11:11 ST
Reply
[ACTIVITY] The Creative Collective [2022]

New to the Creative Collective? Be sure to read through the rules!

December’s Prompts
Scribe Circle

Most Wonderful Time of the Year
This month, describe a tradition your character has or is involved with. What is it? How do they feel about it? What’s important about it? While your chosen tradition doesn’t have to be holiday related, you may choose to do so if you wish!

Canvas Circle

Deck The Halls
Similarly, depict a tradition your character has or is involved with. What do they do? Show us how these traditions play out in a scene or perhaps your character interacting with an important item related to it!

Adventure Circle

Gift Horse
Not all gifts are wholly pleasant - perhaps that nicely wrapped box you received has a not-so-nice surprise! This month, focus on an item or interaction that has unexpected consequences or is otherwise suspicious! Is there a stat check to avoid the trouble? What happens if you pick the wrong option?


Submission Template

Using this template is not required, but is provided to offer you an easy, empty bbcode template to grab each month. Feel free to edit this to your heart’s content!

[img]https://www.mycenacave.com/images/uploads/2087/16410537835226839798.png[/img]
[b]Feedback?:[/b] Yes or No
[spoiler=submission]put your submission in here! or don't use the spoiler if you don't want to![/spoiler]

[img]https://www.mycenacave.com/images/uploads/2087/16410537392040287256.png[/img]
[b]Feedback?:[/b] Yes or No
[spoiler=submission]put your submission in here! or don't use the spoiler if you don't want to![/spoiler]

[img]https://www.mycenacave.com/images/uploads/2087/16410537671744058480.png[/img]
[ul][li]Link 1
[li]Link 2
[li]Link 3[/ul]

[img]https://www.mycenacave.com/images/uploads/2087/16410537058575192235.png[/img]
[b]Feedback?:[/b] Yes or No (only for published adventures)
[spoiler=submission]put your submission in here! or don't use the spoiler if you don't want to![/spoiler]

[h4]Feedback:[/h4]
(list your feedback for last month's entries here)

Individual Headers






Have an idea for a prompt?

We encourage players to submit ideas for prompts to be used in future months! If you have an idea for a prompt, please submit it to us by echoing Crow or Dove using the form below:

[b]Circle:[/b] (scribe, canvas, or adventure)
[b]Prompt Title:[/b] (title for your prompt)
[b]Prompt Text:[/b] (a paragraph or two outlining the prompt itself)

If your prompt is selected for use, you will receive a Golden Ticket as a thank you, as well as credit for the prompt’s creation. Please note that we may not feature every prompt we receive. Still, we’re grateful for your contributions!

Posted 01/01/22, edited Jan 1


The Creative Collective is the overarching term for our monthly prompt-based creative initiative! It is made up of four different circles: the scribe circle, the canvas circle, the roleplay circle, and the adventure circle. Players are encouraged to participate in these activities in order to get those creative juices flowing and, equally importantly, earn prizes!

The Creative Collective runs on a monthly rotation. Each month, we will open submissions for the current set of prompts. The submission period will remain open from the first through the last day of the month. During the next month’s rotation, feedback may be provided on the previous month’s submissions.

Timeline Example:
  • January: “Blue Dog” submissions
  • February: “Red Cat” submissions; “Blue Dog” feedback
  • March: “Yellow Dragon” submissions; “Red Cat” feedback

Rules & Guidelines
Creative Submission Guidelines
  • In order to have your submission counted, you must ensure that it is complete and meets all of the guideline specifications of the circle for which it was created:
    • Scribe Circle: Must be a piece of writing which took approximately 30 minutes of effort.
    • Canvas Circle: Must be a piece of artwork refined at least to the point of being a cleaned sketch.
    • Roleplay Circle: A minimum of 3 RP posts containing at least one substantial paragraph of writing.
    • Adventure Circle: Must have spent approximately 30 minutes working on your adventure while achieving some notable progress. Must present a changelog and link to the adventure, if published.
  • Submissions must be entirely new work created for the chosen prompt.
  • Submissions, or links to them, must be labeled and posted in this thread, with the content posted on Mycena Cave itself (in this thread, musings, or pet profile). You should be using the same submission post for all of your Creative Circle entries for the month.
  • All submissions must have an on-site representation of the focus character. Please be sure to clearly indicate which character it is you’re using to respond to the prompt. Your characters do not have to fit into the Mycena Cave canon.
  • Submissions must adhere to Mycena Cave’s content guidelines.
  • All submissions must be posted (or linked to) in this thread by 23:59 ST on the last day of each month.
  • Refrain from editing your submission and your submission post once the deadline has passed. Once the monthly final compilation has been posted, you are welcome to continue working on your submissions as desired.
  • Each player may only provide one submission for each of the month’s prompts.
Feedback Guidelines
  • If you do wish to receive feedback on your work, you must clearly state as such when you post it.
  • In order to encourage quality feedback, we expect players to provide at least three sentences worth of commentary on the pieces they are providing feedback for.
  • You will earn one ticket in the feedback raffle for each submission you provide feedback for.
  • When commenting on another player’s submission, remember to be constructive and courteous. Do not offer intense or harsh criticism unless the author has clearly stated that they are open to such.

Rewards
Creative Circle Submissions

Participation in each of the circles will earn you Stickers, which then earn you rewards at certain checkpoints. This is a work-in-progress feature at the moment, and will be compiled manually by staff until implementation. More details on the Sticker feature in general will be made available upon the feature’s release, but for the purpose of the Creative Collective, they are as follows:

  • Participation in the Scribe, Canvas, Roleplay, and/or Adventure circle will earn you a blue sticker for each submission.
  • Three blue stickers earn you one Bag of Wonders.
Feedback Raffle

Rewards for providing feedback on others’ submissions are as follows:

  • Each feedback comment that meets our guidelines earns you one ticket in the feedback raffle.
  • At the end of each feedback round, we will raffle off one set of OotS items from that month, as well as one Forever coat.
    • Essentially, each feedback raffle will have two separate winners.
Participation Prize

Meeting the following participation requirements will earn you 1 Golden Ticket each:

  • Canvas Circle submission
  • Scribe Circle submission
  • At least one Roleplay Circle submission
  • Adventure Circle submission
  • At least one Feedback post

This puts the total number of Golden Tickets you may earn per round at 5. Golden Tickets are an item which you can sell from your inventory for 3600 nuggets - this way, you may purchase gems or keep the nuggets if you prefer!

