Seal of Beauty 2020

Orventa

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I know cooking rarely ever places and has yet to win,  but I stuck to my blasters and decided to make a strudel!

Appearance:

a triumphal strudel platter draped with sailcloth

Dropped:

A sailcloth draped platter is here, showcasing a massive triumphal strudel for 

all to see.

Examined:

Beckoning with silken fingers of cinnamon-drunk steam, this massive

strudel has been shaped and decorated to commemorate a grandiose and

brutal clash between dragon and oceanic might. Deft pastry plaiting and

a coincidence of shadow hint at wiry brawn, detailing each sugar-gilt,

draconic limb, from wing to tail. A light dusting of nutmeg throws the

features of the beast's despairing visage into stark relief, its toothy

maw open to breathe red gouts of flame formed from petal-thin apple

slices edged in sooty cocoa. Excess grains of the exotic, chocolate

spice dissolve and pool into fine rivulets of hot butter, which sizzle

back down its curving throat and belly's contour- darksome, like dried

blood from wounds beyond measure. Rendered in the most delicate and

skillful of blade strokes upon the remaining expanse of crisp pastry, a

gargantuan water elemental arises from churning tides amidst a flock of

pearl-sugar doves. The magnificently cresting entity looms triumphant,

poised ready to engulf its broken foe, and hasten its calamitous end. A

salvaged length of singed sailcloth serves to cushion the strudel within

its wooden platter, its Celestian livery ever-bright, and its

embroidered blessings ever-shining.

Consume:

You slice boldly into the strudel, your knife audibly shattering through

the gorgeously crispy crust as you claim the dragon's head for yourself.

With the first forkful, your teeth sink into tender slices of sweet-tart

apple and pastry. Warm and buttery, the pastry conveys just the right

amount of Delportian vanilla and smoky cocoa to complement the fragrant

cinnamon and nutmeg syrup that clings to the toothsome fruit. Plump with

honeyed wine, golden raisins pop with molasses-like sweetness.

Collapsing and melting together with the apple, they surrender to each

willful bite you take and together release their arresting aromas to

beguile your senses. You turn your attention to the gargantuan water

elemental, and the intrepid spear of your fork provokes a surprising

tumbling rush of blueberries and peaches! This too, you partake of,

enjoying the wild, melting, almost floral ambergris quality of the

blended fruits. All too soon, the ancient intoxication of fullness

threatens to engulf you, and you set the platter aside so that others

might share in the strudel's defeat.

Smell:

A sigh of cinnamon-sugar and nutmeg opens into notes of haunting vanilla and 

smoky cocoa.

Taste:

You pluck a petal-thin slice of apple from the top of the strudel and pop it 

into your mouth. It is tartly sweet, yet smoky with cocoa, its mouthfeel 

pleasantly smooth from the dusting of confectioner's sugar and cinnamon-spice.

Ayisdra

Appearance:
a gemstone and marble throne
Dropped:
Drawing the eye, a massive gemstone dragon throne rests here.
Examined:
The back of this throne is composed of a dozen different gems, all in a
flawless dragon shape, complete with a massive head coming out of the
top, wings outspread from the back, and its claws that form the arms of
the throne. Each gemstone forms a separate part of the dragon. An
emerald torso, ruby claws, sapphire eyes, onyx wings, and diamond teeth
are the most noticeable parts of the throne. Compared to the masterful
work of the back, the marble seat of the throne is more functional and
out of place against the gemstone parts. The smallest of cracks can be
noticed along the base where the marble meets the gem, the bond between
the two the weakest structural part of the throne.

and

Appearance:
a journal detailing the attack on Hallifax
Dropped:
Shimmering in the available light, a journal has been left behind here.
Examined:
This book has been painted in various colors and embedded with gems,
drawing the eye as each cover shows a different scene. The front cover
of this book depicts the day when a dragon asked for the Map of Time so
that it could fuse with the True Dragon of Time. The dracnari has an
outstretched claw towards the Temporal Conclave, researching out the
believed answer to Yugomaru. Behind the dracnari, its shadow fills a
larger space than it should, taking the shape of its true dragon form.
Above the two, bright ruby red meteors appear in a falling motion, mere
moments from crashing into the rest of the scene. The back cover shows
the city of Hallifax with one less spire, the aftermath of the denial of
the dragon's desires, the once bright crystals now in dull and muted
hues.

