Knightfall's Fantasy Art Character Challenge

Knightfall

World of Kulan DM
Ok, this might fly or it might bomb but I want to see what kind of response I get from the artists posting here at EN World.

Now, artists like Kip and astralpwka have already done character portraits for me, which I really appreciate. However, I'd like to put out an open challenge to all of the artists here to draw the following character in the scene from my story hour (listed below his details).

There isn't a prize for this unless Morrus wants to start a 'real' EN World fantasy art challenge, which I'd love to see. What does everyone think of such an idea? Someone could win something from Natural D20 or other publishing company or maybe even get their artwork used in a d20 product.

What do you think Morrus?

Anyway, this is my own little personal challenge with noting but my undying gratitude for anyone who participates. :)

Cheers!

Robert "KF'72" Blezard
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
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The Character

Jeddar Silversun, Blade of the Tiger
Stats: ½em / 6th level bard, 1st level blade of the tiger / neutral good
Age: 23
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 134 lbs

Str: 14
Dex: 15
Con: 15
Int: 17
Wis: 14
Cha: 15

Signature Possessions: Composite shortbow +1, +1 silver dagger, 2 masterwork scimitars, studded leather armor, and heward's handy haversack.

Personality: Admirable, dark, passionate

Appearance: Jeddar tend to stick out wherever he goes due to the crest he wears marking him as a Blade of the Tiger, an order associated with the Tiger Guild of Fruen. The crest is a tiger's head roaring towards those looking directly at it. The crest's eyes seem to follow you but it is only a trick of its design and is not magical.

As a half-elf, Jeddar doesn't tower over others. But he makes up for this with his striking glare, long pitch black hair (which he keeps braided in the back), and piercing green eyes. He has been known to intimidate others just by looking at them - especially humans.

His features are always calm in the face of adversity unless he is dealing with the fops and hangers-on in the Silver Court of his homeland, the Kingdom of the Silver Leaves. He is as handsome as any elf but would never be mistaken for a full silver elf, as he often has a short, trimmed goatee that gives away his half-elven nature. Both elven and human lasses have swooned over him, much to his chagrin.

Jeddar wears mostly dark outer clothing - short breeches and a loose tunic - overtop of white, silk shirts and leggings. He has a fondness for clothes with ornate buckles that serve no purpose other than for show but does restrains himself, as not to have them interfere with his fighting talents or appear goddy.

He always wears the most comfortable clothes he can get to accentuate his strong, yet lithe body and flowing movements. He prefers lightweight boots made out of sturdy black-dyed leather. He wears his double masterwork scimitars at his sides with pride. A gift from his father at his Year of Ascension Ceremony when he was twenty.

Jeddar only wears his armor when he knows he is going to be adventuring or in situations that might call for it. He had his armor dyed black when he had it commissioned and is often mistaken for a warrior of Hades. He doesn't mind the comparision, it helps intimidate his foes.

His composite shortbow is made from polished cedar and is enchanted. He won it in a dual duirng his first year living in Fruen. His magical dagger was won the same way from a man who insisted the fight would be to the death. The dagger's hilt is made from admantium and the blade is pure silver, carved with dwarven runes. He recieved his magical backpack from the Master of Bards of the Bardic College in Fruen upon his graduation to full membership.

Description: Jeddar is the adopted son of the High One of the Silver Leaves, Menkhar Silversun. Little is known of his elven family other than they might have been gray elves left without a home after the destruction of Caer Amylinyon. What is known is that his father, Teth Miger, a famous bandit known for raiding elven communities and robbing travelers up and down the Wind River, is the only lineage the young half-elf knows of. The old bandit raided an elven encampment on the edge of the Great Forest and would have put them all to the sword if the patriarch hadn't surrendered all their heirlooms and his youngest granddaughter to the human.

