crystal-sylvestris

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Just wanna say Taka and his situationship intrigues me greatly. I'd love to learn more about that bug

Yippee! He's my silly little troupe guy!

Out of all characters, I think Taka goes through most of the changes in the duration of his life (and death lmao)

His time at the troupe with Grimm is, surprisingly, the least bit of his life that I've worked on so last time I've mostly been going through some of that period of his.

I did write that he becomes a tad unhinged while there, mostly to spite Grimm but that was near the end of his time with the troupe. He becomes a bit too good at his job as a grimmkin and a keeper of the flame. Somehow it's fun to prolong the cycles Grimm has because Taka expect him to get upset. Too bad Grimm knows him too well and it works only a bit lol

But now I'm adding some of that on top it. I've been thinking how the whole grimmkin stuff at the troupe works or how being part of it is like.

I'd consider bugs who are part of it to be stuck in the same repeating cycle as Grimm (however, just like when joining, he lets them leave when ever they want as well). Being bound to The Heart makes them immortal in a sense while they're still part of the troupe and in possession of the flame.

When a new Grimmchild keeper or a summoner shows up, they still need to collect the flames from different grimmkin until it's enough. They have to fight and earn the flame. They can chose to spare grimmkin if they want to or they can choose to fight to the death (something Taka loves to offer as he gets more comfortable within the troupe~)

What happens when grimmkin die? They can either choose to leave their soul to The Heart, which offered them in the first place, or they can choose to resurrect using it. After all, the more members there are the more flames to feed The Heart.

Resurrection can be painful and takes a toll on the grimmkin so they have to have some time to recover their bodies and flame. They basically respawn at the tent lol

He gets a biiiit too attached to the sensation...~

(cue Taka passing out right after this and Grimm standing next to him looking unimpressed lol)

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Ohh, so I was looking at my storage and found these! I originally shared them on twitter before yeeting the platform. Anyway, feel free to use! Art memes for your oc :D

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Oops, forgot to post this

Cecilia :3 Suggested random outfit but she wears just about anything

She only looks grumpy I promise she's caring under that scary face!

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rough sketch of some handsome guy or the other to break the ice since it's been two weeks since I used a tablet

his name is Alba/Snow/Silky/maybe more names and nicknames, who knows, he's rediscovering himself~

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This guy's face is giving me a headache! time to give myself more headaches by trying to understand it at least a little bit!

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Not so happy with the colors so those might change in the future but here's Vincent~

He's a doctor + ex assassin + medic for criminals. Well, now that he's old he's just a local doctor lol

Uhh no details I need to get to bed it's 4am...

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Well. Idk what it is about this tablet but I'm finding myself glued to the drawing while forgetting to take breaks and I end up drawing more than intended for much longer than I ever did before. Which is nice but also very bad, I need to train myself in snapping myself out of it to have breaks or my vision, neck and back are gonna go to heck

Another simple design of another (less important?) character from Iris' and Buck's story, Ronald (AKA Ron AKA Ronnie but only called that by the two lol)

He was just a regular old pillpug in my head and then I saw zebra isopods and pointed hard at the images then drew him as one.

This is him during his day at the Force (bug equivalent of the police lol) and his detective getup. Extremely fascinated by the cases of theft done by Iris and Buck and very keen on catching them himself. Ridiculed by his coworkers since he's generally softhearted but determined and just.

The three have a fun dynamic. Think of Diamond Jack as an inspo?

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Very excited for this! It didn't quite click for me that I have this tablet yet but it will eventually! My brush is behaving so nicely on it I'm so happy!!

This was an early bday gift from my brother. I've been glued to testing it out (once I troubleshooted some stuff regarding my old pc plugs :'D) and did this one as a test for both sketching and lining. Have yet to test the color rendering but the brushes feel so nice, that's what got me genuinely excited for this tablet!

Original before adding gradient color overlays

The tablet is Huion Kamvas pro 13 (the recent one, so it plugs in with only the C cable on it)

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"New" guy! You might have seen him before hehe

This is Iris, or rather how he used to look like in his younger days. In the current story he's an old retired criminal along with his boyfriend Buckthorn (by @furgemancs ) who was just as into heists as Iris.

I'm not quite sure how to talk about this guy's story yet, since we're kind of working out their past through two old coots remembering the days of their youth and puzzling them together as they do. It's very fun!

