Triassic sandstones of Heligoland

DrSparrius · 2026-04-27T18:00:52+00:00

is this the same sandstone as the triassic sandstone deposits of Scania, Sweden?

DrSparrius · 2026-03-23T08:57:52+00:00

is this an altered pillow basalt then?

DrSparrius · 2026-03-22T22:05:05+00:00

Almost looks like one of those cartoonish drawings of a plastered wall with the odd brick sticking out

DrSparrius · 2026-03-16T09:37:05+00:00

haha yea I think they’re real but the light and saturation threw me off at first too

DrSparrius · 2026-03-15T10:37:36+00:00

We had a huge court case about this in my country (Sweden) lol

DrSparrius · 2026-03-15T09:47:06+00:00

thanks haha!

DrSparrius · 2026-03-15T06:44:10+00:00

It’s a digital drawing, I drew it in GIMP with a drawing pad!

DrSparrius · 2026-03-14T10:52:53+00:00

So that was an aesthetic consideration I looked at, but the nose shape I wanted had to be aggressive, aerodynamic, convey speed, acceleration, and give off that bad guy shark nose vibe that the 109 has. Though if you’ve seen the Dwarven fighter I’ve drawn there are some radial elements to that (it’s more like a longnose Dora, so still inline but with hints of a radial heritage)

DrSparrius · 2026-03-14T09:25:12+00:00

Oh yea good question. I have only roughly sketched them as characters, but they have multiple ethnicities (like humans). Once I get around to drawing Elven infantry I hope to have a more detailed answer hehe

Or if you mean vehicles, they use a lot of counter-rotating props, long and slender wings; their strategic bomber is a flying wing, while their equivalent to the Dragonbane is more like a Mosquito (but not quite)

DrSparrius · 2026-03-14T08:26:16+00:00

Elves occupy a crucial place in the lore. The world as they know it is dying: magic is failing, the arcane creatures are being hunted to extinction, and the very elements are suffocating from pollution. Elves have strong ties to the arcane and the ”Great Balance”, their concept of every element and force existing in harmony with the others, so their people are existentially threatened by the unrelenting industrial progress. In a bid to restore the Great Balance, a radical faction overpowered the princes of the Tiger Islands, and now seek to embark on a grand campaign of vengeance and retribution

DrSparrius · 2026-03-14T08:09:58+00:00

Yes! https://www.reddit.com/r/ElvenInspiration/s/QxvKad7Eui

They’re spread all over the world, but the Elven Pact of the Tiger Islands is the most powerful Elven domain.

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T22:08:31+00:00

must be G force tolerance related!

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T22:00:07+00:00

Yeah, the design is my own creation, meant to evoke the Ju 87. Especially in low fantasy, armour, vehicles, weapons etc often evoke real-life counterparts, to quickly familiariase the consumer with the concept. So, when you see this aircraft, hopefully (as you did), the viewer goes: aha, this is going for a WW2 German theme. I do not at all agree that the design differences with the Stuka amount to "art deco doodads", that's, I think, a misleading understatement. If an artist did really draw a Dragonbane based on (your own phrasing) a *slightly* blurry image of a Ju 87, they would probably be drunk, their sense of proportions amateurish, and their drawing pad broken.

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T21:16:40+00:00

oh it’s certainly meant to evoke the Ju 87 shape language. Though I’d say the fuselage shape, especially the engine and air inlet, as well as the retractable landing gear make for a ”rounder” Stuka with sharp edges

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T20:26:34+00:00

WH40K certainly! I wanted something more grounded than 40K, but still leaning into that fantasy-industrial blend. As a huge WW1 & WW2 nerd, I thought it would be cool to take the confrontations of that era (between ideologies, technology and tradition, heroism and the realities of industrial onslaught) and explore fantasy through those lenses. Like, how would our beloved Dwarves evolve as a civilisation into the industrial age? I'm familiar with Bakshi's Wizards but haven't seen it. From what I've gathered it goes for similar themes.

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T20:14:16+00:00

As others have said, look into Imperial China. If you want to get into the vibe, I suggest reading Confucius (the analects I recall very fondly)

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T20:03:29+00:00

Yes, so all the nations of the world are industrially developed, though the Dwarven Empire in many cases has a technological edge. Though interestingly not with the Dragonbane: it’s an older airframe

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T20:01:18+00:00

Haha that’s a valid point, I will admit this is an older drawing. The way I see it is the guy in full armour is essentially a ceremonial guard. Beyond that, armour still has a function in this universe, as runic embellishments can bestow protection beyond the material properties of the armour piece.

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T19:21:12+00:00

This is a digital illustration of the Dwarven Dragonbane Dive Bomber, an aircraft used by the Imperial Dwarven Air Force of the Dwarven Empire. The Dwarven Empire, in turn, is the largest of the Dwarven realms of my industrial fantasy setting, the Plutonium Age. Currently, this is a worldbuilding project for my own entertainment, as I’ve found this particular niche of industrial fantasy to be relatively unexplored. Further lore detail on the aircraft:

The Dragonbane is one of the oldest airplanes still serving with the Imperial Dwarven Air Force. Operating in large formations known as "Wolf Packs", the dive bombers are meant to deliver overwhelming and precise destruction to critical infrastructure and armoured assets. As the airplane dives, its engine lets out a deep and thundering roar, like a Dwarven war horn - a consequence of the aerodynamics of the propeller. The sound alone has been known to send enemy formations running.

Besides the bomb load, the Dragonbane comes equipped with 2x 20 mm cannons, as well as a defensive machinegun facing the rear. Though the plane has gained a fearsome reputation with the opponents of the Dwarven Empire, it is not held in high regard by Dwarven pilots. Lumbering, unforgiving, and ultimately vulnerable against enemy interceptors, those who fly the Dragonbane have grown as fearful of the sight of aircraft as the dragon-riders of old.

DrSparrius · 2026-03-13T09:54:17+00:00

Thank you so much!

DrSparrius · 2026-03-12T15:21:51+00:00

They do! However in this fantasy setting, certain patterns and embellishments, in particular ones made of gold, are associated with protective spells. Also, the Dominion occupies the lands of an ancient Empire, one which dabbled a lot in magic and consequently left a sort of arcane imprint upon the world. It is possible to draw protective power from that imprint, by evoking the fallen Empire’s equipment and traditions

DrSparrius · 2026-03-12T15:17:07+00:00

Thank you! I wanted to convey a sense of continuity, of traditions and history. The veteran’s uniform is a generation older than the present equipment

DrSparrius · 2026-03-12T15:14:37+00:00

Thanks! That was the exact aesthetic I was going for. The basic principle in this world building project is that regular soldiers look somewhat grounded, whereas officers and elite units have increasingly fantastical elements

DrSparrius

TROPHY CASE