It still has that new-avatar smell.

A couple of days ago, I was presented with a new and improved version of my ponification of Elric of Melniboné by writer, aspiring artist, and all-around good guy Arcum42. For years now, I've been operating with various sizes and crops of an image made with the well-known Pony Creator... because I can't draw.*

Arcum took that image and used it as the basis of a larger, nicer, more polished version, and here it is:

Note the shading, where before it had all been solid white. Note the slight bluish tinge in the mane and tail, differentiating them from the coat. Note that even though Arcum respected my wishes to stick with a simple background in a more or less blood red, there are some varying shades in it now. And in this full-size pic, you can see more of that disdain that I've always wanted to have him convey.

The Empire of Melniboné ruled Elric's world for ten thousand years through their use of dragons in combat, and the strength of their magic. The empire has been in decline for quite some time, and collectively their spell-slinging isn't what it used to be. Elric, however, not only received the extensive education due the son of the emperor, but he also learned a lot on his own. (A combination of illness and severe physical weakness in his childhood kept him fairly inactive, so he had a lot of time to study.) Becoming emperor after his father's death gave him certain symbols of office that allowed him to access even more abilities. In short, Elric is the strongest mage for several generatons in the royal line of a country known for powerful magic, and arguably the most powerful mage in the world, and he damn well knows it.

The certainty of that knowledge, combined with his people's superior attitude towards people of other nations, combined with his imperial title and position, combined with his general dislike of nearly everyone he knows -- including himself -- tends to make him unpleasant, arrogant, and somewhat unapproachable. That should show even in pony form... and it does better than ever now.

---

*And even if I could draw, I'm not sure I would have what it takes to do proper justice to Elric.
Not like these artists: Link 1 / Link 2 / Link 3 / Link 4 / Link 5

Comments

[scoots2]

Yay, Arcum!

Next, by special request, the Elric of Melnipony plushie, stuffed with gold dust and cocaine to justify the 5,000 price tag.

[Elric of Melnipony]

3547080
...and that's on the low end for prices of plushies sold at conventions.

[Flint-Lock]

I still want to hug him.

[Elric of Melnipony]

3547274
Why stop there?

I hear if you lick a unicorn's neck, it tastes like your favorite flavor in the world!

-- Candy Chiu, Gravity Falls

[Flint-Lock]

3547305

(licks) mmm...Sour Brite Crawlers...

(Unicorn turns around and flash-boils my cerebellum)

[arcum42]

3547080

Thanks Elric, scoots.

Sadly, I'd have no idea where to start on a plushie, and someone who actually can sew would be needed, really.

Actually, my skills are rather lopsided on drawing, too. If I try do draw anything freehand, sooner or later, the proportions go all wacky and it looks horrible. but if I have a rough b&w sketch someone else did, or a blurry scaled up screenshot, or something I can trace or use as a guideline, I can ink it out, color it, shade it, and generally fix up small problems in the original while I'm at it.

So obviously, with Elric's avatar, the main reason why I was able to do it was that I had that original Pony Creator version to use as a guide...

--arcum42

[Scootareader]

It's beautiful.

[A British Gentleman]

Oooooo... shiny...

I am rather fond of shiny new things.

[Elric of Melneighbone]

Very nice!

[lexidol]

Like a new car smell with a new textbook smell.