[Image ID: a set of 4 gifs from the game the Elder Scrolls Online. They show a player character dressed in silver and black, with a silver mask with horns. She stands on a red crystal-like platform in front of a pale stone throne. She moves her hands as she preforms a spell with two gaur on either side of her. Silvery rocks and crystals float around her.]
They arrived late and drank the bar dry, but Danielle's happy she got to spend the gala with Moren ❤️🔥 (even though it took her an hour to convince him to dress up)
[Image ID: Digital illustration of a couple embracing on a dimly lit cobblestone street at night. On the left is a tall Dremora man with long dark hair. He wears a dark coat, partially open to show his bare torso underneath, pants and shoes. He stands with his arms crossed while being hugged. On the right is a short woman with long brown hair, wearing a deep red high-slit dress and matching heels. She stands on a red stool so she can wrap her arms around his shoulders.]
The lonely Mage, Champion, has not left her tower since the eras changed.
[Late entry for @tes-gala. Also an excuse to do a redraw of a shot from Ophelia (2018). I was gonna attempt a more detailed dress but, would the Arcane University spare that much money for the strange, quiet woman who's resided with them since the end of the Oblivion Crisis? ]
@tes-gala, the afterparty's still going on, right? 😅 I did not intend to be so late on posting this, but tbf, I didn't plan on participating at all until the very last day. It just took me longer than originally planned.
Anyway, here's my Last Dragonborn, Keshanir (left), and my Arch-Mage, Camrieda (right)! Camrieda's attending as the Mage and Keshanir as the Ritual, their birthsigns. I tried to combine Skyrim's fancy clothing (the shirts) with Khajiiti clothing for Kesh, but I don't think I got that across very well. Clothing may be a bit of a weakness of mine. As for Camrieda, I just really wanted to draw a puffy/big dress!
Eymei Gwylanwe, Head Professor of Healing, Winterhold College
Araszha-ko, Arch-Mage, Winterhold College
Editor's note: the following is an excerpt from an interview with Arch-Mage Arazsha-ko and Head Professor of Healing Eymei Gwylanwe of Winterhold College. The full interview, along with interviews from many more of Tamriel's biggest names in magecraft, will appear in this month's Midyear 2E 615 Special Issue of Mournhold Maguszine. Mournhold Maguszine is Tamriel's premier publication following popular mage culture in Tamriel and beyond. The annual Midyear Special Issue reports on all the news, fashion, gossip, and goings-on from House Nivulirel's famous yearly gala.
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MM: I noticed you introduced yourself as Professor of Healing. Why not Restoration?
EG: Winterhold takes the approach that the various applications of magic are far more important than classification thereof. There are no clean lines between Destruction, Restoration, Mysticism, and so forth—of course Arch-Magus Benele stressed as much decades ago in her original proposal that the Mages Guild adopt Shad Astula’s Eight-Schools framework.
MM: Sounds like a bit of shade for Shad Astula, hm?
EG: I would not speak ill of Shad Astula—especially not to a Mournhold-based publication! Nor is that a critique of the Guild; at the end of the day, we are all working toward the purpose of advancing the arcane sciences in Tamriel. But quite simply, it would set Tamrielic mystic culture back centuries if that rather rigid thinking were the only lens available to Tamrielic mages to learn their craft.
MM: In your view, then—
EG: Don't tell me you're at this gala to listen to a stick-arsed academic prattle on about mystic philosophy...
MM: Well, that's one of the reasons I’m here—
A: To underscore Professor Gwylanwe’s point, I am standing here today—in this very sleek outfit, please note for your readers—because of my skill in healing with siphoning magic, which Shad Astula and the Guild teach exclusively as destruction magic. But if you are trying to start a feud between Tamriel’s magic academies, you will have to try harder than that, yes? You are most welcome to make the journey to Winterhold to see what we have accomplished during my tenure as Arch-Mage—I might even consider sharing some of my spicier opinions… but it will not happen tonight.
EG: The Arch-Mage is dying to talk about his very sleek outfit.
A: Make sure to describe the many fine details for your readers—I point your attention to the gilded trim and the embroidered slippers—and do not forget to mention that this one still has the trim waistline and attractive musculature of a decades-younger cat! I am far too modestly-dressed for my personal Khajiiti tastes—as you can likely discern from the lovely Winterhold-green shade of this one’s garb, the gala is an invaluable networking and promotional event. I cannot help but look dashing, but I must also appear professional, unfortunately for everyone in attendance tonight.
MM: This year’s theme is Constellations and Birth Signs. Let me guess… you were born in Sun’s Dawn? The Lover?
