#reference materials

[abybweisse]

Sick. Stayed home. Went to the doc for covid testing. Got a narcotic cough syrup. So, I just took a dose, now that I'm home and can just fall asleep if needed. Waiting for it to make me too sleepy, I'm finally reading this, which I bought back in August last year!

Wondering how many myths and legends in here are incorporated into Black Butler. Should at least be a few... like the two lovers separated by the river should be in here... somewhere.

I bought a small collection from this series of books. This is the first one I've cracked open.

[marianotvirgen]

illustration from a vintage book on the shellfish of new zealand (x)

[cloudbunny]

this has a lot of detail and really good shots of the sandman (netflix) helmet prop (in bright lighting, and a LOT of different angles) for anyone who’d like better/more reference for it P:

[salmonandfox]

I mean I’m still going to end up doing some uh…. Interesting google searches probably but this… this is going to be useful.

[ardenasaservice]

my notes are now public!

I have started publishing my notes @ notes.arden.social

A lot of my downtime recently has been spent reading and developing ideas for what I want my 'ideal principal' role to look like. I've been working on taking those ideas and making into a "workbook" of sorts to help me get my bearings. Another few engineers I shared this work with thought it would be beneficial to share with others who may be aiming for that Sr or Sr+ role.

My notes software doesn't yet allow publishing of its "canvas" feature, hoping that is added soon, because it is one of my favorite features. Here's the canvas I am working off of, for reference.

[atricksterproblem]

Seen on Facebook:

[gayhawkelatehomicide]

Protagonist Masterpost

Here's the list of my playthroughs for reference if anyone's curious who tf I'm talking about in my pieces!

Wardens

Aridhel Mahariel - bow rogue, romanced Zevran, straightforward dalish who neither understands nor cares about shemlen (or durgenlen) politics, blood magic is probably fine as long as you use it responsibly, anxious and blunt, "let's focus on stopping the world-ending plague of darkspawn first, and worry about the rest of this bullshit later, hm?"

Saffron Cousland - sword and shield warrior, romanced Alistair, noble in every sense of the word but cheerful and friendly, Queen of Ferelden, Arlessa of Amaranthine (and Highever), killed Rendon Howe with her father's sword, fixated on duty, "because it's the right thing to do."

Theodore Amell - arcane warrior mage, romanced Morrigan, bastardization arc powered by Morrigan whispering bad ideas in his ear, loves his terrible witch girlfriend, blood magic is fine and the chantry is oppressive, ambitious, "I am no longer baby, now I want power."

Renan Tabris - dagger rogue, romanced Leliana, disaster bi, still grieving for her almost husband but would rather die than admit it, exactly zero patience for anyone's bullshit, raised Andrastian (derogatory), canonically kind of a bitch, loves her stupid new baby brother, harden everyone, distrustful, "like dogs, Shianni"

Valda Aeducan - two handed warrior, romanced Leliana, honorable and serious, trusts no one, girl raised in harsh political nonsense learns to trust her found family and forgive her bio family while unlearning bad lessons simulator, sneaky/quiet sense of humor, intense loyalty to her people, values tradition but values compassion more, genuinely regrets what happened with Trian, "For the honor of my house, though I have none myself any longer."

Hawkes

Iris Hawke - knife rogue, romanced Anders, diplomatic as a means to an end, loves mages so much, circle mage Bethany, will do anything to protect what's left of her family, noble impulses but awful sense of humor, fanatic, "why don't we try asking the Arishok nicely?"

Ian Hawke - elemental mage, romanced Fenris, sarcastic, sided with the templars because magic is an essential part of him but it's brought nothing but grief to him and his family, templar Carver, quip for every situation, never loses his positive outlook for long, self-loathing, "dad did WHAT for the Wardens? Why am I not surprised."

