The Illustrated Chronicle of the Lady Jasmine

[bobinder]

​

In a neatly constructed scene showing the inside of the battlements for the first time, the Proconsul discovers how it feels to lose control of a situation when his verbal threats are no longer taken seriously. The next picture provides the view from the walls, as we follow his despairing gaze downwards to witness the methodical nightmare of the latest crux scene.

Aerial views are challenging in terms of finding figures in the correct orientation which actually work together. What we're seeing is an impressive piece of co-ordination in which three Romans restrain Josephine on the cross by her wrists and feet. The right hand is convincingly trodden down whilst the left is gripped by the wrist, about to be pulled out upon the patibulum. This Femjoy pose has become well known, appearing in crux art by Damian and myself, but this is the first time I have seen it manipulated in its original orientation as a reclining pose, and it is very effective.

The crux group is completed with the titulus for the new offender - this time announcing a traitor. The whole scene conveys its sense of scale with the de-focused close-up of the Proconsul on the left, balanced by the next closest figure of Jasmine crucified on the right. The perspective of her stipes tapers down accurately towards the ground to define her position. Between them, Josephine lies on her back - father and daughter are capable of direct eye contact in such close proximity. Further back the figures of Valeria and the recently rescued Cassia define the middle distance.

The background is entirely ground cover, placed at precisely the correct, oblique angle, and diminishing with the appropriate, receding perspective for this overhead view. The ground is further detailed by the long shadows cast by the evening sunlight. I think this is one of the most complex manipulations I have ever seen in terms of multiple figure interaction, scale, viewpoint and lighting, and the successful result has a haunting impact. It is altogether a remarkable achievement!

 

[Wragg]

Thanks, Bob.

Much on this scene is influenced by others. Repertor's original Daz images form the basis of the crosses, especially Jasmine's, and Bob's own guidance is apparent at just about every level! Colouring, masking, shadows - you name it, Bob's advised me on it. So the latest development her is the application of a semi transparent monochrome mask to ensure that the whole scene is lit evenly!

I find the high level view of a crux scene very compelling, and here the adjacent city wall gives the opportunity for just such a perspective.

 

[Wragg]

 

[Loxuru]

All right, it was self-defense by the centurion, but the bastard of a proconsul gets away very merciful, certainly compared to his daughter.

 

[Barbaria1]

For her, that definitely qualifies as an “Oh Shit” moment ... for her dad, well, he had it coming, didn’t he?

 

[Jollyrei]

I suppose if you said to someone, "you are going to be stabbed and thrown from the battlements", they would feel that was a bit harsh. Compared with being paraded through the streets, stripped naked, and crucified next to your daughter, it looks like he might have got off easy.

I KEEP TELLING YOU. THERE'S NO JUSTICE REALLY. THERE'S JUST ME, IN THE END.

Yes, you're very clever. Now stop talking to me. People will think we're odd.

 

[phlebas]

I suppose if you said to someone, "you are going to be stabbed and thrown from the battlements", they would feel that was a bit harsh. Compared with being paraded through the streets, stripped naked, and crucified next to your daughter, it looks like he might have got off easy.

I KEEP TELLING YOU. THERE'S NO JUSTICE REALLY. THERE'S JUST ME, IN THE END.

Yes, you're very clever. Now stop talking to me. People will think we're odd.

I would have enjoyed a father/daughter crux scene, it would have been well deserved and made a nice change for the forum*. He got off lightly. She will now meet the end that was always in the script. The cosmic balance will see to that, and I doubt she will meet it as stoically as Jas and Cassie.

The question now is whether she and Jas will die together?

*(note to self: do a father/daughter crux scene)

 

[Loxuru]

The question now is whether she and Jas will die together?

Poor Jas! She and Cassia at least had a bond, even in their sad fate. Now, she will have to endure Josephine, not her best friend, next to her! That will be a punishment on a punishment!

 

[Jollyrei]

She will now meet the end that was always in the script. The cosmic balance will see to that,

COSMIC BALANCE - I LIKE THAT. AS TO THE REST, THE END IS ALWAYS IN THE SCRIPT. THE ACTUAL PENULTIMATE SCENE DIFFERS SLIGHTLY, OF COURSE. PARDON ME WHILE I PICK UP THIS SLIGHTLY MASHED PROCONSUL...

 

[bobinder]

the bastard of a proconsul gets away very merciful, certainly compared to his daughter.

he had it coming, didn’t he?

