bug-oc

[bug-oc]

Hello! Congrats on surviving through August!! I hope you're feeling better!

Better than it was, even if still not in top condition. We are, if slowly, working on concept art and composition, along with a handful of writing. The heat's persisting a bit too far into September for our tastes, which is, unfortunately, taking a toll on our ability to recover energy - we're out of the part of the year where it's hot enough to overheat our 3DS's CPU within a single battery charge, but we're still very much in the part of the year where it's too hot for comfort, which means longer "charging" times. While we're hoping to get back into the part with actually finishing works soon, it still may be a bit - our apologies for the wait, and thank you for your patience!

[bug-oc]

Finally got this finished! I meant for this to be done much closer to the end of the OC Tournament but between finishing up Art Fight and my body fighting with me it took me longer than I wanted to.

I really want to thank @bug-oc / MantisGod for hosting the tournament this time around. It was really fun to take part and it really wouldn't have happened without the wizard putting this together!

I know I said this so many times but it was so cool seeing the variety of OCs everyone had. It made voting hard, honestly! I'm still incredibly grateful for everyone who voted for Apollyon!

Also, a bit of a "bonus" I suppose? I had actually been working on a comic for the last round but for very similar reasons it took me so long to get this out, I wasn't able to finish the comic in time before voting ended.

Apollyon can get pretty riled up when they're digging into things. Unfortunately that means it can also cause a bit of a mess sometimes. ^^;

[bug-oc]

Hello! How is the Bug tournament art doing? Im guessing you were busy with artfight last month?

I would also like to add that I, too, think that bugs are cool.

We were, indeed, busy with Art Fight last month! We finished... 39 characters in total, 37 of which were fully painted, so we're taking a brief rest from that getting back to Bug OC painting again. Our current plot is to finish the comic we made for Pola which has been sitting on the backburner for something like a month and a half now, and then get back to work on Maria's piece, which we've already finished the design for and only need to paint.

After that... well, we planned to take a hack at sequential art for the Round 3 and Round 4 matches, since they only have two characters per, but that might depend on our stamina at the time - summer is never particularly kind to us, and while the momentum of this tournament is EXCELLENT for motivating us to keep doing art despite it, August... really takes its toll. You can probably see us puttering out around here last year, too. We don't handle heat well, unfortunately, so this time of year almost always has us a bit sluggish, and it takes some effort to stay on track after a few days of high heat do their damndest to cook our brain like an egg.

We've been working on building our ability to keep our brain on track for a while - this WILL get done, if nothing else - but it might be a little bit.

[bug-oc]

bugs are definitely cool

(nods wisely) You have learned well, young padawan.

[bug-oc]

Congratulations to APOLLYON for winning this year's edition of the Bug OC tournament!

[bug-oc]

It's the final round of @bug-oc's tournament and I'm delighted that Murmur has made it all this way! You can vote for them here!

Their final opponent, Apollyon, is owned by @fallenaither! I also wanted to include their past opponents, since I didn't get the chance to draw them in past rounds. Calf belongs to @boiledegghole, Hessi belongs to @flame-shadow, and Pola belongs to @subwaybug!

[bug-oc]

Obligatory "I voted" merch.

The Final Round of the Bug Fables OC tournament 2024 is here!

Choose a side and vote!

I want to say that both OCs are endearing and very interesting. Their stories are interesting and their designs are eye-catching. I wish both Apollyon and Murmur good luck, though I do have a favorite :)

You guys are free to do whatever with these.

[bug-oc]

Bug Fables OC Tournament Finals

Murmur (they/them) from @sappedart

Murmur is a perfectly normal honey bee with a perfectly normal amount of legs. Don’t look too hard at their antennae, okay?

They’re vague on just where they came from exactly, but they currently live in the Ant Kingdom and work as a bartender in the commercial district. Despite their caginess on certain details, Murmur is incredibly friendly and loves getting to know new people and make more friends. Their job is good for that! Even if it leaves them incredibly exhausted after their shift is done. They also enjoy cooking.

(In truth, they are a spider trying to blend in as a normal bug. They’ve had a rough past and have done some sketchy things to get by, but their intentions are good.)

