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Description
This illustration I've been quite proud of, for many reasons. It's for one thing the most dynamic and epic piece I've done; and second, it's the first piece this entire year I've actually put the full effort into. I've made barely a secret that I've been feeling quite down for some time, and every time I get back to drawing it's been ineffective on my part. I apologize for not keeping up the usual work I've put before, which is a statement I know I've said plenty of times before. Hopefully this work will be the first step in fixing that for now.

Now, the lore:

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No other god of Aurora has lived a life so glorious and yet so troubled as the God of Battle himself, Dorga Rouke. Born from the eastern dune lands of Conq-Wey-Lay, further east than all other clans, Rouke was just a chief for his people; yet from birth people could begin to recognize the greatness that life had given to him, as from an early age he looked to be of considerable height. At adulthood he towered all elders within his clan, and his natural-born strength easily bested what were once the mightiest of his people. Throughout his young life he constantly looked to be challenged, and whether it be against fellow man or beast, he shown a sense of honor that put most to shame. Upon his people's demand he dueled his lord and took the throne, and ruled justly for many years. He trained his people to be as fit for battle as he was, a kind gesture that produced only one worthy example, who would leave when he embarked on his own adventure. Rourke even commissioned several arenas that became the identity of his clan, attracting the attention of every god and clan to participate. From this he was granted the title "Dorga Rouke, God of Battles and Arenas".

Sadly his rule over the clan would come short, as a black storm came from the eastern barrier and threatened his people's land. He begged the almighty, The Deltan Absolute, to allow him a new land to bring his people to for safety; but he was denied, with the claim that it would only cause war. As a desperate act, he held a grand tournament as a blood offering to the old natural gods, hoping that they take pity and save his people. Although many champions fought and died, and it entertained his people to the very end, it was all so pointless. The storm came and ripped his home upwards to the blackened skies, killing every man, woman, and child of his clan - and as if to humiliate him, Dorga Rouke was the only survivor. Ashamed, he dropped his first name and simply went by Rouke - the name of a now dead clan left buried in the sands. He'd roam the lands, waiting to be slain himself.

Centuries passed, and Rouke would eventually be made aware of a danger to the north. The titan-beast - the Ur-Droth - has woken from its slumber and began a rampage southward; it destroyed clan after clan, carving the landscape with unimaginable wrath. The 5 War Gods, chosen by the Absolute to be their champions, came to challenge the beast; however, at the behest of one War God, the brutal Avgnar Baal, they sought Rourke for aid in the hopes that such an old and skillful champion could provide insight. Rouke was hopeless at first, but when he came to realize that many would fall the same fate as he, the old God of Battle brought his spear and shield to aid the War Gods personally.

The Ur-Droth took a chance to rest when they arrived, and the gods were unsure of what to do at first. Rouke suggested that perhaps they can ask the Absolute to lend their unmatched strength that they were famous for, but as soon as the War Gods admitted that such a favor could never be called, Rouke knew right then what he must do. Rouke charged alone, his massive cape billowing with the winds as he declared that his final act of glory would be to fight 'for those left alone when none came to help them'. With a thrust of his mighty spear, he dealt the first strike upon the titan, and from then on upon the beasts awakening did the battle truly commence. For three days and three nights, Rouke fought the beast in the rocky mounts, with aid given by the War Gods. Upon the fourth morning Rouke gave the final blow, striking a fatal to the Ur-Droth's heart, slaying the titan once and for all. With the titan's final breath, Rouke would finally collapse and rest, satisfied that he had done his dead clan proud.

When news reached throughout the lands, every god and their clan traveled to see the titan-slayer himself. They brought gifts of many kinds to him, honoring as best they could - and graciously he accepted. However the true honor came when the survivors of the clans destroyed by the titan came and swore allegiance to Rouke; many more would come to do the same, some having never been under the beast's destructive path. He would accept them all, seeing them as his fellow brothers and sisters in arms. With this accomplishment, and such wide-spread acknowledgment of his victory, a new title was made for Rouke. No longer was he simply Rouke, The God of Battle. From now on, to even the modern day, he was "Rouke the Glorious, the God of Battle."

Future imagery would forever depict him, armed with the same spear and shield used to slay the titan - with a grand cape that flown gloriously against tremendous winds.

