Granduris: Granduris Work in Progress

My art website - https://bobtheowl.blogspot.com/
My email - weirdsdale@gmail.com

The book is around 300 or so pages of prose and poems and monologues and sequentials. Large, oversized format. Square dimension. I really like how William Blake called some of his writing as "a memorable fancy". That's what the book is - memorable fancies coming together in a larger whole. The book is sorted scenes of a fantasy world. It is a compilation of different characters and their arcs, different tales, poems, songs, sorrows, etc, told by each inhabitant of the world first hand. The stories have artwork that could be a single drawing or a sequential page or the whole page could be words with just a hint of art. Or even a larger sequential of 12 to 22 pages for a scene that needs to be longer. Whatever gets the job done. Whatever aesthetic is most pleasing. While it is a non-traditional comic book it is also pragmatic. It is also like a sitcom, the main characters never die, the story just keeps going.

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There are a couple distinct settings.

The Wasteland or Uncharted Wilderness - which has become infected - apocalyptic, devils, creatures, and monsters, but there is still some people in the east trying to rebuild and rehabilitate the land. G.O.W.C. the Grand Order of the Wizards Council and M.A.S.R.E. Ministry of Academics Science Research and Education tries to help the land. They go forth into the infected lands and try to save people - lost elves, dwarfs, gnomes, humanoids, etc. They also fund expeditions to the wastelands to recover what was lost - artifacts, relics, old magic, history on cultures, etc.

The Mirths - sensitive, beautiful people full of mirth live in the sky. They are called the Mirths. The Mirths built sky palaces where they could live in total peace. Mirths are empaths and healers. Their hearts are light and seldom do they go to war or fight. They just want to stay out of the affairs of Granduris and live happily in the sky.

The Magnolocus Empire - is a series of kingdoms in the east made up of men, elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc who live in peace. The ruling class is casual but secure. Granduris is ruled by powerful magistrates and kings. Multiple kings exist at the same time in a single kingdom. If the people in one of the kingdoms have concerns or disputes they can turn to the kings and magistrates for a solution. These groups of kings and the magistrates decide what is needed for their kingdoms to be stable, however G.O.W.C is considered the main authority of all the kingdoms by proxy. Most kings can't do much without G.O.W.C. approval.

The Shadow Claw Empire - is a series of kingdoms in the west made up of men, trolls, creatures, and monsters that hate the world of Granduris and are always seeking conquest and death. Lord Zwarta has a large fortress in the kingdom of Nemen, which is considered the main authority of the kingdoms of the west. Lord Zwarta rules through tyranny with General Vocaborous.

G.O.W.C. - the Grand Order of the Wizards Council is a fortress in the eastern kingdoms. Artak and Runebo are among the Master Wizards who council and govern the eastern kingdoms. Much mysterious magic is born and practiced at the G.O.W.C. The wizards are feared and respected by the kings and magistrate.

M.A.S.R.E - Ministry of Academics Science Research and Education. A research and education society that wants to help prosper Granduris through science. Professor Ackanor is the chief executive. Tradition is important to many so progress and technology was seen as an obstruction. Many people have offense to what M.A.S.R.E. is doing. Professors are inventing light bulbs and photography, weapons and guns, which scares most people. They also fund expeditions to the wastelands to recover what was lost - artifacts, relics, old magic, history on cultures, etc.

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The Back Story

They say vitality, energy, and vigor is said to be the first construct of life. It is said the architects, creators of immense power, plant seeds and then sing and dance a world into being. Nobody knows for sure since the architects live outside of time and space.

There are three architects, also called the three creators, who are infinite and powerful. However, There was an architect, long ago; the Old One, called Glurka, that knew not goodness. He had a thousand mouths with razor sharp teeth and many disgusting tentacles. He could infect people with his sounds, which is why he is also called the Bloody Noises. Glurka had supremacy before the three creators. His power was corrupted and all he created was abominations. Nothing was beautiful. All was sickness and chaos. The three creators could take no more. For even they started to ply the universe looking to mark cruelty upon life. So the three creators lured Glurka into a cave and made him drunk. The wine was so potent that even the three creators feigned drinking it. After, they chained him in his sleep and buried him deep in the ground. And for this they paid the price.

