Hi all, as requested, I made this new discussion post so we can all share our costumes, gimmicks and our thoughts and opinions about them. I'll start first!
Character Description:Exhibiting the grand poise worthy of a Lord of Magnagora, this man oozes calm but assured confidence, each movement made with a measure of grace. Control lies accentuated within each simple movement: the pass of the hand, ease of gait, angular turn of the head, all is accented by the lithe muscular form he bears encased in pale, aristocratic flesh. Let no mistake be made, in that it is apparent that he is an ordinary archlich human ouroborian demigod changeling, whose skeletal form towers overhead. His limbs are but bone and dark withered muscle, long and spindly, appearing simultaneously fragile and powerful with all the grace of a trained warrior. His hands are similarly angular, each finger tapering into a thin, sharp-looking point. Bone twists into a rib cage down the centre of his chest, curling over cloth and armour alike, each rib curving to connect to his surprisingly limber spine. The bottom of his sternum extends further downward, splitting into a facsimile of a pelvis, before again splitting, bone growing forth and angling backwards, then upward, splitting again to form shapes similar to a stag's antlers, each tine deadly sharp. From his scarred skull peer two eyes, one merely pale mist whilst the other a dark, glowing gold. Tall spires of bone, sharpening to wicked points, arch from either shoulder.
Item: a tattered robe of necrotic dominance, rippling softly from an unseen windDescription:
The oblivion of death reigns over this heavy, almost formless robe. The
shape of the body beneath is obscured from throat to toe in thick, deep
black cloth, the tattered hem covering the feet and making the wearer
appear to glide rather than walk. Some shape is added to the upper
portion thanks to the front of a ribcage sewn to the chest. Contrary to
normal skeletal structure, several lengths of bone almost like wings or
additional limbs reach out from the bottom of the ribcage, curving
behind the back and rising up in sharp spikes over the shoulders. A
final deathly flourish is provided by a sheet of transparent, spectrally
treated silk forming tattered sleeves and an ominously glowing mantle.
Item: a skeletal mask of crowned death.Description:
This macabre mask, shaped almost entirely from bone and secured by
strips of leather, makes a definite statement on the nature of death.
The entire front, from chin to forehead, has been carved from a skull
and lacquered for preservation. The remaining bone has been worked into
spikes and spaced around the forehead, jutting upward in a shape
reminiscent of a crown. The combination of the skull's crown, rictus
grin and empty eye sockets gives the mask a distinct air of amused
arrogance.
Item: a severing scythe
Description:
Rough, unfinished ravenwood comprises the handle of this malicious weapon, nearly as long as the average human is tall. About the midsection of the haft, tattered black fabric has been wrapped about and secured with a rudimentary knot, providing a grip. At the apex of the shaft, the wood swells, one side coming to a carefully-carved point while the other supports the wide, crescent-shaped blade of the weapon. Forged of steel, the edge gleams brightly; though chipped and nicked in places, it nonetheless possesses a deadly honed precision.
Gimmick:
Lysandus stands in front of the crowd and taps the blunt end of a severing scythe on the floor. "As you all know, we Magnagorans have a long history with death, given our ties with Urlach, the Ur'Guard and Necromancy. Unlike others who view it as some sort of taboo or reverence, you may say we worship death to a degree." He looks around solemnly and raised his boney hand clenched into a fist. "What better way to show it off than to be what I think the Aspect of Death would look like." he then expertly twirls the scythe over the air and catches it deftly on his other hand, "Every death, from the smallest mouse, to the strongest Demigod or Ascendant out there or even slaying spawns of Kethuru, I grow stronger, I feed on souls and essence seeping through the wounds of their vessel as the warmth of life slowly fades away." he grins behind his mask, "If given the chance, I would deny the souls going through the tapestry of life and feed on it!" He cackles madly before coughing and nods, "That would be all."
Comments
Edited to format!
Clad head to ankle in macabre elegance, all left revealed by the gruesome ensemble makes it clear
that he is a fiendish viscanti sand-scoured demigod. Though his stature is blandly average, and
costumery obfuscates many of his defining features, his poise is unmistakable: the cold rigidity of
iron is belied in his stance, and the trademark haughtiness of his race bleeds through the slow
pronouncement of near every motion. Restraining a curtain of loose, brown-black curls that falls to
the middle of his chest, a quartet of polished horns sweeps back from just above his forehead, their
curve severe and aiming the silver-capped points to just behind his ears. Slim, but not gangly, the
man's lightly-muscled frame is bound in flesh toned a reddish ochre, blooming with profusions of
violet reminiscent of bruising where it stretches thin over his joints. Brief glimpses of the lower
body permitted by the tatters of his gown reveal fur, all black as night and patchily grown over a
half-made mockery of aslari legs.
