JCC [Image heavy]A thread for art: See note on page 776

Imperial Infantry by Shabazik

Spoiler: text

Imperial Infantryman of the Purpurian Empire during the Third War of the Power.

Well paid and well trained mercenaries, often their primary weapons would be a pike or other sort of pole weapons.
The Purpurian Empire was one of four the splinter Empires formed after the crisis that broke appart the Holy Sargonic Empire.
In reality, in pre-industrial settings, having purple dyes for cloths was prohibitive in cost. Purple was the colour for rich emperors, not any minor monarch!

One of the reasons why except of banners of the XX century, you won't be seeing flags with purple from the past!

I always loved playing Purple in Age of Empires 2, so back in the day did whole factions with Purple embelms and insignia... unless I found the problem with the colour purple.

Reason why in my own fantasy setting of Aiers, there are natural, cheaper ways to produce the colour purple, extracted from the dye of a flower, the Purpuria
because... well... come on. If there are elves, orcs and what-ever creatures, why can't there be some innocent flowers that give a nice Purple dye, right?

Drawing Achastians made me became stuck with the checkered pattern!

Grey Elven Militia by Shabazik

Spoiler: text

"Hey, have you heard?" the infantry column wormed up between the fences and hedgerows of densely populated rural area: many small farms of relatively rich farmers, who owned their lands. Hiding between the narrow low ridges and banks surmounted by tall thick hedgerows that break the wind but also limited the visibility, was hiding their enemy... one of the Robber Barons, who had been unlawfully taxing the trade, attacking the merchants and raiding the peasants and the rich farmers. When confronted by the King Diego VI of Degoland, the Knight simply laughed at the envoy of The Pretender. And so, King Diego called the militia to fight the robber baron.

So far, there hadn't been a single combat... but uncertain of the number and placement of their enemy, the marching soldiers of the royal host, the mercenaries and the urban militias where nervous.

"Heard what?"

"King Diego, the cheap ass isn't going to pay."

"What?! It's because we are elves?"

"No. He said, urban militias had to fight for free, because this campaign was only for the cities interests, rather than the crown."

"What the hell he expects?! If we aren't getting paid, then what?!" Most of them where artisans. Answering the call to arms of the city meant they weren't working, but it hadn't worried them before, as they prepared, they were promised wealth and fame. Now this. "What, I ask?"

"King Diego-the not-so-very-funny decided that his troops can make their own money en-route to the battlefield!"

"Should I build a puppet show to make money for their next campaign?!"

"What else? LOOTING of course!"

Other of the militia elves sighed. "Life can be hard in Aiers..."

A couple of knights rode past the elven column, forcing them to the side.

"SILENCE IN THE RANKS! SILENCE, POINTY-EARS! The enemy is close!" ordered a member of the towncouncil of Alfdreim, uncomfortable in an armour too small for him. He should have re-fit it before going into campaign, after years of a cosy post in the town-hall.

A laughter in front of them made the militia elves tense.

"AH! What is that?! The kingdom of the jester? Or maybe king was a former jester? Or maybe its a joke army" he said, looking at their shields, painted with the livery of their guild.

It was a knight. Surrounded by well armed mercenaries. Humans, all of them. The grey elves normally were used to the insults and jabs of humans in the Elferies, the elf quarters were they lived. But not here, where they had taken arms to defend a king they didn't respected, believed or truly recognised, and for worse, who were now fighting for free in the name of this man.

One of the grey elves glanced hatefully at the man. "You shouldn't ****-talk of the heraldry of other people shields, when you have a turnip drawing in your shield."

"YOU WILL NOT TALK **** OF THE KNIGHT OF THE TURNIP!" the man said, drawing his sword.

The counsellor, who had jumped in front of the two groups of soldiers to try to avoid a fight broke among their ranks in front of the enemy, just then came to realise there wasn't any Knight of the Turnip, in the army of Diego.

Then, he wished he was very far behind of the line. In his bed, really, and that the large man with a sword coming at him was only a bad dream...

