Contest for a character design! (July/2024)
Added 2024-07-15 13:35:25 +0000 UTCKobbo time!! This month's prize is a strange kobold from a strange place. She has a mechanical tail prosthesis, which she is able to control.
In order to participate, you must answer the prompt:
She lives in a city! What is the name of the city, and what is it like? (General vibe is enough, details can be added but aren't necessary)
Rules:
• Try to keep it within a couple sentences, or under 200 words.
• There is no correct answer! Just come up with something you think would fit.
• Only one entry per person
• Please don't use ChatGPT or similar
• My TOS contest prize section applies to this design
Submit your entry in the comments before the end of July! The winner becomes the new owner of the character design above.
I'll pick the winner based on how creative/fitting/funny or otherwise interesting I think the entry is!
Comments
Penglai is a hidden city far in the Western Mountains. Unlike many Kobold societies, the local kobold enjoy a far more mutual and beneficial relationship with the dragons around them. When the kobolds first approached the dragons with offerings and and service, the dragons responded with an obligation to protect their lives and livelihoods. The dragons would go on to teach the kobolds advanced techniques for enchanting and metal work. Using these the local artificers and blacksmiths learned to create works that could rival even the great dwarf holds. Penglai now connects several mountaintops with breathtaking bridge cities between then. Exquisite metal work enables these bridges to hold entire cities above and below them connecting the various districts across the mountains. Travel is done both by walking, cable car, and in some cases a zip line like device. The artificer seen here uses her prosthetic to quickly travel from on bridge to another. Of note like many, her design copies her families ancestral dragon patron and reflects their name on her dress as well. Penglai represents a marvel of innovation and harmony from these conditions.
Evil_kiwi
2024-07-31 19:32:22 +0000 UTCShe moved to the temple city of Lohi'käärmyli, which is known for it's high reverence to dragons. The city has lots of chasms and tunnels on the mountain walls that the mighty dragons were said to live centuries ago, now they are filled with monks of lesser races, studying their martial art, draconic style. The streets are filled with golden statues and shrines, historical monuments full with lore that attracts tourists and historians to figure out the past of the dragons.
Fluffy Fraud
2024-07-31 19:23:09 +0000 UTCI had originally written a lot more then realized I was like WAY over the word limit, here's the original version if anyone wants to read it ^-^ Nestled in the rolling hills of highlands far away from other lands lies the bright and vibrant city of Perihelion. At a glance the city looks like it stumbled and landed there by accident. A quaint yet bustling city humming with life and energy amidst a lush landscape of tall trees and flowering hills, crystal clear rivers and waterfalls. It lay on the border between two distinct areas, bookended to the far east and west by 2 opposing mountains. It was by the grace of these mountains that the city flourished where it stood. The western edge of the city is cradled by a sprawling coniferous forest, filled with ancient sequoia and cypress trees that sway and groan slowly as if trying to convey how they feel this morning. Standing tall far on the other side of the forest from the city is a towering blue mountain, from which spills the pure cool water that runs into wide rivers and spiraling streams wandering through the forest. Perihelion sits among a few of the larger rivers as they leave the forest, going out east for some way before gently sweeping south in search of some broad ocean to join. Stone and wood buildings sat along the river with large waterwheels standing a dozen meters tall get pushed by the flow of the streams. Clear plains stretch out to the east of the city with hills that take more time to reach lower peaks. In stark contrast to the towering trees of the forest there’s only low growing shrubs and delicate slender flowers. Slightly farther past the plains to the west and slightly north is a lower, darker mountain. More formidable in appearance, this lively volcano proves to be equally benevolent to the city and its peoples way of life. Rather than threaten powerful explosions raining ash for kilometers around, this volcano chooses to release a steady flow of molten metal. This metal from the mountain is a key ingredient to the city’s advances in technology. It proves to be pure and workable, easily harvested and refined utilizing minimal additional resources. With trees left standing tall and coal sleeping deep in the ground, the workers and artisans of Perihelion can craft large structural braces or intricate pieces of jewelry all in bright bronze, nearly gold color. Magnificent metallic windmills stand dotted among the windy highlands to the north, their blades revolving in long arches and catching rays of the sun, gleaming brilliant yellow back. The cobbled streets of the city are lively with a mix of the clever and ingeniutive kobolds along with gentle and welcoming rabbit folk and a large number of trees and vines. The vegetation in the city might have been considered claustrophobic if it wasn’t for the fresh air and wistful insects they brought with them. By day birds and butterflies fluttered above the rooftops while bees would buzz about their daily business, by night owls coo their baritone songs as bats swoop in and out of the tree and moths cling to the dim lights above peoples doors. Along with all the natural creatures flying about, a large white and signature goldish bronze airship floats up out of the city, hanging halfway between the peaks of the roofs in the city and the tips of the mighty trees in the western forest. The metal transport is crewed nearly 3 quarters by kobolds as it lumbers out east towards the volcano. Kobolds tended to be more fond of the precious metal and the grander structures that can be built with it, while the rabbits prefer staying on the ground tending to what grows out of it. Perihelion’s placement on the edge of the grand forest as it tapers out into the rich volcanic plains was no accident. It was the perfect spot where people could live in harmony with the two mountains, sharing in their natural splendor rather than stealing from it. Built from dark gray stones and deep brown wood, made vibrant by lush green plants and glittering golden metals, the welcoming city sprawled out wide from the banks of rivers and rose humbly with buildings rarely rising taller than 3 stories. People, plants, and creatures alike all coexist in the city they called home.
