I haven't posted here in a while, mostly because of trying to figure a lot of things out. And amongst the increase of popularity over the novel "Twilight", I've suddenly realized what's wrong with this world.
The stories of vampires died long ago. People are only fascinated by them because of what they represent, and the idea of putting an easy cut and paste character into a story line with them is so painfully cliche, but is only acceptable due to the fact that people are obsessed with what they cannot have. Vampires are a representation of the dark side of humanity, and holy fuck, if you want it so bad, it's not that hard to get there.
Dark Side doesn't mean bad. Dark side doesn't mean evil. It just means giving into natural urges that are otherwise perceived as being sin. Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. Does no one notice that this is what embodies every single major vampire character out there? They're human beings. Human beings that have fangs and can drink blood and from time to time sparkle in the sunlight. Honestly people, what the fuck. Get a bit more taste in literature.
Maybe I'm a hypocrite. I used to be one of those girls when I was younger who was fascinated by these beings for the same reason. Born and raised catholic, something so provocative was pretty hard to ignore. But I got over it.
As a symbol, I can understand. They are a powerful symbol. A strong symbol of all that we're afraid of but want to indulge in so badly. But man. How is it possible that this woman with the creativity of a 13 year old has managed to make a fortune off of this? No, I'm not speaking out of jealousy. I'm speaking out of pure outright disgust.
What drew me to using vampires and werewolves and making other beings for this world was partially inspired by this darkness that they seem to hide in. But moreso as a curiosity for how they would react in a given situation. People are easy to write. They are us. And with a bit of time and effort, it's easy to write a well fleshed out human character. I am endlessly fascinated by the prospect of people interacting with people who are different. And the furthest it seems you can really go with that is with race and to be honest, I don't feel like writing another To Kill a Mockingbird. It's indulging in a new level of mental performance. From vampires who hold themselves with such self-righteous perception to the werewolves who simply function on basic terms as a means of survival. And people? They just lie right in between.
My point is, don't give into this novel because it gives you the same thing as every other story, but with different character descriptions. Go for a story that gives you well thought out characters. BELIEVABLE characters. Characters with depth and who are really put to the test with how they will function in a given situation. Don't go for the book that runs on a simple 'heads or tails' mentality. Go for the book that really pushes them. Real life doesn't function like this. Real life is filled with actual obstacles, and what really separates us from one another is what we do between that moment we stop to analyze and act upon our decisions.
Be not amazed for what they are but who they are. And I can only hope that when I'm done with choix noir, I've achieved this.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Pages
Started sketching out pages, though they probably won't be done until the semester's over. I think I've redone the intro for this at least 10 times. But this beginning has been sitting in my head for a few months now which is a good thing. Usually they only last about a month or so. Putting a much greater importance on a lot of the secondary characters.
I've also been having a lot of trouble with format, and decided to go to the kinds of formats that I tend to find aesthetically pleasing, which is either exceptionally tall or exceptionally long pieces. I like rectangles? Anyway, I'm finding these to be looking a lot better than the normal comic book page format. Though I have a feeling that a lot of people will be having trouble seeing it all at once since not everyone has the same monitor as me. Ahah.
All concept art thus far.
Character Sheets
=New=
Mathis
Tati Esme Color Test
=Old= (All from 2 years ago. To be Redone)
Nadia
Tessa
Kali and Kalea
Katia and Olivier
Gaelle
Character Design Sketches
Tessa
Nadia
Cerene
Ankita
Group Shot
- In order from left to right in this one is: Nadia, Tessa, Cerene, Mathis, Tati Esme, Ankita, Marius and Connall. The woman at the bottom is Gaelle
Other Arts done for it
Tessa Valkyrie Tattoo Design WIP
The Trio [Nadia, Mathis and Tessa]
High Priestess [Tessa]
Justice [Nadia]
Hierophant [Mathis]
Character Portraits [To be redone]
=New=
Mathis
Tati Esme Color Test
=Old= (All from 2 years ago. To be Redone)
Nadia
Tessa
Kali and Kalea
Katia and Olivier
Gaelle
Character Design Sketches
Tessa
Nadia
Cerene
Ankita
Group Shot
- In order from left to right in this one is: Nadia, Tessa, Cerene, Mathis, Tati Esme, Ankita, Marius and Connall. The woman at the bottom is Gaelle
Other Arts done for it
Tessa Valkyrie Tattoo Design WIP
The Trio [Nadia, Mathis and Tessa]
High Priestess [Tessa]
Justice [Nadia]
Hierophant [Mathis]
Character Portraits [To be redone]
Character List. -to be edited-
Name: Nadia Bonner
Age: Unknown (Appearance of Mid to late 20s)
Height: 6'0"
Race: Dhampyr
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Native American - Black
Description: Nadia is reserved, to say the least. She's not much for conversation, though it's very easy to tell what's going through her head just by the look she gives you. She's strictly business and has little interest in creating emotional ties (though this changes over time, following the storyline). Despite her complete emotional attachment, she is wise one. Though sometimes she can be somewhat self-righteous in her reasonings.
