What Once Was

A very long time ago, before sin manifested within the world of Esha, many civilisations, loyal to the Creator, existed within the lands known as Elshanae. These were known proudly alive in the Genesis Era. However, when the Chaos Era began, few of them were spared from Sinalazul’s wrath. Wherever his presence was, these civilisations were forced to either side for or against him. Sadly, the choice for righteousness wasn’t made so easy, for those who rose to oppose him saw a consequence worse than death itself.

Entire civilisations were devastated for it. Their defiance was merely a stain on the arnaments of Sin's ambition, who cared little for those who remained faithful to the Creator, and took pleasure in giving their fallen a new purpose among his growing legions of the corrupted. He ruined everything they ever held dear and made sure their souls would be kept in cursed purgatory with the intent to keep their former holy nature a secret from the pages of history. History that could unravel his influence in the world in later times.

Yet after centuries of abandonment, the civilisations that those shackled souls once belonged to still stand as wasted remains of what once was. The exiled kyrathi from the faraway realms of Zerran were the first to rediscover some of them, and it was said they harnessed the dark energies from these now sanctuaries for the undead to sustain their reckless ambitions. Further centuries passed since then though, and the kyrathi were nearly all but extinct among the larger masses of the world. It was by then that the humans had returned to re-colonise Elshanae and regardless of what the kyrathi found in these monuments of the past, the humans fought long into these territories to find something far more elusive than the darkness Sin left behind in them. For, in time, archaeologists would discover the true face of what once was and with it divine inheritance.

As of such, many brave adventurers continue to raid these places. Some for answers. Others for wealth and glory…

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This is one of those big projects I’ve been talking about, and most of the background lineart here can be traced back to nearly half a year ago. Back then, I hadn’t the skill to colour it right, so I gave up on it with a vow to return when my mind’s eye could work it out. The theme changed a little in production though, as I never intended to feature two of my characters in it; ‘The Southern Blade’, Razari Vanguarde, and his apprentice, Catelyn Esther… who some may already know. What’s seen here is truer to their designs too.

Questions? Comments? Anything else? All are appreciated.

Edit: Slight change of contrast for characters, to blend better with their surroundings. Thanks for the tip, mates!

Artwork + Details // Razari Vanguarde // Catelyn Esther - © Kristopher P. Love