Remmy Bunny
2024-07-28 18:58:44 +0000 UTCThe city of Perihelion seemed slightly out of place, with buildings of stone and wood seeming to sprout in place of trees along the edge of an ancient coniferous forest. A mix of natural materials and seemingly out of place goldish bronze metal, along with thick vegetation, made for a city that was advanced enough to build tall wind farms and lumbering airships, yet somehow seemed to steer clear of being an industrialized society. Many kilometers to the west stood a tall mountain from which pure fresh water sprang forth into meandering streams. Slightly farther out east was a volcano from which flows raw molten metal that the people of the city learned to harvest and utilize. Perihelion’s placement on the edge of the grand forest as it tapers out into the rich volcanic plains was no accident. It was the perfect spot where people could live in harmony with the two mountains, sharing in their natural splendor rather than stealing from it. Built from dark gray stones and deep brown wood, made vibrant by lush green plants and glittering golden metals, the welcoming city sprawled out wide from the banks of rivers and rose humbly with buildings rarely rising taller than 3 stories. People, plants, and creatures alike all coexist in the city they called home.
Remmy Bunny
2024-07-28 18:57:36 +0000 UTCNestled deep within an vast and ancient forest lies the city known as Zìran Zhi Jia, the city itself built around a picturesque flowing river, the city itself seemingly blended between being a mechanical marvel and a nature preserve, the two styles blending together to form a truly unique place within the ancient lands. Houses can be found both built in and around the trees, as well as planted on the ground, the style of building reminiscent of an industrial society almost weathered and consumed by the foliage of the forest. The center of the city, meanwhile, is a vast marketplace built in a ring around one of the larger trees found within the city, where many vendors can be found selling a vast array of different items, from exotic herbs and spices, to intricately crafted trinkets and jewelry, and everything in between. Around this marketplace in yet another ring can be found the various craftspeople of the city, where all forms of technology and items can be found being crafted. Finally, above everything, high in the treetops, can be found training grounds, where warriors spar with each other to gauge the strongest among them, in addition to all the buildings dedicated to the running and overseeing of the city itself.
Night Star
2024-07-26 19:09:02 +0000 UTCPicture a land lush with vibrant green trees and beautiful sprawling hills. Cloistered away from the rest of the world is the hidden paradise of a long undisturbed civilization: Ashan’eo, a large city built upon the hillside. At the bottom of the hills, wide streets and large clay houses made of reddish clay fill the city’s residential district. Today there are statues and flags and decorations of gold, green, and red on show across the city as a festival is taking place. Ascending further, one reaches the market district, where banners are raised high and shopkeepers peddle their wares. This morning special pastries are being sold, a beautiful golden brown crust stuffed with fresh cheese and tomato and plenty of wonderful spices. The delicious aroma wafts up to the upper city with the breeze. The upper city is the grandest area of them all– a massive palace of gold stands proudly at the top of the city, just in front of the town square. Atop the stairs is a large pedestal from which the rulers speak to their people. Today, the town square is filled with people, as a new leader has been chosen to rule, her elegantly designed prosthetic tail blending perfectly with the ceremonial garb as she addresses what is now her kingdom.
