These images were each drawn individually over a period of time and submitted separately to DA. For Weasyl I decided to combine them into one image because I figured it would be cool to see everyone together and also demonstrate their respective sizes and so on. Obviously this has also meant that the lighting etc. doesn't make any sense, but shhh.

The background is based on the Illupian flag because I couldn't think of anything better to do and I thought that would look better than just leaving it transparent.

So without further ado, cue my entry for the Longest Description of All Time:

The Illupian Council

Possibly the most important part of Illupian society and culture is what is known as the skill class system. In order to become an Illupian citizen, an individual must prove themselves in one of nine established skill classes, and have their skills certified by a guild master of that class. Skill classes are integral to Illupian law, with guild masters serving as the equivalent of local government.

The Illupian Council is a body that acts sort of like a parliament. It comprises nine members, each representing one of the skill classes. They serve as advisers to the ruling monarch (currently Queen Giselle) and are also delegated control over certain aspects of lawmaking. Each councillor is expected to serve the best interests and demands of their class. However, it's important to note that they are not the "leaders" of the class, nor are they democratically appointed by the members of the class. They are simply everyday citizens selected by the monarch to represent the people in decision making.

Back row, left to right

Councillor of Pioneers

Name: Claudia Sharpbeak
Species: Ordac
Gender: Female
Age: 61

The longest-serving member of the current Council, Claudia was appointed by the previous Illupian king almost 40 years ago. At the time, she was a renowned explorer, famous for setting herself the challenge to become the first recorded person to set foot on every island in Purithym - and succeeding. When asked by reporters why she had given herself such a task, she simply replied "To show that I could do it". The king admired her boldness and also saw her knowledge of the islands throughout the archipelago as a valuable asset to the Council.

Since becoming a member of the Illupian Council, however, Claudia has rarely travelled except on official business, and has almost never visited any non-Illupian islands. While she brings a lot of experience to her position, many believe that she has become very insular and out of touch, and that her "claim to fame" from decades ago no longer has any relevance. Unfortunately, many of these criticisms come from the citizens of her own skill class, who believe that she does not really represent them. One of the most obvious inconsistencies is the fact that the official name for her skill class is actually "adventurer", but Claudia insists on using "pioneer". The latter is considered an outdated translation of "quangdaan skalandorn", the traditional Quilish term for the class.

Claudia still has her supporters, however. She is particularly popular among the older ordac demographic, who believe she is doing an important job of upholding traditional values and customs that both the younger generations and other species dismiss. Queen Giselle also sees Claudia's perspectives as important in maintaining balance on the council, and seems unconvinced by claims that it's time to replace her.

Councillor of Labourers

Name: Madoc Brogan
Species: Centaur
Gender: Male
Age: 44

Madoc comes from a long line of farmers, and was the first in his family to take much of an interest in politics. The labourer class actually has the largest population of the nine skill classes, but its importance can sometimes be overshadowed by the others, something which Madoc hopes to change. He is usually the one to keep the other councillors grounded by providing insight into the everyday lives of Illupian workers.

Exemplifying his skill class, Madoc is a very hard-worker and is always willing to take on any task he is given, regardless of whether it's something he finds interesting or even whether he thinks he's any good at it. While not as intellectually trained as many of the other councillors, he is keen to engage with difficult and complex topics. It can sometimes take him longer to understand new concepts, but once he gets his head around them, he has a knack for explaining things in much more simple language that cuts to the core of the issue rather than relying on long-winded explanations.

Madoc places a big importance on family, both in his personal life and in his work on the council. He also has an interest in the impact that civilisation and resources have on the environment, which he often discusses with Doric.

Councillor of Merchants

Name: Thomas Thomas
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 40

Born and raised in the Anderson Kingdom, Thomas made history as the first "foreigner" to be appointed to the Illupian Council, although of course he had to meet Illupian citizenship requirements first. Thomas has a background working in international trade, particularly with negotiating long-distance imports and exports with regions far from the archipelago. He replaced the previous Councillor of Merchants shortly after the Treaty of Phoenix Arrow Island. His appointment was intended to help the relationships between the kingdoms flourish. He uses his skills and history to assist with trade relations and inter-kingdom economics.

Thomas is quite a charismastic talker and is often able to convince people that some policy or law is for their benefit, making him a popular councillor even outside his skill class. In his personal life, he has been known to use his smooth-talking skills to mess with his friends, such as convincing them to pay for drinks several times in a row. Some people think he sounds a bit shifty, but when they actually interact with him in person, they come away finding him hard to dislike.

Councillor of Wizards

Name: Meriwether
Species: ?
Gender: ?
Age: ?

Known only as Meriwether, the Councillor of Wizards prefers to keep their full name, age, gender and even species a secret from the citizens of Illupia. This isn't so much because they're not comfortable disclosing that information, but more because they think it's cool for a wizard to be shrouded in mystery. Despite this mysterious identity, though, Meriwether is generally quite boisterous, talkative and keen to engage with the public.

Meriwether specialises in creature magic, and is a big animal lover. They are always accompanied to council meetings and related work by Periwinkle, the short-beaked echidna. Meriwether insists that Periwinkle is their "assistant", not their "pet", although it's never entirely clear what Periwinkle actually does as an assistant. However, Meriwether claims that their spells can translate Periwinkle's feelings into words, to help provide advice on issues that may affect species that are unable to speak for themselves. For some reason, Periwinkle's feelings are always translated in haiku. Meriwether says that's because Periwinkle is a master poet, though others suspect it's probably just Meriwether's own eccentricity coming though.

