Lady_Cyrsei

((totally fine take your time. I was rushed myself and have alot of editing to do on this one. ))

((Really great post Stryph, usually action sequences can become muddled and lose the reader in all the extraneous details, but this was clear cut (pun intended!) I only wish there had been more background And Phobia again with those dreams, that poor girls going to be afraid to sleep ever again at this rate Thanks to you both for posting, keep up the good work!))

This is a weekly article, delivered to you every Wednesday. These articles are intended to be a fun exercise as well as a good resource for role-players to explore Character Development so please feel free to post your own characters reaction to the weekly prompt. So be sure to stay tuned to this blog for future installments!

Your character is faced with a new sort of Boogie Man, a new and unknown enemy. What is it and what does your character do?

{Note to the reader: Its almost Halloween, my favorite time of year and to get into the spirit a little I’ve been reading a lot of Lovecraft, and reading probably to much Poe and Hawthorn while at work. So here is my contribution in true Lovecraftian and Poe styling to be sure. I hope everyone enjoys a little scare, I know I do }

:Jake and Serena have entered the dark morning woods in pursuit of the strange creature whom had attempted to kidnap Serena. However they soon lose sight of each other and become separated and lost. This tale is told from Jakes' perspective from this point on.:

Darkness falls and trees stand like silent specters in this wild and wooded glen
October has come at last, fall has begun its victory march and winter like death knocks upon our doors
Sharp winds through brazen leaves whispering things better left unheard
Life comes to perish in primal forests such as this
Losing yourself among its branches
Returning to the earth among the mud and sticks
I could not venture further into the dense and shadowy fog
Without taking our respite on a hallow moss covered log
The brambles thick scratch about my knees and the mire pulls me down
Taking with it my last good boot and making my cold toes wriggle inside woolen socks
I lay me down to sleep under a heart evergreen
Pulling earth and leaves about me, body cradled by the soft green needles and flowering mosses smelling sweet
Something was terribly wrong at the hour of midnight;

I awoke with a start, at an owl’s sudden screech,
Hallow morning gowns of leaves rustle under foot as deer move swiftly by
My eyes open though I could see naught, eyes wide like jack o’ lanterns brightly shining
Only the devil could see you, or so I thought.
Shadows part like veils of mourning haggard women showing glimpses of tall lithe creatures gliding in between dark oaken trees,
In the heart of this deep forest with heart rate nearly ceasing, I see them,
Not men surely for they moved not like men ought
Deep in the forest even angels can die
Why should I wonder where my feet have taken me?
Why does my skin crawl?
How could I have been so foolish?
How could I ignore the crows caw?
Their eyes do not see me yet, cold fingers touch will pierce me if I let them, claw at my hide, and steal my breath,
The creatures stood over me in cold observation, black limbs reaching out as I began to scream.

Then they parted and held amongst them wrapped in ebon tentacles was shown,
The woman who had led him here, the one who he had sworn to one day know.
Blue eyes like sapphires, hair as black as night, skin like porcelain, lips ruby red and a voice like tupelo honey or whiskey aged just right.
I would not let her see me cowering in fear, and then through my ragged breather I could just barely hear.

“They are insubstantial beings, made of darkness; a weakness to light makes them as brittle as glass. My strength can not harm them and these bindings hold me fast. Do not let them touch you; you have a power and a task only that which is inside you can save me, only your light can save us at last.”

She was bound and gagged afresh when those words where spoke, though be they only a few.
It took several of them to restrain her, arms and legs flailing her mouth gagged too.
She shone like a beacon, like a pale candle light and my hope sprang anew, though still out of my wits did I inwardly tremble both from excitement well as fright.
They gathered around her seeming to talk amongst themselves,
Chittering and making other odd gestures while those around me began to yip and yelp.

They worked in packs like intelligent dogs, those subservient where smaller to.
Some where struck and bit with long claws and grotesquely gaping maws,
while others stood nearly three feet taller and where more elegant of self.
They where fairly tall creature, and black as pitch, seemingly iridescent
But from what light source the stars or the moon I can not say which.
Their arms and legs where without joint, and at the end of each where a mass of dark tendrils, tentacles ending in spikes.

Each creature had eyes, but not for seeing I found. For when some of the smaller ones came to me their eyes twitched opening and closing sniffing me like a hound.
Each creature had a mouth, which nearly took up the whole portion I had assumed would be a face. Tongues as long and thick as my fore arm would flicker in and out,
While row after row of venom tipped fanged teeth gaped hideously in my face.
Their movement was most unique,, like a serpent slithering over the earth, these where cave dwelling creatures who found solace in deep places in cavers under water and in the rich cavernous earth

Suddenly they had surrounded me, moving to quickly for me to see
One small one whom I perceived to be a guard reached out to touch me and falling back began to scream.
The air around them smelled of cinders, they gnash sharpened teeth ready to devour
A heavy chill crept upon me, though my captors made not a sound and then with pointed obsidian edged sticks they drove me to their lair the tainted holy ground.
Just as we had expected in the heart of this dark wood, lay the remnants of the old church tower and the burial grounds in the midst of which dark horrors stood.

