Starpuck; Themeless in Thestas

[starpuck]

[Everything that happens in Dragon Age happens in Thedas, though there are some realms beyond it. It's basically like Middle-Earth in Lord of the Rings, or Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls. Fun fact: Thedas was originally shorthand for “The Dragon Age Setting,” and the nickname stuck.]

 

 

And now you know where the name Thestas came from!  "THE STArpuck Setting" see?   (pronounced Thess-tiss)

 

I'm super struggling to come up with a theme right now, though I feel pulled strongly to a D&D angle again.   No doubt because this weeks art practice led to a sort of new subrace idea, which has me super juiced for all things creatively D&D-ish.     I also am bored with my current 4 week/day/habit tracking method in my BuJo, so I think I might do a map tracker again.   That was pretty fun.

 

There are a few things I feel no longer need tracking, and that's hecka cool.     There are also things that while I don't need to track, the visualization will keep me encouraged to keep at it.   When it comes down to it, I just like coloring in little dots in my journal.   This next bit of 4 weeks is going to be a challenge because, I am attempting to up my calories one more time (to true and proper maintenance) before I hop back onto the cut program starting in March.   *GULP*   I KNOW my weight might tick up a few pounds, but I should will NOT worry about that.

 

So what am I doing here then?

 

Exercise - 5x / week

(No less than 2 lifting sessions per week.)

Art - 5x / week

(Going to try being less rigid on what TYPE of art happens, whether it be pencil sketching or tablet time... either counts.)

Sleep Moar Better - 5x / week 

(Lights out, in bed, no screen on, by 11:20 on MTWFS - This allows me wiggle room on the two D&D nights per week that RUN until 11pm.)

Self Care - 1x / week

(Here's a new one!   While I maintain myself fine, I don't ever get to pampering.   This could be a night of fun sister mani/pedis, or a massage, or a bubble bath with candles and a book... something that focuses on luxury treatment for the Puck.)

Selfie Sharing - 1x / week

{An old one returned.   In creative terms, I'm going to call this "Shattering the Mirror" because I see myself inaccurately right now.   I've lost almost 20 pounds, I've trimmed and toned and strengthened, and I still see myself as really thick and fluffy in all my spots.   I *feel* much better, but I can't break the visual hang ups.   So I am going to force myself to look and see.)

 

(Guys, what is the alt code for boxes, the ones below I stole from Rurik, and they make weird formatting!)

Exercise ☐☐☐☐☐ Art ☐☐☐☐☐ Sleep ☐☐☐☐☐ Pamper ☐ Selfie☐

So, let's just get going then shall we?   First thing we need is ... a character!

 

 

Oh hello!     What a cutie!

Now... a name... (always harder)

 

Sebastienne Delarieux  (Tienne for short, Sebi to her closest friends.)

 

And, finally ... an adventure...

 

To the recipient of this note, whoever you may be,

There is at your disposal, the opportunity to earn coin, prestige, even fame, should you oblige the offer herein provided.
Take this signet ring to the city of Peramth, discreetly find entrance to the Gilded Cage, and present it to one Lady Nighthawk.  
She shall reimburse you kindly, and offer you your next task if you so desire.

-V

 

 

 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

First! Following!

[Elastigirl]

I love it when you do the selfie sharing!

[bker1370]

Following along

[obax]

Following along, of course!

[starpuck]

 

Not doing any hard core goal-tracking on the forums during zero week because I need the mental break.   We're getting an ice storm tonight, so I'll need to get up early and assess the situation for the drive in.     Things went fine today though and I plan to be in bed within 20 minutes.

 

This was the fun fella I drew up and finished yesterday.  Now I just need to actually create the stats and mechanics of this subrace!

 

 

 

The Solanales Tieflings are rumored to have originally come from either the Underdark or the Shadowfell, from unions and deals merged between Drow (or Shadar-kai) and ancient infernal lords. Despite such grim origins, they are oddly known for quite jovial natures and a love of life. Many seek the surface and material plane, for the adventure and entertainment that the many races provide. At least... once they're accepted into the society, which is often doubly hard for these cheerful Tieflings.

 

Fun side note.  Solanales is the order of plants that include the nightshade family.   (Nightshade Tiefling sounded too cliche!)

[Rurik Harrgath]

On 2/5/2019 at 4:39 PM, Starpuck said:

Sleep Moar Better - 5x / week

 

This is my favorite goal if only for it's title.

