Welcome to my, Darkkeng's, art dump. Just though to have a proper place to drop and arhive artworks Im commisionning so they would be nice and visible, without clatter of random reblogs
And welcome to City 17 my little sideblog, Im @darkkeng or just Dark and this is my side-blog, dedicated to posting the artworks as I commission (Im no artist, but like to commission artists out there) without unorganized clutter of the main blog. Main focus being Rain World (even tho I lost the sense of proper brainrot quite a while ago) and maybe occasional my furry OC stuff (the pair of yellow birdies, would call them sonas, but they are closest to my "me" on the net)
To keep things nice and neat I try to use following tags:
#Iterator OC - my Iterators, the [SRARCHASERS] workgroup
#Scavenger OC - my scavengers. For now it just Herald and the iteration of my birdy as a scav (aka DarkScav), but I do plan to make more of them!
#furry OC - the birdy or birdies. Im still a bit vary to post them here, so it probably not often (or just reblogs from main, idk)
#slugcat OC - although I dont have any slugcats of my own, I do commission my friends at time and post them here
#personal notes - just some of my notes. I typically keep them private (because who really gonna be interested in them?), but... sometimes feel like yapping and just throwing to the wind
#future plans - same as notes, although more on "I need to take on this at some point" (highlight on "some point"). I really should focus on those... maybe...
And for the last - just some information about my Iterators and their workgroup:
[STARCHASERS] are separated, fairly isolated group of Iterators with original purpose of construction being conducting observation of stellar bodies and conduct research and development in respected fields. Because of the nature of their research and observation each Iterator is located in fairly remote place, at great distance from other, "regular", Iterator. For the same reason they also operate on own, separated, network (even if still posses the ability to join "general chat" network of Iterator populous). The Workgroup accounted for 17 members with two senior to handle the load.
2 space-comm arrays maintaining connection with orbital installations and telescopes
Work-group seniors designation as follow:
Azure Nebula - Primary Senior. 1st gen.
Gazing Upon the Stars - Secondary Senior. 1.5 gen.
Currently in the "Works" are 3 Iterators:
Beyond the Horizon - one of the older Iterators, suffered damaged before Mass Ascension, but never was properly repaired, found interest in wide range experimentation on living organisms, [STARCHASERS] focus: gamma-ray telescope
The [Yet to be named] duo: 3rd gen Iterators, effectively "brothers" despite being literally a world apart, spot similar outfits, colour scheme and a "quirk" of bending one of their antennas closer to their face, akin to a microphone, [STARCHASERS] focus: space-comm operation (mainly operating orbital observatories, but also handling non-land based communication)
Well, I did say got some furry stuff too, so... here it is - my yellow birdy
A big birdy, the "me" birdy. Capping at whooping 3.25 meters tall birdy with some shenanigans on the side (the "Chaos form", just to spice things up and explains some bullshittery on the site)
Also the outfits: "casual" and working
Finally he's refhseet is done, it took a while (as in, few years "while"). Not the wait for his sister's refsheet
MaxwellyDangerful's (dont know if he's on Tumblr) Venerations of Ideals Chosen (the tired old fella)
And last, but not least - something for me! This two goofballs, Whispers of Shimmering Stars and Gazing Upon the Stars being cute together:
Some actual lore for it: The emotes, technically, are not "canon". This two have a thing for each other, but too caught up in their endless joke and play with each other that they cant see that they both, actively, hitting on each other (to the great displeasure of everyone around) and will not see until.... well... spoilers~ :3c
(actually not so much considering I did spill the beans)
And as always, all work and credit goes to Kibbi on Twitter for the amazing work
Just speed-balling some ideas. Im not good with names, but did come up with, I hope, that might sound like them (still need to expand my roster of Iterators, be the main ones (the workgroup members) and some extra, for flavour (like ones who can be considered "Local group" without being officially one)
How do you the iterators in GO communicate like I know they have signals set up and stuff but do they use the equivalent of discord or do they make their own? Is it mind projection or a video call!!???!?!???
Hiiii I guess I'll talk a little about this. (there's a lot of text here again 😞)
In short, I imagine their communication as a complex, flexible, and unique system, and they use it not like we use Discord, but quite literally live within it to some extent. Below are my detailed thoughts.
Uhhh and everything I say down there is my headcanon, realized in my AU, that's all. Please don't throw wet rags at me
As is well known, the Ancients created iterators with one specific purpose — solving the Problem of universal Ascension. Their second major purpose was the maintenance of the infrastructure of the Ancients’ cities. Whether the Ancients originally intended to humanize their creations to such an extent is unclear, but the fact remains: iterarors, despite all their godlike nature, are fully realized complex personalities capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions. Most likely, they were designed this way to allow for different approaches to the Problem and, indeed, so that the Ancients could communicate with them more freely.
Through their Communication Arrays, all iterators have access to the "network" — let’s call it... uhh... The Veil of Woven Cognitions? It provides intraspecies communication, originally intended to enable more efficient work on solving the Problem. However, what the Ancients initially conceived as a mere tool for coordination and reporting gradually evolved into a full-fledged social space in which the iterators just "live".
