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SkekLa — Kaia and the Chamberlain- The Cracking sketches

#chamberlain #gelfling #gelflings #general #jimhenson #muppets #skeksi #skeksil #skeksis #thedarkcrystal #skekung
Published: 2015-02-14 14:34:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 5785; Favourites: 63; Downloads: 0
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Description Hi everybody!
It was a long time since I promised myself I'd draw this!
These are small sketches I made to illustrate a bit of my fan fiction based on the Dark Crystal, "The Cracking".
(If you are interessed in reading the story and haven't done it  already, here's the first chapter!    The cracking- chapter 1.Hundreds of trines ago, when the world of Thra was still younger, and the reign of the Skeksis over the land was still mostly benevolent...Rumors had began to spread, rumors which spoke about a prophecy, a revolution, and war.
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SkekOk, the Historian, raising a bony hand, settled his second pair of glasses,for they were sliding down his long thin beak. Then, with a masterful strike of his quill, he traced his ellegant signature on the last document.
His long, pointy face, bearing features like those of a crane, seemed to rise in tension over his elongated thin neck.
The scarce white hair crowning his head seemed to flutter with each gesture he made.
With pale and clever eyes he threw a furtive gaze, studying the tall stooping figure which stood before his writting table, attired in rich garments made of deep crimson velvet, and white fine silks trimmed with delicate lace.
Emmiting a lazy sigh,
 
At first, I thought about making a lot of individual drawings, perhaps on color,to illustrate some passages and bits of the tale.
Then, I realized I had been going through very hard times and a lot of stress, and that either time or my nerves wouldn't alloow me to draw all that much ( not enough free time, and the need to sleep more than 3 hours a day is imperious now!)

So...here's what there is about it until now, at least:

The first scene (up to down, left to right) Has The Chamberlain lending "THE scroll" to Kaia, his assistant. That would belong to the first chapter, soon after they leave SkekOk the Scrollkeeper's Library.

The second represents the two of them already stuck into the cracking of the old corridor's wall, after they had encountered the big, wild Rakkida beast loose in the castle's bowels, and took shelter inside the wall's broken part. Kaia is trying to check her master for wounds, and even as the Cmaberlain tries to keep her away from him, she will eventually improvise a bandage for his wounded tail, by tearing a piece of her robe's hem. 

The third sketch shows one of the strikes of the vicious Rakkida, poncing over the two preys he has cornered, and biting savagely into the Chamberlain's arm (luckily ripping off only sleeves...so there was some practical use for THAT ammount of clothing!- "use in case of horrid beast attacks"...)

The fourth drawings has Kaia, scared for her master's life, crying and  lunging herself over The Chamberlain who, half fainted and hurt, is shocked and bafflesd, still trying to get her off from him.

The fifth on the left bottom corner is ust a small concept thing where I "opened the Chamberlain's arms" in what's to be a one-of-a-lifetime- welcoming, harmless gesture. 

Sixth drawing and there you go!...A skeksis holding a gelfling...in an affectionate manner. Truly, a one of a lifetime gesture, as I said before. Kaia is still crying violently, and she clings to The Chamberlain's chest in a desperate attempt to feel comforted and believe they will come out  alive of the horrible situation they have gotten into.
SkekSil, meanwhile, feels for once in his life the true meaning of what it is wanting to protect someone other than himself. This gellfling has tried her best to help him, to aid him, she has even nursed his wounds when he xcommanded her to leave him be!
She believes he CARES fro him like a father would, and has confessed it to him a moment ago, even through her hunger, thirst and pain...
He now wishes this gelfling to live, and as he feels her crying pressed to his chest, he cries for the first time on his incredibly long life.

The seventh and last drawing shows the first outcome (quite cropped, too!) of the story, Second General and Beast Master SkekUng (still not the Garthim Master at the time) comes to the rescue, even though he'd clearly rather wringing the Chamberlain's neck if he could.
There you have him, holding up a torch for his fellow skeksis to see the way through the murky hallway as they abandon the site of their haphzard adventure, leaving the dead body of the Rakkida behind. Kaia is very pale and scared after the Second  General tells the Chamberlain he is an idiot for having remained enclosed within the wall the whole day in deathly danger while he could have given the gelfling to the beast so he could flee. The Chamberlain is telling the Second General Off, however. "This gelfing is valuable and the best assistant he could have" he says "and he would not lose her to some beast"...

