Game Of Kings

Steve Austin gives some Christmas cheer

2011-12-14T22:19:00.000-08:00

Steve Austin the hard working illustrator has had quite a year.
Firstly by contributing far and away more art work than humanly possible for the Game of Kings project, he also managed to win the Red Bubble Comic Con Challenge , latest news is he has teamed up with Jonathan Jacobs at Nevermet Press and is releasing a Krampus Christmas beginning 19th December and as an added bonus is putting up all the artwork free downloadable content under a Creative Commons License

Read this for more info

An Update 18/12/2011

GAME OF KINGS at New York Comic Con 2011

2011-10-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Red Bubble, the platform on which Game of Kings was launched. Game of Kings has a presence at this years New York Comic Con.

Seth Green with art by Ausven and Simon Sherry

The New York Comic Con

The Red Bubble Stand

Game of Kings artwork

Special T Shirts by Ausven. Selected for the Show

WE HAVE SOME WINNERS

2011-10-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

The Game of Kings group proudly announce the winners of our SHOW US YOUR TALENT Competition.
The standard was high but we came up with TWO winners.
One for artistic rendering of an existing creature.
This was won by Lloyd Harvey for his beautiful work based around the Rock Titan.

The other winner was the IWML whose album worth of songs by the band The Kings won the award for most imaginative entry.
Congratulations guys and prizes are heading your way very soon.

Game of Kings Artist Win big Time

2011-10-05T02:37:00.000-07:00

Game of Kings artists clean up in the Red Bubble / New York Comic Con Challenge.

Just after the final pieces were revealed in the Game of Kings Phase Two roll out, the forum in which it was released the Red Bubble art site announced that it was hosting a stall at the New York Comic Convention (NYCC) the brief was simple:
“To create your very own, highly original, comic book character. Superhero or villain. Splendidly powerful, embarrassingly weak, or just quite good at chess. Give them skills you’ve always wanted or defects you’ve always dreaded. Give them a snappy name and stick them on a t-shirt.”

All up 85 artists entered (which was culled back from 126 after entrants that didn’t meet the stringent conditions were omitted – such as copyright infringement)
Seven GoK artists competed with six finishing in the top 10.
The to top it off all four prizes (Main and three runners up) were won by the GoK team- a clean sweep.
Major prize was won by Steven Austin (ausven) and the three minors by Simon Sherry, Shanamation (Damian Shanhan) & Mat Dunn.
Steven won a $200 RB voucher and will have 300 of his design printed on Tshirts and given away at the CominCon.
Congratulation Guys.

THE THREE ANCIENTS

2011-09-30T03:05:00.000-07:00

In this post we relive the final scene but with some never before seen and very rare Simon Sherry Drafts and Works In Progress

High above obscured by the white mist the three ancient Elders looked down in disbelief.
“Didn’t see this coming” said one as he quickly leafed through the large tome resting on his lap.
“Never seen such a battle fought like this one brother, it defied all the rules of common sense” said the other scratching his head with the hourglass he held.
“What happens now brothers?” said the other his staff tapping against his sandal impatiently.
There was silence as each thought about this last enquiry.
“We can’t clear the board, the battle’s not won”
“But there is always a winner brother it is how it should be, it is our rules and our rules by nature of who we are, are infallible”
“But brother, there is your proof that our laws are infallible, look they cannot strike each other, thus no one can fall to be declared beaten. They must remain until someone does. That by my reckoning, should take eternity”
”But that is impossible, infallible is exactly that. There is no contradiction to our laws”
“Well judging by those two warriors standing nose to nose down there, I think you may be mistaken”
The Elder holding the staff suddenly struck by a sudden awareness, dropped it, and as it fell its stone shone brightly.
“I think we have a serious concern brothers”
The Elder holding the hourglass realized that all of a sudden it felt bottom heavy, he held it high to discover all the sand had rested in the bottom chamber and it was now too heavy to turn.
“This is not looking good brothers” he said.
The Elder holding the book started to flick the pages of the book faster and faster, searching for anything to contradict or clause that may negate the situation on the field. Then he slammed the book shut realising, as his brothers had already surmised that the laws off the game were flawed.
“You know what this means don’t you brothers “ he said.
This simple sentence had completed a path.
All three Ancients had admitted that their laws were not absolute.
This realisation by all of the three ancient and almighty Elders meant that their existence though thought to be absolute for eons, had shown that they were indeed fallible thus denying the very essence of their power and might. By being proven wrong they could no longer absolute, which was the sole purpose of their existence, they would become nothingness and thus their world was unmade.
There was light no more.
From below, the two Kings momentarily looked skyward to see the mist swirl into a vortex and quickly spin at dizzyingly speed.
In the centre were three figures who appeared to be screaming, the White King recognised thousands of choirs of angels being thrown about around them being ripped apart in the maelstrom.
This was accompanied by a cacophony of sound like a million horns and souls screaming in tandem.
Then it just stopped.
The silence was a shock.
The two Kings still faced each other, still unable to touch one another, their weapons still in their hands.
They were suspended in nothingness, as far the eye could see in every direction.
Two Kings, unable to touch unable to move locked in stalemate for eternity.

Game of Kings First Phase revisited

2011-09-26T00:31:00.000-07:00

The General Knight looked at his ribs again and flicked the third one down with his bony finger.
It made a high “pingy” noise.
“Oh how I wish I could tune these things, it could make a fine musical instrument”
he thought out loud to himself .
“Oh, who am I kidding – I am so bored”
The General Knight was sitting on his trusty steed Watebuscuit watching his charges practice their battle formations. Which they did each and everyday over and over and over again.
The Men under his command were just like him, a Risen Hero, an army of soldiers and leaders reanimated by the University of the Gears to help in the leadership of the White King’s army.
They were a very controversial bunch to start with and would have been sent back to the mausoleums and Necropolis that held them if it hadn’t been for the Queen and the King coming to an accord and making a strict set of protocols.
No reanimated member of the Risen Army could have memories other than that of the battlefield. No personal recollections of their lives prior to military service, of loved ones or their histories, not even their own deaths. These skeletons with armour and fighting styles from several centuries only lived for battle, and that was all they did.
Over and over again ad infinitum.

The General wished he’d had that privilege.
He was different, he remembered everything.
He remembered falling off his horse in the middle of a battle and before he could right himself, looking up at a massive barbarian holding a somewhat bigger axe, next thing he knew he was standing in front of the Queen and her Bishop in ceremonial armour and with see through hands.

He was a skeleton.

The Bishop did something that took away the shock and utter disbelief and briefed him on what his new role would be.

They then revealed him to the King and boy did that cause some problems.

It looked liked the King had found one of his own and it didn’t like him one bit.
Being a good servant the General stood his place and listened and observed.
It was obvious things had changed in the Kingdom since his death, the University staff were a great source of information and he gleaned as much as he could from them.
Then he was summoned back before his Queen and her Bishop.

But then they started asking questions.

“Did he remember the King and where he came from?”
and stuff about his past.
He remembered the King all right, but he was different now.
Though he looked the same age, he didn’t have his wings anymore – either that or he hid them pretty damn well.

He wasn’t the old King he remembered. The King he had served under was a happy King and rid the land of Warlords and greedy landlords who took advantage of and neglected their charges.
His King united his world.
The King still had the whole place under his control but these days seemed obsessed with building. Armies
He even saw that the King with the help of the University, had recruited a Mountain Titan into the army.
The General remembered losing a whole infantry of good men to rid these lands of that. Now it was a comrade.
Go figure.
The Queen and the Bishop tried to look like they weren’t surprised when he revealed what he knew about the King, but he could tell something was amiss.
Probably the worst part was he and all his Risen Heroes weren’t allowed to mix with anyone and were kept separate from the other army members except for special exercises or when the King or Queen wanted strategy information.
It was weird the Queen had sworn him on his professional oath not to reveal to his King that he had these memories and that he was privileged amongst all the Risen Heroes and then stick him under the King and his Bishop Angel’s noses on his flank.
Most times he just wished they had left him buried in the cold hard ground.

