Mahalla Lavellan at the Winter Palace
Phenomenal commission by @catebees! :D
As soon as Mahalla hears they're going to an Orlesian ball thrown by Empress Celene, in Halamshiral of all places, the city whose alienage Celene purged, the capitol city of the Dales the Orlesians stole from the elves... Mahalla goes full Dalish Pride out of spite. She writes to her mother, Clan Lavellan’s expert seamstress, with instructions to make her the fanciest, most over-the-top elfy ballgown imaginable, fast as can be. And this is the result!
The cape and "mask" (crown) are reminiscent of winged Mythal statues and the golden halla; the shrug is reminiscent of armor worn by ancient arcane warriors; the skirt is embroidered with the names of Emerald Knights who died in the Exalted March; and the dress itself is a Dalish re-imagining of a style worn by the city elves Celene had killed. The color palette is all wrong for the Winter Palace; instead, she's awash in the golden glows of autumn.
This is a gown that says, "You tried to kill us, but we still live." This is a gown that says, "We are the last elvhen. Never again shall we submit."
Many many thanks to catebees, who was so very patient with my long descriptions and revisions!! LOOK AT THIS, SHE'S PRACTICALLY GLOWING!! I'm in love with all the details and colors and textures in here!!! The flow of the cape, the lines and colors on the dress, the gradient and texture on the skirt, the golden details on the hems, the little pearls on the mask, the golden lighting on everything... aklsdhflkasjhddfgkajsdfhgkfd! :D