note: I started this project late in December, actually too late to finish it by the Sprite Stitch deadline for "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this." challenge because I had been working on something else for a friend of my mom's, but I decided to start stitching anyway even though I knew I wouldn't even be close to finishing it.I had several ideas, a couple really silly ones but the thoughts were only for kicks not something I'd actually stitch. I actually had some trouble coming up with something, took me a few days for me to see what was already right there in front of me, a sword, in fact several swords.
A scene from the Famicom game Grand Master inspired me, the sword, knocked from the hero's hand, falling point first to imbed itself in the ground made me think of how often the 'sword in the stone' motif has been done in fantasy tales, and that I had at least two other swords that could accompany the Grand Master already put in patterns. You see, originally as I do with many sprites I come across I had gathered together relating pieces for various projects in case they ever come up as a Sprite Stitch challenge (or simply just to do them anytime) so if I had time I could do multiple pieces for it, such as portraits, statues, treasures, dragons, death, quotes, and swords of coarse among other themes. These swords had begun as three separate pieces, all 5x7's in size, one for Grand Master, another for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and another God Slayer (Crystalis).
What I had in mind was to give the hero some options, the old man would have a collection of swords that he would allow the budding hero to choose one of them to begin his/her quest with. The swords would be imbedded point down in the ground, fanning out from each other. This idea what work perfectly being as each sword I had pointed at slightly different angles. I kept the Grand Master background as well as leaving that sword as it were, took the sword from the title screen of Zelda II, placing it just slightly left, standing straight and tall this would be the very center, then to the left of that the God Slayer sword also from the title screen of that game. I had me a picture of three totally unique swords and really didn't have to do much to create it other than cut/copy and paste. Oh, actually not entirely true, I did previously edit the God Slayer sword when I had ideas to stitch it by itself, but for this particular project that work was already done.
Three swords looked nice, but still it felt empty, too simple, not grand enough, I'm sure I could find me another sword or two to complete it. The huge sprite from the title screen of the Famicom game, Fire Emblem looked sweet, but perhaps way too big, yet maybe it could work, I had to try it. I inserted the massive sword into the picture, and with a couple readjustments as to exactly what height to put it at I had me another sword, this one closer to the viewer than the others and something so large that it gave the whole scene weight. Time to work on the old man and his wise words.
Still I had yet to Begin stitching as I felt I wasn't yet finished on the swords part. Sure, it looked fine as it was, the four swords, but there was still some space for another. I kept looking at the Ironsword from Wizards & Warriors II to be the fifth. The Ironsword was the right size for where I was going to place it, and I love how the blade gleams, so shiny, but what I didn't care for was the handle, too stubby and short and with no pommel at the end of it, that part of it just looked odd. Even so, I managed to figure out how best to work it in keeping the end of the hilt out of view. Okay! I got my swords! I started stitching them, first with Grand Master, next Zelda II, after that God Slayer, Fire Emblem (this one took just as long as those other three combined), and lastly and completing them beautifully, Ironsword.
Following completion of the swords I began work on the wall, but during that time I still fiddled with the background beyond that, wanting something extraordinary, my first thought was a glorious sunset or sunrise, all bright yellows, oranges and reds, emerging from behind the top edge of the wall. Still, something wasn't right, the lighting, how the light of that sun would play off of the wall, swords and ground, hmm, as cool as it looks I don't think it'll work for this particular piece. I tried using a moon instead, looming overhead, hiding within thick clouds, my mom liked it better, but I still liked the sunset for the colors. Okay, being as undecided as I am, its probably best to try something else. I looked into other details, such as a dragon flying in the background, as well as placing towers, even pondered the crazy idea of putting the whole thing indoors, completing the picture with balconies and stained glass windows, but that was way too ambitious and may not work anyway. In the end I chose to keep to the original plan, afterall that was the point in starting this stitch to begin with, that "It's dangerous to go alone!"
I started stitching in the old man and the flames, his words following after, finishing up in the wee hours of the morning the day this is supposed to be posted to assure the necessary parts are complete for challenge deadline, leaving me a blackened ground yet to be stitched - I'll finish it up later, as is I'm still playing with more ideas to compliment this scene - I'm nuts I tell you!
Project origins:
And just being silly...
I did consider stitching it, for just a moment.
