Tamriel Rebuilt

[Atmospheric] Ancient ruins surrender to creeping sand dunes


*NOTE* The forum topic didn't allow enough room for the word [Atmospheric] I just put [A].

This is the first WSG topic Feel free to take the concept and run with it. This concept will help us determine the look if our desert exploration areas.


Here are a few suggestions that will hopefully spark your imagination.

-What were these ruins before they were destroyed?
-How were they destroyed?
-If it was a temple, what happened to the original worshippers? Could they be somehow 'enshrined' themselves?
-Does anything live amongst the ruins now?
-Is this a world controlled by nature or by man?

Before posting Please read the WSG [FAQ] and Concept Art Guidelines threads which are stickied at the top of this forum.


FAQ: http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=15318

Guidelines: http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=15316

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Conclusions and Reflections on DSG#1

Topics Discussed.

1. Ruins as exploration areas.

2. Large ancient statues buried in the depthless sands of western Hammerfell's Alik'r desert.

3. Statues left behind by the ancient Nedic people's who lived in the Hammerfell before the Re'Gada immigration.
Anything Nedic would be in the northern and eastern parts, in proximity to Skyrim and High Rock.

4. A huge structure was sunk into the desert sands after a grand earthquake. Though this is only a part of a big complex of buildings, it is the only one of such scale that can be seen "emerging" from the dunes at the present day.

5. There are two known Dwemer clans in Hammerfell. The Rourken and the Kragen. Any Dwemer ruins in the Alik'r
would be Rourken.

6. Looters, smugglers and bandits would be common place in the desert ruins.

7. Ruins also allow for solid, simple shelter from sun and sandstorms. Desert travellers might use ruins as a stop-over point, breaking the journey between shelters.

Morden:
[url=http://img464.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsg1desertruin7ke.jpg][img]http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5593/wsg1desertruin7ke.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsg1f56xy.jpg][img]http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/2204/wsg1f56xy.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Macar:
[url=http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ruins0ix.jpg][img]http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2989/ruins0ix.th.jpg[/img][/url]

El Scumbago and Macar:
[url=http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsgsubjectno122vr.jpg][img]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2541/wsgsubjectno122vr.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsgsubjectno116vl.jpg][img]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6499/wsgsubjectno116vl.th.jpg[/img][/url]


Dexter:
[url=http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hammerfelltempledesert6vr.jpg][img]http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1932/hammerfelltempledesert6vr.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Lutemoth:
[url=http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=atmosdesertruins2rh.jpg][img]http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8128/atmosdesertruins2rh.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Rowan:
[url=http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=desert28pn.jpg][img]http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1048/desert28pn.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Silverwood:
[url=http://img507.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan100135bl.jpg][img]http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3497/scan100135bl.th.jpg[/img][/url]
Morgoth:
[url=http://img333.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0090753503tc.jpg][img]http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/1104/0090753503tc.th.jpg[/img][/url]

I will post the first entry. Although it is not entirely finished, I will post it. It may have something to do with the fact that I am extremely intoxicated after a work party at "Fog 'n' Suds".. but here it is.


I encourage everyone else to post.


*edited later for spelling.. ooops*



[url]http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5593/wsg1desertruin7ke.th.jpg[/url]

I really believe you're the only one fast enough to draw this on day one. Mine's still sitting in my room as a sketch while yours is fully shaded.

This is from a previous mod of mine that never panned out. I think it's appropriate- made entirely from morrowind moddles in the construction set.
[url]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/Macar/Khemet/ruins.jpg[/url]

[url]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Dexter_Kong/Elder%20Scrolls/HammerfellTempleDesert.jpg[/url]
Inspired by a Hindu temple in Khajuraho.
If there are plans to put this on the main page, don't worry. I am going to go over the sketch in ink, so I can scan it in 8-bit black and white, and make it really easy to put on the main page.

[url]http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsg1f56xy.jpg][img]http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/2204/wsg1f56xy.th.jpg[/url]




I'm continuing with some of the same themes i started with in my last sketch. I really like the idea of large ancient statues buried in the depthless sands of western Hammerfell.

These would make great exploration areas.


Great sketch Dex. It'd be awesome finding a temple like that out in the sandy wastes... the 'open' look of it, with the balconies is nice.

Lore note: Ancient Nedic people were driven from Hammerfell by also ancient Ra'Gada warriors currently known as Redguard.

Very nice head, reminds me of Boethiah's quest. Perhaps this could be associated with a quest too, something about unearthing and reconstructing the statue.

Dexter's sketch reminds a lot of the Daedric ruins, big with large open areas. My only objection is that I could not call it a ruin! Seems perfectly fine, old, but definately not ruined.

Needless to say, never go hunting for Nedic ruins unless you live the Alik'r enough to expect the worst.
(cfb)
[url]http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs8/i/2005/358/c/b/Nedic_Ruins_by_Red_Aardvark.jpg][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/wrongfoot/concept/atmos_desertruins.jpg[/url]

I did my best to research the ancient Nedic before taking on those statues, but being a long time ago, not a lot of info still remains.

Thats awesome Lutemoth, very epic. Do the statues portray the ancient Nedic people?

to the best of my assumptions, I hope so
Although it seems minimalistic for an ancient race on the Alik'r deserts, my guess is that's merely the top of a tall tower, or something of importance

Hammerfell's original name was Volenfell, named for the Dwemer "City of the Hammer" whose ruins lay nearly submerged by the sands of the Alik'r. Legend holds that these Dwemer were the self-exiled Rourken clan of Resdayn (Morrowind),

Thats a quote from the Pocket Guide to the Empire.