A: Ah, this one’s charm gives him away! Or perhaps it was the most interesting part of this robe—the twelve shining Azurah’s-star pendants arranged in the shape of The Lover. The pendants have very little mystic charge remaining to them—enough for a glittering glow and a decent protective ward against spills, rips, and stains. But there is an artistry to their placement; encircling this one, like the embrace of a lover, yet also somewhat restricting his movement, symbolizing the fact that he is bound to his work as one is bound to a spouse.
MM: Speaking of which, you aren’t married—what are you looking for in someone to spend your life with?
A: Did you not hear me just now? I am not looking! In order to determine who would have the privilege of being the Arch-Mage’s plus-one, the faculty held a friendly contest, judged by the students. The judging show turned out to be quite the celebration in its own right; we had our own little gala in our frozen wizards’ tower, thanks to House Nivulirel! Each participant created their own look based on their own birth sign, using the same archive of mystic artifacts from whence my sleek pendants here. Many of the students participated as well, although they were not eligible for the prize. We have a very sleek and stylish faculty and student body, and there were many extravagantly impressive outfits to be seen at Winterhold that evening.
MM: Professor Gwylanwe, I take it the beautiful silver and pearl eye crest you’re wearing means you were born under The Ritual? What about the rest of your outfit?
EG: I could not very well wear the eye crest alone, no? As you guessed, I am a Morning Star baby, so my dress is meant to evoke the aurora, a common sight in Winterhold during the long nights of Morning Star.
MM: Forgive my saying so, but your outfit is a bit subdued—you look lovely, but I am surprised this outfit won a contest with many extravagant entries.
EG: Hm, I suppose it is, even compared to many of the other outfits here at the gala. I’m afraid the explanation is a bit academic; the sort of thing that would impress an auditorium full of nerds, which of course I say with deepest affection. But I am quite pleased about it—many gracious thanks to House Nivulirel, as I never otherwise would have had the occasion for playful experimentation.
A: My colleague is being far too modest! The artifacts in our archive range from powerful, legendary mystic foci that have been decommissioned, to totally un-magical baubles that perhaps a mage once owned. This ceremonial ritual scrying lens had been classified as the latter for centuries—until Professor Gwylanwe took it into her talented hands. Do you see the beautiful swirls of glittering light emanating from the pearls? It is highly reminiscent of the scullcaps and ritual headwear worn by the Psijic Order—to an auditorium full of nerds, immediately recognizable as Psijic magic.
EG: Well, I am of psijic ancestry—please write that with a lower-case ‘p’, thank you—so it is not so much of a feat as it may seem—
A: Do not believe her! The auditorium full of nerds was well aware of Professor Gwylanwe’s psijic ancestry. Plenty of Altmer claim Psijic ancestry—and many of them are even telling the truth—but there are still only a handful of people in all of Nirn who can wield psijic magic at all, let alone for playful glamours! If your readers were not already sold on Winterhold thanks to its Arch-Mage, who is handsome and talented enough for the faculty to hold a contest where the prize was attending a party with their boss, look no further than the head of our Healing department!
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For more, pick up the Special Issue of Mournhould Maguszine, available wherever fine publications are sold.
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I spent days’ worth of hours in procreate (i can’t draw and i have brain illnesses) on just the idea about the eye crest thingy, then the week of the gala i realized that that is not nearly enough to wear to a gala! Luckily my computer broke so I couldn’t play video games? Anyway. a close-up of the eyewear Eymei is wearing:
wow all of these images look sooo ass uploaded to tumblr :’( she’s actually smiling in these images 😅
Also, if you read the above writing… i tried to make it stand alone since most people don’t know anything about my ocs. but it’s also a joke that’s kinda only for me and the 4 people who’ve skimmed my fics: they’re actually married to each other, they just have to hide it! or, maybe they’re not hiding it super well; he’s kind of being a wife guy here. also, the way they’re looking at each other in the pic doesn’t exactly give ‘work colleagues’, in my mind. she won the contest fair and square, though!
That's all my contributions of this year's @tes-gala stitched together and now with narration cards!
Almost all of these were made during the gala week as events unfolded, and also prompted by replies and tag commentary and wanting to have fun, so the story was all improvisation and bullshitting... but look, I even managed to get some Themes™ in there! (This is where you can say Wooow)
As I already said, but putting it here in text rather than text-in-image, thank you to the @tes-gala folks for hosting and organizing the event and blog and everything! And also to @babyblueetbaemonster for the Disgrace Zone.
Imogen Valencia arriving fashionably late to @tes-gala dressed as The Lord!
She may not do much talking, but it's been a while since she's gotten to enjoy a party, and she's having a good time. Especially since the last one she attended was for work, and had considerably more blood involved...
You can read more about Imogen on her Toyhouse Profile Page or Artfight Page! There's also a series of foraging guides written in-character by Imogen called "A Forager's Guide to Cyrodiil" that I've been posting to my website and ao3!