The crypt stood open, tomb stones cracked and white like broken bones
Littering the ground where the bodies of the evil undead, some moving some did moan
Animated and feasting on the flesh of a child without a home.
In the center of it all where the old chapel had once stood, the holy alter had been desecrated its tattered cloth now stained in blood and loam.
Upon it lay Serena, bound and battered with broken bones, powerless and far from the Row.

They shoved me down before their dark Master, his great limbs like tentacles waving in hypnotic oceans, thrilling cold night air.
Blasphemy penetrates the walls of this one time sanctuary, the presence of the worm god and his bride pestilence show in the ravaged sacrifices which have been pushed off of the alter and to one side where my soul shrivels with despair.
Worshiping the Lord has never been so grotesque, my bit part in this play so blighted
The thick odor of the carcasses is enough for faith to sour, even as the putrid, noiseless praises proclaim Satan's conquest even the most noble of hearts would cower.
Rotten flesh fills the pews, as the little ones, and the dead ones begin to shout, and howl at their devilish masters’ bequest, all come forward circling the bower.

Her blue eyes open and close as the black tendril feed upon her blood like leeches dragging her down into never ending exhaustion while I look on just out of reach.
Is the sand is almost on the other side; her hour glass is nearly filled?
Her time stands still the sand nearly gone and the bells of hell ring out, in a discordant little thrill. On this most unholy day, if I do naught to save her the doors to our great blue heaven will forever be sealed

I did not know what awaited me when I set out that morning oh so long ago
No idea if fate would deliver me, if I would fall into charity or find my end in this beast’s hungry and slavering maw
It seemed to me that I had been in this dark and desperate wilderness for hours, if not days
But she would be dying here before me and as a deeper darkness fell I could only pray

“Please gods and all things holy, guide me your gentle son somewhere far away.
Let me find myself in the arms of my loved ones, let us both live to see another day”

No sooner had these words left my lips and I lifted my green eyes to hers, did I see a smile curl her lips and then it dawned upon me the meaning of her words.

“Do not let them touch you; you have a power and a task only that which is inside you can save me, only your light can save us at last.”

Deep within my very being I had always known it to be true, the power, that rose within me bubbled forth and with it my righteous anger too.
My skin began to glow as if brightly lit from somewhere deep inside, and then a great heat consumed me as the creatures screeched and cried.
I let my power flow out of me in bright rays as my inner fire consumed me and brought an artificial daylight.
It was her turn now to come forward into the fight, now that which had bound her could no longer hold her might.
Breaking her ebon chains, Serena’s eyes flashing with delight, curled fists pummeling every creature that came near her, crushing all that came with in her sight.

This is a weekly article, delivered to you every Wednesday. These articles are intended to be a fun exercise as well as a good resource for role-players to explore Character Development so please feel free to post your own characters reaction to the weekly prompt. So be sure to stay tuned to this blog for future installments!

Your character is faced with a new sort of Boogie Man, a new and unknown enemy. What is it and what does your character do?

{Note to the reader: Its almost Halloween, my favorite time of year and to get into the spirit a little I’ve been reading a lot of Lovecraft, and reading probably to much Poe and Hawthorn while at work. So here is my contribution in true Lovecraftian and Poe styling to be sure. I hope everyone enjoys a little scare, I know I do }

:Jake and Serena have entered the dark morning woods in pursuit of the strange creature whom had attempted to kidnap Serena. However they soon lose sight of each other and become separated and lost. This tale is told from Jakes' perspective from this point on.:

Darkness falls and trees stand like silent specters in this wild and wooded glen
October has come at last, fall has begun its victory march and winter like death knocks upon our doors
Sharp winds through brazen leaves whispering things better left unheard
Life comes to perish in primal forests such as this
Losing yourself among its branches
Returning to the earth among the mud and sticks
I could not venture further into the dense and shadowy fog
Without taking our respite on a hallow moss covered log
The brambles thick scratch about my knees and the mire pulls me down
Taking with it my last good boot and making my cold toes wriggle inside woolen socks
I lay me down to sleep under a heart evergreen
Pulling earth and leaves about me, body cradled by the soft green needles and flowering mosses smelling sweet
Something was terribly wrong at the hour of midnight;

I awoke with a start, at an owl’s sudden screech,
Hallow morning gowns of leaves rustle under foot as deer move swiftly by
My eyes open though I could see naught, eyes wide like jack o’ lanterns brightly shining
Only the devil could see you, or so I thought.
Shadows part like veils of mourning haggard women showing glimpses of tall lithe creatures gliding in between dark oaken trees,
In the heart of this deep forest with heart rate nearly ceasing, I see them,
Not men surely for they moved not like men ought
Deep in the forest even angels can die
Why should I wonder where my feet have taken me?
Why does my skin crawl?
How could I have been so foolish?
How could I ignore the crows caw?
Their eyes do not see me yet, cold fingers touch will pierce me if I let them, claw at my hide, and steal my breath,
The creatures stood over me in cold observation, black limbs reaching out as I began to scream.

