Sir Talopram

This chap is sir talopram, mounted on his faithful mount 'snakehorsearoo'.

Disturbing Cat

Disturbing Cat is thinking about deep things

Blue Man

I've been experimenting with using some different skin tones when I'm colouring faces up.

I really need to put some more time into giving these guys bodies and get out of my doodling comfort zone in the new year!

Silly Green truck

I am practicing drawing other stuff for my newborn son. Hopefully we can draw some adventures together in the future.

Olympic dude

This guy fell off the end of my pencil when I was taking minutes this week.

Blue woman

Hooray!
I have finally worked out a way of getting my doodles back into the virtual world.
I've been doing quite a lot of doodleing but my new camera cant handle the close ups so it's not been on the site.
But now I have new scanner to BOO YAH!

LORD ESCHIN: Part 7

Now the fear became a cold stone in his chest, seeming to reach up and snatch back the air from his throat. 'I cannot sir, you are my tutor, may fathers friend and a friend to the house Eschin' but before he could continue with his protest, Galaan had closed the gap between them. Now he struck the young boy lightly across the face before grasping him by his thin shoulders.
' Enough of that child. You are my student and here to learn so first learn this; when your swordmaster bids you do something you will do it. Immediately and without thought or question. The tools and exercises that you will encounter here all carry risk. Some will even endanger your life. I must know from you now, at the very begining, whether you are able to follow my instructions without hesitation or doubt.If you cannot do this then I cannot protect you from the many dangers that we will face together. You must learn first to trust that I know what I am about, otherwise we are finished here and I will inform your family that I was wrong about your aptitude for the sword. Do I make myself clear?'
Sozo had nodded meekly; 'yes sir, I understand'. Galaan meerely nodded before resuming his previous position of quiet contemplation ten paces distant from the young boy.
He closed his eyes once more. 'Attack me when you are ready'.

Sozo tried to clear his mind. The light sabre in his hand suddenly felt very heavy and he was acutely aware of his sweating palms and wiped them on his jerkin in an attempt to gain a better purchase on the weapon's hilt. His mind swam as he tried to recall all of his lessons with the master of arms. Nothing that he had so far been taught pertained to assaulting an unarmed man with a deadly blade however and so he hesitated.
He seemed to stand there opposite the peaceful elf for an eternity of moments, debating with himself the best course of action and imagining the conversation that he would have to engage in to explain to his parents why one of their closest friends lay dead in his guest house.
All this time, Galaan appeared to be unmoving, barely breathing. His eyes barely flickered, surely he was aware of the great conflict in his newest pupil, but if so, his behavior betrayed nothing but calm detachment.
Eventually the young boy steeled himself for the unavoidable and drew a deep breath in the hope that it might calm his madly beating heart. He lifted the Sabre as the master of arms had taught him and distributed his weight well as he covered the distance between them in a heartbeat before thrusting the point of the sword forward with all the strength that he could find, seeking to sheathe it in the soft flesh of his tutors heart.
But the elf was faster and seemed to blur in front of his eyes.
Sozo felt a great impact on his shoulders, knocking him to the floor and taking the breath from his lungs. A pained groan escaped his lips and he was acutely aware of the taste of sand and sawdust in his mouth. Galaan was standing over him with one foot planted in the small of his back and the tip of Sozo's weapon resting against the back of his neck with a firmness that suggested the skin might break at any moment.

' This is your first lesson young one' came Galaans voice. 'a weapon should always be feared most by the protagonist who least understands it's use. It matters not one whit to the swordmaster whether it is he or his opponent who holds the sword. He is master of the situation and that sword is more a danger to his opponent than to him'

Sozo was aware of the preassure of the blade being removed from his neck and the foot from his back. Now Galaan gently helped him to his feet and smiled his reassurance.
'Calm yourself, todays test is ended. Now come and eat a little with me, I have had some light breakfast prepared for us. It is not a good idea to train on an empty stomach. Breath easily for a moment and you will find that your appetite will return to you'.

And so had begun the long years of his training. Galaans endless excersises to strengthen his limbs and develop flexibility and acrobatic skill at first and all the while the constant permutations of attact and defence, advance and retreat.
The meditation that helped him to visualize his entire being as a weapon, as part of the larger symphony of combat. a bird flying through deadly storm yet avoiding danger and remaining detached and graceful
There were long months of practice outside of Galaans hall as well during the first few years. Sozo slowly developing skill in both sides of his body at once so that he could become truly ambidextrous, fluid and adaptable in battle.

