Hiya! I’m Rowan (he/they/it) and welcome to Shadow in the Blizzard! @spooky--spookster
Shadow in the Blizzard (SitB) is a warrior cats Clangen comic based on John Carpenters ‘The Thing’. It follows a group of 9 cats venturing to the mountains to investigate a meteor, believed to be a message from starclan. On their journey, a blizzard hits, and they’re forced to set up camp in a nearby cave. The mountains are lonely, but are they truly the only life up there?
This story is still in early development, I’ve got the character designs and major plot beats, But I’ll be posting my progress and pre production here!
Here are the designs for our founder cats:
As this is based on a horror movie, this blog will contain blood, gore, body horror, animal death and some intense emotions moments. Please be advised when viewing this blog.
Tags:
There is a tag for each clan and character, as well as these more specific tags
#siab lore- Stuff about the clans, family’s, backstories and world building
#siab concept art- Things like background art and other concepts
#siab sketches- Sketches and doodles of the Siab cast
#siab extra art- Finished piece I’ve made for Siab
#siab character refs- Reference sheets for all the characters
#siab shipping- Any ships about Siab
#siab updates- Progress updates and stuff
#siab rb- Things I’ve reblogged either related to Siab or other Clangen blogs
#siab asks- Answering Siab asks
#siab writing- Writing the Siab script and extra stuff I’ve written about the
#rowan rambles- Me yapping about stuff, not always Siab related though
Saw a thing poster at universal studios yesterday and it made me wanna draw the blorbos! Mostly just been headshots so I can get expressions down, plus a little concept work on the thingifacation process :)
Including the whole main cast and any side characters I’ve mentioned, author asks also open
Yes this blog is alive and WILL be released eventually! I deeply apologise for my absence, I intend to explain it under cut, but you don’t gotta read it if you don’t wanna ^^
Tldr; Mostly got caught on other hyperfixations! Making this an ask blog is an attempt to spark back my energy for this comic!
This all takes place PRE-QUEST! Cats will not know anything about any possible aliens, they’ve only seen the fall of starclans comet. These asks will be sent to the cats in the form of starclan dreams they’ve collectively received a day or so before they travel off. You can ask multiple cats the same question, for the sake of simplicity, it’s a shared dream
As the tldr said, the main reason for my lack of posts is just my hyperfixations changing. Keeping passion for one project when something new and enticing is placed right infront of me is a really difficult thing I struggle with. I’m admittedly self diagnosed with ADHD and possibly other stuff (ADHD dose have a history in my family and I’ve been doing tests and comparing symptoms for years, I’m self diagnosed because I just haven’t scheduled a proper appointment, I will soon though), and so because of that I’m very unmedicated. Keeping my focus to one topic for an extended period is a near impossible task for me, I flit between overpowering hyperfixations every month or so (this year over been from object shows, to dandy’s world, to Regretevator, to forsaken, to Limbus company) and I struggle to maintain the same passion for other interests at the same time. And as you can imagine, my collage finals were also coming up and I was being so absolutely overtaken by my hyperfixation that my project was stagnant until I was able to hastily restart the entire thing so I could revolve it around my hyperfixation. It’s not that I don’t want to work on this comic, I still think about it, a lot actually. I love these characters and this story and I so badly want to get it out there for others to see, but it’s so hard to start it when my brain is being pulled in all sorts of directions all at once.
Another thing I’ve been struggling with is the feeling of my own inexperience and inadequacy to properly convey the things I have in mind into comic form. I’ve barely studied backgrounds, I know almost nothing about comic structure or composition. And trying to find my footing with all these different things is incredibly daunting, I just don’t know where to start with it all. All of that on top of the whole hyperfixation issue has made it really difficult and frustrating for me to actually start this comic. I’ve told myself that I don’t have to script it all out in one go, I know my story beats, I know what I’m doing, not everything needs to be 100% fleshed out for me to start. I’m just a chronic overthinker who wants to seem like an artist who planed out every part of their symbolism and deep story beats all from the beginning. I greatly aspire to be a writer like that, and I think that’s another thing that’s lead me into a bit of a road block with this comic. My inexperience. The idea that artist should work on a smaller project before the dream is something I’m technically doing with this comic, I have a completely different non warriors comic that’s the dream to write. But this project is starting to feel more and more like a bigger project than I can manage, and less like my first full comic series to test the waters. Yeah, I could take a step back from this comic to make something to be a real test, but that mean starting from scratch and making a new project from the ground up that could just end up cycling back into the same issue I’m having with this comic!
