Mithradites

They're on the front line of a war! It's a pain, but if they believe it's a necessity!

I'd comment on all these other wonderful pictures, but I'll leave my opinions until the end of this give-away! I've decided that there will be a cut-off date of next Wednesday (Tuesday for anyone not Australian) in which I will judge, and announce the winners! Good luck, guys! Art guud! If you're desperate for more time, let me know!

There's a little "edit" button at the bottom of your post. When you click on that, it'll show a quick editing area where you can write stuff, but no-where to change the title. Click the option "full editor" at the bottom of the editing area, and you'll find the title-change there.

No. No. Yes...

I have noticed that a few people have been asking about compatibility with dirty, inferior Macintosh PCs. Well, I am nothing if not unbiased about computer hardware, so I will add their compatibility to my games list, and you can observe for yourself if they'll run on your Fisher-Price potato microwaves. For those too silly to see that edit, I'll write it up here for you! XCOM: Enemy Unknown-- Mac compatible. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare-- PC only. Civilisation IV-- Mac Compatible. Dead Island: Epidemic Beta-- PC Only (Woe be unto you!). Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition-- PC only. Guns of Icarus Online-- Mac Compatible. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Ultimate Edition Deluxe-- PC only. System Shock 2: Mac Compatible (And Linux too, apparently!). Half Life 2: Mac compatible. Be sure to check the requirements of any game before installing!

It looks like the offspring of a gremlin and a rabbit. Or maybe just another gremlin! However, it seems your chances at a game are slightly on the side of impossible?

They are all compatible, if you replace your mac-parts with proper PC bits like the MAN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. I have no son.

I always find your pictures wonderful, Bird! Even if you do not appreciate your own genius!

I love it! I really wish he had that coat in-game, now! It's so blue and symmetrical! His "laugh" lines are certainly grim enough for me to give you a +1, and consideration for your request!

Lucion is so kawaii!! I wish I had a whole group of high elves posing like they did in that stupid, stupid show! You didn't ask for anything, though! What do you fancy? Props to your understanding that the high elves are racist. +1 for trying, but no Alien-shooting for you, bucko! The best part about this picture is Lucion's chin. That, and his amulet makes him look like he's in a very upper-class group of amateur Mr T impersonators! Gorgeous! I love you, Maff. Gimme dat Civ4 Lucion makes a good slug, I will give you that! But for Civ 4? Maybe not!

I know. I just didn't want to RUIN THE PLOT, THUR.

Today, I discovered something fascinating about my steam account! Usually, I avoid/ignore the little green letter icon at the top of my steam window, mainly because it's usually just filled with those collectable card thingys that I couldn't give a toss about. However, a while back I purchased a four-pack of Guns of Icarus and I remembered having one left over. So, I delved into that annoying green-letter-icon-thingy for duel purposes--one, to see where my extra Guns of Icarus was, and maybe work out a way to turn that annoying green letter icon off (I didn't find one). Well, I was surprised to learn that not only did I have Guns of Icarus in there, but I had a heap of other games! Observe-- These are (and limited to): XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC/Mac) Apparently not as good as the original ones, but who has even played those things except total nurds, amirite u guise? It's a good romp if you like turn-based strategy. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare (PC) "CHAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGEEEE!!!!" "AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!" "You smell like a woman!" "Oh! He's smart like my shoe!" "FOR MALRICK YOOAARRGHH!" "Well! Aren't you handsome! Would you care for a dance?" "Don't look at me like that! It's creepy!" It's fun. Civilisation IV (PC/Mac) The precursor to the current Civilisation V, although not nearly as good without the expansions. Still an okay vanilla game, though. Apparently I have two copies of these. Dead Island: Epidemic Beta (PC) No clue what it's like, and nor do I really care. The other Dead Islands are terrible without friends to keep your spirits high. But if you want it, you can have it. Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition (PC) Could have sworn I only bought two copies of these, but hey, all the luckier for you guys, right? A very big Bioware RPG with slightly awkward combat. It's a little ugly nowadays, what with the second one out and the third on its way. But, the story is pretty swish and Blood Magic is fun and floopy! Guns of Icarus Online (PC/Mac) A game about blimp-warfare, and smacking engines with plumbing equipment. Also there are cannons, rockets, and flame-throwers. Be a sky pirate, and get yelled at by angry 15 year-olds for bringing the moonshine instead of the kerosene. Still fun regardless of twerps, but most enjoyed with friends! The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Game of the Year Edition Deluxe (PC) Awkward voice-acting, awkward combat, slightly old graphics, still better than Skyrim (in my opinion). Also, you get to see Sean Bean play a character that doesn't die! But, sadly, no Dwemer. Well, a little Dwemer, but it doesn't count. With all the extra doodads (including a whole expansion about beloved Sheogorath), what's not to love? System Shock 2 (PC/Mac/Linux) The spiritual precursor to Bioshock. Very, very, very old, but still very chilling. I would not suggest the multiplayer option for this new version though, as it's buggy as all hell. If you want to see why old farts reckoned the 90s were the best era for games, this may pull you over to their side. Half Life 2 (PC/Mac) The sequel to the best game ever made is actually besterer than the best game ever made. I will fight you over this (on the internet. But not really at all). Now that you have seen my plethora of redundant titles, perhaps you might be interested in drawing me some things? Namely, my beloved high elven character, Lucion Sullas. The deets? Games that are Wanted (But no claim is final!) XCOM: Enemy Unknown is desired by; ~`'~ Heff ~'`~ Shorty794 (choice 2) ------------------------------------------------- Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is desired by; Shorty794 (choice 1) SkyyoBee (Choice 1) Trips ------------------------------------------------- Civilisation IV is desired by; SkyyoBee (If choice 1/2 are taken) Desires ------------------------------------------------- Dead Island Epidemic Beta is desired by; No-one. ------------------------------------------------- Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition is desired by; CrayfishChris (Choice 2) ------------------------------------------------- Guns of Icarus Online is desired by; TwilightWolf ------------------------------------------------- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Ultimate Edition Deluxe is desired by; Candeh~ CrayfishChris Firestar .3. ------------------------------------------------- System Shock 2 is desired by; BrandNewKitten (I know you said you wanted Dead Island, but I am changing it to something actually worth a damn. Getting Dead Island is like losing twice) ------------------------------------------------- Half Life 2 is desired by; ~ Jade ~ SkyyoBee (choice 2) Kitten Now you all know who you're competing against! (If I missed you, let me know!)

