This render was done to show off this fantastic sword model that a good friend of mine made. It was used on the cover of the third book in the "Chronicles of Golide." I love the model so much. He really knocked it out of the park. The sword is called "Pier’to" (pea-AIR-toe) which would translate to "Peacemaker." It has an extensive history that is sadly never explored in the book. She acquires it from a field of the dead, which she traverses in her journey. The previous wielder was a legend herself. Although that didn't get explored either. Aryll's pretty purpose-driven and doesn't go off on as many tangents as I do, lol. The blade itself is a full-tang. Once it tipped a heavy lance. Forged with uncommon skill in a forge worked by flame nymphs, it has been the faithful companion of countless heroes over the centuries. It's song is different then it would be if it were made of steel, yet despite having obvious signs of heavy use, the blade is still sharp, and lacks serious verdigris. This is a mark of a "legendary" blade. In my series, blades sing a song that only a Blademaster can hear. Constructed of Bronze, when it was later discovered in an attic collecting dust, a young nameless heroine wrapped a new handle around it, wielding it as if it were a sword. The steel bands were crafted by a master smith who could not bring himself to secure the grip with inferior work. I kinda hope to write that tale one day. The pendant she wears is also the work of my friend. It's a "flame ruby" and she uses it to center herself. Aryll has a unique relationship to fire, owing to a very unique ancestry that she still doesn't know the full scope of. I'm trying not to give spoilers, lol. I'd rather you read about it in the book! The flame ruby has been an aid to her learning to focus that ability. And everything ties into the greater magic, of the ability to influence the very weave of the universe. The series, while have some elements of High Magic, is set in a world that has more in common with the Wild West. Those who were considered "magic-bearing" were almost completely wiped out, with only a few remaining with the spark within them. Bah, but I could go on and on about the lore all night! Also, in this image, and for the first time. I redid her skin in skinbuilder 8. I saved the settings, thankfully. This time around I added in "fine detail" which I did not add previously, and left off the eyebrows. That way, I could use some fibermesh brows that came with Sonja. Which is very fitting, since a certain red-headed swordswoman is definitely an inspiration for Aryll. I also borrowed the eyelashes from Gou Luk. They a lot more lush then the base G8F lashes. Finally, I figured out how to fix a small issue I was having with her eyes, and a white circle that was showing up around her iris. It's a very small, subtle detail, but I am proud to say that this is the best version of Aryll yet, and she'll look good at any distance. Which reminds me that I need to update her portrait in the near future. I've learned so much since I did that piece... Bah, I could go on and on talking about Aryll, too! I'll wrap this up. I'll likely be starting book four around November. Gives ya plenty of time to read the first three! In the meantime, I'll be doing more art to support all my novels, and I plan on getting a bit more in-depth in describing their characters. If I can use art to get folks to read, that would be awesome. Thanks for looking, and thank you for any feedback you bring.