All things considered though he was comfortable in his own skin- No wrong term – bones- these days, everyone he knew was either dead or talked about battle strategy, but he still knew how to have a bit of fun as long as no one was watching.
He separated his skeleton army into equal teams and made them do berserker attack formations.
He nearly literally laughed his head off as the two sides smashed into each other and virtually exploded into a pile of bones and armour.
He loved watching them try and put themselves back together again.
He had to find fun where he could get it these days.

Game of Kings First Phase revisited

2011-09-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

For the better part of the last three years, I, along with a great team of fellow bubblers have been working on a chess-themed collaborative project called the Game of Kings. Featuring a board populated by creatures as varied as the backgrounds and skills of the artists involved, the second phase (the battle/chess game itself) wrapped up recently (you can explore the whole story starting from here)

However, as anyone who has explored the various pieces of the board, read their bios, or the additional prelude pieces contained within the GoK profile would discover, there is a wealth of untapped material concerning the two opposing armies and the worlds they inhabited before their climactic struggle began.

So, proving yet again that they are two of the mightiest contributors (or most foolhardy ;o)), messrs Sturstein and Ausven took it upon themselves to start adapting some of the early prequel material. Starting today, you can read the fruit of their labours, beginning right HERE
Click on image for larger view.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL STORY PIECE
The White Queen, Her Bishop and the University of the Gears.

The steps to leading up to the University doors were imposing, they’d even have an air of respect it weren’t for the dog turds everywhere.
The Queen’s Bishop was witnessing first hand one of his greatest triumphs and failures in one hit.
Having pioneered gene slicing and genetic engineering, as Dean of the University his most brilliant achievement had been to create his Lone Wolf battalion.
A genetic combination of human and wolf, years of trials had created the most fierce and loyal fighters outside of the King’s own personal guard.
The only problem was that no matter how he tried , even after giving the Werehounds the power of free will, speech, the ability to educate themselves and breed, the Bishop still couldn’t stop them from going to the toilet wherever it suited them.

The Bishop who was the military chief of the Werehounds was also responsible for their mess and the King’s Bishop was always there to remind him of the consequences of playing with God’s tools.
Angel’s were just so damn self-righteous.

The Queen’s Bishop never really trusted his companion Bishop but these things usually swung both ways.
Having the Queen’s ear and control of the university gave him huge influence and his work at the university had been responsible for the ultimate strengthening of the armed forces, something the King had prioritized many years ago. which had resulted in the Kingdom being the most powerful nation in the dimension.
The Bishop, along with the University of the Gears staff had created marvels and oddities using science and ancient crafts and majik that had his peers could only dream of achieving in several lifetimes.
The Steam City and the control of the Rock Titan ,
but it was the re-animation of the past heroes and Generals that had been the turning point of his career.
When the Bishop had rediscovered the secret of re-animation with the Necromancer tribes of the Western Plains, the King’s reaction had not been favourable. In fact it was so severe it had threatened the end of the university, especially after his companion Bishop decreed that laws of the known God had been broken and that abominations had been created. If it hadn’t been for his Queen’s intervention and her quick wits all would have been lost, and together they would never have found out the truth behind the King’s distress.
With the Queen’s persuasion the King had let the living dead remain in the service of the army on several conditions.
Firstly, that they remain under his flank, secondly that only their military memory be reanimated with their bones, and the final condition – that only those the King chose were to be raised from their tombs.
The Queen’s argument was that these past warriors would be invaluable in combat. Their experience and knowledge would be unsurpassed, which they went on to prove time and again. The King’s concern was that such figures of history would reveal what had taken him centuries to hide.
Of course, the ever insightful Queen with the help of her Bishop strayed beyond these commands and discovered from one of the ancient soldiers the truth of the King’s origins and filed it away for future use.
The Queen and her Bishop’s ultimate aim: to find out why their King was so determined to built such a vast unbeatable army, when he had already conquered everything that was defeatable in and beyond his known realm.

The story and chess moves

2011-09-10T04:51:00.001-07:00

THE TALE AS TOLD…. The story with all the moves
White on the left Black on the right
refer to the spreadsheet for your corresponding move.
I have made the move notations at the start of the paragraph and then written the description and consequences of those moves.

- indicates move to nominated square
X indicates piece taken on that move
+ indicates check

Now the thing to remember that this is an actual game of Chess. It is what dictates the battle.
Albeit a game played by two twelve year olds who want to win at any cost but also as quick as possible so they can go outside and ride their bikes.

1. e2-e4 ……………….. 1. d7-d6
2. Q-g4 ………………………. 2. QBxg4Q

The White King in a show of good faith to his Generals and Bishops ordered his personal guard to lead the charge onto the field of battle, which they did with their usual enthusiasm. They honestly believed the enemy would fall into instant submission because their King said it was to be so.
The Black King still at odds with the skills and fighting ability of the opposition played his moves more casually and asked his Queen to send out her guard to make a closer inspection.
The White King could feel the eyes of his entire army boring into his very soul as he considered his next move and the consequences thereof. What he had planned already would have his whole army re-thinking their situation.
The King ordered his Queen forward on a diagonal to the Berserkers, which would leave her unprotected but the King’s answer to those who questioned his reasoning was “that it was too early in the battle to worry of such trifles and that the Queen’s forces were more than capable of taking most attacks.” The King just needed a better view of the enemy. In past battles the King had proven himself a brilliant tactician and military leader, but usually against a known opponent.
Here, in the opinion of many, he was flirting with disaster.
And disaster he got.
The Queen’s movement up the field exposed her people to the full brunt of the attack of the Black Army’s Shaman, She attacked without hesitation and the Queen and her charges disappeared in bursts of flame and dark smoke.
The White Army looked on in horror as the Shaman incinerated the unprepared Queen’s forces and their screams could be heard all the way back to the King’s battle tents.

They all now knew the capabilities of the Black army.

3. f2-f3………………. 3.QBg4-h5

The White King stood emotionless as gasps of horror rose up from the lines of battle hardened soldiers.
His reaction was swift. He ordered the Dead Army Knight to attack the Fire Shaman head on. The Skeleton General assessing such a move knew it was suicide and refused to move. The experienced General recognised pointless retaliation when he saw it.

He knew of his life was forfeit – so what?

The King he used to know was beyond this.

The King’s Bishop stopped the General’s refusal from reaching the King, sensing that a mutiny minutes into a battle would do no one any good. Though it considered the General an abomination, the Angel knew the risen soldier had the knowledge to help well into the fight.
So the Angel knowing the rewards of sacrifice ordered its own priests forward with instant if not unexpected results.
Unbeknownst to the opposing army the Shaman had attacked with a trifle too much enthusiasm and had nearly exhausted her stocks when the White Army Priests charged out. She retreated to the safety of the flanks to recoup her strength.
The White King was furious and the General would be a small stain on the ground if he could justify it. The Angel’s move had undermined his authority as much as the Bone soldier’s had, but also proved to the rest of the army he had made the right decision ignoring his King’s orders.
All through the ranks the King’s fears were being realised. The University Bishop and the Equilord seriously doubted the King’s ability to lead. The Equilord had his people’s welfare to protect and really didn’t give a damn about the King’s ambitions.
The Equilord decided he would go it alone against an unknown enemy that seemed to have been dragged from the pits of Hell itself.

4. B2 –B3 ………………… 4. QNb8-c6
5. QNb1-c3 ……………………5. g7-g5
6. h2-h4 ……………………..6. g5xh4
7 g2-g3 ……………………….7. h4xg3

The White King hadn’t expected mutiny so early in the piece, though he had known it was inevitable in the scheme of things. He knew he was vulnerable on the battlefield but none of his army was aware of this.
He just prayed that the Angel would stay loyal just a little while longer
The King made some rudimentary moves to counter the Black King but
after sacrificing two more pawn armies to minor battalions the King was abandoned by his Generals.
The Black King knew armies were intimidated by the celestial battlefield and were slow to reach their full potential, usually and thankfully too late for their own survival.
But never had he’d seen such inept moves so early in battle. It almost seemed this White Wing Commander was trying to lose the battle rather than win.