The city of Tahn'siol stood silent, and foreboding. The recent funeral of the beloved newly-weds, had left a distinct hollowness in many of the pure-blood high elves. Save for, seemingly, Sohaer Lucion Sullas. And so, there he was. Alone upon a bench, looking out from the city upon the setting sun. The darkening orange of the sky was something he was attempting to form upon canvas. It would be obvious to the casual observer that he was no artist, but painting was considered a calming experience by many. He found it mostly the opposite. The colours seemed to smudge far too easily, and they mixed poorly. The sun in his image looked as if it were weeping, and was not a perfect circle as he has sought to make. The experience was deeply frustrating. He placed his brush down upon a small table beside himself, and sat in silence, glowering at the woefully inaccurate picture he had formed. Why was it, that he could not create the landscape as he desired? The colours were relatively similar, but his drawings could not match reality. What was, otherwise, the point of such works if not to replicate beauty? Not that Lucion had ever considered it beautiful to begin with. Though this thought seemed to linger with him--what was beauty to himself? His people? His late wife? His children? What inspired the greater workers of easel and brush to make that which so many others considered majestic? Where was this "awe" that had taken his people? His world was a series of instigations and reactions that followed a singular logical path to their inevitable conclusion. Such as it was with Lelien. Such as it was with Eleron. Such as it was with his Celia, his Thelmaras, his Aerandir, and his Arynia. These things surprised him, of course, and their end certainly upset him, but he never felt that "hollowness" that all the mali'aheral around him were privy to. And so he sat--thinking of this void in his understanding of the world. The sun had now passed below the horizon, and darkness began to descend upon the city. The lights in the towers began to lose their glow--the citizenry choosing an early slumber. Lucion looked up towards the brightening stars, and he counted the constellations he knew. He was not moved by the sight--not bewildered, or curious of something he could not grasp with his hands, or measure with his instruments. They drifted purposelessly through the sky until the light of the sun returned. An inefficient use of their light. He looked back to his painting, and watched his creation continue to dribble down the canvas, and the portrait warped further into a multicoloured mush. But he sat in his chair regardless, and stared as the paint dripped to the ground. He could not be hollow like his compatriots, when he was already empty. There was something deeply broken within himself, and he did not understand how to repair it. He needed a place to think, away from the distractions of his city. He pulled himself up from his chair, and slowly walked towards the gate. He took nothing with him--not his myriad of notebooks, his uncountable number of schematics, his innumerable mechanical devices, or any of the fouler discoveries that he kept from his people. He did not hold himself straight, or flatten his robes. He left no note, and no words. And so, he went.

Lucion sat alone in the tea-house, having refused to attend any such service for Lelien. He had never seen the point for such things, and preferred merely to perform the proper burning and leave it as is. As expected, he voiced discontent over such a gathering. The others had already left for the funeral but he sat at his table scribbling in his notebook as usual. Setting his pencil aside and taking hold of his tea-cup and saucer, his calm and cold façade was momentarily broken by the quiet clattering of china from his noticeably shaking hands. He carefully placed them back on the table before,him, and pushed it away from himself. He grimaced as he rubbed his eyelids--speaking softly to himself in a quiet sigh. "Oh, child. Sweet child. Now what paths do you wander?"