----

Not sure which is actually better. Probably the throne, but both were last minute designs (and I suck at themes anyways)

Luce

appearance a draconic devastation platter
dropped A draconic devastation platter awaits consumption here.
examined
Sculpted from chocolate and sugar glass, this platter is as much a piece of art as cuisine. The centerpiece of the work is a watchtower of Holy Celestine Imperial design, apparently being assaulted by a flying dragon. It is not clear where the chocolate ends and the sugar begins, as a great deal of the sugar glass is nearly opaque or coated with chocolate powder. The tower has tiny sculpted figures of ambiguous race and gender lifting tiny spears and staves at the encroaching dragon, and a shell surrounds it with lines and protective highmagic designs etched throughout it. The large dragon is depicted in a position that could be interpreted as an attack or as merely preparing to do so, with its snout in an aggressive snarl and its wings swept forward. A great deal of care has gone into making the tower and dragon look realistic, down to individual bricks and scales etched into the confectionary dish. A small match and ampoule of alcohol has been set aside, likely for use when the dish is served.
consume
You break open the ampoule of alcohol and pour it into a cleverly concealed well in the dragon's neck, where it pools until you ignite it with the match. The chocolate begins to melt and pour out of the dragon's mouth and into a series of channels that sees the liquid chocolate spread out like a flame over the shield. The chocolate flame drizzles onto the defensive spell and runs along the grooves of the spellwork until it finds and begins melting several joints and seams, which causes the whole thing to collapse around the tower. Without this shell to protect it, the roof of the tower begins directing the flow of melted cocoa over the sides and into the core of the tower. Again, this eventually causes the joints and seams held together by or created from chocolate to melt away, and the tower soon shares the fate of its shield. What remains is a now-empty shell of spun sugar that held the dragon in its shape and a mound of sugary rubble in a pool of chocolate. With the show over, you are free to start eating the sugar glass dragon while the 'rubble' starts dissolving into the chocolate. There is no specific flavor to the dragon beyond the residual chocolate and rough patches of cocoa powder used to keep the sculpture from getting sticky when handled. The chocolate, once it has cooled, is much sweeter than initial tasting would have suggested, having dissolved enough of the sugar glass to sweeten it as it drizzled down and pooled. Around the rubble of the tower and its shield, partially dissolved runnels of sugar created something of a marbled pattern in the chocolate pool, rendering it even sweeter the closer to the centre of the dish you get. Finally, you finish off the last of the tooth-achingly sweet rubble and leave the empty platter, which bears the hourglass pattern of the Seal of Time.
smell The rich scent of chocolate is the only notable thing you can smell from a draconic devastation platter.
taste You tentatively break a spike from the tail of the dragon which only tastes sweet, then another from its back which carries the bitter taste of dark chocolate. The spears from the defenders carry that same bitter taste, but the shields are primarily just chalky sugar bonbons.
commodities cocoa 4 sugar 19 milk 3

Misericorde

Appearance:
a translucent dragon lantern veined with silver cracks
Dropped:
Sending patterns of light dancing across the ground, a translucent dragon lantern veined with silver cracks rests here.
Examined:
The delicate wooden framework of this sky lantern upholds the majestic figure of a Mature Dragon balanced on the span of its wide, sinuous tail; panels of glassine paper stretched between the lattices ripple with iridescence, as if the votive were not quite in phase with time. Its wings raised at the apex of a beat, the dragon's broad shoulders give way to a serpentine neck arched high, its innate superiority at odds with an expression that conveys an equal measure of resigned acceptance and determination of its fate. From the dragon's heart spread skeins of silver, riddling its body with spidery cracks that glimmer and glisten from any brush of light. A small hole just beneath the wings allows for a piece of tinder to light the candle suspended within this paperwork creation.
Ambient:

Rising in the pursuit of its Yugomaru, a translucent dragon lantern catches flame from the inside out, burning until all that remain of its false Quickening are skeins of silvery smoke.