Posted 01/01/22
Posted 01/01/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: No thanks, not this time.

Although I liked this piece for Alice, it didn’t really fit with what I wanted it to be as a glance into how she acts with others. It was too Alice-by-herself and not enough Alice-in-public. Thus, while this is a re-write, with the old version vanishing into the abyss, it shifts from one event to another.

Alice clicked her nails rhythmically against the glass, only stopping to occasionally swirl the yellow liquid within. When she took a sip, her nose crinkled. “Oh Maisie, my love, this is truly disgusting,” she said softly. “Bless your heart, but I can’t drink this.”
Maisie was, of course, not present. Alice’s best friend was likely stooped over in a field somewhere, gathering more dandelions to make up for the batch she had wasted creating the wine. Or perhaps dandelions were out of season at this point. Alice could never keep track. She waved a paw absently to the side of her head, as if dispelling distressing thoughts of foraging from her mind.
She made her way into the kitchen, but hesitated at the sink, reluctant to pour the effort down the drain. After waffling for a few minutes, she sighed and went back to her office. She set the glass down, pausing briefly to admire the way the sunlight shone through it, then she pulled the bundle of documents she had been reviewing back towards her.
She wasn’t sure what was worse: the stupidity of this legal case or the taste of the dandelion wine. At least she could clean up the former mess, while all she could do about the latter was apologize for suggesting it.

Alice leaned against the fence. She lifted a paw to block the sun from her eyes, and she waited for the stranger to notice her. When he turned around from the pile of boxes on his front step, she gave him a radiant smile. “New to town?” she asked.
He smiled back at her. “You’re the fourth person to point it out,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. He seemed to have done his research and thus knew that moving into Sprinhave was no easy feat. The town would be overrun if it were, and Alice played no small role in ensuring that would not happen.
“I’d expect at least five more after me,” Alice chuckled. She looked him up and down, and her ears flicked back playfully. “Today, that is. There’ll be more once news spreads.”
He snorted and shook his head. “Any advice for fending folk off until I can unpack?” he asked.
Alice beckoned him over. She held out a small business card — one that didn’t bother mentioning her profession — and a smirk played over her lips. “I’d suggest getting inside fast. That way they’ll at least feel obligated to bring you a gift. If anyone gives you too much trouble, give me a call.”
He laughed as he took the card. “And you’ll come save me?” he teased, though there was a note of hopefulness in his voice too. Smart man.
She shrugged. “I might,” she mused, eyebrows raising slightly. “Depends on who’s here bothering you. I don’t interfere with Monica, and she’s bound to catch wind of you soon.” Before he could ask who Monica was — as if she’d give him any clues he could use to spot her before she reached his doorstep; that would ruin the fun — she added, “Best be on your way, really. Good luck with all the boxes.”
With a wink, she turned on her heel and started off down the road. He seemed pleasant enough, but she’d wait to hear the town’s general consensus in a few days before digging for dirt on him. She wondered what it was he did. They got a lot of farmers in Sprinhave, but he didn’t seem the type. Perhaps he was a craftsman. There were still some niches that could be filled in the town if that were the case. In fact, Alice could even help him niche himself right in. Yet, as she’d already decided, that would have to wait until he either impressed or disappointed the other residents. She didn’t think quite so highly of her opinions and interests that she went meddling for only her own sake.


Feedback?: No thank you.

Sunspot, same concept, different style. A nice reminder that I like doing water-color things sometimes; I still like the old one, even more than the new one.


Feedback?: No — it’s not published yet!

Spiritual Guidance
- usability and post text for Lost Luck item
- usability and post text for Stolen Candle item
- usability and post text for Exotic Flower item
- new variable if check implemented in every ‘flip card’ command
- new variable if check implemented in every ‘pull a card’ command
*still need to actually create ‘subset’ encounters, as currently using the Exotic Flower item will dead-end you

Feedback:

Ashlar‘s canvas circle: I’ve been enamored by the Zoddo family for a long time, and I always take great joy when I notice dodo shenanigans in the creative collective! My first thought when I saw these was that the crisp styling you used would make them read great as small avatars, so I had to go check the discord and — sure enough — they look excellent! The small differences in the eyes and mouth come across really well even when they’re downscaled, and they’re both so cute.

Firkasa‘s canvas circle: It’s so cool to see art in a physical medium posted here!! I love the stylistic rendition of this crow, and its little spaghetti legs especially melt my heart. Working with anything that’s mostly a solid color, but especially when that color is black, risks losing clarity, so I’m super impressed by all the definition you achieved. The threads that break up the areas like the beak, the little feather tufts on the head, the tail, etc. achieve such nice boundaries while still letting it be a solid black crow overall. It’s just so neat. :’)

Nonnavlis‘s canvas circle: Honeysuckle my beloved. <3 While I’m in love with the design of the character, I especially adore your rendition! The pose looks so sweet and innocent, which I suspect is a ruse after seeing a burglar’s pack on her profile… Sneaky criminal bun. I love how it looks like she could be holding something in her lap; it really evokes that feeling that while she’s looking darling now, she might pull out a crowbar in a second. I also find rabbits to have challenging physiology whenever I’ve tried to make one anthropomorphic, so I’m super impressed by how clearly she looks like a rabbit/bunny even when I only look from shoulders down.

Posted 01/09/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: Yes


2017
The drawing served as a gift for a random person from one group on social networks. Unfortunately, I will no longer be able to find an image of the original character to use as a reference. Just like I won’t be able to find the owner of this pony to give him new art.


2022
Well…I still have the same problems with wings and color :D

Posted 01/10/22


Feedback?: Sure!

Here is my entry, featuring Ilarya! It’s a rewrite of a bit from January of… 2018. jeez


Feedback?: Sure!

