A happy Ilesska

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About the piece: In this image, I decided to begin experimenting with different techniques. It was also the first image since we returned from our hiatus which tried to switch to a happier subject in order to focus less on the depression.

We experimented a lot with using larger brushes sizes after doing the initial lineart, and then some emphasis shading to help it show up when downscaled. So despite going out on a limb and trying new techniques, i think it came out nicely..

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About the Ilesska: The Ilesska are a vaguely raptor/shiba species from a dream of mine. I later built a world around their appearance in that dream.

See https://www.weasyl.com/submission/557453/hopelessness for an introduction to the ilesska!

When treated well, Ilesskan communities can be quite amiable towards outsiders. However, finding communities of free Ilesska who aren't being actively persecuted is fairly hard, as such communities can only be found as a minority on Earth and in the Venusian cloud cities. Arguably the less armed portion of the rebellion which provides basic supplies such as raw materials and food could also be seen this way. The main military force of the Ilesskan Rebellion is a very paranoid group, and generally fights by proxy with drones while their true fleets are systems away hiding in safety to ambush Fringe colony fleets and convoys once they have been sufficiently weakened.

The Ilesska aren't particularly brave on their own - their bodies might sport a surprisingly high muscle and bone density - ideal for physical labor tasks - but they are vulnerable to sensory overload and have an easily frightened psychology. In fleet combat, when sure of victory, they tend to rely on a few massive ships loaded with an immense arsenal and protected by incredibly thick armor providing fire support while masses of disposable drones soften the enemy and eliminate any interceptors or missiles the enemy may have. When they feel the enemy force is large enough to pose a hazard, they will launch streams of drones and missiles form multiple directions (often brought to a system remotely by drone carriers) which will harass a target, softening it up to be ambushed and curb-stomped after several waves of drone attacks. They may also accelerate asteroids to incredible speeds, launching them at inhabited worlds, forcing the colonial fleets to deal with the incoming threat. This tactic has been used to great success in manipulating the enemy fleets, either to put them at a disadvantage or to split up larger groups.

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FA Entry: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13117528/

Disclaimer: Not all my art will have a corresponding entry on FA due to technical limitations in how I wish to present the works.

For all intents and purposes, Weasyl is my primary art site now. If you can, it is preferable to leave your watches/favorites/etc. here, as you will miss out on non-FA posts (which will generally be larger and oriented towards providing information on characters & species).