, but they still require more rest and breaks from standing than other able-bodied children of their own age. The form that provides the most stability is their "default" triton disguise, which they've carefully tailored to be as comfortable as possible so they can have a more active lifestyle. Smaller disguise forms are easier to manage, as the compression of their body makes those forms more stable to hold. Their triton disguise form measures out to only 3 ft 5 in [103 cm] tall which is much easier for them to maintain out of the water.

[lethesbeastie]

BweirdOCtober day 8 feat. my favorite pirate dad and his adopted eldritch kiddo, Nautilus and Wraith mean everything to me <3 <3 <3

Before they settled on the triton disguise they based on their captain, Wraith mostly hung out in their true form since it was most comfortable and the crew of the Wanderer weren't (usually) scared of them. After Nautilus decided they could stay indefinitely, Wraith crafted the form they wear now as a sort of sign that they also chose Nautilus as their dad captain. Yes, Nautilus did cry about it, though he would never admit that.

Nautilus wasn't too keen on having a kid on his ship at first, but he let Wraith stick around since they didn't have anywhere else to go

His crew knew Nautilus would soften up eventually, and in the meantime, watching the most feared pirate on the seas fumbling while trying to parent was A+ entertainment. Especially for Albatross, his first mate, and also his husband, who was having the time of his life getting to be a parent again.

[lethesbeastie]

Finally got my visual refs for the Wanderer's Jaws drawn up! My beloved mimic ship and her insatiable appetite for flesh and blood <3

Extra lore and visuals beneath the cut!

Intro to the Wanderer's lore is here. <3

The Wanderer is rather strange for a mimic; beyond her colossal size, her physical adaptations for a fully marine existence show evidence of the possible divergence of mimic subspecies specializing in unusual environments. Her close bond with (and refusal to eat) the people she considers her crew makes her even more of a mystery, though the secrecy with which she is shrouded is well earned. Few encounter the Wanderer and live to tell the tale, and those who do may find it in their best interest to keep such stories and speculations to themselves.

It's well known among her crew that the relationship they have with the mimic is a strange sort of symbiosis; her great size would be unsustainable without their assistance. They protect her from sickness and starvation, and she, in return, guards them from the elements and injury. The ships she sinks at their behest supply the material with which she builds her protective disguise, and the crews of those ships provide her with the nourishment needed to grow and heal from injuries.

Even so, the relationship goes beyond simple convenience. There is a bond shared between them all, an understanding. The Wanderer makes herself vulnerable to her crew, keeps them close beneath the carapace of her wooden hull. Within the sanctuary of her own body she guards them from harm, and cares for them as her own. The loyalty of the crew to their beloved vessel surpass that of most seafaring folks, and for good cause.

Any sailor can learn to love a ship, but it is a rare ship that has learned to love its sailors.

[lethesbeastie]

Unfinished comic for a poem I started writing about chronic pain, plurality, and the end of the world. If I can, I'd like to at least illustrate the final verses as well, but if I wait around for the 'maybe when', I'll never post it

Click for better image quality, Full poem under the cut

Think of it like this:

For as long as we've been alive

The world has been ending

And your body betraying you

And there is not much you can do

About either of those things

Except try your best

To survive.

I'm not saying it's hopeless;

Truly baby, it's not

I'm just saying that you don't have to lie;

That we both knew this was gonna be hard

Here's the secret baby:

The world is always ending somewhere—

The empires of blood always crumble to dust;

We both know we may not make it out alive

So just sit with me sweetheart

Sing like you used to,

With that bird you've kept trapped in your heart;

I think we'll need it

A lullaby for the end of the world.

[lethesbeastie]

Unfinished comic for a poem I started writing about chronic pain, plurality, and the end of the world. If I can, I'd like to at least illustrate the final verses as well, but if I wait around for the 'maybe when', I'll never post it

Click for better image quality, Full poem under the cut

Think of it like this:

For as long as we've been alive

The world has been ending

And your body betraying you

And there is not much you can do

About either of those things

Except try your best

To survive.

I'm not saying it's hopeless;

Truly baby, it's not

I'm just saying that you don't have to lie;

That we both knew this was gonna be hard

Here's the secret baby:

The world is always ending somewhere—

The empires of blood always crumble to dust;

We both know we may not make it out alive

So just sit with me sweetheart

Sing like you used to,

With that bird you've kept trapped in your heart;

I think we'll need it

A lullaby for the end of the world.

[lethesbeastie]

Unfinished comic for a poem I started writing about chronic pain, plurality, and the end of the world. If I can, I'd like to at least illustrate the final verses as well, but if I wait around for the 'maybe when', I'll never post it

Click for better image quality, Full poem under the cut

Think of it like this:

For as long as we've been alive

The world has been ending

And your body betraying you

And there is not much you can do

About either of those things

Except try your best

To survive.

I'm not saying it's hopeless;

Truly baby, it's not

I'm just saying that you don't have to lie;

That we both knew this was gonna be hard

Here's the secret baby:

The world is always ending somewhere—

The empires of blood always crumble to dust;

We both know we may not make it out alive

So just sit with me sweetheart

Sing like you used to,

With that bird you've kept trapped in your heart;

I think we'll need it

A lullaby for the end of the world.

