Can I ask question 9 about Ulric (I love the angst)?
9. If the Warden was trapped in a nightmare, what would it be like?
You guys really do want to see him suffer, huh...?
His nightmare would be very similar to Alistair's. Him belonging. He'd be surrounded by a big family. He'd be needed. It might even hint some Rivain in case he ever overheard anything as a child, but didn't connect the dots consciously. Maybe even Nate might be there (bc at the time Ulric hadn't met Zev yet) too. So Ulric could pamper and spoil him.
Or.
If the desire demon was feeling whimsical, they'd find a metaphor which would cover all that and also grant him one more wish...
Hi! It's me again! Sorry! I wanted to ask if there will be more comics about Ulric, his past, relationship with his parents, what happened in the circle and more. As I said, I really enjoy him! Also makes me want to play DA:O again xD
HI!!
I'm INCREDIBLY sorry it took me ages to reply! I... had to think on this one, bc I've been avoiding polishing his backstory, so THANK YOU for asking me this!! I'm not sure if I'll draw more comics on the topic, but I finally wrote the basic info down and... added a few doodles. <3 It makes me genuinely happy you're this interested in him! ;; <3 I went a little overboard w this, hope you don't mind!
Story/hcs/more doodles under the cut!
Ulric was born on the sea on his mother’s ship. He suffered whispers about his origin throughout most of his childhood. He looked different from his family - slightly darker skin, dark wild hair, piercing golden eyes - and was often called a bastard behind his back. It was a sort of public secret. His parents told him to pay it no mind and that he was their son no matter what.
However, at a banquet held in Highever when Ulric was 13 he got surrounded and mocked by a few young nobles a little older than him. Vaughan Kendells among them. Fergus tried to deescalate, but then Vaughan called Ulric’s mother a wh/ore and the usually cheery carefree Cousland threw himself at the kid, slammed him to the ground and beat the crap out of him until he was torn away still yelling, believing he was protecting the teyrna's honor.
This ofc had consequences, unlike Vaughan, he had to apologize, Bryce who stood up for him had to make amends. ‘He’s not even your son!’ ‘A brute who attacked another child must be put to his place!’ Damage was done, Ulric demanded answers which he didn't really get, but Bryce stood his ground, protected him from the nobles and Ulric 'only' had to lay low in the eyes of the nobility. (At least for a bit.)
After that, father paid more attention to Fergus, teaching him the ropes around the castle/teyrnir. Ulric was still present, but usually remained quiet unless asked or unless he had a strong opinion. At the time he realized his chances of an ambitious future were gone, but also that he didn’t want to rule anyway and that it gave him freedom.
He still had to study, learn languages, but whenever he could he spent time outside, practicing with swords, chatting up servants, helping around just to do something.
Slowly, he got the care-free if slightly cynical attitude of his. He had no prospects and nothing to lose. ‘At least I don’t have so many obligations now, do I,’ shrugs and winks. He calmed down, parrying insults with humour and wit. Making fun of himself and his whole situation. Unless somebody was insulting his family, he didn’t care. After a certain conversation with Nathaniel, he stopped caring about his past altogether.
Later he turned out to be quite a charmer and started wh/oring himself sleeping w everyone willing. Especially after Nathaniel was sent away and Fergus got married. At the time Ulric felt really lonely and sought company of literally anyone. Even if just to share space. A little fun on the side? Why not? He didn’t look for a longer relationship, though.
He knew everyone in the castle, knew the people personally, kept good relationships, either helped around or, if his help was refused, he lazed around to share the space and chatted. He attended all the possible envoys and travelled around Ferelden often, slowly shedding ‘the little bastard brute’ label he got as a child.
Later, his father proposed he should marry Delilah Howe. And while he wasn’t ecstatic, he agreed. She was the sister of his best friend and at least he knew her. He didn’t expect any bright future for himself anyway.
Aaaand you know what happened next…
Relationships
Eleanor
He was closest with his mother. Especially after the incident. He was never directly told whether the insults of being a bastard were true. And how he was a bastard. At some point Eleanor gave him the golden bead he wears in his hair saying it was 'his mother's'.
Eventually, after a conversation with Nathaniel, he stopped bothering trying to figure out where his roots were. So what if he was a bastard. He had a place to stay and people who loved him (unlike Nate, whose family was a wreck). He knew he had his family and that was enough for him. He ended up with jokes like ‘Yes, I’ve been called a bastard. In oh so many ways.’
Fergus (Four years older)
He was very close with his brother, especially as a kid. Ulric was usually the kid running around, kinda loud, chasing chicken, playing with the dogs, playing with swords, pretending to be a knight. Fergus was either playing with him or looking after him and keeping him out of trouble. Fergus was usually supportive of him, always making sure that Ulric never felt left behind.
Bryce
Teyrn raised both his sons as equals. Fergus was the wiser one, Ulric was the shameless one. Meaning Bryce often had to talk some sense into the younger son. He was strict with both of them, but never in a way to scare the children. Unfortunately, the incident at the banquet took a toll on their relationship
Bryce sort of favored Fergus afterwards. He’d still talk to Ulric, ask for his opinions and thoughts when teaching them, would still call him ‘pup’, but he paid more attention to Fergus. And while Ulric felt a little betrayed (and distanced himself too), he just accepted that’s what it was. And attending the lessons and meetings exhausted him anyways, so he started looking at the bright side veeery fast.