Kiera Hawke - two-handed warrior, romanced Isabella, sarcastic/aggressive, sad bastard warrior Hawke, everyone who gets close to her dies, Bethany dies, good attitude broken by the wear and tear of life, loves her buddies who are also terrible, angry and broken, "you tell me where Bartrand is, I'll help you wring his fucking neck"

Alice Hawke - knife rogue, romanced Merrill, circle mage Bethany, p much pure diplomatic bc she's genuinely that nice, mom friend central, no one is irredeemable, far too trusting, kind of a busybody, "clean your blades, watch your purse strings, don't be a dick."

Delilah Hawke - big damage mage, in love with Varric so no romance because Bioware are cowards, pure sarcasm, sends Carver to the wardens, adores her stupid chaotic bisexual family, beat down by this world but stubbornly clinging to joy, flat refuses to talk about her problems, uses her staff as a polearm, "Where would I be without my trusty dwarf?"

Inquisitors

Miriani Lavellan - assassin bow rogue, romanced Solas, confused hardass Dalish doing her very best to navigate suddenly being in charge of all of this stuff, cares so much about everyone all the time, terrified but resigned to her responsibilities, self-sacrificing, sense of humor buried under all that sincerity. "I am the Inquisitor, through no virtue of my own. Vir suledin nadas."

Asher Adaar - two-handed warrior, romanced nobody, blunt and direct Tal-Vashoth mercenary who gets persuaded that maybe she actually is the herald of andraste, but honestly just wants to handle the things with as little religious and/or political nonsense as possible, blunt and violent, "We save Thedas TWICE, my hand wants to kill me, we save the exalted council specifically, and this is what we get??"

Stephan Trevelyan - rift mage, romanced Cassandra, a good sweet Andrastian boy, true prophet who has a meltdown when he finds out about Solas, best friends with Dorian, keeps the inquisition and wants to really save the world, stubborn AF, "Faith is a choice. The Maker set these events in motion so long ago we can no longer see His hand in them."

Samahl Lavellan - tempest knife rogue, romanced Dorian, cheerful, sarcastic, and overwhelmed, insanely competent but good at hiding it, terrible little bastard, hates responsibilities, laughs in the face of danger (and Cassandra), keeps insisting he's not the Herald, kinda lazy, "I guess I'm learning now, aren't I, Mother?"

Riska Cadash - artificer knife rogue, romanced Sera, direct and sometimes brutal but ultimately caring, the WORST sense of humor, criminal upbringing noble fashion sense, besties with Dagna, vaguely andrastian and very confused, "What's the worst that could happen?"

Continuities

Aridhel, Ian, Miriani - Protector, Victim, Survivor

Saffron, Iris, Asher - Shield, Dagger, Sword

Theodore, Kiera, Stephan - Ambition, Sorrow, Faith

Renan, Alice, Samahl - Vengeance, Kindness, Laughter

Valda, Delilah, Riska - Exile, Prodigal, Pauper

Miscellaneous Inquisitors

Isene Lavellan - fire mage, romances Iron Bull, primarily jokes and asks questions, basically a horrible mix of Miriani and Samahl. Sweet and a bit of a brat but ultimately up to the challenge. A disaster at the winter palace. Her general response to her workload getting heavier is to adjust the straps that hold the world on her back and carry on with a smile. "Oh I would've made a shit Keeper, I like starting fights, lighting fires, and knowing stuff I'm not supposed to know way to much."

Harea Lavellan - knight enchanter and ice mage, romances Cullen, open minded and sweet, a bit naive but genuinely wants to make the world better, distressed by the mark and the everything but willing to bear it to keep others from suffering. Self sacrifice is a big theme here.

Rogelan Lavellan - sword and shield warrior, romances Josephine, kind of a hard-ass but willing to be romantic, would rather talk than fight but won't give up his ideals, careful and deliberate in everything he does but bold when he's made a decision. Understands shem bullshit better than most.

Helga Cadash - big hammer warrior, romances Blackwall, personality tbd

[blotomical]

handmade drawing references :)

I took these pictures mainly to analyze my hand structure. Feel free to use them for your art, if you'd like to!

[wolfman-al]

Loot I got from Bucon, a small fantasy and Scifi book con in Dreieich, today.