Apollyon (They/It) from @fallenaither

Apollyon is a Death's Head Hawkmoth that is really just one of several characters involved in a story/bit of worldbuilding I'm making. They were born in an isolated village far to the south-east of Bugaria that borders an area of the Deadlands. It was raised from birth to take part in the worship of a "goddess" that protects this lone village from the supposed end of the world in exchange for tribute paid in the form of sacrifices. This "goddess" is truly just a bug herself, but Apollyon doesn't learn the full truth of this.

At least not for a while.

All they know is what their father, the head acolyte of the goddess, teaches to it. For most of Apollyon's life, it spends its time forced to follow their father's footsteps. This is something they despise though. They're far more drawn to the world around them than any religious duties they have and spend any free time it has trying to learn more about the plants and environment it has access to.

Later in life due to…circumstances they'd like to say they couldn't fully control, Apollyon ends up having to flee from its home. Not a single bug goes after them since, as far as they're all aware, Apollyon is condemning itself to death by leaving the village. This ends up not being the case, thankfully, and after a long while Apollyon ends travelling all the way to Bugaria. They wander around a bit, struggling to comprehend a world they were taught didn't exist, and eventually stumble into the Golden Hills.

It thankfully gets found, taken in, and nursed back to health by a beetle in the Golden Settlement named Pan and is able to eventually take up a far different path than the one given to them back in their homeland. Apollyon's knowledge and skills eventually earn them a job as a botanist for the Bee Kingdom, where it's able to take part in the study and upkeep of the flora that acts as pollinator plants for the Hive.

[bug-oc]

blinked and @bug-oc is almost done already... we forgot to draw anything else so here's our contribution. trophy design

[bug-oc]

Updated brackets! The finals will take place JULY 17, 2024! Be ready!

[bug-oc]

Bug Fables OC Tournament Round 4

Murmur (they/them) from @sappedart

Murmur is a perfectly normal honey bee with a perfectly normal amount of legs. Don’t look too hard at their antennae, okay?

They’re vague on just where they came from exactly, but they currently live in the Ant Kingdom and work as a bartender in the commercial district. Despite their caginess on certain details, Murmur is incredibly friendly and loves getting to know new people and make more friends. Their job is good for that! Even if it leaves them incredibly exhausted after their shift is done. They also enjoy cooking.

(In truth, they are a spider trying to blend in as a normal bug. They’ve had a rough past and have done some sketchy things to get by, but their intentions are good.)

Hessi (she/her) from @flame-shadow

Hessi is a friendly scientist who loves pursuing her passions and encouraging others to do so too! She works in a lab with other creative bugs as they explore the world around them and find ways to make changes and improvements. Hessi is good with machines and is currently working on safe means of flight for flightless bugs (she’s trying to build jetpacks).

When she’s not in the lab, she’s hanging out with her friends and/or partners. Maybe going on a hike or to a new restaurant in the nearby town or just chillin’ and chattin’ in her room late into the night.

She cares a lot in so many ways and will step in to defend bugs who are being mistreated or stand up for those who can’t make themselves heard. She doesn’t like resorting to violence, but she will if she absolutely has to. Luckily, it rarely comes to that.

Also, if you vote for Hessi, you get a free hug, kiss, or high-five from her as thanks.

[bug-oc]

A friendly bet. (ft. Apollyon @fallenaither)

My girls might have lost, but the @bug-oc tournament continues! The two of them (while still in sound minds and bodies) make a bet. Will Lobelia an Hessi make it to the finals? Is their story a tragedy? You decide!

Apollyon vs Lobelia

Murmur vs Hessi

Background with better visible cameos under the cut!

In the first picture we have Marigold by mantisgodsdomain and Hawthorn by 85-rend.

In the second picture: Murmur by sappedart and Hessi by flame-shadow.

Unfortunately Tumblr wouldn't let me tag them all, but please do visit their blogs!

[bug-oc]

They did, in fact, attend the tournament.

I wanted to do a little comic about how Apollyon even got in the contest in the first place since they absolutely would not have done it unprompted. (And finally showed Pan off properly here!)

Also features Lobelia by @vulturereyy along with Roseline and Zabava from @mouse-drawings!

