Chapter 3: Page 58
The main gate of Cenolau leads into a central plaza where there stands a large statue, signifying the signing of the Treaty of Cenolau. Each signatory kingdom is represented, and visiting it in person is seen as reason enough to visit the bustling trade city of Cenolau.
The thumbnail passes for this page represent a couple different options Rachel played around with: either using a high shot to capture the whole statue, or a low shot to capture Janik’s perspective. as she approaches it.
We ultimately went with the lower perspective. Since Janik is seeing this statue for the first time, we wanted her view of it to be shared by the reader, who is ALSO seeing the statue for the first time. Keeping the information the same between the character and the reader seemed the right way to go for this one, and we’re pretty happy with how it turned out.
In the script, the statue is described as thus:
Janik and her caravan arrive in the city square, marked by a large ceremonial statue representing the signing of the Treaty of Cenolau. The statue is a combination of brass and iron, with a marble base, and a large tree growing from the center. Larger-than-life representations of the tamian, lutren, canid, felis, and vulpin sit together around the base, hands outstretched in a peaceful gesture. The tree, a large oak supplied by Sunsgrove, grows outward from the center–a symbolic representation of how the Four Kingdoms were meant to grow as a result of the treaty.
Rachel borrowed various inspirations from the same sources as the vulpin artwork we saw early in this chapter (representing elements of their history), leaning into Sumerian statuary and even pulling some ideas from Rembrandt Bugatti’s bronzework.
The canid in the second panel are most likely from Deltrada and are probably there to report of the attack by the ermhen and captain Kenosh’s betrayal.
Nice page!
And Blackwater is right. I sense trouble afoot . . .
I also just noticed Mitra might be on to it.
Her frown towards the canid soldiers is a dad give-away to me.
Spelling/typing error.
I meant DEAD give-away.
I’m pretty sure “dad give-away” is correct.
The guards don’t seem to like the presence of canid soldiers, especially after the assassination attempt at the sunsgrovian embassy in SOTES.
Every saturday/sunday I look forward to the next page not just for the story but for the behind the scenes info. Thanks to you guys I’m learning important steps for better story building.
I agree with Fourth and Otter, I sense an assassination attempt brewing. Which coming from the Canid is still kinda funny since subtle isn’t really in their vocabulary. As Festus from the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim would say ” Walk up to your mark, introduce yourself, melt their face of with a fireball and run like the wind”. Great know I want a BTWD rpg made by Bethesda. Ah well, at least I still have that BTWD Fire Emblem story script that I still haven’t finished. On day. But as for now I bid you all adieu.
That 2nd panel is such great environmental storytelling! We’re still focused on Janik, but we can see just from the way those canid are framed and how Mitra’s looking away at them that trouble is brewing. Then juxtapose that with Janik’s reaction as she sees the statues… ah! It’s so good!
The statues look impressive and serious, yet I can guarantee that any child would try to climb them within five seconds of seeing them. Heck, that was my first impulse too :D
It doesn’t really show through the lighting pass, but I did paint spots on the statues that are bright and polished from passersby touching them. Hands, knees, feet… and the noses/mouths, so there probably are whippersnappers climbing these things X)
I love that you went back to Sumerian art for your inspiration. Few things break my suspension of disbelief in fantasy worlds more than art whose realism or style doesn’t fit the world that’s being created — like Baroque statuary in a nomadic culture.
I quite like the Canid unifroms.
The guard’s expression in the second panel: Hilarious, but a bit much if you ask me.
Those statues are also looking pretty grumpy: “Do you know what it’s like being frozen in this pose? Do you have any idea what kinds of things pranksters keep putting in our hands?”
“Do you have any idea what kinds of things pranksters keep putting in our hands?”
Ha!
It’s only a matter of time before the races of Dunia invent the traffic cone and then, in accordance with the immutable laws of drunk people everywhere no statue will be left unadorned.
And that is how Cain and Yurk got themselves banned from Cenolau.
It was worth it.
The statues of I Don’t Even, a monument to all politics, famed across the globe..