Item: a wretched iron halo headpiece
Spindly spikes of iron frame a semicircle around the head, like some
wicked reimagining of a halo from a scene far darker than contemporary
Celestian art. Varying in length, perhaps half a meter at the shortest,
the needle-like protrusions threaten a nasty prick for any who dawdle
too close to the wearer. Between them manifests something of a twisted
dreamcatcher's web, a thing of barbed iron wire snagged by strips of
torn lace all throughout its toothy criss-crosses. Central to the wicked
web, a polished cherub skull joins the headpiece to its anchoring band,
the once pristine bone now graven with glyphs of the sephiroth. Gemstone
inlays highlight each sphere in turn, from rubescent Malkuth to violet
Kether, their joined array ringing a stake pounded straight through the
top of the skull.
Item: a demon-skull mask of stretched skin and gore
The picture of horror, this painted wood mask is a monstrous thing of
glistening, sanguinary hues juxtaposed with the white of fresh bone.
Layers of paper mache stained deep crimson fan out above, below and to
either side of the face, made up to resemble skin peeled back and away
from the skull. What exists beneath is not the exposed likeness of any
Item: an off-the-shoulder angel wing cape
elegance. The feathers retain their natural, tiered arrangement, as
Item: a corseted gown of bared, bleeding wounds
Gimmick:
wrist. With an audible 'click', a mechanism within the cherub's skull that crowns his headpiece is
triggered, its eyes outpouring a deluge of crimson liquid to further stain his mask and gown.
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Rather diminutive, standing shy of two feet tall, she is a nimble faeling sugar-dusted demigoddess. White powdered sugar freckles dapple her pale mauve skin in playful constellations. With a vibrant presence full of life, her cheeks are flush with a cheerful rosy undertone which compliments the blushing shade of her lips. Pastel rose lashes frame brilliant lavender eyes demurely, only enhancing the ingenue cast of her features when paired with her button nose, which twitches habitually. Frothy pink curls highlight the innocent roundness of her face, her vivid locks equally lavish and whimsical as they struggle against the pale violet ribbon netting. The pointed tips of her ears just barely crest the rolling waves of pink curls. Thin and gossamer wings sprout from her back, reminiscent of a bumblebee's, their transparent chitin decorated with intricate segmentation. Each cell is painted with pastel hues, catching the light like thin panes of stained-glass fashioned from rock candy. A chaos butterfly is resting on her shoulder.
This was not the mask I'd designed for the costume, but unfortunately mine was not approved in time! So, this was a back-up that fit the color palette. Special thanks to @Silvanos sewing everything for me!
She is a fiendish undead irontongue viscanti damned demigoddess and cuts an elegant, alluring figure, styled exquisitely for the Masquerade Ball, heels adding to her normally diminutive height. Surely blessed by the fates, her face is a vision of aristocratic symmetry and noble elegance, despite the upper sweep of her face being hidden behind an ivory mask. Her hair has been darkened to pitch and styled into an elegant up-do, adorned with a gleaming white amaranth blossom. Her eyes are striking; vivid lapis in hue, they are big and bright, the hue enhanced by the application of shadowy kohl and long, dark lashes. Protruding from her brow are two small ivory horns; never growing to great prominence, they curve gently upwards into rounded, polished tips. Slender, feminine and filled with an innate, seductive grace, the viscanti woman has flawless skin in a soft, dusky roseate hue, fair compared to the deep carmine of her painted lips. Velvety coils of incandescent indigo billow about her shoulders like a luxurious shawl, its threads woven of eventide fog and vespertine blooms.
All you can tell about this person is that they stand about three feet tall. Their costume hides everything except their feet, which appear to be a pair of wide, dark brown paws. From these minimal clues, it's likely that they are a bouncing furrikin. A chaos butterfly is resting on their shoulder.
Items
Thick fur, white and fluffy, spreads out across the torso of this panda suit as a single, pale piece of hide, cut from an exotic snow bear. Sleeves and leggings of inky black fur cut a stark contrast to the blank torso, each limb being just as fuzzy and warm as the pallid central fur. Silk stitches trace an ivory line down the suit's belly and back and ebony bands around its limbs, attaching the fur onto a thick, coarse linen underlay which is in turn tied to a pear-shaped frame of pine. This frame provides the panda suit with a portly figure, complementing its characteristic snuggliness at the cost of a narrow waist. A series of unobstrusive buttons can be spotted on the back of the panda suit, cut from pearl so as to allow the owner to don the suit without ruining the effect completely.
