Woven Egg - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Woven Egg

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper 

© 2017 Christopher Burdett

2565.6

 Since her arrival in the Bazaar, nearly two thousand years ago, Shaper has been making and selling living tools. Stories of how Shaper makes these tools are as varied as her creations. It is widely accepted that some fairly powerful magicks and unorthodox mathematics are in use. Even so, there remains a missing piece to the puzzle that is Shaper's work. A missing piece that no one has been able to recreate, which is how Shaper continues her monopoly on living tools. Through my research, this missing piece is a device or construct referred to only as the Egg. 

While I have not been able to find any visual representations of the Egg, I have been able to uncover several descriptions. Of the dozen or so reports I have discovered, these three stand out. Nine hundred fifty-six years ago, Sysrus Ghet described the Egg as being, "Between five and six cubits in height. The sickly skin is fleshy and wet yet firm to the touch. The pale form is covered in holes from which Shaper's creations spring forth." Five hundred ninety-three years ago, Rhhutenfur K'lif Prex described the Egg as being, "A massive forty-six cubits in height, its black surface rippling with unseen power. All around its folded and creased form are large viewing ports where one can watch magick become life." One hundred two years ago Henturjox the Acclaimed described the Egg as being, "A grotesque blasphemy standing roughly twenty cubits tall. The form of the Egg is always changing - dripping, oozing, bubbling up, and caving in on itself. It is a nightmare made real. At the base can be found a massive belching maw that spits forth the vilest creations. These creations are little more than squirming feted sacks that give the appearance of life. The smell alone could knock a lesser being dead."*

Reconciling these three descriptions into one object is hard. It leaves me to speculate that either the Egg has changed over these many years or that there is, in fact, more than one Egg. The latter being most plausible simply due to the high volume of tools produced by Shaper. Since it is impossible to gain access to Shaper's tower, it is impossible to verify any of this myself. Much like the Gray Wanderer, the Egg remains one of the great mysteries of the Bazaar.

*It should be noted for transparency in my research that Sysrus Ghet, Rhhutenfur K'lif Prex, and Henturjox the Acclaimed were all thieves. Their descriptions are a result of them breaking into Shaper's tower. While some may discredit their accounts, just because they are thieves does not make them liars. It should be added that Sysrus and Rhhutenfur were listed as being murdered shortly after documenting what they had seen in the tower. Henturjox the Acclaimed was said to have lost her mind and committed suicide after recording what she had seen in the tower.

Agatha Luculent Habile, Acolyte of the Impure Husk

(Research Notes)

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Rapacious Guttersnipe - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Rapacious Guttersnipe

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper 

© 2017 Christopher Burdett

2451.8

            These beasts, nay, for beasts serve a purpose and have a place at the table of our Gods. These abominations have no place in our blessed realm. For these horrors are the manifestations of the tainted souls of the wicked and sinful. Those that turn away from the Gods and the path of Ascension are doomed to live again as monsters and cursed creatures. Those that seek violence, those that seek the flesh, those that speak in false tongues, these are souls that will return to plague us. Once a soul has turned away from the light of Ascension, it is forever lost to us. Dragged into the underworld, these souls are torn apart and reformed into horrors that wish only death to the living. One can imagine what these souls endure once they are twisted and remade into these abominations. Are they aware or are they no more than thoughtless monsters striking out in pain and confusion? The only kind thing to do is to end their existence as quickly as possible.

Perhaps one day our faithful and blessed Knights of Ascension will journey deep enough under the Bazaar to find a path to the underworld and the corruption that spawns these abominations. For today we can only hold them back when they claw their way to the surface. I have asked some of the High Scholars to push for an increase in the expeditions beneath the Bazaar so that we can stop these horrors at the source. Alas, my efforts continue to be slowed by those High Scholars that seek to study and learn from these monsters. What can we glean from this? The presence of these abominations in our temple can lead to nothing but the corruption of our most sacred and holy of places. I begin to wonder if the corruption has already taken hold in the temple and if these monsters have tainted the High Scholars. If this is indeed the case, I fear for the survival of us all.

Silas Illywacker - Student of Enlightenment

(Personal journal)

For more samples of my work head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Yote Arms Dealer - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Yote Arms Dealer

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper 

© 2017 Christopher Burdett

2901.5

File 876943G - Personnel Records: Yote 4734-XCY-542M (henceforth referred to as Yote 542M)

       • Yote 542M abandoned their biological identification marker after their first enhancement preferring their chassis number. This devotion to the Guild is noted and cataloged.

