Rough ten-minute sketch of Barrister, the Spider Prince of Khaum, and one of the Princes of the Infernal Mountains, a side character in my novel Ashen Shadows, and the main character of my prequel Green Smoke and Metal Mirrors
Pictured above : Skeur of the Fissures, also known as Barrister, the former leader of the Spire Barons, posing for his coronation photo, dressed in a sleeveless blue vest and ripped jeans- the better to put his prosthetics on display - his attire adorned with a pattern of branching golden lines, an homage to the Fissures that had given him birth.
Behind him flutters his rendition of the flag of Khaum, a unified Underground, brought together under his - literally - iron fist, the same emblem emblazoned over his heart
In one of his prosthetic hands is held the Jewel of Khaum, a sacred diamond mined from the walls of the chasm-city centuries ago, traditionally held in the possession of the Prince of Khaum in lieu of a crown or sceptre - the position Barrister has just taken
(Also, yeah, that weird patch near his left leg is because while his other leg had to be amputated from the thigh, that one got cut off from a few inches below the knee, leaving the prosthetic looking ragged and stitched on. He is also, if you’ll notice, blind in one eye
In addition, his grapple-hand, the one he’s using to clutch the Jewel of Khaum (which you might be able to see if you squint a bit) is only one of the settings of his prosthetic arms, others including - regular hands, energy blasters, red-hot sword blades, and tiger claws
Not pictured : Xeun, his childhood best friend and current second-in-command, an equally cybernetic, equally intimidating woman known only as the Razor Blade, current acting leader of the Spire Barons in the event of Skeur’s absence, due to his having to take on the mantle of leader of all Khaum)