Grey Elven Urban Militia from one of the cities on the eastern bank of the Osorio River (Alfdreim of the Barony of Hanat), in the Kingdom of Degoland, during the time of Diego VI The Pretender.
Living under human rule, normally grey elves were banned from carrying or having weapons. But in the cities that accepted in their charters armed grey elven militias, and often they were equipped and fit like their human counterparts.

Diego VI The Pretender ( Derei, 16 September 2386 - Plains of Sargos 2440), born Jakob de Meerde was a king of Degoland from 2419 to the 2431, when it was deposed with the return of the Huneeus Dynasty. Often, Degoland under Diego VI the Pretender it's considered a chaotic, weak interregnum, and his independent Degoland that had broken from the union with Sargos, a footnote in history.

Jakob de Meerde was the youngest of the three sons of duke Karl de Merdee and was at first not expected to inherit significant lands, but the death of his elder brothers in the Sargonic Wars fighting under the banners of Camilo II -and later, in the rebellion against him-.

The de Meerde was member of a cadet branch of the old Rey Dinasty that hoped to inherit the throne of Degoland from King Diego V, who didn't had a male heir: however, the marriage between Phillipe of Degoland and Don Camilo II The Magnificent resulted in the Sargos-Degoland Unions at the 2399 a.a.H.

With the Sargonic wars at the 2407-2419, as the tides of the war changed against the Sargos, the de Meerde family entered in secret negotiations with the northwestern human enemies of Sargos, for the secession of Degoland from the union with Sargos under a de Meerde ruler.

With the fall of Millbridge at the 2419 a.a.H and the escape of Don Camilo II The Magnificent to his western domains in the Alan Isles -and then to Ne'Sargos, beyond the reach of his enemies-, Jakob de Meerde -which was considered of weak character by the foreign kings who choose him among the de Meerde- was crowned as Diego VI, king of an independent Degoland in Derei, with the presence of the kings of Huncle, La Cruz and Tardos

Diego VI as King of Degoland
With the support of the three realms, Diego VI achieved early victories against the rampaging hordes of goblins, orcs and the Angards and Gorbegeos Kanovs that as well invaded the Sargos-Degoland Union during the Sargonic Wars, but shortages of military resources and his treatment of Degolandic and Sargonic nobles resulted in losing their support.

Despite having been chosen by the Northwestern Kings to be a puppet and the independence of Degoland was favoured to weaken the previously powerful Sargos-Degoland Union, Diego VI was a more ambitious man that they expected, as he hoped not only to be a king of the realm of Degoland, but as well to rule over Sargos in a Degoland-leaded union. For this, he tried o raise revenues with judicial reforms and fiscal policies, and to reform his armed forces. However, as he prepared to invade Sargos -then ruled by a Regency Council of high nobles who on paper ruled in name of the absent Camilo III, but had been elected by the neighbouring kings to keep Sargos in check while they saw how they would divide the spoilts-, Diego VI lost the support from the kings of the Northwest.

Pretending the throne of Sargos, he declared war on the Regency Council of the interregnum of Sargos, but lacked the force and support to make it an effective war -being reduced instead to launch some raids and depredations along the Osorio on rich Sargonic cities to pay his mercenaries. Without the support of the Hunclech, Cruzeños and Tardic, Diego VI faced a rebellion by many of his barons, who were unhappy with his fiscal policies and his treatment of many of Degoland's most powerful nobles. To finance their civil war, the peasants and cities of Degoland were further extorted, which resulted in many peasant uprisings, which lead to both Diego and the barons to agree on a peace treaty in 3425, but neither side complied with its conditions. Civil war broke out shortly afterwards again, with the barons aided by the Regency Council of Sargos. Seeing this as once more time Sargos meddling with Degoland policies, Tardos, Huncle and La Cruz forced the Regency Council to cut the support to the Degoland barons, and so the civil war descended into a stalemate.