I'll toss some random stuff about him bellow

-So Iris and Buck are actually "side" characters that appeared with idea of being briefly just there to help two other characters (Astra and Thorn) but we got too attached lol

-The whole cowboy vibe for Iris is due to me watching Undertale Yellow at the time, sort of wanting to pull of a similar feel as Starlo because I didn't intend this guy to become a whole character like this haha!

-He lives with his boyfriend Buck in the middle of nowhere near some woods. They lie that they have riches due to being royalty that escaped to be free and do what ever they want which is why they hide away in the first place.

-The truth is, they used to work as criminals who stole stuff for themselves (and Iris for his abusive gang), mostly from noble or rich bugs, good or not.

-Iris and Buckthorn used to be heated rivals, competing for the prize of their heists. Buck was so cunning Iris hated his guts but over time they started having fun racing for the items they would steal, ended up getting used to each other and eventually close.

-Both had difficult pasts. Iris also worked for the gang akin to mafia while forcibly dating a girl from it so the two eventually had find a way to get away from all of that and not end up hunted down and murdered. It was hard but they eventually succeed, forcing them into hiding not just from getting away from the law but also the gang.

-Luckily, many many years later, they ended up growing old and safe at their humble home in the woods, with enough (stolen) riches to keep them retired for good~

-Iris can go from calm and collected to easily flared and upset depending on the situation. Both Buck and him are percussive but is not a smooth talker. He can be deceiving and if Buck is around the two are such a good tandem they'll make you buy any lie or truth they say.

-He's very very good with ropes and knots. Good aiming with his crossbow! As young, he was able to fly well too and it helped him reach places and leave scenes faster.

That's all briefly put at least. Have doodles I have so far!

You've seen this one

First and very rough doodle of old Iris. I now have a proportions I'm happy with thanks to the ref above but he is still kind of slim and lanky like this now! His mustache is also fuzzier haha

Rough of Iris' and Buck's earlier encounters XD

EDIT: OH And the palette I used is from HERE (Metal Goat specifically)

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So familiar. So close... Thinking that you were just like them makes you feel disgust.. It's good that the past is dead.

Idea that sprouted in my head when suddenly feeling an unusual muse for Alyssum is that her petals made of soul could potentially make the blood glow... well, if she does go as far as to cut so much and so deep. No stranger to murder.

The text above refers to her unusual fascination of common bugs she kills, remembering how she used to be a commoner like them and hate it with every inch of her being. Seeing them dead brings curiosity and comfort in a weird way. Even if she is disgust by them, not for gory reasons but how much she sees them as filth.

She's projecting lol

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humans really went off with building on precipitous rock faces

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"It's an honor for you to come for my flame, summoner! Now... try not to die!"

The left one is original and it hurt my eyes! I thought I was cleaver to make Taka pinkish red like the whole Grimm troupe palette haha! ... sigh

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Gambit of Crystal Peak (she/they, aromantic, possibly ace as well but who knows)

Species: Cricket

Design based of: House Cricket

As a toddler, Gambit was part of a large and poor family. When she grew a little older, she was your typical troublemaker, ending up in places she shouldn't be because her family was busy working to keep everyone fed. She would often get lost, hurt or dirty from playing outside constantly. Kind of a wild child.

Then, at some point, a load of caravans with merchants was passing by. They are usually a family of their own, with rows and rows of homes and shops on wheels, passing by the roads like a train. Gambit got invested and during their stay near home, she got around helping the merchants and traders, earning her first dime.

As the merchants were to leave, Gambit insisted to come along. It wouldn't be the first time the folks of the caravan would take bugs with them as long as they would help with work. Gambit was stocked for it and her family agreed that she'd be better off with them, seeing the world but still having someone to keep a watchful eye on her. 

Gambit traveled with them for years, seeing various places and kingdoms, both through hardships of the weather and people, thieves and welcoming bugs with shelter. The caravan folks helped her grow some communication skills and thought her many songs and stories she would often whistle through work.

At some point, they arrived and stopped at Hallownest. Intrigued by the mines, she went to explore the place. Well attuned to the sounds, she could hear the crystals "sing", soon learning from the miners that those are charged with energy used to power devices. She was practically a natural at hearing them, surprising miners to the point of asking her to stay and work for them and at first, she denied, having her current "family" with the merchants.

