Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sometimes you love a character too much to let them die...

There's no secret that I love my original characters. It's also no secret that Sabin Duvert and Ambrose Maurlias are my two closest. So this contest is about them, and only them. Well, to be specific, them over time, and across 'alternate incarnations.' These two characters are very developed and very much aspects of myself. Thus, over time I've 'recussitated' them into different incarnations (in the case of Ambrose) or extended their timeline to continue their story (in the case of Sabin).
I've got a lot of artwork of my characters, and to seek some diversity, I'm going to see about getting more artwork of their different sides.



Ends: Friday, July 14, 2006 (at least a WIP due by this point)
Final versions due No later than: Sunday, July 23, 2006, 11:59 PM PST (Sunday Night/Monday Morning) (You have until this point to finish up previously submitted WIPs)
Award Ceremony: Wednesday July 26, 8pm CST. You do NOT need to be present to win~!
Prize Pot: Currently 40.75 Million PURE.
Entry Fee: NONE! I don't believe in them.
Entries Page: http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest.htm



Banner art by Susan Meyer

[INTRO]

Well, the day's finally here! After nearly six months of running the contest, and a frantic last couple of weeks as the deadline for entries came up, and then a very frenetic couple of days as I realized that three days is not much time to make some VERY hard decisions.... I would like to welcome EVERYONE to the Awards Ceremony!

Before I start with the winners, however, I first want to thank everyone who participated. There was a phenomenal turnout of over 300 entries, and 160 people who entered! And I fell in love with so many of the entries - I can say that judging this contest has been probably the hardest of any of my contests to judge to this day, and this is the 6th ^_~.

IF you want to view all of the entries, they are posted here:
http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest.htm

However, All in all, I'm satisfied with the choices I made given the funding that I had for the contest (And I ended up funneling in about 10 million extra gold at the end to try to give more entrants the recognition that they deserved) bringing the total prize pot to 40.75 MILLION GOLD. Unfortunately, even with that amount of gold to deviate, there are still many many entries that are going unrewarded - and I wish that that were not the case. There were a lot of hard decisions, and just because an entry did not get a big prize, or even did not get a prize at all does NOT mean that I did not like it by any means.

And, after all is said and done,If anyone has any problems with the decisions that I've made, or needs a justification, please bring it up with me PERSONALLY - over AIM or PMs. Be forewarned that if you ask me why I made a decision that I did, I will be very honest with a critique.

Also, to further streamline the ceremony and to ensure it won't take like 7 hours or something, I've pretyped the ceremony ^_~. And you should thank me - because it took me like 10 hours to do so.
But, I still will not be able to make individual responses to people in the thread during the ceremony - and given that it will likely span dozens of pages at minimum - I will very likely go back to read comments, but unlike throughout the rest of the contest, I won't be making big replies <3

As an added treat, if you entered and do not end up winning anything in the contest (including a nod) and if you PM me (showing that you at the very least had the interest to check in on the results/ceremony) PM me within the next two weeks and I will send you a 5k "Thanks for Entering" Prize :3.


The awards will go out after the ceremony- and it may very well take me several days to do all the trades. In addition, with all of the entries, so unless it's been a while just hang tight. The awards will be coming from one of my mules smile But it should be fairly obvious when the time comes ^_~

If you had entered a WIP and did not finish, contact me and more likely than not I'd love to try to arrange something to get it finished up. Just because the contest is over does not mean I stop liking art and writing of my characters <3


Let me finish this welcome by saying, once again, THANK YOU to everyone. THis has been a AWESOME contest - I've met some great, friendly people, ha some awesome conversations, and of course, all of the amazing writing and artwork.

I will now begin the ceremony, starting with the smaller categories and working my way to the bigger ones. For suspense >3. And this is the chance I have to gush over individual entries - something I refrain from during the submission period of the contest so as to try to not play favorites.

I'll start with the smaller category prizes, work my way to the big ones. Then I'll take a short "break" before the grand prizes to give out the 20k Nods.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
[Categories]

And here we go! Without further ado, I bring you.... the first of the category prizes!

I've added a lot of categories, made ties, and made some runner ups for prizes, so there are a few more than are advertised on the front page.

A few of the new categories are a little smaller than the other advertised categories (50k minimum still) but there were too many awesome entries and I wanted to do my best to reward as many as I could.

I will announce these in VAGUE order of smallest to biggest prize, starting with some newer prize categories that I created! :3

Also a note, to clear up any possible confusion, in the event of a tie between contestants, each person gets the full prize amount.

***

New Category! Best Animation
50k

First up! I wasn't expecting to receive any animated entries, but not only did I get one, but I got a fabulous one from Hoochie Coochie! An animated transformation of Sabin into Anjuform~ Some smoothe movement and overall very neat Flash animation!



***

New Category! Best Emotion
50k

Two entries take this prize! And, appropriately enough the two people sharing the first tie is Mouse and Mouse! (ie Mousira and Mouselet) - both of whom have been familiar faces around this contest and previous ones and certainly garnished some excellent insight on my characters <3

Mousira's "An Angel's Death, A Devil's Birth" is a combination writing/illustated entry depicting Sabin's anguish when faced with the heavy task of identifying Samantha's body following her death.
http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Mousira%20Writing%20art%20combo.htm

And Mouselet's Short Story, a semi AU following an even worse case scenario after the possession and faced with not just the death of one parent, but both. A childhood sharply ended and a slap of the repercussions of curiousity.

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/mouselet%20Sabin%20AU%20story.htm

****

New Category! WIP Most Wanted to see Completed
Ie, "there's more where that came from"
50k pure

I received a slew of amazing entries, but there are always entries that for some reason or another, the artist is unable to complete. These two in particular stood out to me, and I wanted to recogniZe them.

