Artwork for Gods of Crystal, Gods of Dreams. Some of it does appear in the book, but much of it only appears here.
Illustrations from Gods of Crystal,
Gods of Dreams
M’pelanae and Crechelle
M’pelanae H’non as Rasong, Vilian and Bredes meet it the first time in Glaceglitter Hall at Bir Halake. Crechelle is a silkit, or extremely long-haired, cat, and specially bred by the Lalloure to thrive on plant instead of animal proteins.
I almost used this sketch idea for the original cover, but even though Tristan Alexander made several preliminary layouts with it, the results were not dramatic enough for my liking.
Dinner with the H’non
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This is the gown M’pelanae provides for Vilian to wear to their dinner together. When Vilian arrives at the H’non’s quarters, she is surprised to find M’pelanae wearing the same outfit, though with the colors reversed. Vilian’s costume is described as a dark purple robe with cuffed sleeves and a rich red collar/cape combination embroidered in gold thread and set with amberite cabochons.
Since I trained as a fashion illustrator back in the 1970’s, many of my sketches still reflect those kinds of poses. Ever since I sketched this outfit, I very much wanted to see it in reality. Never made a full size version but did make one for the Glaceglitter Hall set for the Small Fantasies show. 
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The Bathing Pool
You said you were raised by humans. I expected some differences about you. Not in your appearance, but in your demeanor perhaps.
M’pelanae has just made this comment to Bredes. Note Bredes’ disconcerted expression.
Old sketch, extensively re-rendered in Photoshop. I’ve always loved the sensuality of this drawing—the Lalloure’s wet hair and skin, the movement of the water, even the liquid soap oozing out of the jar. And the fact that M’pelanae is one minute away from seducing Bredes for the first time.
M’pelanae has just made this comment to Bredes. Note Bredes’ disconcerted expression.
Old sketch, extensively re-rendered in Photoshop. I’ve always loved the sensuality of this drawing—the Lalloure’s wet hair and skin, the movement of the water, even the liquid soap oozing out of the jar. And the fact that M’pelanae is one minute away from seducing Bredes for the first time.
M’pelanae’s Loray Welcome Gown
Vilian looked up to see M’pelanae poised in the doorway, a porcelain statue swathed in azure and silver silk. A draped panel hung over one arm and fell from the opposite shoulder to the floor. Swirls of crystal beads and embroidery covered the gown from neck to hem. M’pelanae’s hair had been arranged in loops and braids over a filigree headdress of burnished blue metal.
Silk and beads and embroidery, oh my! The Lalloure do have some gorgeous clothing. And since I love headpieces, I gave M’pelanae a very fancy one constructed of lightweight metal, curly bits and spider pearls.
Silk and beads and embroidery, oh my! The Lalloure do have some gorgeous clothing. And since I love headpieces, I gave M’pelanae a very fancy one constructed of lightweight metal, curly bits and spider pearls.
Trillisay and Glyniri
Bir Halake’s two Lorays, Trillisay and Glyniri, as Vilian first meets them. Trillisay holds the wiggling Glyniri protectively, not all sure about this peculiar Vilian who has just been welcomed into Bir Halake.
I remember when I first drew this sketch, I was thinking that Glyniri insisted it be dressed similar to Trillisay that morning, down to the soft cloth bracers on its little wrists.
I remember when I first drew this sketch, I was thinking that Glyniri insisted it be dressed similar to Trillisay that morning, down to the soft cloth bracers on its little wrists.
The Fitting
Rasong fits M’pelanae’s finale costume for the play “God of Crystal.” M’pelanae was only too happy to get out of a boring meeting for this, and is about to ask Rasong a pointed question regarding Vilian.
For you continuity watchers, yes, Rasong’s hair is much too long in this illustration. I took artistic license.
Trillisay’s Firstlove Costume
Smoke from a drowned candle curled behind its head. Soft flicking shadows played over its sculpted face, its thick curling eyebrows, smoldering eyes and full, round lips. Vilian was breathless. Never had she seen such a sensual, sultry vision. Everything that epitomized Lalloure was standing before her—impossibly perfect youth, savage beauty, dangerous desire.
I admit it: everything about this sketch and the scene makes me hot. I’ve often longed to actually be Vilian, but never more so than at this point.
I admit it: everything about this sketch and the scene makes me hot. I’ve often longed to actually be Vilian, but never more so than at this point.
Ahri from the play “God of Crystal”
The costume M’pelanae designed for itself as the lead character Ahri in the play “God of Crystal.” M’pelanae took much artistic license with the costume, as the author of the play had specified the character would be wearing white rags at this point.
This is a recent drawing of mine. A colored version in a more dramatic pose by artist Tristan Alexander appeared on the original cover of Gods of Crystal, Gods of Dreams. See the Miscellany page.
This is a recent drawing of mine. A colored version in a more dramatic pose by artist Tristan Alexander appeared on the original cover of Gods of Crystal, Gods of Dreams. See the Miscellany page.
The Mark
As part of a ruse, M’pelanae had raised a mark on Bredes’ chest: a circle with a line through it, an ancient symbol for Lalloure. M’pelanae is now in the process of removing the same.
Bredes is in disguise as a human boy at this point, hence its plain shirt and pants in contrast to M’pelanae’s more fancy Lallourean clothing.
Bredes is in disguise as a human boy at this point, hence its plain shirt and pants in contrast to M’pelanae’s more fancy Lallourean clothing.
The Pleasurie
At the pleasurie before Harvest Hall, M’pelanae attempts to seduce Vilian for the second time. As this is a public Lallourean venue, Vilian reacts in a very typically human manner.
Yes, I deliberately fig-leafed M’pelanae with its own hair in this sketch. Though there is really nothing to see, the concealment seemed more erotic to me.