So...there it is!

Just a bunh of black and white sketches to depict a 12 page story...not enough eh?
Well, perhaps in time, I can make some more illustrations for this! (I wish I can)

Enjoy!

*Disclaimer* The Dark Crystal, the gellfings and the skeksis do NOT belong to me. They are property of the Jim Henson estates, Brian Froud, and Disney enterprises.
I do own the art, the events within the story called "The cracking", and the characetr Kaia.
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Comments: 54

SkekLa In reply to ??? [2022-05-19 17:30:17 +0000 UTC]

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QueenObscurePairings [2019-12-18 03:32:53 +0000 UTC]

I LOVE THIS STYLE OF YOURS!

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ZureLazuli [2016-08-26 18:20:20 +0000 UTC]

I favourited this beautiful drawing exactly a year ago today, but never commented! How silly of me!
This was the first Dark Crystal fanart I ever saw, and it led me to your amazing gallery!

I just love how skekSil emotes here all the extremes in his expressions (and some of them so heart-wrenchingly; his fear, his sadness...), and cute little Kaia ^^
This whole pic, just   I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!

Beautiful illustrations for a beautiful story

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SkekLa In reply to ZureLazuli [2016-08-27 15:00:36 +0000 UTC]

AZURE!!!!
It's absolutely amazing to me, to read this!
You told me short ago to how this set of small images on my story had moved you, and I was so happily surprised to know these had had such an emotional impact in another fan! 
More even after knowing you better, and seeing what a kind and nice person you are, and what an enthusiastic and great TDC fan, too!
Simply...THANKS for appreciating these so very much!
It makes me happy as can be to know they showed up as expressive and even heartwrenching as I meant them! THANKS A LOT for this precious comment!!! I feel humbled and nonored by this!...

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ZureLazuli In reply to SkekLa [2016-08-28 13:54:59 +0000 UTC]

It was absolutely amazing for me to find your art! I might never have realised that there was a TDC fandom if it wasn't for your drawings, like this one! And I am so happy to have found you too, and gotten to know what a sweet, creative and kind person you are ^^

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SkekLa In reply to ZureLazuli [2016-08-28 16:25:38 +0000 UTC]

D'AWW!..You truly leave me speechless, Azure! ^^
THANKS!
I am immensely happy to have somehow "shown you" the fandom did exist!...It's an honor to me knowing that my drawings helped such a taleted artist and fellow fan as you to join!!!

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ZureLazuli In reply to SkekLa [2016-08-29 13:44:38 +0000 UTC]

It's an honour to see your drawings, I'm so happy to have found them! ^^ <3

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SkekLa In reply to ZureLazuli [2016-08-30 13:59:01 +0000 UTC]

COME HERE! The honor's all mine!

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Legrande62 [2016-02-16 21:25:19 +0000 UTC]

This is lovely

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SkekLa In reply to Legrande62 [2016-02-17 15:06:21 +0000 UTC]

Why, thank you! ^^
I tried all my best to fit these to a small story in chapters that I wrote...just some buch of classical-looking ink sketches, but if you think these are good, I can't be happier!

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KingsOfEvilArt [2015-09-11 13:57:14 +0000 UTC]

A crying Skeksis...! That was unexpected

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SkekLa In reply to KingsOfEvilArt [2015-09-11 14:12:11 +0000 UTC]

REALLY!
But in this case he saw his emotional barrriers, cleverly rose shields and coldness severely affected in a way I believe he wouldn't have thought possible.

If you're ever interessed, the story behind this thing is posted there at my gallery in a folder called "the Cracking"...it's fully done, consists of 12 hapters and is a fairly easy/quick read...
Perhaps you'd even like it!

It's a second sight to what skeksis emotins may look like if ever seen r appealed at...of which we see nearly none movie wise!

