June Entry: Gryphon's Watch

[Steel General]

Khaltyn glanced quickly around at his comrades, all of them were injured to some extent. Danner in particular was in bad shape, the Mountain Troll had caught him square in the ribs and sent the little halfling flying several feet. He lay against a rock hand pressed to his side a tiny bit of bloody froth at one corner of his mouth.

The trolls were re-grouping, never in all his years had he seen them acting in concert like this. Obviously someone or something was directing them, but who?

The lead troll, a massive beast encased in bits and pieces of crude armor bellowed and beat his iron-shod club on the ground. Head-sized clods of earth flying in all directions.

"We can't take another charge from them Knight of Loric," the comment came from his left where the Braydish warrior Shuzata covered his flank. Shuzata's long bone white hair was stained a deep crimson from where he had taken a blow to the head. His helmet and saved him from death, but the cut bled profusely.

"I know," Khaltyn gasped. "Grab the little one, we're leaving!" He glanced to the right where the others had gathered. "Everyone close in around me, stay within an arms span of me at all costs."

"What are you going to do?" asked Nandii, Shuzata's long time friend and lover. She was limping badly on an obviously sprained ankle.

"I'll explain later," Khaltyn replied, "just do it!"

They had gathered around him and their eyes jerked back an forth between the now advancing trolls and the man who they had chosen as their leader.

"Get ready!" Khaltyn spat, "If this doesn't work we're all dead!" He dropped his shield off his arm to rest against his leg and grabbed the pommel stone of his sword. The stone twisted in his hand as he muttered the words to activate the enchantment ingrained in the sword at it's forging.

There has a wrenching feeling, what seemed to be the distant screech of an eagle and all went white. There was a great rushing sound then in the next instant they found themselves in a square chamber walled in stone. They all staggered a bit, some dropping to thier knees.

"Gods above Khaltyn, what did you do?" Shuzata gasped, "where are we?"

"Welcome to the Gryphon's Watch my friends."

The image below is an inset of the island on which Gryphon's Watch is located. Haven't quite worked out how the building will look yet, but I at least wanted to get this part posted.

So take a look, C&C as always is encouraged.

[ravells]

My eyes! My eyes!!!

[msa]

Nice start! Love the coastline, the land textures, and the theme. I'm guessing that's a plateau in the center of the island, right? Have you considered adding some shadows (highlights to the northwest and shadows to the southeast) to make it come off the page a bit?

[Steel General]

@msa - That is indeed a plateau - actually it's more of a narrow mesa. After reading your post and looking at it again you're right that the southeast side could be a bit more shadowed. That should be easy enough to fix.

@Ravs - Thanks... I think

[Sigurd]

So pretty.... So unspoiled.... must see take-out joints, plumes of smoke.....


Sigurd

[Steel General]

Haven't had much time to work on this lately... btut finally this morning I was able to get something done.

Gryphon Isle - No big changes really, just some deepening of the shadows on the southeast side of the mesa/plateau.

Gryphon's Watch - Basic layout of all the levels is done. Not entirely sure I like the floor pattern yet (but it'll work for now). The circular stairs aren't quite right yet either, but again they'll do for now. Hardly any of the furnishings, etc. is in. The gryphon in the of the ground level is supposed to be inlaid into the floor.

Hopefully I have time to finish this before the deadline, but not sure at the moment.

As always C&C is welcomed and encouraged.

###Latest WIP###

[philipstephen]

That tower is looking pretty sweet so far...

You know... I had a vision when i saw that griffon icon on the first floor of it being some sort of mystical elevator that pops griffons out onto the top of the tower for launch...

the four chambers around it could be for harnesses, food, and maybe a mystical summoning circle that can bring griffons in from the wild or wherever...

i dunno if that idea can be worked in or if it something you are interested in...

but a griffon going up a magical elevator for take off seemed like something out of an anime movie... and it struck me as a visual that gamers would be into....

i am intrigued to see how your ideas develop on this one...

phil

[Steel General]

Well unfortunately I don't think I'm going to have time to finish this.

So I at least tried to make it presentable, I may be able to get a little more done on it tomorrow, but I'm not counting on it.

I'm not happy with any of the stairs (they're to big) and the majority of the furnishings are missing.

But here we go...

### Latest WIP ###