       • Yote 542M specializes in the design and manufacture of mechanical and bio-superior limbs. With a natural ability for bio-superior replacements, Yote 542M's work has become sought after and is bringing positive results to the Guild. Return vs. expenditure is +483.73 over the last five cycles. Guild Sovereigns have been informed.

       • Prior to enhancement, Yote 542M worked with Designer Sovereign Greol in the design of digital assemblies in hands and manipulators (2547.4 - 2577.7). Sovereign Greol cataloged above satisfactory and excellent results in 99.9% of performance evaluations. Error rate over time recorded at -.059. Accommodations were presented thirty-seven times for above excellent performance.

       • Yote 542M underwent first enhancement in 2578.1 making them an eleventh generation member of the Guild. Received standard design and configuration at first enhancement. Adjustment time for enhancement was .6 with a 2.3 period of full immersion. No discernible memory or ability loss documented over seventy-nine functionality reviews. 

       • Chassis upgrades in 2598.5, 2604.6, 2798.2, and 2834.9. Current build-out ideal for interaction and sales with biologicals and Guild members. Secondary functionality module used for design, manipulation, and heavy construction. Operational breakdown: 57% interaction and sales, 23% design, 6% manipulation, 14% moderate to heavy construction.

       • Due to changing markets, Yote 542M currently working with the various gladiator unions and freelance exploring and adventuring firms. Offensive and defensive weapon systems are currently in highest demand.

       • No action determined at this time regarding Yote 542M.

Eustis Pettcok - Construct Guild Scribe, Cog level 7

(Internal personnel file update)

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Smokestack - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Smokestack

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2014 Christopher Burdett

Shaper's Parts and Preparation for Personal Assistants

    Organics:

    1 Thrice stomach

    1 Choller pup heart

    3 Mud rats

    19 Fwern hen feet

    9 Hanger's bird beaks

    1 Thrakese bladder

    2 Thumbs (each at least a half standard cubit in length)

    1 Large eye

    2 Speckled death frog eyes

    3 Fwern hen eyes

    1 Polecat eye

    1 Muck turtle eye

    100 Teeth

    5 Jyezz frog skins

    3 Palm's worth of dried insects

    2 Large bowls of Thrice blood

    1 Large bowl of Thrice bile

    1 Large bowl of Grynk aqueous humor

    1 Fwern hen lung

    5 Palm's worth of veins, arteries, similar fleshy tubes

    4 Small bowl of Thrice phlegm

    40 Moonflower peddles

    

    Non-Organics:

    3 Ingots of copper 

    25 Carpenter's nails

    1 Pinch of gold

    3 Pinches of crushed quartz

    10 Palm's worth of salt

    6 Pinches of sulfur

    4 Pinches of wood ash

    14 Stone marbles

    

    Special:

    3 Drops of the tears of the dying

    8 Palm's worth of glass 

    1 Ruckle deer hide

    1 Bushel of mint leaves

Mix all non-organic components in a churning bowl. Let mixture sit overnight in the night air for three consecutive nights. Each night at midnight add one drop of the tears of the dying into the bowl. Pour blood and bile into the bowl at first sunrise following the third night. Let sit and wait for five days. If at any time the mixture moves dose with boiling water.

On the second day of waiting, place eyes, aqueous humor, phlegm, and glass into the bladder and sew shut. Put this in a cool dark place for three days.

On the fourth day of waiting take remaining organic components and make a small pile in the center of the inside of the ruckle deer hide. Place a damp cloth over the pile and set it near a fireplace or similar heat source for one day.

Once the five days of waiting has elapsed scrap the contents of the churning bowl onto the pile of organic components in the middle of the ruckle deer hide. The non-organic ingredients should now be a gelatinous mass that is easy to shape and mold. Work the mass over all of the organic components making sure everything receives a thorough covering. Dump the mint leaves over the mass ensuring an even coating of leaves. Take the bladder and place it on top of the mass. Sew up the ruckle deer hide as tightly as possible leaving little to no space around the mass. Ensure there are no leaks. If any leaking occurs in the ruckle deer hide use tar to seal the breach.

Place the ruckle deer hide into a lower incubation chamber of an egg for three days or until the ruckle deer hide has lost all of its fur and has turned completely black. Once removed from the egg carefully cut the ruckle deer hide open. The new personal assistant will begin to move and emit smoke within a few moments of coming into contact with the air. If it fails to move, press firmly on its body until smoke is visible.