First is 4-th's Sabin - the piece has such elegance and expert linework. The piece, even the WIP, looks like something straight out of a professional manga. Beautiful work, and I would love to see it with your signature beautiful coloring work, 4-th <3

And also! Afflaetus had the awesome idea of working on a sort of paper-doll of Ambrose. SHe created a fantastic base for the doll but unfortunately never finished from there.

Regardless, I love both of these very much, and I would love to see these seen to completion and would be more than happy to compensate the artists for their time and effort if so <3





***

Best Poetry
100k

I received a amazing amount of poems during the contest - entrants certainly rose to the challenge!
HOwever, above al, the one that stood out to me the most was [Yui]'s (previously Yui_Himiko). She entered many poems, but there are a few that stood out to me in particular that won this category:
%20Ambrose%20Feng%20poem%20%20Poem.htm]Chains of Eternity
Mirror
Ambrose%20Spectacle%20Mist%20Poem.htm]Spectacle Mist


RUNNER UPs
50k
However, there were so many poems, and a few more also particularly stood out to me smile

Spear the Moon by Karinna
is a wonderfully written poem with some excellent imagry! Very moving.

The Trance of Death by Faeriserena has a very unique style and a great way to depict a single event from both Sabin and the Anju's perspective!


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Most Surprising
100k

By KotokoPlum
There were a lot of awesome entries - funny entries, emotional entries, dramatic entries... However, surprising seems to be the most apt description for this comic. The running joke of the ORLY owls has some delightful amusement to it - and the randomness and the expressions really caught me here XD



***

BEST CHIBI!
100k

For me, the artstyle of Chibis can be very hit or miss. THey can be cute, but generally are not my preference unless they are very well done, which is a lot trickier than it looks.

However, I was surprised by several VERY excellent chibi-style entries to this contest. However, two artists' renditions really took the cake.

First, Hoochie Coochie's werewolf-Ambrose and Anju are FANTASTIC _ they are positively the cutest chibi's I've seen, awesome characteristics and full of such mischivious personality <3
I LOVE the Halloween one, and the tongue-sticking Ambrose in the other is awesome.

Also, Ilph's Chibi Ambrose is very cool - almost dark and with a great style and posing! She got the fur coloring spot on, and there is a surprisng amount of detail for a chibi <3






Runner Up Best Chibi
50k

But I couldn't leave these entries unrecognized!

Anetra Pendragon's Pair of CHibis in her unique, distinctive style are precious~! It is really neat to see Sabin and the Anju adapted into that style whee

There is just something innately hilarious and adorable about the terrifying anju rendered chibi-style. And Camazotz's is positively excellent - the grin makes the piece.

And last but not least, Pikimomo has a way with Chibis - she seems to do them so naturally that it makes them look easy. I love the anju cast into Sabin's shadow, and his little dapper look ^_^







***

Most Humerous
100k

While she may not have intended them as entries, Antigra has been bleeding humerous creativity - Ambrose and particularly Sabin from the IoDM Roleplay.

These are just a few selections of her wonderful hilarity. THey always bring a huge smile to my face and a slap to my thigh.




***
Cutest Scene
100k

Chirigami struck such an adorable note with this piece - I love Sabin's natural, genuine smile, and I get a true feeling of happiness with him and Samantha- who, by the way, I love the runes. The natural media works very well with the feel of this piece, and the composition is really lovely.




Runner Up Cutest Scene
50k
Colche/Syrius Lionwing has a rapport with cute in just about every aspect, even her artwork. She did a lovely rendition of Ambrose and Angelina from IoDM <3



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Best Costuming
100k

By Vonnah!
I enjoy having characters from different periods in time - Ambrose and Sabin have historial and modern incarnations. And while they have clothing that they are most frequently depicted in, they are human and change clothes.
Sabin, in particular, suffers from a very monochrome curse between his white hair and traditionally black and white victorian suit. So I was happy to see him in color in Vonnah's lovely piece. ALso, the rendition of Samantha's dress - she definately did some research on victorian costuming :3



***

Best Vignette
100k

There were some excellent stories written for this contest. Vignettes are well suited to the characters as they have many... issues respectively.

Talim Ra's vignette not only is a great insight on Ambrose throughout his trials - from his repression, striving to please his father, and then self realization and actualization through a process that is a curse to most. Not only is there great insight, but it's well tied together under a solid theme.

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Talim%20Ra%20Ambrose%20Expressions.htm

***

Best Sketch
100k

Even though it is just a quick sketch on class notes, there is something about Brius's entry - Sabin as a father, seeming to be smiling down in wonderment at his new baby... it is not only incredibly characteristic in nailing Sabin's features - but there's just this wonderful spark in Sabin's eyes, you can see him as the father so much here.



***

Best Anju
100k

There were a lot of entries with the anju in the contest - it's such a manigmanous figure. But Katch's depiction has the great combination of wonderful detail with the whispy shadowyness mixed with a truly evil expression. I would have never pictured him rendered in blue inks this well, but it works.



***

Best Child
100k

Tendra's depiction of a very young Sabin not only is a wonderfully drawn child (which are difficult subjects in my opinion) but also incorporates a great metaphor for the lingering temptation of the Anju on Sabin's life and Sabin's curiousity blinding him to the danger.



***
Best Animal
100k

I was surprised that Camazotz was the only person who depicted the smallville-version Ambrose in lightwolf form - but I certainly was not disappointed by her rendition in the slightest - she got a great feel that was just what I was looking for.





