Almost a hundred competitors submitted designs to compete in the
Challenge of Beauty! After months of deliberation, the Divine Judges
(who scored without knowledge of the artist or cartel) finally came to
their decision. This was the last challenge before the Final Ascension
which occurs next week!

The winner and holder of the Seal of Beauty is Kharaen of the Daughters'
Trinkets Cartel for an iridescent tiara of blooming flowers!

Second Place and 700 credits went to Narynth of the Disciples of the
Dark Spirit Cartel for a silver-plated merbloom chain!

Third Place and 500 credits went to Incabulos of the Seer's Candle
Cartel for a throne of twilight concordance!

Fourth Place and 250 credits went to Arel of the Crystal Quill
Bookbinding Cartel for a thick tome covered in misted crystal!

Fifth Place and 100 credits went to Arte of the Gastronomists Cooking
Cartel for a platter of quivering tapioca spires!

We would also like to give honorable mentions to the following designers
who scored high and were worthy contenders: Lendren (the Gorseddau
Cartel), Sadhyra (Noname Cartel), Ayrna (Gossipers Bookbinding Cartel),
Nihmriel (Erudio Tailoring Cartel), Saaga (Crystal Feather Cartel),
Nariah (House d'Vanecu Cartel), Quois (The Tainted Trinity of Nil
Cartel), Jael (Blackpearl Jewelry Cartel), Kalaneya (Darkhammer Forging
Cartel), and Kyvus (Opera Populaire Cartel)

For those who wish to peruse the designs:

FIRST PLACE DESIGN

Appearance (short_desc):
an iridescent tiara of blooming flowers

Dropped (long_desc):
Bejewelled seeds have begun to sprout, speckling the entwined band of
this
tiara with a myriad of vibrant blossoms.

Examined (extended_desc):
The slim, platinum band of this diadem-like tiara tapers as it encircles
the head until it suddenly blooms into clusters of large, whimsical
lilies that nestle above each of the wearer's ears. The lilies' silken
sunset petals are stiff from the application of a musky perfume and have
been lightly speckled with golden freckles. Multihued palladium vines
entwine delicately about the band, meshing into a complex pattern
reminiscent of chantilly lace. Tiny emerald seeds sprout from among the
vines, blossoming into a stunning array of wild flora that overflows the
band, loose roots and drooping petals dangling below. The captured
flowers represent many regions, from the desert kouseki to the lofty
skybloom and the ethereal moonflower, their colours and shapes both
blending and clashing together in a purposefully chaotic assembly. The
blossoms have been carved with marvellous detail, their petals sculpted
so finely that they seem to be shifting towards an unseen light and
their leaves seem to be ruffling against silent eddies. Crowning the
tiara is an orchid in half bloom, carefully carved from refined crystal.
The crystal's facets capture the colours of the surrounding bejewelled
flora and refract radiant light, bathing everything about them with a
rainbow-tinged hue. An iridescent pearl shell coats the sheltering
petals of the stunning orchid, silver detailing every vein.

SECOND PLACE DESIGN:

Appearance (short_desc):
a silver-plated merbloom chain

Dropped (long_desc):
A plated merbloom chain glints in the available light.

Examined (extended_desc):
Two fragile stalks of merbloom have been artfully entwined and plated in
a sheen of silver to form this delicate chain. Each stem slighter than
the width of a fingernail, the dainty plants have been stripped of their
leaves and arranged to overlap one another in a perpetual pattern of
crossing paths. Recognisable primarily for its lacy fronds, the merbloom
itself would be indistinguishable from any other aquatic herb were it
not for the two leaflets preserved and hung from the centre of the
carcanet. Silvered similarly to the adornment from which they hang, both
have been moulded to create deep depressions, touching only at their
respective edges. Positioned in this way, they form a hinged locket,
contents visible even when the piece has been clasped shut. Within, a
tiny silk iris resides, several deep blue and purple petals dipping
dramatically toward its stem even as a select few reach upward to press
against the gilded prison. Tendrils of green branch outward from the
flower's stalk to intertwine with the locket's netted exterior, allowing
the minute work of art to remain suspended and supported.