Apollyon and Lobelia are currently facing one another and can be voted for in @bug-oc's tournament here. Votes for Apollyon aren't necessary but the support would be appreciated!

[bug-oc]

Bug Fables OC Tournament Round 4

Apollyon (They/It) from @fallenaither

Apollyon is a Death's Head Hawkmoth that is really just one of several characters involved in a story/bit of worldbuilding I'm making. They were born in an isolated village far to the south-east of Bugaria that borders an area of the Deadlands. It was raised from birth to take part in the worship of a "goddess" that protects this lone village from the supposed end of the world in exchange for tribute paid in the form of sacrifices. This "goddess" is truly just a bug herself, but Apollyon doesn't learn the full truth of this.

At least not for a while.

All they know is what their father, the head acolyte of the goddess, teaches to it. For most of Apollyon's life, it spends its time forced to follow their father's footsteps. This is something they despise though. They're far more drawn to the world around them than any religious duties they have and spend any free time it has trying to learn more about the plants and environment it has access to.

Later in life due to…circumstances they'd like to say they couldn't fully control, Apollyon ends up having to flee from its home. Not a single bug goes after them since, as far as they're all aware, Apollyon is condemning itself to death by leaving the village. This ends up not being the case, thankfully, and after a long while Apollyon ends travelling all the way to Bugaria. They wander around a bit, struggling to comprehend a world they were taught didn't exist, and eventually stumble into the Golden Hills.

It thankfully gets found, taken in, and nursed back to health by a beetle in the Golden Settlement named Pan and is able to eventually take up a far different path than the one given to them back in their homeland. Apollyon's knowledge and skills eventually earn them a job as a botanist for the Bee Kingdom, where it's able to take part in the study and upkeep of the flora that acts as pollinator plants for the Hive.

Lobelia (She/her) from @vulturereyy

Lobelia is – or was – a bright and rising apprentice diplomat from the Red Palace, sent to Bugaria with a mission of helping to rebuild a bridge burned between the Honeybees and the Vulture Bees. However, it seems poor Lobie has gotten quite lost along the way… And for better or worse, she’s here to offer YOU the gifts of her people!

A Vulture Bee’s Ambrosia-Honey is said to grant one the strength of the gods– though the consequences may be severe on your party’s health. And trust. And stomachs. And – oh, dear… Why are you looking at her with those Honey-fevered eyes?

[bug-oc]

Bug Fables OC Tournament Round 4

Murmur (they/them) from @sappedart

Murmur is a perfectly normal honey bee with a perfectly normal amount of legs. Don’t look too hard at their antennae, okay?

They’re vague on just where they came from exactly, but they currently live in the Ant Kingdom and work as a bartender in the commercial district. Despite their caginess on certain details, Murmur is incredibly friendly and loves getting to know new people and make more friends. Their job is good for that! Even if it leaves them incredibly exhausted after their shift is done. They also enjoy cooking.

(In truth, they are a spider trying to blend in as a normal bug. They’ve had a rough past and have done some sketchy things to get by, but their intentions are good.)

Hessi (she/her) from @flame-shadow

Hessi is a friendly scientist who loves pursuing her passions and encouraging others to do so too! She works in a lab with other creative bugs as they explore the world around them and find ways to make changes and improvements. Hessi is good with machines and is currently working on safe means of flight for flightless bugs (she’s trying to build jetpacks).

When she’s not in the lab, she’s hanging out with her friends and/or partners. Maybe going on a hike or to a new restaurant in the nearby town or just chillin’ and chattin’ in her room late into the night.

She cares a lot in so many ways and will step in to defend bugs who are being mistreated or stand up for those who can’t make themselves heard. She doesn’t like resorting to violence, but she will if she absolutely has to. Luckily, it rarely comes to that.

Also, if you vote for Hessi, you get a free hug, kiss, or high-five from her as thanks.

[bug-oc]

Woo! First ArtFight attack for the year!

This one is of Roseline and Zabava by @mouse-drawings! You can find the full attack right here!

I meant to draw these two for the @bug-oc Tournament, but with artfight going on, It felt a bit easier for me to just draw them for this instead.

[bug-oc]

various doodles of my oc calf. theyre in the bugoc tournament. pretty sure they lost but its ok