Redraw of this piece from 2020

  • Link 1
  • Link 2
  • Link 3


Feedback?: n/a

I did an entry for Nyf’s tarot card adventure!
Feedback:

(list your feedback for last month’s entries here)

Posted 01/11/22, edited 01/18/22


Feedback?: Yes please! There’s always more to learn~!

This submission is a redraw of a piece from 2018 of Charlie and Ripley
I changed some things about it, and overall I’m pleased with the result. :D

and here is the original from 2018!

Posted 01/13/22, edited 01/14/22


Feedback?: Yes

I decided to rewrite my February 2021 Creative Collective submission from Oriana’s perspective rather than Renee’s. I thought it would be a fun way to revisit their characters and see how the vignettes changed when Oriana was interpreting Renee’s actions rather than the other way around.

Both pieces are in the first link, but I’ll go ahead and put the new piece below:

Even as a third grader, Oriana loved summer. It was the time when school was out, the sun was out, and she and Renee could spend all their time together. Not that they were apart much during the school year — Oriana was always finding excuses to pop into Renee’s classroom during the day, throwing her cheerful “hey Renee!” chirps before another teacher herded her back to the third graders’ wing. But during the summer, there were no adults to fight off, no older students to poke fun at her and Renee for spending time together — just Oriana, her sister, and the warm outdoors.
Though their favorite summertime activities differed, Oriana and Renee would find ways to share the fun of whatever they did. Oriana liked to explore, and she’d push her sister to try new things — they could invent stories with whatever materials they found lying around, befriend the little critters that sat under rocks and on tree branches, and make up games as the day went by. At some point throughout their time outside, though, Renee would take a break to cloud-watch, and Oriana would lie down beside her. Cloud-watching time was when Renee told the best stories — there was something about the sky that made it the perfect canvas for her ideas. Even when Oriana would protest — sky-watching was fun, but it wasn’t as active as Oriana’s usual pastimes — she’d eventually get drawn into Renee’s stories.
Renee was on the ground, cloud-watching again, when Oriana checked her watch. Their mother had made her the one responsible for time-keeping; she had given Oriana a watch a few days ago, saying that “Renee lets her mind wander, so I’m going to give you a big-girl responsibility.” Renee had always been the one with all the big-girl responsibilities, so Oriana jumped at the chance to be trusted for something. She had been checking the clock every few minutes, watching the minute hand tick closer to noon.
“Renee, get up! We have to leave.” Oriana leaned against a tree with her arms crossed, glaring down at her sister. Renee didn’t always listen to her, so she had started moving up the clock to make up for the time she had to negotiate with her.
Which was a good decision, in retrospect; Renee just ignored her, remaining on the grass. “Come over here! Mom said we could be here until lunch.”
“But it’s almost lunchtime!”
“Almost. Not yet.”
“We’re going to be la-”
“This cloud looks like a turtle.”
“A turtle?” Turtles were her favorite. Technically, they did have a few more minutes.
“Yeah! Like a big sea turtle swimming next to a wolf.”
“Okay…” Oriana sat down next to Renee. “We can go later, I guess. Where’s the turtle?”

———

“Renee, you need to get up.”
Renee was in bed again, and Oriana couldn’t figure out how to get her up. She had tried all sorts of things over the last few months, but it felt like the moment things started to work, they’d be right back at the beginning with Oriana scrambling for a new solution. She couldn’t help but think when they had first moved in together — Oriana had been so excited to be near her older sister again. Now, she felt like she was spending most of her life thinking about Renee, and she couldn’t help but wonder what the past year would have been like if she’d just moved back in with her previous roommate.
“Come over here,” Oriana said, walking into Renee’s room. She tried to keep her voice level, but even she could hear a hint of annoyance creeping in. “Mom’s visiting town, and we said that we’d meet up with her for dinner.”
No response. She didn’t want to be upset, but she felt like a broken record. All this repetition had to be bothering Renee, too, and the knowledge that she was upsetting her sister made her feel even more exasperated.
“You know she wants to see you. And maybe you could talk to her about everything, too. If you would just talk to her…”
Still nothing. Oriana looked at her watch again, out of habit more than anything. She took a deep breath.
“Look, we’re going to be late if we don’t leave soon.”
“I’m not up to going tonight. Not yet.”
Big surprise, Oriana thought before she could stop herself, then immediately felt ashamed of it. “You don’t have to come,” Oriana told her. She hated this, hated feeling angry at Renee and hating herself for it, but she didn’t know how to stop. All she could do, she told herself, was offer her help. “I can bring you back some-”
“Don’t let her come here,” Renee interrupted her with more resolve than Oriana had heard behind her voice in weeks. “She’s not going to see me like this. Even if she wants to. I’ll talk to her when I want to, and not before.”
“Okay…” Oriana said, trying not to fight her on this. She knew their mom just wanted to help, too, but she couldn’t seem to get through to Renee. She’d try to talk to their mom about it, do her best to explain the situation fairly, but she still felt like it would be best if Renee would just agree to see her. “You can talk to her later, I guess.”

———

Oriana stared at the chat log on her phone. Renee Watson, because she left everyone’s contacts as their full names; her mother had done the same, and Oriana had always felt like it looked more professional that way. If someone were to pick up her phone and get through the passcode, they’d see everything about her, so she needed to keep it orderly, in case anything were to ever happen. You had to be prepared for anything, she knew, and even phone hackers should have a good first impression of her.
Renee. It had been a few months since she’d moved out and left her sister in that apartment. She knew it wasn’t her fault, exactly, but she still felt a little guilty about it. Their mom had reassured her, that she had to do what was best for her, that things with Renee would eventually work themselves out. Oriana had grad school to think about — she needed to focus on her studies, and then other things would come after. And it did make sense, that she had to help herself before she could help others. A part of her still felt like she was abandoning Renee, though.
She had seemed so defeated when Oriana finally left. They hadn’t talked since, and Oriana kept picking up her phone to message her, but she didn’t know what to say. They had stopped speaking much at all in those last few days except to complain at each other, and Oriana wanted to fix it, but she couldn’t go back. Not right now.
Oriana opened social media instead, deciding to stop her wandering mind by posting a photo with her classmate and crafting a witty caption. She tagged them and made herself think about that trip to the cafe, focusing on a more carefree memory. Better to think about the present, the people who made her happy now, and worry about things with her sister later. Eventually, they would work themselves out.