Then they parted and held amongst them wrapped in ebon tentacles was shown,
The woman who had led him here, the one who he had sworn to one day know.
Blue eyes like sapphires, hair as black as night, skin like porcelain, lips ruby red and a voice like tupelo honey or whiskey aged just right.
I would not let her see me cowering in fear, and then through my ragged breather I could just barely hear.

“They are insubstantial beings, made of darkness; a weakness to light makes them as brittle as glass. My strength can not harm them and these bindings hold me fast. Do not let them touch you; you have a power and a task only that which is inside you can save me, only your light can save us at last.”

She was bound and gagged afresh when those words where spoke, though be they only a few.
It took several of them to restrain her, arms and legs flailing her mouth gagged too.
She shone like a beacon, like a pale candle light and my hope sprang anew, though still out of my wits did I inwardly tremble both from excitement well as fright.
They gathered around her seeming to talk amongst themselves,
Chittering and making other odd gestures while those around me began to yip and yelp.

They worked in packs like intelligent dogs, those subservient where smaller to.
Some where struck and bit with long claws and grotesquely gaping maws,
while others stood nearly three feet taller and where more elegant of self.
They where fairly tall creature, and black as pitch, seemingly iridescent
But from what light source the stars or the moon I can not say which.
Their arms and legs where without joint, and at the end of each where a mass of dark tendrils, tentacles ending in spikes.

Each creature had eyes, but not for seeing I found. For when some of the smaller ones came to me their eyes twitched opening and closing sniffing me like a hound.
Each creature had a mouth, which nearly took up the whole portion I had assumed would be a face. Tongues as long and thick as my fore arm would flicker in and out,
While row after row of venom tipped fanged teeth gaped hideously in my face.
Their movement was most unique,, like a serpent slithering over the earth, these where cave dwelling creatures who found solace in deep places in cavers under water and in the rich cavernous earth

Suddenly they had surrounded me, moving to quickly for me to see
One small one whom I perceived to be a guard reached out to touch me and falling back began to scream.
The air around them smelled of cinders, they gnash sharpened teeth ready to devour
A heavy chill crept upon me, though my captors made not a sound and then with pointed obsidian edged sticks they drove me to their lair the tainted holy ground.
Just as we had expected in the heart of this dark wood, lay the remnants of the old church tower and the burial grounds in the midst of which dark horrors stood.

The crypt stood open, tomb stones cracked and white like broken bones
Littering the ground where the bodies of the evil undead, some moving some did moan
Animated and feasting on the flesh of a child without a home.
In the center of it all where the old chapel had once stood, the holy alter had been desecrated its tattered cloth now stained in blood and loam.
Upon it lay Serena, bound and battered with broken bones, powerless and far from the Row.

They shoved me down before their dark Master, his great limbs like tentacles waving in hypnotic oceans, thrilling cold night air.
Blasphemy penetrates the walls of this one time sanctuary, the presence of the worm god and his bride pestilence show in the ravaged sacrifices which have been pushed off of the alter and to one side where my soul shrivels with despair.
Worshiping the Lord has never been so grotesque, my bit part in this play so blighted
The thick odor of the carcasses is enough for faith to sour, even as the putrid, noiseless praises proclaim Satan's conquest even the most noble of hearts would cower.
Rotten flesh fills the pews, as the little ones, and the dead ones begin to shout, and howl at their devilish masters’ bequest, all come forward circling the bower.

Her blue eyes open and close as the black tendril feed upon her blood like leeches dragging her down into never ending exhaustion while I look on just out of reach.
Is the sand is almost on the other side; her hour glass is nearly filled?
Her time stands still the sand nearly gone and the bells of hell ring out, in a discordant little thrill. On this most unholy day, if I do naught to save her the doors to our great blue heaven will forever be sealed

I did not know what awaited me when I set out that morning oh so long ago
No idea if fate would deliver me, if I would fall into charity or find my end in this beast’s hungry and slavering maw
It seemed to me that I had been in this dark and desperate wilderness for hours, if not days
But she would be dying here before me and as a deeper darkness fell I could only pray

“Please gods and all things holy, guide me your gentle son somewhere far away.
Let me find myself in the arms of my loved ones, let us both live to see another day”

No sooner had these words left my lips and I lifted my green eyes to hers, did I see a smile curl her lips and then it dawned upon me the meaning of her words.