SammyCat
2024-07-22 21:39:15 +0000 UTCThis kobold comes from the City of a Thousand Spirits! The city is set in the frigid north where the barrier between worlds is thin and after generations of shamans the veil has been further eroded causing spirits to be ever present mingling with the living residents. To entertain and honor the spirits the city is covered year-round in festival lights, music and the living residence have adopted costume pieces with into their everyday lives. The costumes are necessary for disguising yourself and often have elaborate pieces that have movable faces on the back to protect from the shy but more malevolent spirits like gobblers who sneak up behind you and whisk you away to the spirit realm. If you get the chance to visit be sure to try their famous street food called kobbos, fried dough balls dipped in honey!
Evem
2024-07-21 23:30:55 +0000 UTCShe lives in Lhasal, a hidden city on the Tibetan Plateau surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains. The main inhabitants of the city are kobolds and snow leopards and bnuys, who are all devout followers of the dragon god. They're willing to make dragon-related trinkets and even controlable prosthetic limbs with them. The city is made up of many Asian buildings. In the center of the city there is a temple hall which big enough for everyone live in the city. The city has a special festival at the end of autumn. When the festival came, the whole city would come to the temple hall and huddle together like a huge fluff ball to drink hot green tea and pray they can pass through the winter. as if they were in the fluffy and warm arms of the dragon god. If you are a visitor to the city during the festival but are interested in joining them, don't worry, you're also welcomed. 🥰
konghuayingluo
2024-07-19 21:36:03 +0000 UTCGōrudendoreiku (Golden Drake), a city where the denizens have a festival where they must craft a golden figurine of a creature to wear on their tails and golden jewelry with colorful cloth which represents their desires, dreams, emotions etc. For the younger denizens, the festival is a coming of age gathering, where they present themselves, along with their weapon, jewelry and announce their desires/hopes as they venture into the outside world. Where as for the older denizens, the festival serves as an honoring of their journey's end and the story they carved whilst adventuring in their youth. The elders display their golden tail figurine, along with their cloth, showing the wear and tear, and impart to the youth that each scratch or imperfection is a story they'll have a chance to share when their journey's reach their end.
A Sentient Cookie
2024-07-17 04:55:24 +0000 UTCBuilt on a lone mountain surrounded by flat, serene forest land, you will find the Kobold city of Guyógen. A prosperous yet ambitious city. Home to great minds working and hitting impressive feats of machinery, metallurgy, and magic. Along the bustling narrow streets of food vendors, trinket sellers, stalls of merchants from faraway lands, and blacksmiths workshops, all seem dwarfed next to the opulent guild halls, towering magic academies, and grand monestaries breaking up the scenery of the city's skyline. Amongst the city's people, the most impactful is the monk sect of Sakyana. Homed in a monestary on the peak of the mountain. Where they teach their art of hùnhé. Hùnhé is the art of mixing soul and machine together. Allowing someone to control mechanical attachments and prosthetics as if they were a part of themselves. By using this magical art, it impacts all facets of life. Workers can lift crates of heavy goods with ease in magic-powered suits. Miners use drill gauntlets to dig with quick precision. Or prosthetics made in elaborate ways to to make up lost limbs. These augments make Guyógians stand out in a crowd when they visit lands afar.
ZZLe0
2024-07-17 00:34:37 +0000 UTCThe City named Amallya is the main Capital of the republic Altonia. Its well know for the main city in wich the Adventuresguild of entire jetuan (the continent) has formed and is a former Port for all kinds of trading. She is part of the guild and has trained of some sort of Dragonmonk to protect the nine Dragonshrines all ofer Jetuan since the great Kingdom of Tula trys to summon all dragons and finaly bring Bahamut to life to enslave the entire continent.
Runo_Copper
2024-07-16 13:37:20 +0000 UTCThe city of Shui Tuk honors the old and the new - burgeoning technology and industry alongside magic and mysticism that stretches back for millenia. Blending the two together is seen as the highest form of art anyone can aspire to master. Prestigious stores feature clockwork automatons powered by magical cells greeting and serving customers just as the world's first heaters and coolers make people's lives easier. The same is true for prosthetics, and it's this kobold's good fortune that a talented but unproven doctor saw fit to equip here with the latest and greatest in Shui Tuk tech, hopefully for her better....!