Appearance:
an alabaster throne commemorating an attempt at Yugomaru
Dropped:
A diminutive throne of alabaster marble is crowned with a sinuous Mature Dragon caught in the moment of its rapturous Yugomaru.
Examined:
Sculpted from alabaster marble, the base of this diminutive throne is formed from a series of arches over which the Stairs of Sacrifice are enshrined in ruin. Blackened and charred from dragon flame, slick pools of heat-blasted obsidian pock the landscape while vicious claw marks bespeak a relentless assault. Nonetheless, despite the damage sustained from a tortuous flame, frost clings here and there in the nooks and crags rendered from the mountainous topography. A sylphic Mature Dragon, its lithe body held aloft by aquamarine-tinged currents of stylised wind spanning betwixt curved stiles, crowns the design's apex. The dragon's halcyon gaze stares fixedly at the Seal of Time cradled between its claws; the sandstone disc has disintegrated where touched, creating a series of silvery web-like cracks that radiate outwards from Isikathi's Seal and ultimately course through the dragon, as if its serpentine body were splintering from waves of temporal energy.

Shaddus

This was submitted for Mahalath through their cartel. I am super, super surprised it didn't place or even get a honorable mention.

This was supposed to be submitted by me, but I don't know if I actually remembered to submit it. It was originally supposed to be made from clay, and formed to be more like a chalkboard.

This and This were both designed on an alt and the first was submitted after I stared at the second and decided it wasn't good enough.

Sapphira

Appearance:

an imposing crown bearing a smog-wreathed dragon

Dropped:

Glinting ominously, a smog-wreathed dragon crown has been placed here.

Examined:

Steel and iron pulled into long, thin wires twist and twine about each

other in a chaotic jumble, forming the delicate foundation of this

crown. Cunningly wrought strands form spires and towers that rise from

this tangle in an abstract mimicry of the Magnagoran skyline, presiding

above the ever-present haze below. Braced upon these metallic structures

is a majestic crystalline dragon, its myriad of polished facets shaped

like minuscule blackened scales rendered in smoky, semi-opaque quartz.

Glimpsed between the scales are tiny obsidian veins, snaking through the

inert creature's body as though carrying black, tainted ichor; a

stylized representation of the change wrought when the torrent of

tainted fumes flooded its living counterpart, the narrow striations seem

ominously dark even beside the ebon scales. The magnificent dragon coils

halfway around the perimeter of the crown, poised to soar into the skies

while dwarfing the architecture that bears its weight. Six individual

wings unfold from the length of its spine, sculpted with a skilled hand

from the same caliginous quartz stone. The murky crystal appendages have

been imbued with spectral ectoplasm that churns endlessly with a muted

lambency, creating an effect akin to roiling smog, as though the replica

beast was wreathed by the tainted effluvium its living twin had eagerly

consumed. Minute details continue in the colourless eyes of milky agate

that gaze upward towards the unseen sky, and the intricate pellucid

teeth glinting within an open maw, as well as wicked onyx claws gripping

their wire supports. An elaborate display of intricate craftsmanship

and artistic ingenuity, the crown is an imposing adornment that rests

heavily on any brow.

Vexacion

Appearance:
a skin-clothed chandelier of draconic remains

Dropped:
A macabre chandelier has been suspended on iron hooks, flickering candle flames burning at its skeletal core.