I am aware in canon most people sustains skeksis are "pure, absolute, ultimate evil"...but I just seemed to need and search for a twist in there, an seek if I could write a more complex order of things within them, studying a "what if"...So chose a "what if the skeksis DID feel more than just hatred, loathing and rage...but had to hide it (or were compelled, thought they must, or were simply forced to hide it), repress it and with centuries became as callous, resented and cruel as to be simply assumed to have no good emotions at all?

In this story, the Chamberlain coudn't believe himself he was actully crying by the time thus scene took place...
AND t hs behalfI must put to consideratin he had had a terrible time, suffered  horrid pain, hunger and was cornered without apparent salvation...BUT still, his emotional outburst was more due to a different cause...though could be still half triggered out of the sudden danger and unusual hardship to which a wealthy, comfy, mostly well fed skeksis was unused to...

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KingsOfEvilArt In reply to SkekLa [2015-09-11 15:12:47 +0000 UTC]

I always considered Skeksis to be simply decadent rather than "pure evil". They all seem to be "evil" at varying degree, probably the worst being Scientist, Slave Master (and my character Necromancer, have you seen him?)  It's difficult to make a defining statement as we only glimpse skeksis in the movie in their most degraded state. They are fighting for survival, fighting against time that warps their bodies each passing year, fighting against each other's treacherous ambitions. I suppose that after a thousand years of living in such company even if they weren't all evil beings at the start they would become so. On the other hand we know from the lore that Skeksis were created in UrSkeks attempt to cast out evil in them. This would suggest they are evil to the core. Anyway it's a very interesting topic of discussion. Evil is a relative concept. What might be evil and unacceptable for one, for another might be just a method of fighting for survival.

I'll have a look at your story then. Who knows, maybe Skeksis hid their true nature as much as they hid their twisted bodies under  countles layers of cloth and armour.

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JamieTheFandomGirl [2015-05-17 14:49:24 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Commenter

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SkekLa In reply to JamieTheFandomGirl [2015-05-17 16:36:41 +0000 UTC]

^^...
He can be quite cute when he wants to, can't he?...even if he uses to hide it so well!

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ArlenFram [2015-03-26 08:55:28 +0000 UTC]

This first the story so well, completely, good! I love the very expressions they make! And that SkekUng at the end, so great! Loving it!

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SkekLa In reply to ArlenFram [2015-04-02 15:10:50 +0000 UTC]

YEEESSS!!! Thanks for saying this!...I'm super happy that you like these sketches that much, and that you thik they complement the story well! ^^

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bbb35 [2015-03-10 17:08:31 +0000 UTC]

OMG. This is epic!!

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SkekLa In reply to bbb35 [2015-03-12 16:19:27 +0000 UTC]

Do you like them?...Have you read my story???   

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bbb35 In reply to SkekLa [2015-03-12 16:57:14 +0000 UTC]

I didn't know you had stories, where is it? O.o

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SkekLa In reply to bbb35 [2015-03-14 15:45:53 +0000 UTC]

Hi...I'm in into shortened times and some bad issues (read a bit of my journal so you know what I mean...sorry that I've no more time to explain!...)
But yes, I have a story!
All chapters are nested here! ^^

smeagolisme.deviantart.com/gal…

I hope you like it! 

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DarkStormSeeker [2015-02-21 21:49:41 +0000 UTC]

Maldito sea tu marketing!! Ahora tengo ganas de leer la historia D:< 
Naaah mentiraaa, son muy adorablesss!!!!!!

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SkekLa In reply to DarkStormSeeker [2015-02-23 14:37:42 +0000 UTC]

JAJAJJJAJJ XD

Quizás te guste si la llegás a leer!
La subí en inglés por que la mayoría acá no lee castellano...¿¿¿eso te dificulta o te copa igual??? Ojalá algun dia le pegues una ojeada así me decís qué te pareció!^^

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DarkStormSeeker In reply to SkekLa [2015-02-23 22:01:32 +0000 UTC]

Yo no tengo problema con los idiomas a mí nada me molesta, si no entiendo una palabra en inglés voy y la busco en el diccionario, prefiero ir practicando. Tres de mis watchers prefieren el idioma castellano, pero yo me pregunto a veces para qué se hicieron una cuenta en DeviantArt si todo (o practicamente la mayoría) está en inglés XDDD

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SkekLa In reply to DarkStormSeeker [2015-03-01 16:55:38 +0000 UTC]

GROSA!!! ^^

Cierto. Vieras la de gente que me pregunta para que escribo tooodo en ingles en deviant..."¿¿¿para que???" PARA QUE AL MENOS LA MAYORIA ENTIENDA QUE CORNO ESTOY ESCRIBIENDO!!!