“Do not let them touch you; you have a power and a task only that which is inside you can save me, only your light can save us at last.”

Deep within my very being I had always known it to be true, the power, that rose within me bubbled forth and with it my righteous anger too.
My skin began to glow as if brightly lit from somewhere deep inside, and then a great heat consumed me as the creatures screeched and cried.
I let my power flow out of me in bright rays as my inner fire consumed me and brought an artificial daylight.
It was her turn now to come forward into the fight, now that which had bound her could no longer hold her might.
Breaking her ebon chains, Serena’s eyes flashing with delight, curled fists pummeling every creature that came near her, crushing all that came with in her sight.

Must have been for that horrible Karate Dance emote...

All joking aside however this is very bad news, like there aren't enough Jobless people in this country.

However I am going to now set the "How soon will this thread get locked" timer.

/begin count down....

No one piece is ever going to be perfect, and out of frustration of still learning photoshop elements I decided to move on to inking the picture of Scarlet Witch this weekend and began doing the flats. I'll hopefully be doing another set of 5 sketches this week and will post those which aren't sucktacular.

This is a great idea Fey and I support it, now the question is, should Seri go as Scarlet Witch, Cammy from Street Fighter or someone else entirely...been toying around with a Poison Ivy, Red Sonja, and a Harley Quinn set of outfits for the up coming Halloween events.

:Runs off to play the costume creator mini game:

Love the name of the thread Deebs, gave me a chuckle this morning.

Since I'm all about art ******* here's the only IG shot I have of Seri if you are feeling so inclined.

Despite the fact that I innately disagree with popularity threads like this I must say that there are very few characters I consider "Iconic" in this game, but I have to agree on one. Even though I don't know very much about the character and player beyond my own dealings with him, but what I have I respect his impact on this gaming community greatly.

Ascendants a great Character who has a vivid personality with a depth of character not shared by many other characters and the Eric alter-ego adds a great humility, humanity and great quirkiness to the character over all. Ascendant as a character is a familiar presence who inspires other heroes when he's around them to be on their best or worst behavior. Not to mention the player seems like a genuinely nice guy, and possibly the only person I couldn't get mad at for standing Seri up though I always feel bad because he always seems so busy and distracted that I hate bugging him

Is this another recruitment thread?

Yay Popularity contests!

Sorry I did not make it I got sucked into playing Minecraft with friends and am only now going to bed and it 4am!

Ok so I've been doing a sketch a day (I did two on Thursday) and I am starting to see some marked improvement, so I thought I'd share.

Wednesday - My CoH DP Dark Mercenary Character Captain Sophie Storm



Thursday - Felt inspired, first I did a pic of Scarlett Johansen as Black Widow seen here



Then I did a pic of my favorite X-man extra Scarlet Witch seen here



and lastly the one I worked on all day today, a pic of Anna Paquin as a Circa 1980's Rogue.



Going to work my way back through them all and line each one before attempting to color as I still have to finish up the Nurse White piece.

Hope y'all like them as much as I did drawing them.

you dont know us?

we where supposed to remember something?

I really am enjoying picking up the pencil/pen and brush again, though getting used to using the tablet is proving to be interesting, as I still need to find out how to access and use all the nifty tricks of the trade, so far however I am ecstatic just to be drawing again. I was drawing since I had enough motor functions as a child to grip a crayon and basically didn't stop until a trauma in my late teens made me hang up my canvas and pick up writing and playing the guitar, so this has really been like finding an old friend for me.

I'm still very rusty but I'm finding with every day that goes by I'm regaining my old skills and learning new short cuts (because really that's what a lot of drawing is, are a series of clever little short cuts), but because I'm still rusty I'm a bit shy about really putting myself out there which is why I haven't started a thread in the art forums and decided to post my burgeoning come back here on the Virtue forums where I'm more comfortable and where a lot of my friends can check out my comic book super hero CoX pin up obsession while they are trolling from work or home. I currently have a few new pieces, a Scarlet Witch sketch and a Scarlet Johansen as Black Widow face shot which I am proud of and still need to put up somewhere hopefully sometime today.

Maybe once I start to feel secure in myself I'll start doing commissions but for right now I'm just happy to be drawing again and I hope everyone is enjoying checking out my little duck faced creations when I put them up.

Ok, so I just got my brand new Wacom tablet two days ago and this is my first drawing that I did of Nurse White now in full Technicolor!



As you can see I fixed the weird foot, and I still need to add a background but over all I like it.

I think minus the psycho part for about half my chicks I'm in the same boat as well.

Dont forget to bring your Red shirt!



For my Geeky Friend Mike

This sounds like fun and Thanks SS!