***

Best Crossover
175k

NeoBakeneko had some very well researched and involved storylines. I always love seeing crossovers between my characters as A - for the most part they're from separate storylines B - I think that they would interact interstingly together, but mostly C - I don't do well playing my myself solo and writing it out takes away the aspect of surprise of seeing how they'd react.

Neo's scenario made a lot of sense and was a fun read :3

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/NeoBakeneko%20Ambrose%20piece%20complete.htm

***

Best Concept
175k[/color

I like seeing pieces that have more to them than just a character portrait (which are awesome, don't get me wrong - especially when they hit the character). But pieces that have a story behind them, imagry and show more to the character than just their outward appearance. I had some suggestions on the front page, but those were just suggestions and this category is for people who went a step further and cae up with some awesome concepts and visual devices of their own.

Black Briar's "Miror Mirror" took the mirror concept that I have always found fascinating and did something really creative with it. The shattered effect not only is a great feel and image, but also gave a great excuse to reflect both of his natures back at him in the pieces of glass.




Runner Up Best Concept
100k/each

Karinna also had a very neat visual device with the reflection in the pocket watch - the smal subtle character notes with the slightly pointed fingernails, and the Victorian pocketwatch.

KotokoPlum took a suggestion and went with a very cute direction with it that surprised me and I found really entertaining <3 - I would totally see Angelina dragging Ambrose in hybrid form around on Halloween ^_^




***


NEW CATEGORY Best Headshot
200k

A category I created to reward a few very characteristic and well done pieces that focused on portraits of the character - Sabin, in the case of these entries.

First is Mango Boo's Sabin - a darker, elegant piece with the Anju's grin looming over him. The detailwork in Sabin is excellent, and he really looks alive.

Alexandrea Zenne's piece has a lot of atmosphere as well, done primairly in blues it shows Sabin's serious side and is another very well done and wonderful technical piece.

2B's piece is so soft and beautiful - it has a subtle power to it, and the juxtoposition with the opening eyes on his forehead give it a surreal, creepy feel.









Runner Up Best Headshot
50k
[+Katch+]'s Sabin is a very unique piece - done in white on black in natural media gives it a very distinctive, appropriate feel. Sabin also works very well in her style and I'm quite fond of this characterization.



****

Best B&W or Monochrome Piece
200k

I received a lot of monochrome pieces - everythiing from quick pencil sketches to fully rendered monochrome pieces. However, the one that caught my attention the most was, once again, [+Katch+]'s work - this one, a scratchboard piece of Ambrose. Scratchboard is a very unforgiving media that can be very tricky to use - but if done right can have excellent results.She worked so much wonderful detail into this headshot of Ambrose - especially with the fur.



2nd Place Monochrome
100k
As I mentioned, I received a LOT of excellent monochrome pieces, and thus this category was expanded. Three pieces come in second:

Kaiser-chan's pencil drawing worked in some incredible detail and some subtle character details. You almost don't notice the anju in the windowpane, or the scratchmarks int h desk from Sabin's nails. There's a looming tension behind this piece.

Sulfurous had such a neat idea with this piece that really makes me think of Alice in wonderland - but in a good, almost creepy way between the checkerboard pattern and the flowers.

And winged884's Inked piece takes Chibi and makes it creepy! The anju's stylization is awesome, and Sabin is cute - and the alchemic circle ties it together very well!







3rd Place Monochrome
50k

Rvaya's Sabin is a great shot of Sabin's trueform! The red works surprisingly well with the piece, too!




****
Best Family
200k

Beat Fu's glimpse at a tender moment between Sabin and the twins is an adorable piece - he looks so proud <3



***

Best Dramatic
200k

Himlayan's piece has such an amazing use of color and fabulous power and movement to it. It really seems to come alive in the middle panel with such fury - braced between the severe portraits to the side makes for a very unique, dramatic piece.



Runner Up Best Dramatic
100k

Danielle K's Sabin seems to have an air of darkness and mystery to it. There's something beneath that exterior and you can feel it withthe piece.

Enigmatic Dan's Sabin is an incredibly dramatic, powerful piece. Sabin is knocked back from the Anju - which does a great job of really looking like it's a part of the darkness barely forming a shape. The light of the eyes casting a malignant glow on Sabin.






***
Sexiest
200k
roxbaby's Sabin and Ambrose combo - Sabin with his shirt pulled open exposing his Abs, Ambrose looking preppy yet still very sexy. Very bishi pic, and very hawt ^_~



***

Best Mixed Form
200k

Lady Nightwolf's Sabin, depicting him mid-shift to true form is creepy and with some excellent detail. I love how you can see the extra eyes pulling open, and working in the detail of his whispy black blood.




***
Best Scene
225k
Looking at the whole composition of the piece, two entries really struck me as being amazing overall works with perspective and making the whole image - character AND the background.

Burning Velvet's Ambrose piece is truly an excellent piece that really brims with the effort that was put into it. The stone room is very well rendered, from the stonework to the clock, to the portrait of Ambrose's father (facing the other direction, as if in disapproval). Ambrose is also brimming with self-depreciation as he shatters the mirror, caught in the middle of the act.

Cold-Blooded-Angel's piece works some awesome perspective from the vantage of a student's in Sabin's classroom, startled awake after having a horrid nightmare twisted Excellent, solid inkwork, and a wonderful scene.






Runner Up Best Scene
100k

Enigmatic Phantasm's piece shows the whimsical, curious dreamer in Sabin - and fleshing out the background around him - with the terrace and the moon makes for an excellent, shoujo-ish piece :3




******

Darkest
250k
As this category is going to creepy pieces, I can't think of a creepier one than Crisscoula's Anju piece. The detailwork is amazing, the Anju seems to boom out ofthe piece, his glowing eyes and almost irridescent teeth. And the creepy setting really pulls this together to be a truly breathtaking, chilling image.




