Book of Lore by Anérea
Fanwork Notes
Chapter 1: My original art submission for TRSB 2023, adopted by Eilinel's Ghost who wrote the wholly remarkable Atanatárissë for it.
Chapter 2: Her description of the Edain creation myth was so compelling, I was in turn inspired to render it.
Also for the Roaring Twenties prompt "La Création du monde", a ballet inspired by African creation myths taken from Blaise Cendrar’s Anthologie nègre.
(Give yourself a little gift and go and read the fic!)
- Fanwork Information
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Description:
Pages from a book of ancient Edain lore, including an illustration of their creation myth.
Major Characters: Legendary/Mythical Character(s), Original Character(s), Arien, Manwë, Tilion, Ulmo, Yavanna
Major Relationships:
Genre: General, In-Universe Artifact
Type: Drawble/Finished Sketch, Illustration
Challenges: Roaring Twenties
Rating: General
Warnings:
Posted on 7 September 2023 Updated on 21 September 2023
The Song of the Dark
Inspired by Eilinel's Ghost's description of Beör's drawing in the book in the first chapter of her fic, Atanatárissë, which contains the most beautiful Edain creation myth. It made my heart sing, and I simply had to draw it.
Quoted from Chapter One: Song of the Dark:
In the beginning of time there was the Dark.
Within the Dark dwelt Melishk, the goddess of earth. And within the Dark dwelt Guënid, the god of water. Long they danced in the time ere forms were bound, long they wound together in the shapeless mingling. Each pressed into each, seeking ever to lessen the substance wherein they lay separate from the other, until from their union was wrought clay, there amid the timeless spheres.
A pair of imposing figures held the majority of the page, the first wrought from rough earth and rock, the second winding with the supple bends of a river. These met within the center of the sketch, one rising and one descending, and their bodies rested back to back, each with one hand raised in warning, the other extended in welcome. The substance of their forms merged together in a circle of flowing ink, and its circumference was adorned at each point with the sun atop, the moon below; fire upon the left hand and wind upon the right.
Chapter End Notes
Pencil on paper. Main illustration, book page, and writing drawn separately, composited and coloured digitally. (And phew! did I ever enjoy having my undo and layers back after no few irrevocable erasures in pencil!)
My vision differed slightlyfrom her original description, and I felt so honoured when she changed it to match.
One of the many things I love about this myth is the way some of the Valar are represented, in a similar way that mythical gods often appear with different names and varying yet recognisable forms in different cultures from around the world. (I'm not entirely sure which of the Ainur Fon (fire) might correspond with — what are your thoughts?)
(right click to fit the images to the screen)
Tale of the Ghomennin
A little sketch from Chapter 4 of Atanatárissë by EilinelsGhost: Through the Wildwood Unwary, which relates an Edain cautionery children's tale about the dangers of the ghomennin, shining spirits which lured Men away from their homes:
"Slowly her eyes moved out over the rest of the spread. It was decorated throughout with a trail of rough drawings, each leading into each, and the spaces between were filled with tight clusters of words. The central of these sketches showed a man seated upon a hilltop, his knees drawn up and his body depicted in shadow. Before him knelt a second figure, seeming to brim forth with light through the lines of the illustration. This held the face of the first within its hands and the scribbled stars above were marked with lines showing their passage while the figures sat in stillness beneath them. It was haunting, rough as the style was rendered, and Andreth felt a new shiver move through her, only this came up from the base of her gut and radiated out through every vein."
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