Victorian Hawk - Fantasy Articles - Fantasy Realms - Fantasy Writing

Imaginary Beasts - Newest

The Victorian Hawk Dragon has currently reviewed the following:

Fire Tiger - Egyptian Fire King - Queen Bastet

Be Egyptian Queen. Be Empires Fight. A Fire Tiger - knows friend from foe. Be Egyptian Warrior. Be Egyptian Caste. A Fire Tiger - knows claw from claw. Be Egyptian Goddess. Be Egyptian Griffin. A Fire Tiger - knows tail from tail. Forever woven, in Egyptian Fire - a Fire Tiger, of Queen Bastet:

Fire Tiger - Egyptian Fire King - Queen Bastet
Fire Tiger - Egyptian Fire King - Queen Bastet

For Ancient Egypt knew for well, the importance - of a Battle-line ... In Queen Bastet, came Pharaoh Rule, who'd learnt her Art, of Military Might. In her Armies, walked her Foot-men - spear on spear, bow on bow. In her Legions, rode her Warriors - axe on axe, sword on sword. But in her Vanguard, burned her Tigers - claw on claw, roar on roar! For Fire Tigers of Bastet, lived Military General ... In Paths of Royalty, her Tigers bred - in purest Fire, with hottest Heart. In Paths of Fearless, her Tigers walked - in foes of Many, with grins of Plenty. In Paths of Ferocity, her Tigers snarled - in fearsome Leap, with Battle Claws. In Paths of Anger, her Tigers raged - in whirling Tempest, with burning Sun. For Fire Tigers of Bastet, lived Military Wise ... In Paths of Authority, her Tigers pranced - in thought of Regal, with Kingly Pose. In Paths of Courage, her Tigers danced - in heads held High, with rally Me. In Paths of Prowess, her Tigers led - in awesome Strength, with blatant Daring. In Paths of Valour, her Tigers reigned - in stunning Braveness, with thoughts so Bold. For Fire Tigers of Bastet, lived Military King! And yet: forget their Lineage - did they not ... They kissed the ground, that Queen Bastet - had walked upon. They licked the flame, that Queen Bastet - had cast upon. They purred the steps, that Queen Bastet - had hewn upon. For these Fire Tigers were (as of always), a symbol of the Power, of Queen Bastet! They knew their place ... Pets of hers that Fuelled the Fire! Pets of hers that Fought in Line! Pets of hers that Guarded her! And in return? Did Queen Bastet bestow within their Fire - an Immortal Soul :) And so it was ... That these Fire Tigers, got to rest when time for thought - residing in: The Valley of the Kings! On either side, Fire Tiger Guardians. On either side, Fire Tiger Sentinels. On either side, Fire Tigers Deadly. For these Fire Tigers of Bastet - knew at once, Pharaoh Fall. For these Fire Tigers of Bastet - helped Resurrect, Pharaoh Dead. And so it was ... Their watchful Eyes, knew Truth from Sin - did you slay in Battle, or did you cower? Their knowing Eyes, knew Honour from Lie - did you Guard him well, or stab in back? Their wisest Eyes, knew fact from fiction - did you Storm just few, or storm an army? For these Fire Tigers of Bastet - were Pure of Heart, and Foe of Many! Because in them, laid a Power - a Power of Fire, a Power of Fury! Because in them, laid a Might - a Might of Fight, a Might of Warrior! Because in them, laid a God - a God of War, a God of Carnage! And of their foes? Did Queen Bastet - simply smile :) As most would flee. As most would run. As most would die. And of those: that didn't? Well then ... A fight of fights! With fearsome Claws, rend for rend. With deadly Teeth, bite for bite. With powerful Paws, stomp for stomp. With flicking Tail, whip for whip. With burning Eyes, look for look. With snarling Jaws, scar for scar. And of those: that didn't fall? Well then ... Breath of Fire! Queen Bastet, knew for well - mountain foes, mountain grave. Queen Bastet, knew for well - countless enemy, countless dead. Queen Bastet, knew for well - endless tide, endless ash. For Queen Bastet, did bestow - upon her Tigers, Kiss of Pharaoh! An Immortal Kiss, Transcend through Time - never Age, never Old, never Die! And so it was ... That these Fire Tigers, walked between - World of Worlds. An Egyptian Underworld, where Tigers Heart - beat forever :) An Egyptian Underworld, where Tigers Name - known forever :) An Egyptian Underworld, where Tigers Form - last forever :) For these Fire Tigers of Bastet - answered only, Call of War ... Roar! Roar! Guard our Queen. Roar! Roar! Guard our Pharaoh. Roar! Roar! Guard our Goddess. Roar! Roar! Slay her foes ...

