WSG#7 [A][F] Dune Dweller's Dwelling of Choice.

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:45 pm

WSG#7 [A][F] Dune Dweller's Dwelling of Choice

Ok. We're back after one week's hiatus, and I hope you've had a chance to checkout the Open Art Topics thread. I also hope you've given your imaginations a rest, because you'll need them this week.

What can I say.. we return to the desert after getting our feet wet with a pirate base. I couldn't resist. Check out Lutemoth's excellent Dune Dweller concept art and I think you'll agree.

http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=15158&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=200

This week I'm hoping we can work off Lutemoth's concept and design some sort of living space for these mysterious people. I'm not really concerned with whether you submit a Functional or Atmospheric sketch, as I think we should be concentrating on generating ideas for this topic. However, all functional sketches will be greatly appreciated.

Some Things to Consider:

1. This is not the 'Desert town from a far' thread.

2. Do these dune dwellers live on the dunes themselves? Or in the rocks?

3. Do they live in small bands, wandering from place to place? Or do they live in large nomadic communities?

4. What do they build their homes from, considering their mobility, and limited construction materials?

5. Does their religion affect how they design their homes?

------------------------------------------------------------
Results for WSG#7

Lutemoth:
[url=http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.jpg][img]http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Macar:
[url=http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stent2hj.jpg][img]http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/3013/stent2hj.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tentinterior9mx.jpg][img]http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/9403/tentinterior9mx.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Morden:
[url=http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wsg7modwelling22ux.jpg][img]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2018/wsg7modwelling22ux.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Silverwood:
http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/download.php?id=9457

Beo:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f329/tmhodge/outsidehut.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f329/tmhodge/structure.jpg

Lud · Post by **Lud** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:01 pm

Woo-hoo! a WSG on the dunedwellers. Some things to note:
Satakal the all-consuming serpent is the main dunedweller god. He continually eats the universe so that it can be created anew. Sep (Lorkhan) is also heavily worshipped.(also a snake)

The dunedwellers are considered a throwback to old Yokuda. This means that they will probably have lesser technologies, etc.

I have written two books on the dunedwellers, and you might like to read them to get afew ideas:
[url]http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=15612[/url]
[url]http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=15590[/url]

rowa · Post by **rowa** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 4:49 pm

This sounds interesting, I'll get to work

Lutemoth · Post by **Lutemoth** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 1:24 am

The tents and such above are quite removable, and make such a task much more bearable when entering a storm.
[url=http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.jpg][img]http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.th.jpg[/img][/url]
I'm not sure how accepted this'll be, but I was inspired by Old Ye Bard's suggestion of tame Ka'gwola, and have been meaning of doing so.

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 1:30 am

It may be of interest to the artists that the dunedwellers are also called the Alik'r nomads, they worship the old Yoku pantheon, and are very interested in snakes.

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:18 am

Some things to note:
Satakal the all-consuming serpent is the main dunedweller god. He continually eats the universe so that it can be created anew.

Thanks for the heads up. So serpent imagery is a must. I guess it could take the form of shrines, engravings, tatoos, totems, ect.

xx_chromosome · Post by **xx_chromosome** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:58 am

having watched the mini-series of Dune (thx to morden XD) and played the KOTOR game (the sand people)... i am always tempted to revert back to those ideas~

>sigh< i really need to come up with my own concepts.

this is going to be a tough one!

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:06 am

Lutemoth wrote:The tents and such above are quite removable, and make such a task much more bearable when entering a storm.
PIC WAS HERE
I'm not sure how accepted this'll be, but I was inspired by Old Ye Bard's suggestion of tame Ka'gwola, and have been meaning of doing so.

OMFG. Me likes fucking much.