Having taken unjust actions upon their shoulders, the three creators grew in sorrow and inequity. Therefore, their first creation, which was Granduris, was not perfect. They did everything they could to forget Glurka and to create beauty everlasting, though it was not easy.

Granduris, however, thrived through the ages. Many races were born. Many lands were called home. Wars sometimes manifested. Cruelty did happen. But Granduris remained the most beautiful.

But suddenly and unexpectedly, something happened that changed everything for the people - the Bloody Noises was let loose upon Granduris!

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Who let loose the Bloody Noises?
Heroes journey - Starkos
Evil and confused tyrant - Zwarta
Main plot - 30%

Who let loose the Bloody Noises upon Granduris remains to be seen. Some suspect Zwarta, one of the Eternals. He has gone missing and can't be accounted for. His brothers and sisters search for him but he can't be found. Rumor says he lives somewhere in the east, mixing with the trolls. They say the Shadow Claw, an army of trolls and monsters, answer to him alone. There are eleven Eternals and they all have different agendas. Some want control, some want riches, some just want to help the people, and some want to implement certain systems on the people. None of them could agree on anything. They are Whita, Zwarta, Aria, Kita, Maza, Froma, Balina, Phota, Morda, Vata, and Jaka. Eternals are a powerful and mysterious race. Not much is known about their ways, except that they live unlike anyone ever born. They say Eternals are the flower of life, who live upon live upon live. Some say they were the first people the three creators made. The fathers and mothers of Granduris. They can't die. They can do anything they want. Advice the common folk say is when a person comes into contact with them, run.

Lord Zwarta is indeed waging war against the lands in the east. The truth has been discovered. He has many trolls and wicked people on his side. He calls his empire the Shadow Claw. He wants conquest. Lord Zwarta has gone insane and his dark power grows within him. The other Eternals see him becoming corrupt. They see the weight of evil upon him. His spark, his Eternal light, is diseased - it is not benign, it is malignant. As it happens, even Eternals suffer. Yes they can do anything and they certainly aren't limited, but this very fact alone causes them to be disjointed. Their thoughts and actions can get dispersed from reality and it only weakens over time. Having no anchoring point in their lives, some Eternals get frustrated and confused. Rather than consolidating their smaller parts into a unified whole, they expand and progress their reality unto infinity. It can get pretty severe. Lord Kita has lost all functions and is in a coma. Others deal with it in different ways. Lord Aria drinks. Lord Jaka gets angry.

Meanwhile through all this, there was a man called Starkos. He used to be a farmer and philanthropist. He was very smart and had much wealth. He helped a lot of people with his fortune. But one day the Shadow Claw came and killed his family and people. He was devastated and from then on he thought of nothing but the sword. He dedicated himself to the art of war. He wanted to kill as many Shadow Claw as possible. He became a famous warrior and word got around how skilled he was with weapons.

So with council from Lord Whita and a few other Eternals, Starkos was tasked to find Lord Zwarta and extinguish his spark. But Starkos was confused because Eternals can't die. How was he supposed to kill Lord Zwarta then? Lord Whita told him about an old witch, who was thousands of years old, that could answer that question. He must seek her out in the wastelands. So Starkos goes forth and travels far. It is very dangerous in the wastelands but Starkos manages. He finds the witch and they talk. She is very wild. She tells him of the ancient weapon called The Sword of Eternalis that is the only weapon that can kill an Eternal. He must find this sword, which is somewhere in the ancient ruins in the infected land. So they go on a quest to find the sword. This quest is long and full of action and along the way there are many characters. Wizards, elves, Eternals, gnomes, men, and many others. Eventually they find the Sword of Eternalis and start to make the trip back to the Eastern Kingdoms.

