Will pay for help with custom weapon designs

by Unknown

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Unknown2008-02-14 14:00:20
I've got a pair of flails that I want to have customized. I'm bad with ideas, lacking in creativity, and I've got credits to spare. I'm paying credits to anyone who comes up with a great pair of designs for the weapons, amount negotiable (commensurate with the quality of the designs, in other words). I'd like something that matches, but each should be unique in its own way. They should be fitting enough for a forest warden, born of Nature's forge, but do not have to represent any particular thing from Nature. (I'm not big on histories, either, but any references to historical events, names, or places will be considered a bonus.)

Contact me via e-mail (link in profile), in-game (Iasmos) or post your designs here, if you don't mind others seeing them. Thanks to anyone helping me out!
Kharaen2008-02-14 14:16:02
These will be custom items, so likely the commodities won't matter (ie you customize them AFTER you've had your reforging done for it >.>) I've done custom pieces before, and I think that's the deal, but it's been a while >.>
Unknown2008-02-14 15:08:44
The flails are already forged and have runes on them, so no commodities will be harmed in the making of the designs.
Kharaen2008-02-14 15:11:52
Exellent.
Xavius2008-02-14 16:26:17
I suggest Verithrax for that. Two of my favorite weapon designs came from him, and he's always said he could do better if he wasn't forced to work with just metal.
Unknown2008-02-14 17:25:31
If it helps in the design process, I'll mention that one has a lightning rune and the other a fire rune (surprising, I know), and they'll eventually have level three stat and wounding runes as well as bleeding runes. I plan to make them "epic class" weapons, worthy of some fine customization.
Kharaen2008-02-14 17:48:36
Eh, I'm not a fan of Verithrax's work. That's all I'll say.

However, I don't know how I feel about my own forging designs. I've only designed a greatsword before, soooo...this would be design two and three for forging for me.

Anyways, here are mine.

QUOTE
Appearance: Flail of the Forest Warden
Dropped: A weathered flail awaits use here, its ball glinting like the night sky.
Examined: The thick handle of this flail has been carved from the heartwood of an old hartwood stump, its colour a deep silver richly enrichened with centuries of swirling grain. Years of steady use have polished the handle nearly smooth, its intricate carvings almost lost in the process. Tiny centaurs with thickly maned heads boast oaken antlers, each portrayed in gallopping motions and baring unique weapons, one different from the other. Little more can be discerened from the centaurs other then their eyes, a fierce greenish glow emnating from their pupiless eyes in constant vigilance. Tough, deerkskin leather has been dyed a forest green and hangs in a loop from the base of the handle, a metal clasp carved with entwinting vines sliding along the loop and allowing for fastening. A single chain links the handle to its spiked ball, their links forged from steel and enemelled in several shades of greens and browns. Each other link is accompanied by a tooth, the age-darkened teeth sharpened and well capable of rending flesh and bone. The ball is a massive moonstone, the surface of the opaque gemstone unblemished and its milky dephts in constant motion like torrential clouds. Black iron forged into the shape of clouds encases the ball within a thin shell, while the ball's iron spikes are sparsely embeded with powestone shards and shine like stars.

- You've been a Serenguard forever. I wanted this flail to display that age. I think it adds dignity, makes it seem a little warrior on its own.
- I wanted this flail to have the centaurs in it (since centaurs helped with the founding of the Serenguard and built the lodge, I think) as well as some aspect of the tertiary skills (antlers on the centaurs for stag, wolf teeth in the chain, the ball a cloudy Moon.)
- Jigan gave me the idea of using powerstones for stars. We'll actually be developping a furniture line based on that idea if Amarysse ever logs on and gives me back my artisan cartel.
- I don't feel bad at all for using rare commodities (or even wood!), since this won't be reforged ^^


