65 Marquis Andrealphus (set 1)

[Gonz]

So, the second I signed up for a demon card, my work schedule tripled--so typical! I've been doing a lot of pencil sketches while waiting for client feedback, but until I have time to upload them, I thought I'd at least load some quicky-quick photoshop sketches. I'm still in the concepting phase, so I'll probably be doing a few rounds of these until I refine the idea, but I figured I had to at least get something up.

ANDREALPHUS.--The Sixty-fifth Spirit is Andrealphus. He is a Mighty Marquis, appearing at first in the form of a Peacock, with great Noises. But after a time he putteth on Human shape. He can teach Geometry perfectly. He maketh Men very subtle therein; and in all Things pertaining unto Mensuration or Astronomy. He can transform a Man into the Likeness of a Bird. He governeth 30 Legions of Infernal Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.

So the keywords here are Peacock, astronomy, geometry, mensuration (the art and science of measurement) and noise.

I wanted this card to have a very still feel to it, since I think of mathematics and astronomy to be cold and silent. However, when he is summoned, he makes an awful noise, so I have a few sketches where a soundwave is rippling towards the viewer, distorting the stillness of the scene. I've been playing with both pure peacock shapes, and also more humanoid, but these are a mix.

This concept has the Marquis in a very still and dark environment, which stretches to the far horizon. It has a feeling of dusk or twilight. He stands in the foreground, his cloak made of feathers, draping on the ground far behind him. The eyes of the feathers are geometric drawings of shapes and symbols. Under his cloak he is bodiless, but a universe of stars can be seen. His crown feathers are heavenly bodies and glow as stars or are like like moons. In his hands he holds a deadly compass, the points wickedly sharp and the cross piece a blade. White smoke comes from his eyes.


For this next concept, I wanted something showing the opposite side of this Marquis, the helpful teacher. The style is going to be more like a renaissance portrait, something from the time when alchemy was at its peak. Here a luminous peacock is in a similarly dark background. His feathers frame his face like an Elizabethan collar. In them are scribed mystical geometric shapes. He wears a dark cloak which is semi-transparent, revealing his body to be a universe. He holds a telescope which reveals the secrets of space time.



that's all for now!

[iiiil0liiii]

I think the 1st card design is sickening! It feels really like something from another plane. Not just what you'd expect to see of a demon.

[akida]

Yes, the first one is very eery!

[Alexander]

Holy crap. Your first idea is mindblowing. I mean, the second one is good too, but the first one . . . cosmic.

[Noodle!]

I'll chime in and say holy fuck yeah 1st idea.

[darkreaver]

i could be reading it wrong, but in the first concept, the demon's head is the body and head of a peacock? if so, reminds me of how some Egyptian gods are depicted:

http://home.earthlink.net/~xristos/Gold ... Kheper.png

[ceenda]

There's something almost a bit Masonic about the first sketch that puts me in the mind of Focault's Pendulum a bit, which is awesome. First sketch definately gets my vote!

[Gonz]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the awesome feedback. I don't paint much, so I naturally tend to doubt my ideas. I'm glad to see the first one resonated so well; I'll probably continue with that one and not bother with posting the other sketches I had done. I feel like a big jerk since I haven't been able to check back to this thread since I first posted, but hopefully I can make some progress on this soon. Thanks again for the positive comments

[Gonz]

No big update here, this is about some extra info I'd just come across. In researching my demon, most of it just repeats the same two sentences over and over again, which is good if you want things open to interpretation, but bad if you want details. However I just found this little paragraph today, and even though I'm not sure how "official" it is, I was really happy at how accurately it supported the vision I already had of Andrealphus, and validated some of the design elements I had implemented (especially the environment and starry body I had given him). So with that in mind, I think I'm going to develop the first concept as I have it, although I have to still decide on some of the symbolism I want to use in his cloak and head feathers. Anyway, here's the new description I came across:

Marquis Andrealphus is a Higher Demon of the Second Level who was previusly a high-ranking Virtue. His duties were to guard the Planets on the Astral Plane, regulate their influence on the Sublunar World and keep humanity from discovering the secrets of their physical counterparts (the actual Solar System); after his Fall, despite losing his role as the Guardian of the Skies, he retained most of his powers over the Stars, as well as his immense knowledge both in the Art of Astrology and in the Science of Astronomy, which he can grant to Mortals as the Demon of Astronomy and Astrology. Not only do his powers allow him to create an illusion of the night sky, the Planets and their orbits and movements, which he uses to decorate the ceiling of Hell at night, but also to contrast the astrological power of Heaven, which emanates from high-ranking Angels, blocking it and letting that of the Astral Demons flow instead to influence mankind towards Evil.

The reason of his Fall is a fellow Astral Demon: he indeed followed Marquise Anamelech, his romantic interest, when she revolted against God during the Great Heavenly War, hoping she would reciprocate his feelings someday. He also has a good comradeship with fellow Astral Demons, although he tends to avoid Marquis Adramelech's presence due his own mild photophobia and the latter's overprotectiveness for his twin sister. He's described by fellow Courtiers as a mysterious and fascinating Demon who speaks with a subtle and seducing voice, and he usually stands in the darkest corners emanating dim starlight from his body.

[akida]

A bit of a rant but it sure is funny how people would assume that a peacock has heavenly voice, always reminds me an episode from Munchhausen where he is asked to fetch a peacock for the sultan and in the end the sultan is alone with the bird and says: "sing for me birdy!" (in a very lustful voice) and the peacock looks all bashful and then goes "KRAAA!!" which result in sultan's fainting ....

Aside from rant! I'm very excited that you chose to go with the first one, can't wait to see it!

[nihra]

Nice, that description sounds perfect for your concept! (I thought it was interesting how he's supposed to decorate the ceiling of Hell at night, and also the connection between Andrealphus, Anamelech and Andramelech...)

Especially looking forward to seeing the starry body....interesting design!

[doomfulstace]

Both those concepts are great, but the first one has a more demon feel to it than the second. Just a great start overall!