Feedback?: Yes

I’m still getting the hang of digital art and including color in my drawings, so I thought I’d redo my limited palette drawing from February! I still don’t love it, but I do like the new drawing much better than the previous one.

February 2021:

January 2022:


Feedback?: N/A

A Coffee Amidst Chaos

Changelog:
- added nodes for the left and right intersections
- created a temporary list of future to-dos and priorities under the adventure description page
- change the defeat command title and text
- reroute “walk towards the left/right intersection” commands to their respective nodes
- move “encounter a hero” and “someone needs help” to left intersection node
- move “encounter a villain” and “a falling street light” to right intersection node
- slightly edit start command text
- add a node for the street with the coffee shop

Feedback:

Firkasa‘s canvas circle: First of all, I love the medium you chose; just looking at this piece makes me feel warm and cozy, and now you’re making me want to learn more about fiber arts! You have an impressive grasp on shape usage; like Nyfeaena said, it can be challenging to mainly use a single color for a piece, so I’m really impressed at how you arranged the different shapes to create a clear, aesthetically impressive composition. There are so many things I love about this piece: the placement of the eye, the long little legs, the coffee that reads so clearly as a cup of coffee despite being a little box. I’d love to see more work in this medium in the future!

teaunicorn‘s canvas circle: Oooh, this is such a cute gijinka! The pose you’ve drawn them in looks so sweet and dainty (particularly the way you’ve crossed the legs, it gives me a very glamorous impression), and the minimalist shading feels like a good choice for the overall look! I like the small details, like the slight color change in the cheeks and the fingertips, and the comparative complexity of the eyes keeps drawing my attention; the contrast between the detail in the eyes and the rest of the piece creates a great focus, and I keep noticing different little aspects the more I look at them. Nice work!

Nonnavlis‘s canvas circle: I already loved both Honeysuckle and your art style, and my goodness, do the two look gorgeous together! The pastel tint of the colors you used adds to the soft, innocent appearance of the piece, making the viewer feel like she’s easy to trust — just as Honeysuckle would want, I expect! Even the softly textured edges of the shape in the background add to the look, and work better than I think a fully rounded circle might have. From the pose you chose to the gentle expression, I can clearly get a sense of Api’s deceptively cute character in your rendition!

Posted 01/13/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: Yes please! :)

whoops! there’s nothing here yet! :0
Posted 01/13/22


Feedback?: Yes

put your submission in here! or don’t use the spoiler if you don’t want to!


Feedback?: Sure but please be easy. Warning for LARGE images. XD


The original from around 2009. It’s really rough, it pains me to look at it, honestly. This is Illcira, she was a part of a huge creative project that I sort of drifted away from but I’ve always liked her character. So I figured I’d dust her off and get her an update.

The Update! Changed quite a few things, unfortunately I don’t have time to fully render and do everything I wanted. So just imagine that as hardwood floors and tent like walls and what have you. Pardon the messy coloring in the background, legit just laid it down and went with it. XD Maybe I’ll go back and finish one day.

  • Link 1
  • Link 2
  • Link 3


Feedback?: Yes or No (only for published adventures)

put your submission in here! or don’t use the spoiler if you don’t want to!
Feedback:

(list your feedback for last month’s entries here)

Posted 01/14/22

Scribe Circle:
Wherein Pete regrets the consequences of a decision he no longer remembers…

(revisiting a previous scribe entry)

Feedback?: sure~


Canvas Circle:

Revisited this CC entry of Pete from last April. Tried to keep the same feel with the short beak and chonky dodo, but made it cleaner using lines. Not sure I like it, but it’s better than the original. XD;

Feedback?: sure~


RP Circle:
1. The Lighthouse 1
2. The Lighthouse 2
3. The Lighthouse 3


Adventure Circle:

Adventure Circle: Jan2022 - Squishing Bugs

Revisiting some old adventure code to see if I can manage to figure out how to make global commands finally work.

- created the adventure, made it non-canon, and set the number of players
- set some adventure tags
- set player HP
- gave the adventure a one-line description
- added some embark page text
- went through the reference guide to see if I could figure out what went wrong the first time
- failed to figure out what went wrong the first time
- renamed the beginning node
- copied over some text from an old adventure for the embark page
- created command 3
- brought over the text and info for the previous command 3 from my old adventure
- tried to set the start command to execute command 3 but it’s not showing up in the dropdown
- had to use the legacy editor to manually set command 3, but now it says invalid selection
-


Feedback Circle:

Firkasa
That is super cute! The legs and the feets look especially nice. And the feathers sticking out on the head make it look extra adorable. The visible stitching in places makes it look very charming as well.

Nobo
I really like the way you did the hair. The lines are very clean and swoosh, making it seem soft. That ear is also really detailed, and the clothing looks fantastic.

Nonnavlis
The way this is drawn is so adorable. The color of the lines and the way it’s shaded really give the impression of the sort of art one might find in a fairytale or storybook. The little details with the ropes on the backpack and the patches on the clothing are great as well.

 

Posted 01/15/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: Yes

Old ver

The towering shadow wraith screamed.

Victim’s love-laced arrow had pierced its shadowy hide, and a spiderweb of cracks with peachy pink glow raced along its foggy form. One of its huge legs fell off and shattered like glass, dissolving into smoke. It stumbled, then with a final roar the rest of its body followed suit.

When the wealth was all gone, a tiny mouse was left floating in a glowing pink bubble. It looked around in confusion as the bubble popped against the road and released it back into the world without so much as a scratch. With only a pause to clean its whiskers, the mouse darted away from the scene of the confrontation.

“Hmph.” Tyrant sniffed, watching the mouse escape. “Not perfect just yet. I’ll have to tweak the spell a bit more for next time.”

Victim notched an arrow and aimed at Tyrant. “Off with you, or there won’t be a next time~” Their voice was, as it always was, a dreamy sigh, despite the dark threat their words contained.”