QUOTE
Appearance: Nature's wrath
Dropped: A tempestuous flail rests here, its handle a torn trunk and each ball a raging storm.
Examined: Seemingly taken from a living tree trunk, the handle of this flail is carved from dark wood bearing weathered knots and splintered bark. Mushrooms and moss seem grow along the length of the trunk, the moss fashioned from bits of fuzzy wool and the mushrooms from a spongy material. Three chains connect a spiked, metal ball to this handle. These links have been forged from steel and fashioned into twisting vines, with each of their links accompanied by a host of rending thorns. The vines of the winter ball are withered and blackened, while those of summer and spring have been enameled a vibrant green. The links of the autumn chain change hues from handle to ball, beginning verdant and shifting through yellows and umber before ending in deep crimson at the ball. The winter ball has been forged from a mixture of platinum and steel, the variances between the two metals mixing to create an image akin to a raging snowstorm, while its frosted spikes are crystalline and tinged blue like ice. A frenzied gale rampages through the summer ball, the various hues of green-tinted gold seeming as though innumerable leaves were being tossed and spun in a frenzied gale. Torn tree limbs and rocky debris provide wickedly sharp spikes for the ball, their details uncannily lifelike. A tempestuous squall storms through the autumn ball, steely blue, and ominous. The steel has been darkened almost black in some places, reinforcing the illusion of a violent squall. Forked spikes of gold seem to blast through the storm like bolts of lightning, their placement random if numerous.

- Hrm, now when someone asks you if you have any balls, you can say you have twice as many as they do ^^
- Nature's seasons in the chains, and nature's storms in the balls.
- The handle itself is reminiscent of Serenwilde's version of Nature.
- If you don't want this design, I could probably figure out a way to make it all metal. I kind of really maybe like it.
Unknown2008-02-14 18:08:02
Thanks!

There are things I really like about these designs, but I won't take them as they are currently. The first repeats itself a bit (heartwood - hartwood, richly - enrichened) and has more grammatical errors (which I don't mind so much because I can fix that up myself; it's the creativity I lack, not grammar).

I love the idea of the ball and chain representing Nature and the rune attached, so the chains would be vines with thorns on them (and can be uniquely twisted/styled on each flail) and the ball contains a raging thunderstorm (lightning rune) or a roaring wildfire (fire rune). Tree trunk handles work for me, as I'm quite large myself (no plans for reincarnating) and could wield them reasonably well. Powerstone shards make it seem more epic and powerful (additional runes?), so I like that, but perhaps embedded on the handle/strap somewhere. I like them being a bit weathered from having withstood the test of time, but I don't want them dilapidated, just ancient. Two or three balls per flail might make sense, as they'll be doing more damage than average, but it's a bit much to have each ball/chain be unique on a single flail?
Kharaen2008-02-14 18:10:55
Eh, I was thinking that since it's custom, it's an artifact. That's essentially what you're doing to these weapons (customization makes them last forever, even if they didn't have runes.) Soooo, epic and grand, and different would be artifact worthy. I'm willing to work on the designs though, as I said, design 2 and 3 of forging for me >.>

Powerstones shards were mostly used to reinforce the reference to the Mother Moon (giant moonstone ball) with the iron for night sky/night clouds.
Unknown2008-02-15 00:21:39
Well, here's a few ideas.

Seren's Pain
A silvery flail rests here, seeming to glow.
This silvery flail has carvings in the head, made from some unknown metal. The carvings are of drops of a liquid, whether it be blood or tears. They are connected in a line running from the top down in a spiral, same tip to same edge. From the cuts of the carvings comes a light glow that seems to change, from an angry red, to the moons silver, at moments only known to the wielder, if even him. In the center of each drop is a finger-long spike that curls up toward the chain and handle, like some spiked plant. The spikes seem to crackle with energy. The chains are made of the same metal, and are circular, unlike the typical chains of a flail. The handle is made from ash, and has a tree carved into the handle, the branches wrapping around to meet with the other side's symmetrical tree's branches, so that it is impossible to tell which is which. Lightning radiates in six strips from the center of the tree on both sides. The top and bottom of the flail is spiked with crystal, six runes on the top and six runes on the bottom. The spike is smoothly lumped on the bottom, but it curls back up in a steeper hill, before coming to a third sharp spike. The top spike has a whole that the chain is stuck through.

Seren's Rage
A red flail lays here, burning with some baleful light.
This flail is scarlet, though there are no signs of it being painted. The head seems to be burning, but is not lighting anything on fire. There are no carvings on the head, except for one large one. A three faced raging mask of a thing is there, frightening when coupled with the fire. One face it on the tip of the head, and one on each side, all meeting where the ears would be. There are no ears to speak of on any of the heads. The face's are roaring, open mouthed, with large fangs jutting from the top. The wrinkles are few, but very noticeable, adding to the feeling of rage. The eyes are almond-shaped, and eyebrows thick. Upon closer look, the carvings are noticed to be ridged and seem extremely sharp. The fire is also darkest near the cuts. The chains are like the typical image of a fire, but spaced all around facing outward. They are still circular on the inside, and the fire seems to make an edge out of every chain. The handle has an edge on the bottom, or rather many edged, a tiny field of fire on the hill of the butt. The handle is made of a light mahogany, light enough to be noticeably red, but dark enough to be able to hide in the night. It has two carvings near the top and bottom of the handle, and the only go an inch or so from the butt and the head of the handle. They are a small fire circulating around, and weaving up. Occasionally, they seem to move. There are other carvings, twelve runes wrapping up and down the handle. The head is a simple cup, but is the same red metal as everything else.