| Victorian HawkPermalink | Web: Tom Wood Fantasy Art Valley of the Kings

Werewolf - Tom Wood - Fantasy Art

In the Darkest of the Nights. In the Whitest of the Moon. In the Thickets of the Woods. In the Guise of a Werewolf:

Werewolf - Tom Wood - Fantasy Art
Werewolf - Tom Wood - Fantasy Art

Within this Woodland Realm, lurks He - who Snarls this Night. Within this Misty Wood, lurks He - who Lures this Eve. Within this Moonlight Realm, lurks He - who Howls this Twilight. Within this Forest Glen, lurks He - who Walks this Path! But what Path would that be then? Well ... Thy Path of thy Werewolf - but of course :) For it is an Ancient Path, that's Steeped in Lore ... For only in the Darkest Nights, in the Darkest Woods - can you See Them. For only in the Brightest Moons, in the Brightest Haze - can you Hear Them. For only in the Blackest Clouds, in the Blackest Skies - can you Feel Them. For only in the Whitest Mists, in the Whitest Dews - can you Sense Them. For only in the ... Growl! On a Night like this, in a Forest like this - may you See Them ... Steeped in Lore, and Steeped in Fantasy. Steeped in Myth, and Steeped in Sight. Steeped in Shadow, and Steeped in Lunar. For I see a Werewolf - in his Bestial Form ... With Fur on Muscle, both Long and Flow. With Claws to Tear, both Sharp and Point. With Tail of Whip, both Twirl and Slender. With Piercing Eyes, both Green and Maleficent. With Skeletal Hands, both Strong and Vice. With Nose to Sniff, both Hunt and Stalk. As it is with these Werewolves, and their Hunting Ways ... Built for Battle, in their Heightened Frenzy. Built for Speed, in their Paws of Four. Built for Ravage, in their Strength of Ten. Built for Chase, in their Mark of Wolf. Built for Warring, in their Need for Fight. Built for Pack, in thy Brothers Will! For this Werewolf is ... Thy Master, of this Midnight's Path :) But can this Werewolf see me? Well ... With a Sniff of Scent - his Torso Twisted. With a Hint of Sweat - his Sharpened Claws. With a Sound of Rustle - his Barring Teeth. With a Snap of Twig - his Growling Voice. With a Tremble of Branch - his Glowing Eyes. With a Sense of Fear - he's Honed on You! As it is with these Werewolves, and their Sense of Self ... Some Tattered Jeans, around his Waist - no Human Eyes, just Greenish Glow. Some Whispers of Man, around his Chest - no Human Skin, just Wolf-like Fur. Some Stance of King, around his Form - no Human Cower, just Strength of Wolf. Growl!! Thy Werewolf and his Victim ... No Thought of Reason, just Dream of Hunger. No Look of Friend, just Guise of Prey. No Need of Logic, just Want of Eat. Growl!!! For this Werewolf, is Home in both - Dark Fantasy, and Heart of Woods. For this Werewolf, is Known by both - Creatures of Night, and Guardian of Forest. For this Werewolf, is Slave in both - Powers of Moon, and Lunar Hour. For this Werewolf, is Pride in both - Secret Woods, and Regal Guise. For this Werewolf, is Herald in both - Harbinger of Death, and Hunting Pack. For this Werewolf, is King in both - Midnight's Realm, and Darkest Nights. He'd Seen Me!

| Victorian HawkPermalink | Web: Tom Wood Fantasy Art

Juggernaut of Khorne - Daemon Steed

If there's one Fantasy Character, within the Fantasy Realms of 40K - that is itself akin to the Eye of Terror, as it pulls you into the Swirling Mists of Intense Debate, than there is no finer model to collect, than a Chaos Champion's Juggernaut of Khorne:

