#wavepainter

[vamppeach]

An artist paints someone's stomach muscles. The painting is abstract.

goddammit lilly

[shivertongue]

600 words so far tonight...

[shivertongue]

Amazing how, after three months of trying to figure out the first line of this draft of Wavepainter, it suddenly occurred to me to switch the first two paragraphs around...

[shivertongue]

Is it weird to say I like hearing about Spark? XD Anyways, I was thinking about what to Ask next and I realized I don't actually remember talking all that much about Illfezzazi culture. So why don't I spam you about that next? XD

Illfezzazi culture, if it were to be boiled down to a single sentence, would be “Life is beautiful”.

The nation spans quite a varied terrain, from scorching desert to dense forests to open plains, due in part to the secession of the western coast of Bondelan during the Imperial Civil War several centuries earlier. The secession and joining with mainland Illfezzaz led to short-lived cultural upheaval, as aspects of Bondelanni society were incorporated and adapted to Illfezzaz. The region is still more reserved than the rest of Illfezzaz, but they have largely shed the more restrictive societal aspects of their former empire.

For comparison to the real world, Illfezzaz has some aspects of Arabic styling, as one might expect from a desert-based culture, with some Brazilian and Scandinavian elements as well. There are more days of celebration throughout the year than anywhere else in the Coral Sea, large parades and feast days filled with music and brightly-colored costumes and decorations. Jazz is popular, but it hasn’t taken as strong a hold on the region as it has on other parts of the known world.

There is a passion for life and living it to the fullest, and the greatest taboo in Illfezzazian culture is to impede someone in what makes them happy - with the exceptions of murder and rape, of course. This is a double-edges sword, of course, in that what would be the criminal element in other civilized nations is accepted as a part of culture. Drugs, prostitution, gambling, and other vices are all legal, and some areas of larger cities have become seedier as a result. Most Illfezzazi take this in stride, but there are some elements who wish to have something done about such unsavory types.

The nation is ruled by the Bega’liph, a hereditary title that has - allegedly - remained within the same family for over one thousand years, passing from son to daughter to son. Any citizen may meet with the Bega’liph and tell them exactly what they feel and face no reprisal. Governing itself is done jointly by the Bega’liph and a small parliament chosen from the nine largest cities every ten years. On a more local level, towns and cities generally run themselves with a mayor and town council.

They like their food spicy, and their clothing loose and flowing. Gender and sexuality are almost entirely non-issues in Illfezzazi society, it’s citizens allowed to marry and spend their lives with whomever they want, providing it’s consensual, of course. One of the few places where gender comes across is in the names - Unmarried women have the “en’ modifiers before their surname, while umarried men have the ‘el’. Upon marriage, both men and women lose these modifiers, replacing them with ‘ez’. There is no taking of the spouses surname, unless for some reason one desires to. This is an odd notion, however, to most Illfezzazi, who have difficulty understand why someone would want to change their name when they’d spent so many years getting used to it.

[shivertongue]

Why don't you tell us about Spark? :D (And maybe some of those other guys as well. Especially the Twins. Because more people need to know about the Twins. :3)

xD

I mentioned in chat, briefly, that KChan had a sort-of role in Wavepainter. The character based on her is long-dead, but her impact on the world is still felt in the present day.

Spark (born Kirri en Wicol) was one of the great Wavepainters of history. A student of Flourish and of the Twins, Lucar and Umbra, at different points, a contemporary of Cogent and Scarlet, and one of the teachers of the renowned and legendary Rapt. Her handle was taken from her inspiration, the spark of life that she saw within everything, and the spark of adventure she felt within herself.

More than just a Wavepainter, like all those who’s names and works have transcended their era, Spark inspiration took her down multiple paths. She was a renowned explorer, making perilous treks into untamed and uncharted lands, discovering the remnants of lost civilizations and wonders of unsurpassed beauty. Maps drafted by Spark are still used in the present day - those that are not preserved in museums, that is.