The rich trading cities of the Osorio -both Sargonic and Degolandic-, which had hoped that the end of the Sargonic Wars would bring back prosperity, but instead due the political instability of the interregnum the situation seemed to worse, will form the Osorio league, in principle to face the Robber Barons that plagued the trade in the Osorio and the other fluvial trade routes of the two kingdoms. Successful in this self-imposed task, the trading cities and prince-prelates (lords of the Karentian Church) of the League will see themselves increasingly playing a role in the chaotic policies in Sargos and Degoland due weak royal rule, adding some rebellions against the Regency Council -the great Sargonic Barons, acting in name of foreign interests-, the rebel barons of Degoland and Diego VI himself.

The trading league saw that the best possibility for the Osorio valley to prosper again was the return of the Huneeus Dynasty, and they will enter in secret contact with Camilo III the Warrior.

Travelling in secret, Camilo III the Warrior arrived at Sargos at the 2430, being proclaimed as restored king of Sargos by the Osorio League. The barons of the Regency Council upon this lost legitimacy for the king himself had returned, and either escaped, rebelled or made deals with Camilo III. Huncle, La Cruz and Tardos, worried about the return of the Huneeus Dynasty tried to act together: however, conflicts over the influence that Tardos had been exerting over southern Sargos during the interregnum made these talks fail, and so war preparations against the returned Sargonic king were delayed.

Still consolidating his power over Sargos, Camilo III entered in talks with La Cruz and Huncle with the Archbishop of Karentia as arbitrator, ensuring he only wanted to rule over Sargos and not Degoland. Despite of these talks, Diego VI, thinking he could count with the Hunclech and Cruzeño support, declared war on Camilo III.

The initial attempt of invasion of Sargos by Diego VI failed as he wasn't able to cross the Osorio -controlled by the League-, and once Camilo III had firmly Sargos under his rule, he entered in secret talks with the rebel barons of Degoland, who proclaimed him as the legitimate heir of the Degolandic Throne, as son of Queen Philliphe and Camilo II.

Before the other kingdoms could react -and Tardos send the River Guard that they controlled since the Sargonic Wars-, Camilo III crossed the Osorio.

The supporters of Diego VI deserted him, and rather than face the marching army of Camilo III, Diego VI escaped across the Monument Cascades to Huncle at the 2431.

As Camilo III was crowned king of Sargos and Degoland the same year, Diego VI never renounced to his pretensions and tried to raise support from Huncle, La Cruz and Tardos, who feared the reunion of Sargos and Degoland and the return of the Huneeus.

Tardos, La Cruz, Huncle and Sargos-Degoland prepared for war.

However, with the great demons lords being liberated from their exile in Demonatch by the Witch King of Dol-Nurat the 2434, beginning both the Second Dark Age and the Second War of the Power, remembering the defeats suffered in the early First War of the Power due the internal divisions of the Five Kingdoms, rather than to make a new alliance to invade Sargos-Degoland and reinstate in the throne Diego VI, a powerful Sargonic-Degoland state guarding the western Degoland Pass was considered to be preferable than the Dark Legions of Demons.

The Archbishop of Karentia helped to arbitrate the talks between the Five Kingdoms of the Northwest -leaving aside the resentful Diego VI-.

In the following years, the now called Beggar King travelled between the courts from Navatiak to Dol-Sorne trying to gather support for his lost cause and his pretensions to the throne of Degoland -until he was imprisoned by the Archbishop of Karentia, who feared that the poorly planned ploys of Diego VI could endanger the alliance he had achieved between the human kingdoms of the weseuros against the demons-.

Tossed to a jail in a Karentian cloister, ordered a monk against his will, by the time of the Campaign of Sargos of the 2440, after the defeats suffered by the humans against the Dark Legion of Demons, the Archbishop was to send his forces to support the retreating Sargonic forces: Diego VI will be liberated from his jail, given his armour and banner back and marched with the forces of Karentia toward Sargos.

However, weakened by the time in jail and march, Diego VI died of dysentery contracted whilst on campaign, before the Battle of the plains of Sargos, a major victory against the invading Dark Legion of Demons.