LORD ESCHIN: Part six

The next day he awoke at four and shivered himself out of bed in the darkness. The fire in his bedchamber had long since burned out and he could see his breath in the air.

Throwing on cold clothes, he took a lamp from the wall and lit it with his tinder box before making his way out of the deserted castle and into the woods. Galaan prefered not to live in cold stone buildings when visiting the family and dwelt instead in the woodland lodge.

The lodge was a long, hall like construction several hundred feet long with a sloping thatch roof and several chimneys. One end of the building enclosed Galaans living quarters whilst various out buildings housed his few servants. A nearby stream provided a ready source of water and, even at this early hour, Sozo could spy a few cold servants carrying bundles of clothes to wash as he crossed the clearing and approached the lodge.

One half of the building had long ago been converted into a wide covered space, ideal for teaching the arts of riding or dancing.

Today however it had been arranged in a manner that put Sozo in mind of his sessions with the master of arms. A few climbing frames stood at the centre of the vast room whilst racks containing wooden staves and other martial equipment had been arranged around the rooms edge.

A long rope hung from the main ceiling beam and some running weights had been left at its foot. Galaan was seated on a long bench at one end of the room, coolly regarding Sozo in the early morning light. Unlike the soft robes that Sozo was accustomed to seeing him wear, Galaan was stripped to the waist today. His white elven skin contrasted starkly with the dark black snake tatto that curled around his upper body and down one arm. Today Galaan wore black leather breaches and simple soft leather shoes, similar to those he used for Sozo's dancing lessons. The ageless elf appeared no more than 25 and his thick black hair had been cropped short since Sozo had seen him last year. In all other aspects he remained the same as ever he had. Not one wrinkle or grey hair.

Two identical sabres had been placed on the bench at his side, Galaan finished running an oiled cloth over one of them before he stood and addressed the young lord before him.

" You are punctual as always", he commented as he motioned for Sozo to come and examine the blades. "Tell me Sozo, what do you see before you?".

"Two swords sir" he dutifully replied. Suddenly aware of the sound of his stomach growling as his digestive system began to wake up.

Galaan picked up one of the sabres and lightly turned it to and fro in front of his eyes, examining his reflection in the perfect blade. He spoke almost as if to himself, causing Sozo to feel as if he were an unwitting spectator in some very private ritual that he had no right being party to.



" Two swords indeed. And there are those who would perhaps tell you that these are magical swords possessed of the ability to make the bearer invincible in battle or to rid him of all fear. There are yet others who would tell you that a sword is a noble weapon and the mark of a nobleman. They would say that truely great swords belong only in the hands of truely great swordsmen"

Galaan turned to fix his gaze on the young boy. In one sudden movement his hand seemed to blur as he expertly flicked the sabre accros the room with a noise like an angry metal hornet. It buried itself in one of the lodges many wooden supports.

" But it is not!" he excalimed, making the young Sozo jump in spite of himself. " It is not magical, and beware of any fool who tells you that he has discovered a magical sword. Iron is a pure metal and will not suffer enchantment upon itself. Nor is it noble. For how can a few ounces of steel and leather and wood turn the bearer into a nobleman. Be careful of anyone speaking of truely great swords. Such things do not exist. There are only truely great swordsmen and the tools that they employ. And in the end that's all it is boy. A tool. A tool that one uses to do a job. Just as one might use a hammer or a cart or a candle.

Most men use a sword as if they were trying to swat flies on a summers day. You will meet a few, like your master of arms back at the house, who can at least put the tool to its propper use when the occasion demands it.

But you boy, you must learn to dance with the blade. You must learn to see a weapon as an extension of your own will. To see the beauty and story of combat and to become a part of that story moment by moment. To ebb and flow within it's colours without fear. Without rage. Without any emotion save for a detatched pleasure in the rhythm of the dance.

You will train your body to obey your concious and unconcious command. To obey the music of combat and to kill or wound only as much as is neccesary for the peice to be played.

You will train yourself to do all of this without hesitation and with no feelings of regret or remorse. Until you see yourself only as a dancer within that music &your body as an instrument of the dance.

All of this I will endevour to teach you, but do not think for a moment that it will be easily achieved".

Sozo nodded his acceptance but felt his heart sink once again as he recalled all of the things that he had been looking forward to doing with his friends that year. All of his future plans were evaporating under the heat of his tutor's ambition. For the briefest of moments he considered refusing to attend the training but immediately dismissed the idea. He was an Eschin and would not be a source of shame to his father and the family name.

