[Morden]

WSG#10 [A][F] Special Features of Rihad.
This week we norrow our focus on Rihad to those special features, which add to the unique nature of the city. Below are listed some of the ideas which were developed in the previous WSG. If you choose to draw any of these features please include a quick 2D sketch, which will provide us with a reference for shape and scale, when it comes time to do the modelling. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish this week.


1. Concubine Market and Training Houses.

This is a flesh market, where women are sold. Whether they are complete slaves is still to be debated. One feature of it however, is that some women are trained in special houses to be concubines. They are eventually sold to important people, such as those who are wealthy businessmen, nobility, or even monarchs.

Concubinage refers to the state of a couple living together as lovers with no permanent obligation (as by civil marriage or religious ceremony) or the state of a woman supported by a male lover who is married to another. In societies that permit slavery, it can refer to sexual relationships between slave-owners and their slaves (a form of sexual slavery).

However you decide to define Concubine, its not really a pretty subject.

The Biography of Queen Barenziah describes how man could not find a husband for her daughter so he took her to Rihad to sell her as a concubine.



2. Palace

Rihad is a city-state ruled by a Monarchy. In Arena, Rihad was ruled by "Queen Blubamka" That seems like a randomly generated name, and a poor one at that. The Blubamka family my still be in power, but I don't think we need to stick with that name.

In any case, the palace is where the monarchy lives, and has a court for advisors and nobility. The palace should be made from stone, as an ancient structure that has survived many battles.



3. Temple of Satakal

A place for those who still reject the Nine Devines and other Imperial influences. It is the home of the Devotees of Satakal the Serpent God. Keep in mind that even a small non-descript building can be sacred ground.

Satakal (The Worldskin): Yokudan god of everything. A fusion of the concepts of Anu and Padomay. Basically, Satakal is much like the Nordic Alduin, who destroys one world to begin the next. In Yokudan mythology, Satakal had done (and still does) this many times over, a cycle which prompted the birth of spirits that could survive the transition. These spirits ultimately become the Yokudan pantheon.



4.Lighthouse or Port Beacon. (Lutemoth's idea)

A large lighthouse, or a flame that never dies, viewable from far at sea. A guiding light for ships, which has been around for as long as anyone can remember, built in the ancient style.



5. Entertainment District

Jugglers, bards, snake charmers, actors and acrobats. It could be an open plaza or a series of playhouses.

A scene from the Redguard comic which shows a theatre house and some actors:
http://til.gamingsource.net/rgbooks/page.shtml?6

Macar's further concepts of Redguard entertainment:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/Macar/masks.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/Macar/playhouse.jpg

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Results of this WSG:


Macar


Nyren


Morden


LadyN


PoHa


Scott MacDonald

[Macar]

Keep in mind that a concubine's primary job can be something other than sex. I just saw memoirs of a Geisha a couple months ago, and that was kind of an eye opener for me. Sometimes, couresans are more for entertainment, and making rich men feel good about themselves, than for sex itself. I'd say the more expensive the concubine, the less sex she needs to have.

[Stalker]

And you forgot one very important thing - transport to Cyrodiil. Ferry, bridge, levitating rocks, Sload Airship with 20 foot ladders (c)AFFA, Fargoth mounts. Anything. But there must be a transport to Cyrodiil side of the river.

[Morden]

A concubine and a courtesan are two different things, and a Geisha is definately not a concubine. Which will this market be for?

[Morgoth]

So, are we to choose which one we want to do, or do all of them?

[ENIGMA*]

actually Concubines are centerd around the Chinese as sex slaves the Gesias and Courtesans are of Japanese orgin thus we have a problem... Chinese or Japanese? Takeout or Delivery?

anyway my money is on Courtesans ((Japanese Brothel Whores)) who are being sold as slaves not just for sex but maybe even as maids...

[Morden]

The concept of a concubine didn't come soley from one country, and its certainly not a Chinese cultural invention. The whole idea of having a concubine is a result of opportunity and lifestyle.

And try to have a litte respect with your language Enigma.

I say we make these women in Rihad more of a courtesan or a professional companion like the Geisha. Take the focus off being a sex slave and give these women some dignity. Make its so that these women are trained and sent to be a companion to the nobility and other influential people.

