vfti

[vfti]

Dalish Warden

"And all that remained is ring. The ring made of light wood carved in tree patterns and Dalish symbols. The ring that smelled of dry forest, moist grass and freshely made bow. The ring that if brought to the ear, sings the melody of wind dancing in leaves and aravels creaking lullingly. The ring that would gently hug the finger as bowstring holds an arrow just a moment before realising, with almost fading sensation as if never existed, yet was around from the beginning of times.

She would hold it carefully, but tight in her arms, press to her chest at night.

She would press her lips on the raw wood then look up to the black sky hoping, but not believing the stars would let her touch at lest slightly, at least glimpsengly the flame of her home."

"Can eyes sparkle? Probably yes. Maybe even burn.

But do the eyes of a savior burn? They do not. He's willing to sacrifice everything. Maybe becouse he owes nothing. And if he's not toutched by anything, can his eyes sparkle? They can not."

[vfti]

What drives me crazy is colors. You fight and suffer trying to find this one palette that was born somehow in your head with the idea of the picture and then "Buff!", you turn on some of modes just becouse you're desperate and they give you the most magnificent colors . I'm done. Just how am I supposed to continue seeking if by one click I get something I could never achieve by combining myself

There are not enough words to express my emotions

[vfti]

As a continuation of my previous post (yes, I have more to say), here are some products of my suffering

So the thing is: I like the costumes the characters wear, but I find them unpractical (sometimes EXTRIMELY unpractical).

Okay, I understand the main heroine -- she never felt that the cloth she wears may save or end her life, but the Cerera's residents?

Okay, I think I understand Decian. He's not the priority of killers and must look human for this is his obligation to be a shard of normality to the main heroine.

Okay, the fact that the members of the most paranoid family ever (yes, Atrau, I'm talking about you) wear fabric cloth with little amount of protection plates that open parts of their bodies could be explained by the level of technology. If they had something like automatically activated magnetic shields, there would be no need in wearing armor. If their weapons are capable to be folded and hidden under a plate or as a bracelet, there is no need to wear a holster on the belt. But none of the options above was demonstrated, so we come to the conclusion they don't have anything similar. And if they don't, why they leave themselves open to danger? Considering the background of this family and how much they care about safety (as an example: only two servants in a non-little mansion and one old cook, who has to check every dish for poison; few people know the very location of their home and so on and so on) the fact that they ignore the first line of defend -- their own bodies -- is at least strange.

Okay, I can try to understand Lais. (maybe) If we take for granted he's the family's "mad son", who loves adrenaline and despises caution, then it's possible for him to dress as he does, to get more thrill, more sensations from battle and to show his enemies he doesn't fear them, doesn't hide from them.

But, Ayen, my love, what are yoU weAriNg?! What are those tails coming from his shoulders? This adds elegance to the outfit, I get it, but this is a terrible decision if we're talking about dealing with danger. Those two pieces of transparent fabric bear no practical use, on the contrary, they may get tangled underfoot, they may be caught by an enemy or snag on something, when the freedom of movement is vital. And I'm not talking about the costume from roulette. Don't get me wrong, it looks incredible on him, but it's even more unpractical. The basic one at least have some plates that could be made out of durable material and protect the chest. He is fashionable. And he looks excellent. But my point is: it would work if he was some kind of an office boss, a celebrity, a simple wealthy person, NOT a middle child in a paranoid family which awaits betrayal or assassination attempt from every corner (let's admit, for a good reason), where every member have to be a separate combat unit on his own. In Cerera's world it doesn't work.

So, keeping in mind that they venture forward to variety of dangers, probably chased and having no idea where this will lead them, I tried to dress them into something that would prove useful in the wilds.

Did I succeed? No. Not fully.

And who was the main problem? Yes, Ayen, you again.

The problem I encountered was next: the cloth in any work that has a visual aspect is a way to speak about a character without words. Put our brothers in one row in the same pose and you still will be able to tell some traits of their characters. Ayen covers most of his skin and looks the most elegant from whole male side of family. The Cerera's style is minimalistic. Those 3 traits had to be kept. And as you probably noticed, in his case I was totally out of ideas. My mind simply couldn't come up with an idea of a graceful suit that would provide protection, have place for weapons, medicine and other necessities and at the same time be ordered, harmonious, formal in a way, with minimum details. I had the most tries at that one and didn't like any of it.

Is my final choice practical? Not really. I wasn't able to imagine something to replace those tails I was so mad about. So in my options (those to the right, they suit him more) there are also coattails, only this time they start from the waist. Why it's so hard to get rid of them? My theory is that those tail-elements lengthen the silhouette, which in its turn makes the impression of strictness and composure, self-discipline -- every three is important for the character. Or I'm just not creative enough -- could be also.

Is it just me or does he looks more mature when those tails start from waist, not shoulders?

[vfti]

I suffered. I struggled. Goods I was ready to smash my computer and half of a room.

It's been almost a MONTH. But I FINISHED it!!!!

"An alliance of equals" -- In Darkness Embrace

So let me say a few words.