Starkos returns from his trip swiftly and he wields the sword. With a heavy heart and much grief, Starkos confronts Zwarta on the battlefield. It was Zwarta that ordered the slaughter of Starkos' family. All Starkos felt was rage. Finally he could kill Zwarta and end his own pain. But Zwarta knew exactly what he was thinking. He knew this day would come. What does a mere mortal know about pain asked Zwarta. Zwarta was in actual pain. Eternal pain. And Zwarta wanted it to end. He asked Starkos to kill him without hesitation. Starkos obliged but was surprised at the turn of events. Starkos stood tall, pushed away the feelings of guilt, and readied the sword. But just then Lady Vata, emerging from the shadows, begs Starkos to spare Zwarta's life. She sees how sick he is and being her brother she just wants this to all be resolved. She convinces Starkos to walk away and Zwarta will no longer be a threat. With tears in his eyes, and upset over his own rage, Starkos leaves. But as Starkos walks away, Zwarta says it wasn't him that let loose the Bloody Noises. Starkos should ask Whita about the "seeds of life". Perhaps Whita knew all along who let loose the Bloody Noises. Don't trust even Whita...

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G.O.W.C will save Granduris
The Wasteland must be re-rehabilitated
Main plot 30%

With the Bloody Noises loose, Granduris fell into chaos. The Bloody Noises infects the land and makes people grow violent and hateful. It is a poisonous sound that turns people insane. The Old One, called Glurka and the Bloody Noises, is an ancient threat. It devours people or turns them into demons. It appears as profane and hateful sounds then it appears as a monster with a hundred mouths and tentacles. Sometimes it confuses the people, making them psychotic. The Bloody Noises was destroying the natural order of Granduris through devastating evil. Half the population was eradicated, most of the land became uninhabitable, and even reality itself was fragmented - words and concepts were lost or damaged, left floating in the air. Whole kingdoms were laid to waste. Granduris was barely hanging on.

But there was hope. A coalition of Wizards came together and created the Grand Order of the Wizards Council. They constructed a fortress in the mountains to the east, where they performed rites and rituals to protect Granduris from Glurka.

The G.O.W.C. (Grand Order of the Wizards Council) was doing all they could to stop Glurka. They turn to outside help... help from the Eternals. Runebo, being one of the bravest wizards, summons Lord Whita, to talk and discuss. To Runebo's amazement, Lord Whita actually wants to help. Lord Whita talks about blood crystals, near a mountain from the north west, on an island called Exscuro, that have certain qualities in them that are of use. Lord Whita will protect the kingdoms of the east with these crystals but Runebo must go on a quest to harvest them. If Runebo could find Ghob, the hermetic elemental King of the earth, and retrieve some blood crystals, Lord Whita will do the rest. A quest follows and a group of warriors, wizards, and academics travel to Exscuro. After minor danger fighting demons and devils along the way, they find Ghob, convince him to relinquish some blood crystals, and start to head back to the G.O.W.C. But as they prepare to leave, they begin to feel very sick and they can't seem to leave the Kings mountain. Dealings with elementals have hidden dangers. These dangers most commonly appear when a person interacts solely with elementals of a single kind. As creatures of a single element, in this case earth, elementals will tend to strengthen their unique elemental force within the human microcosm. This can lead to a wide range of disease and imbalances. For instance, when a human stays too long with an elemental and becomes too deeply caught up in one of the elemental realms that human can become absorbed into it. Slowly, the group was perishing; their bodies stiff and course, essentially turning them into rocks, in appearance and mode of being - all humanity lost. But just then Mabnay, the Shaman of the North, appeared. Being much more powerful and having much more authority ordered King Ghob to release the group from his magic.

And so, Runebo and the rest of the group escaped the mountain. They traveled back to the G.O.W.C. Lord Whita makes due with his promise and places the blood crystals on the top of the Wizards Tower and a bright, swirling light emanates from the tower. This light protects the kingdoms in the east from all the chaos and from the Bloody Noises. Runebo was amazed. For years there was peace in the east. Villages and towns sprang up. The Dragon Guard was formed - a military police force - to help protect the people. Academics flourished and new technologies was researched. Expeditions into the wastelands to recover what was lost were frequent. M.A.S.R.E implemented research trips to the wastelands and discovered ancient technologies and artifacts that were thought lost.

