Got bored with Journal CSS. =B
I thought I'd said it on here, but I guess I didn't . . .
I've been having a lot of problems recently, so Split Silver updates
will be sporadic. I'm working on one right now, but my wrist is
acting up again and my new medication is making me exhausted so
I'm not really able to chug two updates out a week. I have a month
left of school, so I should start returning to a regular update
schedule over summer as my wrist starts healing. I really miss the
comic and I want to do more, but my health is obviously something
I need to take care of.

In the meantime, I wanted to still do something related to the
comic, so I wanted to hold another contest.
I actually need some inspiration, so I was hoping to hold the contest
around a more design/idea type thing than the usual silliness thing
I do.

CONTEST INFO:
Deadline (adjustable): August 1st, 2008

Basic Concept: Creating a design for a people to populate some
of the cities of Split Silver. Please note: I will NOT copy your design.
Rather, I will be using elements of your design to inspire me to design
the people of that city. You may use your own designs however you want.
If I think your design is perfect for the city I will ask your permission
to use it, but I would rather not use your complete ideas, since they're
yours and your rights should be respected.
Out of the box thinking is encouraged - I encourage you to vary
anatomy and whatever. Just make sure that the creature can survive
the environment and matches the requirements for the city you're
designing them for.

Background: (This is very rough of what actually happened,
but I need to have a basic understanding so that people can understand.
There is a lot more to the story.) A long time ago in the city of Sihwatau,
a virus was created out of genetic experimentation on a race that the
Sihwatuians had driven out of their homeland so that they could expand
their city and power. While most of the race was killed in a fervent
attempt at genocide, a few were saved for torture and science. Out of
this, the terrible virus emerged. However, instead of killing the infected,
the virus had the power to manipulate them to its own desire.
As the virus conquered most of the Sihwatau’s planet, it began seeking
ways to expand its power. Using the minds of the infected, it was able
to create a way to travel to other planets to spread the disease.
However, someone had warned the planets beforehand, and while
many of the inhabitants fell to the virus, many more were able to
escape out of the reach of it and fight a resistance.
Bandele, the second city the virus spread to, is steadily losing
ground in its war. Fau is, as well, but is faring much better, but it
has also been around the virus for less time. I want designs to
inspire me for the Fau civilization.

The virus’ capabilities enable it to alter the DNA of the creature
it inhabits, such as the bone creature Silver encountered.

The first city she visits is Fau. Concept art: [link]
Fau is basically a series of platforms elevated above a rainforest.
The buildings in this city are based of Gothic architecture, specifically
Gothic cathedrals. I will post more sketches of it later, since it's a
little more complex than that and the sketch there is a bit outdated
as to what my image of it should be.
The people of Fau should probably have exaggerated arm strength
since they use long range weapons to attack the invading Rhonians
and Reuelians who attack them from below. There are also a variety
of different Fauians - they have three genders (for quicker reproduction)
and there are four Fau cultures, each with different variations of the
Fau.
Fau soldiers: Constant patrol, will need little food or sleep.
Fau merchants: The basic Fauian, all others evolved from them.
Basically the middle class. They provide all the tasks needed to keep
the city running - growing food, building shelters, etc.
Fau aristocrats: Distinctly beautiful so that others will hesitate
before harming them. While other Fau reproduce like humans, the
female aristocrats are capable of reproducing in large numbers.
They basically lay eggs for the Fau to hatch out of. This capacity is
only used during wartime to ensure that the Fau have enough
fighters, about 60% of the batch are usually soldiers, 25% merchants
and 15% are undercare. The female aristocrats are basically the third
gender.
Fau undercare: These Fau exist below the city, maintaining
the mechanics of the city to prevent machine failure and to upgrade
old machines. They are also the scientific minds of the city. The
occasional undercare will be a genius in a creative aspect, but
cultural aspects are usually ignored in support of protection against
the invading Rhonians and Reuelians.

The cities of Rhona and Reuel are sister cities that exist in the
ground below the rainforests. They are constantly trying to invade
Fau. The people of the three cities used to be of one race, so in
basic form the R’s should resemble the Fauians. The cities split
almost 50,000 years ago. R’s transform to either climb the trees
or to try and fly into the F’s place. They’re attempting to adapt
camouflage, but there’s a limit to how quickly the DNA can be
manipulated. The R’s have similar cultural adaptations, but
they don’t have three genders.

(I will add more about the R's later.)

Example:
The ominous, bulky arms of the Fau soldier only highlighted the odd,
sloping form of his waist, with its inhumanly gigantic rib-cage hulking
over a muscular stomach. The legs were long and the feet pronounced,
with an extra toe on the back designed to grip the trees more closely
as he went out on the hunt. The head was strangely triangular, with
three eyes looking out in all directions, constantly on the prowl for any
suspicious sign of movement or attack and making one unsure as to
where the actual face of the soldier lay. Not only were there three eyes,
but the capability of the soldier to be able to twist his head wherever
he pleased due to ihis long, sinuous neck allowed him full ability to spy
his prey. The slitted nose allowed him to smell the presence of the
attackers if he could not see them, and his mouth and forked tongue
allowed him to taste changes in the air much like a serpent. Long claws
allowed him a sure means of attack, and the spikes along its back and
neck added protection, as did a scaly membrane that served as its skin.
He was a killing machine - and there was no way for him to be
approaches by any foe without him sensing it and destroying it with
pleasure.
-----
You would also provide descriptions of the merchants, aristocrats, and
undercare in such a manner or some similar way. They could interact and
be part of a story, but there would need to be heavy description. Think
about what traits each character would need to be able to perform its task
with the utmost precision. The Fauians have survived for a long time
because of their ability to adapt to their environment and use it to their
best ability to attack those who have been infected. They do have culture,
society, clothes, language, and etc., but they are on constant alert. Even
regular Fau should have some means of defense.
Keep in mind that clothing, culture, technology, and language are far
different from anything humans have invented. I'm looking for creativity in
all aspects of the character design.
Go crazy. Do something completely innovative. It makes it more fun. =B
Rules:
1. Original designs, please. Don't give me your original characters.
I want stuff that you came up with while considering the
environment of the city I created.
2. Please only design creatures for the planet and not the city or
landscape, etc. =B You can add your interpretations in the
background, but I already have my own ideas for it.
3. You can enter more than once, but only one entry can get a
prize.
4. Prose entries can be submitted, but make them extremely
detailed. I have to be able to see what you're describing.
5. I'd suggest coloring entries, but you don't have to.

I'll be judging based on ideas, not on artistic talent. The more
details, the better. You can add in Silver or Damien or something,
but it won't count for anything, KNOWWADDAIMEAN? 8D

Prizes:
1st: Color commission with full effort and background, and a print
of that commission, credits to you within the comic for your ideas,
seeing your ideas within the comic (;D), and I will post your
winning entry in my journals on DA and SA and on my website.
2nd: Commission of your original character with pattern
background, might use some of your ideas within the comic and
that entails credits, and will post your entry in my journals and
on my site.
3rd: Sketch of whatever you want, might use some of your ideas
and will dually credit you if so, postage of your entry and all that.
Honorable Mention(s): Will post you up in my journal.

If I get multiple ideas that I like you will be credited, however,
I will only choose 3 winners.

I hope you guys have fun with this. =B
If it's too hard I'll do something else? <<; I wanted to do
something where you got to be creative, though. =B