2nd Place Darkest
200k
Kuyusi's Burton-esque couples piece of Sabin and Sam with the anju closing in on them - like a stain spreading from all around- grasping, pulling, (and even the searching arm snaking up Sam's dress). The stylization works especially well, and the piece is a very solid illustration.



3rd Place Darkest
50k

A tie~!

Grimma's piece has Sabin in the anju's snare, shadows leaking from him and obviously tormented. I love the stylization of the anju and the dichotomy here.

LusterYamaiwao has a very dark, creepy atmospheric piece, even done in silhouettes (which adds to it). Sabin kneeling, as if in defeat, mired in the darkness that grabs at him with shadowy hands.






***

NEW CATEGORY Best Setting/Background
250k

VioleShezar's Sabin in the bookstore is an awesome illustration - the bookstore has so much depth - between the stained glass window an the detail on each book, and Sabin's very cool, characteristic outfit (and I really like the 'eye-like' cufflinks ^_~).



Runner Up Best Setting
50k

Speaking of nifty stained glass windows... OneOfTwo's entry with Sabin facing the window, the anju depicted in it and casting a shadow on him amist all the light is a very cool visual metaphor!



***
Most Improved
250k

Beat Fu has been a developing artist that has been a real treat to watch - from her first entries in Kamiki's first art contest, throughout most of mine, and then with a very solid, impressive piece in this one. Her current entry, Ambrose seated on the bed in hybrid-form, looking scared and dejected, Angelina sleeping peacefully and ignorantly beside him - there but not able to alleviate his concerns invokes a great emotion and setting - the setting around them withthe bed, the book (island of Dr. moreau ^_~ ) and the window with the moon all make for a very strong piece.




Beat Fu was known as Chibi Ona during Kamiki's first contest, when she was a fledgling artist, but still one with a lot of great concepts and who threw her heart into art with a slew of nifty pieces - these being some of them (including one with Sabin :3 )
http://kamiki.net/artcontest/ChibiOna_Samantha_Sabin.jpg

http://kamiki.net/artcontest/chibiona_acacya_multi.jpg
http://kamiki.net/artcontest/ChibiOna_Acacya.jpg
http://kamiki.net/artcontest/ChibiOna_Simon.jpg
http://kamiki.net/artcontest/chibiOna_kamiki.jpg

She was progressing well by my Ambrose contest, when she was Chibi Beat, and she entered:
http://arania.kamiki.net/contestentries/Ambrosia%20copy.jpg

http://arania.kamiki.net/contestentries/Chibi%20Beat%20Ambrose%20werewolf%20form%20copy.jpg

She has come a long way, and I will look forward to see her continue to improve!

***

Best Historical Version of a Character
250k

A tough, competitive category - as both my characters have a historical version (and both of them are the 'primary' incarnations of the character, a majority of the entries for this contest were eligible for this category.

However, I finally went with a tie (and two runner ups)
Sajhiri's Ambrose looks like something that he would have commissioned an oil painter to produce - it really has the feel of a natural media portrait of the time, he looks proud, and great work with the Musketeer uniform!

Blankpapers Victorian LEgends piece is a great 'poster' of the campaign with the primary characters. I could easily see this being used as, say, a movie poster were my dreams to come true and the storyline were to be published (which first involves us novelizing it, though >> ). I love the looming anju, the dark feel, and the way the eyes are drawn to Sam's is some lovely composition.







Runner Up Best Historical
200k
Uzumaki's Sabin pieces (both of them) are great! They're drastically different stylistically but I think that that emphasizes the different feels that still play to the historical feel - the Sabin portrait is very sombre.... the couples' piece is smooth and cleanly rendered.

x~Berserker~x's Ambrose is a great piece for the Swashbuckling Ambrose - this is one of the few pieces I have of him on horseback, the howling wolf in the background tying the piece together smile





***

Best Modern Version of a Character
250k

DragonFlie's Modern Sabin perfectly captures a late night at the office, grading papers. I think it's really neat to see Sabin in such a mundane setting, yet stil with a few nods to the supernatural - the anju plush on his desk. Great shading - and the setting is amazingly rendered!



***

Best Female
250k
I really, really love Sulfurous's piece. It is a great composition with a lot of very personalized character notes from the swashbuckling campaign. It's a wonderful bust of Ambrose, the integration of the wolf, the swan, and of course Angelina. A wonderful piece as a whole (and it blows me away that it was done in markers!) but Angelina is what is snaring this category for it - she looks lovely, cute, and spot-on <3




****

Best Anthro
300k

Anyone who knows me knows that I really appreciate a well done anthro piece (wolves have always been my favorite, and I was so happy to develop a werewolf character that I grew to love that would be a character that I could get art of).

Two pieces take this prize, and both are fabulous entries>:

Detrivore's Ambrose is a fantastic, real media Ambrose - post-shift, looking horrified and with a fully detailed background. The anatomy is wonderful, teh expression perfect, and really a very impressive piece that I LOVE!

Reivan I feel SO bad for... right as he was finishing the piece his photoshop errored and ate the last 15 hours of work on the piece. However, even this last saved progress of the piece still is amazing and more than deserving of this category even as-is. The perspective, the freedom - and it's a wonderful illustration of IoDM Ambrose playing soccer - enjoying a rare truly happy moment.
I would love to see the results were this image finished to how Reivan wanted to do - and I would be more than happy to make it worth his while if he would be so willing <3






Runner Up Best Anthro
100k
Dejected_Angel's Ambrose looks like something right out of a comic! Great dynamic pose, and classic werewolf juxtoposed aginst his human form looking down almost regretfully.

