The library at night. Made some improvements to the dragon statues and added some lighting to the center tower. Also slapped some stars into the background.
Ayra Katrin Library – Night
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Author Archives: CSD
Robolds (Robot Kobolds)
I’ve been posting these elsewhere, but I probably should also post them to my personal site. Just some fun not related to any other CSD story line.
The Story of Yezukh’ay, Chapter 1
This story is from “Sharpheart”, which takes place in the miniature universe called the Voidplane, where a gravity-like force pulls everything from both directions towards a flat plane. A variety of nations exist on floating landmasses on the plane. Living can be harsh for the mortal beings that find themselves here, but the Voidplane is saturated with a field of energy often referred to simply as “magic”, which proves to be a great aid in surviving here. The mortal races are not from the Voidplane, but were pulled in from an “outer universe”. There are native races of the Voidplane, and these are immortal beings which often care for the mortals.
This story follows one particular mortal being named Yezukh’ay, a member of the Suyen race and one living on an impoverished small island. A grand vessel that visited regularly to deliver supplies awoke a desire in her to find out what else is out there in “the empty”.
Threpel Hessai
Hessai, the Unliving Evil that hunts the living and plagues the world of the Elehura and Sheshai the Purifier stories. According to legend, it was once just a singular being but learned to become many and take on different forms. Its instances always have common traits, though: dark gray skin, eight “limbs” (though these could manifest to appear as horns or ears), and a singular red eye.
Threpel Hessai are the most common of the Hessai variants, and the closest resemblance and size to the anthropomorphic races.
Obmunjalae Mini Vessel
This vessel is Lady Obmunjalae’s personal craft. It happens to be one of the most compact Voidplane vessels in use, contrasting greatly with her main vessel (the Obmunjalae), which is the largest. In this picture, the craft is docked at its personalized spot in the Obmunjalae vessel’s hangar bay. You can also see the Lady inviting Yezukh’ay to board, though the Suyen woman looks a little nervous about it. It’s not exactly a ‘canon’ scene, as Yezu was much younger when she first took a trip on this craft.
I did some experimenting on the vessel and I think it turned out pretty nice. The most obvious change is the new fin design on the back. There’s also a fancy emblem mounted near the back. The vessel now has doors that rotate up and can put the vessel in a locked up state or enclose the cockpit during travel. It also has the same paint job as the Obmunjalae.
For reference, here is the previous design:
Various Character Faces
Tatyakori
Divine Dragon, steward of the living world, guardian of the key of life, ancient opponent of the Unliving Evil, teacher of the healing and purifying power, granter of immortal rule, warden of the fallen, vision dreamer.
3D Character Faces 2022
With another year ending, time to reflect on progress. How about a collage of all CSD characters that have been rendered in 3D using Blender. Some haven’t been worked on for years and some are in their early stages, but these are the character models that currently exist and are decent enough to show.
Row 1 left – Agwilika Rhe
Reija, Syrsi (national guardian)
Anjil, Ayra Katrin sorcerer
Crinos Kylal, Leader of the Seven Star Nation
Row 2 left – Elehura
Tatyakori, the Divine Dragon
Salus Mudrah, the Immortal Emperor
Seros, Warrior in the Order of the Eclipse
Nuzoko, Healer and sister to Seros
Slyvette, Warrior in the Order of the Eclipse
Row 3 left and row 4 – Sheshai the Purifier
Sheshai, Healer in the House of the Hand
Miryin, Commander in the House of the Shield
Sheshai’s “Shadow”
Besuri, Second Commander in the House of the Shield
Azel, Warrior in the House of the Shield
Woklah, Warrior in the House of the Shield
Adri, Scout in the House of the Shield
Ulrae, Mentor in the House of the Hand
Saydah, Civilian and exile of Lukaudalin
Row 5 – Sharpheart
Kemadrel, Tanteru and Sha Rephart Council Lord
Lunark, Lurin and Sha Rephart Council Lord
Tatyarori, Dragon and Sha Rephart Council Lord
Besudores, Sha Rephart soldier, inspiration for Besuri
Lady Obmunjalae, Lurin in Gwil form, owner of the Voidplane’s largest vessel
Lukaud, Lurin and Lady Obmunjalae’s natural form
Yuzukh’ay, Suyen and adopted daughter of Lady Obmunjalae
Tisi, of an unnamed aquatic Voidplane native race
Upper right – Miscellaneous
The Red Triplets: Baku, Biri, and Bayzil
Pagol, Healer of distant past in Elehura’s world
Shekki, a long-necked ‘desert clan’ Gwil
Unnamed Suyen male
Unnamed “Forest” Gwil, some possible inspiration for the Red Triplets
So you can see there is a definite bias for Gwil/Dragon-type characters going on here (the lack of hair/fur to deal with probably helps), and I have yet to tackle a human 3D model. We’ll just have to see what new things 2023 may bring.
The Red Triplets and their Restaurant
Getting another post in here before the year ends, filling in more backstory to this trio.
The Red Triplets run the Three Leaf Restaurant (Ry Ajun Yumbeko in their Gwil language) in a small stopover along an inter-city road. The name comes from the leaf-like marking on their tail tips. And that there are three of them, obviously.
Baku (center) is wearing her hosting uniform, which was something I initially drew up… wow, ten years ago. Biri (left) is the primary cook, and Bayzil (right) helps out where she can. Having to cover her eyes puts some limits on what she can do. She has made various excuses for her skimpy outfit over the years. People have come from all over to seek her mystical abilities, so perhaps the look bolsters that reputation.
Anjil as an Akelikan
Anjil from Agwilika Rhe is one of my longest-existing characters. My earliest drawing of him is over 20 years old.
Recently I was thinking over how I haven’t modeled or drawn many gray skinned Gwil/Akelikan characters. As I thought over who I could work on next, I got the idea to change Anjil from a green Agwilikan to a gray Akelikan.
This would add a new dynamic to the story. During the time it takes place, there is a strong split between the Agwilikan and Akelikan populations, with most of the latter living in the downriver cities controlled by the Army King. Few Akelikans live in Agwilcress, and they have to live with a lot of distrust from their Agwilikan neighbors. Despite this, he became an adept and respected sorcerer of the Ayra Katrin.
I guess some new symbolism can be had with the two protagonists (him and Reija) working together.