 

On 2/5/2019 at 4:39 PM, Starpuck said:

(Guys, what is the alt code for boxes, the ones below I stole from Rurik, and they make weird formatting

 

 

Ahem!  Because mine are WingDings font and I do my challenges on Microsoft Word because Copy Pasta over. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

Ahem!  Because mine are WingDings font and I do my challenges on Microsoft Word because Copy Pasta over. 

I use to do this with the old software on long posts. Back then the forums would eat a lot of posts so If I had something wordy I'd write it out elsewhere first in case it got lost.

[Cheetah]

Happy Challenge!

[starpuck]

Oi!  Day 1 here and it's treating me like a punching bag!   Work is mega busy, but I wanted to pipe in and say...

 

GUESS WHO DID 7 PULL UPS... FOR ALL THREE SETS!!!!

Yeaaaaah!  

 

[starpuck]

Oi guys.   Day 1 in the books.    I tired.

 

Got my lift in.

Got some peeps followed today here.

Had a very busy day at work.

Ate like a champ.

Arted like, most of the night.

And decided to do a thing... and this was the first bit to getting that thing started.

 

Gonna start a youtube channel, and maaaybe get into streaming eventually.    It's going to be the Rangerist of youtube channels, because it's gonna be a little bit of everything!  Art capture, gaming vids, maybe adventure vids, work out vids, D&D vids...

 

Anyway.   This was my test to see if the program I grabbed would work for art capture, and alas it does!  Exciting.   (Not that I have any clue what I am doing yet... still...)  

 

It also let me test my new Graphics Card.  The replacement came in today, and so I ran my art studio software, and my recording software, while streaming Spotify, and having a mic input.  Then I did the same bits while running a video game.    No issues so I think alls good!    Now to get to bed because I am missing my bed time right now!

 

 

 

[JuiceeTarget]

I'm not sure this thread can stand up to this much awesome

[starpuck]

3 minutes and I still make my bed time!

Good day.   Did the things I needed to.

Finished my #pyre fanart!    Love this game!

 

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

Love the theme  Was so confused at first with the spelling but definitely like how you personalizes it.

 

Great goals as always, I especially like the sleep and self care ones.

 

+Following

[Cheetah]

On 2/11/2019 at 4:08 PM, Starpuck said:

7 PULL UPS

 

GREAT JOB!  THAT'S AMAZEBALLS!!!!

[JuiceeTarget]

<nudge>Hey!</nudge>

[Jarric]

Hey Puck, cool challenge, how's it going? 

[starpuck]

Oi guys.  

 

I'm doing some of the things, but keeping up on here hasn't been the greatest.   Since Wed last week I've been fighting borderline cold, that has finally tipped over the edge.    Between no energy, then head aches, then sore throats, now nose stuffiness, I kept opting to let my body rest (even though I wasn't full blown sick) instead of exercising.    I'm not sure if that was a good call or not, since I am closer to full blown sick now ... but it is what it is.

 

I did get some dancing in today - and felt fine while dancing; in fact it opened my nose while I was doing it!  But now it's back to snotsville.

 

Food has been fine through out the meh-ness.   (That is not what would have happened 6 months ago.  I'd have 'fed a cold' whatever it wanted.)     And I did get a LOT of art done this week.    I also had to prep for my D&D game which I ran on Saturday.

 

I'm hoping that one more sleep gets me back to above average on the head cold biz, but if not, I'm gonna try to still do some light weight lifting tomorrow. 

 

Anyway, here is my new character for Sunday night's D&D campaign.

Variant Tiefling (small horns, blue, fangs, wings and casts no shadow/reflection.)

He was raised in the Faerie Court (background courtier) and came to serve Oberon as a Paladin of the Oath of Ancients.

His name is Reginald Octavius Calliwell; but he's so outgoing you can call him whatever!  Reggie, Calli,  R.O., Handsome, Hey Fella...

Also amusing, is how sure of himself and confident he is... and assumes he is good looking, when he's never actually seen himself!

 

[Sloth the Enduring]

Snotsville is a terrible place to live.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Dang, being stick stinks. If you are feeling worse after resting, just think how much MORE worse you'd feel if you had worked out and drained your reserves.

[JuiceeTarget]

I’m on the outskirts of Snotsville now. I’m going to try echinacea and zinc to see if I can head it off.
Love your art, someday I’ll get you to try drawing a half ogre!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[starpuck]

21 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

<nudge>Hey!</nudge>

 

20 hours ago, Jarric said:

Hey Puck, cool challenge, how's it going? 