Antigra's Ambrose from IoDM Is great! It's cleanly drawn, characteristic, and has a great kind of balance to it! It really speaks to me smile





***
Wow! You Really Read the Description!
300k
Reitheneko's AMbrose and ANgelina modern piece is wonderful - great rapport between the characters, really showing Angelina there for Ambrose to support him; but all the 'easter eggs' in the image - the book titles on teh shelves, the posters, teh clothing style - all of it speaks of Rei's familiarity with the characters that earns her this award.



***

Best Depiction of one of my listed ideas
350k Pure

One of the most popular of the listed ideas I had was the Little Red Riding hood Ambrose and Angelia - and certainly no complaints from my end. It's a fun concept, the characters work well as the figures, and if you've been in a class that analyzed that fairy tale as much as I was, it brings some certainly amusing images/translations to mind.

The two winners of this prize both chose this subject, and both did very different intrepretations that were both equally great.

Eulalia Danae's is a very classical fairy-tale style, with a nod to Arthur Rackham, a classic illustrator. It looks like it could be in illustration of the fairy tale, with its whimsical, muted feel

Grimma's has more of the playful mischief shining in Ambrose's eyes - Angelina's startled expression is wonderfully drawn and makes me want to see where the scene might go from there ^_~





Runner Up Best Illustration of a Suggestion
200k

As some of my suggestions were pretty broad, there were a lot of entries eligible for this category. But back to the LRRH suggestion, one more really caugh tme - Little Cricket's intrepretation - another image that looks like it could be out of a book - Ambrose's grin, the reflected wolf in teh water... I really liked the expressiveness of this one!

And one of my suggestions was a scene from the actual RP's - and Arafel rose to the challenge for that. In the IoDM Storyline, Sabin can be quite the malicious prankster from time to time, and this is an illustratio of one of his recent tormentings, telling a new subject that the serums are contagious - and that is how he acquired his new, rather greenish condition. Great expressions here - really brings the RP to life ^_^






***

Best Characterization
350k

Both Ambrose and Sabin have several facets to their personalities, Sabin in particular is almost always depicted as brooding or mysterious, or with the looming anju behidn him illustrating his divided nature. However Sabin has an excitable, eccentric and almost childlike side to him as well- this exuberance for knowledge and magic and mystical things the reason he chose to become a professor when forced to settle down.

Amsterdam's is the best image I have received that shows this aspect of his personality - wildly gesticulating, excited, scrawled notes and lots of nods to his character/easter eggs contained in this image - it really struck a chord with me as soon as I saw it <3




Runner Up Best Characterization
200k

AchaiusII chose to illustrate a different Side of Sabin - the confident, smug side that eventually finds comfort in what he is. IT almost seems to me that he's delighting in meeting the viewer, showing off just a tad - the whispy shadowy nature subtly reflected in the mirror behinid him. Great detailwork in this piece, just as much if not more detail is put into the background as there is in the figure. Very well done smile



***

Best Multiple Forms
450k

I got several amazing entries for this category, and ultimately too many to narrow it down past three - so this category is a 3-way tie!

LeLe's Sabin is a fantastic real media piece - with some great textures, creepy Anju, and elegant Sabin. It really has a gothic feeling, the anju rising out of an almost sinister lookign Sabin.

OneOfTwo, along a very similar theme, Has Sabin, and a very cool shadowy-looking yet angular and fierce Anju behind him, almost looking as if he's being called forth by a confident Sabin - I Like how the far eye in the shadow of his hair is glowing red.

And speaking of Gothic Sabin/Anju pieces, who could forget Rinoa Tilmitt's - an exceptional, professional-looking piece - Sabin looking so cool, beatiful and placid against the shadowy monsterous anju - yet in that coolness holding a decapitated head of some foe (who probably coincidentally reminds me of Ishmael - a fiend and sworn enemy of Sabin in the campaign). And I like how the anju fades away to transparency near the base, further emphasizing its shadowy miasma.





**

Best Transformation
500k

Transformation art has always been something I've enjoyed - no secret. Thus this one was a fun one to get entries for (and why It;s been divided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

First place is a tie!

Desna's 6-page comic (!) with an accompanying, very well written description depicts Ambrose losing his monthly battle with the moon, and then the subsequent awkward and embittered facing angelina. A few highlights are depicted.

Also first place is EvionVixen who managed a wonderful mid-transformation shot of not just Ambrose but Sabin as well! The layout is dynamic, Sabin & Ambrose look very characteristic, and it's got so much great action!








Second Place Transformation
200k

Erustis has a very cool layout an well-drawn in all of his forms Ambrose shifting from Wolf form to Human - I like the movement, and the fact that each intermediate form is a neat image of an intermediary form :3



3rd Place Transformation
100k
Asahi Kumoru Ambrose

Yee~ Asahi had this idea quite a time ago and I loved it since I heard it - Ambrose displaying the 8 angles of attack in modern fencing, and each image being further along in a shift to his hybrid form. It's such a neat idea! biggrin





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BEST WRITING!

As mentioned earlier, I received a lot of writing entries, and so this award has been expanded from two places to four.

First Place
750k[/color

Emelyn's pair of IoDM Ambrose stories:
Emelyn has an uncanny knack to depict my characters, really getting into their minds, picking up on small nuances and mannerisms, their goals, their fears, and has some very insightful commentary through the stories. And in these pair of stories, she elaborates on some very interesting what-if sort of scenarios - I won't give away the first one, but her depiction of AMbrose after his final change, left very much mingled with a wolf but still the man he was before is wonderful. The second, a what-if he escaped is fascinating, seeing how much he's really changed in relation to the rest of the world.

