More nice stains

I keep on with the pottery making at the Sung family estate, which remains my favorite venue (although Sto Lat's tasteless choices actually earn me some decent cash in this regard). Some staining patterns are clearly beyond my current grasp - Apocralypse, Agatean Dragon, Landscape- and others I can succeed in but very plainly -geisha and samurai silhouette-. I have managed to achieve top results with others which I painted on gaiwans and incense burners. Here they are, for public enlightenment: 

Butterflies

An exquisite pattern of supremely delicate butterflies has been stained in gold upon it. 

Snarling Tiger

Stained by a master, the statue is decorated with a fierce and snarling tiger in gold and ivory. Its muscles rippling and its eyes following you. 

Water Buffalo

On its surface is a remarkably vivid gold water buffalo, gazing into the distance. 

Willow Tree

It has been decorated with an immaculate willow tree stained in midnight black and gold, resplendent in its intricate design. 

Pagoda 

It is decorated with a refined pattern of a sacred pagoda, worked out in painstaking detail and stained in gold and jade green

Crane

A proudly staring dark lavender and Hong red crane has been stained on the statue, showing a clear talent for lifelike portrayals. 

Panda

A most auspicious animal, the quietly munching form of a great panda has been skillfully stained upon its surface in cream and cyan.

I did get once a fluke with the geisha pattern, but cannot be 100% sure it is the top one. Anyway, it reads like this: 

Looking fragile and beautiful, the silhouette of a dainty geisha has been stained upon the tube in gold

Top pottery results!

I have finally managed to get just enough skill to make clay hollow tubes, which can then be turned into flutes! I also discovered some tricks to spice up my staining and glazing abilities, and the results are here to see, after some hour's work at the Sung family's pottery room. Each of these flutes has achieve its greatest staining and glazing message.

You get a light amber clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  Beautifully-rendered gold and McSweeney black hummingbirds dart around the flute, stained with a deft hand worthy of portraying the legendary hummingbirds of the Sun Emperor.  It is covered with a lustrous light amber glaze.

You get a jade green clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  A stunning pattern of gently lapping azure and snow white waves enhance the flute.  A vivid jade green glaze covers the flute.

You get a Sung blue clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  Symbol of longevity and Agatean heritage, a perfect gold and turquoise koi carp has been stained on the flute.  It has been coated with a lustrous Sung blue glaze.

You get an ivory clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay. A harmonious pattern of fine feathers in storm-cloud grey and thistle violet tastefully adorns the flute. A vivid ivory glaze covers the flute.

You get a silver clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  It is decorated with a breathtaking pattern of snowflakes, each one unique, stained in gold.  It is covered with a lustrous silver glaze.

You get a plum clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  An intricate and amazingly detailed pattern of down white and dark purple lotus blossoms has been stained on the flute.  A lustrous plum glaze covers the flute.

You get a lemon yellow clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  Designed to catch moments of grief and loss and the temporality of life, the flute has been stained with a breathtaking pattern of falling leaves in crimson and light brown.  It is covered with a vivid lemon yellow glaze.

You get a snow white clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  A beautiful and traditional pattern of Agatean cherry blossoms has been expertly stained upon the flute in cherry blossom pink and hot pink.  It has been coated with a vivid snow white glaze.

You get a scarlet clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  It is adorned with the beautiful and very traditional pattern of delicate light bamboo and moorland green bamboo branches.  A lustrous scarlet glaze covers the flute.

You get an ebony clay flute from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

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l flute

A number of evenly spaced holes runs along the length of this flute which has been lovingly made from clay.  It is decorated with an absorbing design of a lone graceful water lily in Tang green and buttercup yellow.  It is covered with a vivid ebony glaze.

One from Ephebe, One from Agatea

I continue with my pottery efforts. At the Sung family estate, I have moved from teapots to gaiwans, but am still trying to figure what stain might be more conducive to an improvement of my skills. I have also recently discovered a pottery workshop in Ephebe and given a try to each of their pieces. I am not too partial towards mugs, but the colors in this one blended beautifully:

The bell-shaped bowl of this gaiwan flares beautifully, and nestles perfectly into its matching saucer. The lid settles onto its bowl like a tea leaf drifting down into an Emperor's teapot and the pages of history. A classic scene of artistic bamboo branches has been stained upon it in silver and gold. A clear Sung blue glaze covers the gaiwan.

A classy mug, made of rather fine quality pottery. A pretty ring of ocean silver and grape-gold diamonds decorates the mug. It has been coated with a gleaming sun-kissed purple glaze.

More pottery: a traditional tea bowl

I keep producing pieces at the Sung Estate's pottery room, which I find more beautiful -and doable- than those at Sto Lat, even though the latter can pay handsomely. I have tried moving from teapots to something more complex, and a few days ago  I tried tea bowls.  The following was the best result:

This is a small and finely formed Agatean tea bowl. Made to the high standards of Agatean etiquette, it is exactly the right size to drink tea from in the required three sips. An intricate pattern of white and aquamarine waves adorns the bowl. It has been coated with a lustrous thistle violet glaze.

It also has my name inscribed in it 'in tidy cursive'. The Agatean version of Winswand would be 温斯旺 (Wēn sī wàng), and here is how it looks:

Best Teapot Ever!

I have been practicing the fine art of pottery making for quite some time now, mostly in the pottery room at the Sung family estate, in Bes Pelargic. I have mostly specialized in Auriental teapots with kitsune fox patterns stained in them. If you search older pages of the grimoire, you will find a picture of one of my early works.

