Description
Here's my half of an art trade I did with Angart over at FA. Each of us decided to do a Frazetta-inspired pic of a tribal deer girl
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A Legend of the Before People, of Atelani, the First Female Chief
Atelani’s eyes glittered with something akin to madness. There was nothing left to her but a singleness of purpose which held black despair at bay. The world was a dark and evil place, but with each miserable life, ending in her own, she would make it a little less evil than it was before.
Once in a while, she would let them score a shallow cut. It made her feel ferociously alive, but more importantly, it made them feel sure of themselves. “This blood is my gift to you, false warrior! So that you will not be completely shamed when I send your antlerless soul to plead before the gods!” Such talk enraged them, as did the deeply insulting sight of her antler-tine trophies. Overconfidence and rage made them careless -- and carelessness led inevitably to their defeat. To be sure, Atelani worried about the day when she would meet a truly disciplined foe, but these guardians of stolen villagers were no match for a quick and clever fighter.
With the brutish overseer dead at her feet, Atelani faced the startled gang of slaves. “Brothers! I give you a choice! Will it be your tears or your blood which soaks the earth!? Will you die for the gods-cursed Twins or will you die to be free!?” Almost always, the captives fled into the jungle, presumably to remake what they could of their destroyed lives. But today was different. This ragged band of bucks had found their courage in Atelani’s words and, having nowhere else to go, they pledged themselves to her madness.
And the madness of one became the cause of many; and the cause of many turned despair into hope. Atelani fought no longer to fulfill her own dark purpose, but to raise others from misery. And with each life she touched, ending in her own, the world grew a little brighter than it was before.
Comments: 38
Andibi In reply to MichaelJohnMorris [2018-09-19 05:59:29 +0000 UTC]
Thank you again (and thanks also for the Faves)!
Here's a color version that I posted not too long ago:
Atelani Defiant
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Andibi In reply to Cambion-Hunter [2018-06-25 17:16:36 +0000 UTC]
Thanks again! I hope to do more with this character -- Just haven't figured out a good storyline for her yet...
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Cambion-Hunter In reply to Andibi [2018-06-25 22:05:39 +0000 UTC]
You're welcome and cool, my friend. ^^
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KosmoKOYOTE [2018-02-28 05:21:49 +0000 UTC]
Ah! The macuahuitl! The obsidian edged weapon wielded by the Aztec warriors.
Atelani would make for a very formidable opponent armed with these. Her necklace
made of antler-tines have their counterparts to the war trophies made of human
lower jaw bones worn by the Aztecs. Have you based the deer tribes and your
wonderful tales on the peoples of Mesoamerica?
Pre Columbian history has always been a great interest of mine.
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KosmoKOYOTE In reply to Andibi [2018-02-28 19:43:24 +0000 UTC]
You're welcome!
I too have had the pleasure of reading that novel.
I found it to be so fascinating with Mr. Jennings description of
the Aztec culture and their beliefs. Because of this book I became
an amature scholar of the precolumbian era.
It saddens me to think that Hernando Cortez and his soldiers
completely destroyed an entire culture for the sake of gold and
conquest. I would have loved to have seen Tenochtitlan in all it's
glory.
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KosmoKOYOTE In reply to Andibi [2018-02-28 22:14:31 +0000 UTC]
Oh yes! Definitely at a distance. One could end up as a sacrifice to Tlaloc their Rain God.
And I don't have to tell you how bloody an affair that would be!
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TheOrangeDonkey [2018-01-07 17:45:18 +0000 UTC]
Beautiful and intimidating. A very fine piece that inspires thought
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jakc1423 [2018-01-07 05:21:26 +0000 UTC]
I thought she was a feather dancer in the thumbnail. Turned out to be the opposite.
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Zaphkiellane [2018-01-06 03:33:21 +0000 UTC]
Another captivating picture. I'm always fascinated by the world you've made and this culture you have invented for your characters.
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FlapperFoxy [2018-01-05 15:05:40 +0000 UTC]
Amazing as always!
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Andibi In reply to FlapperFoxy [2018-01-05 21:44:08 +0000 UTC]
Thanks very much! I appreciate the adds, too -- Looks like your new fantasy group is up and running now?
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FlapperFoxy In reply to Andibi [2018-01-05 23:27:02 +0000 UTC]
You're welcome-yes it's up!
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ShadowSketch91 [2018-01-05 15:01:32 +0000 UTC]
amazing work once again, you never cease to amaze me with the cultural background in your stories, and all i can say is, keep it up!
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Andibi In reply to idioticbat [2018-01-04 21:36:24 +0000 UTC]
Thanks most kindly! You're correct about that right arm -- I was being lazy about the shading. I'll go back into it and make the necessary changes!
Thanks also for your nice words on the story -- Always good to hear that those little tales read well, as I've got far less experience with creative writing than with drawing...
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mewhaku [2018-01-04 16:29:16 +0000 UTC]
Was about to say- I recognize the inspiration! Somewhat recently listed a Frazetta lithograph at work...
Nice work!
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mewhaku In reply to Andibi [2018-01-04 21:35:21 +0000 UTC]
I'll note you the exact listing, right now my main job is listing things on ebay for a guy in town where I'm at. Has a big eBay store, mainly focusing on china- but I was brought on to deal with all the artwork he's accumulated over the years. The Frazetta had a CoA and everything! Really neat. Hard to take photos of though...
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Andibi In reply to mewhaku [2018-01-04 21:40:51 +0000 UTC]
Oh, that's awesome -- I was just on eBay the other day looking at Frazetta portfolios. They're mostly out of my price range, but there's no cost for window shopping
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mewhaku In reply to Andibi [2018-01-04 21:45:07 +0000 UTC]
Very true! I think it was one of the scenes from a Hubbard novel? Been around a month since I worked on it..
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Andibi In reply to mewhaku [2018-01-04 23:02:19 +0000 UTC]
That makes sense to me -- I just replied to your note opining that it looked like one of his book cover illustrations. Frazetta and L. Ron Hubbard... That's kind of like hot dogs and apple pie, or peanut butter and jelly...
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mewhaku In reply to Andibi [2018-01-04 23:36:50 +0000 UTC]
Yes! I believe that is the case.
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