Pairings: Miraak x Altmer OC
Words: 9,484
Summary: Lilliandra and Miraak attend the Gala under the signs of The Ritual and The Tower. The nobility expects elegance, spectacle, and polite conversation. What they get instead is Lilliandra and Miraak amusing themselves by frightening half the room, insulting the other half, and turning every public touch into a private claim.
Content Tags: Established Relationship, Married Couple, Possessive Behaviour, mutual possessiveness, Villain Couple, Flirting, Banter, they are both the problem, Sexual Tension, Heavy Petting, Making Out, Teasing, Drinking, Claiming, taller woman/short man, Post-Canon, Social Intimidation, Gala/Party
Miraak knows before they reach the hall that Lilliandra is interested in trouble.
It’s not any single thing that tells him. Not the wine-bright edge already waiting in her golden eyes, though she has not yet had anything to drink. Not the way she pauses at the end of the corridor to inspect one long, blue-lacquered nail as if the delay is accidental. Not the faint curve at the corner of her mouth when the first drift of music reaches them through the high doors ahead.
It’s all of it together.
The posture. The quiet. The deliberate stillness of someone walking toward a room full of people she already intends to dislike and has decided, mercifully, to find entertaining instead.
[Image ID: Digital illustration of three dark elves posed closely together on a starry purple and pink background. All three wear ornate purple, lavender, and gold clothing, skirts with a purple to orange gradient, with celestial and ancient-inspired gold jewellery. On the left, a tall figure with long black hair and gold headpiece holds a small cup. In the center, a shorter figure with black mohawk and gold and blue circlet holds the arm of the first elf. On the right, a taller, long-haired figure with patterned gold upper arm bands gently touches the center figure’s face.]
Very rushed last-minute piece for this year's 2026 TES Gala, since—much like last year—I only learned about the event right as it was wrapping up. Curse of not being very active here, I suppose.
Here's Lovilas dressed as the Apprentice and striking a silly pose (about to cast a spell, maybe?). Outfit rationale below the cut.
Lovilas was born on the 26th of Sun's Height, making their sign that of the Apprentice. Ironic, considering it's also their job description (I suppose that means that, whatever they wear, it conforms to the theme? :P). Lovilas is a Tribunal convert(...ish; it's complicated), so the echoes of clockwork apostolicism in the headpiece and robes were intentional: as a riff on the Dwemeri characterization of the Apprentice as the Automaton, for one, as well as on Sotha Sil's patronage of artificers and mages (the Apprentice falling under the celestial jurisdiction of the Mage).
The blue gems number eleven, one for each star in the Apprentice constellation (with seven of them intended to be placed loosely according to where they fall on the charts). They are so colored as a nod to Mnemoli, again tying into Lovilas' overzealous Sehtisms (would you believe me if I said they claim Vivec as their "patron" god? lmao).
Why no staff? Well, for one, I couldn't decide on a design; secondly, the Morrowind iteration of the constellation doesn't have one, and that was good enough for me.
[Image ID: Digital illustration of a pale high elf standing against a dark rectangular backdrop with a faint starry background around it. They have long pale orange hair and an ornate gold headpiece set with blue gemstones. They wear flowing gray and muted blue robes with wide sleeves, gold accents, blue gem ornaments, and delicate gold embroidery along the hem. Their chest is partly bare and their hands are posed gracefully in front of them.]
day late entry to the @tes-gala for this year, because apparently my spine decided it wanted to riot for the duration of the event!
wanted to play a lot with the element of a serpent-sign nerevarine for the theme. I always joke about him being the spiritual equivalent of the Black Star. Some symbolic callbacks to Redguard, as well as Sermon 33. The concept of not-stars is just so beyond cool to me.
OBSESSED with the designs this year, which helped pull me out of my art rut.
[Image ID: Digital illustration of a dark elf seated against a dark textured background. He has long white hair, facial hair and scars, looking to the side with a calm, stern expression. He wears a layered black, silver, and dark purple clothing with a high metal collar, one black pauldron, draped patterned fabric, scale chain details, and a silver snake accessory around one arm. One visible shoulder has what looks like burn scars.]
Just a tiny bit late but I have just this one more thing for @tes-gala
This week has been extremely busy so I really couldn't get as much done as I wanted to. Agghg...
But I really wanted to finish this one so I'm posting it!!
Squints-At-Men and Martin :)
Squinty isn't used to fancy parties because he's more used to fighting people. His birthsign is The Serpent :D
Martin is here because these two are a package deal. And because I just like Martin. He's a cool guy and I want to draw him more to be honest. Marcinek :)
First image: Digital illustration of two figures standing close to each other on a black background. On the left is a very tall red Argonian dressed in a brown loincloth and golden snake-shaped jewellery or body paint on his torso. On the right is Martin Septim from the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. He's dressed in pale yellow robes, trimmed with fur at the collar. Martin stares up at the Argonian with a fond smile, one hand at his chest, as the Argonian looks away shyly with arms crossed.