Nation Leaders across the realm receive the following concordat. A copy is pinned neatly upon the Tahn'siol noticeboard, with the original being safely locked away in the library: The Reaffirmed Crimson-Silver Concordat Recent developments in the international arena have resulted in political and social catastrophes at the hands of particularly unsavoury establishments within the spheres of influence of both the Empire of Oren and the Silver Enclave of Haelun’or. With the age of the Crow put to rest and the age of the Sparrow ushered in, all civil society remains under threat from attempted interferences from vast political bodies who seek to ‘police’ the world as vigilantes. In order to ensure the serenity and continued stability of the region along with the maintained prospering of both blessed states, this concordat has been drafted so as to arrange for this tyranny and vigilantism to be filled and replaced in kind with strong, firm leadership. Let it be known that the Silver Enclave of Haelun’or, home of the mali’aheral, and the Empire of Oren will no longer stand for the infractions upon their sovereignty as political entities by the uncivilized and unscrupulous factions of the world. To the Empire the mali’aheral stand as trusted friends and allies in these dark and perilous times. A bastion of civility in what is seen as an uncivilized world which contrives to see humanity ruined. The Empire of Oren to the Enclave of Haelun'or also stands as a dependable political entity. Its behaviour being particularly admirable when compared to the treacherous actions towards the mali’aheral by The Old Princedom of Malinor in the past. It is therefore that this concordat serves to outline the following resolutions of the two political entities: A formal treaty of nonaggression between the Empire of Oren and the Silver Enclave of Haelun’or, as well as their respective subjects and properties. A pact of mutual assistance, politically, militarily or otherwise when dealing with troublesome establishments or powers. An assurance of mutual legal and judicial cooperation when dealing with fugitives and similar individuals. This also includes the establishment of a shared concordat registry of known fugitives of which individuals can be added onto upon the discretion of either party. A pledge of both the Empire of Oren and the Silver Enclave of Haelun’or’s government and subjects to recognize each of their domains as wholly legitimate and valid, with no exceptions. A promise of both parties and their subjects to not challenge each others governments or culture. Individuals who violate this particular tenant will be subject to the full force of agreement 3. An attempt of both parties to resolve any future conflicts between the two signatories via peaceful means. This concordat will remain valid until both parties mutually agree to its abolishment. These seven conditions must be upheld to the highest possible standard by both the Empire of Oren and the Silver Enclave of Haelun’or lest this partnership grow complacent and ineffective in repairing the political damages sustained by the realm. It is the hopes of both parties that this concordat will at last allow for a just and stable dominion over the land so as to prevent the region being continually terrorized by false beings such as the dark ones, conniving dwarves or meddling druids. No longer shall a reign of terror prevail over the realms led by such tyrannical and unscrupulous demagogues. The reborn and recreated concordat of Crimson and Silver , Signed, His Imperial Excellency, the August Olivier de Savoie Sohaer of the Silver Enclave, L. Sullas

The posters appear to have further pieces of paper roughly attached to them with pins. They read as thus-- No Elves that designate themselves as "Mali'fenn" or "Snow Elves" shall be given sanctuary by the Triumvirate and People of Haelun'or whilst hostilities with the Human Empire continue. All non-Mali'fenn elves who are pure of blood are welcome within the districts of Lin'ame and Lin'ker, as they always have been. Maehr'sae hiylun'ehya.

You could turn it into some much-needed open space for trees or somethin'... I dunno...

The next challenge is not turning it into a castle!

((Song changed due to popular demand!))

Within the silver gates of Haelun'or Lucion paces back and forth before a crowd of elves. He glares at each with cold, impassive eyes, and speaks in his usual, stern monotone. "Years ago, a bond was formed between those of Crimson, and those of Silver. One that has stood the test of time, and did not falter and fall as so many of our alliances in the past. The Valah of "Kaedrin" are unique in this world for one key reason— They do not take their knives and twist them in our backs when the opportunity presents itself. They do not seek to destroy us, as did the Old Princedom of Malinor, they do not fabricate reasons for war, as Urguan did attempt, and they do not mindlessly seek chaos and ruin, as the Uruk continuously do. Intelligent elves, -pure- elves, do not seek war, but we have learned that war always finds its way to us. These elves of fenn are odd in their actions. Their minds are twisted, and broken. Perhaps beyond any form of healing, or re-education. They shall continue to bring war, should they fester long enough. These elves of frost, these mali'fenn allegedly devour flesh and pick at bones. They threaten those who have stood faithful to the promises made to us. When we stood in their very city: elelor ito narne. Should they threaten to bring our allies war, we shall stand with the Human Empire, and compel peace by the blade. For now the time has come-- the mali'aheral are bound by Crimson, bound for blood. Maehr'sae hiylun'ehya"

Raises his eyebrow, and shakes his head. He stands inside the High Elven city, where presumably these posters are only hung. "Unsure whether to believe this. I cannot imagine elven flesh to be more delectable than conventional meats."

"I suppose he is... fine... Still don't trust the fellow, of course..."