Tyrant glowered at Victim one last time before opening a dark, swirling portal with a swipe of his claws, stepping through just as Valentine sprinted past Victim and slashed her sword through the magical doorway and shattered it as well.

Valentine took a moment to catch her breath, she a thing her sword so she could use both hands to sign: ‘Runaway, we grab, next meeting’. Roughly translated to spoken word, Victim knew Valentine was saying “He got away, but we’ll get him next time.”

“I do hope so.” Victim sighed, putting a hand on Valentine’s shoulder. “These fights are getting harder to…”

Valentine looked at Victim in confusion when they trailed off, then with a yelp grabbed Victim to steady them as they swooned to the side and nearly fainted to the floor. Valentine wanted to sign to ask if Victim was alright, but her hands were full and they looked nearly unconscious already.

Victim’s expression was usually a dreamy, unfocused smile with a thousand yard stare, but their smile had dropped and their eyes were wide open, glancing around with shaking pupils.

Valentine wasn’t the magic expert, all she could do was wait until color began to return to Victim’s face, their smile had returned, eyes still jittery but at least getting calmer.

“...I’m alright.” They said finally. “That wraith…I think Tyrant used a spell to make me drain more love magic than I normally would. That’s going to be a problem if he finds a host with real hatred in their heart.”

Valentine rarely expressed fear, but seeing the effect just one little mouse had on Victim, it terrified her to think of what would happen if she hadn’t been here in time.

Her thoughts were cut short by Victim putting their head on her shoulder. “Your love is…so warm….and….stable…” They sighed and hugged Valentine tight. “Your aura…feels like home…!”

Valentine blushed, but then cleared her throat and tried to look like she wasn’t embarrassed by the public display of affection. Victim needed hugs, it was for medical reasons, so hugs they would receive! Valentine slung an arm under Victim’s legs and hoisted them up into a bridal carry.

“O-oh—!” Now it was Victim’s turn to be embarrassed. “That’s too kind if you, Valentine…!” They placed a hand on their cheek and made a show of looking away in a maidenlike fluster.

Valentine just rolled her eyes at the corny display and started back home, letting Victim relax into her arms as they recovered. They basked in their shared love, it gave them all the strength they needed to go face whatever tomorrow would bring.

And if they exchanged a few pecks on the cheek when the other wasn’t paying attention, it was just their imagination, nothing to be embarrassed about.


Feedback?: Yes


Feedback?: Yes

https://www.mycenacave.com/adventures/manage/19539/umbrella-weather
Feedback:

Nonnavlis cute bunny alert!!!! I love her outfit and expression, in your style she looks like the protagonist of a children’s picture book, about to go off on an adventure. Especially with that backpack, which I just noticed she’s wearing as I was writing. The details are subtle and they make the whole illustration feel a little more…I don’t know if the word im looking for is ‘tangible’ but I haven’t got a better one. Big thumbs up from me!

Firkasa I don’t know a lot about felt or yarn based art, all I can say with certainty is that this is very cute, very round, soft borb. The white stitches on black are a bit distracting in places, but overall add to the cute factor. I hope felt crow enjoys that nice felt coffee and has a relaxing winter day.

Nobo Really good, solid bust! The line work is incredible, especially on the neck…ruff…tie thing, looks like it would either belong on a uniform or be a fancy but acceptable modification to one. The ear is another thing, I have a lot of trouble with ears and there’s a noticeable density in detail there, it really looks like it has all the grooves that would be in a pointy ear shell.

Posted 01/15/22, edited 01/28/22
Canvas Circle

New:

Original:

Scribe Circle:

With his back stooped Grex shifted his grip with a grunt and trudged through the sandy expanse before him. The cool breeze of the night shifting the sands before him, and smoke and the spec of light of a fire still blazing from the crashed sabotaged ship at his back

Calloused hands, blunt words, sharp eyes, sharp teeth, and a scowl. Grex had never considered himself kind. Never once had he thought to use the word to describe himself. He had never been nice, a good kid, no one had ever called him a helpful young man, or looked at him naturally kindly. There was no good will in the world that had surrounded his youth.

He wasn’t good. He told himself throughout his life. And if he wasn’t good he wouldn’t have to expect anything good from life. His hopes would never be up. Always tempered and fair unlike anything else in life.

“I’m not kind. ”

A low chuckle sounds in his ear, “I wouldn’t…say that. Nev’r thought you’d be the sort ta save me?” Luka had finally woken up, and first thing the hero was doing was teasing him. Grex lets out a huff as he gentle shifts the hero’s position on his back once more.

He rolls his eyes and grunts out in response, “Doesn’t mean anything.” He didn’t have enough energy to play any games with Luka or to make any witting comebacks, and he doubted Luka did either after pulling him out of the wreckage.

“Yeah?” Luka’s voice croaked and cracked in his ear, and the scowl on Grex’s lips deepened. The sound of the heroes broken voice in his ear made his stomach twist, and his brow furrow at the thought of how fragile this man, this supposedly invincible hero, really was, “Then…why’re ya doin’ it?” He weakly asked.

In his course forward Grex faltered in his step slightly, but kept going on. Grex had fought Luka time and time again. Some fights he won and some fights he lost, and sometimes they didn’t even do that. Sometimes thing were good and calm, and sometimes Luka actually laughed and smiled at him. He was one of the few people who did. But never had he seen Luka look like how he did now. He had never seen this annoying, invincible human look so…mortal and pitiful before.
“You just…”  He faltered as the images of Luka’s still body beneath the wreckage flashed through his mind. It scared him, plain, and simple. That face that last smiled at him and treated him kindly, actually kindly, “Looked so pathetic. Can’t let you be offed by someone other than me.”

His head was pressed against the expanse of Grex’s back, his limbs limp and covered in dirt and ash at his sides and swinging with each uneven step the Talmarian took back toward the nearest civilization.

“I owe you.” Luka mutters out his voice tired, and his eyelids flickering open and closed as sleep wished to take his body once again.

“No. No, you don’t.” Grex gritted out as a new twist in the pit of his stomach tore through him. Panic filled him as the lines began to blur.