However, as the caravans lingered within Hallownest due to good business, Gambit got to visit the mines as well as the miners working there. They acted like a big family, just like her merchant folks. She got close with few of them, got introduced to the director of the mines, Cineraria (AKA Dusty), Galo the supervisor, the musicians... her core felt "at home" so she started to doubt her decision from earlier.

What completely sold her on it is when she was introduced to the dynamite! Blowing rocks and crystals up brought back the rush she had as a kid when she scaled dangerous cliff sides on her own or running for her life from an enraged wild critter! She decided to focus on becoming a demolition expert of Crystal Peak! The merchants understood, as once again, it wasn't the first time someone leaves the caravan crew in pursuit for something greater. They bid the teen Gambit goodbye with hopes to see her again some day. Gambit never cried so much in her life, both from joy and sadness.

: 

Time has passed, many issues arose at the kingdom of Hallownest. Nobles demanded greater distribution and shipment of powered crystals, life got quite busy at the mines. Still, the miners persisted, sticking together as a family, looking after each other, sharing burdens and grief of lost miners, sharing food and shelter... Through sacrifices of Dreamers, the Vessel, the disappearance of the King, the silence of the Queen, the mystery of the Great Knights... they persisted as long as they could...

This made Gambit grow a calmer poise. She learned to be serious and not mess around. She wasn't the smartest but she knew about living a life more than some miners every did. She persisted and so did her family.

Then, one day, when traveling back to the mines from the Crossroads, she heard a faint cry....

THE COMIC STARTS

FURTHER STORY, FUTURE COMIC SPOILERS BELLOW! (if I ever continue it that is!)

:

Gambit took the grub as her own and did her best to raise it. Once it pupated, she learned that the mystery child was some kind of butterfly. It quickly became adored by the miners as there weren't a lot of kids left at the mines' community.  

A lot of folks fled due to the slow and steady decline of the kingdom's state. Those who could flee did and those who didn't have anywhere else to go stayed with hopes that them sticking together will be enough to keep everyone safe. 

Given the name Silva by Dusty, the little butterfly was a little troublemaker of her own. It was uncanny how much she resembled Gambit as a child, wondering off on her own, getting lost within the mines, almost getting gravely injured... Gambit finally got the taste of her own medicine. She cursed her younger self for not realizing the dangers but in the same time was proud how much Silva was also learning and gaining experience this way. 

As she grew, the mines got worse. The reappearance of the infection was a disaster. Lockdowns around the kingdom begun to take place, mines included. Few miners got infected as well. They were losing their friends and families to it... 

Silva just hit her teen years when this happened. They struggled to survive and hide from the miners who lost themselves to dreams. Gambit, unfortunately, was losing herself in this too. 

Seeing her family members no longer being themselves, she focused on protecting Silva, keeping her safe. Unfortunately, the pressure allowed her own mind to slip away... she was no longer strong enough. 

Her mind was running after Silva to keep her close and safe but in reality she was almost hurting her. Silva fled to the Hallownest Crown, no longer having space to hide and run from Gambit, she hid behind the large statue. Gambit, in her foggy infected mind, went after and slipped off the cliff to her death... Silva was alone.

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"For how long do you intend to play this little game of yours with me? When will you cut to the chase already? Or are you afraid, Taka?"

"Do you fear I will burn your heart until there is nothing left of it?"

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There. I fixed him. He has antennae now

I want to draw him in performance outfit in the future. Although, it's not like he was doing much of stage stuff while at the troupe

Silly discord doodles as additions when discussing adding something to his bald football-shaped head

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Seven prominent characters my friend @furgemancs and I created and built throughout time, for seven years of Hollow Knight...

A little personal note bellow

Another anniversary for HK and another self indulgent "project" for it.

With all honesty, there is a lot happening right now both in the world and personally that does not make me feel right to celebrate anything.

However, I wanted to mark this anniversary, still. At least, as a little thank you, for inspirations and connections built within community for all these years that I can call friends, mutuals and acquaintances I am proud to have around.

I already talked about how much I love this community, despite its imperfections and alike, the people I was lucky to meet and talk to are the sole reason I am still here. Still loving this bug game. Still creating for it. Still thinking about it.

There was a moment not too long ago where I looked through my bug characters and realized just HOW MUCH there is to them, how much creativity poured into each of them and in which way they evolved and continued to be one of my favorite characters I created.

You are all an inspiration to me.

Thank you for being here~ <3

Here's to another year, and I hope, strongly, a better one. For ALL...