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Emelyn%20Ambrose%201.htm
http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Emelyn%20Ambrose%20Two-%20Alternat.htm

Second Place
500k
TIE!
Amsterdam's writing piece, "An Eidolen Named Night" has transcended 'short' story and gone to the point of being a full out fiction piece - It's set in an alternate universe, a low-magic High-seas adventure to which she adapts Sabin VERY well as if he had not yet been possessed by the anju by the time he left home. It's dramatic, very well written, and really kept my interest and fiending for the next chapter as she gave it to me in pieces over the course of teh contest.
http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Amsterdam%20Eidolen%20named%20Night.htm

Kuronue-chan also wrote several short stories for the contest, each a different and perceptive character piece or short scenario. My favorites of them would include:
the Sabin piece "Old Friends" - an insightful glimpse into Sabin, going through a college literature course and having to adhere to the role of a student despite his own familiarity with the material over the professor.
"Seven, Eight, Nine" - A very clever crossover piece between Ambrose and Sabin - and a clever mechanism to get them together with Ambrose's 'reincarnation' and some cute interactions and a very fun 'years later' reunion.
And the second two intertwined chapters of "Tales" that took one of the suggestions from the front page - Ambrose's invitation to a formal occasion set during the full moon <3

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Kuronue-chan%20Sabin%20Modern%20Story.htm
http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Kuronue-chan%20Ambrose%20Seven%20Eight%20Nine.htm

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Kuronue-chan%20Tales.htm



Third Place
250k
Sylan's piece, "It Can't Be" is an excellent two-part story of Modern Ambrose and ANgelina. The first being a flashback at the meeting of Ambrose and Angelina, and how it was definately NOT love at first sight - there is some excellent characterization and great interaction. The second, a what-if Dreu were infected by lycanthropy, years after Ambrose and their confrontation - SYlan illustrates his familiarity with lupine psychology and integrates it well into this story!

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Sylan%20It%20Can't%20Be%20-%20A%20Modern%20Ambrose%20Tale.htm

Fourth Place
100k

Thornshield's Class of '96 is a fun 'year in the life' of Sabin the college professor, integrating his various interests and eccentricities <3

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/Thornshield%20Sabin%20The%20Class%20of%20'96.htm

*******

Annnnd... the last of the category prizes.... Best Romantic! - also now four places instead of two.

Best Romantic
750k

Birvan! For his two IoDM Ambrose/Angelina pieces - one is a lovely, atmospheric piece during the night Ambrose proposed - the sillhouetes against the setting sun is downright beautiful.
HIs other piece, "Will you be my mate" is wonderfully drawn, sweet, and adorable <3





2nd Place Romantic
500k

I love the freedom and the happiness that is conveyed in Skeksis's IoDM Ambrose and ANgelina piece - he has a great grasp of Anthro anatomy, his fur texture is wonderful, and it just really shows the freeing side of the results that is a not-often recognized potential boon of the transformations, despite the island prison.



3rd Place Romantic
250k
Sayuri_Nitta's two Ambrose and Angelina pieces (also IoDM - I'm noticing this trend as I'm writing the ceremony XD ) are lovely - her soft colored pencil style, the character interaction and even her working outside her normal comfort zone has had some awesome results (doing not only a good jo with the males, but also anthro! biggrin )





4th Place Romantic
200k

And completing the series of the romantic prizes going to IoDM Ambrose/Angelina pieces, Pandara's proposal piece is wonderful - the lighting effects from the setting sun, the torches in the cove, their expression and a very well rendered accurate depiction of Angelina at 25%, Ambrose at 75% all make this to be a very strong, lovely, an sweet piece.





~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
[NODS]
Annnd, a short aside before the final prizewinners >3. You've waited this long, you can wait a bit more XD.
These are pieces that tickeld my fancy, that I really liked, but didn't place elsewhere.

I ended up having the funds leftover to make 25 20k awards for pieces that didn't snag any of the other categories, but stood out in my mind and deserved to win something.

Here is the first half!

Best "Happy Ending" - Allychan90
This seems to be a fairytale ending with Sabin and Sam - Sam looking so content, just married, and traveling down a star-lit path.



Cuteness! Deguchan's entries
These brought smiles to my face - great ideas and adorable execution ^_^



Neat Take on Modern Sabin! Dramatica Away II
Sabin is eccentric and not above wearing flashy clothes to draw attention to himself, or going far overboard on a "when in rome" concept - I can see him wearing something like this in the 70's >3


Sweet couple - gluco
Gluco's cg under shaded pencil gives a really neat effect that really works with this piece to give it a soft, touching feel.


Hogod the scariness! - HItsuchan
Talk about a scary concept! A Hydra-anju! 0.o - as if one head weren't bad enough, try 8! And on top of that he did a good job with the fact that even though it's black on black, the gradient allows for it to still stand out against the background.


Moving and tragic - Kaldeagirl
Makes me wonder, is it Samantha's grave? HIs mother's either works well with the imagry and the anguish in Sabin's face - it's a great concept, I coulnd't imagine this in anything but monochrome, and an overall powerful piece.


Sibling Rivalry - Karinna
I enjoyed a guilty snicker at this one. I am sure that this scene has played out more than once in Ambrose’s mind


Face Shape... [+Katch+]
A bit of a story behind this one - when I first saw the piece I tapped the screen and went ' my god! That's awesome, that's Sabin's face shape as I picture it - the long, oval-shape, long nose, eye shape, the messy, ponytail'd hair... then I realized a moment later that it was a depiction of Ambrose >> I would LOVE to get a piece done like this OF sabin and use that as a great face-shape ref from here on <3


Great Emotion - Kiniro Oniba
Kiniro's IoDM Ambrose has a such a strong sense of desolation and defeat - which is very characteristic of him shortly after his change to 50%, before Angelina arrived, and when he's realized that you really can never go home again...


