HOME | DD

Description
Skuldafn is officially in Silverthorne, but right now doesn't have a rank. If he wants to ever even think about getting his sister to return to the herd, he'll have to dream big - well, not "dream", more like "actually do". Still, that's not a problem for Skuldafn here, he's willing to do whatever it takes for the herd, and himself if he can.

This was done pretty much entirely in SAI,the only thing I had to go back to PS for was the lighting and some of the effects on the stars. I'm really liking SAI, it runs so much better than elements on my crappy laptop, and I can flow much easier with it on my tablet. ^^

Character’s Name: Skuldafn
Character’s Reference: [link]
Herd: Silverthorne
Position Applying For: General
Audition Sample:

Silence, A regular routine for the herd of Silverthorne. As the blanket of night fell under Luan's watchful eyes, many of the herd fell into the normality of sleep and escaped into the heaven of their dreams. The songbirds of the day quieted down to rest their lungs and mothers with young fawns laid peacefully, feeling secure in the protection of the Winterflame - which burned bright like the hearts and souls of the herd it chose to bless. Silverthorne enjoyed its times of peace with great serenity, but there was one stag among the others who just didn't seem to feel the same.

It had been roughly a few long years since his mother had died, and a short couple since his sister had fled to Blackwood, but even still the loneliness was something he could never get used to. Each night he was plagued to consciousness, never able to close his eyes and find peace in his slumber. Skuldafn tried whatever medicines or remedies he could,but his sleep had appeared to have been taken from him. All the golden stag could do to relieve his insomnia was to walk and think, think about his family and his promises he had made.

His walking went on for a while. Without telling a single soul, he would set out once the last fawn shut its eyes, and simply walk and think quietly to himself. The lengths of these night walks varied from being short to adventures on their own. Sometimes he wouldn't return from his treks until late in the morning the next day, leading to gossip and questions from many curious herd members. Skuldafn of course did not care, and shook off the stories like water on a wolf's pelt. Many others shook them off too and refused to believe anything other from the expected attitude of the golden stag. Many kept an eye on Skuldafn though, making his unusual journeys much harder to pull off.

After a while most of the fawnlings got tired of watching him and sunk back into their normal lives, leaving Skuldafn able to return down his old paths. Once night had fallen and the last of the fawnlings asleep, Skuldafn rose and walked out on his own path. Down the forest trails and steep hills, across the muddy streams and rivers, he walked and thought - thought on his own. His mind was restless, it could not calm down. Thinking and thinking, there was no stop, no break - probably the reason he couldn't sleep. But what was he thinking about? What caused him to leave on these night walks? Skuldafn didn't know himself, only that down in his mind he had owed his mother a promise, but without his younger sister back home it would forever go unfulfilled. Forgotten, it would seem..

Skuldafn stopped his endless walking at a ridge, overlooking one of the valleys in between the mountains south of the sky lake. The stars were out completely now, lighting up the creeks and rivers beneath it. The beauty of it all must have caught Skuldafn off guard, because for once he was still - his mind, his body - everything had relaxed, and all he could do was gaze.

"so" a voice came from behind him, "this is where you go on your nightwalks then?"

Realizing he had been followed, Skuldafn closed his eyes and replied back,"not every night, but I do prefer this route more so than others"

"I can see why" the voice replied, stepping forward into view. It was a young stag, tiny in stature compared to the older buck next to him. Not quite filled out yet, his antlers he sprouted were most likely his first set, so he had to be pretty young. His pelt was an ashy grey color, with dark legs like he had been dredging through mud just to follow him, but on closer examination Skuldafn noticed that is was only his fur. "Its quite the view"

Skuldafn nodded for a brief moment, and then spoke. "I don't believe we met before, have we?" he asked calmly with a curious lift to his voice. "It must have been exhausting to follow me here, did another stag put you up to it?"

"No, sir" the young buck replied, obviously intrigued by Skuldafn to lead him to stammer,"I-I just wanted to see what you were doing out here alone every night. When the others got to talking I didn't believe them. They said you were up to something, but thats not you, sir"

Skuldafn took in his words and nodded,"thank you for believing. And now you know the truth, you won't have to doubt me any more."

"I never did, sir" he young stag replied quickly, keeping his gaze on him as he stepped further from the brush he was in and closer to the golden stag. "you seem troubled though. What's wrong? - If I may ask"

Skuldafn froze, unsure of how to respond. He was used to keeping his own business to himself and when asked that question, he wasn't too comfortable on answering. "personal conflicting issues." he replied,"promises I've made are conflicting with the life I want to live. I can't let them control me but I also do not want to forget them"

"sounds like its confusing, indeed" the buck replied,"we all have those moments, but that's when we have to turn to the heavens and wonder about our greater picture in life. Maybe there's a role a greater being has planned for us, and all we need is a push in the right direction. You think these walks might be your push?"