Zollo Magi
2024-07-16 00:36:18 +0000 UTCCinder City; a melting pot of students, tourists, immigrants, entertainers, merchants, wanderers, royalty, mysteries--built between the ocean and the mountains, if you're looking for something, it's here. The good and the bad... With humble beginnings of a pitstop village in travels, the Charbonneau family turned the town into a massive city. However, this kobold usually hangs around other travelers and merchants--the locale of street cred, secret doors and underground dealings , where the line between loyalty and deceit is razor thin. I'm sure malicious actors looking to take advantage of a naive kobold are underprepared for one who is deceptively astute, self-reliant, and skilled in self-defense if it came to it...
EnderFloofs
2024-07-16 00:21:39 +0000 UTCThe golden tail of the dragon swings its head around contemplatively, both the kobold's eyes and the ornament's eyes glowing an unearthly green as fire of the same color licks at the corners of the effigy's mouth. It opens its mouth and as it speaks in a low, earthy, rumble, small gouts of flame are expunged from it's maw. It crooks an eyebrow and the corners of its mouth sneak up into a smile. "Who are YOU to ask what city I hail from?" The golden dragon responds, the kobold somewhat in a daze, as if her mind is elsewhere entirely, leaning against the staff to brace herself against the weight of the moving sculpture lashhed to her tail with belts and locks. The green eyes of the dragon appraise you, you somehow feel violated by the gaze of the carving, as if there's some otherworldly forces at play. As you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and your spine straighten, you feel a sense of fear.. that quickly dissipates as the dragon acquires what knowledge he required from your being. It snorts, and smoke flows through its nostrils and curls into the air before dissipating. "You have neither the qualifications nor the station to request information from me. Leave." As the dragon speaks its last word, it turns it's head back, and the glow fades from its eyes and the eyes of its charge. The kobold stumbles and blinks, unaware of anything that had occurred. Its tail sways side to the side and it throws its staff out to catch itself. It offers you a polite smile, but is utterly confused. You decide to follow the instructions the dragon offered you, as you remember the primal fear you felt when its gaze was upon you.
Nuwa Nightstone
2024-07-15 22:41:26 +0000 UTCLóng shēng (dragon lair in chinesse) is a big city where those blessed by the dragon lord of the land are bestowed an artefact to help them in their work. This kobold is one of the guard of Lóng shēng, but showed some moments of distraction. In those times, her recieved actifact, the prosthesis called the dragon tail, will watch and warn her of any intruders or abnormal events. Lóng shēng Is a city of japaness design, with padogas like houses and a protective wall made of a mix of stone and wood. Most of the inhabitant are more or less well trained monks, able to use their bodies to perform maintenances on the buildings that other cities would let be, too worried of the risk of wounds.
Kaross Kaross
2024-07-15 21:56:44 +0000 UTCShe lives in Immort, the city of champions. The main draw to this city is it's massive coliseum. People from around the continent and event the world come to this city to take place in the different competitions. It's name is Immort due to the winners of some of the major competitions being immortalized in part of the coliseum. Either their name or their visage can be found somewhere inside the coliseum. She is one of the contenders who lives in the city. A few months back her tail got seriously injured in a competition. She still won the battle but her tail was cut off. This event somewhat skyrocketed her popularity with the crowd, so she decided to play into this identity. Now she has a few different prosthesis tails to go with different outfits she has. (when i saw their outfit i immediately thought of a gladiator of some kind. If i win i might make this the same setting as my minotaur. Could be fun to see them fight the gladiator minotaur in some competition.)
nightstar6
2024-07-15 20:33:52 +0000 UTCShe lives in Klokridge. The city itself is ahead of its time thanks to the borrowed (read, stolen) technologies from Goldengleam. Unknowing yet unfettered, the city went further and made the city into a technological marvel with the air as clean as pea soup and the entirety of the territory subject to the races that wind through much of the mines, mountainside, and cliffs of the city.