But it didn’t matter anymore in this moment as Luka’s eyes drifted closed, his energy spent for the time being, and his entire body calling out for rest. Peaceful, even breaths were heard in Grex’s ear as he walked further through the desert with the hero carried upon his back.

 

With his back stooped Grex shifted his grip with a grunt and trudged through the sandy expanse before him. The cool breeze of the night shifting the sands before him, and smoke and the speck of light, the fire still blazing from the crashed sabotaged ship at his back.

Calloused hands, blunt words, sharp eyes, sharp teeth, and a scowl. Grex had never considered himself kind. Never once had he thought to use the word to describe himself. He had never been nice, a good kid, no one had ever called him a helpful young man, or looked at him kindly. There was no good will in the world that had surrounded his youth.

He wasn’t good. He told himself throughout his life and believed it. Because if he wasn’t good he wouldn’t have to expect anything good from life. His hopes would never be up. He would never be disappointed by what happened to him or what didn’t happen to him. Everything would always tempered and fair unlike anything else in life.

“I’m not kind.”

A low chuckle sounds in his ear, “I wouldn’t…say that. Nev’r thought you’d be the sort ta save me?” Luka slurred. He had finally woken up, and first thing the hero was doing was teasing him. Grex lets out a huff as he gently shifts the hero’s position on his back once more. A sigh of relief escaped him in those moments. Not that he wanted the hero to know.

He rolls his eyes and grunts out in response, “Doesn’t mean anything.” He didn’t have enough energy to play any games with Luka or to make any witty comebacks. He doubted Luka did either after he had pulled his unconscious self out of the wreckage, but the human kept surprising him just like the day they met.

“Yeah?” Luka’s voice croaked and cracked in his ear, and the scowl on Grex’s lips deepened. The sound of the heroes broken voice in his ear made his stomach twist, and his brows furrow together at the thought of how fragile this man, this supposedly invincible hero, really was, “Then…why’re ya doin’ it?” He weakly asked with words slurred from exhaustion.

In his course forward Grex faltered in his steps slightly, but kept going on. Grex had fought Luka time and time again in the past. Some fights he had won and some fights he lost, and sometimes they didn’t even do that. Sometimes thing were good and calm, and sometimes Luka actually laughed and smiled at him as they just passed the time at some random bar and drank. Two anonymous people out in the big dark galaxy. He was one of the few people who did in his company. But never had he seen Luka look like how he did now. He had never seen this annoying, invincible human look so…mortal and pitiful before.

“You just…”  He faltered as the images of Luka’s still body beneath the wreckage flashed through his mind. It scared him, plain, and simple. That face that last smiled at him and treated him kindly, actually kindly, “You looked so pathetic.” He wanted to shrug, but didn’t as he knew jostling the hero anymore would hurt him, “I couldn’t let you be offed by someone other than me.”

His head was pressed against the expanse of Grex’s back, his limbs limp and covered in dirt and ash at his sides and swinging with each uneven step the Talmarian took back toward the nearest civilization.

“I owe you.” Luka mutters out his voice tired, and his eyelids flickering open and closed as sleep wished to take his body once again.

“No. No, you don’t.” Grex gritted out as a new twist in the pit of his stomach tore through him. Panic filled him as the lines began to blur. He was a villain and Luka was a hero. He was bad and Luka was good. Everything had been black and white up to this point. Everything had been clear. He had known where he stood this morning…before he had heard that Luka’s ship had been tampered with.

Even in the hot desert his next breath felt cold and frigid as it pricked and stabbed at his lungs, his chest, his heart.

“You’re wrong.” Grex utters out.

But it didn’t matter anymore as Luka’s eyes had drifted closed, his energy spent for the time being, and his entire body calling out for rest. Peaceful, even breaths were heard in Grex’s ear as he walked further through the desert with the hero carried upon his back.

Everything was different and confusing now.

His mismatched eyes glance toward the distant horizon.

It was all muddled like the sun bleeding into the sky.

Feedback
Oxton I love the shading and coloring on your piece! It makes the hair and fur look so soft! I also love the bit of hatching you have in there. It adds to the texture and I love that.

Nonnavlis I love Honeysuckle’s pose here! She looks super adorable and the color palate is so nice and warm. It really adds to the overall adorable quality to the piece.

teaunicorn I love how you made the skirt sparkle, especially with the use of the blue and purple sparkles! It really makes it pop! Your line work is super clean and I love some good solid and clean linework. Especially in those braids! I always have a hard time getting braids just right and making them line up properly, so that’s really nice to see!

Firkasa That is such an adorable (forgive me since I’m not sure what the right term is) knitwork/patchwork(?) of Crow in scrubs! I love that you used white thread on all the separate pieces which gives it that handcrafted patchwork and loved quality to it. It’s just so cute I can’t over it! And the thin little thread (?) legs make it so charming! It’s just so charming and sweet all around!

Laggingbehindreality I love the expression you drew on Dominic. It’s very strong and mischievous and I enjoy it a lot. It’s one of the points my eye is naturally drawn to. I also love how you did the rainbow stripes on them. The use of pastels as well as a more saturated pallet is really makes the piece pop overall.

Posted 01/17/22, edited 01/31/22

 


 


 


 


& feedback:

optimistic about actually finishing at least one this month!

Posted 01/21/22


1. On Helicopter Wings
2. Delivery to the Heart
3.

 



Feedback? N/A

Nothing here yet…

 



Feedback? N/A

Scribe Circle text


Adventure: Soup, Stones, Snakes - Mapping the Cave
Feedback? No.

Log

 


Feedback

Nothing here yet…

Posted 01/22/22


Feedback?: Sure!
Revisited the first image I drew of Akasha with his updated design and showcasing a different stage of his powers!
(slightly creepy imagery)

Posted 01/23/22


Feedback?: No thanks

Posted 01/23/22


Feedback?: sure

its over here! it is also featuring soprano because i like to do stuff like this themed around one character. the old version is listed in the post as well! (although the old version is just a paragraph LOL)


Feedback?: ok but be gentle please


Soprano is a very old character, maybe around 2007 was her first iteration. Original works I’ve made of her are back at my parents’ house but this is me revisiting them and giving her that drasillis spin…. also I forgot I gave her tusks and horns so. maybe next time this prompt comes up I’ll improve this again LOL


Feedback?: no thank you

i helped nyf out with her adventure by contributing art! it’s here but also in the second spoiler below:
Feedback:

Nonnavlis your depiction of api’s honeysuckle i just wanted to say is the cutest thing in the world. the dress, the pose, the expression with the lil blushy and the shy look to the side…. SO CUTE. i love how you draw, the textures and colors are so soft they look cuddly. to summarize: i love her, she looks great, i wanna go on adventures with her.