A dice set, a funny post card and a book with reference poses for fantasy art.

I think this book is pretty neat. There are reference poses for different types of fantasy characters.

This postcard just made me laugh. It is a stupid pun, but I love it.

Special edition dices from the upcoming Dreieichcon, a con for roleplaying games, that I plan to attend with some friends.

[howdoesone]

How does one identify the markings and engravings on antique firearms and weapons?

Identifying the markings and engravings on antique firearms and weapons is a fascinating journey that unveils the history, craftsmanship, and individuality of these remarkable artifacts. Whether you are a collector, historian, or simply intrigued by the world of antique firearms and weapons, this comprehensive guide will provide you with valuable insights and techniques to help you decode and…

[my-reference-notes]

Self-centered People

Self-centered people are those who focus primarily on their own needs, desires, and interests, often at the expense of others. Some common traits of self-centered people include:

Lack of empathy: Self-centered people often struggle to understand or empathize with the feelings and perspectives of others. They may be dismissive or uncaring towards other people's needs and concerns.

Selfishness: Self-centered people prioritize their own needs and wants above all else. They may be unwilling to compromise or consider the needs of others.

Attention-seeking behavior: Self-centered people may engage in attention-seeking behavior, such as boasting or exaggerating their accomplishments, in order to draw attention and admiration to themselves.

Difficulty with criticism: Self-centered people may struggle to handle criticism or negative feedback, as they see it as a personal attack on their ego.

Lack of accountability: Self-centered people may struggle to take responsibility for their actions or admit when they are wrong. They may blame others or external circumstances for their problems, rather than taking ownership and working to make things right.

Manipulative behavior: Self-centered individuals may use manipulative tactics to get what they want, such as lying, guilt trips, or playing the victim.

Inconsiderate of others: Self-centered individuals may disregard the needs and feelings of others, acting in ways that are selfish or disrespectful.

Overall, self-centered people tend to prioritize their own needs and desires above all else, and may struggle to understand or empathize with the perspectives of others. This can lead to difficulties in relationships and social interactions, as well as feelings of loneliness and isolation.

[claypigeonpottery]

I gotta say, this is one of my favourite mugs. the green might turn out more black than expected, it was a mix of a few things and ...who knows. I can't wait for this to get out of the kiln

[english-history-trip]

Ever see a depiction of St. George and the Dragon? It's pretty fair to say if you've seen one, you've seen them all: Georgie on a horse stabbing a flailing dragon creature, princess piously kneeling in the background, vague landscape alluding to the homeland of the artist's patron.

The most varied part is the dragons. No one had a real definition for the thing, it seemed. For your pleasure and entertainment, I have ranked some medieval depictions based on how impressive George's feat seems once you see the dragon.

Paolo Uccello, 1456

This is a terrifying beast. The hell is that. Uccello was one of the first experimenters with perspective, so the thing also looks surreal, like it's taking place on Mars, or a Windows 95 screensaver. I would not want to fight that, I would not want to be tied to that. (Sometimes the princess is tied to the dragon for some reason.) 10/10

Horse thoughts: Maybe if I look at the ground it will be gone when I look up

Unknown artist, c. 1505

This is a rare change of form for the dragon; it's the only one I've seen actually flying (or at least falling with style). It doesn't look particularly deterred by the spear through its throat, either. Also, George looks appropriately nervous. On the other hand, it hasn't got teeth, it seems to be fuzzy rather than having scaly armor, and George is bolstered by his army of Henry VII and his children, most of whom definitely didn't actually die in infancy. Still, wouldn't want to fight it, wouldn't want my pet sheep near it. (Sometimes the princess has a pet sheep for some reason.) 9/10

Horse thoughts: I am so glad I wore my mightiest feather helmet for this

Raphael, 1505

We are coming to Dragons With Problems. This guy looks about comparable in size to George, and does have wings, but doesn't seem to be using these things to his advantage (and has he only got one wing?) And how does he deal with the neck? He does have a comically small head, but holding it up with such a twisty neck seems complicated at best. But most egregiously, he is doing the shitty superheroine pose where he is somehow simultaneously showcasing his chest and his butt, with its unnecessarily defined butthole (more on this later) (regrettably). 8/10 bc it's Raphael