The King felt a little pang sensing this battle would offer no challenge. They were no better, maybe marginally worse than those he had fought before and he prepared to wipe them out.
He watched with disdain as his minor army of Leapers laid sections of the White Army to waste down the field

8. KRh1xQBh5 ……………….. 8. KBf8-h6
9. KRh5xKBh6 ………………….9. KNg8x KRh6

The Titan was concerned when the Skeleton soldier refused the King’s orders but came to full realisation after the King ordered the Titan’s people to advance from a bad position and watched them being slaughtered, the Skeleton General sent his own men to assist only to suffer the same fate. Their victor had bunkered down and now taunted them from the safety of their fortifications.
The Titan had never seen such viciousness as that inflicted on the Queen and his own people. But the Risen army pawns had drawn away the spear wielding maniacs that had destroyed its people and exposed the Black fire beast. The Titan on seeing the Fire Shaman directly in his path and seemingly resting, it knew it had an opportunity for revenge, with or without the King’s permission.
Due to the Titan’s size its strongest attacks were head on which when it needed (and to the surprise of everyone on the field) incredibly swift. The resting Shaman had no idea what had hit her and was crushed under the tons of living mountain.
The Black King watched in awe as the massive Titan slammed into the Shaman’s female-fire half and within seconds knew something was seriously amiss. His Shaman, the male-earth being let out an ear piecing scream as if it too was bearing the weight of the mountain monster that had killed his sister.

Before the King could raise an arm to stop him, the Shaman attacked the Titan and in one mighty sweep the shaman suffered the same fate as his sister.

The impact forced the Titan to a sudden halt and caused it to collapse in total exhaustion.

The King ordered his Centaur knights to attack unless they wanted to be next on the Titan hit list.
The Centaur Knights taking advantage of the rock giants weakened state and since it no longer had it’s people to help protect it, the Centaurs swarmed all over the Titan. Eventually finding the tunnels and shafts that led to its brain and using their fiery swords made sure it never rose again.
Its last thoughts were that after all it’s time as a solitary figure, it enjoyed its short time with its people the most.

10. a2-a4 ………………………. 10. 0-0
11. a4-a5 ………………………. 11. a7-a6
12. KNg1-e2 ……………………….12. QNc6xa5
13. QRa1xQRa5………………………13. b7-b6
14. QRa5-QRh5 ……………………..14. KNh6-f5
15. e4xKNf5 ……………………. 15. a6-a5

The Black King was mortified by the events he had just witnessed, not only had the remaining Shaman ignored his orders, it had been destroyed in the process. The King knew without the Shaman he was exposed to his own people who now had no real reason to fear him, minus the mad Bishop and it’s insane counter personalities. The Black King left his quarters and moved to the Bullrock pen.
The White Queen’s Bishop had decided to take things in his own hands as the death of his Queen had taken the fear of the King from him.
After watching the wholesale slaughter of both the Angel and General’s primary regiments and then the Titan sacrifice itself, he knew that the University could help swing this battle around and he had just the machines to do it.
He ordered the massive Steam monolith to fire its engines while the smaller blasters moved out to set up his plan.
The White King watched in impotent anger as his subordinates made decisions around him. The wrong decisions, he decided, because they were turning the course of the battle.
The Black queen saw the small iron and wood vehicles steam down the field and laughed. She told her Amazonian Knights to prepare to take on these little carts with shields as soon as they were within striking distance.
As the Blasters reached their initial burst limits they slowed considerably and were easy pickings for the Black Queen’s Knights, who when they pulled them apart realized they were empty of fighting men. This frustration built into fear when they realized the White Bishop’s ultimate plan.
As the Blasters were being attacked by the Knights the larger steam monolith was building it’s attack capabilities and as the Black Queen’s Amazonian Knights lay exposed on the flank with the remains of the Blasters it hit full potential and much like the Titan steam rolled straight into the unsuspecting Knights.
The attack was fast and furious the Black Queen ordering the Little Sisters to help their Mistresses immediately.
The University Bishop, aware that the Monoliths attack must be kept up for fear of losing momentum screamed across the field towards the fallen Titan.
The Black Army Centaurs, seeing the Moving City approaching, abandoned the Body of the Titan just in time to avoid catastrophe but in their haste had failed to see the King’s Berserkers waiting in hiding and were ambushed and torn to pieces.

16. QNc3-b5 …………………….. 16. d6-d5
17. QNb5-d6 ……………………….17. Qxd6
18. QRh5-g5 +………………………18. Kg8-h8
19. QRg5-g8 +……………………..19. KRf8xKRg8

As the White King watched his most loyal subjects acting of their own accord, it became painfully aware to him that the Battlefield wouldn’t let him deliberately lose. As for his previous actions it now looked certain that his army were abandoning his command.
Only moments before the Skeleton General had passed before him without a hint of recognition.
The celestial umpires, the Ancients had obviously foreseen this and the King’s entire plan had been in vain.
He had to rethink his whole strategy.
Meanwhile the Equilord had guided his people up the field under the protection of the rampaging Steam Engine. The massive flat field soon disorientated the Horse Lord and he soon found that he had been surrounded by smaller sections of the Black army. Just as he decided to return to the relative safety of the home lines he came face to face with the army of the Black Queen.
The Equilord’s wayward movement up the field had drawn the enemy’s most powerful element into the fray and the Equilord’s army was crushed deep in enemy territory without any chance of escape.
The Black King was at a loss. He had never encountered such an undisciplined force before.
Even the most primitive savages have leadership; the members of this White army seemed to do whatever they pleased which in turn made the forces highly unpredictable.
The generations of forefathers locked in his head all spoke out at once causing him to roll at the Bullrock’s large frame in pain. Half of the voices were screaming instructions, half hurling abuse about opportunities missed. Together they made the sound of a rioting mob.
The pilots of the Monolith were closer enough to witness the Black King under what they assumed was some kind of internal attack and with limited power motored towards his position.
The ever faithful Bullrock moved the King out of position with seconds to spare and as the Monolith sat motionless and exhausted of power the Bullrock took the huge machine apart with its massive hammer till everyone inside was destroyed.

20. KNe2-f4 ……………………. 20. g3-g2
21. KBf1xg2 ………………………21. KRg8xKBg2
22. KNf4xKRg2 ……………………22. d5-d4

The Skeleton General, impressed by the University Bishop, decided that he too should take an active role and almost to flaunt his independence rode in front of the King’s battle headquarters.
Seeing the Bone army move out was the moment the patient but blood hungry Black Army Leapers had been waiting for and they moved closer to the White Army’s fortifications and the prize that all those who served a master craved.
Promotion.

The King’s Bishop; the Angel had been in conflict since the very start of the battle. Everything about the field had a familiar air about it, even the King all of a sudden seemed closer in spirit than before. If only it could remember and lose this confusion that had almost made it useless so far.
The Angel had visions before reaching this place of leading the army beside the King to an early and easy victory but nothing had been so far from the truth. Its King seemed confused and conflicted. Then as if these thoughts were an omen the King ordered the Angel to defend an attack from the Leapers that had taken both its priests and the Bone Generals men. This time he felt his King was right. His King was right and the Angel sought vengeance for all those the Leapers had killed with a deadly hand.

