The dragonborn, a scholar, the Nerevarine, and the Hero of Kvatch spending some quality time together at House Nivulirel’s gala. Some of them are enjoying themselves more than others!
Anja is representing the warrior, Elivarya the lover, and Rendrasa and Anithil the thief—guess which of those two actually enjoys her sign. ; )
Please click to embiggen! Lines, concept sketch, and ramblings under the cut~
Anja’s endgame armor was the ancient falmer armor, but before that she preferred glass, and I love the colors to the glass armor, so it seemed only natural to incorporate it into her outfit. Most of the glass pieces she’s wearing are custom-made fashion pieces, but those are her combat-ready greaves and boots. Her circlet is styled after the glass helmet, but with more exaggerated horns to emphasize her role as dragonborn.
I didn’t actually have a birthsign picked out for Rya before this, but how could she not be the lover? The design of her silk dress comes directly from the constellation, but in the white and red that I like to imagine the snow elves enjoyed and with a little added flair from the slits.
Rendrasa doesn’t particularly enjoy being born under the sign of the thief, so while she also took inspiration from common depictions of the constellation, she’s really just wearing a slightly modified, differently-colored version of one of her standard outfits—this time in a rich navy velvet with gold trim. She preferred to pay homage to the constellation theme with general stars more than anything, though the thief can be seen on her belt.
Ani represents the thief with far more theatrical flair. She’s having the time of her life stealing everyone’s coin purses, too, as she’s a thief to her core. She styled her outfit directly after the constellation, but she couldn’t resist more stylish thigh-high boots. I added more color to her outfit after spying my pink quartz marker, to differentiate it a little more from her onyx-bedazzled outfit from last year.
tes pinup challenge 2025 days 20-22: divine blessings
Rya and Gelebor bathing in the little sanctuary they built in the Inner Sanctum, while the light of Auri-El streams through the window and bathes them both in gold.
As part of Rya and Gelebor’s restoration of the Inner Sanctum, fallen braziers are righted, and those whose meteoric glass has been lost to the ages are instead filled with gleamblossoms, which do the job just as well.
The passage had widened, and a shaft of pale sunlight shone through a gap in the ceiling. Tiny ice crystals hung suspended in the air above her and sparkled in the light. Gelebor stopped and looked back at the younger mer, smiling as he followed her gaze upward.
“Almost like magic, isn’t it?” he said.
Elivarya smiled in agreement, then took a few paces to join him. Her attention was drawn to an even brighter shaft of light on her right, filled with more sparkling crystals. His comment about magic had given her an idea, and she cast Magelight, cradling it in her hands as she focused her magicka and split the ball of light into several smaller ones, sending them one at a time to join the crystals. They pulsed brightly, creating a twinkling and shimmering display.
Rya’s first trip into the Inner Sanctum is filled with wonder. Sadness, too, at the fate of the snow elves, but mostly wonder.
The amulet of Auri-El that Rya takes to wearing once she lives in the Vale was a gift from Gelebor; it had been sitting unworn in a seldom-opened chest for millennia before she arrived.
Tears formed in his eyes, and his grip on her shoulder tightened. The younger mer’s instincts finally got the better of her, and she threw her arms around his neck with reckless abandon. His armor pressed against the base of her neck, but she hardly noticed. He seemed stunned by the gesture, but after a moment, he returned her embrace and wrapped his arms around her. They held each other as close as they could, which was not particularly close; the sentiment was more important to both of them.
Rya and Gelebor’s first hug, the first day they met, the first time he took her into the Inner Sanctum. She had been longing to comfort him more fully and finally gave in to the desire once he let his emotional guard down.
Feasts are hard to come by in the Vale, but one of the more involved meals Rya and Gelebor make is a venison stew with hunted Vale deer, grown carrots and potatoes, and foraged mushrooms and frost mirriam.