Examined:
A trio of sooty, black iron hooks have been secured to the ceiling, supporting this behemoth chandelier by fastening through links of steel chain that suspend its weight many feet above the ground. The main feature of the chandelier itself is a gruesome skeleton set upon a ring of iron as if it might be roosting, its draconic wings outstretched gloriously on either side of the structure: a wyvern, snarling from its perch. Tanned mammoth hides of mismatched colors have been stretched across key bones and clipped into place with iron to create the illusion of a living beast whose skin has sloughed off, likening it to zombified creatures across the Basin of Life. The visible skeleton has been given a scrimshaw pattern of filigree, rubbed with tints of black, gold, yellow and red mixed with crushed powerstones to afford the carved crevices a scintillating, inflamed luminescence that complements the faceted rubies set deep within its sightless eyes. Strong wires have affixed the wyvern's lower jaw into its snarl to ensure a lifetime of silent threats upon intruders to its domain. Tapering horns carved from mammoth ivory have been affixed to the skull's forehead, jutting to either side of its face before curving in an upward parallel to the skull's structure. Strung between the great horns are sinews that dangle cracked bells of gleaming gold between the gap. The draconic figure is lit from within, thirteen candlesticks rising above the iron ring at staggered heights to hold tall pillar candles of black wax that cast eerie, flickering illumination through gaps in the skeleton, emphasizing shadows as much as dispersing them.

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I'm really surprised I got an honorable mention, given this is both very short for an item's description and more on the dark side, but I really wanted to speak to the designs that Magnagora had on the dragons that came to Magnagora, which was to Taint them and later make them undead. I'm really honored to have even gotten mentioned!

Yinuish

Appearance:

an elaborate shield enchased with brilliantly enamelled draconic figures

Examined:

The body of this circular shield is formed from a weighty silver, the

metal darkened with oxidisation to give depth to the raised fretwork

that wraps around the shield boss and forms elaborate spokes equidistant

around the body of the piece. The fretwork is cast from ruddy gold,

worked into cresting waves bordered with granulation to form repeating

spirals along the length of the body, curling tighter in on itself until

terminating at the shield boss. The entire City of Celest rendered in

miniature comprises the boss itself, complete with the tall structure of

Light's Glory and the Pool of Stars both emanating a subtle glow

intermittently from the light essence folded within the gold. The focal

point of the boss is a small cluster of figures, one holding aloft a

miniature broom warding away the draconic figure that hovers menacingly

above. Each scale of the dragon has been lovingly etched and enamelled

in brilliant jewelled hues, and the eyes have been set with faceted

diamonds designed to reflect rainbows of light. The shield is bordered

with a thick edging of gold, the polished metal raised into coiling

serpentine bodies that mirror and curl into each other all around the

band in a riot of colour. Each dragon pair twists inward, heads twined

with its mate and facing outward from the shield's edge with a baleful

stare. The reverse of the shield is lined in a buttery soft white

leather, covered with a tessellated pattern of stylised dragons of

various shades, tails and heads linked together in a perfect repeating

image. Thick straps of sturdier leather are riveted in to fasten to the

arm of the bearer, with a smooth polished wooden grip that bears two

long golden tassels that hang below the rim of the shield. The silken

fringing of the tassels is knotted with saltwater pearls and tiny gold

bells and charms that sound with any movement of the bearer.

Shulamit

Appearance:

deeply dreaming dragons of indigo and ivory

Examined:

Nestled between the bearer's shoulder blades, this sleek tattoo has been inked on in dreamy hues of indigo and soporific shades of ivory. The subtle shades warp and waver as they twist through the gaggle of sleeping dragons, each vaguely reptilian creature a unique tint, all clearly delimited with lines of pure black that encapsulate their sinuous forms. Curled around each other, the dragons form a sleeping pile of lean flesh and muscle, long limbs curled around one another. The two dragons at the front of the snoozing pile face one another, pink-tinted clawed hands clasping one another, heads pushed against each other to the point of distorting their faces, eyes squished shut. A small airy bubble of fluffy white hovers above the pile of dragons, filled with dreamy renditions of food, of other smaller dragons, of far off distant spires, and other exotic fantasies.

Appearance:

goofy dragon socks

Dropped:

The lifeless look of dead black onyx eyes stares up from a pair of vaguely dragon-shaped socks that have been left here.