Creante's Pick - NeoBakeneko
For his visual entry of Creante, darkly smirking, blood dripping from a finger - it's a very appropriately creepy piece of the Anju... AND for a writing entry written from Creante's perspective as new emotions kindle in his black heart for the first time - much to its fury.

http://arania.kamiki.net/duocontest/NeoBakeneko%20Sabin%20Rebirth.htm

Chibi Anju Goodness - Nikorasu-Kun
As I mentioned earlier, nothing is quite so delightful as something terrifying like the anju chibified - and I like this version, vector-ish and looming.



CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST!

ie WTF do you mean by "different versions??"

Ambrose Maurlias is, originally, a character I created back in 2003 for the swashbuckling/Ravenloft RPG. I originally designed him to be a very in-depth character with some major issues that would be really enjoyable to develop and challenge throughout the game. Then, turn his world upside-down by having him become a werewolf, and then have to grow to deal with that - through the process having to deal with many of his other issues (being far too uptight, family issues, confidence problems, etc).

I grew to love the character, and, during a long pause in the campaign, and then again after the end of the campaign (it was a good run, but all good things must come to an end - and a definite end is better than being left hanging indefinately) I liked him too much to stop playing him. So in other venues (or just for storytelling purposes) I created different versions of him.

These versions of Ambrose are Stand-Alone!!. Each one is an "alternate-universe" version. They're not the same 'person', descendents, or even necessarily reincarnations. They are Ambrose if he was born to a different time or place or situation.

HOWEVER Each 'version' of Ambrose, to be Ambrose, have a few common features:
* Wealthy, old-money family (and everything that entails)
* An older brother, Dreu - who his parents doted on instead of him (leaving Ambrose with the need to feel appreaciated/to make a difference)
* At the very least an interest in fencing/swordsmanship
* Basic Appearance & personality
* And, of course, either becoming a werewolf or some sort of lupine creature.

Common Appearance Notes
Human: Ambrose is tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. His face is long and has very angular features. He is well-kept and walks straight and tall with a practiced grace. His hair is usually on the long side of high-socially acceptable for the period.

Hybrid/Anthro form: His coat pattern is gray/blonde with a lighter underside, much like THIS REFERENCE.
THIS Is the best Real Wolf Reference to his coat color.
Regardless of hair length as a human, Ambrose has long hair in his hybrid form, much like the reference above. He is digitigrade (walks on his toes), has yellow lupine eyes, and pawpads on his hands and feet.

Versions for this contest:

• The Original: Swashbuckling Ambrose
  
• Modern Ambrose: High-school setting
  
• Island of Dr. Moreau Ambrose: created for the IoDM breedable
  
• Supers-campaign Ambrose: created for a recent superhero campaign that I didn't expect to pick up as it has. More of a 'fluff' version.

Banner art by LoboLeo and Mecromace

Name: Ambrose Maurlias

Race: Werewolf

Setting: Modern / High School

Bio: Ambrose, starting as a sophmore in High School with family issues and trying to deal with a conflict of who he is and who he wants to be, a girl he likes but knows would not be approved of, deals with lycanthropy as a case of a family curse that skips generations, and various and sundry complications.

Full Storyline: Click Here

Who He Knows: His Girlfriend, Angelina. She generally dresses punk-ish. Her best references Her General Appearance (not normal clothing) / Appearance and general clothing / Clothing style


Best References: X X
His Hybrid-form is well represented by the swashbuckling-version (including the long hair)



Banner art by One of Two and Auriana

Much of the time in the previous contests, the only information I've had up on Sabin has been his background from the Victorian era, and what people have gathered from Gaia-version Sabin. This leaves much out between the two. Especially because most of the victorian storyline, which I've been working on outlining for a novel, isn't posted online - just the background before it starts, and a few snippets about the merging.

SO, unlike Ambrose who represents a series of AU (alternate-universe) versions, Sabin is one long continuity. THe different versions are the same character, just over time.

The Victorian Legends version Sabin (the first Sabin) is the version that will eventually be written about in a novel I'm working on *knocks on wood*. It deals with Sabin being possessed by the anju, coming to deal with it through the help of Samantha, Tavis, etc, and their various adventures and misadventures from there.

The Modern version is, as Sabin is ageless, Sabin after having survived up to the Modern Era. He's mellowed a bit, has settled into the merging but still has dramatic mood swings, is a university professor in Anthropology, and finally succeeded in having two children with Samantha.

The Gaia storyline picks up at about the modern day, Samantha has passed away in an unexpected and tragic car accident. After years of mourning, slipping into some of the darker sides of his personality (which is when the Sabin in the IoDM would take place for those of you who know me from there) and being in a rut, Tavis urges Sabin to get out and try to regain some of his spark. They go out exploring and happen upon a portal to Gaia. He meets Kamiki and the rest, as they say, is history.