Second Image: digital black and white 3-panel sketch comic of the same characters in the first image.
Panel 1: The Argonian stands with both arms crossed, saying, "I look stupid. Everyone will laugh."
Panel 2: Martin pats the Argonian's arm saying "I think you look fine."
Panel 3: The Argonian blushes, saying, "If you say so..." Martin chuckles.]
For the final day of the @tes-gala, I got screenshots of Veesk Beeko in his original outfit in Morrowind and his closest Skyrim outfit equivalent as well as having his dear unicorn, along with Inigo wearing attire to represent the shadow and Dagoth Ur...is just himself as he refuses to put on any clothes other than his loincloth. But he's there as moral support, aka he's gonna be an annoyance, for all the Nerevarines part of the gala!
First Image: Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind screenshot of an Argonian character standing on a stone floor. He has pale blue scales and wears an ornate teal robe with gold trim, a red jewelled belt, purple tassel accents, and a tall yellow hat with pale fur trim.
Second Image: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim screenshot of three figures standing in a misty marsh or forest clearing with a white unicorn behind them. On the left, a hooded Khajiit in dark robes with gold trim carries a shield. In the center, an Argonian in blue-grey robes, gloves, and a dark blue scarf. He carries a war hammer and arrows on his back. On the right is Dagoth Ur (from Morrowind) dressed in his canon typical golden mask, wrist guards, and red loincloth.
Third Image: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim screenshot of the same three character from the second image, this time partially indoors in a stone hallway.]
My super-late entry for @tes-gala , featuring my Dragonborn Kiara as the Lady! She actually wears her hair fairly short, but the swirls on the Lady stone look a lot like dreadlocks!
First Image: Digital illustration of a dark-skinned woman seated in a warm, glowing garden-like setting. She has large expressive eyes, star-like white freckles, and dark hair with gold bands in her locks. She wears a deep blue, star-speckled gown with sparkling constellation-like highlights, trimmed with vivid orange fabric with a subtle rose pattern. She sits with her back and side to the viewer, looking over her shoulder with one hand to her mouth.
Second Image: black and grey outline art from the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that's used as the Lady stone/constellation imagery. It depicts a woman sitting in a similar position as the first image.]
i'm not as satisfied as i want to be with this, but my fibromyalgia has decided today of all days to flare up at the worst time. i hate how my hands tremble and literally lock up, so sadly, this is as good as it gets. ariella and martin are at a celebration in battlehorn castle, to celebrate the end of the crisis with those close to them - they've decided to go get some peace and quiet (and probably make out and f^ck where nobody is watching, cough).
mostly inspired by burgundian and english fashion for ariella, whilst martin is inspired on byzantine fashion mostly. the colours of his emperor attire is meant to be a nod to his priestly attire/colours, he shuns any crowns or excessive clothing with coat of arms and heraldry - something ariella ALSO hates. so they might look more plain than what their citizens may have seen of uriel and caula voria, but martin and ariella were raised as *commoners*.
i've decided for my canon timeline that martin is a lot older than ariella (she's 26, he's 45 - 46), and despite joining sanguine as a young man, he actually remained a virgin up until after he met ari. 👀 mostly joined sanguine for the booze, skooma, forbidden knowledge AND to join his close friends who were then. y'know. KILLED. ari was his first kiss and everything, he's awkward around women and she still makes him a stuttering and shy mess <3 she had no experience before him either, so their first time was awkward and mostly them staring at one another.
yes, she's VERY pregnant with helene. <3 shortly after this, she gives birth bc why not?
First Image: Digital illustration of a couple standing arm-in-arm in a warmly lit hall with a chandelier, banners, and greenery in the background. On the left is Martin Septim from the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. He wears blue royal robes beneath a purple cloak trimmed with white fur and black spots, fastened with a large red jewel. On the right is a pale pregnant woman with very long white hair wearing a flowing lavender gown with layered sleeves.
Second Image: meme of a man in a suit pointing at the viewer while saying "turn him into a beautiful fat man."]
Thank you to everyone that participated! What wonderful submissions we got to see this year! Just as last year, I'll be taking late submissions up until June 4th.
If you're the type that enjoys themed community events/blogs, we'd like to recommend two blogs run by friends that you may look into during our off season!
@myths-of-tamriel
A blog dedicated to fan creativity — this one is more OC focus with weekly questions for OCs/headcanons, as well as having weekly prompts for art/writing. Questions and prompts do not have a deadline and can be answered/used whenever.
@tes-season-unending-fest
A brand new blog solely focused on monthly prompts (starting the first of every month) for any type of medium that interests you. Prompts do not have a deadline and can be used whenever.
