The brainrot continues so much so i made my in-game character into a 3d model (which was to just take Estera's model and change it a little bit).
At first it was nothing more than just "haha what if there was this spin-off version of my au where my character is an actual being" but then it evolved way too much so now you have to listen to my yapping for a little bit.
To starts off, what the original idea was before it got too serious:
One day I just got an idea of "what if I made a model of my quote unquote LC character (refs below) into a 3D model?"
And so I did just that.
I took Estera's already finished model, changed the textures, changed the shape a bit and added the characteristic accessories and that does not include Bill Cipher on the head because I don't think the world of lethal company needs any more chaos.
The basic idea is that this character would just stick around Estera (my other LC character), being silly. Just in general being the opposite image of them: Estera being this serious, doomed by the narrative character, trying to fight for survival while the character is there goofing around, a comedic relief if you will.
But then I started thinking about it all too much and gave the character too much lore (I'm still not sure if it's canon in my au or not but it surely exists) (literally an au of an au).
I don't have specifics on how they'd meet or anything so don't expect that, buuuuut
Firstly, Estera gives them a name — To, which is just a polish word for "it". To still remains pretty silly/goofy but I gave them a bit more lore, as a treat.
They're mute but their body language is enough to communicate with others most of the time, they're pretty expressive when it comes to that.
The lore reason behind those weird props (like cat ears and a tie) that I came up with is that they just found it somewhere and took it or someone put those stuff on them and they just went with it. Just the "why not" mentality kind of.
But now the part where I went too serious for them and their character/lore.
They're not a human, wow shocker, I know. The bracken-like leaves totally didn't gave that away.
Sure, I was inspired by the in-game monster bracken with their design, like being a nature-like entity? Made out of leaves but sprinkle some eldritch horror onto it and then you have this:
What exactly it is? Not sure.
The black tendril-like things can and will move. They can imitate other objects with them, e.g.: make it look more like a human head.
When To is scared/frightened, their tendrils will protectively wrap around the white thing in the middle of their "head" so it's not exposed to anything.
What the white thing in the middle is? Yeahh...
I mean, it's important, that's for sure. It's so important in fact that in this version of my au, being like To are hunted down for that white thingy as it is the main component in the making of an apparatus.
cut to To opening up their "head" and letting Estera touch that white thing cough cough I mean what
Possibly their species are related to that of brackens, possibly these two are the same thing in this au. Not sure, I haven't decided on that one.
I don't usually post concept art of new characters/models before I make the models but here we are.
I'm having multiple stuff on my to-do list that exists only in my mind and one of such is expanding some species in my AU.
So welcome the new elf characters:
Ayacaya, Knight of Soil
Filaurel, Knight of Seas
Neremyn, Knight of Flames
Elidyr, Knight of Winds
Lyeneru, Knight of Lightning
I forgot to draw the characteristic pointy ears that those elves have (or should have in this situation) but I forgot about that so just pretend that they're there. Also the two characters don't have a face and that's because I just couldn't be bothered to do that as well. It's just a concept art and most of the details will appear as I'll be making their models. When that will be? Not even I know.
But now, a quick ramble about the characters and their significance in the AU.
It's similar to how the social hierarchy and the powers work on Eunade, i.e. you have civilians and all the normal people, then some higher-ups that posses some actual powers and then a deity at the top. For the elves species in my AU, the deity is Melinoe and the higher ups in this case are the characters from this concept art.
As you might have already guessed, they're based on elements of nature.
Soil = earth/plants
Sea = water
Flames = fire
Winds = air
Lightning = electricity
They're still not that much developed but the main idea is that each one of them is the source of elemental powers that exist among the elf species (e.g. Elidyr, Knight of Winds is the source for the air element). Thanks to that, other elves can also wield elemental powers. Hope that I explained it well enough for you to understand because I suck at writing down my thoughts.
They also posses the status of half-gods, although among their species they're refered simply as knights.
Not sure what else to say about them for now. I just know that probably I won't be having a good time making models of them. As I said earlier, more details will appear later + some aspects from the concept art will change (especially the body build and face structures). The concept is there just to visualize more or less how the models will look.