[ENIGMA*]

so like a Gesia Housewife?

[Orix]

[Morden]

[Macar]

Since the Empire outlaws slavery, I suggest that they might not technicaly be slaves. here's the way I imagine it:

When a girl cannot find a husband or the family cannot afford a dowary- or the price of raising her, she will become a concubine. The university will pay the parents and the girls will be raised from there. They are trained in music, dancing, domestic skills, and how to beutify themselves, as well as some self-defense. When they are of age they are "auctioned" to wealthy enough patrons. These men gaurd the women and pay them a small salary. In exchange they faun over him and entertain him (sometimes performing sexal favors, in exchange for gifts). They are free to leave at any time, but that would mean that they would be jobless and homeless, so they are indirectly bound to thier master. Imperial missunderstand this tradition as sexual slavery.

[Lady Nerevar]

where does it say we have to choose? why cant we have both?

surely theres a market for both.... while nobles might want a "trophy wife", other people might ust want someone to sleep with. the pretier, younger ones could go to sex, and the older, more experianced ones would be better off as ladies.

[edit] a "not so sspecial feature of rihad". i did a gate hoping to gain a level in "painting"... sadly, i still need alot of xp....

[Macar]

I choose the cult of satakal as my topic.

I drew this guy earlier, now he has color. This crazed individual is a young satakal devotee known as a devourer. These men are devoted to the destructive aspect of satakal. They spend thier time mourning the impermanence of all life. To escape this sorrow, they live in self imposed desert exile. They paint thier bodies and go nude, sharpening thier teeth and nails. They live with poisonous asps whose poison they consume in non-lethal doses. This causes them exteme pain accompanied by hallecenations and madness. Stay away from these types!


After years of wild existance, the devotee hopes to gain enlightenment. The enlightend priests are known as "grandfathers". The enlightenment occurs when they realise that this eternal cycle consists of not only eternal death but eternal rebirth, and thus there is no cause for sadness. Concerned litle with the affairs of the world, they spend the rest of thier lives in monastic seclusion, living with snakes (with whom they seem to comunicate) and pondering the meaning of life. It is said that a few enlightened grandfathers have trancended and achieved the walk about- to these ancestors (the great grandfathers) they offer thier prayers.


This last one is "more concept than art" to quote Stalker. This is the satakal temple in Rihad. The temple is relatively modest. The building is half underground and the door is so low that one must crawl upon the belly- as a snake- to enter. Inside there is a large snake pit were sacred snakes are raised. There is also a library of sacred texts and a few shrines. The top dome is a reliquary where the remains of a few great grandfathers are sealed. The observation deck is there so that the grandfathers can observe the stars in order to predict the next cycle of destruction.

[Scott MacDonald]

Well I figured if I am going to help I may as well enter these events every once in a while. So yah I did the light house idea becase the concept was simple but there was still a good amount of detail needed. So here is my sketch I spent a few hours on it so its fairly good for the 2D shot, I had issues with the 3Dis Version so I just gave up on top of the tower because it was being stupid... yah so this is suposed to be a huge light house as you can see I used a Daedric "S" in the crazy triangle thing because I couldnt think of any other Logo type thing to put up there. I am open to any sugestions and Comments to make it better. Please not I did this free handed so the lines arnt perfect.
Yah well there you go.

[Morden]

Thats some real top-notch stuff Macar, and the background you've created makes it even better. The idea of a 'grandfather' is interesting as well. We might consider these stages as our own lore on the subject. Acolyte to Grandfather. Sorrow to Hope, ect. The modest temple design is also excellent.

[El Scumbago]

I hope the expiring date for this is Monday, not the usual WSG friday. Sorry for my idiocy but I haven't participated in this for about 8 weeks. Got a lighthouse 2.5D (!) sketch ready, and still working in a palace concept. Umm, may I feel free to draw the 'slave bazaar' in an open-minded, adult way? No, I'm not about to draw the Kahjiti porn encyclopedia. Yet.

[Stalker]

Well yeah, you can. We might censor it though if it's too over the top when putting on the main page.

[Macar]

I havent really heard anyone adress why the imperials havent banned concubines, I think there needs to be some explination as to why theyre not technicaly slaves. I suggested one above, but if someone has a better idea, please share.