Examined:

Squishy and soft, these thick socks have been knit from a copious amount of comfortably cosy yarn. The yarn itself is of fine moorvic wool, sourced from the highest quality ewes Paavik has to offer. Dyed a deep ruby colour, the wool has been knit into a vaguely draconic shape, the tail of the dragon at the toes with the open mouth making up the cuffs. Artful use of both knitting and purling have created distinct scales on the sinuous socks, the edges of each scale embroidered with gold silk thread of the highest quality. Fuzzy felted teeth jut from the cuff of each sock, ineffectually biting at the calf of anyone who wears them, the slightly rough texture helping to hold the socks up when worn. A pair of lifeless onyx eyes stare up from the cuff of the socks, inert and unseeing.

Appearance:

a covetous dragon origami atop a mass of gold

Dropped:

Greedily clutching a pile of shiny gold sovereigns, an amethyst dragon origami protects it's tiny hoard from passersby.

Examined:

Singularly petite, an elegant amethyst dragon clutches a bulbous mass of shiny gold sovereigns, all of which has been folded from thick sheets of vellum. The mass of glittering gold is far far larger than the wee dragon, large enough for the minuscule creature to easily lounge on top of the folded paper hoard. And clutching onto the hoard of precious metal is exactly what the minuscule critter is doing, little paper claws digging into the edges of two of the coins in the pile, each coin as large as the avaricious little origami dragon's head. Even smaller teeth line the dragon's mouth, a tiny golden tongue sticking out, flopping against the golden coins. Carefully peeling back the diminutive dragon, one can access the interior of the modular origami, storing even more prizes inside for the creature to greedily guard.

Appearance:

a rainbow-hued dragon-winged swing

Dropped:

A rainbow-hued swing sways in the breeze here, large wooden dragon wings wrapped around the seat.

Examined:

Hewn from rainbow coloured wood, this heavy swing has been set up to be

free-standing from any nearby structures. The swing hangs off a simple

wooden frame, the rainbow wood a riot of colours. Crushed diamonds have

been sprinkled all over the frame, causing it to sparkle and glimmer in

any available light. A massive pair of dragon wings jut from the sides

of the frame, wrapping around and protecting the swing inside. Each wing

has been delicately carved with numerous scales of various sizes, some

of the scales bearing small slivers of gems to create an even more

scintillating appearance. The swing still has enough room to move, the

wings just far enough apart that the swing can swing through them as

though flying. A soft rose-red cushion has been attached to the seat

with thick canvas ties, the soft cotton covered with a thick layer of

wax to keep the fabric from degrading in the weather.

Appearance:

a bowl of dragonfire soup

Dropped:

A bowl of spicy dragonfire soup lies on the ground here.

Examined:

Large chunks of spicy meat float in the broth of this peppery

concoction. Small flecks of ground chillies float in the broth,

alongside the distinct grains of black pepper. Not only is the soup hot

in a spicy sense, it appears to also be piping hot in the temperature

sense. Small tendrils of steam rise from the bowl, carrying the scent of

the spices into the air. The bowl itself is a simple wooden affair,

painted with small flame designs meant to warn the future eater of this

soup.

Consume:

As you begin to carefully sip on this hot concoction, your eyes begin to water as your nose begins to run slightly. The spices overpower the chunks of meat, which seem to only be in the soup to convey even more spice into your mouth. After managing to finish half the bowl, your mouth becomes slightly numb, making eating the rest of the soup quite easy.

Smell:

Taking a whiff of this soup, your eyes water as the pungent aroma of spices tickles your sinuses.

Taste:

Carefully taking a sip of soup, your mouth tingles slightly from the heat of the ingredients.

Appearance:

a draconic jewelrybox

Dropped:

A heavy walnut jewelrybox decorated with an ornate gold leaf dragon has been dropped here.