Juggernaut of Khorne - Daemon Steed
Juggernaut of Khorne - Daemon Steed

I remember once, hearing a fellow gamer's voice - what have you got that for? Well ... It's my Juggernaut, and he's part of my Chaos Army! Needless to say, my friend and I, were soon at loggerheads :) His basic point was, that there is no point to the Juggernaut of Khorne - as it's too expensive a model (in terms of points). Well now ... Did my Chaos Lord decide, that he would be having none of this! As I quite like, the Juggernaut of Khorne :) First: in terms of collecting and painting ... I decided to assemble this model, in two parts - the Juggernaut, and the Chaos Space Marine. With the Juggernaut, I filed the metal pieces, then glued them together (but not onto the base - simply resting his feet, for the correct position). I then under-coated in Chaos Black, flipping the Juggernaut (to paint the underneath), followed by two coats of (brushed) Chaos Black. I then dry-brushed in Weapon Bronze, and glued the Juggernaut onto his base (as I found myself becoming concerned, about paint chips!). The hardest part of the Juggernaut, was painting his raised armoured edges - which I first under-coated in white, then painted in Shining Gold. As for the rivets, did I again make use of my trusty cocktail stick (with a dab of white, Dragon Red and Magenta Ink). It is here that I found it hard, to paint the inside edges of the Juggernaut's feet (as when glued to the base, is it difficult to reach the armour). I then painted the Juggernaut's skulls and teeth (which are ushabti bone with a runny tuskgor fur and gehenna's gold mix-wash applied to the top). It was then that I turned my attention, to the Juggernaut's armoured back plates, and his power conduits. I decided to under-coat both in white, with Dragon Red over the top, and Magenta Ink (to finish). I loved the effect that this created, especially on the power conduits - as it's as though my Juggernaut, has a pulsing Daemon's heart/stomach! Which I feel, is a decent modelling effect, for this part Daemon, part Machine - Juggernaut of Khorne :) As for the Chaos Space Marine rider, I decided to paint his Power Armour plates, in a fifty-fifty fashion: with some in Chaos Black (dry-brushed Weapon Bronze over the top), and other's Dragon Red (with a Magenta Ink finish). I then painted his hair and power conduits in Angel Green (dry-brushed in Mithril Silver). Then was it time, for my eye-catching Plasma Pistol (in Golden Yellow), so the enemy knows, just whose shooting at them! In any case, I glued the Space Marine rider, onto the Juggernaut last :) Second: in terms of gameplay ... Being an Independent Character, I like to attach my Juggernaut of Khorne, to a squad of at least 9, Khorne Berzerkers - that are armed with Bolt Pistols and Khornate Chain Axes (limiting enemy armour saves, to 4 plus). What of my Champion's/Juggernaut's gameplay profile? Well ... There's the Mark of Khorne (must charge closest enemy), a Khornate Chain Axe, and the Rage of Khorne (plus D3 Attacks whilst charging) - giving him Strength 5, Toughness 5 (from the Juggernaut), Wounds 3 and Attacks 5 (up to 8, when charging). In total, it cost me 118 points for my Chaos Champion, and his Juggernaut of Khorne :) In actual gameplay, are there three types of encounter - that I have seen (thus far) ... Battle One: verses 9 Space Wolves Blood Claws (Jump Packs, 4 Power Fists, 1 Power Axe, 1 Power Sword and 1 Plasma Pistol). I know! I know! A very close battle, as the Space Wolves initially benefited from Berserk Charge (plus 2 Attacks). Despite this, on the opening round of combat, did the Blood Claws lose 3 Space Marines (to the Juggernaut's Initiative of 5 with 5 Attacks!). It was then the Initiative 4 Attacks, which saw the Blood Claw's Power Weapons, carve through 2 Khorne Berzerkers - followed by the Khorne Berzerkers attacks, who with some terrible dice roles, only managed to drag down 1 Blood Claw! Unfortunately for the Juggernaut, did the Blood Claws Power Fists, then tear into him (at Initiative 1), and it was left to the Khorne Berzerkers - to win the fight! Battle Two: verses the same Space Wolves Blood Claws, but this time, did the Juggernaut and the Berzerkers - charge first :) This made a considerable difference! The Juggernaut's 5 plus D3 Attacks (in this case 8!), added to the Khorne Berzerkers 4 attacks each (on the charge), meant that the Blood Claws were simply - dragged down in a Blood Bath! The Blood Claws Power Fists (at Initiative 1), never got a chance to hit back (which could have made - all the difference). Battle Three: I don't like fighting Orks - and there's a very good reason for this! As verses 26 Slugga Boyz, and 30 Gretchin, did my Juggernaut (and his Khorne Berzerkers) - have mixed results ... I was lured into a false sense of security - as my Juggernaut and Berzerkers, managed to down 4 Gretchin (from Bolt Pistol shooting) and 20 Gretchin (from charging into hand-to-hand). At this point, I started to feel, that my Juggernaut was unstoppable :) As I was rolling 36 Attacks, with 23 hits (for my entire Khorne squad). Unfortunately, then did I realise, one of the draw backs of the Mark of Khorne: as having to charge the closest enemy (the Gretchen had been in range), meant that the Slugga Boyz were initially - unengaged. Thus, when they charged, was my Juggernaut and his Khorne Berzerkers, on the wrong side of the Blood God! The Slugga Boyz, had 63 attacks on their first turn, which with the Ork Choppas (4 plus enemy armour saves), meant that I did not have enough Khorne Berzerkers, to soak up that kind of damage, meaning that my Juggernaut - got dragged down to! Then, to top it all off, did my Berzerkers fail their Leadership test (rolling an 11 on 2D6), and the Orks simply over-ran them - in a Massacre result! Overall: For me, the Juggernaut is a worthwhile addition to your Chaos Army and it's troops, as long as your squad - has enough Chaos Space Marines in it, to soak up the damage :) At 35 points, your Chaos Champion gains Daemonic Strength (plus 1 Strength), Daemonic Essence (plus 1 Wound), Daemonic Mutation (plus 1 Attack) and being classified as a Daemon Steed, does he also gain Daemonic Resilience (plus 1 Toughness). If you added these individually, then this would cost you 65 points - so the 35 points (for a Juggernaut) seems worth it to me! And besides, do you really want your Chaos Champion, just walking into battle? Or do you want him riding a Chaos Beast, of the Blood God himself - who can trample your opponents, under his claws! Unless their Orks of course :)