Diego VI de Meerde had only a single son and heir -despite the rumours about his alleged impotence-, Bogogald de Meerde.

The ashes still are warm... by Shabazik

Spoiler: text

They left the horses beyond the dunes.

"And? What it is?"

"The ashes are still warm, they aren't far away Mother Superior" the scout said. By the side of the ashes of a bornfire, where the bones of a macabre last meal.

"Ozcuras?" asked the older Battlenun, referring to the grey orcs that often raided the border settlements. Precisely, they had gathered responding to a razed farm.

The scout pointed the remains and the skull. It had small pointed teeth. "That's an Ozcura. The farmers that were attacked, where some of our own ozcuras. What attacked was something else, as normally ozcuras don't eat their kind."

"Some other goblinoids?"

The scout pointed some footprints on the sand. "Either large Humans or High Orcs."

The prioress frowned. "Savages".

A group of battlenuns of the Order of Saint Creöle in the Shores of the Hieyokscream Bay.
The Hieyokscream Bay, once home to the proud tribes of the warrior-women amazons, after the conversion to christianity by the Order of the Holy Sword of Nortender didn't renounced their martial traditions, and Nortender, often suffering a chronical shortage of manpower to fight the Remnants of the Dark Legions and the local revolts, will decide to make use of the amazonian warrior culture:

And so will be born the Order of Saint Creöle, the Ordo sanctae Creole. Founded after the order of Nortender by Saint Creöle and Saint Wolfgang at the 2347 a.a.H -yet only will be renamed after Saint Creöl after her martyrdom-.

The Battle Nuns of Saint Creöl will then become a key part of the forces of the monastic state of Nortender.

Swordmaster by Shabazik



Amazon Knights of Priva by Shabazik

Spoiler: text

Amazons knights of the rural nobility from Angster -the old amazonian city of Angstros of old-, in the High Alfos region, by the time of the early Second War of the Power, as Priva had become part of the Monastic State of Nortender. By then, the Privans had largely adopted weseurian armour and equipment.

The Amazon Queendom of Priva was a human amazon state that originated in northwestern Polforia, in the western shores of the Hieyokscream Bay at the 21 century a.a.H (After the Apparition of Humanity). For long the hegemonic power among the Amazon Tribes, this human state would be the first to be attacked during the First War of the Power (2203-2223 a.a.H) by the Dark Legions of Demons and their amazon allies of the Helzar Empire.

After the defeat of the demons and the collapse of the Helzar Empire, the former amazon queendom was reorganised in the Duchy of Priva, which held much closer relations to the human weseurian Five Kingdoms of the Northwest: example of this was the conversion to Karentian Christianity at the 2254 a.a.H.

The conversion of Priva to Christianity, soon the Duchy had conflicts with their pagan and demon-worshipping amazon neighbours, while due the cultural differences with the Christian human kingdoms of the North West will be the relations as well be strained. This would lead to skirmishes and war with Pagan Amazons, particularly the Helzar tribes, who had united in opposition to Priva.

With the wars against the Helzar Tribes, in 2296 a.a.H, Connie I, Duchess of Priva appealed to the Knights of the Order of Nortender to defend her borders and subdue the pagan Hieyokscream amazons, allowing the Knights use of Hieyokscream as a base for their campaign:

However, the rise of power of the Order of Nortender will be the downfall of the Duchy of Priva: By the decade of the 2340, it had lost almost all autonomy, and while there will be some amazon rebellions, it will become an integral part of the Monastic State of Nortender.