Front row, left to right

Councillor of Medics

Name: Elijah Barok
Species: Muskaa
Gender: Male
Age: 38

Elijah is a qualified GP, and while he is always willing to provide health advice to the councillors and other government employees, he prefers to treat everyday citizens. He is quite sociable and enjoys the interaction with a wide range of patients.

Although he has quite a sweet tooth, Elijah is actually diabetic which means he can't always indulge in the treats he would like. He has taken a strong interest in finding healthier snack options and is a big lover of sno cones which provide a less sugary and fatty alternative to ice cream.

Like Meriwether, Elijah has an animal "assistant", Caladrius the snowy egret. Elijah originally attempted to train Caladrius to help him detect diseases. But the bird's carefree attitude resulted in him becoming more like a therapy animal, cheering up patients with his playful demeanour.

Elijah is a muskaa, one of my original species in the story. Muskaas are actually one of the most common species in Illupia, but this is the first time I've ever posted a picture of one in my gallery . . . because I find them really hard to draw. =| I should probably practise them so you can start seeing them more often.

Councillor of Warriors

Name: Wolfgang Tsulu
Species: Flohund
Gender: Male
Age: 33

Probably the quietest member of the Illupian Council, Wolfgang tends to go with the flow and doesn't usually voice his opinions . . . unless he has something to object about. At these times, he can come across as quite gruff and brash. While he is generally quite open-minded about things that don't directly affect him, the warrior class or the Tsulu tribe, he's also rather proud and hates to be wrong or to appear weak.

As a warrior, Wolfgang possesses a lot of physical strength and combat skills. He is also a firm believer in traditional flohund values of honour and tradition. He's not all serious, though; he has a real weakness for sweet foods, and the best way to get him to lighten up is to tempt him with some sort of sugary treat.

Councillor of Artists

Name: Theodoric "Doric" Bandini
Species: Tylad
Gender: Male
Age: 29

A landscape painter by trade, Doric has spent a lot of time exploring and admiring the various islands of Illupia. In addition to representing the artist skill class, he has a keen interest in discussing environmental issues at Illupian Council meetings. Sometimes he has been accused of taking these matters too far and being out of touch with modern society, making the natural world a higher priority than the rights of Illupian citizens. He tends to take such accusations quite calmly, being one of the most reserved members of the Council. Despite sometimes seeming to be off in his own world, Doric is quite a stickler for procedure and is always careful in ensuring that the Council follows its own protocols.

Doric is a tylad, one of the native Illupian species that hasn't really had a lot of attention in my gallery before. A few unnamed tylads were seen a couple of years ago here, but Doric is the first actual named tylad character to feature in my gallery. It's about time!

Councillor of Scholars

Name: Malika Láska
Species: Sphinx
Gender: Female
Age: 36

Malika is a historian, with a particular interest in the time before Illupia was formally established as a kingdom. She uses her knowledge of more ancient societal structures and practices to add context to today's political issues. However, she also loves to just share random facts about the past, even if they aren't entirely relevant to the situation.

A keen linguist, Malika is a big proponent of the use of Quils, the traditional language of Illupia. In previous generations, Quils was often suppressed in favour of English to encourage better relationships with other kingdoms. It is largely because of Malika's work that most Illupian signs are now bilingual and Quilish fluency has dramatically increased among young Illupians.

Some critics have argued that Malika's policies are often irrelevant to the modern world and may be hindering Illupia's progress, particularly since many of her interests lie in a time that nobody alive today was a part of. Others think that she is taking important steps to preserve Illupia's rich history and allowing the kingdom to maintain its unique identity in a world where cultures are becoming more homogenised.

Councillor of Outlaws

Name: Gail Birdseye
Species: Ordac
Gender: Female
Age: 26

Gail comes from a prestigious family which has long been friends with the Illupian royal family. Having grown up immersed in the Illupian government, she is seen as one of the most experienced members of the Council despite also being one of the youngest. She has a kind of big sisterly relationship with Prince Max, and her influence is one of the main reasons Max is pursuing the outlaw skill class.

Despite her good favour with the royal family, Gail is not so popular among the other Councillors. She very much does everything according to her own rules. She has been known not to attend meetings if she doesn't want to discuss a particular topic, or even if she just has something else she'd rather do at that particular time. She often prefers to bring her concerns directly to Queen Giselle on her own, rather than discussing them with the Council. Some people think she's taking advantage of her family's good standing with the royal family. Others see her behaviour as reflecting the typical nature of those in the outlaw skill class, and thus doing a good job of representing them.

Note: I mentioned this on Max's profile, but it's worth repeating, because the term can be confusing to non-Illupians. Being part of the "outlaw" skill class does not mean you're a criminal. The classes are solely based on your skills, not what you use the skills for. Outlaws are typically skilled in things like stealth, trickery and manipulation, and are known to be employed in any number of occupations from detectives to actors to financial advisers. (Also thieves, assassins and con artists, but sshhhh.)

 

Characters and concepts belong to Adventurer