The King had finally made a decision based on his knowledge of winning not losing and the Angel had stopped the deadly Leapers from reaching home soil but the many separate battles had obscured his vision and the true state of the battlefield.
The Bullrock having battered and smashed the steam engine kept an eye on proceedings from its new lofty perch and witnessed the Angel attack on the Leapers. The Angel was undefended from a forward attack and the Bullrock knowing his King was safe plowed into the unsuspecting Bishop.
Usually an Angel fears nothing because it and it alones knows how it can die.
The Bullrock knew nothing of this, but speed, an unprepared foe and the sole purpose of removing the Angel’s head from its shoulders ticked all the boxes in the right order for dispatching this Angel.

And it was so.

The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrock struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrock stood stunned, as its enemy fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.
Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.
The Skeleton General who had caught the Bullrock attack at the last moment had no idea his movement away earlier had caused so much mayhem, and seeing the Angel killed filled him with dread – the irony of a reanimated skeleton General wondering how one kills the un-killable was lost on him.
He turned his men around and attacked the Bullrock as it had attacked the Angel with full force as it stood unprepared.
The Bullrock offered no resistance and almost seem to give itself to death as the General’s skeletal men chopped it down.

23. d2-d3 …………………….. 23. QRa8-g8
24. KNg2-f4 ……………………. 24. Qd6xKNf4

The Black King had managed to drive his collective ancestors from inside his head with the simple action of crying for his beloved Bullrock. Emotional weakness was the most effective way to drive the voices from his mind, the King had discovered this in the early days when the voices left as soon as he played with his mighty Bullrock. It was an attribute despised by those who had come before him and he was the first to bring affection to the collective consciousness. They had not yet accepted it and hoped he would grow out of it.
While grieving his beast he also took the chance to assess the situation. The Black King may be saddened but he was first and foremost a great leader. He called his Queen and she had already proved herself a capable and good wife by taking her charges and causing enemy casualties on her flank.
The Queen aware of the King’s situation and the hindrance rather than help the ancestors could cause sent her Basilisk to guard her husband and King.

This battle was not lost yet.

The Black Queen had kept her presence well hidden and had already destroyed the Horse army with a fair degree of stealth, and as she surveyed the far flank of the battlefield where the Bullrock had fallen she saw some openings.
The Skeleton General and his men were surprised at the ease with which the Elephant monster was dispatched, but felt the need to leave the area quickly as the area in which an Angel passes is home to great sorrow, an infliction that can cause depression in those that stay too long and they headed up the field. – straight into the waiting army of the Black Queen who had followed them after the attack on the Bullrock, and the General Skeleton fell.

25. QBc1xQf4 ………………. 25. h7-h6

The Black queen’s confidence had grown quite high and seeing the state of her King with the added bonus of the Shaman no longer being alive, her ambition of leading the people was a strong possibility.
This White army was losing out to strategy and it would seem its most powerful weapons, the Mountain and the steam city were now no longer a threat. She set her eyes on the White Army leader.
Having not had to move from his position overlooking the board because of his dealings with the Steam Engine, the Bishop wished he still had it running now.
He always knew its effectiveness was a short term proposition but when used to its full capacity – as he had – it was a formidable weapon. The Bishop had been viewing the Black Queen’s movements and had deemed her a willing opponent, but as the battle wore on she had become over confident and had left her flank exposed to an attack, and this would be his glory moment.
The Black Queen, concentrating on a way to penetrate the White King’s defenses was attacked by the fresh forces of the queen’s Bishop and was ill prepared for such an offensive. She died never knowing the ultimate power she craved so much.

26. QBf4xh6 ………………… 26. Kh8-h7

The Bishop’s victory had inspired the White King who had decided that winning at any cost was the only option now. The death of the Angel had shown that this battlefield was a gateway to the heavens by the powerful rays of it’s life force bursting through the cloud cover above them. The King was sure he had caught a glimpse of the three ancients as they watched from high above when the clouds momentarily parted.
The Black King could be seen near the remains of the Titan and steam engine, maybe this was the chance to end this for good.
The Bishop took his King’s advice and struck at one the smaller Black army forces who blocked its way but the crab like fire shooters had taken their toll on an already depleted group and the Bishop fell back.

27. QBh6-d2 …………………. 27. QRg8-g1+
28. Ke1-e2 ………………….. 28. QRg1-g2+
29. Ke2-e3 …………………….29. QRg2xQBd2
30. Ke3xRd2…………………….30. b6-b5

The Black King watched as his wife fell to the Bishop but had no time to think about it as the forces moved directly at him. The Bullrock’s parasites had done a fitting job of repelling the attack but fell in the process, though not before causing serious damage to the enemy.
He had never suffered such losses and if he came out of this battle victorious, there would be many a rebuilding and replacing to do. There had been many glorious deaths today and all of them would be rewarded with trips to the afterworld and glory forever.
The King however was immortal and would never know that glory – he would just be another screaming voice in his successor’s head, so losing was not an option.

He called to his dead Queen’s Basilisk.
It was now apparent that both armies had lost their sub leaders and the field was awash with minor armies drifting directionless. The Black King also noted that the White King had left himself exposed due to the Bullrock’s attack earlier and planned appropriate action.
The Basilisk snaked its way all the way down the battlefield flank, it was on this side that most of the carnage had taken place, it thought nothing of it, it had a task to perform and that was all it had in its mind.
The White King watched the serpent approach unchecked, realised too late that the majority of his army were on the opposite flank and as he positioned himself out of harms way, the Basilisk countered, placing the King in continued danger. The King then sought protection amongst the smaller primary armies, knowing all too well that in doing so he had left the subordinate but weakened Bishop exposed and the Basilisk struck, wiping out the Head of the University and his charges.
This left the White King without any regiment leaders, the White King was now a commander of small leaderless groups of men, pawns usually best used as cannon fodder.
The White King pulled himself up from his battle throne and facing the Basilisk threw off his royal robes and burst his wings from their restraints. The King faced the Black monster snake with full wingspan and smote down the beast.

Now things were even both armies were left with a King a leaderless rabble.

The Best King will win through.

The END GAME-THE WAR OF THE PAWNS

31. c2-c3 31. d4xc3+

The Black King witnessed the White King transformation and saw his defeat of the Basilisk, he too realized the situation and that the battle would be fought between the two ultimate leaders without their lieutenants. He was confident of his charges that were either brought up or created to obey his every word. He would see how good this crazy winged King would do without his subordinates to help him make his decisions.

The Black King proceeded to order his remaining armies up the board.

The White King knew now from experience of earlier failures that he must win and this would be his proof that his return to heaven would be assured. Didn’t the Angel’s unselfish death in battle prove this?
The King’s first move was to sacrifice the University Bishop’s hounds, his game plan to get the Queen’s daughters to the other end and create a new Queen like the ancient’s promised.

32. Kd2xc3 32. c7-c6

The White King’s strategy was simple keep drawing the enemy in to fight and then finish off the weakened enemy.

33. b3-b4 33. a5xb4

The Equilord wouldn’t need his wave attack anymore because there was no more Equilord race full stop. They had been made extinct fighting here. The King if he had an ounce of compassion left in his body would have realized he had no compassion left. The ex Angel was fast becoming the poster boy for Demon spawn.

34. Kc3xb4 34. c6-c5
35. Kb4xc5 35. b5-b4

The Black King stood his ground and noting he had the greater number on the field watched to see if the White King’s suicidal strategy would play out. He thought not.
But he had grossly underestimated his rival.

36. Kc5xb4 36. f7-f6

The White King’s plan of sacrifice and attack had proved so successful at taking out the Black King’s outer flank and opening up a gateway for Queen promotion that the Black King was forced to action albeit several moves too late, he had called the actions foolish and was made a fool by them.
Without the King to instruct them directly the Black army was failing.

37. Kb4-c5 37. Kh7-h6
38. f3-f4 38. Kh6-h5
39. d3-d4 39. Kh5-g4
40. d4-d5 40. Kg4xf4

The Black King made his move up the board to take matters in his own hand , the only one capable of taking out this winged opposition was the Black ruler himself.
The usually reliable Little sisters, Basilisk spawn and the leaderless Steam Golums had been eliminated along with Queen’s personal guard and only his own protective army and the Shaman’s Muck Golums remained.
He needed more time.