Models:
"Hiromi Kuroibara v3.0" by Etheluu
"Ninrin Arcaseum v1.0" by Etheluu
Stages:
"Gate, fence and billboard (門と柵と広告塔)" by とりそば (Tori soba)
Accessories:
"The Wishing Lantern" by Etheluu
"Notebook" by Metra-Philia
"Roses" by Reseliee
"Celestial Bodies" by Chestnutscoop
"Chair" by Danicore
Effects:
"ExcellentShadow2" by そぼろ (sovoro)
"FXAA-master" by rui
"NeonPost" by ビームマンP (BeammanP)
"PostDropHair_v0.4" by P.I.P
"PostEdgeControl_v02" by P.I.P
"PostAlphaEye" by そぼろ (sovoro)
"Dippen" by サンフラワーふじ (Sanfurawā Fuji)
"msColorCorrection_ver.1.0" by ましまし (mashi mashi)
"PostRimShilouhette" by P.I.P
"AutoLuminous4" by そぼろ (sovoro)
"ikClut-Z7" by ikeno, ZERA@のりたまP (ZERA@noritamaP)
"msPowerSoftFocus_ver.1.0" by ましまし (mashi mashi)
"msUnsharp" by ましまし (mashi mashi)
Shaders:
"msToonCoordinator_v2.0" by ましまし (mashi mashi)
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Ninrin lived millennias before Hiromi was born, before the disappearance of their species's Goddess. She spent her life dedicated to researching, at the time unknown, genetic mutation that caused many of her people's to pass away. In later years, it was refered to as Aisen illness and thanks to her discovery, others were able to create medicine for it. Although Ninrin herself was forgotten rather quickly, her focus at the time was on further researching the bodies and their functions of her species.
She was the first to propose a theory that demons — the species to which she belongs — are made of two "bodies". The physical part that all can see and touch called "shell" and the soul-like part, invisible to an ordinary person, called silhouette. She claimed that people of Eunade are actually the silhouettes, trapped in the "shell" body.
That theory was not widely accepted and as she was slowly succumbing to the passage of time, her mind was being filled with only more questions. What actually are her people? Who are they truly? Who is she herself?
"Who do you think you are?" the white-haired Goddess asked.
"This body, shell, is known as Ninrin Arcaseum. But I am Hiketanu Kuroibara," she replied.
Hiiii this is going to be a bit long post. I've had this idea for a while now: how Hiromi's hairstyle can be interpreted as her current character and struggles.
1. Short hair
A hairstyle that Hiromi had ever since she was a kid, up until her teenage years. Always kept short, presentable from the front but an uncontrollable mess in the back.
And quite just like herself: still young, not yet ready to proceed in life so she's clinging onto what is familiar, onto the version of herself that she knows. She's not truly controllable. She listens to her parents, yes, but her childness is still at the back of her mind, letting her to freely get to know the world surrounding her. Hiromi is still learning about herself.
2. Long hair / hair tied in a bun
As the years and years go by, she grows out her hair. Its length covers her entire back at some point. That hairstyle looked quite good to her, even though it still had her uncertain about it. Yet she was coerced into changing it, tying her hair into a bun. A more classy, formal style.
Hiromi grew older and throughout all those years she was learning more and more about herself, about who she wants to be and how she wants her future to look like. She didn't have any specific ideas for what or who she wanted to be, but she kept her options. Yet her ideas to model her own life were cut short, as she already had a path chosen for her to follow, a role to fulfill. She no longer had control over her own life.
3. Cutting down the long hair
In her decision to run away, she also altered her appearance - cutting her hair down to shoulder length.
Hiromi, quite literally, cut away the ability for others - her father - to control her life. He no longer could mold her into what he wanted her to be ("hair tied in a bun" and now there was no hair to do that). Yet that decision also came with consequences: her options for her life were changed in every regard as she had to start her life anew in a completely different place. Literally a new planet.
4. Cut hair
A new hairstyle, one that she never had before. Her hair sprout in every direction as it's let loose. At first, her hair is tied into a short ponytail. A small resemblance of what it used to be, still unable to drop the old life entirely. Only after getting used to the new enviroment, she lets it loose, to freely grow again.