Name: Mathis Gunnarsen
Age: 23
Height: 5’10”
Race: Human (Guardian)'
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): European Mutt
Description: It's hard not to describe Mathis without bringing up the word pretentious. He's an incredibly smart individual which is in part his greatest flaw (or at least the fact that he knows of his intelligence). He won't hesitate for a second to prove you wrong in a discussion, and unfortunately he's damn good at it too. His redeeming factor is that he will genuinely care for a person - whether or not they like it.
Name: Tessa Blevins
Age: 19
Height: 5’4 ½”
Race: Loup-Garou
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Irish
Description: In contrast to her love, she's not necessarily filled with book knowledge, but she's filled with absolute street smarts. She seems to have the most insight in how the world truly functions out of the three, and though normally that kind of knowledge would give birth to a cynical and bitter person, she's dealt with it in a completely different manner. She's loud, abrasive, and fairly happy-go-lucky. Though she is prone to severe depressive and manic relapses, these are far and few between.
Name: Marius Bogdan
Age: Unknown (appearance of Early to Mid 30s)
Height: 5’9”
Race: Choix Noir
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Eastern European
Description:
Name: Connall Sheehy
Age: 24
Height: 6’0”
Race: Loup-Garou
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Irish
Description:
Name (s): Kali and Kalea Wakahisa
Age: Unknown (appearance of Early to Mid 20s)
Height: 5’5”
Race: Choix Mort
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Japanese
Description:
Name: Azure Quigley McTaggart
Age: 68
Height: 6’4” (6’1” with slouch)
Race: Human
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): English
Description:
Gaelle {Ancien}
Ambroise {Ancien}
Minor Arcana
Olivier et Katia {Choix Noir/Human}
Caellach et Sonia {Loup-Garou/Fian Faolch}
Mathieu et Isabelle {Human/Guardian}
Gigi {Ancien}
Maria {Ancien}
Guy {Human}
Freya {Human}
Deirdre {Fian Faolch}
Tati Esme {Human}
Ankita et Sarava {Human/Pet}
Cerene {Un-named race}
Age: Unknown (Appearance of Mid to late 20s)
Height: 6'0"
Race: Dhampyr
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Native American - Black
Description: Nadia is reserved, to say the least. She's not much for conversation, though it's very easy to tell what's going through her head just by the look she gives you. She's strictly business and has little interest in creating emotional ties (though this changes over time, following the storyline). Despite her complete emotional attachment, she is wise one. Though sometimes she can be somewhat self-righteous in her reasonings.
Name: Mathis Gunnarsen
Age: 23
Height: 5’10”
Race: Human (Guardian)'
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): European Mutt
Description: It's hard not to describe Mathis without bringing up the word pretentious. He's an incredibly smart individual which is in part his greatest flaw (or at least the fact that he knows of his intelligence). He won't hesitate for a second to prove you wrong in a discussion, and unfortunately he's damn good at it too. His redeeming factor is that he will genuinely care for a person - whether or not they like it.
Name: Tessa Blevins
Age: 19
Height: 5’4 ½”
Race: Loup-Garou
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Irish
Description: In contrast to her love, she's not necessarily filled with book knowledge, but she's filled with absolute street smarts. She seems to have the most insight in how the world truly functions out of the three, and though normally that kind of knowledge would give birth to a cynical and bitter person, she's dealt with it in a completely different manner. She's loud, abrasive, and fairly happy-go-lucky. Though she is prone to severe depressive and manic relapses, these are far and few between.
Name: Marius Bogdan
Age: Unknown (appearance of Early to Mid 30s)
Height: 5’9”
Race: Choix Noir
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Eastern European
Description:
Name: Connall Sheehy
Age: 24
Height: 6’0”
Race: Loup-Garou
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Irish
Description:
Name (s): Kali and Kalea Wakahisa
Age: Unknown (appearance of Early to Mid 20s)
Height: 5’5”
Race: Choix Mort
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): Japanese
Description:
Name: Azure Quigley McTaggart
Age: 68
Height: 6’4” (6’1” with slouch)
Race: Human
Nationality (in regards to our cultures): English
Description:
Gaelle {Ancien}
Ambroise {Ancien}
Minor Arcana
Olivier et Katia {Choix Noir/Human}
Caellach et Sonia {Loup-Garou/Fian Faolch}
Mathieu et Isabelle {Human/Guardian}
Gigi {Ancien}
Maria {Ancien}
Guy {Human}
Freya {Human}
Deirdre {Fian Faolch}
Tati Esme {Human}
Ankita et Sarava {Human/Pet}
Cerene {Un-named race}
A lot of babbling on and on.
