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nightserpent — Yithian Temporal Communicator

Published: 2014-02-27 17:58:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 10985; Favourites: 256; Downloads: 169
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Description Acrylic, 13x19"

My next chapter spread for Call of Cthulhu 7th edition is for 'Alien Artifacts & Devices'.  I read through the entries in the rulebook, and the Yithian Temporal Communicator sounded interesting, and I really like the Great Race of Yith.  It's a device which allows two parties to interact via an audio/video link, sort of like Skype but with holograms... and it can cross time and space!  I hear Apple will be coming out with them soon.  It is described to be made of bronze, and the crystal glows red while in operation.

I based the design closely to the one in the rules, though it was a small line drawing so I had to make considerations as I translated it into a larger painting.  Sad to say, I don't know who created that illustration!  A lot of artists worked on that book, and often small pieces like that aren't signed, I think perhaps as to not distract from the art.  If anyone knows who made it, please let me know, hopefully he or she approves of my interpretation of their design!

My first question was where/when would this take place?  I would assume the recipient would have to be pretty special and worthy to be allowed this access, someone with great intellect and talent.  I thought rather than go for the obvious choice (yours truly ), why not give some of the spotlight to lesser known folks such as renaissance artist-slash-inventors??  I was tempted to put in a lot more of Leo's famous things in there (flying whirlygigs and the like), but I felt like the idea of the communicator was a bit demanding of the viewer already, and the left side needed to be relatively blank for all the text.  I wanted to focus more on the idea that it is projecting a hologram, showing some of it's translucency to reinforce the idea, all while realizing that not everyone is going to recognize the alien within the projection.  I like to make puzzles for myself it seems!
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Comments: 42

Cherry-91 [2019-01-16 20:16:16 +0000 UTC]

I love your art so much, your world is so intrigueing and full of imagination

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nightserpent In reply to Cherry-91 [2019-01-23 15:20:52 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for all of your kinds words, I am happy to hear you enjoy what I've been making.

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Cherry-91 In reply to nightserpent [2019-01-23 18:20:11 +0000 UTC]

Sure do, art such as yours needs recognition

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TanukiTagawa [2016-01-16 23:36:28 +0000 UTC]

A ominous,weird and amazing pic,with great colors and shadows mix!Congratulations! 

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nightserpent In reply to TanukiTagawa [2016-01-17 17:25:47 +0000 UTC]

  Thank you!  This was an unusual subject to paint, it was fun!

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TanukiTagawa In reply to nightserpent [2016-01-17 22:48:02 +0000 UTC]

  You´re welcome,and made a great work on this pic!    A alien comunicator with ancient design also was other great idea!  

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ScottPurdy [2014-10-29 06:52:45 +0000 UTC]

Damned spooky!

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nightserpent In reply to ScottPurdy [2014-11-04 16:17:44 +0000 UTC]

  Cheers!

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ScottPurdy In reply to nightserpent [2014-11-09 09:59:57 +0000 UTC]

Nipples!

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dloliver [2014-05-23 10:23:34 +0000 UTC]

... and then, cunningly disguised for the modern urban environment, the intrepid Yithians went unobtrusively about their nefarious business... and incidentally caused traffic chaos and gridlock whenever they stopped to examine a particularly intriguing road marking...

Awesome work as always Mr. Carrick.

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nightserpent In reply to dloliver [2014-05-27 14:34:53 +0000 UTC]

  Thanks, Dave!  They're not the GREAT race for nothing, their psychic stop lights put the Mi-Gos' wax faces to shame.

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EricLaneWebb [2014-05-07 02:02:04 +0000 UTC]

Kinda makes me think of a bong. Not sure what its loaded with though.

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nightserpent In reply to EricLaneWebb [2014-05-07 14:22:57 +0000 UTC]

I think S.T Joshi said that it was the Yithians who gave human the bong technology.     Actually, it does kind of look like one of those volcano vaporizers.

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Xeeming [2014-04-09 18:55:58 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful work, Paul!

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nightserpent In reply to Xeeming [2014-04-20 16:24:23 +0000 UTC]

Thanks  Dmitry!  More to come....

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zombiequadrille [2014-03-06 18:30:43 +0000 UTC]

Let's see some schematics and we'll get this baby goin'!

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nightserpent In reply to zombiequadrille [2014-03-11 14:27:43 +0000 UTC]

  You're just the person to attempt building this!  I guess the crystal could be cast in a red resin with a bright light below it, the rest could be cold-cast bronze with an oxidized patina.  Now, how to figure out the space/time holographic skyping mechanism...

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maja1234 [2014-03-05 08:23:20 +0000 UTC]

Like the splash of red!

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nightserpent In reply to maja1234 [2014-03-05 13:46:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  That was the one aspect of my info source which dictated color (the crystal being red), and combined with the hologram I had some concerns about juggling everything properly.

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hobbitshire [2014-03-05 05:16:08 +0000 UTC]

A recipient is normally one that has assisted the Yithians in their travels through time. Yithians always seek knowledge and while it's doubtful a human would be of assistance in time travel, a mind swap may give the Yithian valuable information and so he then manages to form a friendly relationship with the human, (after the swap), so that an agreement is made whereby communication continues via the communicator. Presumably the Yithian will continue to expect valuable nuggets of information, rather than the human constantly seeking help. Also a Yithian can swap minds with a variety of creatures, so a human may never be deemed worthy of getting a communicator.