All in all, I want to start small. Wanting my first proper post with these characters to be a fully completed comic page feels like a massively daunting task. I feel like I don’t understand these characters as much as I should, so I’m going to use this character asks segment to help me characterise them. Give the whole world a lot more life. I’m also hoping this will spark back a hyperfixation for this comic and get me pumped to work on it!!
I will note that I am on holiday right now, for the next week and a half. Idk how often I’ll be updating, but I’ll try to make it frequent! I’m just a tad burnt out and disoriented being in a new place and I’m kinda struggling to settle despite being here for a week already! (I’m in Orlando incase you’re curious! It’s nice, but I kinda struggle with holidays abroad lol)
If you read all this, I thank you deeply. Thought small, the people who are invested in this comic are the things that keep me going. You’ve all been so sweet and understanding of my issues and I really hope you’ll be patient with me. It genuinely means a lot that you care enough to read about and hopefully under my struggles, and makes me excited to give back to you all for you endless kindness and dedication to this series. Here’s to the SITB blog and all that is to follow!
Brightsky -> How was the journey up there? was it strange to travel with other cats from different clans?
Also yes, this style of ask is directly inspired by the eggfish ask blog! I’m a big fan of the layouts simplicity, and I’m on holiday rn, so this will be a little easier to put together if I’m feeling burnt out!
Idk if I answered this well, but all the clans are pretty buddy buddy. There isn’t much fighting for resources or anything, so the clans are pretty open to sharing stuff and crossing borders. It’s only individual cats that stand with more traditional clan rules (cough cough Websong)
Including the whole main cast and any side characters I’ve mentioned, author asks also open
Yes this blog is alive and WILL be released eventually! I deeply apologise for my absence, I intend to explain it under cut, but you don’t gotta read it if you don’t wanna ^^
Tldr; Mostly got caught on other hyperfixations! Making this an ask blog is an attempt to spark back my energy for this comic!
This all takes place PRE-QUEST! Cats will not know anything about any possible aliens, they’ve only seen the fall of starclans comet. These asks will be sent to the cats in the form of starclan dreams they’ve collectively received a day or so before they travel off. You can ask multiple cats the same question, for the sake of simplicity, it’s a shared dream
As the tldr said, the main reason for my lack of posts is just my hyperfixations changing. Keeping passion for one project when something new and enticing is placed right infront of me is a really difficult thing I struggle with. I’m admittedly self diagnosed with ADHD and possibly other stuff (ADHD dose have a history in my family and I’ve been doing tests and comparing symptoms for years, I’m self diagnosed because I just haven’t scheduled a proper appointment, I will soon though), and so because of that I’m very unmedicated. Keeping my focus to one topic for an extended period is a near impossible task for me, I flit between overpowering hyperfixations every month or so (this year over been from object shows, to dandy’s world, to Regretevator, to forsaken, to Limbus company) and I struggle to maintain the same passion for other interests at the same time. And as you can imagine, my collage finals were also coming up and I was being so absolutely overtaken by my hyperfixation that my project was stagnant until I was able to hastily restart the entire thing so I could revolve it around my hyperfixation. It’s not that I don’t want to work on this comic, I still think about it, a lot actually. I love these characters and this story and I so badly want to get it out there for others to see, but it’s so hard to start it when my brain is being pulled in all sorts of directions all at once.