Copying and pasting a lot of information that I had posted in my little thread on a forum about this. I figure it'll do more good on here than there. Also, in all fair warning, I'm not in anyway shape or form a writer outside the realm of coming up with ideas and dialogs. This is why I likes pictures.
The Stories
Book I: Choix Noir
The basis of this book is to set up the entire back story for the world and the main character, Nadia. It takes place on a post-apocalyptic planet that is inhabited with all kinds of creatures from Vampires, to Werewolves, to various other races that I've created of my own accord. Ages before the story begins, there was a massive war setting the non-humans against the humans. The war ended in a dead lock with great loss on both sides. As a means of sustaining peace, Gaelle, considered to be the mother of all vampires, created a treaty with the humans that set up guidelines that everyone is supposed to abide by. Of course these guidelines were set up to strictly rule over humans and vampires, and as a means of taking out their displeasure, the humans took it out on the other races. Which... will be addressed in the later books.
Now we jump forward to the time period in which it all takes place. The threat of what peace existed between the humans and vampires is now being completely threatened. During the time period between the War and "Present" day, the population of vampires has grown and evolved into various groups. They've been named in relevance to their conscious awareness. Of course they've all been bestowed with such abilities as enhanced strength and senses. But that's a 'minor' detail.
Starting from the bottom are Les Ames Detruit. They're essentially zombies who exist mindlessly and feed senselessly - functioning on complete carnal urges. They're the largest and most populated group. Above them are Les Choix Mort. They're a group a bit smaller than the previous, and are barely more mentally functioning. They've appeared to revert back to a child-like mentally and hold sado-masochistic qualities. And above them, who appear to be the least changed mentally are Les Choix Noir. The group ontop of the entire hierarchy are Les Anciens, a small group of 12 vampires who have been around for the longest time. An individual is turned into a specific kind of vampire depending on who bites them. If they're bitten by an Anciens, they will become a choix noir, if they're bitten by a choix noir, they become a choix mort, if they're bitten by a choix moir, they become un ame detruit, and if you're an unfortunate soul that's been by one of them, you will just be dead.
With the group population of the A.D., more and more people are being killed. With this happening, the humans are beginning to fight back. One of whom is our Antagonist, Marius.
After coming home to the brutal murder of his wife and children, he seeks out an Anciens to turn him. He succeeds, becomes a choix noir, and actually begins killing them off one by one.
In complete panic, Gaelle turns to Nadia (with whom she already has a personal relationship with) to hunt and track him down. From there, Nadia encounters probably her greatest (and last) enemy who throws her into a battle of wits, and forces her to apply every ounce of teaching she's ever received during her existence.
Book II: Les Gardiens
This is currently the most under-evolved one I've come up with, because apparently it's significantly easier for me to come up with a beginning and end than a middle. Mostly because it circles around Mathis, my most under-developed character who I had an exceptionally hard time grasping onto until recently.
Anyway, the current gist to this story is to focus primarily on Mathis and his history. He's part of a small group of individuals called, appropriately, Les Gardiens. They're people chosen by family spirits to help protect and guard their family members. Ironically enough, they have a complete gender bias to women. And the only reason why he was chosen to be the guardian after the passing of his mother is because his sister, who was only 5 years old, was far too young to really take up that kind of a responsibility. Unfortunately for Mathis, this wasn't something he was necessarily ready nor even willing at any given point in time to do either. He was a young boy with a strong fascination for mechanics, and eventually left his family to pursue that. But it all catches up to him in the end.
A year after the end to Choix Noir, he starts to experience a lot of physical pains. And after a bit of time, the tattoo he has on his arm from when he was initiated actually begins to bleed and open up.
To say the least, there was a part of training he missed which actually explained to him that this was going to happen at a given point. Because he had been trying to deny this part of him, it actually happened significantly earlier than it was supposed to. A part of being a Guardian is being able to ward off the evil spirit that their bloodlines have been cursed with. During initiation, the guardian is actually given this spirit to suppress and control. He goes back home in a state of panic and destruction ensues.
