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deepwoodwayfinder — APH: Haltija Page 3
Published: 2011-06-29 17:56:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 4453; Favourites: 77; Downloads: 10
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Denmark fails epically at stealth.
Words cannot describe how much I hate this page. I fiddled with it so much that I started despising it and completely gave up on any semblance of correct anatomy or good composition. Also, Muro crashed half way through my final shading, so it is unfinished as well. Sorry about the lack of quality! I promise to make better pages in the future.
Anyway, that there is a haltija. A rather important one, but that particular plot point can wait till later. Haltijas are said to be fairy or elf-like creatures, protectors of an individual or a place. I obviously took enormous liberties with the design, but I think this is justified as haltijas don't seem to have any definite form in the art of Finnish paganism. My design is influenced by the symbols of the ancient Finns (particularly this picture: [link] ), but my brain also helped, as did a healthy dose of Miyazaki.
Characters (c) Hidekaz Himaruya
Art (c) Me
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Comments: 46
This is so cool! I hope you plan to continue! Love it <3
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Looks like something from How To Train Your Dragon
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It's kinda sad that you haven't continued :I
Is it because you don't have time or because you have problems with the plot?
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I will most definitely continue this, but that is a little impossible right now. Yes, I have had trouble finding the time and working out the plot. Also, I've lost the original sketches for the pages, so that's been a drawback. I'm so sorry about all the delays! I swear I will finish it. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't.
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Aw~ I see. Good luck then ;D
If there's anything I'd like to see is Denmark and Sweden getting kidnapped or something... ;u;
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XD That would be fun. It might happen, might not. Can't give anything away! c:
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Daw~ Okay, just it would be cute to see Denmark curled in a ball and saying:"This is not happening!"
I'm not saying you should do it, just since you didn't continue I started imagining how the story will evolve myself C:
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I've unfortunately lost my sketches for this chapter of the story, so it might be a while before I update again, but I most definitely will continue this, so keep an eye out. Thanks for reading! c:
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YAY! thanks, this was one of those things that i looked forward to keeping me through the week
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Finland's long hair and the Haltija! 
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OH. MY. GOD. Finland's spirit animal is now Tigger. I don't care how cracky that is, it's too adorable not to think about.
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Wildboy Tino looks adorable.
I think we need a muzzle on that Dane :3
I love how you drew the hiltija... and the coloring and pattern seem to match the birch trees... But I'll stop myself before I go on a tree-babble.
I can't wait to see more of this.
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I really like drawing feral pagan Tino. His raggedy hair is so cute!
The haltija is supposed to have birch bark markings, yes. The reason for that will become more clear later. Well... it will become less murky, anyway.
I'm really happy you're enjoying this so far!
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I love birch trees. When the older bark peels off in spring and after storms I like to go out and rub may face and hands on the new exposed bark. It smells good and is soo incredibly soft and smooth.
It's no wonder my neighbors worry about me XD
I honestly like things that use mythical creatures and/or characters in different ways. I love learning new things and seeing how characters can be used in different settings.
I'm a nerd really, I think I'd be just as happy if you decided that you didn't want to draw Hetalia stuff any more. You and =fablespinner are such wonderful people <3
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I have to admit, if I saw the Haltija in a dark ally I would run screaming the other way XD Then again, I'm a wuss.
But I am really loving this comic so far and I can't wait to see more! ^^
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It is kind of terrifying, isn't it? It's eyes probably glow in the dark.. *shudder*
Thank you! I hope you keep on enjoying it!
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Are you on crack? XD I'm joshing. I like this page a lot! 
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Noooo, but my brain is a strange place nonetheless. The haltija is a spiritual entity, so it doesn't... need... legs? Yeah. That works. I wanted to give it a slightly weightless, floating feel, so NO LEGS FOR YOU.
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Yesh. :3 no legs are needed.... and I get none... :*O
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Mads.... you just... ugh. Berwald, gag that dumb viking please.
Once again, Mumbles, I don't care if it's unfinished I'm so damn glad to see an update I'm out of my mind!
Oh Tino, what a cute Feral Child you make. <3 The Haltija is quite pretty, in an 'animal meet almost human face' kind of way. : D Now I wanna draw your Haltija. XD I also, wanna see moar. *pesters you for it*
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Yay! I'm so glad you like this page! I'm especially happy that you see the humanity in the haltija's face. That was exactly the effect I was going for.
I love writing Denmark being an idiot...
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Well you most certainly got it. : D It's subtle, but it's there. I can't really point out what it is, maybe it's the eyebrows coupled with the fact that both eyes are facing forwards like in human faces. All in all I really love this critter and I can't wait to find out what you're going to be doing with it. : D
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8O I like the haltija design!~ it looks soooo cool to me!
OMG LOL I love denmark's face when he's all like "wow!" xD
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You're welcooooooooome~ c:
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Omg I love this! I'm going to subscribe so i can see more!!
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Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I hope future pages live up to your expectations.
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I love the fact you drew inspiration from Finnish mythology... Old myths are my favorite. There always seems to be something new and interesting to learn about them. x)
Nevermind using artistic liberties creating haltija. Like this, it looks like a creature from Finnish myths. I think it's design is beautiful and epic... Birch bark skin, antlers, face and the snakey body are my favorites.<3 ...Well damn, I really like every detail.
I generally like your style to draw and comic. Every panel of every page has so far left me impressed. :3 Some of them lifts a smile too. Denmark's so goofy! >U< My sympathies about crashing Muro. Good thing nothing worse happened.
There are so many things to praise you about. I could keep just going on and on... The backgrounds, colors, shadings, speech bubbles - All amazing. The only critique I can come up with is Tino's (the boy with haltija, he's Tino right?) hand, holding the bow. The way his fingers go (thumb) looks kind of unnatural. The hand seems also slightly small.
And look! I just noticed Berwald had a cross on his neck. Christian already? o^o
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I'm glad the haltija looks okay... I'm a huge mythology and fairytale geek, so taking such liberties with the design made me squirmy. Despite that I had a lot of fun designing it, so it's good to know that you think it looks nice!
Thank you! Denmark is very goofy, which is why I love him so... though I like him in serious war mode too. And occasionally as the bad guy. There will probably be some of that later in the story. Muahaha...
As or your critique, thank you very much for pointing that out. I hadn't noticed it before. It looks really odd... part of the reason I hated this page so much. Full body anatomy is not my expertise at all.
And yeah, Sweden was mostly Christian at this point in time. The date most often quoted for the Christianization of Sweden is 1164, when the first archdiocese was established in Uppsala by the Pope, but Christianity had been present there and elsewhere in Scandinavia since the 9th century. Also, I needed the Christian element for the plot but I really wanted it to happen around 1150 (even though it should be happening 100 years later). So this is not really historically accurate at all. I, history major, have much shame.
Sorry for the history lesson... I've spent a whole year studying this stuff, so it's in my brain...
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It's okay, I like to learn about history. 
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I wasn't born for critiquing...but that's just....lovely....*dies happily*
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Thank you so much!
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I love that it's a birch tree in design I like it a lot! And Mathias.... *facepalm* Epic FAIL. Sve you needed duct tape!
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Thank you! If only duct tape existed in the 10th century...
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Denmark would have been dropped down a well and never heard from again.
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Yay! Page 3 has appeared!
I love this! Denmark's just so...so...Denmark, shut up! And his expression is hilarious XD
And is that Finland in the first panel? He looks adorable ^_^
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Denmark is so fun to write and draw. He's such a great character...
That is indeed Finland in the first panel. Feral, pagan Finland.
I'm really glad you're liking it so far!
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