Project Tamriel

Silk, and especially Ancestor Silk, is very important in the Nibenay. Here we see an example of an Ancestor shawl from a woman in Culadiil.


Some more Niben clothing, seen on posters for the Imperial Tsaesci Theater. A festive dress and a mourner's cloak, respectively.


Not all Niben clothing is as excessive and impractical. This woman is a tattoo painter, wearing traditional clothing for the Niben's respectable artisan caste.


Not all can afford proper silk: most commoners wear outfits made from coarse farmer's silk. here we see some peasant girls, working on a 'Ren plantation.


This deepwood tribal was kind enough to show off his Blind Reptile totem mask.


Comparison between a poor and a rich Nibenese interior.


Overview of a Hierophant stronghold along the Niben river.


Nibenese iconography of the Divines and their servants, in this case: Julianos, Arkay, and the spirits of the Chorus, servants of Kynareth.


More religious iconography, for the Daedra this time. Featuring Namira, Sanguine, Dagon and Vaernima.


Remnants of a Marukhati monastery. The ascetic Marukhati experimented with alternative systems of construction which defied traditional Nibenese culture, especially during the first Dragon Break. Modern Imperials consider these building blasphemous, and shun them.

NSFW for old lady bewbs, but I definitely think this should be a major point of inspiration for the Shrine of Vaermina: [hsimg=]https://41.media.tumblr.com/ee19cbb09af ... 1_1280.jpg[/hsimg]

I don't think that naked breasts constitute NSFW, it's pretty natural thing and common in art. Or is it because she is old?
Apart from that, the picture is really cool and fitting. How do you see it being in a shrine though?

Somehow, I get very strong Indian vibe regarding the Nibenese, though I am not sure about it. What do you think? Am I close?

[hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/LBMRKwK.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/HaWvr8E.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/3pJbcEZ.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/xDYO2oV.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/1IC2hbZ.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/5zJjqZw.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/cqGS5SF.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/ZjBxMcy.jpg[/hsimg][hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/S1uhmnS.jpg[/hsimg]

Very close. Indian seems to be the way in which their religious practices lean. There's the silk thing, too.

Infragris wrote:Remnants of a Marukhati monastery. The ascetic Marukhati experimented with alternative systems of construction which defied traditional Nibenese culture, especially during the first Dragon Break. Modern Imperials consider these building blasphemous, and shun them.

I love this, there definitely needs to be greater evidence of the Alessian Order than there was in other takes on Cyrodiil. Considering the Order's austerity and the cultural 'dark age' they brought about, I always imagined their means of construction to be extremely precise, almost completely lacking in flair or detail, and of a more angular design, as a not-so-conscious rebellion against the more round features of Ayleid architecture. Best examples I can think of as to what these somewhat bland buildings would have looked like would come from Nuremberg, though the asymmetrical design of your images would work well mixed together with the preciseness of these. Pictures are prior to the defamation or destruction of parts of these buildings, so apologies to anyone sensitive to Nazi iconography.

[hsimg=]https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5144/5655 ... 3231_b.jpg[/hsimg]

[hsimg=]http://www.reichsparteitagsgelaende.de/ ... buene,.jpg[/hsimg]

[hsimg=]http://www.reichsparteitagsgelaende.de/ ... kseite.jpg[/hsimg]

[hsimg=]http://www.reichsparteitagsgelaende.de/ ... nnwerk.jpg[/hsimg]

[hsimg=]http://www.reichsparteitagsgelaende.de/ ... renmal.jpg[/hsimg]

Interior:

[hsimg=]http://www.reichsparteitagsgelaende.de/bilder/saal.jpg[/hsimg]

This kind of sober neoclassicism hasn't really appeared anywhere else in Tamriel yet, as far as I know. It could be an interesting source of inspiration, as long as we avoid blatant marukhati=fascist comparisons. And avoid using swastikas.

It's kinda sad that we can't use swastikas, they are awesome in my opinion. And they were used by so many cultures on Earth: Slavs, Greeks, Romans, Indians, Chinese and many others. But, I've never seen them in Tamriel though, so I guess it's fine.

This kind of sober neoclassicism hasn't really appeared anywhere else in Tamriel yet, as far as I know. It could be an interesting source of inspiration, as long as we avoid blatant marukhati=fascist comparisons. And avoid using swastikas.

Yeah, we should definitely strive not to present them as entirely fascist, though connections can be made; and I'd hope we would avoid swastikas .

Vrolok wrote:It's kinda sad that we can't use swastikas, they are awesome in my opinion. And they were used by so many cultures on Earth: Slavs, Greeks, Romans, Indians, Chinese and many others. But, I've never seen them in Tamriel though, so I guess it's fine.

Thank the Nazis for that one; I too love the design, but like many other symbols and concepts, it's been marred by their unfortunate actions.

Spamming character references- most are more cartoony than what we're going for here but good ideas all around I think. First up, Dragon age: I looooooove that moth mask.