| Victorian HawkPermalink | Web: Juggernaut of Khorne

Galrauch - Chaos Dragon - Black Dragon

Of all the Chaos Dragons, there is none more spoken of - than Galrauch. What once was Elven Dragon, Golden Drake. Became twisted and deformed, as with the Powers of Chaos! For it was upon the battlefield that Elven triumphed, but just for the smallest Twist of Time ... Having consumed a Seed of Chaos, did Tzeentch (Chaos Sorcerer), work his Magic. Thy Lord of Change, changed this Dragon - from Spire of Light, to Blade of Dark:

Galrauch - Chaos Dragon - Black Dragon
Galrauch - Chaos Dragon - Black Dragon

This is the first such Fantasy Character/Model, that I have ever constructed - which took me a little over eight years to complete! Well ... Not eight years exactly - more like, I just started to assemble and paint, this Warhammer Figure, at the start of this year :) Whys that you say? Perhaps I to, had become Lost in the Realms of Chaos? Or perhaps instead, it was just that I remembered, where the box was! But then again, perhaps it was only now, that I felt just capable - of assembling this model :) Yes, I think that was it ... For I knew from day one, that this model would be difficult to assemble. Whilst I forget when it was, that I first cleaned/filed the metal edges of this Dragon. I know for-well when it was, that I found myself in the Realms of Superglue! Lost in Time, Lost in Glue, did I reach for - my Dremel Multitool :) For it was indeed, that I pinned this Dragon's Wings, to this Dragon's Body ... And here did I learn a lesson: drill the hole in the Dragon's Body first, insert a cocktail stick, trim it (so it's just poking out), add a dab of paint to the end of the cocktail stick (I used red), press each Dragon's Wing to the Dragon's Body, and with a Rune of Tzeentch - do you know just where to drill the matching hole! And what of the cocktail stick? Well ... Just drill it out :) It was then to the Dragon's Heads (which glued on fine), and the Dragon's Tail (which I lost several evenings to - eventually having to pin). Yet, with both the Dragon's Heads and the Dragon's Tail, together with the Dragon's Body - did I have to use Modellers Putty, to fill the gaps :) Thus, do I feel, that it took me about a month (in the evenings), to assemble this model. It was then onto the Realms of Painting ... I started with a white undercoat, then changed to black (both undercoat and base). I then dry-brushed the Dragon in Dragon Red (Army Painter), and highlighted/refined in Magenta Ink (I really loved that part!). I then found myself painting in Warlock Purple (Citadel Colour), along both the edges, and the folds of Daemon flesh - which I again dry-brushed in Magenta Ink. It was here that I decided to paint the Bones, Talons and Barbs of this Dragon ... Undercoat in white first, then Ushabti Bone (Citadel Layer) over the top. This proved to be a challenge - as there was a lot of Bones, Talons and Barbs! I especially found it awkward, along the Finer Bones of this Dragon's Wings. It was then that I consorted with Tzeentch ... For I was lured into a whole multi-coloured spectrum, for the highlights/details of my Chaos Dragon: Angel Green (Army Painter), Amethyst Purple, Emerald Green, Enchanted Blue, Golden Yellow and Tuskgor Fur (all Citadel). I used these colours for the patches of cracked Dragon Skin, and the various Snaking Cords/Veins. It was then that Tzeentch, spoke to me again ... Before I knew what I was doing, had I picked up a paint brush, and started painting shapes over my Dragon's Wings (where the small faces showed through the webbed skin/folds). Then did I battle, for I realised that these were Patches of Contagion - that