For more samples of my work head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Corrupted Knight - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Corrupted Knight

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2014 Christopher Burdett

2451.2

            Many of our brave and honorable knights have ventured deep into the dungeons and caverns beneath the Bazaar to seek out the darkness that dwells there to purge it from our blessed realm. Many of our knights have gone forth, and many of our knights have never returned. What does return is a mockery of life, a mockery of our Gods. When the clothes and armor of our sacred knights return, they are not worn by beings of faith, but by horrid abominations born from whatever evil lurks deep beneath our feet. Our beautiful holy armor is warped and misshaped to suit these grotesque beasts. To the reason why these ghastly piles of oozing flesh need to adorn themselves with the armor of our knights has yet to be determined. Perhaps the armor is part of some demonic ritual. Maybe they mean to undermine our resolve and faith by reminding us of those who have sacrificed all for the temple. Whatever the reason, such blasphemy cannot be tolerated. I have asked the High Scholars to put forth a doctrine proposal to immediately kill and burn any beast found wearing the armor of the Knights of Ascension. While the proposal is still working its way through the consideration committees, I am optimistic that it will be accepted and implemented. We cannot allow for the good deeds and noble sacrifices of our knight to be corrupted by such monsters. For too long the Order has tried to glean knowledge of these monster's origins and reasoning. Some of the High Scholars even hope to communicate with these monsters to learn from them. This is of course pure folly. We give time to this threat the longer we allow them to walk the streets at night stalking the weak. We must act now to cleanse them from our world lest they endanger the purity of our temple. All those that were volunteered to seek out the darkness would want this. They would never want to have their deeds tarnished in this way, to have their sacrifice spit upon by such foul creatures.

Silas Illywacker - Student of Enlightenment

(Personal journal)

For more samples of my work head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Lammergeier Transport - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Lammergeier Transport

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper 

© 2017 Christopher Burdett

2568.6

            The Lammergeier have been one of the principal means by which large amounts of goods are transported to and from the air shops above the Bazaar. Used for centuries, the Lammergeier are renown for their high weight capacity and docile demeanor. Approximately one hundred and thirty-eight years ago the Lammergeier went extinct in the wild. At the time of their extinction, there were roughly one hundred Lammergeier still living and working in the Bazaar. Their numbers have since declined, and currently, there are only twenty-three remaining Lammergeier.

Lammergeier adults are generally twenty standard Bazaar cubits at the shoulder and have close to a one hundred cubit wingspan. Lammergeier coloration spans the rainbow, with their bodies ranging from blues, reds, yellows, and oranges with their wings completing the body coloration. It is not uncommon for vivid patterns and spots to doctorate the wings. Due to their extinction in the wild and limited breeding pool remaining at the Bazaar, the surviving Lammergeier have an off white body with patternless dark red wings. Their heads are bright red that transitions to the body coloration along the neck. All Lammergeier posses vibrant yellow beaks, pale blue tongues, and pale blue eyes.

Quirmiere’s Compendium of Beasts states that at one time the Lammergeier could be found across the entire northern hemisphere of Kiervis. There are numerous stories that during the mating session the skies would be filled with so many Lammergeier that they would blot out the sun. Mating for life, a female produces one egg every two years that the male tends until it hatches. The raising of young and hunting duties fall to the female, as the male tends the next new egg, which takes nearly a year and a half to hatch. Lammergeier mature quickly leaving the aerie in three years but will not reach sexual maturity for another fifteen years.

Having no natural predators in the wild, the Lammergeier are mild tempered and thus easy to domesticate and train. Their meat is described as being oily and lacking anything close to a pleasant flavor, but their eggs are considered delicacies and prized for their taste and texture. It is now a high crime with the punishment of death to own, transport, or consume a Lammergeier egg. Even so, eggs still go missing from nests.

Records obtained from the Lammergeier Handlers Union document the many attempts to increase mating and in turn increase the population. For the last thirty years, these attempts have failed. The remaining population has been taken off duty to prevent any accidental deaths. There is hope now that if the Lammergeier are no longer burdened with transporting goods that they may produce more young. The union has reached out to Ethra for assistance. As of yet, the union has not received a response.

Reginald Blatherskite - Anointed Seer of the Impure Husk

(Tangent during a lecture on price fluctuations in the Bazaar’s economy)

For more samples of my work head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Full Illuxcon Portfolio Video

I recently shared all of the preparations for the debut of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia at Illuxcon. This included a teaser video of the portfolio I put together containing all of my original drawings. Now that Illuxcon has come and gone I have a full video that shows off every page of the portfolio! Each drawing had a corresponding name plate page that reflects the monster. It was well received at Illuxcon and I am pressing forward with new monsters!

Full portfolio of all original drawings from Illuxcon.
(This video is best viewed over on YouTube!) 

 

For more samples of my work head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com