Theme
We all know the trope: Kings, queens and other royalty gone mad with power or just not right in the head. Ruling over a compliant court who will humor their liege in whatever way they can or risk losing their heads.
This weeks challenge is for you to come up with an emperor, king, queen, prince, princess, duke, etc. who has gone completely bananas and is abusing their power in some eccentric way. Just to be clear, this is not meant to be a bloody or violent challenge. Any king is happy to torture or execute his subjects, but only a mad one will order his duke to stand in a tub of molten cheese for an entire afternoon.
In other words, it's silly, don't take it too seriously :)
Midjourney prompt for post image:
a mad king with a bird obsession, wearing feathered garments and a golden crown, sitting on his throne, in a throne room filled with birds and stained with bird poo, guards in bird costumes stand to attention in the background --ar 4:3 --v 6.0
Rules
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Follow the community’s rules above all else
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One comment and image per user
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Embed image directly in the post (no external link)
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Workflow/Prompt sharing encouraged (we're all here for fun)
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At the end of the week each post will be scored according to the following grid
| Prize | Points | |
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| | Most upvoted | +3 points | | Second most upvoted | +1 point | | Theme is clear | +1 point | | OP’s favorite (me, this week) | +1 point | | Most original | +1 point | | Last entry (to compensate for less time to vote) | +1 point | | Prompt and workflow included | +1 point | | Creative abuse of power | +2 points |
- Posts that are ex aequo (tied) will both get the points
- Winner gets to pick next theme! Good luck everyone and have fun!
Past entries
- Dieselpunk
- Goosebump Book
- Deep Space Wonders
- Fairy Tales
- A New Sport
- Monsters are Back to School
- War and Peace
- Distant lands
- Unreal Cartoons
- Sustainable Ecumenopolis
- Masks
- Mascots
- Old Gods, New Jobs
- Winter Festivities
- High Tech, Low Life
- Character Limit
- Gatsby's Jazz Hands
- Reel to Canvas
- Cruelly Cute Characters
- Retro Sci-Fi
- Get Your Bard On!
- Busy Bees: Animals with Jobs
And that's the end of this challenge! Congrats to @Deceptichum for winning this round!
Normally I'd write a personal reply to everyone but I'm feeling a bit down and under the weather. I just want to say thank you to everyone who participated. I enjoyed receiving all of your submissions and I hope to see you again next challenge!
Story: In the heart of a grand, medieval kingdom, under the sprawling shadows of towering stone walls and amidst the echoing halls of an ancient castle, a scene of bewildering absurdity unfolds. The throne room, a vast chamber adorned with the rich tapestries of ages past and lit by the flickering light of countless torches, serves as the stage for this peculiar judgment.
At the center of this spectacle sits the Queen, perched upon a throne that seems as if carved from the very essence of majesty itself. Her attire, a dizzying array of silks and jewels, cascades around her like a river of wealth, her crown a beacon of her unrivaled authority. Yet, for all her regal bearing, her eyes shimmer with a light that speaks not of wisdom, but of a mind unmoored from the shores of reason.
Before her, a man stands accused of treason, his face a masked in fear. He had expected many possible ends—none as bizarre as this. The courtiers and advisors around him share his confusion, their whispered speculations a rustling tide that fills the chamber with a palpable tension.
The Queen rises, and her voice, though laced with the sweet tones of benevolence, carries the irrefutable weight of command. "For the crime of treason against the crown," she declares, her words echoing off the stone, "I hereby sentence you to be snuggled to death by one thousand puppies!"
A murmur ripples through the assembly, a wave of disbelief and suppressed laughter. Yet no one dares question the decree, for the Queen's word is law, however unfathomable it may be.
Tool: Stable Diffusion on my phone linking three different models together.
Prompt: A glorious midevil royal throne room with a gorgeous and wicked queen and her is populated by adorable thousands of adorable and cute puppies instead, almost a sea of puppies as far as the eye can see
Use an ultrawide angle view that's on ceiling looking down at the scene
Dynamic Posing and Composition with energetic poses capturing characters in mid-action bringing a sense of movement and intensity. Detailed and Intricate Work with a high level of detail with intricate work that is particularly evident in depictions of muscular anatomy and complex costume designs. Bold, Expressive Faces conveying a wide range of emotions effectively including subtle expressions. Strong Use of Shadows and Contrasts the art features strong contrasts between light and shadow, adding a dramatic flair to this image emphasizing the mood and tone of the scene. Includes detailed backdrops that enrich the environment in which the characters interact. Influence of Manga, the style shows an influence from Manga, evident in the way characters have exaggerated features and dynamic action sequences., a painting where the brush strokes in this style are typically bold and visible, often applied with a sense of immediacy. Artists in this style do not blend their brush strokes into a smooth, seamless texture but rather leave them distinct and noticeable. This technique adds a dynamic, textural quality to the painting, giving the impression of movement and vibrancy. Instead of relying on subtle gradations of tone or color, this style often employs pure, vivid colors applied directly from the tube. The colors are sometimes mixed on the canvas itself rather than on a palette, creating a fresh and spontaneous effect. The use of contrasting colors side by side can create a shimmering effect, adding to the vibrancy of the painting. Emphasize the effects of light and atmosphere. The bold brush strokes can be used to capture fleeting effects of sunlight and shadow, often changing the color and shape of objects in the painting. The focus is on capturing the impression of a moment, rather than a detailed, exact representation.
Other examples:
Congratulations, you got (shared) 2nd place! I love the included story, especially that last paragraph really matches what I had in mind for this challenge.