looked too disjoint to the Dragon's base colours. I eventually resolved this issue, through the use of Tuskgor Fur - painted around the outside, of these Patches of Contagion. It was then, that I remembered my Dragon's Eyes ... I based in white, then painted over with Dragon Red. I was initially concerned about their shape (as some of the red paint ran), but in the end - this worked out fine :) As for the finishing of my Dragon, did I decide to dry-brush in Shining Gold (Citadel Metallic - the really old one). It was as though, I was Tzeentch himself! For my Chaos Dragon, simply snapped into focus - and I found myself in total awe, at the detail, that I'd managed to work in :) Overall: An amazing Western Dragon, Fantasy Model - that I know is Pride of Place, within my collection of Fantasy Characters. It's a model, that I rushed to collect (several years back), but then managed to forget about (for the most part). But recently, I suspect that Tzeentch started to whisper to me (from the Warp), as I found myself dreaming of Galrauch - especially the Desire to both assemble, and paint him! For me, Galrauch is more a Collector's Dragon :) I spent so long painting him (enjoyably), that the thought of fielding him in battle, just scares me! Indeed, was it here that I knew just when my Galrauch was complete - as I started to obsess too much, about dropping him (whilst painting!). Finally: a unique Warhammer Character/Model, that seems to have disappeared largely, from the Ranks of Chaos these days. Whilst we may never know why that is - perhaps Galrauch sleeps? I do know of one Tale, that this Dragon still Reigns in ... Galrauch roars upon thy Field of Battle - knowing not Now, what he Once was. Galrauch roars upon thy Collector's shelf - knowing just Is, what he Became. For Galrauch is a Chaos Dragon :) Writhed in Power. Writhed in Chaos. Off to War, and Hunt the Elven!

| Victorian HawkPermalink | Web: Galrauch

The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book

Its worth having a copy of this fantasy drawing book just for the artwork that's in it, let alone the actual drawing tips and advice:

The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book
The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book

I like the fact that the book contains a tonne of information, yet still manages to lay it out in a meaningful way. Even the introduction section manages to cover: paper types, pencil types, pastel types, pen/ink types, brush types and paint types, together with Setting up a Workspace and Working Digitally. The book highlights the fact that visualizing is one of the most important tools that a fantasy artist can have! You must know the type of characters and scenes you want in your artwork through rough sketches, before you consider doing any fine detail work. The book also illustrates the fact that stick figures and geometric shapes are the order of the day, allowing any artist to use simplicity as their tool for helping to create complex figures and scenes. Its also good to see information on both one-point and two-point perspective: with a decent example for a building interior and a female figure. The book also considers various techniques, with one of my favourites being Design and Layout. For example, is your scene vertical and horizontal or emphasis at side? Overall: I feel that this is an inspiring book, that can help you take your artwork to the next level.

| Victorian HawkPermalink

Imaginary Beasts - All

Fire Tiger - Egyptian Fire King - Queen BastetGalrauch - Chaos Dragon - Black DragonJuggernaut of Khorne - Daemon SteedThe Fantasy Illustrator's Technique BookWerewolf - Tom Wood - Fantasy Art