I must have been particularly inspired a few days ago, as I actually succeed in getting both the best forming and the best staining on the same piece. Take a good look at this superb piece. This is its overall look:

And at the bottom lies a nice surprise painted and lurking in wait for the moment when the unwary server of tea shall lift the teapot for filling cups:

The description reads as follows:

The perfect lotus flower on its leaf floating gently on the waters of life is an image that has inspired many a religious, philosophical and poetic thought.  Here then is the inspiration brought to life in ceramic poetry.  The base of this teapot is an almost lifelike round lotus leaf, every line articulated, the artisan even took pains to create translucent dewdrops upon it.  From the base three layers of lotus petals of the finest ceramics curve upwards, almost enfolding each other, just showing or suggesting the layer beneath.  Through some unfathomable mastery of clay there is even the illusion of stamens  at the heart of the pot even beneath the tips that form the lid, one rising higher to be able to remove and replace it.  On one side a somewhat rolled petal seems to function as the spout whilst on the other an incredibly detailed dragonfly has landed on two petals to form a handle of sorts.  Highly valued for its auspiciousness, it has been stained to the highest degree of craftsmanship in gold with the scene of a nine-tailed sacred kitsune fox imparting its wisdom and magical powers on the Sun Emperor.  A magical jewel glints from the kitsune's mouth in what might almost be pure octarine.  A strong Sung blue glaze covers the teapot.

It appears to have something written on it.

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read teapot

You read the beautiful Sung blue teapot:

Written in the clay in tidy script:

Winswand

Pottery research

Recently I have improved somewhat my pottery staining skills. After consulting Quow's register of results,  I think I can add a very little bit of information, which I hope to be expanding upon in soon-to-come days.

Bonus in crafts.pottery.staining - 278

This morning I made six Agatean teapots at the pottery room in the Sung family estate. I stained two of them with a pagoda pattern, two with a feathers pattern and two with a butterflies pattern. The latter two do not appear in Quow's list, I imagine because he is just too good to get anything but the top results in them.

For the pagoda pattern I predictably got poor results. The message was 'You hastily start to decorate a xxx teapot with some crimson stain' (second from bottom?). The look was indeed disappointing:

A tall tower-like thing has been stained onto it in crimson.

Results were much more promising for the feathers. The first teapot got two 'carefully' messages during the staining process, the second one a 'carefully' and a 'deftly':

It is decorated with a pattern of feathers stained in crimson

A dramatic pattern of feathers envelops the teapot in crimson

As for the butterflies, the results were the same and the messages I got were expertly + carefully and deftly + carefully:

It is decorated with a pleasing pattern of crimson butterflies

And here are some snapshots!

Inspiration

High, aristocratic windows cast an air of arrogance over the silk upholstered walls of the hallway. The crystal candelabra mounted on the walls between the windows try vainly to outmatch the paned haughtiness. The polished ebony floorboards glow in proud contempt. Soothing tapestries of bold blue silk hang on either side of the spartan doorway in the north wall, giving this part of the hallway a very serious feel to it.

There are three obvious exits: north, east and west.
A Sung family guard and a pretty geisha are standing here.
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draw brush
You draw the enamelled calligraphy brush from the red lacquer brush case into your left hand.
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get book from pit
Su Su the Sung family peacock arrives from the west.
You get an open cheap flimsy chapbook from a pocket in Bottomless Pit.
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rip page from book
You rip a page from the open cheap flimsy chapbook.
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look su su

Strutting around in obvious grandeur is a beautiful specimen of a male peacock. The Sung family keeps Su Su, as he is called, in the best feed and the best care. The Lady Sung regards her pet with love and devotion and would be very disappointed if anything happened to him. The bird however, probably cares less. Su Su, while a beautiful bird, has that obvious look of birdy disdain.

He is in good shape.
He is standing.
> The pretty geisha flutters her eyelashes.

You exclaim in Agatean: nice birdie!
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pat su
You pat Su Su the Sung family peacock on the head.
> A passenger junk drifts lazily across Pearl River outside the window.
The Sung family guard leaves west.
> Su Su the Sung family peacock makes soft clucking sounds.
write with brush on paper in agatean
You start writing on the sheet of cheap writing paper with the enamelled calligraphy brush.

You finish writing on the sheet of cheap writing paper.
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sign paper with brush
You sign the sheet of cheap writing paper with the enamelled calligraphy brush.
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read paper
You read the sheet of cheap writing paper:
Written in messy gleaming silver ink calligraphy in Agatean:
Drinking is good
but not in excess.
Procure moderation.
Written in cursive gleaming silver ink is the authentic and attested signature of Winswand in Agatean:
Master Winswand

> A Sung family guard arrives from the west.
A young geisha arrives from the north.

You say in Agatean: umm... quite a bad haiku. And doesn't match the syllables either...
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shrug
You shrug.

Turning the Wheel

Yesterday was quite a busy day. After blorpling and visiting Dave the Necromancer (great equipment he has! Pity 'tis so damn heavy...) I've been cultivating my arts and crafts. Violin and flute are much more remiss these days to reward my playing with some expertise, but pottery compensates for their failiures...

So this is the last ginger jar I've shaped and use for holding purple mineral powder and a nice work too , if it isn't preposterous that I should say so myself):

This is one of the rooms that members may rent from the club. A wardrobe stands opposite the bed and a door leads out into the corridor.
There is one obvious exit: north.
A beautiful storm-cloud grey ginger jar is on the floor.

>look jar
Even small and day-to-day items can grab the imagination of the casual viewer. This beautiful ginger jar is such an incredible piece of work that it does just that. A refined umber and jade green portrayal of a revered kitsune fox adorns its surface, a magic jewel cradled between its five tails. It has been coated with a bright storm-cloud grey glaze.
It appears to have something written on it.
The beautiful storm-cloud grey ginger jar is almost empty with some purple mineral powder.
It is almost empty.

>read jar
You read the beautiful storm-cloud grey ginger jar:
Written in the clay in elegant script:
Winswand