The Veil is not a single "program" created by the Ancients. It is rather a living, evolving architecture built upon ancient protocols that the Iterators themselves have been continuously modifying, expanding, and patching for centuries. Ancients provided only the foundation: broadcast channels and secured direct lines for transmitting reports and joint calculations, later adding the system of local groups. Everything else — public/private groups, the Conflux, and the Underveil — was created by the Iterators themselves after the Ancients had departed. Like: the Ancients laid the foundation, and upon it the Iterators built their own layers. While the entire Communication Array thing is operational, all these new layers are supported. I think when the Veil degrades significantly, only weak connections with immediate neighbors & local group will remain. Well, it will all die slowly so yeah...
The Veil has no "interface" or "application". To each Iterator, it feels like... uhhh, a multi-layered mental space that can be accessed in different ways and at varying depths.
I distinguish three main levels of depth (aka connection modes): non-priority, priority, and direct. If we draw parallels with the ways of communication familiar to us, the non-priority mode is similar to regular text or data passing through all filters — like chatting in a messenger with notifications. The priority mode resembles a direct audio, video, emotional stream; I would compare it to a video call or sitting at one table. You can continue working on other tasks in parallel, and your interlocutor will notice that you are doing something, but they won’t know exactly what. And then there is the Session of Direct Connection, which is used only when true full cooperation on some task is required — though now it's sometimes used for less important matters as well... I would compare it to being close to another person, but that doesn’t fully convey the sensation, because Direct Connection Session means both Iterators have access to each other’s "mind". There is no precise human equivalent... uhhh... and it also changes the signal signature.
In addition to connection depth, there are various... "places" an Iterator can connect to. I will name some of the ones I have thought about, aside from the obvious private messages between two... and I also have some silly doodles about this... look
Public broadcast channels — the "loud ether", audible to all Iterators within range of the Arrays. Short announcements that do not spawn discussion threads. I would call this their bulletin board.
Local groups — special private channels that unite a small group of Iterators from the same geographical area under the supervision of a Senior. This is a permanent, non-disableable space. Messages from the local group (with pings) or DMs from the Senior always have the highest priority and break through even during deep concentration modes.
Private and public groups — created by anyone at will and for various purposes. They can be either permanent or temporary, formal according to all protocols or completely informal, priority and not.
The Conflux of Shared Calculations — a structured space where Iterators “publish” their works, simulations, optimization reports, and observations. There is a discussion under each publication, as if each post created a subspace where you can drop in and view the discussion... uhh... An official and businesslike tone is maintained here usually, and moderation by the Seniors exists. Just shared workspace. Effective and all that.
Underveil — aka anonymous chats. Spaces created after the departure of the Ancients. Iterators have learned to mask the signature of their Communication Arrays by modifying old protocols and creating custom "proxy nodes". In these zones there are no real names and no hierarchy. Here they say things they would never voice in public.
Each of these places has its own depth level. For example, the local group channel is always priority, while the Conflux and the Underveil operate in non-priority mode.
Well, that’s a brief overview of… their communication thing, I suppose. I won’t go into hierarchy and community here — I’ve already talked too much, and that wasn’t the question anyway. I tried to explain how I feel it, but it’s quite difficult to put into words.
Also Iterator can function and live perfectly well with their Communication Arrays OFF, they'll just work completely alone, having fallen out of the community
Built to last. Even then the memory of Old is fade and gone, the last attempt of the ancient Iterator will endure. The new found Purpose. His last hope. His final desperation. For the minds he will never see, never light, never guide. For he is also, will fade and gone, forgotten, same as his own Creators did before.
Loosing your memory is quite a grim prospect for anyone, but that about someone who is obsessed with collecting, preserving and transfering the knowledge so it could live on?
With this prospect Iterator Gazing Upon the Stars was facing following the collapse of his superstructure in End Times. Due to unique plan and construction of his superstructure, it put Memory conflux at the "bottom", guaranteeing it will hit the hardest in case of collapse. Due to pure luck, it was spared most damage, but the instant "death" was replaced by a long term as the collapsed parts start slowly sink into the soft lake bottom, situated beneath the structure itself.
Racing against the time and hurried by fear and guilt (over unrelated matter), he went for unthinkable - to decuple oneself puppet from larger superstructure (still maintaining direct live of communication thanks to auxillary communication installed directly on the puppet) and get to work, setting up "The Last Library", so even then his mind and memory gone - the knowledge will endure and may come in help for future generations, whoever and whatever they will be.
Art by @druidshollow. There are things I would like to say or add (like the context for the piece), but no. That done is done and it better not to dwell on it too much.
Herald overviewing the Facility grounds of his Iterator, Gazing Upon the Stars. Due to the specific in construction of the grounds and remote location of the Iterator the land, practically, lacking the familiar constant heavy rain cloud cover, opening the view to untouched and reclaimed nature of this land.
And another to the counter, the last one (for now) - Venerations of Ideals Chosen. Once lore not my Iterator, my of my friend, thought they could use a proper depiction
The Safe Travels Through Harsh Environments, another iterator who belongs to me friend, Rvell. Something unusual this time around - a mobile iterator, who's can is a train, basically.
He doesnt have a name per say, but I referring to him as "DarkScav" (because "Dark" is the name of my furry/avian OC and he's basically a scav version of him)