41. Kc5-c6 41. Kf4xf5

The White King had no regrets throwing the minor armies at the Black army, they were all a means to an end. The University hounds wouldn’t be missed, if anything there would be rejoice in the streets that they were gone, such was the mess they made.

He had the Skeleton army backing his own Berserkers who looked on slavishly for the Masters orders. All he could tell them was block all who came near him.

Pawns on both side were under the impression that Kings could not attack only lead but between them the two Kings were ripping holes in each others armies.
This was correct in one sense. The Kings could only attack only when not putting themselves in direct position of attack from a pawn.

Of all pieces to work this out were the Berserkers who called for the skeletal army to protect it’s flank causing the Black King to detour.

The Black King was forced to take a better position to attack due to the Berserkers and the Skeletal armies blocking tactics but they fell one after each other as the Black King made his way towards the Queen’s pawn.

42. Kc6-d7 42. Kf5-e5

As the Black King chased down the Queen pawn, the White King was busy clearing a path for her, but he was also forced to detour due to the actions of the Black King’s guard who also new a little about delaying a King..

These were the lads that had a chance to be a future Black King once but that all was blown to bits when the White King smashed through their ranks.

43. Kd7xe7 43. Ke5xd5

As the White King cleared the final obstacle for the Queen pawn she was caught by the Black King who had as much joy destroying her as the White King did to his heirs.
Amongst the screams of the Queen’s pawn the White King ran down and slaughtered the Muck Golum who had only just had the clearance to make for the other end of the board.

44. Ke7xf6 STALE MATE

Amongst the screams of the Queen’s pawn the White King ran down and slaughtered the Muck Golum who had only just had the clearance to make for the other end of the board.

Neither King could approach the other without putting itself at risk, the rules of the battlefield made this clear.
The battle could have no clear victor.
The battlefield could not be cleared.

AND THIS IS HOW IT ALL ENDS

Both the White and Black army’s Kings faced each other, weapons raised, veins protruding from forearms, necks and foreheads.
Nothing either could do, no matter how much force they applied, neither could get a millimeter closer to each other to strike.
The were almost nose to nose each staring directly into the other’s eyes, neither though could feel the other’s breath, all types of physical contact was blocked.
The White King wings were at their most extended, they blazed blue white and silver. It was a light of such intensity that it would have blinded his subjects back in his own Kingdom.
The Black King had the madness of countless past Kings screaming in his head driving him to an anger and frustration that bordered on insanity.

High above obscured by the white mist the three ancient Elders looked down in disbelief.

“Didn’t see this coming” said one as he quickly leafed through the large tome resting on his lap.

“Never seen such a battle fought like this one brother, it defied all the rules of common sense” said the other scratching his head with the hourglass he held.

“What happens now brothers?” said the other his staff tapping against his sandal impatiently.
There was silence as each thought about this last enquiry.

“We can’t clear the board, the battle’s not won”

“But there is always a winner brother it is how it should be, it is our rules and our rules by nature of who we are, are infallible”

“But brother, there is your proof that our laws are fallible, look they cannot strike each other, thus no one can fall to be declared beaten. They must remain until someone does. That by my reckoning, should take eternity”

”But that is impossible, infallible is exactly that. There is no contradiction to our laws”

“Well judging by those two warriors standing nose to nose down there, I think you may be mistaken”

The Elder holding the staff suddenly struck by a sudden awareness, dropped it, and as it fell its stone shone brightly.

“I think we have a serious concern brothers”

The Elder holding the hourglass realized that all of a sudden it felt bottom heavy, he held it high to discover all the sand had rested in the bottom chamber and it was now too heavy to turn.

“This is not looking good brothers” he said.
The Elder holding the book started to flick the pages of the book faster and faster, searching for anything to contradict or clause that may negate the situation on the field. Then he slammed the book shut realising, as his brothers had already surmised that the laws off the game were flawed.

“You know what this means don’t you brothers “ he said.

This simple sentence had completed a path.
All three Ancients had admitted that their laws were not absolute.

From below, the two Kings momentarily looked skyward to see the mist swirl into a vortex and quickly spin at dizzyingly speed.
In the centre were three figures who appeared to be screaming, the White King recognised thousands of choirs of angels being thrown about around them being ripped apart in the maelstrom.

This was accompanied by a cacophony of sound like a million horns and souls screaming at once.
Then it just stopped.
The silence was a shock.
The two Kings still faced each other, still unable to touch one another, their weapons still in their hands.
They were suspended in nothingness, as far the eye could see in every direction.
Two Kings, unable to touch unable to move locked in stalemate for eternity.

PHASE TWO THE BATTLE

2011-09-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

The complete game with corresponding artwork.

Moves

1. e2-e4 ………………............. 1. d7-d6
2. Q-g4 ……………………….. 2. QBxg4Q
3. f2-f3………………............... 3.QBg4-h5
4. B2 –B3 ………………....….. 4. QNb8-c6
5. QNb1-c3 …………………....5. g7-g5
6. h2-h4 …………………….......6. g5xh4
7 g2-g3 ………………………....7. h4xg3
8. KRh1xQBh5 ……………….. 8. KBf8-h6
9. KRh5xKBh6 ………………….9. KNg8x KRh6
10. a2-a4 ………………………. 10. 0-0
11. a4-a5 ………………………. 11. a7-a6
12. KNg1-e2 ……………………12. QNc6xa5
13. QRa1xQRa5…………………13. b7-b6
14. QRa5-QRh5 …………………14. KNh6-f5
15. e4xKNf5 ……………………. 15. a6-a5
16. QNc3-b5 ……………………..16. d6-d5
17. QNb5-d6 …………………….17. Qxd6
18. QRh5-g5 +……………………18. Kg8-h8
19. QRg5-g8 +…………………….19. KRf8xKRg8
20. KNe2-f4 …………………….. 20. g3-g2
21. KBf1xg2 ………………………21. KRg8xKBg2
22. KNf4xKRg2 …………………22. d5-d4
23. d2-d3 ……………………..... 23. QRa8-g8
24. KNg2-f4 …………………….24. Qd6xKNf4
25. QBc1xQf4 ……………….... 25. h7-h6
26. QBf4xh6 …………………... 26. Kh8-h7
27. QBh6-d2 …………………. 27. QRg8-g1+
28. Ke1-e2 ………………….. ..28. QRg1-g2+
29. Ke2-e3 …………………….29. QRg2xQBd2
30. Ke3xRd2………...............30. b6-b5
31. c2-c3 ....................31. d4xc3+
32. Kd2xc3....................... 32. c7-c6
33. b3-b4........................ 33. a5xb4
34. Kc3xb4.........................34. c6-c5
35. Kb4xc5.........................35. b5-b4
36. Kc5xb4......................... 36. f7-f6
37. Kb4-c5........................ 37. Kh7-h6
38. f3-f4...........................38. Kh6-h5
39. d3-d4 ...........................39. Kh5-g4
40. d4-d5 ............................40. Kg4xf4
41. Kc5-c6 ..........................41. Kf4xf5
42. Kc6-d7........................... 42. Kf5-e5
43. Kd7xe7 ...........................43. Ke5xd5
44. Ke7xf6........................... STALE MATE

The battle could have no clear victor.
The battlefield could not be cleared.

Phase 2 Release Part 38 THE GAME ENDS

2011-09-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

This realisation by all of the three ancient and almighty Elders meant that their existence though thought to be absolute for eons, had shown that they were indeed fallible thus denying the very essence of their power and might. By being proven wrong they could no longer absolute, which was the sole purpose of their existence, they would become nothingness and thus their world was unmade.

There was light no more.

From below, the two Kings momentarily looked skyward to see the mist swirl into a vortex and quickly spin at dizzyingly speed.

In the centre were three figures who appeared to be screaming, the White King recognised thousands of choirs of angels being thrown about around them being ripped apart in the maelstrom.

