Vilous | Shigu Nature Science Lab [+HD Version Art and Pre-reading the Raw Concept]

Hello, fans! Today I am happy to finally be able to share a good sizeable lore chunk regarding Shigu's Nature Science Lab as well as the artwork of T-dogs in the lab, which was done as a collaborative effort between myself, Mick and Coju~! Coju provided his concept sketch of the situation and people surrounding the puppies, Mick took up the task to provide the line art and I’ve finished it by coloring!

The Royal Shigu Biome Lab / Shigu Nature Science Lab

The Shigu Nature Science Lab is the royal research facility which was founded in order to oppose Northern Talyxian biomes and use them for Eltus benefits without performing risky pilgrimage rituals such as obtaining the seal stamp and The Art of Naming.

The members belonging to this organization are mostly centered around Sergals which have a keen feeling of understanding and sensing Talyxian Biomes behavior, threats as well as possess the potential to become a shaman, yet did not finish the journey of pilgrimage or are not yet matured.

There are also many agudners, which have been tasked with processing Talyxian textiles, dyes and building materials. By accumulating detailed research results, they have succeeded in creating an objective and reproductive counterplan to combat the Forests without relying on magic.

Uniforms of Researchers

Their uniform is based on the traditional shaman garbs, agudners also wear the same the same garbs.

They are a bit different from the norm in which you would imagine immediately after hearing the words “Researcher’s clothes”.

Instead of white clothes, they are characterized by being dyed with indigo and red ink, or somewhat in that range. The Shigu flag shares similarities to this, as this type of coloring is considered the base design of the Northern ethnic costume and wear.

The shamans costume (which is the base of the Researcher’s uniform) are all handmade individually, with materials which can be procured on the spot. The quality and the subtle shapes, patterns, etc can vary quite differently, depending on each artisan crafting such as a sergal or agudner.

During these early stages and period, the researcher’s uniform was not very established concretely, even though they did not have a strict design in mind, they did have a decent appearance thanks to the skillful hands of agudners.

The design would be simple and functional. The dye used in the clothing synchronizes with Talyxian Biomes and it helps control their neural excitement. Because of the peculiar smell, some may prefer or dislike it. The fabrics made from the catsweeper and those of red colors would require a high degree of skill in order to be processed, because they necessitate a proper “trial by fire” method and handling of salt.

During the later stages of this period, the design of the Shigu flag will be incorporated.

About the Dogs of the Lab

The age in this art is thought to be around RC30, during the period in which Rain had started to experience mental issues. The puppies featured in it are also younglings stemming from the Worker type dog.

Dogs were brought from Reono, and within Shigu in this period, they were rare creatures because of their inherent weakness to miasma, as such, people were treating them very carefully and compassionately.

Mainly, the small sized working type dog were usually raised indoors, or in the gardens within buildings, serving to detect the toxicity of new materials and to detect hazards such as parasitoid creatures which would attempt to infest houses or invade via the underground Talyxian Biomes and their networks.

Later, many dogs would be raised as partners for outdoor scavengers and foragers, however they would not be often taken out for walks.

Details of the study

There are big differences between the studies taken before the war and after the reconstruction of the Shigu afterwards.

The period of Rain's rule (before the war)

The research was mainly being carried out in order to find a substitute for the shamans, especially in the matters such as countermeasures against Talyxian creatures and a solution towards the food problem.

They had also carried out prolonged studies on Talyxian Wolves and their general behaviors and role within the Talyxian Biome.

In the Shigu lands, during these stages, it was necessary to find an easily reproducible solution which anyone could execute, in any place; Because if there were no shamans or braves, there would be little to nothing which people could do but scour around and wait for death.

In particular, the study of miasma is of utmost importance, which has not been conducted in other regions, even after so much time had passed.

The large-scale thermal power station, smithy, textile factory and farms were built and centered on the lab which would become the base of it all later on. This is where the people began to produce armor and foods.

The dormitories and houses for the people involved were also built, and all knowledge such as biology and mineralogy were accumulated in order to be stored, preserved and recorded, eventually becoming a major base in the central part of Shigu.

When Rain reached 35 years of age(RC35), she had already lost interests in the study of Talyxian creatures, and instead of them, she had became more active and readily involved in pursuing battle against people. Due to this, the lab had officially shrunk it's activities, but it was still continuing its researches secretly by civilians and researchers, mostly lead by agudners mainly and had continued the advancement of technology, experience and knowledge base.

This is also one of the reasons as to why Shigu had been able to survive the war and famine aftermath, as these type of people would be secretly producing food and stockpiling them for emergency measures as well as continuing to fight against the Talyxian creatures threat. 

Note: Zyn had passed away when Rain was about 20 years old. His body is kept within a facility which later contributes greatly to the development of the whole civilization.

After the reconstruction of Shigu (postwar period)

As the successor with regards to the contents of the lab, it would have enhanced cooperation with livestock research, green plants research, physical defense facilities from the threat of Talyxian biomes, folklore research facilities, law offices and many others. Due to this, it became a very large-scale facility like the fortress.

Research and study about miasma, wolves and livestock had been shared with GR’s research facilities through networks and analysis of myths has had progress as well. The use of new technology introduced after the war such as study about Odei was also a result of the integration of these technologies.

There is a rumor (some would categorize it as suspicion, conjecture or mere speculation) that a human experiment was once conducted, but no one has had proof or knowledge of the source as of yet.

Consequences of war and the environment

Rain’s children, agudner artisans and their families residence and biological research facilities were miraculously almost undamaged even within the Shigu during the war.

Rain had become so obsessed by the battles she waged against sergals and became less active in the attention and countermeasures of Talyxian biome forests and creatures. As a result, her apathy towards the lab meant a great deal of stability and longevity of the institute in order for them to continue their research and operations independently, for the good of the Shigu.