Another thing I’ve been struggling with is the feeling of my own inexperience and inadequacy to properly convey the things I have in mind into comic form. I’ve barely studied backgrounds, I know almost nothing about comic structure or composition. And trying to find my footing with all these different things is incredibly daunting, I just don’t know where to start with it all. All of that on top of the whole hyperfixation issue has made it really difficult and frustrating for me to actually start this comic. I’ve told myself that I don’t have to script it all out in one go, I know my story beats, I know what I’m doing, not everything needs to be 100% fleshed out for me to start. I’m just a chronic overthinker who wants to seem like an artist who planed out every part of their symbolism and deep story beats all from the beginning. I greatly aspire to be a writer like that, and I think that’s another thing that’s lead me into a bit of a road block with this comic. My inexperience. The idea that artist should work on a smaller project before the dream is something I’m technically doing with this comic, I have a completely different non warriors comic that’s the dream to write. But this project is starting to feel more and more like a bigger project than I can manage, and less like my first full comic series to test the waters. Yeah, I could take a step back from this comic to make something to be a real test, but that mean starting from scratch and making a new project from the ground up that could just end up cycling back into the same issue I’m having with this comic!
All in all, I want to start small. Wanting my first proper post with these characters to be a fully completed comic page feels like a massively daunting task. I feel like I don’t understand these characters as much as I should, so I’m going to use this character asks segment to help me characterise them. Give the whole world a lot more life. I’m also hoping this will spark back a hyperfixation for this comic and get me pumped to work on it!!
I will note that I am on holiday right now, for the next week and a half. Idk how often I’ll be updating, but I’ll try to make it frequent! I’m just a tad burnt out and disoriented being in a new place and I’m kinda struggling to settle despite being here for a week already! (I’m in Orlando incase you’re curious! It’s nice, but I kinda struggle with holidays abroad lol)
If you read all this, I thank you deeply. Thought small, the people who are invested in this comic are the things that keep me going. You’ve all been so sweet and understanding of my issues and I really hope you’ll be patient with me. It genuinely means a lot that you care enough to read about and hopefully under my struggles, and makes me excited to give back to you all for you endless kindness and dedication to this series. Here’s to the SITB blog and all that is to follow!
Hello to y’all and a happy (late) new years! Apologies for being a little quiet as of recent, to be 100% transparent, I’ve just been hyperfixated on other stuff haha! I’m not putting to much pressure on myself to post constantly here, as I don’t want to get burn out or anything, but I’ll try and get something out soon
Speaking of, to give y’all a little something, I’m gonna go ahead and post the dropped writing project I was making for Christmas! It’s short as I kinda gave up on it, but I still think it’s cute! For the record, this is set a year before the cats depart for the journey, pre OakWeb break up (yes they were a couple at one point). Hope y’all enjoy!!
Crisp snow crunched under paw as the SheepClan patrol wandered their border. Greymuzzel lead the cats forward, snowflakes collecting on his
Tail curled around her mate, Oakpurr pressed her head into Websong’s shoulder.
“I hope we can spend every night like this.”
Websong gave a soft hum in response, eyes fixed on the dancing lights in the horizon.
Oakpurr knew Web had bigger ideals and dreams than her, but for now, she was loved.
She was not alone.
Aaa merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all! I was gonna write a whole fic for this, but it ended up being kinda disjointed and I didn’t want to finish it. Mayhaps I’ll upload the stuff I did write, but for now, cat yuri.
This is set probably a year before the journey, when Websong and Oakpurr were newly mates. They didn’t work out in the end, but hey, it was nice while it lasted. Right?
⛰ hey I’d love some lore bc I really don’t know much about The Thing other than it’s a monster that shapeshifts(?) in the snow
Ack, this is a tricky question, cause I rly wanna keep stuff secret, but if you’ve seen the movie, it’s basically the same type of creature. If you’ve not seen the movie ‘the thing’ (it’s seriously amazing, go watch if you haven’t seen it and don’t mind body horror), the next best comparison, unfortunately, among us.
Its an alien that came from a meteor. It blends in with the group and tries to emulate their behaviour in order to gain trust and assimilate others. It retains some memories of its host, but not all, just the most recent ones as well as any strong memories that shaped a person.
