#catalysta

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Catty getting some love. First picture is Catty singing a prayer to the sun as it rises, second one is a commission for @tazzooca​ :3 she just came from being on duty with the Empress, hence her Teller Garb still being attached to her and all her shiny bells n shit Catty sounds something like this in her prayer

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It’s that time again, folks, where I update and improve my character refs. Today I focused on my old friend, Catalysta. Her design has changed a lot over the years, but she’s still the powerful, kindly mage we know and love.

I’ve improved a lot over the last few years, and I’m really proud of myself. I even managed to draw a hand. A HAND! Of course, new one is on the left, old ref is on the right.

Anyways, here’s her new and improved ref sheet. Hope you enjoy <3

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Here’s the revamped crew together <3 Hope you enjoy!

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“These memories... They are not my own.”

Smaugust #13 with some artwork of Catalysta! She is still bae, even after all this time. She’s been through a lot, poor ol’ bean. I guess I’ll have to leave y’all guessing what’s happening until my book series gets published tho ;D

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All the art from various asks, just so people can get a better look if they want to! All my answered asks are under ‘The Dragon Answers’ tag on my blog :3

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N E W  R E F S

complete with hatchling versions, genders, sexualities and breath-weapons. 

Super proud of these! They’re all looking much better proportion wise and shape wise and I’m really proud of myself!

--EDIT--

Added Veratrix’s newer ref version in so I have a complete post of their updated refs!

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Hatchling Trouble

Final creative piece I’m doing, focusing on Von’s hatching and her relationship with the adults in her wake. Warning: this induced squeals at mentions of baby dragon paws at this morning’s workshop. You have been warned!

Catalysta could barely believe that the sons of men would stoop so low as to steal eggs from dragonkind. Maybe long ago, but not in modern times. As she winged away from the caravan, the men below shouting and hurling their pointed sticks after her, she clutched the dark egg closer to her chest. Baby dragons were vulnerable and would trust the first thing they saw upon hatching. What men did when they stole eggs was inexcusable; they were brainwashing sweet little babies to be slaves. The golden dragon snorted heavily, a frown etched into her face as she flew back towards her mountain home.

It had only been chance that had led her to the little life inside the shell, but chance was a powerful force in the universe and she was thankful it had graced her. The egg was cold – colder than it should have been – and far on in its development. Men did not know dragons as they thought they did. Hatchlings could die, even those fully formed, if exposed to low temperatures. When she landed on the ledge, she expressed her frustration by jetting a stream of blue flame into the air, her ears folded back against her skull.

Almost immediately, two dragons emerged from the cave to greet her. The blue one, smaller than her, spoke first – the scars that littered her hide silvery in the light.

“What? An egg? They had an egg?” she asked, her voice an icy hiss. Nix had very little time for the sons of men, and she had good reason. Her scars were not for show.

“Yes. I will be transporting it to the Temple as soon as I have made the Empress aware that man are stealing eggs again.” The elder dragon said, brushing her wings on Nix’s with great warmth and affection. “Do not worry yourself so. They will be stopped.”

Nix bowed her head, seemingly grateful for the elder’s reassurance. The other, much larger than the other two and a deep red, spoke softly, following Catalysta as she entered the cave.

“Why don’t we keep it? A flight of such magnitude will not be good for an egg.” Her worried voice carried great compassion, but Nix snapped at her, nipping at the red’s drooping wings as she slithered by.

“Nonsense! Veratrix, you are too soft. The hatchling cannot live with us.” Though her tone was harsh, the gentle giant didn’t flinch away; instead, she bumped the ice dragon with her tail, causing Nix to hiss at her. The two bickered, Nix’s voice scathing and cold, Veratrix’s warm and soft. Catalysta silenced them with a rumble and a flick of her tail, and they fell in behind her as she set the egg down in a makeshift nest, the old tapestries bundled around the dark shell.

“We can’t raise a hatchling this far from society. It should be with other hatchlings, the way it’s supposed to be.” Said the old female, turning away from the egg to address her friends. There was no question the egg would be loved if it stayed with them, but that wasn’t enough of a reason to keep it. Hatchlings needed more than love. It hurt her heart to give it up, but it was the right thing to do.

The pair had gone still, almost as if frozen, and they were looking past Catalysta. She paused, frowning at them, before starting and turning back to the egg, her pulse jumping – and there, emerging from the shell, was a perfectly formed dragonet. A hatchling, slick with slime, but eyes wide open. Their horn-nubs were pale against their black scales, and their eyes were the brightest blue, and they stared up at the three dragons as they tried to stand on their shaky little legs.

“It hatched.” Veratrix said dumbly, still staring at the tiny life that was wobbling slowly towards the dragon they were closest to. Squeaking, the hatchling fell into Catalysta’s talons, and the elder raised the little one to her face so she could get a better look at them. Blinking, the baby gurgled, resting her tiny paws on the bigger dragon’s snout, and Catalysta’s heart swelled with memories of the hatchlings that had been once upon a time.

“What are we going to do?” Nix hissed, approaching Catalysta with a twisted expression on her snout. She didn’t really understand what to do with hatchlings, but she couldn’t deny that there was a stirring of extreme emotion somewhere inside her. Even if it wasn’t hers, she wanted to keep the hatchling safe.

“We have to keep her now.” Said the golden dragon, nuzzling the hatchling lovingly. “She’s seen us. We can’t give her away, she’ll think she’s been abandoned.” Though the hatchling didn’t really understand what was being said, she patted her mother’s nose happily, feeling warm and safe with the three adults around her.

“What should we call her?” Veratrix said, her voice soft as she snaked her head towards the hatchling, blowing warm air over her. Even Nix edged closer to the tiny dragon and bumped her nose awkwardly against the perfect black scales.

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Catalysta would be a spell sword in my eyes, or a spell-daggerist, or spell anything. She would be stern, yet forgiving. Ready for anything in battle, not afraid to get in close if she can’t stay away to use any magical attacks, or maybe a cleric/paladin, able to heal others but not as well as a devoted healer.

This is the only one i’d argue against. Catalysta is a mage, through and through. She has access to magic which literally keeps her alive (she’s very, very old) and wields it with the skill of a planet-wide master. The conditions to the access to the magic, however, stop her from using it directly in combat. If she must kill something, she cannot kill it with magic, she must rely on either her companions or her own claws and teeth. She can make them invulnerable, boost their stats, grant them more attack speed, etc - because she is not directly attacking the thing that they are. I forget the name for it, but there is a class in final fantasy 13 that does it. It isnt saboteur, that’s the other one. Maybe synergist? I’m not sure. It’s been a very long time lmao