[hsimg=]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 0326171304[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 1125114107[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 0213132157[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 0826101339[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 0614003118[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 0615023500[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... 0925195525[/hsimg]

As well as FFXII, one of my favorite games in terms of character design:

[hsimg=]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0507171850[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0506024848[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0217235554[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0217224448[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0217223946[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0510014853[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0417221711[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... 0506192057[/hsimg]

Saint_Jiub wrote:Spamming character references- most are more cartoony than what we're going for here but good ideas all around I think. First up, Dragon age: I looooooove that moth mask.

A lot of these images are just thumbnails, very small. Can't see orcs, captain

That moth mask should definitely become a thing.

More moth references:
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dia ... 0504130856[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dia ... 0504131257[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dia ... 1221125158[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dia ... 0801104959[/hsimg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUXtbHJb8Ww" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (some interesting animation flourishes)

On the Marukhati monasteries: How about using them as a type of mini-dungeon in the vein of the round Velothi towers?

Saint_Jiub wrote:Spamming character references- most are more cartoony than what we're going for here but good ideas all around I think. First up, Dragon age: I looooooove that moth mask.

Fixed the image sizes: [hsimg=]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... oncept.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... bles_2.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... fort_3.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... d_Game.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... s_mage.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... rments.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dra ... cept05.png[/hsimg]

As well as FFXII, one of my favorite games in terms of character design:

[hsimg=]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... humes1.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... _noble.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... render.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... doflus.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... Gramis.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... _shard.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... rasler.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fin ... Judges.jpg[/hsimg]

worsas wrote:On the Marukhati monasteries: How about using them as a type of mini-dungeon in the vein of the round Velothi towers?

Sounds nice, but are Marukhati hostile? Or do you mean like the rogue Ttelvanni bases?

Sounds nice, but are Marukhati hostile? Or do you mean like the rogue Ttelvanni bases?

Like the latter. I assume that most of these Monasteries are abondoned and today inhabited by creatures or ruthless individuals. Would be an interesting misc dungeon type for the jungly areas, with a lot of vine overgrowth and stuff like that.

worsas wrote: Like the latter. I assume that most of these Monasteries are abondoned and today inhabited by creatures or ruthless individuals. Would be an interesting misc dungeon type for the jungly areas, with a lot of vine overgrowth and stuff like that.

Sounds cool.
Is there a Marukhati symbol or something we can use, or will it be the Red Diamond again?

The Marukhati are almost entirely gone, though a there are still some remnant groups and offshoot cults in existence. For the most part, these old monasteries would be home to wild animals, bandits and miscellaneous Niben death-cults. Though the stuff with the Marukhati Selectives and the Dragon Break could make for some unusual occurrences: maybe something like the Dwemer Spectres, apparitions trapped in the no-time of the Middle Dawn, Selectives whose self has been splintered and scattered across time, Jill Reflections still tying up loose ends of creation. The nature of the Maukhati monasteries also allows for a lot of "wrongness" in the same vein as the Daedric temples of morrowind: twisted architecture, unnatural visions, that kind of thing.

Infragris wrote:Though the stuff with the Marukhati Selectives and the Dragon Break could make for some unusual occurrences: maybe something like the Dwemer Spectres, apparitions trapped in the no-time of the Middle Dawn, Selectives whose self has been splintered and scattered across time, Jill Reflections still tying up loose ends of creation. The nature of the Maukhati monasteries also allows for a lot of "wrongness" in the same vein as the Daedric temples of morrowind: twisted architecture, unnatural visions, that kind of thing.

This is totally rad, having some remnants of the Middle Dawn would be amazing. Intangible Marukhati specters phazing in and out of reality, broken geometry, cyclic architecture, absolute silence... Oh man. Maybe references to Xal from Port Telvannis, or the Numidiumism.

Speaking of Marukhati, is their imagery already decided on? If not, may I propose this fractal variation of the Red Diamond?
[hsimg=]http://pic.fullrest.ru/1AOxXdgr.png[/hsimg]
Or alternatively:
[hsimg=]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... khati2.png[/hsimg]

The hourglass is a bit too Akatosh-related (the Marukhati really don't like Akatosh). I'm not sure if the red diamond would be a good sign for them: it's really more of an Emperor-related icon, and the Emperors were mostly figureheads during the Marukhati period.

In time, we should flesh out the Marukhati heritage of the Imperials, but at this moment I would not spend too much attention to them. The Reforms had almost no impact on Colovia, so it's wasted effort for the near future.

Infragris wrote:I'm not sure if the red diamond would be a good sign for them: it's really more of an Emperor-related icon, and the Emperors were mostly figureheads during the Marukhati period.

Well they were the part of Alessian Order and "Thus does Alessia become the first gem in the Cyrodilic Amulet of Kings. The gem is the Red Diamond in the middle of the Amulet."
But yeah, I'll be giving this some more thought until we finally approach Nibenay.