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queenmedesa In reply to SkekLa [2015-09-02 17:09:46 +0000 UTC]

Yo soy española,pero entiendo inglés

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SkekLa In reply to queenmedesa [2015-09-02 17:16:22 +0000 UTC]

Yo soy de Argentina!...Hablo español como idioma natal, pero me arreglo bien con el inglés aquí, ya que casi nadie entiende español en el sitio...pareciese que somos pocos!.. u.u

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SkekLa In reply to queenmedesa [2015-09-02 17:11:52 +0000 UTC]

Jajaja, yo soy de Argentina!...en realidad, claro,hablo español!...pero aquí, por una cuestión de que la mayoría no puede entender el español, escribo en inglés! ^^

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DarkStormSeeker In reply to SkekLa [2015-03-01 18:08:16 +0000 UTC]

En realidad, uno tiene que acostumbrarse al inglés, es un medio de expresión universal. D: Mis compañeros de química también me preguntaban para que hacía un comic en inglés, uno que era para un concurso de DA, la verdad me molesta mucho que la gente no quiera leer, hay tantas historias buenas, recién había leido tres parrafos de la tuya y ya me enganchaba xDDD ). Encima tres de los cuales SABEN inglés D:<
Uno de los trabajos que más me cuesta es traducir del inglés al castellano semi-porteño que tengo, digo semi porque el mío no es tan así xDDDD 

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SkekLa In reply to DarkStormSeeker [2015-03-07 15:02:54 +0000 UTC]

SI...Te guste o no, es el primer idioma secundario para TODO EL PLANETA...Sirve para comunicarse con chinos, franceses, alemanes, japoneses, o gente de cualquier nacionalidad que no tengas claro el idioma...seguro saben saludar y decirte para donde ir en ingles, aunque mas no sea!!!

Jajajaj si, mis comics yo de cabeza dura los sigo escribiendo en castellano en los originales a mano, pero los "traduzco" antes de colgarlos sino nadie los entenderia (vos, tres personas mas y yo misma solas los leeriamos!!!)
Si, ¿no es raro la fiaca gigante que le da leer a la mayoria de la gente???
Es copado que te este gustando!!! significa que hice algo bien!!!  

JAJAJAJJ yo depende, puteo bastante pero puedo hablar correctamente si quiero/hace falta...y traducir, si , a veces es un dolor por que muchos terminos en lunfa son dificiles de lograr en ingles...o tenes que cambiar tooodo el significado de una oracion a veces!!!

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DarkStormSeeker In reply to SkekLa [2015-03-07 20:41:38 +0000 UTC]

Posta que sí, pero hay tanta gente ignorante, me molesta que cada vez que digo algo mínimo en inglés mis compañeros saltan con "aaay, que yankee, o por qué decís así"... Tengo que conseguirme amigos nuevos jajajajajajja

Está bien, yo apoyo, es más, dentro de poco voy a pasar algunos de mis comics al castellano, por las dudas, y si tengo ganas jajajajajaj
Somos todos fiacas por naturaleza digo yo D:

Aish sí, no se puede hacer traducción literal como la hace el Google XDDD No tiene sentido siquiera jajajajaj

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SkekLa In reply to DarkStormSeeker [2015-03-10 15:45:46 +0000 UTC]

seh...es eso o "ayyy sos una imperialista" "¿sos  pro yankee?" "sos una vndepatria"...etc.-...¿¿MA QUE VENDE PATRIA??? Intento comunicarme, manga de zopelutanos...


JEJEJEJEJEJ Yo suelo hacerlos en castellano pero por que los pienso asi...y traducir es dificil pero no imposible! ^^
Tal vez...yo soy mas bien de esforzarme, "romperme los cuernos" para hacer las cosas...pero no culpo a los fiacas!