Also, it depends on whether communication is with the Old Race, (cone shaped beings), New Race, (swarms of beetles) or travelling Race, (mind moving through space and time). The New Race may give a communicator to a cult so that aid in contruction in return for knowledge may be provided. A cult may contact a travelling Yithian so that it could possess a willing cult member in return for some assistance. The possibilities are numerous.

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nightserpent In reply to hobbitshire [2014-03-05 13:48:30 +0000 UTC]

I could have used you a little while ago!    With all this in mind, do you think DaVinci would have been a good candidate?

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hobbitshire In reply to nightserpent [2014-03-06 14:41:42 +0000 UTC]

I think that Da Vinci was probably more than a potential candidate. Good think the shans didn't get to him, otherwise he would have invented the first atomic bomb and used it, just as a scientific experiment of course.

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nightserpent In reply to hobbitshire [2014-03-11 14:47:49 +0000 UTC]

Maybe the Shans got to Einstein?

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hobbitshire In reply to nightserpent [2014-03-12 09:29:33 +0000 UTC]

Yithians maybe. Not Shans. Creatures that trundle around in pyramid spacecraft with a power plant that's part of Azathoth? If it were shans then the world would now be an radioactive wasteland, or else simply gone because Einstein was helped to find a dimensional fissure.

Incidently, I wouldn't mind seeing an image of a Shan spaceship, complete with view of the interior power plant.

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twocollective [2014-03-03 22:13:29 +0000 UTC]

Awesome stuff man.

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nightserpent In reply to twocollective [2014-03-05 13:47:03 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Jutsei [2014-03-02 06:12:35 +0000 UTC]

Very recently (but have wanted to for a long time) got into Call of Cthulhu (Only nabbed the Monster book for now!), Imagine my surprise to see some art for the upcoming 7th Edition on a bored search for the Great Race of Yithians!

Very cool design and look to both the artifact itself, as well as the Yithian on the other end, it's a pretty awesome looking perspective, as well as the background. Really eyecatching!

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nightserpent In reply to Jutsei [2014-03-02 16:39:10 +0000 UTC]

I'm jealous that you're just discovering and exploring CoC, it's such a fun game and so unlike 95% of the other RPGs out there.  Good to hear there's another Yith fan out there, I think they're underrated and one of the more fascinating concepts.

Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you like my painting!

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Jutsei In reply to nightserpent [2014-03-02 16:52:14 +0000 UTC]

It pretty much is! Even with just the monsters and information on rolls I don't quite understand yet, it's still awesome.
Funnily enough, I saw an Independant Film of "The Shadow Out of Time" about a week ago, and it was just so enthralling, hard not to like the Yith's concept after that!

And your very welcome! Looking forward to 7th Edition and more snazzy art within!

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queenmotherbug [2014-03-01 04:49:14 +0000 UTC]

Very intriguing idea. It definitely has a lot of imaginative Lovecraftian potential.


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nightserpent In reply to queenmotherbug [2014-03-01 16:05:11 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  I'm hoping someone might run with the idea, perhaps in a game or story.

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scribblehscribbleh [2014-02-27 21:57:49 +0000 UTC]

Awesome picture and concept.

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nightserpent In reply to scribblehscribbleh [2014-02-28 15:54:45 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  When I was coming up with the idea I was thinking about the function of interior art for RPGs, and as a player I recall flipping through these books looking for something to trigger inspiration.  So, when I have the chance I like to at least begin a story with the art, and then the viewer may start to expand on the idea and use it as a start for their own games.  It would be great to be a fly on the wall during others' games and see where they run with it.

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scribblehscribbleh In reply to nightserpent [2014-03-03 17:33:49 +0000 UTC]

Oh totally, little things like this definitely stir the imagination imo.

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Parallelwho [2014-02-27 20:09:58 +0000 UTC]

Just awesome Paul.  A few of the drawings I completed were of artifacts so I understand basing your work on what went before. You want to maintain a certain continuity while still creating an original work. While reading your blog I was pleasantly surprised to find how many iconic images you've created.

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nightserpent In reply to Parallelwho [2014-02-28 16:00:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!   I keep thinking about how all the subsequent writers have helped shape, expand and define Lovecraft's universe.  And, I think some artists have done it as well, especially when a popular interpretation of a creature turns into the default design.  Since now there are two similar representations of the Temporal Communicator, perhaps that helps crystallize it as the expected appearance.

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Hermundure [2014-02-27 20:00:18 +0000 UTC]

This one is really well executed!

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nightserpent In reply to Hermundure [2014-02-28 16:02:00 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  I had a few 'puzzles' in it which were things I hadn't attempted to paint before... a translucent hologram overlapping a transparent leaded window.

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dark-precipice [2014-02-27 19:21:45 +0000 UTC]

This is sooooo beautiful!!

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nightserpent In reply to dark-precipice [2014-02-27 19:54:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!  It felt like a bit of a departure from my usual stuff, so I was unsure about how it would be received.

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dark-precipice In reply to nightserpent [2014-02-27 20:44:24 +0000 UTC]

As far as I'm concerned, it fits your gallery quite well, what with being awesome and all.  

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nightserpent In reply to dark-precipice [2014-02-28 16:03:47 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, that's very flattering! 

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