[lethesbeastie]

Unfinished comic for a poem I started writing about chronic pain, plurality, and the end of the world. If I can, I'd like to at least illustrate the final verses as well, but if I wait around for the 'maybe when', I'll never post it

Click for better image quality, Full poem under the cut

Think of it like this:

For as long as we've been alive

The world has been ending

And your body betraying you

And there is not much you can do

About either of those things

Except try your best

To survive.

I'm not saying it's hopeless;

Truly baby, it's not

I'm just saying that you don't have to lie;

That we both knew this was gonna be hard

Here's the secret baby:

The world is always ending somewhere—

The empires of blood always crumble to dust;

We both know we may not make it out alive

So just sit with me sweetheart

Sing like you used to,

With that bird you've kept trapped in your heart;

I think we'll need it

A lullaby for the end of the world.

[lethesbeastie]

Unfinished comic for a poem I started writing about chronic pain, plurality, and the end of the world. If I can, I'd like to at least illustrate the final verses as well, but if I wait around for the 'maybe when', I'll never post it

Click for better image quality, Full poem under the cut

Think of it like this:

For as long as we've been alive

The world has been ending

And your body betraying you

And there is not much you can do

About either of those things

Except try your best

To survive.

I'm not saying it's hopeless;

Truly baby, it's not

I'm just saying that you don't have to lie;

That we both knew this was gonna be hard

Here's the secret baby:

The world is always ending somewhere—

The empires of blood always crumble to dust;

We both know we may not make it out alive

So just sit with me sweetheart

Sing like you used to,

With that bird you've kept trapped in your heart;

I think we'll need it

A lullaby for the end of the world.

[lethesbeastie]

Unfinished comic for a poem I started writing about chronic pain, plurality, and the end of the world. If I can, I'd like to at least illustrate the final verses as well, but if I wait around for the 'maybe when', I'll never post it

Click for better image quality, Full poem under the cut

Think of it like this:

For as long as we've been alive

The world has been ending

And your body betraying you

And there is not much you can do

About either of those things

Except try your best

To survive.

I'm not saying it's hopeless;

Truly baby, it's not

I'm just saying that you don't have to lie;

That we both knew this was gonna be hard

Here's the secret baby:

The world is always ending somewhere—

The empires of blood always crumble to dust;

We both know we may not make it out alive

So just sit with me sweetheart

Sing like you used to,

With that bird you've kept trapped in your heart;

I think we'll need it

A lullaby for the end of the world.

[lethesbeastie]

truly

[lethesbeastie]

The fun thing about being a system that does art is sometimes, two of our headmates will combine their abilities to create Designs That Fuck [affectionate] or do insane shit like make an animatic in 3 days

[lethesbeastie]

cue the round up! this year was really fun

[lethesbeastie]

A short comic I put together for artfight for the uber talented @lethesbeastie. It was a very fun challenge to make one comic panel per day, even if it meant I couldn't be as polished. A good exercise in settling!

Image ID: This is a three page mini comic depicting Jacob, a British-Inuk fisherman with fluffy black hair and a broad face, and wraith, a shapeshifting water creature. On the first page, the scene is set with a blue sky and a rusting ship in the water where Jacob hauls up a net, a net containing wraith, who has several tentacles, a beak protruding from his chest, and big blue eyes full of fear. Seeing Jacob, Wraith's first reaction is to spit ink on Jacob's face. The first page ends with Jacob looking down on Wraith with a severe and dangerous expression.

On the second page, there is an apparent time jump, as Jacob has left Wraith tangled in the net while he completes other tasks on the ship and mutters in frustration to himself. Wraith thinks "Okay, new plan", and the following panels show him transforming from a tentacled sea creature to something that much more resembles a deep teal human child with paws and a purple headpiece. Jacob looks on, dumbfounded, before a teary eyed Wraith says "I want to go back to my ship." Jacob kneels in front of him, and a shadow is cast across Jacob's back. "Uuuh... what ship?" Asks Jacob, and Wraith replies "The Wanderer's Jaws!". The next panel is positioned behind Jacob, with Wraith pointing over his shoulder at whatever is casting an intense shadow. "Oh! There!" Wraith cheers, and the final panel is of Jacob looking over his shoulder in the fear.

The third page has a giant panel depicting a huge galleon ship with a smiling mouth full of teeth painting on the hull looming over Jacob's much smaller trawler. It cuts through the water and sends up large waves. The second panel depicts the captain of the ship, Captain Nautilus, who is a humanoid shark man. He points his sword down in Jacob's direction, and his speech bubble is dark and dripping as he uses a very threatening tone to say "Return the child." Jacob holds Wraith, who is cheering, up by his armpits and replies "yeah mate here you go" in a small voice. End ID.

[lethesbeastie]

(only had the energy to draw two attacks) man.... it really was an art fight....

[lethesbeastie]

to the people on my revenge list I may have forgotten