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Description
Legends tell of a massive cavern that lays hidden in the deep jungle, in a place where even the skilled hunters dare not tread. To even begin searching for the doorway to this underground labyrinth, one needs to brave the cruel elements, the venomous creatures and the ravenous predators. After that, they must scour the suffocating jungle for the hidden entrance, which no map can reveal. If one is lucky enough to locate it, then they must descend down into the darkness, into a pit that seems bottomless. If one succeeds in this journey, though, they shall behold a truly magnificent sight. Coating every inch of this endless cavern are gems and brilliant crystals. A fortune beyond counting, a treasure hardly imaginable. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and countless other precious stones shall grow from the bare rock, creating a wealth that rivals that of the gods. It is this horde of riches that brings explorers and treasure hunters from around the world, all racing to lay claim to this wealth. However, there is a reason this cavern is spoken only in legend, as many who dive into that primordial world rarely ever return. Many would say that these foolhardy seekers succumb to disease and poison, and the swarms of insects quickly devour all remaining traces. Those who live near this forbidden place, though, know better. The perilous journey is not the only reason this cave is seen as a place of legend and myth, for it serves as a lair for something ancient.

Deep down in the cavern of riches lurks a great beast, one who is said to have existed since the world was first created. Massive in size, strength and cunning, it is an ancient creature that was so powerful that the gods regretted its kind's creation. Seeing the horrid beasts as mistakes, they chose to split them in two, creating the first elephants and snakes. Though the action of the gods succeeded in freeing the world from the power of these creatures, one escaped their sight. It slithered into a deep dark hole, where no light or god could ever reach it. There it hid from its creators, and there it lurks to this day. Laying amongst the earth's wealth, coveting every precious jewel that lines its lair. While it shuns the world above, it does not go hungry. Beasts from the surface are lured into its cavern, and those who fall for its trap are devoured. And with the tales of its treasure traveling upon the lips of men, it has another source of fresh meat...

Those who succeed in their journey shall be surrounded by an unimaginable wealth. With this single discovery, they shall become the richest men in the world. But, sadly, those who are lured into the lair of the Grootslang shall not hold this title for very long...

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This is a piece that got way more complicated than I intended. For the longest time I had wanted to do a drawing of the Grootslang. With a creature that is a fusion of elephant and snake, I had all sorts of ideas for a design. So when I finally got it down, I thought I would just draw its head, as doing the whole serpent body seemed redundant and bland. But then the head seemed too bare on its own, so I thought to add some rocks and what not. But then I felt an empty void didn't seem right, so I figured adding its coils to the bottom would look good. But now the background was too white, so pillars and more crystals! And then at that point I had gone so far that I figured "screw it" and just do the whole thing.

Description
Legends tell of a massive cavern that lays hidden in the deep jungle, in a place where even the skilled hunters dare not tread. To even begin searching for the doorway to this underground labyrinth, one needs to brave the cruel elements, the venomous creatures and the ravenous predators. After that, they must scour the suffocating jungle for the hidden entrance, which no map can reveal. If one is lucky enough to locate it, then they must descend down into the darkness, into a pit that seems bottomless. If one succeeds in this journey, though, they shall behold a truly magnificent sight. Coating every inch of this endless cavern are gems and brilliant crystals. A fortune beyond counting, a treasure hardly imaginable. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and countless other precious stones shall grow from the bare rock, creating a wealth that rivals that of the gods. It is this horde of riches that brings explorers and treasure hunters from around the world, all racing to lay claim to this wealth. However, there is a reason this cavern is spoken only in legend, as many who dive into that primordial world rarely ever return. Many would say that these foolhardy seekers succumb to disease and poison, and the swarms of insects quickly devour all remaining traces. Those who live near this forbidden place, though, know better. The perilous journey is not the only reason this cave is seen as a place of legend and myth, for it serves as a lair for something ancient.

Deep down in the cavern of riches lurks a great beast, one who is said to have existed since the world was first created. Massive in size, strength and cunning, it is an ancient creature that was so powerful that the gods regretted its kind's creation. Seeing the horrid beasts as mistakes, they chose to split them in two, creating the first elephants and snakes. Though the action of the gods succeeded in freeing the world from the power of these creatures, one escaped their sight. It slithered into a deep dark hole, where no light or god could ever reach it. There it hid from its creators, and there it lurks to this day. Laying amongst the earth's wealth, coveting every precious jewel that lines its lair. While it shuns the world above, it does not go hungry. Beasts from the surface are lured into its cavern, and those who fall for its trap are devoured. And with the tales of its treasure traveling upon the lips of men, it has another source of fresh meat...

Those who succeed in their journey shall be surrounded by an unimaginable wealth. With this single discovery, they shall become the richest men in the world. But, sadly, those who are lured into the lair of the Grootslang shall not hold this title for very long...

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

This is a piece that got way more complicated than I intended. For the longest time I had wanted to do a drawing of the Grootslang. With a creature that is a fusion of elephant and snake, I had all sorts of ideas for a design. So when I finally got it down, I thought I would just draw its head, as doing the whole serpent body seemed redundant and bland. But then the head seemed too bare on its own, so I thought to add some rocks and what not. But then I felt an empty void didn't seem right, so I figured adding its coils to the bottom would look good. But now the background was too white, so pillars and more crystals! And then at that point I had gone so far that I figured "screw it" and just do the whole thing.