my submission for the 2025 dbd cosmetic contest!! notes about the details below!! :3c
this year, i wanted to depict him as more of a charon-type character rather than a killer. this ties into his lore & personality of being a reluctant killer, often depicted as an angel of death, hence why he’s “the wraith”: an apparition meant to act as a death omen rather than the cause itself.
the wheel motif on his clothing references the constant cycle of life and death. the bones in his jewelry and the presence of flowers/moss on his person also represent this duality.
the plants he carries are rosemary (in his hair), often used in funeral rights and representing remembrance. on his belt are gladioli, a common funeral flower representing remembrance and transformation, and wolfsbane, a poisonous flower associated with hecate, a cthonic goddess of crossroads.
it’s a little hard to see, but there are small brass bells hanging from his antlers, from the two long necklaces draped over his shoulders, on the tips of his cloak, and on his weapon. this is meant to tie into his percussive sound design.
in this cosmetic, he’s wearing four masks, each an animal representing a person he has lost, but also representing aspects of philip himself. the masks are both a nod to the importance of masquerades his culture but also another reference to hecate, who is often depicted with multiple faces.
the barn owl on his head represents his grandmother, as owls often represent wisdom and spirituality. they can also be seen as messengers from the spirit world.
as an owl famous looking ghostly and hunting exclusively at night, this also ties into philip’s powers and role in the fog (this is also why his eyes are pitch black, his cowl is wreathed in barn owl feathers, and he has black talons for fingernails).
on his back, the snake mask, specifically a ball python, is meant to represent his mother, as ball pythons are associated with divine femininity and protection. the leopard mask is meant to represent his father, as leopards can represent strength, protection, and masculinity.
finally, the doe mask is meant to represent funanya, as does often represent gentleness, guidance, innocence, and alternatively, the fragility of life, as deer are often victims of not only natural violence, but of human violence.
the colorful spots on the four tails of his cloak are meant to mirror eyespots on moths, who are associated with transformation and decay. the shape of the cloak is meant to mimic the shape of moth’s wings themselves.
and finally, his weapon is a lantern, which is another signifier of the “death guide” theme.
aaand here's my wraith cosmetic submission! i wanted to explore what might happen if philip managed to rekindle his humanity. beneath that cold, hardened ash, perhaps there are some lingering embers?
Full Set: Righteous Fury
"Vengeance and justice are two sides of the same coin. Fire can either destroy, or purify. Regardless, it consumes."
Head & Cloak: Reformulating Symbols
"New, cursed languages, spoken by tongues serving evil, were bestowed upon him for a dark purpose. Was this power a blessing in disguise?"
Body: Flickering Humanity
"Trapped within the darkness of Its maw, carrying within It nothing but desolation and death, the fire burning within him was welcome by comparison."
Weapon: Respiteful Reminder
"As inconsequential as it was, like plucking a single hair, it still gave him satisfaction. After all, he was good at making weapons out of those who were deserving."
credits:
1) wraith's pose is based on Quentin Gautier's wraith concept art.
2) brushes by @/byvegalia were used for wraith's hair!
andulkaphoto
jacobvanloon
annaxmalina
blakekathryn
turnnoffyourmind
ellievsbear