Description
This illustration I've been quite proud of, for many reasons. It's for one thing the most dynamic and epic piece I've done; and second, it's the first piece this entire year I've actually put the full effort into. I've made barely a secret that I've been feeling quite down for some time, and every time I get back to drawing it's been ineffective on my part. I apologize for not keeping up the usual work I've put before, which is a statement I know I've said plenty of times before. Hopefully this work will be the first step in fixing that for now.

Now, the lore:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No other god of Aurora has lived a life so glorious and yet so troubled as the God of Battle himself, Dorga Rouke. Born from the eastern dune lands of Conq-Wey-Lay, further east than all other clans, Rouke was just a chief for his people; yet from birth people could begin to recognize the greatness that life had given to him, as from an early age he looked to be of considerable height. At adulthood he towered all elders within his clan, and his natural-born strength easily bested what were once the mightiest of his people. Throughout his young life he constantly looked to be challenged, and whether it be against fellow man or beast, he shown a sense of honor that put most to shame. Upon his people's demand he dueled his lord and took the throne, and ruled justly for many years. He trained his people to be as fit for battle as he was, a kind gesture that produced only one worthy example, who would leave when he embarked on his own adventure. Rourke even commissioned several arenas that became the identity of his clan, attracting the attention of every god and clan to participate. From this he was granted the title "Dorga Rouke, God of Battles and Arenas".

Sadly his rule over the clan would come short, as a black storm came from the eastern barrier and threatened his people's land. He begged the almighty, The Deltan Absolute, to allow him a new land to bring his people to for safety; but he was denied, with the claim that it would only cause war. As a desperate act, he held a grand tournament as a blood offering to the old natural gods, hoping that they take pity and save his people. Although many champions fought and died, and it entertained his people to the very end, it was all so pointless. The storm came and ripped his home upwards to the blackened skies, killing every man, woman, and child of his clan - and as if to humiliate him, Dorga Rouke was the only survivor. Ashamed, he dropped his first name and simply went by Rouke - the name of a now dead clan left buried in the sands. He'd roam the lands, waiting to be slain himself.

Centuries passed, and Rouke would eventually be made aware of a danger to the north. The titan-beast - the Ur-Droth - has woken from its slumber and began a rampage southward; it destroyed clan after clan, carving the landscape with unimaginable wrath. The 5 War Gods, chosen by the Absolute to be their champions, came to challenge the beast; however, at the behest of one War God, the brutal Avgnar Baal, they sought Rourke for aid in the hopes that such an old and skillful champion could provide insight. Rouke was hopeless at first, but when he came to realize that many would fall the same fate as he, the old God of Battle brought his spear and shield to aid the War Gods personally.

The Ur-Droth took a chance to rest when they arrived, and the gods were unsure of what to do at first. Rouke suggested that perhaps they can ask the Absolute to lend their unmatched strength that they were famous for, but as soon as the War Gods admitted that such a favor could never be called, Rouke knew right then what he must do. Rouke charged alone, his massive cape billowing with the winds as he declared that his final act of glory would be to fight 'for those left alone when none came to help them'. With a thrust of his mighty spear, he dealt the first strike upon the titan, and from then on upon the beasts awakening did the battle truly commence. For three days and three nights, Rouke fought the beast in the rocky mounts, with aid given by the War Gods. Upon the fourth morning Rouke gave the final blow, striking a fatal to the Ur-Droth's heart, slaying the titan once and for all. With the titan's final breath, Rouke would finally collapse and rest, satisfied that he had done his dead clan proud.

When news reached throughout the lands, every god and their clan traveled to see the titan-slayer himself. They brought gifts of many kinds to him, honoring as best they could - and graciously he accepted. However the true honor came when the survivors of the clans destroyed by the titan came and swore allegiance to Rouke; many more would come to do the same, some having never been under the beast's destructive path. He would accept them all, seeing them as his fellow brothers and sisters in arms. With this accomplishment, and such wide-spread acknowledgment of his victory, a new title was made for Rouke. No longer was he simply Rouke, The God of Battle. From now on, to even the modern day, he was "Rouke the Glorious, the God of Battle."

Future imagery would forever depict him, armed with the same spear and shield used to slay the titan - with a grand cape that flown gloriously against tremendous winds.