And I'll be brutally honest, this will be the only story of the three that ends with a lot of cheese to stop the violence.
Book III: [Currently Untitled ]
This is the last and final chapter the Of His Studies trilogy, and it focuses on Tessa (however, it essentially focuses on them all). Tessa is essentially a hybrid werewolf. There are currently only 2 groups of her kind that exist still, les Loup-Garou and the Fian Faolch (which roughly translates to Wild Wolf in Gaelic. .. If i remember correctly >>; ). These last two surviving groups absolutely despise each other. The Fian Faolch hate the Loup-Garou because they view them to be nothing but domesticated puppies (as they're only capable of turning into actual wolves). The Loup-Garou hate the Fian Faolch because they view them as nothing but a group of wild, selfish beasts. The LGs function as clans, wild the FFs are pretty much a group of gypsies, constantly migrating, but still incredibly territorial. They will outright outcast one of their own if they even smell the scent of an LG on them - which is indirectly what ended up happening to Tessa's mother.
For the sake of keeping things short, Tessa's clan ends up being almost completely wiped out, and Tessa is one of the very few who survived the attack - an attack she blames herself for.
This final chapter takes place 2 1/2 years after Choix Noir has ended. Tessa's suffering from severe depression because it's nearing the a monumental landmark of not just the death of her father and the vast majority of her clan, but her parents marriage anniversary as well. And with his very poor timing, Mathis proposes to her, completely unaware of everything she's going through. She immediately shuts herself off from Nadia and Mathis and hides away in her room for a while, though eventually she comes out, appearing to have had a complete change of heart and accepts his proposal.
As a means of celebration, Nadia takes Tessa out to the local market place to help her prepare for the wedding. Paying for everything she needs, from the invitations (though it's going to be a small wedding), to the table sheets, and even passing her mother's wedding gown to her since she has absolutely no intention of getting married.
While in the market place, Tessa hears a familiar tune that a young minstrel is playing. It just so happens to be a lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was younger. The minstrel ends up 'hypnotizing' her and leading her to a trailer which houses an old woman who's been looking for her - an old woman who was told to be looking for her. It just so happens that this woman is Tessa's grandmother. She immediately runs back to her house, leaving Mathis only a note pretty much just saying "I can't do this right now", packs up important things and runs off to live with the Fian Faolch for a little while.
Okay! Long story short, it turns out to be a trap. In fact, everything that's happened over the last 3 books has been passively controlled by one given individual as a field study so that he can extend his research library. Who he is? Not going to say. Why's he doing it? Not going to say. We'll all just have to see, now won't we?
The Stories
Book I: Choix Noir
The basis of this book is to set up the entire back story for the world and the main character, Nadia. It takes place on a post-apocalyptic planet that is inhabited with all kinds of creatures from Vampires, to Werewolves, to various other races that I've created of my own accord. Ages before the story begins, there was a massive war setting the non-humans against the humans. The war ended in a dead lock with great loss on both sides. As a means of sustaining peace, Gaelle, considered to be the mother of all vampires, created a treaty with the humans that set up guidelines that everyone is supposed to abide by. Of course these guidelines were set up to strictly rule over humans and vampires, and as a means of taking out their displeasure, the humans took it out on the other races. Which... will be addressed in the later books.
Now we jump forward to the time period in which it all takes place. The threat of what peace existed between the humans and vampires is now being completely threatened. During the time period between the War and "Present" day, the population of vampires has grown and evolved into various groups. They've been named in relevance to their conscious awareness. Of course they've all been bestowed with such abilities as enhanced strength and senses. But that's a 'minor' detail.
Starting from the bottom are Les Ames Detruit. They're essentially zombies who exist mindlessly and feed senselessly - functioning on complete carnal urges. They're the largest and most populated group. Above them are Les Choix Mort. They're a group a bit smaller than the previous, and are barely more mentally functioning. They've appeared to revert back to a child-like mentally and hold sado-masochistic qualities. And above them, who appear to be the least changed mentally are Les Choix Noir. The group ontop of the entire hierarchy are Les Anciens, a small group of 12 vampires who have been around for the longest time. An individual is turned into a specific kind of vampire depending on who bites them. If they're bitten by an Anciens, they will become a choix noir, if they're bitten by a choix noir, they become a choix mort, if they're bitten by a choix moir, they become un ame detruit, and if you're an unfortunate soul that's been by one of them, you will just be dead.
With the group population of the A.D., more and more people are being killed. With this happening, the humans are beginning to fight back. One of whom is our Antagonist, Marius.
