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More from ChrisGoodwin
Ink, then digital.
Work for an upcoming Ironclaw project.
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"Jackal: c.1600, from Turk. çakal, from Pers. shaghal, from Skt. srgala-s, lit. "the howler." Figurative sense of "skulking henchman" is from the old belief that jackals stirred up game for lions. They are noted for their piercing and dismal howling." - Merriam-Webster Dictionary
"Jackal: Unsavory people who won't hesitate to rob or kill you for your paper. Usually come out at night." - UrbanDictionary
"Before all else, be armed." - Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532)
"O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!" - Othello, Act V, Scene i, Line 63
There is little kindly written about jackals, and not without reason; they have an innate tendency for sociopathy and ruthlessness. Even the best of them are coolly received in polite company, for a jackal as a friend usually means a knife in the back, sooner or later. Jackals themselves know this and don't much like their own kind either; this perhaps is all that keeps them from prospering as others of similar temperament.
Grey foxes at least stick together and by such means elevate as a whole, thick as thieves; raccoons at least are afflicted with a conscience and perform good deeds to offset their trespasses; and most other species of dubious virtue struggle with their flaws or are simply misunderstood - but the jackal is aptly pegged as the truly bad seed in the crowd.
How they persist is as a tool to those that will, since there are times when complete ruthlessness is needed for a steady hand on the blade. As such, jackals aren't usually found among common folks, but in the noble halls of power and in the wings of court. Young jackals are often raised alongside royal heirs not only as bodyguards but as safeguards against youthful treachery for the throne.
To many, jackals are exotic outsiders of far-flung origin, and there are tales that in some lands they are worshipped as black gods of death. All of which is very likely superstition, but it highlights their reputation as born assassins - if not high society assassins.
It is very rare to find a jackal not in service to a wealthy benefactor, or making a living in tranquil occupation.
Work for an upcoming Ironclaw project.
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"Jackal: c.1600, from Turk. çakal, from Pers. shaghal, from Skt. srgala-s, lit. "the howler." Figurative sense of "skulking henchman" is from the old belief that jackals stirred up game for lions. They are noted for their piercing and dismal howling." - Merriam-Webster Dictionary
"Jackal: Unsavory people who won't hesitate to rob or kill you for your paper. Usually come out at night." - UrbanDictionary
"Before all else, be armed." - Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1532)
"O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!" - Othello, Act V, Scene i, Line 63
There is little kindly written about jackals, and not without reason; they have an innate tendency for sociopathy and ruthlessness. Even the best of them are coolly received in polite company, for a jackal as a friend usually means a knife in the back, sooner or later. Jackals themselves know this and don't much like their own kind either; this perhaps is all that keeps them from prospering as others of similar temperament.
Grey foxes at least stick together and by such means elevate as a whole, thick as thieves; raccoons at least are afflicted with a conscience and perform good deeds to offset their trespasses; and most other species of dubious virtue struggle with their flaws or are simply misunderstood - but the jackal is aptly pegged as the truly bad seed in the crowd.
How they persist is as a tool to those that will, since there are times when complete ruthlessness is needed for a steady hand on the blade. As such, jackals aren't usually found among common folks, but in the noble halls of power and in the wings of court. Young jackals are often raised alongside royal heirs not only as bodyguards but as safeguards against youthful treachery for the throne.
To many, jackals are exotic outsiders of far-flung origin, and there are tales that in some lands they are worshipped as black gods of death. All of which is very likely superstition, but it highlights their reputation as born assassins - if not high society assassins.
It is very rare to find a jackal not in service to a wealthy benefactor, or making a living in tranquil occupation.
Category Artwork (Digital) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 806 x 1024px
File Size 554.3 kB
Indeed :P Well, on my To-Do list it says "common jackal" which hits the same visual notes as "coyote" and "fox", except they do it better, in my opinion. However jackals do have that unique dark-on-dark "Anubis" thing, so... I'm away from home/my working computer, I may go back and make the fur even darker, now that you mention it.
Actually, I was referring to the fact that he was dark; as as far as I'm aware, the only dark jackals are the Egyptian anthropomorphic deities. But now that you've pointed it out, an anthropomorphic jackal would look an awful lot like an anthropomorphic coyote, so perhaps that black jackal look may work better.
Incidentally, I've really liked the backgrounds and scenes you've done for these pictures.
Incidentally, I've really liked the backgrounds and scenes you've done for these pictures.
You've made this point already, yes.
It's the player's job to make complex characters and tune them with nuance according to their goals playing.
I'm an illustrator, providing broad strokes and generalizations as suggested starting points.
If you want realism, there is always reality.
It's the player's job to make complex characters and tune them with nuance according to their goals playing.
I'm an illustrator, providing broad strokes and generalizations as suggested starting points.
If you want realism, there is always reality.
I am fully able to discern the difference between the unreality of an anthropomorphic animal presenting a negative archetype and real people.
I suspect this would only be an issue to people unable to make that distinction.
Villains are useful fictions; so are heroes.
I suspect this would only be an issue to people unable to make that distinction.
Villains are useful fictions; so are heroes.
Though now I feel a bit of a tool, cause I do actually interchange these myself at times, now that I think about it.
But I still think the argument is moot. There are reasons that fantasy settings tend to have these "All X is Y" but there's not a lot of alternative. You either describe nothing about the way the species/race is commonly viewed, or you describe every view of every subgroup within the species/race and their views of themselves and how they differ. And then you start nesting subgroups inside subgroups and it sort of explodes into a bunch of numbers that you need specialised software to comprehend. (Part of my job involves handling demographic data of internet users around the world. It's freaking complicated, and you can break up a group of people in as many ways as you can think of.)
Anyway, for Chris, Awesome art, I've always loved your art, and these new pieces are making me want to buy the new Ironclaw book. So yay!
But I still think the argument is moot. There are reasons that fantasy settings tend to have these "All X is Y" but there's not a lot of alternative. You either describe nothing about the way the species/race is commonly viewed, or you describe every view of every subgroup within the species/race and their views of themselves and how they differ. And then you start nesting subgroups inside subgroups and it sort of explodes into a bunch of numbers that you need specialised software to comprehend. (Part of my job involves handling demographic data of internet users around the world. It's freaking complicated, and you can break up a group of people in as many ways as you can think of.)
Anyway, for Chris, Awesome art, I've always loved your art, and these new pieces are making me want to buy the new Ironclaw book. So yay!
Italians weren't well liked in the early United States, because they were for the most part Catholics. Let's see. When else were Italians hated? Well, in the 30's, the Abyssinians and Ethiopians didn't think much of them, and the League of Nations condemned them. The Gauls really hated Italians.
One thing that really draws my attention(besides your awesome work) are the swords. I spent my junior high and highschool years doing fencing competitively and its probably the only sport I was never dismissive of. We used each other instead of dummies but we, of course, werent using real blades. :P We did have a rack for the swords a lot like how youve done in the background.
That jackals outfit is simply fooking awesome, too. Great work!
That jackals outfit is simply fooking awesome, too. Great work!
Rediscovering Ironclaw is such a treat. Jackals were always a favorite of mine, although I can't really put my finger on why. Maybe I felt that everyone was too hard on them for taking on necessary (if unsavory) roles and responsibilities. Or maybe it's just my horrible taste in partners drang me towards sadists again. Either way, jackals rule and are the true Sigmas of the Calabrian canines
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