Coarse linens wrap around a sturdy, nearly spherical pine frame to form the foundation of this mask, a single hole left in the bottom of the construction to allow for the wearer's head. White fur, thick and fuzzy, spreads across the linen underlay, gathered into blackened floppy ears in the correct places. Two circular patches of black silk gauze spread across twin holes cut into the fur to serve as eyes, the loose weave of the silk allowing for relatively clear vision. Two white, upturned 'V's' have been dyed into the ocular gauze, combining with a cute, black mouth and an extended pink felt tongue to impart a sense of playfulness or mischief.
At their heart, these gloves are two simple layers of undyed linen, the first and innermost being soft and gentle on the digits within, attached to the second, a coarse but sturdy fabric that provides some additional warmth at the cost of dexterity. Black fur, fuzzy and thick, has been wrapped around these mundane linens, forcing the fingers to work as one with the thumb to accomplish whatever motor skills the wearer attempts.
Pose
Finley waddles forward, the rotund torso of their costume swaying pendulously with each step, wood creaking. Holding up their arms, they show off the gloved paws of their outfit and speak loudly to counteract the muffling effect of their mask, "I was inspired by my papa Nepenthe dressing as himself in order to hide his temporary but embarrassing human form," -- they gesture towards Nepenthe -- "and decided to be a cute furball dressed as a cute furball!" After a pause, they add, "But I'm not human underneath." They slowly spin in a circle to show off their quaint costume, then toddle back over to stand by Chundae and Nepenthe.
@Coraline @Jolanthe
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Constable Uzriel d'Vanecu looms here, projecting an aura of command. He wields a pair of gleaming steel handcuffs in his left hand and an engraved wooden pipe in his right hand.
Accent:
In a laid-back drawl, you say, "Hrm."
Pose:
Outfit details:
a formal uniform coat of the Constabulary
a white long-sleeved dress shirt
fitted blue uniform trousers
Edit: Also changed my title to "Constable Uzriel" sneakily changed Sapphira's title as well.
befits the nobility of Magnagora. Feathers of stormy hues are applied wherever necessary to conceal
the human beneath as much as possible from head to toe. Extending from the feathers on either side
of his head are a pair of curving goat horns, curiously made from what appears to be paper and glue,
and painted a lackluster black. Conspicuously nestled between the horns is a curly tuft of bright
red hair. A plague doctor's mask and goggles hides much of the face, while a bold, thick line of
black facepaint extends from the eyes back to the ears. Flimsy hoses extend from the mask to a
prominent pair of canisters hoisted on his back. A crisp military coat completes the main look,
whose silk-lined pockets are filled with various handwritten documents. One such document is
slightly rolled, thus making the title only partially discernible: 'Constable Cases: The Chortling
Cherubs written and directed by Uzriel d'Vanecu, the Demagogue of D--'. Other smaller papers bearing
cryptic numbers and letters are less noticeable if not for their charred edges and severely wrinkled
states, as if one had crushed them and set them ablaze in a bout of extreme frustration.
the back of his head and ears. At the top, his hair spikes outward in errant locks, each a different
length from its neighbor as though cut in haste or without particular care. (Red Hair Curio)
mechanical goggles set in a mask rent with dark fissures attached to hoses, serving as a respirator.
a fesix backpack augmented to look like two cylindrical canisters strapped to the back complete with
hoses and gears
a black leather plague mask lined in ebony feathers that conceals most of the face and blends into
the rest of the costume
carnelian prayer beads shaped like demonic imps
a crisp ebon military coat edged in gold, its pockets stuffed with various parchments
dapper swan robes of ebony and stormy blue hues
polished black boots retrofitted with flaps of leather supported in a wire frame to resemble
leathery legs and webbed feet
a sanguine choker of rubescent blood drops from which hangs a small gold medallion stamped with the
letter 'A'
a snug pair of ebony riding gloves edged in stormy blue and extensively decorated with black swan
feathers
a simple belt of black leather from which hangs various scientific contraptions and a replica of an
Iron Key to the Infernal Machine
the Medallion of Harmony encased in a similar, hollowed replica with the word 'Knowledge' written in
a child-like scrawl and a backwards 'd'.
striped markings of face-paint. (Wodewose black facepaint)
wearer's form, exemplifying the pinnacle of refinement. Glossy ebony
feathers limned in stormy blue hues have been painstakingly sewn into
the fabric throughout, each feather delicately pressed in layers to
resemble the sleek plumage of a swan. In subtle juxtaposition with the
slightly lighter hues of the main body of the garment, each sleeve is
tinted with the darkest hues and their decoration reserved for feathers
of only the deepest black.