[Sload]

[the Bard]

There can probably just be concubines that are like geishas and others that are sex slaves but the last will be traded illegally. Or there could be a same kind of cultural explanation like there is in Morrowind. All in all, I think it would be best to have both of 'em.

[Macar]

I still like my idea the best... Anyway, I think it will be important for anybody who tries thier hand at the market to explain thier take on the concubines, as it would probably have an effect on how the market looks and functions. ie. if it is more like prostitution, it would probably be a crowded, lewd, and posibly dangerous place cramed with skooma hawkers and strip joints. If they are more like high class geishas, however, it would probably be a beutiful place, with some nice resteraunts and plenty of seating, maybe even statues and fountains- perhaps areas where the potential costomers can conversate with thier potential concubines. Just some ideas.

[Sload]

I think its more likely that concubines exist because of corruption. It makes perfect sense and requires no round-a-bout explanation or made up lore.

[Dexter]

You could just say that being a whore is a perfectly legal and moral profession in Redguard culture. That would allow you to do whatever you wanted with the concubines, from making them hang out on corners or be high-class hookers in a training house.

[Lady Nerevar]

*agrees with dexter*

anyhow, i think i went ovethe top with my lighthouse concept.

[Stalker]

Indeed. But hey, it can be turned into a brazier in some temple or something !

[Morgoth]

[PoHa!]

My little attempt... an outdoor stage. Could be used to advertise for the main attractions at the indoor theater, or maybe just for shorter, outdoor plays...



Hmm... actually... this kinda doesn't fit into #5 necessarily, now does it... you were asking for people, not stages...

But maybe someone will find it useful, afterall

[Anonymous]

I´ve made an atempt on the lighthouse, but now that I´ve finished it I realize it´s much to sleek. I was trying to make something inspired by the official concept towers, just taller.



Maybe I´ll make another one with a more squat and elaborate looking design. I like the snake theme you´ve used on the temple, Macar. Maybe I could do something based off of that?

I also Like the idea of a statue being the Lighthouse, like you´ve done, Lady N. Do I have permission to try and develop your Idea?

First I´ll try to tackle the slave market though

*trundles off to the drawing board*

[fanfas]

ON TOPIC: Though its a litle bit high, it looks very nice...

OFF TOPIC: How old are you? Are you a professional drawer? Or pretend to be one in the future? Architect maybe? Because you have skills man, skills that should not be wasted

[Anonymous]

I´m currently studying, but when I´m done I´ll pretend to draw profesionally

[Lady Nerevar]

you have premision to develop anything of mine you like, and so does everyone else. although i like my ideas, i usualy skrew up the execution...

i love your lighthouse btw. it remids me on something... i jsut cant think of what....

[fanfas]

[Anonymous]

[Macar]

[Lady Nerevar]

Alan Lee! thats what it was!

[Scott MacDonald]

Ok from what I see you all have way more skill than I and I was wondering I waisted my time drawing that light house. I want to seriously know if I waisted my time or if was it not good or something. Cause after seeing what you guys have made I feel somewhat stupid for even submitting, all I can say is wow. You guys are good.

[Nomadic1]

[Scott MacDonald]

[Haplo]

Well, most of these blokes are 14 year olds that have absolutely no life whatsoever, except to further the cause of TR (Or the WSG). If I started drawing again, I bet I could churn out some pretty good stuff like this every week, but one thing you should know before you bash yourself after looking at this stuff:

Pretty much everyone contributing was already an artist/sketcher/concept artist/whatever for a while, and they got a bunch of feedback before. Now, they've been doing these Weekly Sketches for a couple of months now (this is what... 10? So two and a half months). Every week they churn out something new, and get some constructive criticism on it, so they know what to add in and how to draw things. You'll be drawing some smokin' hot concepts in no time at all, if you just practice whenever is convenient for you.

Cheers!

[Lutemoth]

I see that the range of freedom has sparked quite a bit of wonderful sights here! I look forward to to observing the getting-down-to-brass-tacks construction for OB's Rihad.

I hope to get a gargantuan statue of Ruptga by the port's bay, and a rendition of a playhouse or lighthouse tower in by Friday or Saturday, hopefully