Examined:

Carved from dark walnut wood, this heavy jewelrybox has been adorned

with the likeness of an elegant dragon crafted from thin sheets of gold

leaf. The design has been carved into the wood underneath the gold leaf

as well, creating a textured surface. Two glittering sapphires have been

used for the dragon's eyes, contrasting with the bright gold. The

interior of the jewelrybox has been lined in soft cotton, decorated with

red and gold in a flame pattern.

Appearance:

roaring dragon nunchakus

Dropped:

A pair of roaring dragon nunchakus has been left here.

Examined:

Solid steel creates the body of these nunchakus, the cylinders heavily

modified to resemble a pair of long slender dragons. Thin lines of

copper wire decorate the edges of each scale on the first of the

dragons, whereas gold leaf decorates the interior of each scale on the

second dragon. Flames of ruby and gold peek out of each dragon's mouth,

the edges of each ruby ground to a point. A chain of steel covered in

gold leaf connects both dragons, the ends of each looped through their

tails.

Silvanos

My submission was this-

#: 30879 Item: Apron Type: Accessories Org: LunaCloth Designer: Silvanos

Commodities: cloth 5 silk 2 whitetint 1 blacktint 1 redtint 1 ruby 1 palette 1

Mortal Reviews: Allowed

Layer: OVERWEAR Bodyparts: gut, waist

IMPORTANT: The main noun MUST use one of these: APRON

Appearance:

a heavily embroidered kitchen apron

Dropped:

A heavily embroidered kitchen apron lies here.

Examined:

Long white cloth makes up the body of this apron, which has been cut to

generously cover whoever might wear it. Having several small pockets set

in to the front, it was designed to be used in the kitchen, which is

also evident in the embroidered design on it. Silk thread of many colors

has been stitched into the form of a very large colorful dragon. The

dragon is breathing fire into a dark oven, appearing to be trying to

kindle the coal within. Small rubies have been threaded onto red silk

thread to make up the fire, causing it to glint in any available light.

Two long cotton straps allow the garment to be firmly fastened to the

body, ensuring that it will not fly away.

----

I also made another dragon thing, for Aeral, but didn't submit it for beauty. It was this!

#: 30923 Item: Scarf Type: Accessories Org: LunaCloth Designer: Silvanos

Commodities: cloth 10 palette 1 whitetint 1 redtint 1 orangetint 1 blacktint 1

Mortal Reviews: Allowed

Layer: OVERWEAR Bodyparts: neck

IMPORTANT: The main noun MUST use one of these: SCARF

Appearance:

a gaudy scarf festooned with dragons

Dropped:

A gaudy scarf festooned with dragons gathers dust here.

Examined:

Made of warm white wool, this scarf is about four feet long and a foot

wide. Festooned over the entire length of it are many stylized dragons,

each more colorful than the last. Their scales shine across the rainbow

of colors in all shades and hues. All of them are round and pudgy with

dopey expressions upon their faces, the end result being that they look

entirely unthreatening. Some of them are blowing orange and red fire

while others are trying to play instruments and failing badly, if the

broken musical notes coming off the instruments are anything to go by.

One particularly spherical dragon is on its back, playing with what

appears to be a very large ball of yarn. There are so many dorky looking

dragons on this scarf that the body of the scarf itself is quite hard to

see.

----

So many cute dragons. So many.

Coraline

#: 30877 Item: Pedestal Type: Pedestals Org: Artyart Designer: Coraline

Commodities: silver 35 gems 35 silvertint 5
Appearance:

a pellucid pedestal of Yugomaru achieved

Dropped:

Coated in glass, an argentine pedestal depicts Yugomaru in sublime majesty.