I suppose if you said to someone, "you are going to be stabbed and thrown from the battlements", they would feel that was a bit harsh. Compared with being paraded through the streets, stripped naked, and crucified next to your daughter, it looks like he might have got off easy.

He got off lightly.

Nice dramatic twist, Wragg! - And then again, opinion varies on the relative severity of being stabbed rather than crucified...

CENTURION: We have reason to believe you may be hiding one Brian of Nazareth, a member of the terrorist organisation, the 'People's Front of Judea'.
MATTHIAS: Me? No. I'm just a poor old man. I have no time for law-breakers. My legs are grey. My ears are gnarled. My eyes are old and bent.
CENTURION: Quiet! Silly person. Guards! Search the house.
clomp clomp clomp...
You know the penalty laid down by Roman law for harbouring a known criminal?
MATTHIAS: No.
CENTURION: Crucifixion.
MATTHIAS: Oh.
CENTURION: Nasty, eh?
MATTHIAS: Hmm. Could be worse.
CENTURION: What do you mean, 'could be worse'?
MATTHIAS: Well, you could be stabbed.
CENTURION: Stabbed? Takes a second. Crucifixion lasts hours! It's a slow, horrible death!
MATTHIAS: Well, at least it gets you out in the open air.
CENTURION: You're weird.
clomp clomp clomp...

 

[Wragg]

I would have enjoyed a father/daughter crux scene, it would have been well deserved and made a nice change for the forum*. He got off lightly. She will now meet the end that was always in the script. The cosmic balance will see to that, and I doubt she will meet it as stoically as Jas and Cassie.

The question now is whether she and Jas will die together?

*(note to self: do a father/daughter crux scene)

I'm sorry about that, Phlebas...

I did strongly consider crucifying the Proconsul so he could watch Josephine's crucifixion from his cross, but I didn't consider it possible to do so summarily, so it would have had to be days or weeks later.

 

[Loxuru]

MATTHIAS: Well, you could be stabbed.
CENTURION: Stabbed? Takes a second. Crucifixion lasts hours! It's a slow, horrible death!
MATTHIAS: Well, at least it gets you out in the open air.
CENTURION: You're weird.

Matthias is clearly a CF member!

 

[Wragg]

 

[thehangingtree]

And I thought you were getting soft!!!

 

[Jollyrei]

View attachment 877471 View attachment 877478

I'm really impressed by how you get these images out so regularly. These are not simple "plunk a girl on a cross and find a nice background" manips. These are the real thing, with composite shots and perspective. It's not always easy finding cooperative pictures of Romans. Nevertheless, you've done it again.

That's not even mentioning (except it is now) that here are two new and excellent additions to the sacred gallery of St. Alice.

Poor Josephine may (sort of) deserve her fate, but to be crucified and come to terms with the idea that her father is dead and her life is over at the same time (and she will probably be suddenly abandoned by the very people she was partying with not an hour ago as well) is a totality of destruction that makes her an almost sympathetic character. Will she, in the end, seek Jasmine's forgiveness.

 

[Wragg]

I'm really impressed by how you get these images out so regularly.

This one really was a 'quickie':

 

[Jollyrei]

This one really was a 'quickie':

View attachment 877486

Kind of her - offering the voice of experience to the newcomer. Sort of mentorship.

IS SOMEONE GETTING HER DOWN? ONE DOES LIKE TO KNOW WHO AND HOW MANY ONE IS ACCOMMODATING ON ANY GIVEN EVENING. I WAS EXPECTING THE PROCONSUL...

 

[Loxuru]

and she will probably be suddenly abandoned by the very people she was partying with not an hour ago as well

The party could go on, under Josephine's cross.

 

[bobinder]

​

Josephine hopes to distract the legionaries with a plea to assist her father, but being professionally conditioned as they are, to the spectacle of violent death, this is not a concern which they share. Meanwhile, Jasmine seems to be a little more empathetic to Josephine's distress...

As ever, the lighting and colour saturation are working effectively, with the inclusion of long evening shadows, providing consistency with the preceding pictures. And we're seeing excellent character interaction between Josephine and her executioners, with their hands gripping her arm and ankle - all developed with some subtle blending of photographic and 3D figure components. These are very original, creative adaptations of reclining Femjoy poses, which we have never seen used previously in crux manips. Great work again, Wragg!

 

[Barbaria1]

This one really was a 'quickie':

View attachment 877486

There’s always someone out there who thinks a “look on the bright side” kind of statement can be consoling.