Teth tried to tempt Jeddar's mother for years, hoping she could learn to care for him, but she rejected him time and time again. Bitter and truly heartbroken the old man finally forced her to yield to his desires. It is said that Teth died that night -- either from a broken heart or a dagger through his back. His mother's true name is lost to the tale that has become folklore down the length of the Wind River.

His mother obviously escaped and gave birth to him but none know her name or clan. As for Jeddar was abandoned as an infant near Silverleaf by someone - whether it was his mother or someone else. It was the High One himself who found the child crying in the woods during a hunting trip. Silversun brought the starving babe to his wife's midwife, Corinesa, who raised Jeddar as Menkhar's adopted son. In fact, Corinesa is more like his mother than Menkhar's wife Anithiil is, who never really warmed up to the boy. The Silver Council disagreed with Silversun's decision to raise the boy as his own but, as always, Menkhar had his way. It is often said that Jeddar was the child that launched a thousand debates amongst the council members.

Jeddar grew up quickly and was soon ready to choose his Life Quest. His choice shocked the High One and the council. It was well known at the time that the young man's gift for music was strong and his voice boomed like thunder over the Greystones. But none thought he would choose the life of a bard as his Quest, until he announced that he planned to attend the Bardic College in the Kingdom of Thallin. His father pleaded for him to try to learn to become a minstrel first before running of to some human city that he had never seen. But the human part of him was stubborn and he wouldn't budge. He would go to Fruen and that was that. The debate in the chambers of the Silver Council was intense that night.

Jeddar found human culture fascinating and was drawn together with three companions that would become his closest friends. Dvalin Thunderstone, a young dwarven fighter from the city of Milo, Mesik - halfling rogue - and a strong-minded half-elven ranger named Dabuk Tigerstorm. The four of them had a tendency to get into trouble throughout the city and when Dabuk's half-cousin, a elven wizard named Bactra Redwind, came to visit the five of them were a terror. Only the tempering influence of Dabuk's grandfather, Carl, and the Tiger Guild of Fruen kept them out of real trouble.

Soon Jeddar found himself not only enrolled in the Bardic College of Thallin but also enlisted as a junior member of the Tiger Guild where he learned the art of the sword. He was soon a master of song, sword, and magic. His return to Silverleaf in his graduating year was a triumph and even the Silver Council gave him his due. Only Anithiia still wouldn't accept him, which hurt Jeddar deeply. He had tried for years to win just some slight approval from his adopted mother but she refused to acknowledge him even after all his training. Disenchanted he left again - this time to stay with Bactra in Woodknot.

The Scene

The Great Forest, Silverleaf, Tethrin's Circle:
Jeddar Silversun stood in the center of the natural glade dedicated to the Master of Blades, blindfolded with his scimitars at his side. His breath steady and calm trailing stream through the cold.

Then he began. Thunder over the white mountain. Bard's song in the night. Saving the soul with steel.

"Why do I bother trying to please her?" His words flowed as smoothly as his swords through the air. "Tell me that, Lord Tethrin."

Spilting the water with grace. Hawk snatches mouse from the air. Living metal extends as death.

"Father tells me to give her time. He forgets I am not him. I am only half-blooded. I can't wait two centuries for her to come around. Not that it would matter. I could wait six elven lifetimes and she would still hate me.

It's so frustrating. To have done nothing wrong except exist."

Jeddar increased his pace twirling his blades faster through the late afternoon's crisp, cold air. Cougar finds the jugular. The elk gores the sternum. Blade shaves foe's shield. Wolf tears rabbit's throat.

"Why should I pay for the crimes of my father! I didn't even know him! I'd have killed him myself for what he did to my mother!"

Jeddar's rage slipped from his soul into his hands. He lept through the air screaming in defiance of his life. Twin lightning thunders through the air. Soaring eagle catches the clouds. Raging storm through the night. Hades' scythe cuts down the dead. Black tiger claw cuts deep.