If I get the credits, I would like them to go to Laran, a Spiritsinger in Serenwilde.
Unknown2008-02-15 06:31:23
My attempts! I might have gone a little off-tangent the Nature theme, but I'm hoping that Totems and Spirits come close. If not, I had fun writing these, anyway. happy.gif Obligatory disclaimer: my second try at designing weapons.

QUOTE
Appearance: Moon's Tempest

Dropped: An ancient moonhart flail lies on the ground here, its three metallic balls flickering erratically with silver lightning.

Examined: The handle of this flail has been sculpted from finest moonhart wood and polished to a dull silver sheen from years of use, though the etchings that cover its exposed surface still stand in sharp relief. Meticulously carved with elegant lines and rare detail, the three Avatars of Moon span the expanse of argent wood, each depicted in valiant battle and framed within an intricately-chiseled embrace of flowering vines. Just above the grip of wrapped leather, the Crone raises one finger in implied threat, her eyes chips of fiery emerald that seem to glow with the potent potential of her curse. The Mother, in a pose of contrasting serenity, spreads her hands in encompassing benevolence around the middle of the handle, the unblemished moonstone that makes up her gaze giving her an air of tranquil self-possession. At the very top of the curving wood, the Maiden is poised in the midst of combat, her topaz eyes sparking a furious amber as she lifts her arms in passionate invocation. The uncanny glimmer of crushed powerstone wreathes her upraised palms and spirals down the entire length of the handle, the miniscule shards radiating a subtle power as a symbol of her blessing. Three wrought-metal chains blossom from the tip of the handle, molded into the shape of three flourishing vines complete with tiny flowers and thorns, each made of several twists of platinum and steel woven in on themselves to provide extra weight and strength. Anchoring the ends of these chains are three spiked balls, crafted from a sterling metallic alloy that constantly shifts in shade, evoking the sense of a sky roiling with stormclouds. Every so often, pure silver lightning darts across their surface, flickering with a wild, atavistic energy.

Note - if the last sentence is too.. magical, it can be replaced with "Every so often, when the light catches on the balls at just the right angle, a streak of pure silver darts across their surfaces like lightning, flashing briefly with a wild, atavistic energy."


QUOTE
Appearance: White Hart's Wrath

Dropped: An ancient moonhart flail lies on the ground here, its three metallic balls pulsing with leashed energy.

Examined: The handle of this flail has been sculpted from finest moonhart wood and polished to a dull silver sheen from years of use, though the etchings that cover its exposed surface still stand in splendid relief. Superbly carved with clean strokes and rare precision, White Hart dominates the upper expanse of argent wood, poised in the midst of a full-throated call of challenge. A sense of majesty imbues every line of his figure, which is dusted with gleaming powdered powerstone and caught forever in mid-rear; cloven hooves paw the air as he tosses his head back to bell defiance, his magnificent spread of antlers carved to convey both menace and beauty in its detail. Picked out in darkest onyx crushed to a fine powder and embedded in the wood, the shadowy silhouette of Crow lies broken beneath White Hart's hooves, the shimmer of the gem worn away to an empty lustre. Stylised suggestions of wildfire wreathe the Stag's victorious form, edged in shards of garnet and opal that symbolise the fury of his wrath. Just above the grip of wrapped leather and on the opposite side of Crow, the faint impression of a centaur has been incised upon the wood, raising a nocked bow, while a sword lies sheathed at his hip. Three wrought-metal chains blossom from the tip of the handle, molded into the shape of flowering vines complete with tiny flowers and thorns, each made of several twists of iron and gold entwined upon themselves to provide extra weight and strength. Each of these chains bears a spiked ball at its end, crafted from a metallic alloy that shifts constantly in hue, the surface a swirling palette of the nuances of silver, gold, and red that makes it appear to pulse with barely leashed energy.


I went for the Serenspirits mostly because there were handily two of them, and it makes for a pretty nice matched set. Put in a few little allusions to Lisaera and Charune, as well.