This was accompanied by a cacophony of sound like a million horns and screaming happening at once.

Then it just stopped.

The silence was a shock.

The two Kings still faced each other, still unable to touch one another, their weapons still in their hands.

They were suspended in nothingness, as far the eye could see in every direction.

Two Kings, unable to touch unable to move locked in stalemate for eternity.

Phase 2 Release Part 37 THE GAME ENDS

2011-08-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

High above obscured by the white mist the three ancient Elders looked down in disbelief.

“Didn’t see this coming” said one as he quickly leafed through the large tome resting on his lap.

“Never seen such a battle fought like this one brother, it defied all the rules of common sense” said the other scratching his head with the hourglass he held.

“What happens now brothers?” said the other his staff tapping against his sandal impatiently.
There was silence as each thought about this last enquiry.

“We can’t clear the board, the battle’s not won”

“But there is always a winner brother it is how it should be, it is our rules and our rules by nature of who we are, are infallible”

“But brother, there is your proof that our laws are infallible, look they cannot strike each other, thus no one can fall to be declared beaten. They must remain until someone does. That by my reckoning, should take eternity”

”But that is impossible, infallible is exactly that. There is no contradiction to our laws”

“Well judging by those two warriors standing nose to nose down there, I think you may be mistaken”

The Elder holding the staff suddenly struck by a sudden awareness, dropped it, and as it fell its stone shone brightly.

“I think we have a serious concern brothers”

The Elder holding the hourglass realized that all of a sudden it felt bottom heavy, he held it high to discover all the sand had rested in the bottom chamber and it was now too heavy to turn.

“This is not looking good brothers” he said.

The Elder holding the book started to flick the pages of the book faster and faster, searching for anything to contradict or clause that may negate the situation on the field. Then he slammed the book shut realising, as his brothers had already surmised that the laws off the game were flawed.

“You know what this means don’t you brothers “ he said.

This simple sentence had completed a path.

All three Ancients had admitted that their laws were not absolute.

Phase 2 Release Part 36 THE END GAME

2011-08-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

44. Ke7xf6 STALEMATE

Amid all the carnage and destruction the two Kings faced each other. Covered in the dirt and blood of battle ready to fight each other to the death and as they leaped at each other………
Nothing happened.

Neither King could approach the other without putting itself at risk, the rules of the battlefield made this clear.
The battle could have no clear victor.
The battlefield could not be cleared.

Phase 2 Release Part 35 THE END GAME

2011-08-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

43. Kd7xe7 43. Ke5xd5
44. Ke7xf6

Amongst the screams of the Queen’s pawn the White King ran down and slaughtered the Muck Golum who had only just had the clearance to make for the other end of the board.

Phase 2 Release Part 34 THE END GAME

2011-08-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

43. Kd7xe7 43. Ke5xd5

As the White King cleared the final obstacle for the Queen pawn she was caught by the Black King who had as much joy destroying her as the White King did to his heirs.

Phase 2 Release Part 33 THE END GAME

2011-08-15T01:07:00.000-07:00

42. Kc6-d7 42. Kf5-e5
43. Kd7xe7 43. Ke5xd5

As the Black King chased down the Queen pawn, the White King was busy clearing a path for her, but he was also forced to detour due to the actions of the Black King’s guard who also new a little about delaying a King.

Phase 2 Release Part 32 THE END GAME

2011-08-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

41. Kc5-c6 41. Kf4xf5

Pawns on both side were under the impression that Kings could not attack only lead but between them the two Kings were ripping holes in each others armies.
This was correct in one sense. The Kings could only attack only when not putting themselves in direct position of attack from a pawn.

Of all pieces to work this out were the Berserkers who called for the skeletal army to protect it’s flank causing the Black King to detour.

The Black King was forced to take a better position to attack due to the Berserkers and the Skeletal armies blocking tactics but they fell one after each other as the Black King made his way towards the Queen’s pawn.

Phase 2 Release Part 31 THE END GAME

2011-08-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

37. Kb4-c5 37. Kh7-h6
38. f3-f4 38. Kh6-h5
39. d3-d4 39. Kh5-g4
40. d4-d5 40. Kg4xf4

The Black King made his move up the board to take matters in his own hand , the only one capable of taking out this winged opposition was the Black ruler himself.
The usually reliable Little sisters , Basilisk spawn and the leaderless Steam Golums had been eliminated along with Queen’s personal guard and only his own protective army and the Shaman’s Muck Golums remained. He needed more time.

Phase 2 Release Part 30 THE END GAME

2011-08-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

36. Kc5xb4 36. f7-f6

The White King’s plan of sacrifice and attack had proved so successful at taking out the Black King’s outer flank and opening up a gateway for Queen promotion that the Black King was forced to action albeit several moves too late, he had called the actions foolish and was made a fool by them.
Without the King to instruct them directly the Black army was failing.

Phase 2 Release Part 29 THE END GAME

2011-08-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

35. Kb4xc5 35. b5-b4

The Black King stood his ground and noting he had the greater number on the field watched to see if the White King’s suicidal strategy would play out. He thought not.
But he had grossly underestimated his rival.

Phase 2 Release Part 28 THE END GAME

2011-08-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

34. Kc3xb4 34. c6-c5

The White King’s strategy was simple keep drawing the enemy in to fight and then finish off the weakened enemy.

Phase 2 Release Part 27 THE END GAME

2011-07-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

33. b3-b4 33. a5xb4

The Equilord wouldn’t need his wave attack anymore because there was no more Equilord race full stop. They had been made extinct fighting here. The King if he had an ounce of compassion left in his body would have realized he had no compassion left. The ex Angel was fast becoming the poster boy for Demon spawn.

Phase 2 Release Part 26 THE END GAME

2011-07-27T00:37:00.000-07:00

32. Kd2xc3 32. c7-c6

The White King’s strategy was simple keep drawing the enemy in to fight and then finish off the weakened enemy.

Phase 2 Release Part 25 THE END GAME

2011-07-26T00:34:00.000-07:00

31. c2-c3 31. d4xc3+

The Black King witnessed the White King transformation and saw his defeat of the Basilisk, he too realized the situation and that the battle would be fought between the two ultimate leaders without their lieutenants. He was confident of his charges that were either brought up or created to obey his every word. He would see how good this crazy winged King would do without his subordinates to help him make his decisions.

The Black King proceeded to order his remaining armies up the board.

The White King knew now from experience of earlier failures that he must win and this would be his proof that his return to heaven would be assured. Didn’t the Angel’s unselfish death in battle prove this?
The King’s first move was to sacrifice the University Bishop’s hounds, his game plan to get the Queen’s daughters to the other end and create a new Queen like the ancient’s promised.

SO begins the End Game

2011-07-25T02:42:00.000-07:00

SO begins the End Game
The Battle of the Pawns
The field is set, which King will win through?

Phase Two release Part 24

2011-07-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

30. Ke3xRd2 30. b6-b5

This left the White King without any regiment leaders, the White King was now a commander of small leaderless groups of men, pawns usually best used as cannon fodder.
The White King pulled himself up from his battle throne and facing the Basilisk threw off his royal robes and burst his wings from their restraints. The King faced the Black monster snake with full wingspan and smote down the beast.

Now things were even both armies were left with a King a leaderless rabble.
The Best King will win through.

Phase Two release Part 23

2011-07-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

27. QBh6-d2 27. QRg8-g1+
28. Ke1-e2 28. QRg1-g2+
29. Ke2-e3 29. QRg2xQBd2

The Black King watched as his wife fell to the Bishop but had no time to think about it as the forces moved directly at him. The Bullrok’s parasites had done a fitting job of repelling the attack but fell in the process not before the caused serious damage to the enemy.

He had never suffered such loses and if he came out of the battle the victor there would be many a rebuilding and replacing to do. There had been many glorious deaths today and all of them would be rewarded with trips to the afterworld and glory forever. The King however was immortal and would never know that glory he would just be another screaming voice in his successors head, so losing was not an option.