This had been a gradual process. In 2315 a.a.H, as the Bishopric of Cverri fell in the hands of the Order, this was considered unacceptable by the Privan nobility, but rather than open revolt, the weakened duchess and high nobility of Priva seeked a solution in the Treaty of Cverri, in which the nobles that submitted to Nortender had many of their privileges affirmed, which established a modus vivendi for the Order, Priva and the Highland tribes of Amazons:

Peace that was broken in the revolts of the 2320-2343 a.a.H, revolts that were initially very succesful: so successful, that planted the seed of their failure, as the loss of a common enemy in Nortender divided the tribes of the Highlands and Privans, division which we later used by Nortender, who enjoyed Karentian support and due the compromise reached by christian amazon nobles. By the 2343, after the successful repression of the last major amazon uprisings and the official surrendering of the new duchess and high nobility of Priva, Nortender encroached over most of former Priva, with the exception of a small rump state that was little more than a Nortendi puppet. Much of the amazon nobility that survived the uprisings emigrated or were resettled, and many free amazons lost their rights.

The amazon noblewomen who remained after the Uprisings were more closely allied with the weseuros landowners and gradually assimilated: After 50 years of warfare and brutal conquest the end result meant most of the amazon tribes that resisted were either killed or deported.

To make up for losses from diseases, plagues and to replace the partially exterminated native population -and as long term to strengthen the weseuros elements- the Order encouraged the immigration of colonists from both the five kingdoms (mostly Hunclech, Sargonic and Degolandic) and Navatiak, and from the failed colonies in Polforia, which were being hard-pressed by demonic dark legion remnants.

The colonists included nobles, burghers, and peasants, and the surviving amazons and kdaimons were gradually assimilated. The settlers founded numerous towns and cities on former amazon and kdaimon settlements. The Order itself built a number of castles from which it could defeat uprisings of amazons and natives, as well as continue its attacks on the demonic remnants of Dol-Nur, Khar-bad and Tempo-katzooine, with which the Order was often at war during the 2300-2400.

The final nail to the coffin of the Duchy of Priva was after the death of the duchess Connie IV without succession, hhe rump Privan duchy was finally incorporated formally into the lands of the Order of Nortender at the 2386 (in the map, dark red)

While Nortender had come to rule, directly or indirectly, all the lands of the western Hieyokscream Bay, things were far from perfect.

The cities that had grow into thriving trading centres wanted their political power recognised, and to be granted charters by the Maestre of the Sword of Nortender, who rejected these demands, as was seen as key the tax revenue from them for further expansion plans of the order eastwards, to complete the conquest of the lands around the Hieyokscream Bay.

Meanwhile, the peasants felt oppressed by abuses of the order:

So, while the Order launched some ambitious raids deep into the east of Hieyokscream, began to erupt rebellions.

While the peasants revolts were crashed, the great cities were granted the charters and free city status they demanded.

So, by the time of the early Second War of the Power (2434-2539 a.a.H) in the Monastic State of Nortender, the Order of Nortender wasn't the only player to take in account. The Leagues of Cities -formed ad-hoc for specific goals, often opposing the interests of the Maestre-, the rural remnants of the amazonian privan nobility clinging for their last holdhouts of power, the weseurian magnates and great nobles that had come to settle invited by the Order. The sister Order of Nortender, the Order of Saint Creöle and their battlenuns. Merchants guilds and often -too often, for the sake of the Order of Nortender- rebel leaders of the tribes like the Dzintara Krasnaj that resisted the Nortendi rule...





It's important to note that Priva and Helzar originated years ago from s Prima and Helzig, when I added them to Aiers among other amazons tribes as a tribute to him. But that actually had it's problem, because some people confused came to think that Remnantcomic's work were set in Aiers -and it isn't like that AT ALL!- so I stopped drawing Helreigns and Primeans for long to avoid confusion -and any Remnantcomic related drawings, given to him so he could post them as he saw it fit-, but Helzig and Prima remained in the old maps, only as names.

larqven wondered about them, and so we requested permission from Tom to "revive" them with some differences -but mostly still similarities- and he agreed. Hopefully, nowadays people see the tribute is my work, and not the other way around!!

A Privan amazon, by the First War of the Power (to compare gear and equipment)

Scaring some peasants by Shabazik

Spoiler: text

"I tell you, only wave your sword around and shout a bit, and they will be dropping their farmtools and pikes and go running away in a moment!"


Some mercenaries, marching throught a mountain pass, take a bit of time to plunder the countryside and the peasants of the same lord who had hired them.