Her spirit for adventure even drove her to see what was beyond the great sea. Named ‘Ulutheotealonoa’alhomate’ (Where Serpents Dwell to Feast Upon The Foolish) by the natives of the Chains, the great ocean was plagued by constant storms and leviathans of unsurpassed size and ferocity; none had crossed it’s treacherous waters and returned to tell the tale of what lay on the other side. 

To Spark, this merely made the challenge more alluring. After several years of planning, she took off from Mt. Aolomenoa in a personal aircraft designed by Cogent, soaring higher even than the black stormclouds that loomed over the churning sea.

Spark was never heard from again. Many choose to believe that she succeeded in crossing Ulutheotealonoa’alhomate, and the discoveries that lay on the other side were vast enough to sate even her thirst for adventure.

The Twins, Lucar and Umbra, are another story… ;)

[shivertongue]

Worldbuilding Wednesday

"The Muse created life, and deemed it a work-in-progress." -attributed to Wavepainter Rapt, date unknown.

Across the colored waters of the Coral Sea, amidst the melodic wail of trumpets and hookhorns, the thousand islands of The Chains have gained renown for their unsurpassed beauty and inspiration, drawing the cultural and artistic elite from across the known world. Highest amongst them are the Wavepainters, powerful artists limited by only talent and inspiration. Drawing upon the power of their own Influence among the people, the Wavepainters reshape their human Canvases into works of living art.

It has been nearly a decade since Ian Stenne arrived in The Chains, leaving behind a series of disgraceful exhibitions and displeased Canvases. Bereft of inspiration, Ian has abandoned his Wavepainting aspirations, turning instead to the other end of the art world - criticism. A respected and influential art critic, Ian has made few friends and many enemies among the most powerful men and women in the world. But Ian finds himself growing disillusioned with Wavepainting, seeing an utter lack of inspiration and innovation in recent years.

And then the murders began.

A young woman, hanging from steel chains formed from her very bones. Wavepainted to death, an act which should not be possible - consent of the Canvas is required; without it, the Waves will not take hold. But more bodies begin to show up, all Painted into grotesque beauties, each one granting the killer greater Influence - and even greater power.

And to his horror, Ian finds himself inspired for the first time in years.

Last week, in chat at least, a lot was asked about the magic used in Wavepainter, and there was quite a bit spoken of a few of the characters. A few days ago, I posted the original prologue to the story, and if anyone wants to a read bad, unfinished first draft, I can provide that.

Or, you can just ask me what you'd lie to know about Wavepainter, or any of the other stories I have in the works/in-development right now. Message me about one, and I'll post a synopsis.

• Shifting Earth

• Goldmine

• I Used to Rule The World

• Essence

[shivertongue]

The original prologue to Wavepainter

I'm in the midst of rewriting this entire story, but thought it might be fun to share this. I have since edited it heavily, and then cut it, put it back in, cut it again, and now I'm on the fence over whether I need it or not. That said, none of this is "canon," but I hope it's enjoyable.

Prologue

"The Muse created life, and deemed it a work-in-progress."

-Attributed to Wavepainter Rapt, date unknown.

"This is so exciting!" Jyelle whispered against her companion's ear, slipping her arms around his waist and pressing her modest chest against his back. She bit her lip as she felt the smooth, sculpted muscles of his abdomen through his clothing, and felt a shudder run up her spine. The physique was obviously Painted on, but to have so much Influence to allow a man to do it so casually to himself... Jyelle shuddered again, unconsciously squeezing herself tighter against him.

"Please, my dear," he chuckled, gently pulling her hands away from him. "Let me get the door open, first."