Xiran's
Although glimmers of ethereal energy fade in the wake of her dusty green wings, she is a nimble faeling titan of unremarkable stature, little bigger than a pooka. Joyous and unrestrained in flight, moments of stillness reveal white half- moons mottling the furthest extent of her translucent moth wings. Traces of viridian veins marble her pale skin. Her silvery hair has pulled back into a thick braid, an emerald flower secured at the tail. Dancing in the breeze of her fluttering wings, unbound strands of silver follow the softened contours of her aged pixie face. Accented by laugh lines, a connatural gleam of mischief lights her eyes.
She is wearing:
an emerald rose, sending glimmers of green through her hair
a shimmering snowflake mask
a webbed wedding band of platinum
a snowy cloak adorned with moonglory
a soft white dress of delicate eyelet lace with
a bright red poppy,
a tiger lily, and
a cool tulip of dusk woven tucked into the white ribbon at the hem.
a silver and moonstone scabbard secured to her calf with black suede straps
a pair of stomped toad slippers tucked into her beribboned waist like squished trophies.
Gimmick (while she was actually wearing the shoes properly):
Xiran curtseys, one stomped toad slipper briefly crossing behind her ankle, nudging the end of her scabbard.
You say, "Thank you for hosting this event! I've taken to depicting a snow-dusted forest giving way to spring."
Reasonably, Xiran says, "Since it's the domain of the First of the Crones, naturally the soil is quite fertile thanks to..." She trails off with an impish grin.
You display a pair of stomped toad slippers for all in the room to see.
Item: a pair of stomped toad slippers
The polished leather bodies of these slippers are wildly unrefined and imperfect, left with pebbly bumps and warty aberrations against a swampy brown finish. Yet this hardly seems out of place, for two pairs of wrinkly legs sprout out from around their collars, and a distinctly toad-like head crowns the toe of each. Two eyes fashioned from hollowed glass discs anchor along either side of each toe, with a small black marble trapped within. Each time the slippers move and shift, the marble darts around like an exceptionally erratic pupil. The very tip of the toe is further embellished with a floppy red felt tongue that dangles just to the edge of the sole, as though the depicted toad is gagging or gasping. To help round out the story of visuals told by these slippers, the vamp of either slipper is mashed with deep indentations, resembling the imprint left by a heavy boot. The fleece interiors of the slippers are dyed a ghastly puce, coloured like flesh and viscera despite being quite soft and plush.
Fave Reaction:
A startled laugh escapes Sapphira's lips, which is quickly stifled as her hand moves to politely cover her mouth.
Thanks for fun times!
Avatar made through Picrew
The base of this delicate half-mask has been fashioned entirely of platinum and studded with flat onyxes throughout to give it a rough, corrugated finish. Fashioned into a decidedly piscine shape, it rests upon the ridge of the nose and arches along the contours of the cheekbones to cover the top portion of the face. The eyeholes are fringed with a thick application of golden tincture that draws attention to and accentuates their lanceolate shape, contrasting sharply with a lighter dusting of the same glossy tint upon the scaled brow ridges and the large, puckered lips that cover the tip of the wearer's nose. Golden scales align with the wearer's temples to form a close semblance to gills, the ends of which form tiny O-rings that have been teased through with taffeta to add a hint of salmon pink. Bony pectoral fins flare out to the sides from behind these gills - ribbons of golden silk have been threaded through onyx-studded platinum spines to lend to them their characteristically webbed appearance.
Pooling charmeuse settles around the hem of this skirt, dragging along the ground regardless of who wears it and fraying the material into ragged ends of formerly sateen elegance. A deep indigo colours the silk there, before transitioning into midnight black along a gradient as it ascends upwards towards the torso. Tiny studs of silver festoon the length that conceals the knees and calves, with delicate argent threads connecting them to outline varying whimsical constellations: from whales, to dragons, to shields and fists. Inky, chitinous protrusions further accent the skirt amidst the metallic constellations, often cutting through the fabric around and through their formations in barbed arms that hook towards the torso. These protrusions are as small as thorns near the hem, progressively growing in scale and length as they spike higher into the bodice. The bodice itself is reinforced with blackened iron bands, layered to resemble armoured plating with a delicate structure that sculpts the spine into proper posture in a modestly flattering style. A single silver star is depicted on the chest, where a final, large protrusion extends in the form of a black sword hilt - hollowed to reduced weight, and poised to appear as though it has plunged through the sternum from an upward angle. The shoulders are supported by simple buckled bands of leather, leaving the arms bare.
