Atrast vala once again my friends! This post is focused on my attempts to come up with a new design for the shriek. Like with my other darkspawn designs, the goal is not to make them look entirely new, rather it's to combine elements of both distinct designs into something cohesive that feels like the best of both. The shrieks are a design that changed quite heavily between Origins and the later games. The newer shriek design was entirely absent from Dragon Age 2, despite the fact that they did have a new design and were even modeled for the Legacy DLC, but didn't make it into the final build. We wouldn't see a fully functional version of this new shriek until the Descent DLC for Dragon Age Inquisition years later.
The shriek, or sharlocks, of Dragon Age Origins were much more monstrous compared to their lithe, elven cousins. This seems due in large part to the fact that they appear to be built on the same rig as the werewolf models for Dragon Age Origins and even share most of the same animations. In addition to the bestial head shape, hunched back and digitigrade legs, this shriek also features strange mandibles that sprout from the sides of the face. This version of the shriek is by far the one that differs the most from its original humanoid source compared to other darkspawn, who all have a much greater passing resemblance to the species of humanoids that they are birthed from.
The advantage of this design, as I see it, is the fear it inspires. Like the updated genlock design, the extent to which the elven form has been corrupted and twisted really instills a sense of unease in me. Perhaps its simply head-canon, but due to the close connection elves have with nature, I liked the idea that the perversion of the Blight would twist that into making a much more bestial form of darkspawn. They do look kind of goofy, perhaps due to the age of their model and graphical fidelity, but I have a lot of affection for this design and appreciate how it made them stand out amongst the other types of darkspawn.
The newer shriek, as seen here in an illustration from World of Thedas: Volume 1, are much changed from their original Origins design. Much of the more animalistic design elements from the werewolf rig have been abandoned in favor of a look that much more resembles the build of a regular elf. They retain the arm blades which have adopted the black metal "Mordor" aesthetic present in the armor and weapons of all darkspawn from DA2 onward which I like. Their heads are now mostly obscured by a cloth cowl and metal mask which features metal spikes around the mouth that callback to the mandibles of the previous design.
Finding a way to combine these VERY different looks was really hard at first. I definitely wanted to keep the look of the weapons and armor of the new look, as with the other new darkspawn, I think the "Mordor" look feels extremely appropriate. For anatomy, my first attempt was to just give the shriek the original's legs and head, and attach them to the newer shriek body. This just felt uninspired, especially in the head.
The advantage of this design, as I see it, is the fear it inspires. Like the updated genlock design, the extent to which the elven form has been corrupted and twisted really instills a sense of unease in me. Perhaps its simply head-canon, but due to the close connection elves have with nature, I liked the idea that the perversion of the Blight would twist that into making a much more bestial form of darkspawn. They do look kind of goofy, perhaps due to the age of their model and graphical fidelity, but I have a lot of affection for this design and appreciate how it made them stand out amongst the other types of darkspawn.
The newer shriek, as seen here in an illustration from World of Thedas: Volume 1, are much changed from their original Origins design. Much of the more animalistic design elements from the werewolf rig have been abandoned in favor of a look that much more resembles the build of a regular elf. They retain the arm blades which have adopted the black metal "Mordor" aesthetic present in the armor and weapons of all darkspawn from DA2 onward which I like. Their heads are now mostly obscured by a cloth cowl and metal mask which features metal spikes around the mouth that callback to the mandibles of the previous design.
For me, this design looks really cool, but a part of me really feels conflicted with just how very different it is. I imagine if this was how I was introduced to the shriek, I would adore it. But since I have such an attachment to the much more monstrous OG design, its hard for me to truly accept it as a "true shriek". Part of my struggles with this look ties back to my issue with the newer hurlock designs in that I don't like how much it just resembles a pale elf with arm blades and a mask. I prefer that disturbing sense of the power in how the darkspawn taint can twist the essence of elves into such a terrible and deadly monster.
I also found as I sketched different subtle variations of the original shriek head that I really disliked the mandibles. They felt out of place in the whole design and became an element that I constantly felt was adding too much "visual noise" to the face.
Despite this, I really wanted to try and find a way to make it work. In once sketch I tried making the mandibles built into the jaw like a Predator (which resembles the shriek in more than a few ways), and that led me down a rabbit hole which landed me at a huge point of inspiration: vampires from The Strain. It seemed like a perfect point of inspiration. By making the lower jaw split, it resembles the mandibles and then creates an interesting visual that could be used when the shriek uses their iconic howl power.
After going through Origins and Awakening again, I found a precedent in the way that The Mother's face splits into a nightmarish visage. With that I just loved the imagery of a shriek pouncing on a victim and then is mouth splits into a hideous maw and it releases a horrifying howl.
For the current version of my full-body design, my compromise was this; remain consistent with the pale, corpse-like design concept presented in newer darkspawn iterations, but re-introduce some of the more monstrous elements on top of it. This manifested itself in starting with the new shriek as a base and integrating the digitigrade legs, hunched posture, long arms, and the strain mandibles.
I've also introduced the spiny back I've been experimenting with for darkspawn and I really like the look so far. I think the feet should be adjusted some more, right how they look really wee. I'm going to definitely going to be revisiting the design again and posting more sketches. But for now, here is my idea for the shriek! Thanks for reading!