Giuseppe · Post by **Giuseppe** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:07 am

I was browsing this forum the other day and this topic caught my eye. Well I have been following this project for some time now, but only a few days ago I gathered enough courage to actualy create an account on this forum (and actually post an idea).
So we're talking about dunedwlleres. what do we know about them (besides their religion):
- they live in the desert => materials are really scarce here, so their dwellings must be made of as little material as possible
- they're nomads => the dwellings must de transportable => they're made from light materials.
My idea is a tent-like structure whose overall shape roughly resembles a dune (this would give more meaning to the term 'dunedweller', if they live in dune like structures). This is how I see it's construction design: it's made of a light-weight wooden scaffolding; the scaffolding is covered with a fine cloth (the colour of this cloth might also resemble the colour of sand). This cloth is anchored to the ground using wooden (or some other material) stakes.
And here is little picture of what I had in mind (be warned! it's merely a concept, so it doesn't have much detail; not to mention that my skills as a drawer are somewhat limited): [url]http://photobucket.com/albums/e305/Giuseppe01/?action=view&current=duned.jpg[/url]
If anyone likes the idea, just feel free to use it; make a better drawing, add more detail/colour to it.
As for the dunedweller camps: I imagined they live in small bands of 10-15 people, so I guess when they settle down they wouldn't have more than 5-6 of these tents. The tents would be arranged in a circular pattern around a central item (maybe a snake-shaped totem; maybe a large campfire, since in the desert it gets cold at night).
What would they have in these tents? I figured that, since they're nomads, they don't carry heavy furniture; so they only have some carpets on the ground, a couple of bedrolls to sleep in, a few light baskets for storage and a few other miscellaneous objects (pots, lamps, religious items/symbols etc.). Oh, and one more thing: in the interior of such a tent the wooden scaffolding should be very visible.
PS.

Lutemoth wrote:The tents and such above are quite removable, and make such a task much more bearable when entering a storm.
[url]http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.jpg[/url]
[img]http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.th.jpg[/img]
I'm not sure how accepted this'll be, but I was inspired by Old Ye Bard's suggestion of tame Ka'gwola, and have been meaning of doing so.

I did this so I could actually use the link

. I saw a similar beast on Discovery or National Geographic (can't remember which of them). It was some sort of extraterrestrial being that could bury itself in the ground. Interesting idea! Thumbs up!

Adanorcil · Post by **Adanorcil** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:37 am

Lutemoth wrote:The tents and such above are quite removable, and make such a task much more bearable when entering a storm.
[url=http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.jpg][img]http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1700/kagwolanomads4zj.th.jpg[/img][/url]
I'm not sure how accepted this'll be, but I was inspired by Old Ye Bard's suggestion of tame Ka'gwola, and have been meaning of doing so.

I'm so very, very fond of those gigantic walking clamps. :)I'm going to see if I can put some of my ideas on paper too.

Giuseppe · Post by **Giuseppe** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 1:18 pm

This something that might be found in a dunedweller settlement: [url]http://photobucket.com/albums/e305/Giuseppe01/?action=view&current=post.jpg[/url]

Lutemoth · Post by **Lutemoth** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:52 pm

Giuseppe wrote:I saw a similar beast on Discovery or National Geographic (can't remember which of them). It was some sort of extraterrestrial being that could bury itself in the ground.

Although I haven't seen the show itself, I did find an alien show with a three-legged giant in it:
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2005_Alien_Planet/2005_alien_planet_012.jpg
Do they look too much the same? Should I change the Ka'gwola concept, to avoid similarity?

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:10 pm

I might be alone, but I find the idea that the Alik'r nomads live on top of giant three legged things rather unlikely.

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:53 pm

Any argumentation ? Or plain "unlikely" ?

Adanorcil · Post by **Adanorcil** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:12 pm

Sload wrote:I might be alone, but I find the idea that the Alik'r nomads live on top of giant three legged things rather unlikely.

Just a question, but am I the only one that sees four legs?

Lud · Post by **Lud** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:18 pm

Sload wrote:I might be alone, but I find the idea that the Alik'r nomads live on top of giant three legged things rather unlikely.

I'd like to note that as the dunedwellers are very similar to the original Yokudan settlers and as Yokuda is a whole 'nother continent from Tamriel, the presence and use of outlandish creatures makes a whole pile of sense to me.

Great concept by the way, Lute. I wonder if it would be possible to have moving doormarkers on top of this thing?

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:18 pm

Stalker wrote:Any argumentation ? Or plain "unlikely" ?

It doesn't feel like Hammerfell at all. In fact, it feels exactly like Morrowind.