He called to his dead Queen’s Basilisk.

It was now apparent that both armies had lost their sub leaders and the field was awash with minor armies drifting directionless. The Black King has also noted that the White King had left himself exposed due to the Bullrok’s attack earlier and planned appropriate action.

The Basilisk snaked its way all the way down the battlefield flank, it was on this side that most of the carnage had taken place, it thought nothing of it, it had a task to perform and that was all it had in it’s mind.

The White King watched the serpent approach unchecked and realized too late that the majority of his army were on the opposite flank and positioned himself out of harms way, the Basilisk counter moved placing the King still in danger.

The King then went to seek protection amongst the smaller primary armies knowing all to well that in doing so he left the subordinate but weakened Bishop exposed and the Basilisk struck wiping out the Head of the University and his charges.

Phase Two release Part 22

2011-07-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

26. QBf4xh6 26. Kh8-h7

The Bishop’s victory had inspired the White King who had decided that winning at any cost was the only option now. The death of the Angel had shown that this battlefield was a gateway to the heavens by the powerful rays of its life force bursting through the cloud cover above them. The King was sure he caught a glimpse of the three ancients as they watched from high above when the clouds momentarily parted.
The Black King could be seen near the remains of the Titan and steam engine maybe this was the chance to end this for good.
The Bishop took his Kings advice and struck at one the smaller Black army forces who blocked it’s way but the crab like fire shooters took their toll on an already depleted group and the Bishop fell back.

Phase Two release Part 21

2011-07-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

25. QBc1xQf4 25. h7-h6

The Black queen’s confidence had grown quite high and seeing the state of her King and the added bonus of the Shaman no longer alive, her ambition of leading the people was a strong possibility.

This White army was loosing out to strategy and it would seem it’s most powerful weapons the Mountain and the steam city were now no longer a threat. She set her eyes on the White army leader.

Having not had to move from his position over looking the board because of his dealings with the Steam Engine, the Bishop wished he still had it running now.

He always knew its effectiveness was a short term proposition but when used to its full capacity – like he had –it was a formidable weapon. The Bishop had been viewing the Black Queen’s movements and had deemed her a willing opponent but as the battle wore on she became over confidant and had left her flank exposed to an attack and this would be his glory moment.

The Black Queen concentrating on a way to penetrate the White King defenses was attacked by the fresh forces of the queen’s Bishop and was ill prepared for a defensive. She died never knowing the ultimate power she craved so much.

Phase Two release Part 20

2011-07-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

23. d2-d3 23. QRa8-g8
24. KNg2-f4 24. Qd6xKNf4

The Black King had managed to drive all his collective ancestors from inside his head by the simple action of crying for his beloved Bullrok. Emotional weakness was the most effective way to drive the voices away from his mind, this the King discovered early in his days when the voices left as soon as he played with his mighty Bullrok, It was an attribute despised by those who come before him and he was the first to bring affection to the collective consciousness and they had not yet accepted it and hoped he would grow out of it. While grieving his beast he also took the chance to assess the situation. The Black King may be saddened but he was first and foremost a great leader. He called his Queen and she had already proved herself a capable and good wife by taking her charges and causing enemy casualties on her flank.
The Queen aware of the King’s situation and the hindrance rather than help the ancestors could cause sent her Basilisk to guard her husband and King.
This battle was not lost yet.

The Black Queen had kept her presence well hid and had already destroyed the Horse army will a fair degree of stealth, she surveyed the far flank of the battlefield where the Bullrok had fell and saw some openings.

The Skeleton General and his men were surprised at the ease that it took to dispatch the Elephant monster but felt the need to leave the area quickly as the area in which an Angel passes is home to great sorry an infliction that can cause depression in those that stay too long and they headed up the field.

Straight into the waiting army of the Black Queen who followed them after the attack on the Bullrok and the General Skeleton fell.

Phase Two release Part 19

2011-07-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

22. KNf4xKRg2 22. d5-d4

The entire field came to a stand still as the moment the Bullrok struck the Angel head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only best described as magical.

The Bullrok stood stunned, as it’s enemy fell feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

The Skeleton General who had caught the Bullrok attack at the last moment had no idea his movement away earlier had caused so much mayhem and seeing the Angel killed filled him with dread, the irony of a reanimated skeleton General thinking how does one kill the un-killable was lost on him.

He turned his men around and attacked the Bullrok as it had attacked the Angel with full force as it stood unprepared.

The Bullrok offered no resistance and almost seem to give itself to death as the General’s skeletal men chopped it down.

THE THREE ANCIENTS

2011-07-06T01:12:00.000-07:00

The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrock struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrock stood stunned as its victim fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

How many millennia had the game been played?
How many contests?
In every one, a certain outcome had been reached – predictable as they would often be… but this?
From their three thrones, the Ancients could only stare in disbelief at the chaos below…

’What can I say Brothers? It looked like a fair fight on paper , maybe give the current board holder a little bit shorter odds and after only two moves the White Army went out to unbackable.
I don’t think I’ve seen a worse strategy for quite a few millennia.
This, mind you, with an Angel at the helm and another in the ranks.
I was sure this was another Black Army white wash.’

‘Indeed brothers, to show such promise only to collapse into chaos… you’d be given to think that one of the holy host would have better control of its subjects. And their Queen! A sacrifice such as that so early in the game? Aparently an abundance of pride is a common thread that runs through the ranks of the fallen.’

‘By all means and with pride comes a fall, albeit a mighty fiery one, hey Brother.
But to their credit the White Army Generals seem to have much intestinal fortitude, realising only all too well their King and his Angel pet could very well smite them to dust they took matters into their own hands and changed the course of the battle.’

’They certainly did at that. To see such… lesser… beings so brazenly ignore the will of their King, AND meet the Black Spear head-on. It has certainly raised the quality of the entertainment. Even those who have fallen, have done so valiantly.
And that vessel of stone and steam – such destructive power contained within its walls! I would almost have been convinced that it would remain unmatched upon the battlefield.
Of course, doing so would discount the Black King’s pet. Such a shame that there hasn’t been a fortification built that can withstand its hammer…’

‘Or being…. Let’s be realistic here brothers, hands up who thought we were the only ones who knew the secret of disposing of Angels?
Hmmm… I can see that one took you by surprise too….’

‘So, brothers, we’ve seen these two armies test each other on the board, and I for one am left too confused to call the victor. I’d hoped that we may have seen a change of the guard (that Black King has held the board for too long, methinks), but when an opportunity presents itself, this rabble that calls itself the white army sabotages itself in a spectacular fashion.
At the very least, they’ve certainly confused their opposition, yielding some entertaining results – personally I am glad to see the back of those so-called ‘bishops’. Such a shame that the mighty beast who crushed them so effortlessly in turn fell in swift fashion. Perhaps there’ll be more surprises for us before this disaster of a game is through?’

’Disaster, but compelling viewing Brother.
Do You think anyone saw us down there, when the Angel spiked?’

Below the clouds, the battle continued…

THE HALF TIME REPORT

2011-06-30T04:04:00.001-07:00

Over at Redbubble.com where the Second Phase is rolling out, it was decided to have a half time breather so the folks could catch up on the quick fire release date of the twenty pieces so far.

So to keep those with their fingers on the pulse happy while the slow coaches catch up the good people at Game of Kings have released some Behind The News Goodies to pacify them.

How the Battle was built -The Bullrok

Ausven profile

How the Battle was built - BMB interview

How the Battle was built - The Steam City & Blasters

How the Battle was built - Interview with Danny

How the Battle was built - the Rock Titan

How the battle was built- The Game so far

Phase Two release Part 18

2011-06-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2

The Bullrok knew nothing of this but speed, an unprepared foe and the sole purpose of removing the Angels head from it’s shoulders ticked all the boxes in the right order for dispatching this Angel.
And it was so.
The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrok struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrok stood stunned, as its enemy fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

Phase Two release Part 17

2011-06-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2

The King had finally made a decision based on his knowledge of winning not losing and the Angel had stop the deadly Leapers from reaching home soil but the many separate battles had obscured his vision and the true state of the battlefield.

