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WayraHyena — Quicksilver Tears

Published: 2009-07-07 18:00:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 1240; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 42
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Description O_O D8

Another beautiful Archaian. This time it is an Arctic. They are extinct in the wild and only found in South Whie trade. As with all the ancient Archaians they have the scruff ring, or mane on their neck, just like the Arxaine and the Ettaili (Both went extinct before humans saw them, thus their lack of english names).

Archaians have five special glands in their neck. The two largest glands produce a strong smelling chemical that by itself is harmless- two smaller glands create a trigger protine that turns this harmless chemical into a highly deadly and valuable venom. The final gland produces a silvery liquid that holds the two together. Now, today very few things can threaten an Archaian, but this venom (which many have forgotten how to use) is an ancient trick, used to deter Marx, Vur, and Fyrn. It has a powerful amonia-like scent that is unbearable to most, and burns when touches the skin. If one were cornered and alone it could spit this poisin onto its enemies to make an escape. Problem being that the glands are so small, they can't produce a lot at one time.

"Quicksilver Tears" was the descriptive term used to describe what one of the first human explorers saw when he came across a pack mourning a loss.
When an Archaian "cries" the large gland that combines the chemicals produced by the two other sets of glands is squeezed- the way it would be if an Archaian were trying to activate the venom, but since the vessle to the other glands are not open, it leaks to the tear ducts and combines with the salty tears, making it look shiny and thick, like mercury, or "quicksilver."


I worked on this on and off for the past few days, but I'm super happy with the result! ^-^

... and yes, it is raining blood.
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Comments: 8

PokeTheWolf [2010-02-28 04:31:23 +0000 UTC]

kinda scary, but majestic at the same time
I like it

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MysticalSpeedo [2009-07-11 03:58:19 +0000 UTC]

I am super happy with this result as well. ._. Absolutely gorgeous.

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WayraHyena In reply to MysticalSpeedo [2009-07-11 13:51:25 +0000 UTC]

Daw, thankies. ^-^

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557M [2009-07-08 09:28:59 +0000 UTC]

Also, before I forget to mention this, the emotion in this picture is incredible. I can imagine the scene vividly, even hearing their cries in the rain-- quite haunting.
Your artwork is always a thrill, Wayra.

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WayraHyena In reply to 557M [2009-07-08 13:43:09 +0000 UTC]

^///^ Thank you so very much, that was what I was going for.

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557M [2009-07-08 09:23:05 +0000 UTC]

Very good angle and detail in this one, and the tears turned out quite well-- they have a good flow to them.
I'm curious now, though: one, what was the loss that was mourned, and two, why/how was it raining blood?

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WayraHyena In reply to 557M [2009-07-08 13:42:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

When packs fight over territory, normally they will send about half the pack to the fight so there are others to watch the young. Foolish packs will send all of their strongest members, and leave the gatherers alone; wise packs send a few of their strongest, then their alpha around the fight to the base of the pack.
After the battle, those lost are gathered together and mourned.
The scene the traveler saw was a foolish pack after their battle, where they had a particularly high number to mourn. They lost about half their pack, including most of the childrens' parents.

The blood was just a little added touch... my own explination for it is that is fits the mood of the picture: scared, angry, lost- and that the center of the picture is a creature who has suffered throuh the slaughter and enslavement of its own kind.

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EVILoboe [2009-07-08 00:30:42 +0000 UTC]

you... are... awesome!!

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