Sketch-A-Day 195/365: Slayer Weapons 7

Bringing the week of weapons to a close is a base design for the daddy of slayer weapons. The sword crafted by the first Grand Commander of The Order. Many slayers have since emulated the design aspects though duplication of the legendary sword is strictly prohibited as it is passed on from one Grand Commander to another as a mark of rank, status, and worthiness.

Sketch date: 07/14/13

Sketch-A-Day 194/365: Slayer Weapons 6

While swords are a required armament for those in the lower ranks occasions do occur where a veteran of The Order will be seen with something a bit different. Jor'gen, the Head Trainer at the academy for example, has a love for chopping/severing/bludgeoning weapons over slicing and stabbing ones. As such he has crafted this massive battle-axe and war hammer combo to fully utilize the battle frenzy he's been known to succumb to...and no one at The Order has ever questioned him or told him he can't use it.

"Any fool can stab an opponent and let him bleed out.

Rendering that opponent unidentifiable is an art-form."

--Jor'gen

Sketch date: 07/13/13

Sketch-A-Day 193/365: Slayer Weapons 5

The Order isn't just about slaying dragons. Their self appointed duties extend to all threats to humanity so they have to be prepared to face foes of all kinds. This requires their standard weapons and armor to be versatile rather than specialized. One key aspect of training at the academy takes place at the forge. Each slayer is required to be an expert craftsman and weapon smith with crafting their own armor and weapon being essential to graduation of training and being accepted into The Order. A slayer's equipment, while maintaining some uniform distinction, also comes as varied and unique as the slayer's themselves. This shield, for example, was designed for both defensive and offensive use.

Sketch date: 07/12/13

Sketch-A-Day 192/365: Slayer Weapons 4

The final Wing Shredder design (so far) is another projectile with a bit of mechanical ingenuity. The Shredding Board consists of 5 individual planks connected together by spring loaded scissor hinges. The hinges are compressed and locked into a closed position prior to launch from a heavy ballista. Attached to the Shredding Board is a chain and a smaller release cord. When the release cord is pulled, it triggers the hinges expanding the board to its full width for maximum shredding potential upon contact with the dragon's wing.

Sketch Date: 07/11/13

Sketch-A-Day 191/365: Dragon Slayer Weapons 3

A projectile Wing Shredder. This heavy crossbow bolt measures a yard in length and is attached to a chain. The weight and general design require this to be a close range projectile with the goal to fire the bolt through the wing membrane and pulling the chain to use the protruding hook to slice the wing as much as possible before becoming dislodged. These Wing Shredders are most often used singularly from horseback or in groups in horse drawn carts. Daring Slayers could also utilize the weapon by firing it directly into the dragon's mouth in a battleground right-of-passage sport referred to as Dragon Fishing.

Sketch date: 7/10/13

Sketch-A-Day 190/365: Dragon Slayer Weapons 2

Another type of non-lethal but essential weapon in The Order's arsenal is a device created to aid in the removal of those pesky armored scales which dragons have a habit of growing all over their body. Exposed hide, while thick, is easier to penetrate than going directly through scale and hide all at once. This particular descaler I modeled off of a modern day staple remover. It allows for scales to either be lifted in hopes of getting a spear or lance into the beast or to meticulously pry scales off one at a time. Neither of which is an easy task while avoiding flailing wings, swiping claws or stomping feet. Not to mention the deadly head of the creature with the teeth and the breath weapon.

Sketch date:  07/09/13

Sketch-A-Day 189/365: Dragon Slayer Weapons 1

The Dragons Slayers in Heritage implement some unique weapons to make them efficient in their chosen professions. Some of the most widely used weapons are technically non-lethal to the giant beasts they face but they serve a distinct purpose to make the "slaying" part possible. This is the first of a variety of Wing Shredders used because a dragon that can't fly is much easier to fight than one in the air.

This type of shredder is attached to a metal rod and can be used on foot or from horseback in quick passing attacks. It can also be mounted and launched from a ballista if desired.

