See the Masters of the Ascendant Order Captured in Cosplay

Community High Isle

07/19/2022

We teamed up with two talented artists to produce a set of meticulously detailed outfits representing the antagonists of The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle—check them out!

In celebration of the release of the High Isle Chapter, as well as the ongoing Legacy of the Bretons year-long adventure, we partnered with cosplayers Cyperian and Issabel to bring the fearsome overlords of the Ascendant Order to life! Together, they held a photoshoot at the Castle of the Mazovian Dukes in Czersk, Poland, and thanks to some amazing work by photographer Yumikasa, we think you’ll agree the results are incredible.

Check out the pair of completed Ascendant Lord and Magus cosplays and learn about how it was all crafted below.

Thank you both for taking the time to sit down with us and discuss your work. How long have the two of you been crafting cosplay, and how did you get started?

Cyperian: I began crafting cosplays more than eight years ago. Believe it or not, I had no artistic experience of any kind of prior to my dive into the art of cosplaying. I guess you can say that my adventure with art started with cosplaying, haha!

Issabel: I initially dove into cosplaying during the very first Intel Extreme Masters in Poland. I discovered that there was going to be a cosplay contest during the event, and I decided to give it a go. Despite being a novice, I managed to place third, which I considered a huge success. After the contest, many of the other cosplayers encouraged me to keep moving forward with the hobby, and now, here I am nine years later, still crafting!


So, you’re both hardened veterans at this point! What drew you to the art of cosplay?

Issabel: I was always an artist, hungry for new ideas, techniques, and experiences. I tried sketching with pencils, painting with various paints on different types of paper, canvas, and even walls. None of that was ever enough for me, though. But cosplay provided me with an infinite number of ways to try out new things and develop my skillset.

Cyperian: I’d have to say it’s because it’s just so much fun! The first time I put on a cosplay outfit and saw how cool I looked and how many people appreciated the work put into it, I knew for certain that I wanted to do more.

You both captured a lot of intricate detail in the arms and armor. What kinds of methods and materials did you use when creating them?

Cyperian: The Ascendant Lord’s entire suit is crafted using safe materials, meaning it can travel to any event with no problems or damage to the outfit. The armor is made of EVA foam. The helmet and the sword were 3D-printed. Then I gathered all the elements and meticulously painted them so they captured that realistic aesthetic.

Issabel: The Ascendant Magus’ armor is made using thermoplastic material called EVA foam. My main goal was to achieve this worn, hammered-metal texture (a very classic look for Elder Scrolls franchise.) I used an advanced handmade tool (three brushes glued with tape) which I used to press against the foam material to mold the texture I desired! After the texture was complete, I sealed the foam with wood glue, and based using black and silver spray paints. Then I weathered it with watered black paint to make the armor look authentically worn out!


What would you say was the most challenging aspect of crafting these outfits?

Issabel: The most challenging part was to design fastenings for the breastplate to keep the feminine shape! Foam is flexible and does not work the same way as metal.

Cyperian: The trickiest part of the project for me was the initial planning. Preparing all the shapes and patterns and then making them work together to ensure the silhouette looks good.

Is there a particular detail that you are especially proud of?

Issabel: I crafted a corset binding in the back to help highlight the feminine figure underneath, and covered it completely with the armor’s spinal ornament, same as the pattern on the front piece of the breastplate. This ornament is additionally supported with magnets, and decorative fake leather belts on top of it that are kept in place with small metal hooks. I’m especially proud of this because none of those fastenings are visible in the final result.

Cyperian: I’m happy with how the entire outfit turned out, but if I had pick one detail to highlight, it would be the paint job. I worked extensively on it to make sure it clearly possessed subtle features and distinctive elements that would provide more character to the armor set.


There are so many folks who are interested in cosplay, but don’t know the first place to start. What is the best piece of advice you can share with these prospective cosplayers?

Cyperian: If anyone would like to get into cosplaying, there is only one advice I can think of: Start now! Finish one project, and the rest will follow.

Issabel: Do not be afraid to try new techniques, make mistakes, or fail as these are an essential part of the learning process that gives us the necessary experience to improve our skills. I can tell you that even now, with nine years of experience, I still make mistakes. And sometimes those slipups become new features on the outfit or teach you how best to approach certain aspects of the cosplay, making it easier on your future work. Be creative, and if you have an innovative idea—don’t be afraid to try!

Before we part ways, where can fans find more of your work?

Cyperian: You can find more of my works across my various social channels:

Issabel: Same here:


Thank you to both cosplayers for taking the time to sit down today and share their creative process with us! Be sure to check both Cyperian and Issabel’s work on their pages and let them know much you love their amazing renditions of the big baddies of The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle now live for PC/Mac and Stadia*, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. 

*Available only in limited territories.

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