"I don't think there's anything supernatural about them, no" Skuldafn replied,"I just can't sleep, and these thoughts keep me from doing so. But.." he paused,thinking some more until he finally spoke more openly,"If I want to fulfill my promise I made to my mother - I have to make Syl return. But that's near impossible since I'm chained to this land."

The buck gave a faint smile, looking to Skuldafn,"you may think you have no place in Silverthorne other than to be a normal herd member, but it sounds like your goals are great - you can't let yourself be contained by the opinions of yourself and the promises you think you cannot make. Skuldafn, many have faith in you - you are a logical and loyal stag, loved by your people. When you give your word you keep it. The herd needs stags like that. And, since you can't go after your sister at the rank you are, a step up might benefit both sides"

"what are you saying?" Skuldafn questioned, looking at the young stag who kept his gentle smile on him as he spoke.

"I'm only suggesting. Maybe the answer to your insomnia and troubles is hidden in the upper ranks. The current generals won't listen to you, but what if you were one? You couldn't deny yourself, could you? You could easily get the help you need, or the answers you seek. But its only a suggestion, in the end it is your choice that's final. I'm sure that whatever path you chose to follow, there are those who love and respect you enough to support you. I know I do" he replied, turning back to the brush and slowly starting to walk away.

Skuldafn hung on these words, processing them in his mind and thinking them though. He only noticed the figure leaving and snapped out of his thought once more,"wait" he spoke,"what is your name?" he asked.

"Miraak, sir. Hopefully you'll be able to find me again, I enjoyed the conversation quite well" he replied, and then disappeared back into the brush, eaten up by the thick darkness around them.

Skuldafn kept his gaze in the direction he left, thinking of the words that hung in his head. "general?" he thought. Such a rank seemed out of his grasp, but the words of Miraak had an influence on him. Were there those who really "supported" him other than just "admiring" him, or at least giving him respect for his color? He never pondered it before, could he be a general? - Or would he be laughed at for even trying. Maybe this was some force trying to nudge him in the right direction, because once he starting walking back to camp, he felt like he was moving ever so quickly towards his goal.

Description
Skuldafn is officially in Silverthorne, but right now doesn't have a rank. If he wants to ever even think about getting his sister to return to the herd, he'll have to dream big - well, not "dream", more like "actually do". Still, that's not a problem for Skuldafn here, he's willing to do whatever it takes for the herd, and himself if he can.

This was done pretty much entirely in SAI,the only thing I had to go back to PS for was the lighting and some of the effects on the stars. I'm really liking SAI, it runs so much better than elements on my crappy laptop, and I can flow much easier with it on my tablet. ^^

Character’s Name: Skuldafn
Character’s Reference: [link]
Herd: Silverthorne
Position Applying For: General
Audition Sample:

Silence, A regular routine for the herd of Silverthorne. As the blanket of night fell under Luan's watchful eyes, many of the herd fell into the normality of sleep and escaped into the heaven of their dreams. The songbirds of the day quieted down to rest their lungs and mothers with young fawns laid peacefully, feeling secure in the protection of the Winterflame - which burned bright like the hearts and souls of the herd it chose to bless. Silverthorne enjoyed its times of peace with great serenity, but there was one stag among the others who just didn't seem to feel the same.

It had been roughly a few long years since his mother had died, and a short couple since his sister had fled to Blackwood, but even still the loneliness was something he could never get used to. Each night he was plagued to consciousness, never able to close his eyes and find peace in his slumber. Skuldafn tried whatever medicines or remedies he could,but his sleep had appeared to have been taken from him. All the golden stag could do to relieve his insomnia was to walk and think, think about his family and his promises he had made.

His walking went on for a while. Without telling a single soul, he would set out once the last fawn shut its eyes, and simply walk and think quietly to himself. The lengths of these night walks varied from being short to adventures on their own. Sometimes he wouldn't return from his treks until late in the morning the next day, leading to gossip and questions from many curious herd members. Skuldafn of course did not care, and shook off the stories like water on a wolf's pelt. Many others shook them off too and refused to believe anything other from the expected attitude of the golden stag. Many kept an eye on Skuldafn though, making his unusual journeys much harder to pull off.

