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Polar dilemma
by-nc-sa
Published: 2014-06-19 17:44:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 11781; Favourites: 689; Downloads: 0
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Description
Playing with that old idea of elementals again.—-
The husky here was part of a arctic expedition gone wrong. Separated from the others and stuck in a blizzard, things could hardly have been be worse. After desperately searching for his way back in the hounding weather and while on the verge of collapsing, a group of strange expeditioners found him and took him back to their camp for shelter and warmth. But relief quickly turns into despair when he realizes who rescued him…
You see, plutonium has the property of alpha decay which makes plutonium self-heating - large lumps could even boil water. Thanks to that property, plutonium elementals are extra resistant to cold and make excellent polar expeditioners.
It also means that they are, for their radioactivity, branded as a threat to society and exiled. Polar regions are not just the areas where they do well, they are pretty much the only places they won’t be chased away from. So, over the years, they have set up camps there and formed their own societies.
And the husky now finds himself in one of such camps. What do you do? If you leave now, you are going to be all alone against the still-raging blizzard which you nearly froze to death in. If you stay, you risk being irradiated to death….if the bitter elementals don’t just lynch you first.
The clock is ticking…
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Comments: 42
I really like the simple illustration, but the story of this is awesome *-*
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I love the atmosphere, is a bittersweet combination of peace and restlessness. The proposition is really interesting though is to play a little with the biological principles. But I like it, sound like a grat story.
Congratulations for the amazing art.
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Oh yes, this is absolutely bonkers in terms of biological sense-making. But taking liberties is something I do gladly.
You speak many words of delight.
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I'm currently running a campaign for the "After the Bomb" role-playing game. The story may be featuring an expedition into the Great White North, and this has provided some lovely visual inspiration. Thanks for the Muse fuel!
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Hey, you welcome. Always a delight to be of assistance.
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I want to read more about this world you have touched on with this piece! Scientific inaccuracies or not, I love the concept, and your interpretation in this wonderful artwork! The expressions you have captured on their faces enhance the storyline, and your style fits perfectly with the subject matter. Bravo!
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Ah, alas, there really isn't much more to that world than this, it's kind of a one-off idea.
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That red panda's expression is breaking my heart. Great job with this! I love how you used the color to tell the story.
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Oh this is great! I love the thought out concept, and backstory. Great execution in layout, perspective and subject!! I like the lighting too!
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Never mind the scientific error: this piece is amazing as it stands.
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This is amazing....and the story just brings it all together. I sooo want to know more!
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Ah, well, there really isn't much more. It's a one-off idea.
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Beautiful, Congrats on the well deserved DD!!
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The leader seems to understand what he's going through...
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Not hard to figure out that someone is scared of you when they freak out and cower before you!
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Yes, but despite that he seems very sympathetic to his plight.
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This picture you've done of these anthro characters looks very nice and interesting.
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This is awesome, and I love the story that goes along with it, even if it isn't completely accurate. I actually didn't know it wasn't accurate until I read the comments. Anyways, I love the whole thing, and hope it has a continuing story.
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Do I spy an Okapi in the back? Your adorableness can't hide from me!
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The art is beautiful, but man, your plutonium information is a bit off. Plutonium is a lot less dangerous than you think it is. It's probably more TOXIC than it is radioactive since it's buddies with uranium and lead (toxic heavy metals).
Plutonium almost entirely decays by ALPHA and BETA. What that means is if these people are part plutonium it can't escape their own bodies. Skin shields alpha and beta radiation. Even if it's part of their skin, the effective range and penetration means it's almost entirely shielded by their clothing.
Long and short of it: The husky is safe being that distance away. Unless the elementals are exhaling alpha and beta radiation, in which case, prolonged exposure would lift the chance of lung cancer (like smoking, or being in a radon heavy basement).
He could go to a different room I guess.
My name is Ringshadow, and I work in radiation protection. Radiation and radioactive contamination surveys are my job.
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You are absolutely correct and sadly, this is something that I only realized as I was putting together the companion text for the image. Read up a bit on the effects of plutonium and the radioactivity associated with it and realized that uh-oh, plutonium is far less dangerous than I'm making it up to be. But at that point I was also 15 hours into this painting and I really liked this concept so I didn't want to just abort either. So I cringed and I whinged and then I just decided that accuracy be damned, I'm going with my faulty interpretation of things. I guess one could also go with the idea that they are in fact safer people than the folk tales say, but widespread rumors and speculation have made people more fearful of plutonium elementals than they have any reason to be.
At least I didn't make them glow green.
Well, there's a job title I didn't expect to see anyone on Deviantart have.
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OHHH. Yeah, I get why you stuck with it then. Props for doing some reading up and thank you for not doing the green glow.
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I love your animals--so much personality here! Also lovely details and that is quite a story! Congratulations on your DD!
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