GODS, MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF SHARDS:
In SHARDS, Eric Draco is the only one referenced in the story as having an artistic side. He paints, sculpts and sketches before he loses his room in the Castle of Mantesse. He also plays the lyre - a real Renaissance Man. So if you're a fan of the book, consider the idea that all the images below were either sketches or paintings made by Eric the Vain in his spare time. (They are of course, actually all made by my good buddy Shawn Bailey, every single image on this page. He helped me create a visual representation of all the lesser deities under Anthrough-Genus. Let's take a look at the gods first, then explore some of the myths and legends as we scroll down. In the universe of Shards, just as the Romans co-opted the gods of the Greeks and renamed them, you'll see that some of the God sketches have a moniker from a previous civilization - but the name usually only changes slightly). By the way, Shawn's day job keeps him pretty busy, traveling around the country, but if you'd like to contact him about his talent or if you have an interest in working with him, contact him through me: rodrsurratt@yahoo.com
In SHARDS, Eric Draco is the only one referenced in the story as having an artistic side. He paints, sculpts and sketches before he loses his room in the Castle of Mantesse. He also plays the lyre - a real Renaissance Man. So if you're a fan of the book, consider the idea that all the images below were either sketches or paintings made by Eric the Vain in his spare time. (They are of course, actually all made by my good buddy Shawn Bailey, every single image on this page. He helped me create a visual representation of all the lesser deities under Anthrough-Genus. Let's take a look at the gods first, then explore some of the myths and legends as we scroll down. In the universe of Shards, just as the Romans co-opted the gods of the Greeks and renamed them, you'll see that some of the God sketches have a moniker from a previous civilization - but the name usually only changes slightly). By the way, Shawn's day job keeps him pretty busy, traveling around the country, but if you'd like to contact him about his talent or if you have an interest in working with him, contact him through me: rodrsurratt@yahoo.com
KYROSE - GOD OF WAR AND VALOR
MOORHAIN - GOD OF FORGES AND FIRE
TORG - GOD OF MURDER AND MAGIC
XARAN - FALLEN DEITY OF LOYALTY AND SACRIFICE
MEZHEIKEL - GOD OF THE FOUR WINDS
Ahmed-Jazol - God of Merchants, Wealth, Prosperity and New Beginnings (like Janus in Roman mythology - this is the deity you would sacrifice to before beginning a new business venture.)
GRUEMAK - DEITY OF RESURRECTION AND WRANGLER OF THE DEAD
Estes - The Council of Twelve and One, AKA God of Insanity (My personal favorite. I believe it speaks volumes about the culture of Shards denizens that they actually have a god that they worship to deal with insanity).
Zaroth - God of Oceans and Water. If you recall from the story, in the universe of these Four Kingdoms - which, combined, equate to a continent the size of Australia - its people can get far enough out to sea for fishing, but if they press out past a mile or two, thirty-plus foot ocean waves will destroy any and every ship in their destructive path. Waves crash and fold over ships far away from shore day and night similar to the perpetual gaseous storms we've heard about on some of the planets in our galaxy.
However, this is what the people of the Four Kingdoms have been told. Most of them believe it because they can clearly see the shadows of these "gargantuan walls of water" from the beaches and cliffs of their kingdoms when they squint their eyes towards the horizon. Sure, ships have been presumed lost at sea, and despite all of the brave nautical explorers who have ventured out in every direction in all recorded history - none of them have ever returned. Whether that means their vessels were destroyed, or they simply found a better world, one without such a horrific overpopulation problem, and then decided to abandon the continent of their birth, remains to be seen...
However, this is what the people of the Four Kingdoms have been told. Most of them believe it because they can clearly see the shadows of these "gargantuan walls of water" from the beaches and cliffs of their kingdoms when they squint their eyes towards the horizon. Sure, ships have been presumed lost at sea, and despite all of the brave nautical explorers who have ventured out in every direction in all recorded history - none of them have ever returned. Whether that means their vessels were destroyed, or they simply found a better world, one without such a horrific overpopulation problem, and then decided to abandon the continent of their birth, remains to be seen...
GRIHZEL - THE WATCHER - DEITY OF SHADOWS, SECRETS AND LIES
JOTHRUN-TRULL - GOD OF WISDOM, CREATIVITY AND INVENTION
As stated above, and in SHARDS itself, the ocean is both feared and revered for its "beauty and insurmountable power." This legendary underwater, nameless deity would be Eric's nightmarish vision of what waits for men courageous (or foolish) enough to venture a little too far out to sea...
This image above, and the one below it, would both be painted on canvas by Eric in his room during the weeks in which the Clayface plague was devastating his kingdom of Shards.
Below: A less horrific painting by Eric Draco, in simpler and less violent times, long before Kalin's betrayal. As a soldier and artist, and someone who killed four men before he was eighteen, Eric is quite fascinated by bones and muscles, and the skeletal system within men and beasts that keeps them standing.