More ideas coming

More ideas coming to mind for the rewrite for Black Mask and Pale Rider.  I’ve already decided to add Pania’s pixie, Verit, to the mix.  Verit is a typical pixie, acting as a familiar to any mage or sorceress.  Which Pania is without a doubt, a sorceress.

image by Anne Stokes

This essentially describes the visual of Verit that will appear at the beginning of the story. However, by the time the story concludes, Verit will have imitated aspects of both Pania and Shani and the way they dress.  Having her own version of denim slacks, boots complete with little spurs, chaps, a poet’s silk shirt, a corset and a long cloak and fancy hat.  Verit will stick very close to Pania, at first because Pania believes that this non magical world called Earth has weakened her, but after a while it’s because Verit works so well with Pania.  Verit is a curious little thing, as she can open locks and cast small spells, both of which are extremely helpful to Pania.  Verit can also be a bit of a troublemaker, and will be quite vocal with her actions when someone attempts to cause harm to Pania, and in time to Shani and her own companion.

image by butterfrog

Shani will have something very different by her side.  Or rather, hanging around her shoulders.  A small lizard looking creature, that will add to the elven gunslinger’s fame (or infamy), called a pseudodragon.  Not a real dragon, but the creature has all of the aspects of a larger, fully grown dragon.  Shani, as it will be explained in the story, will rescue the tiny beast from the clutches of a brigand lord who has been ravaging the roads in Brytilonia.  Shani will discover that the tiny creature’s master was killed by the brigand band, and so she takes it upon herself to take care of it.  Shani herself being dragon blooded feels something of an affinity for it.  Eventually, she calls it Scales, but still waits for the day the pseudodragon will tell her it’s name.  Scales is kind of lazy, as he hangs about Shani’s shoulders and will snap at a wayward bug that happens to fly by, or munches on pieces of jerky that Shani gives him.  He is rather protective of Shani, however, feeling that he owes it to her for being rescued by her.

When Shani and Pania meet, naturally there will be exploring from both Verit and Scales.

The above images are not exact to what I imagine the two additions, but they are just a helpful visual guide.  They are copyright their respective artists (visit the artists’ pages to learn more about the individual illustrators).

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