Yes, I deliberately fig-leafed M’pelanae with its own hair in this sketch. Though there is really nothing to see, the concealment seemed more erotic to me.
RHENDILON of HYLCYON
Rhendilon is a seventh cousin of Rhninen of K’kessinair and younger than Rhninen by only fifteen years. They never met but Rhendilon knew of their consanguinity and wrote to Rhninen, though Rhninen did not reply. Rhendilon resembles Rhninen facially though it has a larger body build, darker red hair and green instead of blue eyes. Rhendilon also has a softer, kinder look about it. One thing the cousins share is a dedicated single-mindedness about their interests.
Rhendilon relocated to Bir Halake while it was still a Loray. Rhendilon always knew it wanted to sculpt and was whittling when it was a child. Its creche citadel of Hylcyon could offer it little in the way of an apprenticeship in sculpting and Rhendilon begged to be allowed to move to Bir Halake. Finally when the Loray was 14 it was permitted to emigrate to the northern citadel. At Bir Halake Rhendilon made carpentry and masonry its vocation and honed its sculpting talents with a vengeance.
For almost a century Rhendilon modeled clay and porsleen and sculpted wood, marbline, and crystal. The fruits of its art traveled to other citadels and both Rhendilon and its work became well-known. When Rhendilon was 119 years old in 1025 ac., it was made Artisan and thereafter known as Rhendilon Rt’san.
Rhendilon is warmhearted, considerate and gentle, but rather quiet. Rhendilon had been at Bir Halake for twenty-five years when Athanen moved there in 945 ac. and was 39 years old as compared to Athanen’s 144. Because of its personality Athanen’s star rose much quicker than Rhendilon’s. For many years Rhendilon was aware of Athanen even though the reverse was not true. And for many years Rhendilon did not think one way or another of Athanen other than to enjoy the plays and musicals the actor directed and appeared in. Athanen did not become aware of Rhendilon until it was bestowed the honor of Rt’san in 1025 ac. The short story What Truth in a Stone? describes how they fell in love.
Rhendilon’s costume in this sketch is overly fancy for the sculptor. I figured it was something Rhendilon would have worn to one of Athanen’s plays.
Rhendilon relocated to Bir Halake while it was still a Loray. Rhendilon always knew it wanted to sculpt and was whittling when it was a child. Its creche citadel of Hylcyon could offer it little in the way of an apprenticeship in sculpting and Rhendilon begged to be allowed to move to Bir Halake. Finally when the Loray was 14 it was permitted to emigrate to the northern citadel. At Bir Halake Rhendilon made carpentry and masonry its vocation and honed its sculpting talents with a vengeance.
For almost a century Rhendilon modeled clay and porsleen and sculpted wood, marbline, and crystal. The fruits of its art traveled to other citadels and both Rhendilon and its work became well-known. When Rhendilon was 119 years old in 1025 ac., it was made Artisan and thereafter known as Rhendilon Rt’san.
Rhendilon is warmhearted, considerate and gentle, but rather quiet. Rhendilon had been at Bir Halake for twenty-five years when Athanen moved there in 945 ac. and was 39 years old as compared to Athanen’s 144. Because of its personality Athanen’s star rose much quicker than Rhendilon’s. For many years Rhendilon was aware of Athanen even though the reverse was not true. And for many years Rhendilon did not think one way or another of Athanen other than to enjoy the plays and musicals the actor directed and appeared in. Athanen did not become aware of Rhendilon until it was bestowed the honor of Rt’san in 1025 ac. The short story What Truth in a Stone? describes how they fell in love.
Rhendilon’s costume in this sketch is overly fancy for the sculptor. I figured it was something Rhendilon would have worn to one of Athanen’s plays.
ATHANEN of K’KESSINAIR
Athanen moved to Bir Halake in 945 ac. when it was 144 and at Bir Halake found the niche it had been looking for. M’kiria H’non became fond of it and encouraged Athanen to use its talents to nurture music and the theatre at Bir Halake, both of which had been lagging for nearly a century. The citadel of crystal miners was not particularly given to performing arts; most artistic Lalloure there were painters, sculptors and jewelers. At Bir Halake Athanen established its own outlandish style and developed the performing arts, especially theatre. For its vocation, Athanen has worked in the mines, the fields and is currently a horticulturist in the solarhouses.
Athanen is a flashy dresser, even more so than the average Lalloure. And Athanen introduced a human bodily adornment to Bir Halake, that of ear piercing. Mutilation of the body in any way (piercing, tattooing, etc.) is abysmal to the Lalloure who are always striving for their vision of physical and spiritual perfection, but the aberration accentuates Athanen’s unique style. It has not been copied by any other Bir Halakean even though pierced skin could easily be eradicated by self-healing the same as any other bodily imperfection.
Athanen is a flashy dresser, even more so than the average Lalloure. And Athanen introduced a human bodily adornment to Bir Halake, that of ear piercing. Mutilation of the body in any way (piercing, tattooing, etc.) is abysmal to the Lalloure who are always striving for their vision of physical and spiritual perfection, but the aberration accentuates Athanen’s unique style. It has not been copied by any other Bir Halakean even though pierced skin could easily be eradicated by self-healing the same as any other bodily imperfection.
Provocateurs Costume
Provocateurs is a Lallourean masquerade where the participants refrain from speaking or sending, communicating with simple sign language instead. At the end of the festivities and dancing, the Lalloure pair off and unmask in private. It’s considered quite lucky if the lover one has chosen for the night is new, for the purpose of Provocateurs is to pleasure with someone one might not have otherwise considered.
The Lalloure in the sketch is Teshlyon, a Lalloure at Bir Halake who befriended Vilian.