THIRD PLACE DESIGN

Appearance (short_desc):
a throne of twilight concordance

Dropped (long_desc):
Glittering monolithically, a magnificent throne of twilight concordance
stands on its dais, dark silk billowing gloriously around it.

Examined (extended_desc):
Stunning to behold, this throne is a work of aesthetic perfection
befitting honoured philosophic and scientific principles. Standing atop
a prodigious, stair-like dais of polished steel that has been etched
concentrically with mathematical proofs, the high-backed marble throne
emerges imperiously - a testament to the adage 'order out of chaos'. The
throne itself has its seat and back hewn into precise geometric facets
from lustrous white marble, while the arms are cut from a heavily
striated black indigo marble and gilded with electrum wire, emphasising
the veracious symmetry and position of the one who sits upon it. The
bodies of the two-headed eagles have been plated with gold and silver,
their wings majestically limning the throne's back as two shining eagle
heads emerge from above, their countenances pointed to either side. Held
aloft around the dais by a fan of steel poles, a long swirl of dark,
twilight-blue silk encrusted with gems trails out luxuriously, providing
the illusory backdrop of a starlit sky. Marked constellations upon the
silk twinkle in the breeze as they throw light over the reflective dais,
turning it into a fractal mandala of serene hues and lambencies.

FOURTH PLACE DESIGN

Appearance (short_desc):
a thick tome covered in misted crystal

Dropped (long_desc):
A thick tome lies here, glimpses of gemstone spires visible beneath its
misty crystal cover.

Examined (extended_desc):
The creamy vellum pages of this thick tome are bound together by thin
sheets of silver. Sealed onto the front cover of the book is a thin slab
of opaque, milky-white crystal; the opacity shifts and alters with
movement, turning the cloudy crystal partially transparent. Slender
gemstone spires appear beneath the misty crystal, fading into view as if
breaking through a hazy bank of clouds. Turning the book reveals
fascinating changes in the scene as the dense fog appears to dissipate
and reform. At one angle, a graceful tower of deep emerald pierces the
cloud cover, glittering as if in sunlight; a partial turn causes the
emerald to fade, replaced by a slender spire of sparkling blue sapphire.
Another slight rotation causes a tower of gleaming golden beryl to rise
from the misted crystal, which melts away in favour of a spire of pale,
shining amethyst. The tome leaves the impression of an enchanting city
of spires hidden away behind banks of fog; never completely visible, but
pieces of its collective beauty blooming forth.

FIFTH PLACE DESIGN

Appearance (short_desc):
a platter of quivering tapioca spires

Dropped (long_desc):
A quivering arrangement of tapioca spires sags upon a speckled platter.

Examined (extended_desc):
A heaping pile of tapioca pudding has been dumped onto a porcelain
platter and arranged into a shape accordant with that of Hallifax, the
City of Spires. Thick enough to maintain its shape so long as it is
handled gingerly, the gelatinous mound has been scooped into the shape
of five towers rising from a craggy base. The towers are moulded from a
creamy vanilla paste, interspersed liberally with pearls of translucent
tapioca and minced fruit. Four of the spires rise at intervals from the
base, each connected to its neighbours by a series of gravity-defying
bridges. All four are linked to the central spire, which rises taller
than all others, held in perilous equilibrium by dozens of glistening
bridges and lattices of sculpted pudding. Bits of apple, plum, pear and
orange are suspended within, and together with the tapioca pearls they
serve to mimic the iridescent glow of Hallifax's gemstone towers.

Consume:
Cool and smooth, the thick vanilla pudding of this arrangement forms a
pleasant base upon which the pearls of tapioca and bits of minced fruit
build their textured and tangy concordance. Each mouthful is sweet yet
tart,
with bold citrus flavours contending with bland tapioca, each disparate
part
coming together to form a resonant whole that harkens to the Collective
upon
which it is molded.

Smell:
The barest whiff of citrus and vanilla curls within your nostrils.

Taste:
The taste of mild vanilla fills your mouth, followed by the crunch of a
tantalising nugget of fruit.



Penned by My hand on the 9th of Kiani, in the year 257 CE.