CONCEPT ART + GRAPHIC DESIGN, 2022
BASTARD ARMS
MY WIFE AND I WOULD HEAR THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE AFTER DARK. AND THAT NIGHT I WOKE TO THE HORSES IN A STIR. I LOOKED TO THE STABLES THROUGH THE FOG OF MY BREATH, BUT THE WINDOWS WERE FROSTED OVER. THE MOMENT MY FEET TOUCHED THE FLOOR, I SAW HIM MOVE. A STUMPY FIGURE OF A MAN STANDING IN THE MOONLIGHT. HIS CLOTHES DANCED LIKE SMOKE FROM A CANDLE. WE STARED AT EACH OTHER FOR SO LONG. I THOUGHT I WAS DREAMING. UNTIL HE SWIPED THE CROSS OFF THE WALL AND WOKE MY WIFE. I GRABBED THE SHOTGUN BY THE BED, AND WHEN I TURNED, HE WAS GONE. I SPARED MY WIFE THE TALE, AND SHE FELL BACK ASLEEP, BUT I SAT THERE IN THE COLD, UTTERLY TERRIFIED. WONDERING WHAT A BUCKSHOT WOULD HAVE DONE ANYHOW.
THE ECTOPLASMIC SHOTGUN IS DESIGNED FOR THE LIVING, THE DEAD, AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.
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 SHOTGUN NEEDED TO FEEL AS THOUGH IT WERE A FRONTIER WEAPON. A COMPARISON TO THE UNFAMILIAR FRONTIER OF THE SPIRIT REALM. THAT THOUGHT LED TO THE SHOTGUN BEING LEVER-ACTION.