 

Thanks guys for the nudge.  It was impeccable timing.  When I have a week one that falls flat, I tend to check out for the entire stay of the challenge.    Your checking in on me got me to stay the course!

 

3 hours ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

Snotsville is a terrible place to live.

 

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Dang, being stick stinks. If you are feeling worse after resting, just think how much MORE worse you'd feel if you had worked out and drained your reserves.

 

Ya know, I hadn't thought of that actually.   I've heard the old adage that if the sickies are above the neck it's okay to still work out, so I'd wondered if I should have tried.     But yeah, that would have been energy spent on exertion, instead of body-fighting-remedies.       I just feel like a wuss because if on a scale of 'a sneeze or two being a level 1 cold, and body shut down being a 10' - I'd been hovering at 5 for a week, and probably could have pushed through it.   The last two days I've been sitting on a 7 though...  erg.

 

1 minute ago, GoodDoug said:

I’m on the outskirts of Snotsville now. I’m going to try echinacea and zinc to see if I can head it off.
Love your art, someday I’ll get you to try drawing a half ogre!

 

Thanks GD!   Yeah, I have been Zicam swabbing my nose and zinc-tabbing since the onset.  I do honestly thing it helps keep it from going to 11.   Good luck on that!   And ... half ogre... that sounds fun!   You probably wouldn't have to twist my arm too much ya know.    There are a couple rangers floating around with Puck-provided-pics.

 

 

I am going to try and catch up with all you guys today!  I think I am going to keep active on here, but let the Bujo fall to the way side this challenge.

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

19 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Food has been fine through out the meh-ness.   (That is not what would have happened 6 months ago.  I'd have 'fed a cold' whatever it wanted.)   

 

Super congrats here for that! Way to go!! That's how you know a habit is starting to (finally) stick.

 

19 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Anyway, here is my new character for Sunday night's D&D campaign.

Variant Tiefling (small horns, blue, fangs, wings and casts no shadow/reflection.)

He was raised in the Faerie Court (background courtier) and came to serve Oberon as a Paladin of the Oath of Ancients.

His name is Reginald Octavius Calliwell; but he's so outgoing you can call him whatever!  Reggie, Calli,  R.O., Handsome, Hey Fella...

Also amusing, is how sure of himself and confident he is... and assumes he is good looking, when he's never actually seen himself!

Love your character ideas but also your art is getting so good. That pose, that background?! And coordinating the colors and the shading between both character and background???! All star art practice right there. 

[starpuck]

4 hours ago, Rebel Pilot Gar said:

 

Super congrats here for that! Way to go!! That's how you know a habit is starting to (finally) stick.

 

Love your character ideas but also your art is getting so good. That pose, that background?! And coordinating the colors and the shading between both character and background???! All star art practice right there. 

Oh man thaaaanks!    I was fussing with all these colors on the background right?   Because we're in the jungles of Chult, so I went with greens and yellows and sticky humid colors.   But it looked SO wrong.  So I layed down another layer, and ... did something to it, "add soft glow" or some such business in the program, made it blue to be night, and then it did that, and I was like YES!  That's what it needed to look like.

 

Honestly, it was really tough to not put a shadow under him.  I was all about to, because it looked wrong without it... then I was reminded he does not CAST shadows.   You never realize how odd that would be in RL (or in a picture) until you force yourself to NOT put one in.    

 

Seriously thanks Rebel.  I've seen your art, and encouragement from you is like 'whoa, yeah!  I must be doing something okay then!'.

 

 

Today's update:

No exercise happened, I have seriously sneezed about 50 times today and my body is just pooped.   My head still feels like it has a whole other head stuffed in it, and my eyes are watery and my nose is alternating stuffed/runny.      I will try and get some exercise in tomorrow perhaps.

 

I did some sketching today, but was trying harder things and so it all turned out bunk.   At least I put the minutes in.    Hoping for some better turn out tomorrow on that.

 

Also need to get some D&D prep in so I don't end up cramming next week.     

 

Food's ok even without my getting extra calories burnt.  Basically, I'm still on target, and if I was over, I'd not worry about it because I should be at maintenance now anyway, but the cold has left me rather appetiteless.    Really anxious to feel 100% myself again and get back to nailing it.

 

 

For now... bed time.   I think we're supposed to get another snow/ice storm tomorrow... ugh!

[Elastigirl]

That's great that you are still maintaining even while sick. I'm not necessarily hungry when I'm sick, but I somehow always feel that eating more junk food will help me feel better.

 

Love your new character- both the drawing and the fun back story