I didn't think of the veins as butterfly-like, although that's interesting. I was actually thinking of gnarled fingers when I drew them. There were originally five "fingers", but I added the inside ones last-minute -- before that, they actually looked more butterfly-like, in fact, but it looked too artificial, and I wanted something organic.
I have to fix up the veins so they actually conform to her face, and I may alter the eyelashes; I got a cool idea after I was done for the night.
Also, if you really want to find this face scary, imagine her smiling with her eyes narrowed and her head lowered, in the shadows. This neutral expression was easiest from a design perspective but I would like to draw her in a more "moody" style at some point.
]]>"My thoughts on the last item:" Sounds/looks a whole lot like Mystique from X-Men. Then again, Mai is not unlike Wolverine.
"bluish purple veins emanating from third eye location" I like how you gave them a butterfly shape (perhaps unintendedly).
You didn't mention the eyes too much. I was thinking "pupilless" eyes rather than catlike, vertical pupils (which are cliché).
I picture her eyes as mostly human, but either with a very tiny pupil or, conversely, a huge one, with "dynamic glaucoma".
http://iritscen.oni2.net/forum/2008/KonokoImago.png
It's not done, obviously, but to come up with it, I factored in a few things:
- Her original face (duh)
- The nature of the transformation in Barabus and Imago Muro, i.e., bluish purple veins emanating from third eye location, horns, and skin color change
- The possibility that Konoko's less violent personality leads to less of an overall change, as opposed to Muro's monstrous form
- What the Chrysalis would do to Konoko to adapt her to the life she's led
- General transformations in anime, such as the ones coming from Orochimaru's curse mark (2nd stage) in Naruto
My thoughts on the last item: Konoko needs darker skin for sneaking through the shadows, and her hair has dulled and reddened as well. Also, her overall approach is more stealthy than brutish (somewhat depending on how you play, of course), but it got me thinking of big cats, so I factored that into her appearance as well. This form gives her superior vision and other senses. The stripes on the lips are a reference to serpents and gives her appearance a sense of imminent violence. Her hair stands up more, but generally is the same in shape; however, the bangs have been kinked up to look more dangerous, and the Daodan veins (not done) are running through her hair, changing the color in streaks up towards the two peaks. I tried to balance savagery and a little of Konoko's basic attractiveness. Her body size is unchanged, and her strength is obviously greater, but her legs are particularly strong, and she runs super-fast and low to the ground. Her nails are elongated -- not unlike Muro's -- and can tear through flesh easily.
That's my take anyway. :-) I will finish this up at some point.
]]>Will that be in the Edition?
Not plotwise, but as a bonus F8 character, maybe.
]]>Will that be in the Edition?
]]>Mai is seemingly reluctant to except her fate as not being human and doesn't really lust for power, so perhaps her Imago form would be the most human looking of all, even if her Daoden strength has got more potential then Muro's.
Yes, that's exactly where I'm going with my Imago design for her. It's going to be a little freaky, but not in the way that Mutant Muro is freaky.
]]>So really, is Muro's body in the last level reflecting his mind, ready to sacrifice his humanity for strength?
just a thought...
]]>Edit: Did a conceptual sketch last night that I really like. Will polish and upload next week.
]]>@ anime clichés: "It's intriguing to wonder what Konoko's Imago state would look like."
Someone doesn't believe in links, eh? http://geyser.oni2.net/pics/screenshots/MutKon/
Uhhh... where did you find that model??? This is another thing that shows my newness to the Oni community, because I have no idea of where that came from.
]]>I wouldn't so much say 'generic' chrysali. More accurately, its Muro's (or somebody elses DNA) symbiote, trying to interface as best it can with a body it isn't meant to be in.
If anything, it reaffirms that the true power of the Daodan cannot be manufactured. Sure, you can get a lot of Barabas', but any fully tuned Daodan user could wipe the floor with him. To achieve the maximum benefit from it, one needs to embrace it as fully as possible.
Then again, if an Ark scenario was Muro's intent, I doubt he'd need to implant people with a mass produced Daodan. He could, in that case, take time enough to sample DNA and engineer fresh chrysali.
>>I
It would keep with the anime aesthetic. Reminds me of some alignment specific options in NWN...
Though the way she 'sees' her chrysalis might not be so positive. I wonder if thats where Bungie got the name...
@ Barabas: "He seems to exist in a half-successful Imago state."
Yup, and that's enough out of him. It's not like there is a Tru7h
Unless the Daodan says: "Hmmm. Evil. Horns." or "Hmm. Good. Fluffy wings."
I think that's exactly what it does. You could argue that's not very realistic, but it is anime-like. Bad guys always transform into a more monstrous form in the end. It's intriguing to wonder what Konoko's Imago state would look like. Keep in mind she can be brutal and brash, so I doubt she would be all-out angelic in apperance.
Muro seems to have planned on mass distribution of the Daodan. However, doing that on a massive scale when you have to custom grow a symbiote for each person might be a bit cumbersome. Maybe Barabas was an attempt at trying to fit people with a universally acceptable chrysalis?
I like that idea. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's what Bungie was thinking too, even though admittedly they didn't fill in his background at all. He seems to exist in a half-successful Imago state.
]]>