Each shredder is a 14 inch long hooked blade measuring 3/4 inch thick at the blade with an additional 1/4 inch thick spacer edge at the base. The blades are arranged parallel to each other on a specially shaped rod housed within the holder. The blades are crafted with one of two different cut outs in the base to allow for a staggered pattern of blade angle when assembled.

Sketch date: 07/08/13

Sketch-A-Day 188/365: Heritage Emblems 5

Last but not least is this dragon silhouette. This one may be my favorite so far. If I don't use it as a symbol for The Order then I'm sure I can find another use for it.

Sketch date: 07/07/13

Sketch-A-Day 187/365: Heritage Emblems 4

Another design for the Dragon Slayer order. While the previous can stand for the status or rank of slayers within the order, this is an idea for the order itself.

Sketch date: 07/06/13

Sketch-A-Day 186/365: Heritage Emblems 3

So what do you do when you have a few designs for an emblem/insignia that you like? Fortunately my girlfriend pointed out to me that there should be multiple emblems to depict various status levels. What luck!! I took my two favorites and made them into a multi-layer emblem that comes together as a Dragon Slayer progresses.

First you have the lowest level. The newb slayers that have graduated training but haven't done much else.
Next the newb gets his wings, so to speak. Once he's been on a few expeditions doing more than tending to the horses.
Finally, once the Slayer gets a confirmed kill under his belt, he gets the full emblem and the notoriety that comes with it.

Sketch date: 07/05/13

Sketch-A-Day 185/365: Heritage Emblems 2

Another idea I had for the Dragon Slayer emblem. So now I have three solid ideas that I like.

Sketch date: 07/04/13

Sketch-A-Day 184/365: Heritage Emblems

A few ideas for the Dragon Slayer emblem/insignia for my Heritage story. I'm kind of partial to the center one and the one on the right.

Sketch date: 07/03/13

Sketch-A-Day 183/365: Gulapocalypse Logo Near Final

Of all the designs I think this one was my favorite. After some refining I've come to like it even more and I'm pretty sure this is what will be getting fully rendered and used going forward. To me its an evolution of logos from The Red Skeleton emblem I used as The DarkMind, to the skull of Gula v2.0, and now to Gulapocalypse. Once I have the opportunity to complete this I'll make a post showing the three stages of growth.

Sketch date: 07/02/13

Sketch-A-Day 182/365: Gulapocalypse Logo Revisited

Taking a break from the Modern Pantheon series for a bit here. Don't worry, I'll get back to it at a later date, since I still have five of the main twelve Olympians to create. I just felt like I needed a change of pace as modern versions of the Greek Gods has been a bit taxing, especially since I didn't go the easy route of just making superhero versions...which may be another project down the road.

In the meantime I've decided to focus on some graphic design type work. First and foremost revisiting some ideas for the Gulapocalypse logo from before.

Sketch date: 07/01/13

Sketch-A-Day 181/365: Modern Pantheon Hephaestus

If Hephaestus seems angry and bitter, one needs only to look at his past to understand why. He was an imperfect God and was cast out of Olympus by his own mother for being "shriveled of foot". He later returned to Olympus though, the only God to do so. He was also married to the quite unfaithful Aphrodite. An arranged marriage in which the beautiful Goddess was appalled by the deformity of her husband and engaged in numerous affairs with Gods and mortals alike. Her most notable affair being with Ares.

Despite his hardships Hephaestus is an ingenious, talented, and creative God. He crafted the weapons of the other Gods and was known to create automatons (we call them robots boys and girls) from metal to help assist him in his forge.

Sketch date: 06/30/13

Sketch-A-Day 180/365: Modern Pantheon Dionysus

Wherever there is a party, Dionysus is sure to be found in attendance though more often center stage as the host. He is the God of Wine, Merry Making, and Ecstasy. He was the last God to be accepted into Mount Olympus, the youngest, and the only one to have a mortal mother.

Sketch date: 06/29/13

Sketch-A-Day 179/365: Modern Pantheon Poseidon

Poseidon the God of the Sea is old school; the oldest school there is. He is top dog on every beach of the world and there is an unspoken understanding that every wave is his wave unless he gives it to you.

Sketch date: 06/28/13