Description:
Costume:
an unsettlingly lifelike loboshigaru head mask
Covered in white wolf's fur, these snug gloves conform comfortably to the hands and end in slim cuffs meant to tuck into a long-sleeved garment. Soft buttons of black suede adorn the palms and fingertips, imitating with lifelike veracity the paw pads of a loboshigaru, further enhanced by the blunted chips of wood affixed to imitate well manicured claws.
faux paw boots
Crafted around wooden supports meant to hold plantigrade feet in a digitigrade position, these boots look for all the world like a pair of canine hind legs. White wolf's fur wraps the entire garment, extending partway up the shin to end in snug cuffs that could tuck easily under the hems of long trousers. Black paw pads made of soft but durable leather provide some traction underfoot, while blunt chips of wood upon the toes give the appearance of well manicured little claws.
Gimmick:
At the call of his name, Nepenthe immediately begins voguing wildly across the open floorspace, striking dramatic poses each time he reaches the edge of the crowd and swinging his hips with each step to wag his lifeless tail.
The jaw of his mask flapping rigidly, Nepenthe says, "Anybody who knows me knows I'm glamours all the way down, but the costume I put together here is a disguise so convincing that my own husband and pup couldn't even tell I'm actually, horrifyingly, a ~HUMAN~ underneath it all!"
Finley Dahyu says, "It's so disconcerti~i~ing!"
As he makes erratic hand gestures about his face, Nepenthe's mask twists around backwards, its vacant eye sockets staring out garishly behind him as he continues to strut around the ballroom. When he finally makes his way back to the judges, he performs a showy bow for them, and then to the audience.
Muttering under her breath, Coraline Myeras whispers, "You can go as yourself, that's... that's cheating..."
Nepenthe shuffles back through the crowd to stand near Finley, only then taking a second to get his head on straight.
Coraline applauds the presentation, despite herself.
Alabaster Lady Zau d'Vanecu, the Earthen Eminence says to Coraline, "You, uh... You're gonna hate my costume then..."
Nepenthe stamps the lifeless leathery nose of his mask to the side of Finley's own panda mask in some awful approximation of a peck on the cheek.
As Cory's own costume developed more, though, it started to remind me slightly of a concept/character from a different game. Which prompted me to muse about being a related counterpoint character - this ended up snowballing into tailoring a few specific patterns that could fulfill the vision effectively while also customising it into being interpreted in various IC fashions (rather than a strictly OOC one), so that ended up being the basis for The Defeated. Mask and gown are the new patterns, while the gloves and cape were otherwise existing and supplementary:
<><><>
And so when everything was accepted, we had to figure out if we wanted to attend as a fish duo or as very opposite looking costumes. I figured I could just swap out later via glamrock later at some point, and this idea for cheating the system and effectively going as "both" is what lead to the fish slap-off subplot being brewed along the way. Mostly random and nonsensical, but it was fun to get wound up into it and roll along.
It has 88 months of usefulness left.
It has the following aliases: mask.
It weighs about 3 pounds and 0 ounce(s).
It does not retain any heat whatsoever.
The beauteous craftsmanship of Warlady Kailanna n'Kylbar, Matriarch of Jackals radiates throughout it.
It has been stamped with the seal of The Nightsoigne Tailoring Cartel.
This item exists on the following clothing slots: Face - Overwear.
This finely tailored three piece gentleman's suit proudly reflects the refinement of industry. Jacket, pants, and waistcoat have been sewn from the highest quality fabrics and dyed a deep pitch-black, and the shirt and pocket square are made from expensive silks coloured a gleaming, metallic silver. The tie matches the jacket in shade and is tied with a puzzling, almost mechanical knot. Buttons, cuff-links, and tie clip are all tiny clockworks fashioned of polished iron, and the jacket's lapels share the same ferrous hue. Faint tracings of silver embroidery are barely visible across sections of the coat, stitched so that at certain angles or in just the right lighting, flashes of intricate mechanisms appear across the shoulders, spine, and arms of the coat, giving the impression of some complex blueprint hidden within the suit itself.
It has 86 months of usefulness left.
It weighs about 1 pounds and 0 ounce(s).
It has a warmth factor of 3.
The beauteous craftsmanship of Warlady Kailanna n'Kylbar, Matriarch of Jackals radiates throughout it.
It has been stamped with the seal of The Scourge Academy.
This item exists on the following clothing slots: Chest - Normal, Gut - Normal, Arms - Normal, Legs - Normal, Back - Normal, and Waist - Normal.
It has the following aliases: suit.