First of all I was fascinated by how the last update has ended. It left me with a strong feeling of not-yet-a-team of lost bewildered kids. (Yes, I call them kids despite they are all older than 20. Forgive me, but they do feel this way. I don't know why, maybe because we barely saw them acting on their own. They did some things, yes, but for me it wasn't ponderable enough.) And my mind immediately drew a picture where this is the beginning of a long, dangerous and difficult journey during which each one of them must get on their feet and become a grown strong person with their own connections, influences and authority. Each must deal with their problems and gain weight, so in the end of the journey each is valuable and independent and is capable to act separately, but they decide to form a team, where everyone has his role, is significant and equal to the rest. There is such potential for characters to grow that it makes me shake while thinking what could be shaped out of it. And everything under the pressure of time and chase. And what relations could be built between every character -- this is incredible. And thrilling.

Mainly this feeling of a nascent team where members are joined not only by friendship and love, but by respect, where they don't question each other, because it's simply a natural way of things to act together is what drove me to try to paint them together. (Actually, it wasn't the first time this idea of a group got into my head, simply after the update it became more possible to happen. Before I dreamt of the main heroine, Ayen and Lais to become such an undivided trio, which would be (of course) known and people would say with fear: "You touch one, the other two will get you." -- but there were no premises for this to come true. Now they are a step closer. If at this point you wander about Decian -- I don't really care about him as part of the team, I just personally don't like him. I drew him here only because at the end of the update he was with my beloved trio and it doesn't seem like he's going to leave anytime soon.)

Now that would be funny if all I just described, would be shattered in few weeks....

[vfti]

A ranger

[vfti]

Watch...

"A curse? -- Heart" "Seems. -- Mind" "...Reality..."

[vfti]

The Air

She approaches slowly.

"Air or water?" He asks, doesn't turn around, doesn't take his eyes off the horizon.

"Air is what keeps people breathing." She places her hand on the railing chipped by wind and rain. Time.

"Light or darkness?"

"You said one does not exist without the other."

He finally stands straight. The world has changed, he has not. And yet, has changed more than anyone could. Because he's this man, he always changes, almost unseenly, yet enormously different. The one to fit the eyes, yet never to try to deceive inexplicable senses. To the conclusion -- never fit the world, yet to be an inseparable part, which no eyes can drive away.

They hug. He -- naturally, she -- constrainedly. Light smile on her lips, which impossible to hide. It's been a year, a lifetime ago.

"Let's see then how capable you are." He raises his hand, does few passes, smoothly as an artist. She repeats, accurately, diligently. Few words, calmly, leisurely -- the same sounds, firmly, intently.

He grabs her hand, his body falls over the railing. She has no time to react -- falls after with a holler. The highest tower in the city after the main palace.

In the soft light of the setting sun the earth is nearing. Closer. Closer.

The air pushes back.

He lands softly on his feet. She lands hardly. Knees are trembling. She settles down on the ground. People around in luxurious dresses step back, stop, watching whispering.

He chuckles.

"You are talented indeed."

Still fright on surrounding faces.

"So, how is it in Olion?"

"Drowning in despondency." She struggles to remove fragility from her voice. "And despair."

"At least it's better then here." His eyes are wandering from one light building to another, through big windows and decorated balconies, wide paved streets, colourful intricate clothing of residents and guests.

She rises to her feet behind him.

"Better?"

"People got hope. To change something. And here -- he waves his hand -- boring. Nothing happens."

She raises an eyebrow.

"You consider revolution interesting?.. They changed only names."

............................................

......................

.......

[vfti]

"I chose to stay."

"I chose to pay the price."

[vfti]

"So many dreams we have. So many hopes. And we, now I think, could make them come true... unless we blow up each other sooner."

[vfti]

[vfti]

Go to forest

Scream, "I love!"

And hear the echo...

[vfti]

Run, run run away

[vfti]

"The Quill"

We start a game, wish us luck,

we are afraid, but that's the right track

[vfti]

"Blood for Blood"

Think about it: you spend whole game surrounded by old men, who look like they smoke a pack of cigarettes daily. Every color is faint, the air always seems to be filled with smoke, even in daylight you can't hide from the feeling of uneasiness. This monumental architecture that reminds of soulless 20th century's giants, who are always bigger stronger and have no mercy for one small man. Those iron bones of industrial mechanisms, sharp, threatening, lifeless. On the whole — squalor, filthiness, hopelessness. Even Corvo (although he's a main hero… especially if you didn't manage to go quietly) is a perfect fit into this melancholic despair. He hardly speaks, would never show vulnerability, never hesitates.

And somewhere in this ugly world of fear and hatred is young girl wearing clean white cloth. White stain in polluted city, "she's a pure innocent child"— our eyes say when we only start to look at her a little closer. And her behavior only reinforces this idea. She is absolutely sincere in her wish to give Corvo a gift showing her affection. And she is not afraid nor feels disgust towards him even if he returns wearing scary mask, stained in blood, stinks like slop for he literally has crawled out of the sewer just a half of an hour ago and probably wounded. Pure trust. And this contrast between her "light" approach and the rest of the world is emphasized by her white cloth

[vfti]

[vfti]

"People"

Almost got a heart attack, but he's still beloved bun with a gun

[vfti]

My beautiful beautiful beautiful people

And sometimes those series are so beautiful you cannot concentrate on the words they are saying to you

And why my favourite characters never get happy ending?...