Devon McEwen
2024-07-15 16:40:46 +0000 UTCShe lives in Drakenfeng, a hidden city nestled among towering mountains. It's a serene haven where kobolds live harmoniously under the watchful eye of their big and fluffy, but yet not even nearly as cute as some snow-furred vixen, dragon deity. The city features ornate pagodas, peaceful temples, and homes adorned with intricate asian/monk motifs. Lanterns and banners cast a warm, mystical glow, reflecting the deep reverence for their beloved god-dragon :3
Nidsi
2024-07-15 16:04:48 +0000 UTCLāk lā xik was home to many traditions and holidays celebrated by kobolds and many others. The dusty, long, packed streets gave way to stall after stall of unique hard to find goods as well as plenty of wealth. Spices, silks, odd alcohols, fresh meats, and jewels. This city of gold at first seems humble, but looking inward towards its people and palisades, you would see quite the opposite is true. Hundreds of beliefs brimmed to the city's edges like a cultural brewing pot, and one such major belief was the Pid thxng pheìm k̄hụ̂n (or more commonly the gilded rising) where people would wear a golden visage, of what they would someday wish to become, upon their person. When they pass, they will be buried with their golden arrangement in the hopes they can become what they desired in their next life. Be that a wolf, stingray, or dragon.
Jingo
2024-07-15 14:58:55 +0000 UTCShe lived in a city called haiku. a normal eastern city. Before, there were many evils around the town and it was led by an evil dragon. Until a warrior did her best to kill the dragon, but also lost all strength and half of her tail, in return for what she had done, Residents raised a new dragon tail for her, and now it is said that she-the golden dragon tail, is still active in the city and continues to fight evil
Char'stri
2024-07-15 14:55:41 +0000 UTCLiving in the mountain village of StarCrest, named due to its crystal clear view of the night sky and local belief of celestial importance, these mountains used to be inhabited by dragons, leaving skeletal reminders that the village was built upon. She works freelance, helping the townsfolk with farming, family discourse, pest control and anything else she can to help the people of the town. She loves the town, and the historical and religious importance of it, with her tail being an award from the people for her helpfulness.
DeCarbonzo
2024-07-15 14:32:59 +0000 UTCThe city of Korviz is nestled in-between two (formerly 1 singular) mountains and suspended high above ground level. The air is thin and chilly, but the mines are rich in gems and metals.
CosmoTheSoft
2024-07-15 14:13:22 +0000 UTCShe lives in a traditional eastern city, xinshao, which holds a dragon boat race every year. People's favorite activity is to watch dragon boat races, which are as popular as the Super Bowl in the United States. The leader of the winning team will be awarded the Golden Dragon Head, the Red Wood Oar and the golden goggle.
friskeyacoon
2024-07-15 13:57:20 +0000 UTCShe lives in Ahkia, a city that is more vertical than horizontal, with its homes built into cliff faces and massive terraces going down the mountains below
Capeline Cutemeister
2024-07-15 13:52:31 +0000 UTCShe lives in the city of Tukri, a large sprawling city nestled atop a hilly terrain situated along the northern coast of the Barrier Territories. A complex city, its buildings and streets overlap over and over making it a very dense location that even develops vertically, with buildings on buildings, and bridges over roads to connect them all. It has even expanded towards the Ridéshan mountain range, where the neighbourhoods begin to crawl on the side of them. Due to its large size, complexity, and crowded streets and sections, it can be hard to maintain the cleanliness of the city. It is not uncommon to find some pieces of garbage within the streets and sidewalks. Ridéshan acts a large trading and communications hub for the Barrier Territories, often attracting merchants, mercenaries, and bounty hunters. Less often, nomadic travellers like our little Kobold here. Sunset and sunrise can be hard to fully take in if you are on the ground level of the city. However, it provides its own spectacular advantage of beaming rays of light peeking through the buildings, adding to the unique ambience of Tukri.
digitdeer
2024-07-15 13:49:36 +0000 UTCThe city of Gongon (named after two towns that merged together that had "Gon" in the name) is a place where magic and science come together to make some interesting experiments happen. Mostly because nobody seems to care if something blows up. All in the name of progress, you know? There's a reason she has that prosthesis. Most sane people tend to stay away from the city.
mazinja
2024-07-15 13:47:05 +0000 UTCShe lives in a rural area as a shrine guard. Her tail prosthesis made her an attraction at the shrine. Sometimes she hides in the bushes and tries to scare children with it. The city is called Jubel because of some adventurers that had died if they hadn't found it inside a snowstorm. Before that it had no name. It has quite the modern supermarket, a fast internet connection for everyone and said shrine with a big forest around it. The population is quite mixed with fantasy creatures and humans.
Der Burger
2024-07-15 13:42:05 +0000 UTCThe name of the city is Renshaw, named after the man who founded it. Renshaw City is crime ridden and full of despair. However, there are those fighting to restore city to greatness and peace
Talerius
2024-07-15 13:41:46 +0000 UTC