"I'm sorry," Jyelle said, pulling her hands away and taking a step backwards. She was thankful the corridor was dark, hiding the faint blush of her cheeks. He flashed her a warm smile over his shoulder, then turned back to the door, searching his pockets for several minutes before pulling out a small silver key that sparkled in the dim light of the hallway. Jyelle bounced on her toes as he fiddled with the lock, unable to hold in her excitement, her hands clutching at the thin fabric of her form-fitting black dress. She attempted to force herself into a state of calm, but a moment later the tall man pushed the heavy wooden door open with a loud creak that filled the corridor. A cry of excitement escaped her lips, breaking her restraint, and Jyelle bounced into the room.

The interior of the apartment was significantly better lit than the corridor had been, the large arched window on the other side of the room allowing in the light of two moons. Jyelle's eyes widened as they swept across the room, taking in the fine at hanging from the walls and subtle tastefulness of the decor. The sconces set into the walls suddenly flickered on, and she gasped audibly - they were incandescent! She stared in wonder, amazed at the sight of electric lights in a private residence. They sputtered briefly before dimm, bathing the room in a soft yellow light.

She kicked off her sandals and stepped onto the carpeted floor, shivering in delight as she felt the soft texture of the carpet against her toes. The sitting room itself was large, almost bigger than the entirety of Jyelle's own apartment. In the center of the room was a wooden table polished to a mirror shine, stacked with books and newspapers. Arranged in a circle around it were several large chairs of rich, red leather and finely crafted wood. She walked slowly, noticing a pair of doors to the right of her - possibly the bedchamber and lavatory. Next to them, starting just below the arched windows was a wooden staircase leading up to a raised loft that overlooked the area below, making use of the wonderfully high ceilings. Jyelle's smile grew, straining now against her cheeks; that must be his studio.

Approaching the window, her breath caught in her throat as she took sight of the magnificent view of the Ourzoballan skyline. She felt a soft sensation against her neck and the breath she held was released in a soft moan, her head tilting to the side as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. "The view is amazing..." she said softly, turning her head slightly to face her host.

"You should see it at sunrise," he said with a smile, bright white teeth sparkling. Jyelle shivered in his arms and pressed herself closer. "Are you ready?"

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded, afraid of speaking lest she sound too overeager. She took his hand as he offered it, placing a kiss on her knuckles before pulling away and guiding her up the stairway and to the loft above. She was deftly led through the piles of clutter that covered the grainy wooden floors until they reached a clearing in the mess, about two paces wide and twice as long. The studio was lit only by a small, flickering lantern that hung from the ceiling, it's weak light revealing a stark contrast to the sitting room below. The walls were covered, seemingly in a haphazard fashion, with hundreds of articles and pages torn from books and newspapers. A single shelf ran at eye-level along the length of the wall to her right, holding dozens of wire-wrought cages from which the chittering and squeaking of so many goylae could be heard.

Jyelle squinted her eyes, attempting to see inside the cages, but the light was not strong enough to allow her a clear look. The young woman bit her lip, staring at the cages for a moment before glancing over her shoulder at the man. "You never told me," she said softly, watching as he rifled through a stack of papers, "how you were going to Paint me."

He chuckled lightly without turning to look at her. "And ruin the surprise?" he asked, setting the papers down before turning to face her with a sly look. He approached her slowly, his steps careful and deliberate. "I enjoy the sight of you, quivering and eager, far too much to give away the mystery," he said, his breath warm as he whispered the words against her ear. Jyelle shuddered in anticipation as his finger began working at the buttons of her dress, slowly exposing her rich, sun-dark skin. She froze as she felt a soft touch running down the length of her back, along the path of one of the many scars she bore. She shied away from his touch, ashamed, but he gently pulled her back, cupping her chin lightly and tilting her head to face him. "You need not fear," he said softly, his voice smooth and compelling. "I picked you for your imperfections..."

Her cheeks flushed a bright red, and a surge of confidence rose with her. Jyelle met his cool blue eyes, smiling softly before running the tip of her tongue slowly across her upper lip as she slipped the dress off as sensually as she could manage. It was an unnecessary act, but she felt she had to repay his kindness somehow. And if she could inspire him even further in the process...