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Mirths - Peace or War
Main plot 20%

As Starkos goes through his task, the kingdoms of the south (the elves) try to defend their lands. The Shadow Claw has invaded and seeks to destroy the elves. Most of the kingdoms in the south are peaceful and know nothing of war. They need an army. So Anna, princess of the Elves, believes the Mirths could help. The Mirths used to be Elves. A long time ago they would help in times of trouble. But now they only care about living in the sky. So Anna goes on a mission to seek help from the Mirths. She goes up to the sky palace and meets with Kapoy, prince of the Mirths. Will he help? Will they go to war?

Meanwhile Zwarta is in the kingdoms of the south with his army and they have destroyed many villages. Elves are all dying. It looks like victory is assured for Zwarta.

Anna convinces the Mirths to go to war. The alliance that the Elves had with the Mirths in the ancient days is restored, thanks to princess Anna of the Elves. Kapoy gives the order and they drop their bombs on the enemy - bombs that only a select few even knew they had. The army is all but defeated. Zwarta retreats.

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Sample Stories
A page of the book might read (with corresponding artwork):

A Devil's wish
(Written by a little devil)

"With words, prison walks everywhere I go.
But how happy would I be with no word to box myself in with.
Words never brought me to higher ground.
They imprisoned me.
You can't escape words with words.
You can't escape a prison with the very thing that imprisoned you.
To be free from words and rationality is the virtue of a devil in flight.
Nothing to explore.
Nothing."

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Badorro speaks of the Bloody Noises

I heard it from far off
Until it got closer,
Right in front of me
Screeching and scratching and laughing
A mix of confusing sound and hateful energy
It was profane and violent
I knew what it wanted
It wanted to devour me
To fill it's void
To make me like him
It wanted it all, without asking
I let it take me over; the noises so delicious
I became one with the bloody noises
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Aria Concerned for Zwarta

I am looking all over
I can't find him
He is so elusive
He betrayed us
His light does not shine anymore
Tell me where my brother is?
Where is Zwarta?

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Lord Zwarta on his Reasonings

Do you think a man knows his own ignorance?
The filth that man is, knows only the ways of the flesh
He is hungry, the art of more
Anything for an emotional high
Could he really attain what he seeks?
All the limitations imposed on man
Having to crawl before he can walk
But even crawling still, in middle age
Conquest, for a portion of flesh
Let plunder be his

I give my people conquest
I starve them not
I am Lord Zwarta and I have spoken

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Professor Mackanor on Eternals

I am as a number and a word. A word can only describe, a number is a factor of itself. Humans are factors of themselves, closed and limited. But an Eternal being can do anything, having no beginning and no ending. Eternals are as free as the wind and as powerful as a waterfall. An Eternal being is not merely immortal, but has a unique mode of being, unlike any entity in the universe. They can perform miracles, manipulate physics, alter perceptions, know any language, etc. They don't exist as physical beings, though they can show themselves as a person. They are unending. They are the microcosm and the macrocosm.

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A song by a little Devil

What we gonna do with the baby?
What we gonna do with the baby-o?
Poke the baby in the eye
Poke the baby in the eye-e-o
What we gonna do with the old man?
What we gonna do with the old man-o?
Push the old man down a well
Push the old man down a well-e-o
This is how we hurt your soul,
So early in the morning

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Unwords
(Written by a little devil)

It is a literary crime to write about nothing
Every word has to make sense
Splitting apart a word is like splitting apart an atom
How dare he write an incoherent story
How dare he write a delusion
Words exist as a candle
A candle fears being put out
A word fears being anything else but accurate and functional
The people will be hostile towards the one who writes about nothing
The people will laugh and hate and shun the one
It is nonsense to them
It is unburning, unwords
What do words fear? Nonsense.
I just want noise!
I am only noise!

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Chains
Written by the Poet Tammy Stillwater

I didn't know my innocence was at stake,
Until I developed a conscience and thought I was chained
My conscience notices the chains
Now...
My chained heart waits in misery
My chained heart yearns to be free

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Here's a few unfinished pages and some art.
I have so many characters and lands already drawn.

Mirths sky palace.