Posted 01/25/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: No

Revisiting a cartoon-ish design of Wolvera in a new medium!

Posted 01/25/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: Sure, if you want to!

I only chose this piece because I’d already drawn it 6 years apart, and 6 years had passed again, so it seemed apt! haha. But I haven’t improved much if at all here really—just switched styles! I’ve actually become a bit weaker with oeakaki style, if anything LOL. I wouldn’t part with my layers for anything these days.

Posted 01/25/22


Feedback?: Sure!
My old art tried too hard to be semi realistic and it made for a weird cartoony realish in between that I never liked. This last year I’ve really embraced the cartoony style and have been inspired by children’s books and media. Focusing on honing a whimsical and sometimes haunting storybook style with muted minimal color palettes and flat shading. It may look like I’ve gone backwards in technique but I much prefer the new version! The older version was done in 2019 or 2020, I don’t quite remember.

Feedback:

NonnavlisOF COURSE I HAVE TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON HONEYSUCKLE. She is absolutely so adorable! You got the colors perfect and the vibe and everything!!!! I absolutely love this rendition of her, I have nothing bad to say about her, she is SO perfect!! Thank you!

FirkasaI love little Crow! I love making felt ornaments and creatures and this really reminds me of those! It’s so cute! I love the big stitches and the skinny little legs! I want to watch the feets swing back and forth wobble wobble!

Posted 01/29/22, edited 01/29/22


Feedback?: Sure

found a super old drawing of an oc I did 5-6 years ago. I remember being super proud of it, lmao. Time flies! (And I also found out that imgur is amazing for storing this image for 5 years)

Here’s the new rework of my oc!

Feedback:

(list your feedback for last month’s entries here)
Laggingbehindreality
Dominic’s pose looks so dynamic and full of energy, you really nailed it with their proportions and muscles!
They have so much personality, too - the nefarious grin on their face and the sparkle in their eye says it all. The placement of the markings on their body feels very balanced and really leads my eyes to admire every detail, and the way you rendered the outlines of their hair, wings and fur makes them look so soft and fluffy. I think you did an amazing job capturing Dominic’s personality and appearance in this drawing!

Posted 01/30/22, edited 01/30/22
The Canvas Circle

Feedback: ok!

I redrew my first ever fursona I designed back in 2007! I wanted to stay largely true to her original design but I made a few small changes! I’ve been wanting to revive some of my old designs out of a lil nostalgia so this was a perfect chance to do that :D.

The piece of art in particular that I redrew was from 2011. I’m really proud of my new version which demonstrates a lot of the changes I’ve been making to my style in the last two years or so. <3

 

Feedback

Firkasa
Your piece for Crow is super cute! I’m personally quite fond of needle felting so it’s fun to see textile entries in the canvas circle (and you’re giving me ideas to enter some myself haha!)

I love the use of the string to make a cartoony exaggerated shape for the legs, and I also like how good the readability of the design is due to your use of the different colours/stitches to help break the black up a lil bit. <3

Posted 01/30/22, edited 01/31/22


Feedback?: Yes
For the new year, I decided Lena deserved a new “doll” reference image. I wasn’t redoing the outfit ftr, I just wanted to compare them clothed for posterity and also because nudity. The old version is around two years old I believe. For the record Lena does still have her horn, but with the old doll I found that it was frustrating to work with it all the time, and it doesn’t look very nice in a mirrored doll. Plus it limited hair styles in a very annoying way.
Also the new one isn’t actually done but it’s taken me literally all month to get this far and I’m ready for a little break.


Posted 01/30/22, edited 01/31/22


Hostile Intentions
This story fills in the gap between The Demon and Happiest Day.

Feedback welcome~


I redid the theming on one of my previous entries for KaralienÄ— to bring it to her current form, which is much less spooky.

Feedback?: No thank you!


Adventure: Gift or Gallop: Boney Brigade
I created a simple adventure based around the current event where you try to sneak up to a sleeping Bone Monster to see who can get closest without waking it up.

  • Everything!

Changelog

Feedback

Oxton
Oh your style is so adorably soft looking. I particularly like the gradients you used in the shading, as well as how intricately you did the piano markings across the face and ears. The eye-sparkle is also fantastic, those eyes are hypnotically pretty. (Also thanks for feedback. <3)
Link!
Nonnavlis
Cute bunny is cute. That looks vaguely like it could fit in a scout wilderness handbook or a children’s storybook with the rough linings and soft colors. That expression is adorable, such an innocent little smile that you’d never know she’s ready to stab someone. :D
Link!

Posted 01/30/22, edited 01/31/22

feedback YESSS DRAG MEEE :clap:
whoa are the logos new or am i insane? they look new :00

Andy & Ari were dropped off at an orphanage at 4. They waited eight long years, but no one ever adopted them, so on their 12th birthday they were sent to their Royal Academy. With a newfound purpose, and the chance to compete, they quickly dedicated themselves to the Academy, constantly vying to outdo eachother, comparing total missions and monsters killed and grades and whatever else they could. Andy preferred the arts, and saw expression and communication to be the most important, whereas Ari focused on science, believing that understanding the world around them was the most important thing.
Sick and tired of their constant bickering, and devising a way to put their competitive nature to use, their Academy quickly requested the teacher slot in the new Academy opening in Yun and informed Ari and Andy that they would be filling those spots. They were, of course, over the moon about it, and eager to spread knowledge to the new children of Yun.

tbf this is 1/3 of the bio for one of the kids LMAO tw death
A human woman, after a drunken affair, is horrified to find she’s given birth to not one, but two hybrids. Her well-to-do parents would be angry with one child - two hybrids is just begging to get thrown out.
So she throws them out first. Since they’re just hybrids, no one stops her.
One of the nurses, a Hybrid herself, quietly rescues the two infants, keeping them in the hospital under care until they can be delivered to the nearest orphanage.