ES HORRENDA!!!

And that's not a figure of speech...lo he visto traducido en una pelicula como "y eso no sera una figura para hablar".....MALDITOSSSS ERA TAN DIFICIL PONER "Y ESO NO ES SOLO UNA FORMA DE DECIR?????

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DarkStormSeeker In reply to SkekLa [2015-03-11 13:37:14 +0000 UTC]

Aish, sí, y no sabés la bronca que me da... Por suerte siempre llevo un palo de hockey para desquitarme contra ellos XDDD

Jajjajaja yo también los pienso así :3 Después me sale el inglés para el demonio, ahora me doy cuenta jajajaj 

Noooooo, jajajja, que horror, según un profesor mío, a los traductores de peli les asignan un diccionario de 1930, con 3000 palabras inglés a español XDD

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SkekLa In reply to DarkStormSeeker [2015-03-16 02:18:03 +0000 UTC]

XD Eso me vendria bien: palo de hockey!


JEJEJEJ O sino los pienso en ingles y los retraduzco al escribirlos a mano, solo para volver a doblarlos al publicar JAJAJAJ MALDITA LOCURA


UGHHHHHH parece que dice la verdad!!

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l-liminglaeva [2015-02-14 21:52:49 +0000 UTC]

Oh, wow, that's amazing, super great work!!!! Gelfling Powers Go!!!!

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SkekLa In reply to l-liminglaeva [2015-02-16 15:48:08 +0000 UTC]

HAHAH "Gelfling powers?"

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l-liminglaeva In reply to SkekLa [2015-02-16 21:16:18 +0000 UTC]

Super duper Gelfling essence power pack pudding pops, GO!!

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SkekLa In reply to l-liminglaeva [2015-02-19 15:25:49 +0000 UTC]

I'm evil but...this is like that, exactly!!!:

d1sb2vhc1h1lwk.cloudfront.net/…

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l-liminglaeva In reply to SkekLa [2015-02-19 19:53:48 +0000 UTC]

LMAO!!!! I can't follow that one, that's to funny.

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SkekLa In reply to l-liminglaeva [2015-02-23 15:32:30 +0000 UTC]

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l-liminglaeva In reply to SkekLa [2015-02-23 21:28:46 +0000 UTC]

   

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Blackshadowbutterfly [2015-02-14 21:07:16 +0000 UTC]

Such detail!!! I really love the expressions! I can feel the chapters really come alive in these scenes. It truly is a work of art!

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SkekLa In reply to Blackshadowbutterfly [2015-02-16 15:49:03 +0000 UTC]

AWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Your words move me a lot!!!
I tried all I could to get the images right, after the passages of the story...If I'm lucky, I'll make some more in time! ^^
Thanks for the encouragement!!!

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DaMushroom [2015-02-14 17:39:26 +0000 UTC]

It's a pretty engaging story so far that I've read and with these illustrations of the best moments it's even better! Kaia is a likable little gelfling

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SkekLa In reply to DaMushroom [2015-02-16 15:50:54 +0000 UTC]

It's great that you think so!
True, Kaia is likeable...for a gelfling
No, seriously, the poor girl is as sweet as anything!
It's very good that you like both the illustrations and the story, so far...
Whenever you read it, considering you do...May you tell me how did you like it?...It'd be revealing for me, to know what another fan thinks of it!
I did already have long chats about this tale with other fans, but I'd like having your opinion as well! ^^

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DaMushroom In reply to SkekLa [2015-02-16 21:09:17 +0000 UTC]

No problem! I can do that

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SkekLa In reply to DaMushroom [2015-02-19 15:24:54 +0000 UTC]

 

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Mechanic-Star [2015-02-14 16:49:09 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous work in every detail, as usual...

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SkekLa In reply to Mechanic-Star [2015-02-14 18:17:44 +0000 UTC]

THANKS A LOT!!!

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lonelynightrain [2015-02-14 14:41:16 +0000 UTC]

Oh, wow, Sméagol, all of these images of Kaia and SkekSil are amazing!  I mean, just WOW!  The details, the emotion, the gestures they just pop right off the page!

Wonderful job!

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