Banner art by Tremolo

Modern-Sabin

Sabin, since then

Name: Sabin Duvert

Race: Human/Anju (Shadow Creature)

Setting: Modern -> Gaia

Bio: Years later, after Sabin's merging with the Anju in his nature, and his marriage to Samantha, he survives up to the modern era. Samantha finally becomes pregnant in the 70's (after a very special ... session) and gives birth to twins - Eric and Alexandria (Alex for short). In order to give them a chance at a normal life, Sabin and Samantha integrate themselves into a very normal identity. Samantha as a veternarian, Sabin as a University professor of Anthropology/Folklore. They don't tell the children about their magical natures. Eric and Alex are born looking mostly human - their eyes are dark brown/almost burgandy color, Eric with curly brown hair, Alex with straighter hair. Their teeth are slightly pointed, and their nails grow fast. Iron would be hot to the touch for them. Eric was very much like his father - finding his job very interesting, and always wanting to be something special, interested in gaming and roleplaying, and the like. Alex, on the other hand, always had the feeling that the family wasn't quite normal, and it scared her. With a desire to be popular and fit in she dyes her hair blonde, and tries to integrate herself into the popular crowd.
They find out about the time they're 14 (this is a general age - you can tweak if you want), after a difficult discussion. Eric takes it very well, Alex doesn't.

More specific dates are written about here in response to Thornshield

Other things of interest/amusement - Sabin is still a very quirky individual, obsessed with mythology and monsters. He is a strict carnivore, he games with his son, and is a very quirky professor. Woe be to those who fall asleep in his classroom - as they tend to wake up screaming from a nightmare twisted The first time a semester Sabin would warn them passively 'not to sleep in his class' - after that he would look over to them as they sleep, not say anything, and keep on narrating as they wake up... whee

**

Gaia Storyline: After Eric and Alex were off to college, Samantha, in a tragic car accident, was killed. Sabin was very morose for many years (it would be during this period that the Island of Dr. Moreau storyline would occur for those of you familiar with that). Eventually, Tavis pulls him out of his dark rut and tries to rekindle his spark of adventure in getting him off exploring after the rumor of a portal. They find it but, unlike what Sabin presumes it to be (a portal to the feyrealm like one he had found years and years ago) finds instead a one-way portal to Gaia. There he meets Kamiki, finds that he can open up and love again (and with it finding a stronger tie to his humanity again) - and evetually has another son, Gavin

Who He Knows: His wife, Samantha Blaire.

Gaia-version: Kamiki and their GMFC son, Gavin


Best References: X X X X - all of these are from the victorian-era, so the appearance is correct, but the clothing is not (unless he's on an eccentric day).

Banner Art by Enumasam

Floundering for a good idea to draw/write? Feeling intimidated by the artwork I have? Here are a few concepts that have been niggling at me that I would love to see. These are by no means what you HAVE to draw/write, and I'm not saying that one of these ideas are going to take the prize, but just things that would bring a smile to my face :3

GENERAL IDEAS

• Professor Sabin
  
• Sabin NOT looking all angsty and dark, but actually smiling, looking enthusiastic or curious
  
• More Transformation artwork of Ambrose
  
• Ambrose's family at the end of the Swashbuckling campaign
  
• Ambrose & Angelina - Ambrose in hybrid or big wolf form, contrasting against Angelina who's human (or fey for swashbuckler version)
  
• Ambrose & Sabin crossover stories
  
• Ambrose image with some sort of 'reflection' as the key - facing his lupine form with trepidation
  
• Story themes I LOVE: discovery (how they find out about being something other than human, and then dealing with it - reactions!): coming to terms with what they are, and being supernatural in a relatively normal/low magic setting: a setting where magic isn't believed in or is held in high suspicion. Hunters (esp with Ambrose where he hasn't quite come to terms with what he is himself yet). Also - revealing what they are to someone else - reactions!!!
  
• A piece of Smallville Ambrose in his light-wolf form, OR a mid-shift between wolf and light-wolf (think a piece of him jumping, with the front or back half being the glowy light-effect, the other half being the normal, furred wolf :3
  
• NEW25% Angelina with 75% (or 100%) Ambrose.
  

SCENES
some of these scenes I've even had done before, but I really like the idea and wouldn't mind seeing them again

• A better execution of the Modern Ambrose & Angelina "Movie Night" concept : Original Commission - Modern Ambrose (hybrid or wolf form) & Angelina on the couch, looking at them from the TV's vantage point, casting a blue-light on them in a dark room, lots of empty pizza boxes, and random food containers strewn around.
  
• Ambrose, just having transformed to his hybrid form, clothes ripped (shirt torn almost off, button popped on his pants (not showing anything, but dangerously close ^_~), and fallen back onto his bed - looking scared - but SEXAY.
  
• A chibi pic of Angelina glomping onto a rather sheepish or 'putting up with it' Ambrose in big wolf form. ((Think Angelina: "Puppy!" Ambrose: "I am not a dog" kind of expressions))
  
• Angelina dressed as Little Red Riding hood, Ambrose in Hybrid or Wolf-form whee
  
• A story (most likely medium) of end-of-the-campaign Swashbuckling Ambrose, dealing with 'coming out' to the people of France about his lycanthropy. Dealing with rumormilling, and despite his position of power and respect of the King, not necessarily being a well-liked nobleman. Perhaps an invitation to a ball on a full moon night - a power play by the host to have an object d'curiousity and a challenge to him to see if he really IS a werewolf/if so actually has control.
  
• Illustrations of particular scenes from their storylines smile
  
• (Because it will never happen in the cannon RP because I enjoy RP'ng on the Island too much) A what-if story of the Island of Dr. Moreau Ambrose somehow getting off the Island and finding his way back home (face parents? Or perhaps an alternate version where Angelina never went to the Island and finding her again).
  
• Also because it will likely never happen (and this requires familiarity with the Island of Dr. Moreau) - Something story-ish to do with Sabin and his anju-ness there. Again, it is be modern day, post Samantha's death and his kids at least off to college if not graduated. Him going down a darker period of his life.
  
  

Banner Art by Bovar