Gooday everyone,
Welcome to the Deacon Corner. If you’re new here, this space dives into the inspirations behind the images you’ll find throughout the books on these pages. What began as a place to share commission breakdowns has grown into something more. In addition to detailing how each piece came to life, you’ll now find expanded chapter notes, lore entries, and my own black-and-white concept illustrations which are raw glimpses into the ideas that shaped this world before they fully took form.
Before we begin, it’s important to say that none of the beautiful stylized images found in the hard and soft copies of these books would exist without the incredible talent of Sickjoe who is quite literally the heart and soul of this visual world. If you appreciate his work as much as I do, I highly encourage you to visit his gallery and explore more of his creations.
Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the featured image and learn a bit more about the lore hidden in this chapter.
At the start of the book, Felix encounters a group of enigmatic figures known as the Scholars—nomadic zealots who wander from city to city, warning of the dangers that dwell in the stars above. This scene is set in the bustling city of Bruma, a place reminiscent of old-fashioned English streets, where cobblestone roads echo with the sound of horse-drawn carriages and midday chatter.
In the heart of a sunlit square, a small crowd has gathered, transfixed by the Scholars' fervent preaching. The Scholars, both men and women, are dressed in modest, weather-worn robes, their faces partly shadowed by hoods or sun-wrinkled from travel. They speak with unsettling conviction, gesturing skyward as they issue cryptic warnings about celestial threats. The townsfolk watch in rapt silence, caught between curiosity and unease.
This scene takes place in the middle of the day in the city of Bruma (Think of an old-fashioned English street with horse-drawn carriages).