"No!" Jeddar checked his anger drawing himself up calming his breathing. He let his swords hang at his side standing completely still. "I am the adopted son of Menkhar Silversun, the High One of the Silver Leaves, the Oak of the Forest. I will behave according to my station. I am above such feelings."

"Anithiil will have to-," Jeddar checked his tone. "The Forest Mother will accept me someday. She cannot hate forever."

Then he ended what he began with one more flourish. Unicorn runs through the woods. Silver waves lap the lake shore. Swan bows to the wind.

Jeddar stood there body rigid for a moment his arms stretched out from his sides to form a T with his body, his wrists bent down to form an arc with his scimitars. He remained calm.

"I am a Blade of the Tiger. Steel is my peace. Courage is my heart. I will not falter against those that would destroy my home, my family."

Jeddar sheathed his blades. He removed the blindfold his eyes adjusting immediately to the low light of Tethrin's Circle and the forest beyond. The sun was setting behind the Silver Palace of the Sun. His home.

For a moment he thought he could see her standing on the Royal Balcony watching him. He blinked. There wasn't anyone there.

"Someday," Jeddar sighed. "It will be too hard to come home again."

He gathered his belongings at the edge of the glade leaving Tethrin's Circle, maybe for the last time. As he left he did not see the figure step back out onto the Royal Balcony.
 
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Both elven and human lasses have swooned over him, much to his chagrin.

Aww....poor guy.:D I wish I had such problems.

I am not that familiar with all D&D treasure items. Could you describe the Heward's Handy Haversack? It may help any potential artist who may be drawing your character.

Also, he has black studded leather armor right? Is just the leather black? Or are the metal studs black too?
 

Chain Lightning said:
I am not that familiar with all D&D treasure items. Could you describe the Heward's Handy Haversack? It may help any potential artist who may be drawing your character.

HHH -> A backpack of this sort appears to be well made, well used, and quite ordinary. It is constructed of finely tanned leather, and the straps have brass hardware and buckles. It has two side pouches, each of which appears large enough to hold about a quart of material.

Chain Lightning said:
Also, he has black studded leather armor right? Is just the leather black? Or are the metal studs black too?

Only the leather is black. The studs are normal steel.
 

Your scene and character sound really cool! I'm not as talented as Kip and some of the others here, but I do like to challenge my skills. I'm not saying I will do this, but I MIGHT give it a whirl, if time allows it. Just don't compare me with everyone else since we each have our own style, but practice makes perfect, thats why we are all here. If I crash and burn with the attempt, at least I tried, and it was free, right? lol...........Don't hold your breath, but I'll post it on my thread if time allows me to get around to it......
 

Ok, I'm taking the bait of the art challenge.......*steps on to soapbox*.....Is there anyone else in here that wants to do his challenge, or am I in this all by my lonely.:( This gallary is losing its spirit that it once had when I first came in here. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd like to bring it back! I'm not the worst, or the best, but I love to draw. Art isn't always about money, or who's better. It's challenging yourself and becoming better at what you do. *Humbly steps down*......I'll shatup now...lol.
 


Thanks for joining me on this adventure Astralpwka!

Ok, we need to decide if we are going to color it too....That will make a difference on the date we set, since I'm a little slow..tee hee...

Do I hear anyone else?.......hmmmmm?.........Come on, one and all, lets make this fun!:D
 

Color, definately color. You know... what we SHOULD do is start a new thread and do like a weekly theme, and let other artists jump on board the theme, especially artists such as ourselves that are doing a lot of this stuff anyway for fun, just to keep ourselves busy and inspired.

What do you think of that??? ;)
 

Sounds great, although sometimes it takes me a week to complete a pic. sometimes, due to my hectic schedual. But yeah, I was thinking along those lines myself last night.

Started a rough background sketch of Knightfalls pic. probly get the sketch finished today (hopefully), then I'll start on color, probly take me this time next week to finish, since I will pull 3-12hr shifts over weekend, among other things.
 

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