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:23 pm

Adanorcil wrote:
Sload wrote:I might be alone, but I find the idea that the Alik'r nomads live on top of giant three legged things rather unlikely.
Just a question, but am I the only one that sees four legs?

Nope, I also see 4.

It doesn't feel like Hammerfell at all. In fact, it feels exactly like Morrowind.

In Morrowind people were not living on giant walking creatures. Basically the only giant and walking thing was Silt Strider but its presence in Morrowind doesn't mean giant walking things should be absent from every other province because it feels like Morrowind.

By the way these giant walking beasties can be used as means of transportation of camp parts and trade goods rather than actual moving tents.

Post by **Haplo** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:27 pm

I see 4 as well.

Lutemoth · Post by **Lutemoth** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:04 pm

Sload wrote: It doesn't feel like Hammerfell at all. In fact, it feels exactly like Morrowind.

Not to defend my conceptual piece (like I did miserably with that horn-head), but we don't necessarily need to be limited with imagination since morrowind is tops for weirdosity. If we do make the province too mundane compared to the others, we can always make it more alien

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:55 pm

I'm affraid I am against the Ku'whatsit. Firstly, I see the dune dwellers as underdogs, but with the power of such creatures, I think they would be a threat to civilized society. My other reason is that if such creatures existed, I think someone would have mentioned it.

I know these arent the strongest arguements. In the end it will come down to a matter of opinion. I'm not saying we couldnt pull it off. I'm just saying that if it were up tp me I would be against it.

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:14 pm

I think Nomadic summed up my feelings. I see the nomads as having like dewbacks to carry their goods and some "dromedaries."

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:15 pm

What about just making it less alien, and more akin to an elephant type beast. Then it would be less like morrowind.'s stilt strider maybe... and not as far up on the weirdo scale. If it was a little less strange I think it would fit perfectly in the desert.

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:22 pm

To me it's more the power isue than the wierdness isue. Most countries that have harnessed the power of elephants dont continue to live in the most barren part of the world, living as nomads. If they could tame such beasts, I find it hard to believe that they wouldnt A) be used to take over more fertile lands and B) be used as work animals- carrying materials, turning huge milstones, ect.

I think I would find the idea easier to swalllow if some of these details were sorted out.

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:43 pm

Maybe a dewback thing could have a tent like that on top. But then again, they said we won't be able to make mounts so I'm not sure how this would work.

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:37 am

Maybe we can keep the discussion a little more focused on dwellings. If you think they should be destitute wanderers, trapped by the limits of their own environment, then describe what they're homes would look like.

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:43 am

Appologies for the de-rail.

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:00 am

The dune dwellers set up camp in a spiral with the cheiftan at it's head. The chief's tent is intended to look like a snake's head. This is intended to look like a serpent from a distance. My tent interior came out looking kind of like a cave

[url=http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stent2hj.jpg][img]http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/3013/stent2hj.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tentinterior9mx.jpg][img]http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/9403/tentinterior9mx.th.jpg[/img][/url]

The Old Ye Bard · Post by **The Old Ye Bard** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:01 am

Macar: the elephant was made into a beast of war because they where easy to tame and control also there was the fact that it had giant tusks and could get to a resembly high speed.
also the only time they would be used would be in full scale attacks where here would be many and could charge they enemy lines.
also think about the speed of this thing it has things growing on it, and also think about its size the energy that would take it to move at a fast enough speed to charge would be astonishing.
however this would make a great beast of burdon or accomadation.

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:09 am

good point bard, I can see how it's non use as a war beast might be explained. However, I think those plants are not realy plants. I'm pretty shure that those are sensory organs or something.

The Old Ye Bard · Post by **The Old Ye Bard** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:15 am

i know that the things on its head are eyes but i'm pretty sure that plants and stuff grow on its back, well i think thats what lutemoth said...

Lutemoth · Post by **Lutemoth** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:40 am

those big bulbous tendrils are it's sight receptors (technically not eyes), but often these things grow plant-life on their back. The hard top is much the same material as toenail or cow-horn, and can supply nutrients for flora. More often though, soil and rock get trapped in the rippled crevasses, another root-hold for trees and desert weeds.
Trees, of course, would be a sign how slow these things could be. The real trait why this guy wouldn't take strides past 40km/h (24 mph)would be his leg size. A t-rex had massive legs, and still had trouble running faster than an emu. These things can walk fast, but can't run. That would topple them over, and when you take time to lay down, you can't afford that.

