[[[THIS CONCEPT WAS DONE BY CLOCKWORK CREATURE]]]

The first step to any creation is locking down a concept. I talked with Qarrezel for over a month, discussing what I wanted out of a Zal-like costume and her offering suggestions and ideas. Zal was a pre-existing character, who you can see oodles of on my art account . The issue was how to anthropomorphize him. At Anthrocon2010 Qarrezel said she'd draw a concept piece to see if it was what we both had in mind. This is her result.

The basic requirements, to be "zal-like", were:

- A polar bear head
- A lion's mane
- A double set of golden ram horns
- Three golden spikes on the crest of the head and on the rump
- Long fur around the hands feet, similar to a Clydesdale's feathering
- Golden scales along the belly and down the long draconic tail
- A scythe at the end of the tail, tipped in a sinew, tipped in a puff of fur
- A pair of eagle's wings
- Golden eyes
- Golden claws
- Digitigrade
- White fur