I chose not to make this parasite deliberately evil, it’s just an alien trying to survive on a new planet and keep its species alive. It’s just that the process of doing that kills the host unfortunately. It dose still prefer the cold and wants to freeze and hibernate again, but it doesn’t mind getting some food for the road.
I hope that helps a little. I’ve admittedly been a tad vague on the whole alien parasite thing, despite that being the main plot haha! Much like in the og thing, the actual monster is kept vague and mysterious, the main horror comes from how the characters interact and accuse each other (and the body horror too, I suppose).
While I do have a special post for Christmas Day, I wanted to do something else for yall.
Drop either a clangen character OR an oc of yours and I’ll do em a little doodle! I’ll get through as many as I can (depending on how many I actually get) and then I’ll make a post of them all and tag you in it ^^
I know these cats don’t have much atm, but I’m a little curious what yall think of them all so far. Feel free to elaborate in reposts or comments, I would love to know your thoughts ^^
I was looking for a way for people to interact and was also inspired by @moths-wc-aus fanclan ask game from 2023 (so sorry I did rip a handful of questions straight from you)!
Anyone is welcome to reblog for their own clangens or add more questions if you’d like!
Send an ask with an emoji and oc/clangen cat!
😸3 random facts!
🌱What are some of their favorite hobbies?
💤Are they a heavy or light sleeper? What are their dreams like?
🐀Favorite prey?
🌲What is their favorite holiday/special event? (If your clan has them)
🐾Do they prefer a wide circle of friends, or a few close ones? Who’s their best friend?
🕸What does their family tree look like?
🌟Do they have any special powers or abilities?
🌷What are some of their quirks and other mannerisms?
🌳What do their life goals look like? Deputy, Leader, Healer/Medcat?
🏡Would they ever consider becoming a kittypet?
🦅What do they think of the nearby clans/groups?
🪲What do they value the most?
🌱What is their favorite location on the territory?
🧹Favorite and least favorite clan task/chore/patrol?
🙀What do they fear the most?
🌌What is their relationship with Starclan like?
🌧Favorite weather?
🍀What is a secret they’re hiding?
For the author specifically kind of
😻Favorite ship in the clan?
🐈Are any of your cats based on real life pets?
🧡Can we get the relationship between X and Y cats?
🌀Out of context spoiler/WIP?
⏰How far ahead to you usually play?
⛰Lore you’ve been wanting to share but haven’t gotten the chance to?
Ok, I’ve decided that SIAB is going to be set in Canada! Specifically Dawson, near the tombstone mountains. The town had a gold mine and also attracted tourists, so I would assume they brought their cats that got out and ran further up into the mountains.
I’m exaggerating a tad, but I’m quite happy with my choice. I rly wanted a specific location so I could figure out local animals and farming (as they clans live near a farm)
Also my cool aunt lives in Canada and loves mountain biking, so I figured I’d set it there in honour of her (though she lives in Vancouver haha)
They won’t be seen in the main comic, but I wanted to do some designs for them anyway.
First is Cowstar, previously Cowheart, leader of SheepClan. She is levelheaded and calm, known to deal with conflict with a soft voice and open mind. He is widely praised for settling disputes between the clans, however, his want for resolve is sometimes seen as weakness from more hostile cats.
Yall have seen little Lilacpaw before, sister of Coldsight! Known for causing mischief and pranks, she and her brother we originally loners found by a StagClan patrol. The two kits had been roughing it in the wilderness and were quickly welcomed into the clan. They siblings have been close ever since and the two are a well loved addition to the clan.
And lastly are Robinpaw and Partridgepaw, sisters of Pigeonpaw daughters of Sunnyflight and Goosethroat. The two sisters couldn’t be more different, Robin is loud and adventurous, whereas Partridge is quiet and reserved. The leader and her faithful henchman. The two get along well swimmingly with Lilacpaw and they, along with Pigeon, love to chat and spar at gatherings.
Hope you like these lil tid bits, and look out for a little gift on Christmas Day 👀