The reason this thing hasn't made it's way to extinction from keeping itself balanced already lies in it's camel-like water/fat pouch. Unlike a camel, it is an oily mixture held by natural emulsifiers in the Ka'gwola's system. It is not stored on it's back, but rather a large pouch on it's underbelly. This heavy weight (hundreds of pounds compared to the 50-80lbs on a camel) provides an unnaturally keen low center of gravity, and can store for months on end (up to a year has been recorded)

This, if these animals were adopted by the nomads, provides a kill the horse to survive option, as the belly can be sliced open for nourishment.

I'm quite fine if the Ka'gwola is left alone by the dunedwellers. It can still be one of those mammals that elephant-charge when disturbed, which I'm pretty sure would be good enough reason to let these things be.

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:23 am

Wow. The Ka'gwola thing is more out there than I realized. I think it's clear that such a creature would not be the only creature in its environment to use site replicater things, and that seems too bizarre for Hammerfell.. definitely.

But this is offtopic. I think that large mule-ish lizards are the kind of things the Alik'r nomads would have domesticated, as well as snakes that they hold with reverence.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:35 am

Something resembling a monitor lizard, with spikes for holding onto/decoration, like lutemoths camel saddle? Something like this:

[img]http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/399/4210047md.jpg[/img]

Eh?

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:04 am

That sounds great, but maybe extra-wide.

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:35 am

Not to be a stick in the mud, but the topic is about thier dwellings, and we seem to be getting sidetracked.

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:37 am

What about just making it less alien, and more akin to an elephant type beast. Then it would be less like morrowind.'s stilt strider maybe... and not as far up on the weirdo scale. If it was a little less strange I think it would fit perfectly in the desert.

LoTR movie no.3
This guys is not a bug but MW had bugs. I don't see a single reason why such creatures won't exist elsewhere because they existed in MW.

I'm affraid I am against the Ku'whatsit. Firstly, I see the dune dwellers as underdogs, but with the power of such creatures, I think they would be a threat to civilized society. My other reason is that if such creatures existed, I think someone would have mentioned it.

I know these arent the strongest arguements. In the end it will come down to a matter of opinion. I'm not saying we couldnt pull it off. I'm just saying that if it were up tp me I would be against it.

I'll explain my views on nomads. They don't strive for power. They move in Satakal cycles. But I'll go in detail later today.

the Bard · Post by **the Bard** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:10 pm

Something about Lutemoth's beast first. I think that it would be problematic to feed it imagine the energy it uses, for this it needs to eat tons of food when it eats. It might be able to hold out a long time with a small amount of food but when it eats it needs to eat more than you could possibly find in the desert. Desert creatures are usually small so that they can survive from the little bits of food they find. This beast is just too big.

Now about the dwelling. Macar, I really like your concept, I was thinking of something like that with snake shapes myself. But I think an issue with any desert dwelling would be how it survives in a nightly sandstorm. I think they'll need a way to keep the sand off of their roof, a big storm might cause a too heavy load of sand so the tents will collapse. I don't really know a solution for this myself but perhaps someone else can think of something.

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:55 pm

What creature as big as Silt Strider was feeding on ? I guess this one will be feeding on some sort of giant cacti which can be found in the desert. Or minerals. Alik'r is not pure sand desert I think.

Lutemoth · Post by **Lutemoth** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:02 pm

Just like one would have to provide buckets of water for a camel, this animal needs quite an amount to fill'er up. Likewise, there would be a different breed of flora known to the Alik'r (compared to the ones we associate with Saharan and American badlands/deserts). The thick, plating snout on the Ka'gwola is more often used for shifting sand and gravel away from plantlife, revealing their roots and scarce underbrush. Many of the shrubs, cacti and bushes learn to barometer their water supply from the harsh days and frozen nights, developing roots meters down. Of course, large grinding teeth and a thick, lizardly tongue aren't picky, and consume the cacti whole. This upturned soil (often at night, since the water in plants is most elevated) creates new sapling ground for cacti, which can prove more beneficiary upon an oasis.