Galaan retrieved the second blade from the bench. It was twin to the one now buried in the beam of the practice room. Two and a half feet of silver blue steel around an inch and a half in width. The hilt was wrapped in supple black leather and the blades edge appeared wickedly sharp. Sozo had not seen many swords but even he could tell that this steel was of a high quality and had likely been forged by a master craftsman.

Galaan pressed the hilt into Sozo's hand and he reluctantly accepted it.

He had been fearing what the morning would entail and now imagined that his tutor would fetch the other blade and demand that they fence.

Insted the elf led him to an uncluttered area of the hall and bade him stand still. He departed about ten paces from Sozo before turning to face him once again. He closed his eyes and began to breathe more deeply. When he spoke his voice was tranquil as if coming from a dream or a waking trance.

" Attack me boy. Kill me if you are able but whatever you do, do not hold back"

LORD ESCHIN: Part Five

You leave in twenty four hours. Talaan here will guide you through the outlying woodland and cover your insertion. After that you will be on your own. I suggest that both of you get some rest. Dismiss'.



Eschin and the Captain stood to their feet and saluted before turning stiffly around and leaving the office.

The captain hurredly parted company in search of a warm bath and strong drink. Eshcin was left to walk the mile back to his quarters in something of a daze.

It was time to put on the swords once more. Brushing aside enquiries from the family, he retired to his rooms and began his preparations for the field again.

Squatting by the bed, he reached into the darkness underneath untill his questing fingers met the fine wood of his weapons case.

Dragging the six foot box clear, he placed it atop the bed ,running a cloth over it's surface before carefully undoing the three brass catches. The well oiled hinges made no sound as he lifted the lid and the aromas of oiled steel and silk rose to greet him. Unwrapping the swords always stirred the old excitement in his blood. Ebony sheathes were eased out of another compartment of the case and the two and a half foot blades slid home with a dull click.

As always, his mind swam back to the early days of his training with Galaan all those many years ago.





"Galaan has said that you are to be trained at the sword", his mother had announced one morning. Eschin had been around ten years old and the comment had surprised him as he had been having lessons with his fathers friend for around two years already.

He stood whilst his mother fussed over him, brushing crumbs from his tunic. They tumbled to the ground, looking like fairy dust in the early morning sunlight which streamed through the balcony door.

His mother was elegant as ever in a long red velvet gown. Her perfect hair flowed past slim shoulders and was twined around with rare silks and wildflowers.

From the halls balcony, it was posable to survay almost all of the Eschin lands. The nearby towns and villages nestling between rolling green hills. The many people that looked to the family for support and protection.

Within this little world he had known his place in life. It was his home and he wanted no other.

" I already have training at arms with the captain of the guard", he reminded his mother. " Galaan teaches me dancing and heraldry and the lute".

Being a normal aristocratic child, Sozo had been expected to train in all aspects of a the noble life before following his father into the responsibilities encumbant upon landed gentry.



"Galaan feels that you may prove apt to be instructed in the blade" his mother continued, as if having not heard his previous comments. " He has trained no one for many years it is no light thing to be offered instruction by such a master"

Sozo frowned, "was father not trained then?".

" Your father did not prove apt, despite being of part elven blood. , nevertheless, Galaan has been studying your reactions and abilities during his other classes with you and says that you show promise".

"What of my other studies?", he had asked.

" You will cease to report to the master of arms for your training and will instead go to Galaan at his woodland lodge. You wil be required to train each morning from the hour of five until seven. This will leave enough time for you to compleate your other studies. There will likely need to be extra time put aside as your studies continue if you are to master the techniques that Galaan will show you".



The young Sozo's heart had sunk. He had been hoping to spend the summer hunting and fishing and running with the other children of his age but it seemed that this would be impossable.

The future stretched out ahead of him as an endless round of cold mornings and long evenings, having to practice who knew what excersises whilst his friends had all the fun.

" Must I attend the practice", he asked. His mother held his eye and spolke sharply for the first time that morning.

" You are the son of your noble father and you will obey the word of his mouth as must we all. Do not fail to attend Galaan or I will be sure to hear of it. Any excersices he gives you will seem to you a mercy compared with my displeasure".

The hall echoed with her voice but the moment passed and she sighed and gently stroked his unkempt hair.

" Oh small boy, how quickly you do grow up". He had smiled and kissed her forehead before making the most of his last day without extra tutoring.