Horse thoughts: AM I THE BESTEST BOI? AM I DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB? WE R DRAGON SLAYING BUDDIEZ

The Beauchamp Hours, c. 1401

We had a spirited debate about this one at work. Again, the dragon has gotten smaller, and this one hasn't got even one wing. He's basically a crocodile. So the debate became: would you want to fight a crocodile if you had a horse and a pointy stick? Would the horse trample the animal, who can't get on its hind legs, or freak out and throw its rider? Would the pointy stick be enough to pierce the croc's thick hide? In this case, George seems to be controlling his horse and putting his pointy stick in the dragon's weak spot, so we can be impressed by his skill and strategy. However, his hat is dumb. 7/10

Horse thoughts: Dehhhh

Book of Hours, c. 1480

Here we have the same kind of croco-dragon, but George's focus on his strategy has gone out the window. He's flailing around, not even looking at his target, he's about to lose his pointy stick, he hasn't got a hand on the reins, and his sword seems to only be poking the invisible dragon over his shoulder. All he's got going for him is that his hat is slightly less dumb. 6/10

Horse thoughts: Yay, new friend! Come play with me, new fr- what is happening

Final dragons put behind this Read More for your safety:

Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1432

I'm thinking this guy is at least semi-aquatic. Webbed feet, wings that seem more like fins, bipedal but top-heavy, jaws that seem more for scooping than biting. Maybe she's crawled up here from the nearby body of water to lay her eggs, and this is all a big misunderstanding. Moreover, George's dagged sleeves seem entirely impractical for the situation. 5/10

Horse thoughts: i got my hed stuk in a jar and now it is this way forever

Unknown artist, c. 15th century

I hate this. I hate everything about it. Why has it got human eyes and teeth. Why is its nose melting. Why has it got a dick on its face and balls under its chin. The fin/wings are back but they look even more useless. Also, George is shifty as hell, schlumped over in his saddle with his bowler hat thing over his eyes. The baby dragon at the bottom eating some hapless would-be rescuer is kind of metal. 4/10 at least the thing is gonna die

Horse thoughts: I Have Smoked So Much Crack

Book of Hours, c. 1450

Remember what I said about the buttholes? First, sorry. Second, yeah, we're back to that. I'll admit this one is less about the danger from the dragon itself than the very specific choices the artist has made. They didn't need to do that. It's a lizard. They don't even have. And it's like they had an orifice budget and they skipped an exit wound for the spear to focus. Elsewhere. It's so detailed. And George had an even dumber hat. 2/10 take it away

Horse thoughts: I Have Smoked So Much Weed

Book of Hours, c. 1415

This is just bullying. There isn't even a princess. That is clearly an infant. Look at that smug look on George's face as he swings his sword that's bigger than the whole little guy. This is the equivalent of when DJT Jr. hunted those sleeping endangered sheep. 1/10

Horse thoughts: ....yikes

And this is the previous one, but now the baby dragon is cute. He's chubby. He's got toe beans. He's Puff the Magic Dragon. His eyes have already gone white, implying that George is just kicking its corpse around for funsies. What's the difference between the dragon and the lamb in the background? That the dragon is dead, like our innocence. This George is truly deserving of the dumbest hat of all. 0/10 plus one more butthole for the road

Horse thoughts: Perhaps it is we who are the buttholes.

[isjasz]

[Day 186]

Yellow is the color of betrayal

[blood-and-breath]

fissure. oil on canvas, 2023.

[gothhabiba]

“the gore and grit and violence and manliness and faggotiness of Black Sails / Hannibal / Interview with the Vampire would make the childish q-slur-tagging Steven Universe pansies who watch Our Flag Means Death scream and cry and shit their pants”

you are all watching Television Show.