After coming home to the brutal murder of his wife and children, he seeks out an Anciens to turn him. He succeeds, becomes a choix noir, and actually begins killing them off one by one.
In complete panic, Gaelle turns to Nadia (with whom she already has a personal relationship with) to hunt and track him down. From there, Nadia encounters probably her greatest (and last) enemy who throws her into a battle of wits, and forces her to apply every ounce of teaching she's ever received during her existence.
Book II: Les Gardiens
This is currently the most under-evolved one I've come up with, because apparently it's significantly easier for me to come up with a beginning and end than a middle. Mostly because it circles around Mathis, my most under-developed character who I had an exceptionally hard time grasping onto until recently.
Anyway, the current gist to this story is to focus primarily on Mathis and his history. He's part of a small group of individuals called, appropriately, Les Gardiens. They're people chosen by family spirits to help protect and guard their family members. Ironically enough, they have a complete gender bias to women. And the only reason why he was chosen to be the guardian after the passing of his mother is because his sister, who was only 5 years old, was far too young to really take up that kind of a responsibility. Unfortunately for Mathis, this wasn't something he was necessarily ready nor even willing at any given point in time to do either. He was a young boy with a strong fascination for mechanics, and eventually left his family to pursue that. But it all catches up to him in the end.
A year after the end to Choix Noir, he starts to experience a lot of physical pains. And after a bit of time, the tattoo he has on his arm from when he was initiated actually begins to bleed and open up.
To say the least, there was a part of training he missed which actually explained to him that this was going to happen at a given point. Because he had been trying to deny this part of him, it actually happened significantly earlier than it was supposed to. A part of being a Guardian is being able to ward off the evil spirit that their bloodlines have been cursed with. During initiation, the guardian is actually given this spirit to suppress and control. He goes back home in a state of panic and destruction ensues.
And I'll be brutally honest, this will be the only story of the three that ends with a lot of cheese to stop the violence.
Book III: [Currently Untitled ]
This is the last and final chapter the Of His Studies trilogy, and it focuses on Tessa (however, it essentially focuses on them all). Tessa is essentially a hybrid werewolf. There are currently only 2 groups of her kind that exist still, les Loup-Garou and the Fian Faolch (which roughly translates to Wild Wolf in Gaelic. .. If i remember correctly >>; ). These last two surviving groups absolutely despise each other. The Fian Faolch hate the Loup-Garou because they view them to be nothing but domesticated puppies (as they're only capable of turning into actual wolves). The Loup-Garou hate the Fian Faolch because they view them as nothing but a group of wild, selfish beasts. The LGs function as clans, wild the FFs are pretty much a group of gypsies, constantly migrating, but still incredibly territorial. They will outright outcast one of their own if they even smell the scent of an LG on them - which is indirectly what ended up happening to Tessa's mother.
For the sake of keeping things short, Tessa's clan ends up being almost completely wiped out, and Tessa is one of the very few who survived the attack - an attack she blames herself for.
This final chapter takes place 2 1/2 years after Choix Noir has ended. Tessa's suffering from severe depression because it's nearing the a monumental landmark of not just the death of her father and the vast majority of her clan, but her parents marriage anniversary as well. And with his very poor timing, Mathis proposes to her, completely unaware of everything she's going through. She immediately shuts herself off from Nadia and Mathis and hides away in her room for a while, though eventually she comes out, appearing to have had a complete change of heart and accepts his proposal.
As a means of celebration, Nadia takes Tessa out to the local market place to help her prepare for the wedding. Paying for everything she needs, from the invitations (though it's going to be a small wedding), to the table sheets, and even passing her mother's wedding gown to her since she has absolutely no intention of getting married.
While in the market place, Tessa hears a familiar tune that a young minstrel is playing. It just so happens to be a lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was younger. The minstrel ends up 'hypnotizing' her and leading her to a trailer which houses an old woman who's been looking for her - an old woman who was told to be looking for her. It just so happens that this woman is Tessa's grandmother. She immediately runs back to her house, leaving Mathis only a note pretty much just saying "I can't do this right now", packs up important things and runs off to live with the Fian Faolch for a little while.
Okay! Long story short, it turns out to be a trap. In fact, everything that's happened over the last 3 books has been passively controlled by one given individual as a field study so that he can extend his research library. Who he is? Not going to say. Why's he doing it? Not going to say. We'll all just have to see, now won't we?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Privet!
Restarting this blog and making it into the progress report for my comic, Choix Noir. concept sketches, pages, layouts, etc. to be uploaded here. Keep an eye out, especially for this coming summer.
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