Examined:

Forged out of lustrous silver, the metallic base of this sinuous

pedestal takes the shape of a coiled draconian tail, every sculpted

scale on its surface gleaming in a lustrous sheen. Each coil adds height

to the pedestal, wound into a rough cylindrical shape, until it crests

into the majestic form of a True Dragon at the centre. The slender,

saurian head of the dragon is dipped slightly downwards, and its eyes

are closed in ecstasy, the eyelids polished with silver tincture to make

them glitter in the light available. The entirety of the pedestal has

been coated in a generous layer of transparent glass, reflecting and

refracting the available light in kaleidoscopic hues. While the glass

coating runs parallel to the coiling of the tail at the base, the

surface is covered in smooth waves to vaguely mimic the protrusion of

the scales. The crystalline outer surface unfurls into the varied forms

of smaller dragons at the crest, their glassy frames surrounding the

True Dragon as they appear to meld and merge into its shimmering

metallic form. While the draconic shapes start out more defined at the

base - transparent scales sculpted in precise definition from the glass

- they become more fluid and abstract as the pedestal rises, and their

scales begin to take on a more metallic form.

I thought this wasn't fabulous enough, so I also submitted a cake:

#: 30893 Item: Cake Type: Cakes Org: Sugary Designer: Coraline

Ingredients: grain 2 sugar 3 eggs 2 milk 2 fruit 2 cocoa 2 ambermalt 1 meat 1

Appearance:

a timeless cake of Yugomaru attempted

Dropped:

Its mirror glaze shattered, a cake depicting the Seal of Time portrays an attempt of Yugomaru.

Examined:

Around ten inches in diameter, this cake has been coated with a layer of

breathtakingly beautiful mirror glaze, resembling polished crystal in

its lustre. Eddies of indigo, cobalt, and azure appear to dance and

shift under the surface of the pellucid glaze, forming odd shapes and

reflections that impart upon it a dizzyingly hypnotic allure. The mirror

glaze is cracked and shattered at places, forming lighter and darker

shades of blue that mimic specks of light and shadow, although they are

haphazardly arrayed upon the surface of the cake in a disorientingly

chaotic pattern. Sinuous and draconic shapes, covered in sugary scales

that gleam in opalescent hues, can be seen through some of the fissures

- their fluid shapes almost appearing to creep and crawl under the

surface of the cake. Long forked tongues, made of marshmallow fondant,

peek out through other smaller crevices - coiled slightly in a

serpentine fashion. A menacing reptilian eye made of yellow candy and

black liquorice protrudes from a lanceolate gash at the centre, slit

pupil facing upwards in a malevolent glare. A thin trail of rum casts

honeyed hues upon the cerulean surface of the glaze, to flambe with a

torch before the cake is consumed.

Consume:

Putting a torch to the trail of rum leads to a flash of flambe that

suddenly flares up in an intense blaze of gold-limned blue. When the

flame dies down, the mirror glaze surrounding the liquor is melted away,

revealing a chocolate mousse interior. Charred sugar blossoms into

caramel and twines with the saccharine bursts of sugar as the remaining

glaze melts upon your tongue, burnt notes of rum intermingling with the

decadent flourish of chocolate as you dig into the light and airy

interior. Redolent chocolate notes burst into the silken accents of rich

chocolaty syrup as you discover that the mousse has been filled with

warm ganache, which readily spills out of the cake and coats your tongue

as you eagerly put spoonfuls in your mouth. You continue on to the

centre until you reach the candy eye, which you readily pluck out and

pop into your mouth. Strong notes of liquorice pierce through the sugary

candy as you chew, leaving a spicy aftertaste that lingers upon your

tongue as you move on to the sugared dragon. Sugar scales crackle and

snap as they shatter while the fondant tongue sticks to your teeth -

overwhelming your taste buds with a cloying sweetness - as the icing

gives way to creamy chocolate mousse. The texture is fluffy and

cloud-like, and you find juicy slivers of strawberries wedged within. As

you finish off the cake, you leave behind a few crumbs and a couple of

glittering sugar scales.

Smell:

Heady notes of rum twine with the saccharine aromatics of mirror glaze, with a light hint of chocolate lingering in the background.

Taste:

You break off a piece of shattered mirror glaze and sample it. It almost immediately melts away in your mouth as hints of white chocolate and marshmallow blossom amidst sweet notes of sugar.