He offered no reaction, and her expression fell slightly as he took her clothes, folding them neatly and setting them on a small table behind them. Jyelle shivered as the chill air of the apartment touched her skin, her arms lifted to cover her breasts. Modesty was not her concern - despite his assurances, she felt shame and self-conscious of the many pale white scars that lined her body. "I can't help but be curious," she said, returning to her earlier line of questioning. She chose her words carefully, not wishing to risk upsetting him and ruining the first chance she'd ever been offered to achieve her dreams.

"Curiosity is commendable," the man behind her said, "and will be sated soon enough." She remained still as he walked around her in a slow circle, his eyes focused and intense as he examined her throughly. Jyelle did not resist as he pulled her arm away from her chest, fully exposing her slender body. "But curiosity can also be dangerous... you must be patient."

"Then may I ask..." Jyelle bit her lip nervously, aware of the breach of etiquette but overwhelmed with curiosity. "May I ask how you came by your handle? Why Debris?"

"A fair question," Debris said softly, running his fingers along her shoulders. She flinched, but otherwise did not move as he caressed the scars yet again. "I find that which has been damaged, that which has been discarded, and I breath new life into it. I find what society has casted aside, and I find the beauty within it, the beauty it still holds, and show the world why they were wrong to discard it. I draw my inspiration from it, and it ."

"I inspire you like that?" Jyelle said, smiling, her cheeks burning from the sudden rise of her blush.

"The Muse graced me with her presence the moment you walked into the room," he looked her in the eyes, and Jyelle felt as if the goylae in the cages had relocated to her stomach, thin wings beating about inside her. "If you are ready..."

Jyelle took a deep breath, then exhaled, willing away her anxiety. "I am."

"Then relax your mind," Debris said softly. "Relax your mind and body. Open yourself to me. Relax everything... and trust me."

Jyelle closed her eyes, focusing on his words and following his instructions. Forcing herself to calm took some effort, but eventually she felt a sense of peace begin to fall over her.

"Give yourself to me," he whispered, his voice fading further from her, it's smooth tones seeming to caress her skin with ethereal fingers. "Give me your mind. Give me your body... I will make you beautiful..." His voice was soothing, so soothing. Soon she felt completely at ease, willing to allow him access to her, giving him the unconditional consent he required.

"Perfect," he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Very good... If you would like to watch, simply open your eyes..."

Her eyelids fluttered open, slowly. as if waking from a dream.

And she saw the Waves.

The first struck her, igniting pleasure even greater than she could have ever anticipated. She could feel her every cell igniting with life, the sensation growing at an exponential rate as more and more Waves crashed into her. Her eyes glazed over, covering the world in a haze of purest euphoria. Jyelle's lips parted in a moan, the sensations overwhelming her with pleasure, moisture developing on her skin and between her thighs, her entire body feeling the rapture of the Waves.

Her eyes snapped open as the pleasure abruptly turned to pain. Moans turned into screams.

"Trust me," he said again, his voice cold and distant. "to make you beautiful."

[shivertongue]

so, what exactly is Wavepainting?

Wavepainting is a magic system used on Chamsomi. The Waves are the leftover remnants of the power of creation, the colors used in The Muse’s palette during the creation of the world. By expending Influence (a largely esoteric representation of how well one is known throughout the world) one can alter the form of a willing person (the Canvas) to change their shape, physical and mental abilities, and in some cases, personality. The limits of what Wavepainting can do are currently unknown.

The short answer of what it does, is that it is body-modification magic. 

Wavepainting itself is also regarded as an art form in the civilized world, and highly skilled Wavepainters are regarded as celebrities - and in some historical cases, mythic figures. 

Wavepainting requires Influence, and the consent of the Canvas. The Canvas can withdraw consent at any time, and what happens after that will fail to take effect.