She starts her new life from almost zero, all her experiences do not fade away. She distanced herself from everyone she knew to free herself. As such, she can mold her life in a way that she wants. But that still doesn't come easy and old habits crawl back into her life, character and actions unconciously. It takes time for her to actually unlearn them and to be ready to truly live her life, her way.
5. Regrowth and restyle
For someone who watched my videos with some lore bits in them, it's probably not a surprise but Hiromi goes through a transformation and is taken back home. After such, she grows out her hair again. But, instead of tying it into a bun like she used to, she simply ties it into a long ponytail.
Hiromi's life didn't took a path that she wanted. She's back in a place that she tried to escape from. Home. But she doesn't go back to the role that was firstly imposed onto her. She creates her own, in a place she previously thought was impossible. She knows what that her life brings certain responsibilities, but nonetheless, she doesn't forget herself in all of it.
i imagine she would occasionally cut her siblings's hair at first as a practice, then later in life she gave hiroko her characteristic spike hair (i think that's what it is? at least most similiar to???)
later on, her skills came in handy with yutaro's problem with his hair
since he's a busy guy, he doesn't really get spare time to properly take care of his hair. and his hair grow like crazy, getting long really fast. so at their official meetings, she quickly cuts his hair in a bathroom before the event.
it also plays a part in gender affirming care for yutaro. having shorter hair is making him feel better and so hiromi helping him with that, he very much appreciates her.
in general they have a positive relationship. they're not close by any means, but they definitely on good terms.
also this is what i wrote mid falling asleep when i got an idea for this post
actually i got more thoughts about the ripping-out-a-core thing from my previous post
because the core is also a place where memories are stored, and just generally your whole self is this one crystal thingy. so by taking it out (if not straight up killing a person) it would erase their whole being, having only an empty shell of a body. although most likely they would just not survive since the core is also their power/life source. but i will say that it's an interesting concept, a coreless demon.
and it'd be similar if the core was damaged, e.g. if a crack appeared on it then that person would experience memory loss, probably with some other issues on the side.
that gives me another question: would you be able to fix a core? and i will say that i'm not sure to be honest. it could be a cool idea for the cores to be fixable but then who would be able to do so? it's literally a part of one's "soul" and fixing that would be literally one of the hardest things to do for anyone. maybe the goddess herself but lo and behold, she's not here currently. maybe this profession had vanished over the years because so few people were able to perform it.
Putting my ocs through mental anguish part 92485. I've been falling asleep yesterday when an idea for this render just appeared in my mind and I had to try and make it. Those are the results.
To describe that idea more clearly: what if Hiromi just ripped her core out aka her literal life source. Like, dip her hand right into her chest and get that crystal out. I think that's a cool idea for my demons to be able to do, absolutely gruesome and mortifying if you think about it for more than 5 seconds, but also kinda neat.
Models:
"Hiromi Kuroibara Runaway ver. v6.3" by Etheluu
"Hiromi’s Dark Silhouette v2.2" by Etheluu
Effects:
"FXAA-master" by rui
"SSAA改" by データP (Elle), 猫型dog (Māo xíng dog)
"ExcellentShadow2" by そぼろ (sovoro)
"Dippen" by サンフラワーふじ (Sanfurawā Fuji)
"PostEdgeControl_v02" by P.I.P
Shaders:
"msToonCoordinator_v2.0" by ましまし (mashi mashi)
i've been thinking about how I want Hiromi's first meeting with Auroseus to go in the rewritten version (which btw is on hold while I focus on commissions).
in the current version it's like "oh haha hey there. don't worry you're good everything's chill" and i want to rewrite it to show the absolute power that Auro holds. i want to show how just her existence breaks the laws of time, how she's the one that created everything. i need her to just radiate this power that can crush everything that she does only as much as glance at it.
and it needs to happen while Hiromi is having another existential crisis after whatever Miru decides to spill out - because that's also going to change. i'm not entirely sure rn what exactly they're going to say, but it surely will be something that maybe shouldn't be spoken out loud. they used to have a status of pretty much a demi-god after all.
