CONCEPT ART + GRAPHIC DESIGN, 2022
BASTARD ARMS
WHILE SORTING THROUGH THE ITEMS OF MY LATE GRANDFATHER, I DECIDED TO STAY IN THE HOUSE OVERNIGHT. I WAS ALONE BUT KEPT HEARING FOOTSTEPS IN THE HALL, SO I PEERED INTO THE DARK AND SAW NOTHING. I FLIPPED ON THE LIGHTS, AND A LANKY FIGURE DUCKED OUT OF SIGHT. I SLAMMED THE DOOR, AND VIBRATIONS RIPPLED ACROSS THE WALLPAPER LIKE A PEBBLE DROPPED INTO WATER. THE CRUCIFIX ABOVE MY HEAD ROTATED UPSIDE DOWN, AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS SWEPT OFF THE WALLS. I HID IN THE CLOSET, TREMBLING WHILE DROWNING IN THE THUNDER OF MY HEARTBEAT, PRAYING FOR GOD TO SAVE ME.
THE ECTOPLASMIC SHORTY IS USED WHEN YOUR REALITY BECOMES A HORROR MOVIE, AND YOU REFUSE TO JOIN THE CAST.
IF A HORROR MOVIE SCENARIO TRANSPIRED IN OUR REALITY, WHAT WOULD NEUTRALIZE THE THREAT IN SELF-DEFENSE?
WHEN CREATING THE ECTOPLASMIC SHOTGUNS, THE BASTARD ARMS WEAPON SMITHS SOUGHT TO CREATE A WEAPON BOTH TIMELESS, POWERFUL, & CAPABLE OF ELIMINATING SUPERNATURAL THREATS. THEY MADE BARRELS FROM CLAY SOURCED FROM LOCATIONS WITH PROMINENT SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS. THE BARRELS WERE MOLDED INTO SHAPE USING HOLY WATER, BAKED IN A VOLCANIC KILN. AND COATED WITH A RESIN MADE FROM RUBUS SANCTUS PULP. EACH ROUND THAT PASSES THROUGH THE BARREL STRIPS THE INTERIOR OF THE RESIN & ITS SPIRITUAL COMPOSITION. ALTHOUGH POTENT & EFFECTIVE, THE ECTOPLASMIC SHOTGUNS ARE RELIABLE AGAINST SUPERNATURAL TARGETS FOR 8 - 12 SHOTS. ONCE THE RESIN HAS BEEN STRIPPED, THEY’RE STANDARD SHOTGUNS. THE PURPLE LIGHTS INDICATE THE REMAINING POTENCY, FLASH PINK WHEN THE WEAPON'S ABILITIES WANE, AND SHIFT TO RED ONCE DEPLETED.
THE ECTOPLASMIC SHORTY NEEDED TO FEEL MORE TACTICAL THAN ITS PREDECESSOR. A SHORTENED BARREL FOR MANEUVERABILITY, MUZZLE BRAKE FOR CONTROL, AND CARBON FIBER AS A LIGHTWEIGHT & DURABLE ALTERNATIVE TO WOOD.