Hierophant:
[hsimg=]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxEe2rdzR-c/U ... ris_02.jpg[/hsimg]

Zenimax just released a trailer for the new Dark Brotherhood expansion which is set on the Gold Coast, which includes a shot of what will presumably be a shrine to Sithis- it's even more Kali than my Dagon was, but it's still a phenomenal reference for the style of our Nibenese Daedra shrines, I think:

[hsimg=]http://i.imgur.com/0ZCgPKu.jpg[/hsimg]

I can see the Scarab influence in their Sithis. Very cool.

I was messing with SkinData offset in Nifskope, when I flashed back to Project Offset:
[hsimg=]http://i.neoseeker.com/ca/project_offse ... _RQjMU.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://i11d.3djuegos.com/juegos/1137/pr ... 214281.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]https://i11a.3djuegos.com/juegos/1137/p ... 214285.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://www.pcgames.de/screenshots/origi ... rk__5_.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://trendz.pl/files/imagecache/400x3 ... 7kopia.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/ori ... unrise.jpg[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]http://i.neoseeker.com/ca/project_offse ... _4v7dT.jpg[/hsimg]

The first couple remind me of a Temple to Akatosh, but maybe you'll see something else. Three makes a great reference for Bruma, with the Nordic-Tibetan construction, and the High Bruma's red-bearded guards. I'll post a couple creature arts, as well.

Here's either Bruma and her river through the Jerals, or a Niben city, like Leyawiin:
[hsimg=]http://www.guru3d.com/miraserver/images ... pt_art.jpg[/hsimg]

View of the western Heartlands:
[hsimg=]https://67.media.tumblr.com/5cc4932e426 ... o3_540.png[/hsimg]

Inspirations for Nibenese rural architecture:
[hsimg=]http://67.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m534o ... 1_1280.jpg[/hsimg]

I quite like the style of this last one because it seems somewhat related to the classic Imperial buildings in Morrowind and Colovia, while still looking exotic and adapted to a tropical, marshy environment.

Some interesting (nsfw?) concepts for Alessia here:
[hsimg=]https://65.media.tumblr.com/1f64bca4717 ... 5_1280.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]https://65.media.tumblr.com/e97bd3cb831 ... 3_1280.png[/hsimg]
[hsimg=]https://65.media.tumblr.com/d3ede43ed9c ... 4_1280.png[/hsimg]

I especially like the clothes in the second pic, that could be a good look for common Nibenese clothing. Hairstyles are something to keep in mind too.

Ricefields of the eastern Heartlands:
[hsimg=]http://66.media.tumblr.com/dc858eed528d ... 1_1280.jpg[/hsimg]

Only difference is that the water and soil should be red.

Do videos count as concept art? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDKtMygiCVs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Traditional costume of the Hierophants:
http://i.imgur.com/HaZRTVw.jpg The base garment is the patrivestus, the father-gown. This is fashioned from moth-silk in the house tincture of the wearer's paternal line, bordered or or argent depending on whether the wearer is a direct descendant or not, with a matching silk sash at the waist. When at leisure or with one's family, it is socially permitted to wear the patrivestus without further ornamentation. A sleeveless tunic variant is worn by house servants, in the unbordered color of the master's house and belted in newt-leather.

The matricorium, the mother-coat, is worn at formal occasions. Fashioned from silk velvet in the house tincture of the wearer's maternal line, and slashed at the arms to reveal the paternal colors. The pattern and shape of the sleeves reflects the customs of the maternal clan. It is considered taboo to remove this garment in public; it is more acceptable in social situations, but only at the express permission of the host.

The saturniiboia, the moth-yoke, is worn at ceremonial and religious functions, as well as any event having to do with the Emperor and his kin. This piece is a celebration of the wearer's life and his or her deeds, and as such is designed to weigh heavy upon the back and shoulders as a reminder of humility. It is molded from snakeskin laminate in whichever colors the wearer finds pleasing, and wrapped in silk ribbons of red and gold adorned with Elder Script. The silk tassels on the front are added for significant milestones in the wearer's life; coming of age, first successful harvest, mastery of a school of magic, etc, with different lengths and colors representing different events. If the wearer is married, two silk ropes are added to the shoulders, one in the groom's colors, and one in the bride's, and tied in a Maran knot in the back.
http://i.imgur.com/UxBAVH0.jpg The old-blood nobility is fond of elaborate coiffure and headdresses, carrying a variety of symbolism associated with the individual's cult and political ties. (Originally this was a concept for Curia headgear, but I'm repurposing it).

Part 2 will address the Curia and the Nibenese merchant and artisan classes.

These look great! I wonder if there is a way to implement these into the clothing slot system. The only thing I would watch out for are the flared edges of the moth-yoke, which remind me a bit (but not too much) of Ordinator pauldrons. Otherwise, all great.