Neither Andy nor his sister Ari know anything about this - as far as they know, they were born into the orphanage they’d grown up in. It’s not a great place. But they don’t know anything better. Sometimes people would come in, prospective parents, but they almost never actually adopted anyone - and if they did, it was almost always humans. They quickly learned to hide when someone came in searching for Hybrids specifically - it was uncommon, but always bad news. Still - it was hard for Andy not to dream, always poking his head around the corner, wide-eyed, hoping the nice woman who had come in would see him and his sister, fall in love, take them somewhere warm and safe and they could live a normal life, like in the movies he’d watch on the barely functional VHS they had in the main room.
Ari was more concerned about staying alive, working hard to be the best at chores and stealing extra food when she could - kids were regularly purged as more came in than left, and those thrown into the streets usually didn’t last long. A body in the back alleyway of a kid that used to sleep beside them. Andy tried to cover her eyes, but Ari refused.
They did their best to give them a proper burial.


her hair changed bc its a new season. shes a palomino :)


OGH i gotta RP?! in my FREE TIME?! unconsciousable.
ayo shoutout to this adventure i keep wringing the life outta

  • https://www.mycenacave.com/forums/permalink/453159
  • https://www.mycenacave.com/forums/permalink/453161
  • https://www.mycenacave.com/forums/permalink/453163

 

Feedback:

i love you, reader. romantically. we are getting married in the fall. get ready.

Posted 01/31/22, edited 01/31/22
Scribe circle:

Not much is known about Rood Galatine’s life before he arrived in Eorzea. He hails from the Dotharl tribe of the Azim Steppe and was pushed around by bigger and stronger Auri growing up. Rood was not a very skilled member of the tribe and couldn’t really provide for them, so he left with an axe in the hopes of finding something he was good at. He wound up in Gridania, learning the ways of archery and the bard before being thrust into secret societies, secret powers, and plots to assassinate royalty. At first, the prospect of being a hero was enticing to Rood, so he chased it. Now, however, he warns wide-eyed, would-be Warriors of Light from the path. He has accepted his lot: his mental well-being sacrificed for the good of Eorzea. No one else should shoulder this kind of burden. His tribe better appreciate all the work he’s done to save their sorry asses.

Over the course of his journeys, he’d seen so much horror and committed many atrocities himself, and the songs in his heart that would spur men to fight or weep died along with the hope of a simple, carefree life. Many of his beloved allies have fallen in his name, but he must continue to fight. He took up the gun in the hopes of regaining his prowess on the battlefield, that he might one day be able to rest, pick up his harp, and sing again. Now he stumbles along, aimless, going where the Scions tell him to go and fighting what people tell him to fight. He considers himself not as a person but as little more than a weapon at this point.

Rood Galatine is an Au Ra of mystery. Ashamed of his experience in the Azim Steppe, Rood has made it a point to either avoid questions about his past or outright lie in response. In truth, he was considered the runt of his native tribe. Since he was born into the Dotharl tribe, one that thrives on unfettered violence and aggression, this very nearly caused his death many times. To make matters worse, he was never very good with the axe his past lives had favored, and he was often ridiculed by his peers for his incompetence and size. He’d always preferred the quiet reverence of the Qestir, and visited Reunion at every chance he got.

Slowly, he began to save up money for passage to Kugane and, eventually, Eorzea. He picked up archery as a means of survival; a couple of years later, he picked up barding as a means of earning gil. He often accompanied mercenaries on their jobs to provide moral support, but the horrors he witnessed as a result curdled his heart. He couldn’t make himself sing, knowing how much death existed in Eorzea as well. Many of his beloved allies have fallen in his name, but he must continue to fight and earn gil. He took up the gun in the hopes of keeping his prowess on the battlefield, that he might one day be able to rest, pick up his harp, and sing again. But that would be a long time coming, since Rood considers himself little more than a walking weapon, going wherever the Scions tell him to go and fighting what they point him at.

RP circle:
1.) You’ve Got Mail, Kupo!

ClearBright Your scribe circle entry was nice! I loved the detail of the marigolds in Jun-ho’s hand. I would, however, recommend a little more subtlety regarding the poverty Jun-ho lives in. Having Jun-ho think “well I CAN’T look at the clouds because I’m poor” feels a bit too on-the-nose. That said, I loved the details you added that colored Jun-ho’s relationship with his mother. This piece is well-written, and it makes me more curious about Jun-ho as a character. Well done!
Posted 01/31/22, edited 01/31/22
Oops, tried to post too early.
Posted 02/01/22, edited 02/01/22

This month, the Creative Collective had a total of 23 participants, who earned:

  • 20 Canvas Circle stickers
  • 10 Scribe Circle stickers
  • 7 Roleplay Circle stickers
  • 7 Adventure Circle stickers

All prizes and stickers have been distributed!

The Feedback Raffle

We had 11 individuals leave feedback this month, with a total of 25 comments! Here are the winners of the feedback raffle:

  • Nobo - Fluffy Parka & Knit Pixie Wig
  • Nyfeaena - a Forever coat! Please ping Crow to let us know your preference of coat color & pose

February’s Prompts
Scribe Circle

Geness Genesis
This month, we are asking you to describe or explore the origins of a character’s relationship (romantic or platonic). Alternatively, have your character learn the origins of a relationship involving people they know!

Canvas Circle

Meet (Cute?)
In a similar vein to our Scribe Circle prompt, we would like to see you depict a first meeting between characters!

Adventure Circle

Hail, Adventurer!
This month, we’d like you to expand upon your adventure’s content by introducing or reintroducing an NPC! You are also welcome to edit or expand upon a previously created introduction.

 


Feedback

Submissions from last month are now open for feedback, starting with this post and running through this one! Please be mindful of players who have requested not to receive feedback on their pieces.

Posted 02/01/22, edited 02/01/22
Crow I’d love an active Forever coat, please! Any coat is fine.
Posted 02/01/22
Reply