After a while most of the fawnlings got tired of watching him and sunk back into their normal lives, leaving Skuldafn able to return down his old paths. Once night had fallen and the last of the fawnlings asleep, Skuldafn rose and walked out on his own path. Down the forest trails and steep hills, across the muddy streams and rivers, he walked and thought - thought on his own. His mind was restless, it could not calm down. Thinking and thinking, there was no stop, no break - probably the reason he couldn't sleep. But what was he thinking about? What caused him to leave on these night walks? Skuldafn didn't know himself, only that down in his mind he had owed his mother a promise, but without his younger sister back home it would forever go unfulfilled. Forgotten, it would seem..

Skuldafn stopped his endless walking at a ridge, overlooking one of the valleys in between the mountains south of the sky lake. The stars were out completely now, lighting up the creeks and rivers beneath it. The beauty of it all must have caught Skuldafn off guard, because for once he was still - his mind, his body - everything had relaxed, and all he could do was gaze.

"so" a voice came from behind him, "this is where you go on your nightwalks then?"

Realizing he had been followed, Skuldafn closed his eyes and replied back,"not every night, but I do prefer this route more so than others"

"I can see why" the voice replied, stepping forward into view. It was a young stag, tiny in stature compared to the older buck next to him. Not quite filled out yet, his antlers he sprouted were most likely his first set, so he had to be pretty young. His pelt was an ashy grey color, with dark legs like he had been dredging through mud just to follow him, but on closer examination Skuldafn noticed that is was only his fur. "Its quite the view"

Skuldafn nodded for a brief moment, and then spoke. "I don't believe we met before, have we?" he asked calmly with a curious lift to his voice. "It must have been exhausting to follow me here, did another stag put you up to it?"

"No, sir" the young buck replied, obviously intrigued by Skuldafn to lead him to stammer,"I-I just wanted to see what you were doing out here alone every night. When the others got to talking I didn't believe them. They said you were up to something, but thats not you, sir"

Skuldafn took in his words and nodded,"thank you for believing. And now you know the truth, you won't have to doubt me any more."

"I never did, sir" he young stag replied quickly, keeping his gaze on him as he stepped further from the brush he was in and closer to the golden stag. "you seem troubled though. What's wrong? - If I may ask"

Skuldafn froze, unsure of how to respond. He was used to keeping his own business to himself and when asked that question, he wasn't too comfortable on answering. "personal conflicting issues." he replied,"promises I've made are conflicting with the life I want to live. I can't let them control me but I also do not want to forget them"

"sounds like its confusing, indeed" the buck replied,"we all have those moments, but that's when we have to turn to the heavens and wonder about our greater picture in life. Maybe there's a role a greater being has planned for us, and all we need is a push in the right direction. You think these walks might be your push?"

"I don't think there's anything supernatural about them, no" Skuldafn replied,"I just can't sleep, and these thoughts keep me from doing so. But.." he paused,thinking some more until he finally spoke more openly,"If I want to fulfill my promise I made to my mother - I have to make Syl return. But that's near impossible since I'm chained to this land."

The buck gave a faint smile, looking to Skuldafn,"you may think you have no place in Silverthorne other than to be a normal herd member, but it sounds like your goals are great - you can't let yourself be contained by the opinions of yourself and the promises you think you cannot make. Skuldafn, many have faith in you - you are a logical and loyal stag, loved by your people. When you give your word you keep it. The herd needs stags like that. And, since you can't go after your sister at the rank you are, a step up might benefit both sides"

"what are you saying?" Skuldafn questioned, looking at the young stag who kept his gentle smile on him as he spoke.

"I'm only suggesting. Maybe the answer to your insomnia and troubles is hidden in the upper ranks. The current generals won't listen to you, but what if you were one? You couldn't deny yourself, could you? You could easily get the help you need, or the answers you seek. But its only a suggestion, in the end it is your choice that's final. I'm sure that whatever path you chose to follow, there are those who love and respect you enough to support you. I know I do" he replied, turning back to the brush and slowly starting to walk away.

Skuldafn hung on these words, processing them in his mind and thinking them though. He only noticed the figure leaving and snapped out of his thought once more,"wait" he spoke,"what is your name?" he asked.

"Miraak, sir. Hopefully you'll be able to find me again, I enjoyed the conversation quite well" he replied, and then disappeared back into the brush, eaten up by the thick darkness around them.

Skuldafn kept his gaze in the direction he left, thinking of the words that hung in his head. "general?" he thought. Such a rank seemed out of his grasp, but the words of Miraak had an influence on him. Were there those who really "supported" him other than just "admiring" him, or at least giving him respect for his color? He never pondered it before, could he be a general? - Or would he be laughed at for even trying. Maybe this was some force trying to nudge him in the right direction, because once he starting walking back to camp, he felt like he was moving ever so quickly towards his goal.