So a few dwemer ruins wouldn't be out of place in the in the deep desert either.

Morden wrote:Legend holds that these Dwemer were the self-exiled Rourken clan of Resdayn (Morrowind),

Weird, just noticed that that has my name(Or close). I swear I made this name up.

Heres my concept!
[url]http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=desert28pn.jpg][img]http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1048/desert28pn.th.jpg[/url]

~Rowan

They took much of Nedic custom, religion, and language for themselves in the process...

If i understand this right wouldn't the architecture of the redguard resemble in some ways what the Nedic architecture would of looked like, also if i am following it correctly they would of had statues of the sames gods with slight variations as well(sort of like the Roman gods where basically the same as the Greek gods).

Edit: I got this from http://til.gamingsource.net/pge/hammerfell.shtml

Here's my version of a temple crept up. Looters ready to take the leftovers in the background.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a153/Gladiat0r/Scan10013.jpg

Thanks for the posts Rowan and Silverwood.

I love arched doorways and the step-style architecture, Rowan. And the buried statue in the foreground, is that a beast hand?

You've touched on an area which hasn't been discussed Silverwood, thanks for bringing it up. Would looters be an issue in Hammerfell, like they were in Morrowind? Also, since there are Dwemer ruins in this province, does the same ban on these items exist?

I think that looters would be there without question, perhaps even moreso than in Morrowind. The wilderness of Hammerfell is full of nomadic tribes and large bandit groups, something that Morrowind lacks. Ruins like these would most likely have been used over and again by roaming bands of Redguards, and you know that these types wouldn't leave anything of value behind.

actually, i'd presume that looters would be more than frequently encountered in the desert ruins. whether there's still stuff to be found is of some wonder, but the fact remains that ruins allow for solid, simple shelter from sun and sandstorms. i wouldn't be surprised if smugglers or nomads of any kind made 'pilgrimages' between ruins, breaking the journey between shelters; i also wouldn't be surprised to stop in for some loot and accidentally step on a gang of sleeping smugglers.

--xrb23

Resadyn wrote:Weird, just noticed that that has my name(Or close). I swear I made this name up.

Whoa! I just realized that your name isn't Resdayn.

Also, there are two know Dwemer clans in Hammerfell. The Rourken inhabited Stros M'kai and the Kragen inhabitted Fang Lair. I imagine that anything Dwemer in the Alik'r would be Rourken and in the southern part. I imagine anything Nedic would be in the northern and eastern parts, because they mostly hung out in Skyrim and High Rock.

Its been almost seven days since this topic was posted. Thanks to everyone who submitted their work or posted comments. I hope you'll all participate in the next topic, which will be posted tomorow. I've taken a few minutes to summerize our first Weekly Sketch Group. The various topics we discussed have been listed in the first post of this thread. I've also thumbnailed everyone's work in a single post.

Thanks again.

Wait, friday isn't over yet, so I believe a few stuff can still be posted.
Here is the final outcome of a cooperation for which I feel very lucky as well as honored.
Two sketches made by me and colored by Macar, whom I thank for ignoring my opinion about the colors.
Thumbs up Macar!

[url]http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsgsubjectno116vl.jpg][img]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6499/wsgsubjectno116vl.th.jpg[/url]
[url]http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsgsubjectno122vr.jpg][img]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2541/wsgsubjectno122vr.th.jpg[/url]
Edit: If I was to add a little background, I'd say it's a huge structure that was sunk into the desert sands after a grand earthquake. Though this is only a part of a big complex of buildings, it is the only one of such scale that can be seen "emerging" from the dunes at the present day.

Oh, so beautiful, you two! Such a magnificent sight! I must remember to use my rendering tools and focus blurring next time!

Brilliant work

Atmosphere through the roof... and I'm always happy to see people work together. Is there any chance you might be able to upload a larger version of these concepts?


My hat is off to you guys.

I don't think so Morden, at least not for the time being. You see, I was late with mailing the sketch and then had to rescan it to achieve a higher res (which I realized hours after I left the net cafe), but we were running out of time.
I don't know if Macar would have the patience to color the same thing again, but even if he did he's drowning with his studies, at least for the week to come.

But you can pm him I guess

Its no big deal. The small ones will be fine.

Wow...Do you make these in photoshop?If yes how do you make them?I use Painshop...so if anyone made a concept like this in paintshop...

True, Friday isn't over yet, and I've been away until yesterday. Can you give me a day to submit one? I love these topics.

For you Morgoth? Anything. Though yours will be the last concept accepted under this topic. I'm just writing up the next one right now.

Right, so I finally accessed my scanner and was able to upload the art. I was going to photoshop-color it, but seeing as I'm already two days late, I'll leave it he way it is. Hopefully I can color it later. Hope it was worth the wait.

[url=http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=1/009075350.jpg&s=x11][img]http://x11.putfile.com/1/009075350-thumb.jpg[/img][/url]

Definately worth the wait. Excellent pencil work. It looks like the earth just opened up and swallowed the building. Thanks Morgoth.


And with that post, WSG#1 has officially come to and end. Thanks everyone.