 

YasminFoster: Ungatt Trunn

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Ungatt-Trunn-Portrait-314998203

 

YasminFoster: Asmodeus

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Asmodeus-Character-Sheet-153825112

 

YasminFoster: Vilu Daskar

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Vilu-Daskar-Portrait-326404809

 

Painted Half-Armor by LordGood

"carried the painted southern german 16th century sallet thing a bit too far with some painted half armor. mmmprobably to the fantasy point.
Painted armor is cool

RPGs can keep their chainmail bikinis and exposed midriffs, this breastplate can deflect arrows!"


Bulgarian Horsemen by LordGood

"Left and right horsemen's kit is reconstructed from fresco fragments at Zemen monastery, Bulgaria, depicting high medieval warrior saints. Center knight is wearing a houndskull find at Tsarevets, and some 14th century plate. A nice resultant mixing of eastern rome and high medieval europe.

The lack of archeological evidence here makes peeking into this area of history all the more interesting, Romey knights"


Dank Highlander with Pug by LordGood

"Count Dankula's having an art contest apparently, I never have given medieval Scotland much attention, yellow and red are some damn good colors. Hopefully you know who he is, I recommend giving his channel a watch if you don't mind spicy memes.

memes so spicy the law got involved lol"


Unlucky Footman by LordGood



High Medieval Varangian Guard by LordGood



High Varangian Guard, Back by LordGood

 

YasminFoster: Ferahgo the Assassin

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Ferahgo-the-Assassin-Portrait-348095659

 

Hieronymous Hell-Archer by LordGood



Two Armed Thrust by LordGood



Serpent Den by LordGood

 

YasminFoster: Princess Kurda

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Princess-Kurda-Portrait-448350501

 

I know she's not an otter but do you think she's otter-ish enough for Corran to think about putting the charm on her?

 

YasminFoster: Emperor Ublaz

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Ublaz-Mad-Eyes-Portrait-359075630

 

Redwall abbey. Princess Kurda by GwenNorth

 

YasminFoster: Cluny the Scourge

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/Cluny-the-Scourge-Portrait-353899822

 

Elder Porcupine by ursulav

"Every morning, Elder Porcupine would set his claws to the back of the petrified pine, the oldest and tallest and deadest tree in the forest, and climb to the very top. There, he would watch the sun rise over the woods, and commune with the ancient spirits of the earth.

Well...that was what he told his grandkids, anyway.

It wasn't exactly untrue, but by the time you were Elder Porcupine's age, you were practically an ancient spirit yourself, and your communing mostly consisted of "Hey, spirits." "Hey, Porcupine." "You good?" "Can't complain." "All right, then." And you really didn't need to get up at dawn for that.

In actual fact, the top of the petrified pine was the only place in the whole damn forest where Elder Mrs. Porcupine would let him smoke.

----------------------------

This painting started out, and it was missing something. Finally I realized that it was the cigarette,* and the rest of it all fell into place--I knew WHY he was on top of the tree, and something of what his story was. I'm not sure why he's such a snappy dresser, but I assume the Elder Mrs. Porcupine is involved in some fashion.

I'm also not sure why the yellow-rumped-warbler is there, but possibly it's planning to bum one off him.

Digital, Painter 7. Prints are available in regular and jumbo for $10 and $20 respectively, plus shipping, send a note or visit for details!



*I'm sure you all know those things give you lung cancer by now, so I'll spare you the speech and assume you're planning on quitting real soon now."

 

YasminFoster: General Woundwort

https://www.deviantart.com/yasminfoster/art/General-Woundwort-Doodle-149773485

 

We See You by yanadhyana



Climb into the Jug by yanadhyana



Time Travelers by yanadhyana

 

wlop: Kochou Shinobu

https://www.deviantart.com/wlop/art/Kochou-Shinobu-833695133

 

Cryptid-Creations: Kappabara

https://www.deviantart.com/cryptid-creations/art/2671-Kappabara-Word-Play-833790827

 

Whilce Portacio