Nathaniel
Since Bryce and Rendon Howe were friends/allies, the Cousland and Howe kids got to spend time together whenever visiting. And Ulric was up to no good whenever Nate was around. He would follow Nate and bother him until he realized Nate was a huge nerd who wanted to be a knight. So they’d play knights together, prank Nate’s sister together, generally be a menace. Nan from the kitchen would be horrified every time she heard the Howes were coming.
Ulric basically grew up with Nate. Doted on him. Later they bonded over the topic of a complicated relationship with their fathers, they sparred together, went for rides to the woods together, … And honestly, had they had more time together, Ulric would have kissed Nathaniel at some point. But Nathaniel was sent to the Marches when Ulric was 18 (at the time he hadn’t slept with a mant) and they hadn't seen each other until after the Blight.
They wrote to each other, but as a squire, Nathaniel grew busier and busier, his letters shorter and fewer, and Ulric just. Stopped trying even if he felt extremely lonely after Nate left.
As for the Circle tower... I might sum it up this way too? I really didn't expect anyone to be interested enough, so this is really making me beam! Thank you for basically giving me a prompt that made me spend my weekend in the utter glee of a brainrot! ;; <3
My partner and I will be walking around DoKomi Fri + Sat. We're not tabling but we'll be cosplaying (in our DA costumes)!
We'll be there as Zevran and Emmrich today (I might have to change into the lighter version based on the casual outfit I designed for Zev ages ago due to the heat, tho).
FenHawke tomorrow!
I hope the weather is kind to us (me especially today).
Hi! I was wondering if you’ve ever posted about your art process or are willing to! I love the quality of your lines/colors and really adore all of the comic pages I’ve seen from you. Your art is just. So beautifully lined and detailed.
I’ve been working on drawing a comic page lately myself I find they take so much patience and work to do. Layout tends to trip me up a lot. If you happen to have any tips for color or for comic layout I am very curious!
Hey hi!
Thank you SO much! <3 This took me by surprise a little, because I'm not the fondest of doing lineart. Or maybe I am, but my brain is stuck in the time when we hated lineart. :'D I also like to pretend that adding details and nice colours will distract people from insecure writing. I'm really glad you like!
I actually post wips and my step by steps on my patreon (light sleep tier for 3 bucks). I'm just impossible when it comes to promoting myself. They're mostly illustrations, though, since I've been taking it a little bit easier with comics lately.
HOWEVER.
I did post a very detailed step by step of one of my comic page of an abandoned project some time back. It was in the time when I also had a tiny panel about comic drawing at a local con. I went to check yesterday and I think it has all the tips I could give you?
As for the quick tips I can offer you immediately -
Make simple thumbnails of your pages, zero details, just panels and stickmen. See how they work together first before you start sketching them.
No need for your comic page to look your 100%. It's s comic page, not an illustration. Your reader will look at each of your panels for like a second and move on. You need your 50%-60% look okay. Don't overthink stuff.
I usually focus on ONE panel that will make the page shine, don't sweat the rest. Same goes for one cool page per scene.
Switch between different angles/zooms to avoid talking heads syndrome
Hands can be almost as expressive as a face! Use that!
I get bored easily so instead of trying to lie my way out of a page by drawing an easy thing over and over and copying stuff, I try to make my panels interesting, so I keep my brain entertained
COLOURS (and layout too really) - I always start with the background so the character fits in better later
Those are some random things I can think off right of the bat. I hope this helps a little! <3
Firts of all, I've wanted to thank you all for the years of kindness and support you've shown me here!
I've been thinking about this for years and years, since 2018 to be precise, but I've been too afraid. I'd just started attending artists alleys and I wasn't sure if I could afford losing my name even if I wasn't really comfourtable with it at the time already.
I switched to using the nickname of Alas / Las last year.
And now - here I am.
Remember the Moon Moon boy? Yeah? I'm using him as my avatar sort of (fursona for the true believers) now.
You'll find me around as FeatherFangArt here, on i/g and on b/sky now.
I'm holding the artofalassa handle here and artofalas over at butterfly lands, so you know it's me, when you stumble there using the old nick.
Thank you so much for your patience and support!
PSA over.
(... before I drop another note where I declare my undying love to you for all the lovely comments and notes in the tags and stuff under my art <3)
Hey guys, just wanted to say I'm blown away by the lovely comments and words on the Grail char designs and the words of support on the whole project. It means a lot!!
I've been fighting burnout, too many deadlines and juggling too many cons/zines/cms (and some health problems) on both hands for months now. Also the guilt from an abandoned og project I'd been trying to get myself to work on for five years and then realized I just wasn't interested in the story anymore (after pushing it around without really managing to start for... five years).
I was really worried there was no way I could hype myself up into anything lately. Especially when it comes to original stuff.
I realized I needed to dive in, when the hype is at its peak (just like I always did with all the fan stuff).
So seeing you guys being interested in the characters and the whole project means a ton. ;; <3 <3
My partner Mort (who's absolutely insane when it comes to world building) and I are currently waking up from the con rush, but he's already working on more of the world building! I finished drawing the prologue, started storyboarding the first scene, am continuously working on more lore and detailing the characters.
I still have a lot of cmd/zine work to finish first, but I'm slowly working on this meanwhile and it feels so much better knowing somebody out there would like to see it happen! ;;
So.
It's been a while since one of my heartfelt overly emotional thank you posts, but here it is!
Thank you! <3
Now to finish sketch for a cm before I go board and sketch more pages for Liam's first scene... u_u