The Bullrok having battered and smashed the steam engine kept an eye from its new lofty perch and witnessed the Angel attack on the Leapers. The Angel was undefended from a forward attack and the Bullrok knowing his King was safe plowed into the unsuspecting Bishop.

Usually an Angel fears nothing because only it and it alones knows how it can die.

Phase Two release Part 16

2011-06-14T01:29:00.000-07:00

20. KNe2-f4 20. g3-g2
21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2

The Skeleton General impressed by the University Bishop decided he too should take an active role and almost to flaunt his independence rode in front of the King’s battle headquarters.

See the Bone army move out was the moment the patient but blood hungry Black army Leapers were waiting for and moved further to White armies fortifications and the prize all those that served a master craved. Promotion.

The King’s Bishop; the Angel had been in conflict since the very start of the battle. Everything about the field had a familiar air about it, even the King all of a sudden seemed closer in spirit than before. If only he could remember and lose this confusion that had almost made him useless so far. He had visions before reaching this place of leading the army beside the King to an early and easy victory but nothing had been so far from the truth. His King seemed confused and conflicted. Then as if his thoughts were an omen the King ordered the Angel to defend an attack from the Leapers that had taken both his priests and the Bone Generals men. This time he felt his King was right. His King was right and the Angel sought vengeance for all those the Leapers had killed with a deadly hand.

Phase Two release Part 15

2011-06-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

18. QRh5-g5 + 18. Kg8-h8
19. QRg5-g8 + 19. KRf8xKRg8

The ever faithful Bullrok moved the King out of position with seconds to spare and as the Monolith sat motionless and exhausted of power the Bullrok took the huge machine apart with it’s massive hammer till everyone inside was destroyed.

Phase Two release Part 14

2011-06-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

18. QRh5-g5 + 18. Kg8-h8

The Black King was at a loss. He had never encountered such an undisciplined force before.
Even the most primitive savages have leadership, this White army seemed to do whatever it pleased which in turn made it highly unpredictable.
The generations of forefathers locked in his head all spoke out at once causing him to roll at the Bullrok’s large frame in pain. Half of the voices were screaming instructions the half abuse at opportunities missed. Together they made the sound of a rioting mob.

The pilots of the Monolith were closer enough to witness the Black King in what the assumed was some kind of internal attack and with limited power motored towards his position.

Phase Two release Part 13

2011-06-05T03:39:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 13

16. QNc3-b5 …………………….. 16. d6-d5
17. QNb5-d6 ……………………….17. Qxd6

Phase Two release Part 12

2011-06-01T00:10:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 12

15. e4xKNf5 ……………………. 15. a6-a5

The Black Army Centaurs, seeing the Moving City approaching, abandoned the Body of the Titan just in time to avoid catastrophe but in their haste had failed to see the King’s Berserkers waiting in hiding and were ambushed and torn to pieces.

Phase Two release Part 11

2011-05-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 11

13. QRa1xQRa5………………………13. b7-b6
14. QRa5-QRh5 ……………………..14. KNh6-f5

As the Blasters were being attacked by the Knights the larger steam monolith was building it’s attack capabilities and as the Black Queen’s Amazonian Knights lay exposed on the flank with the remains of the Blasters it hit full potential and much like the Titan steam rolled straight into the unsuspecting Knights.

The attack was fast and furious the Black Queen ordering the Little Sisters to help their Mistresses immediately.
The University Bishop, aware that the Monoliths attack must be kept up for fear of losing momentum screamed across the field towards the fallen Titan.

Phase Two release Part 10

2011-05-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 10

2. KNg1-e2 ……………………….12. QNc6xa5

The Black queen saw the small iron and wood vehicles steam down the field and laughed. She told her Amazonian Knights to prepare to take on these little carts with shields as soon as they were within striking distance.

As the Blasters reached their initial burst limits they slowed considerably and were easy pickings for the Black Queen’s Knights, who when they pulled them apart realized they were empty of fighting men. This frustration built into fear when they realized the White Bishop’s ultimate plan.

Phase Two release Part 9

2011-05-23T00:18:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 9

10. a2-a4 ………………………. 10. 0-0
11. a4-a5 ………………………. 11. a7-a6

Phase Two release Part 8

2011-05-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 8

9. KRh5xKBh6 ………………….9. KNg8x KRh6

The Black King ordered his Centaur knights to attack unless they wanted to be next on the Titan hit list.
The Centaur Knights taking advantage of the rock giants weakened state and since it no longer had it’s people to help protect it, the Centaurs swarmed all over the Titan. Eventually finding the tunnels and shafts that led to its brain and using their fiery swords made sure it never rose again.
Its last thoughts were that after all it’s time as a solitary figure, it enjoyed its short time with its people the most.

Phase Two release Part 7 The Titan continues

2011-05-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 7 The Titan continues

9. KRh5xKBh6 ………………….9. KNg8x KRh6

The Black King watched in awe as the massive Titan slammed into the Shaman’s female-fire half and within seconds knew something was seriously amiss. His Shaman, the male-earth being let out an ear piecing scream as if it too was bearing the weight of the mountain monster that had killed his sister.
Before the King could raise an arm to stop him, the Shaman attacked the Titan and in one mighty sweep the shaman suffered the same fate as his sister.
The impact forced the Titan to a sudden halt and caused it to collapse in total exhaustion

Phase Two release Part 6

2011-05-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 6

8. KRh1xQBh5 ……………….. 8. KBf8-h6

Phase Two release Part 5

2011-05-15T00:27:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 5 Leapers lay Waste

The White King made some rudimentary moves to counter the Black King but
after sacrificing two more pawn armies to minor battalions the King was abandoned by his Generals.

6. h2-h4 ……………………..6. g5xh4
7 g2-g3 ……………………….7. h4xg3

Phase Two release Part 4 The Black King Sees no Challenge | The Leapers Attack

2011-05-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 4 The Black King Sees no Challenge | The Leapers Attack
6. h2-h4 ……………………..6. g5xh4
7 g2-g3 ……………………….7. h4xg3

The Black King knew armies were intimidated by the celestial battlefield and were slow to reach their full potential, usually and thankfully too late for their own survival.
But never had he’d seen such inept moves so early in battle. It almost seemed this White Wing Commander was trying to lose the battle rather than win.
The King felt a little pang sensing this battle would offer no challenge. They were no better, maybe marginally worse than those he had fought before and he prepared to wipe them out.
He watched with disdain as his minor army of Leapers laid sections of the White Army to waste down the field.

Phase Two release Part 3 THE QUEEN BURNS, DISSENSION IN THE RANKS

2011-05-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

Phase Two release Part 3 THE QUEEN BURNS, DISSENSION IN THE RANKS

3. e2-f3………………. 3.QBg4-h5
4. B2 –B3 ………………… 4. QNb8-c6
5. QNb1-c3 ……………………5. g7-g5

The White army could only look on in horror as the Shaman incinerated the unprepared Queen’s forces and their screams could be heard all the way back to the King’s battle tents.

The White King stood emotionless as gasps of horror rose up from the lines of battle hardened soldiers.
His reaction was swift. He ordered the Dead Army Knight to attack the Fire Shaman head on. The Skeleton General assessing such a move knew it was suicide and refused to move. The experienced General recognised pointless retaliation when he saw it.

He knew his life was forfeit – so what?

The King he used to know was beyond this.

The King’s Bishop stopped the General’s refusal from reaching the King, sensing that a mutiny minutes into a battle would do no one any good. Though he considered the General an abomination, he knew the risen soldier had the knowledge to help well into the fight.

So the Angel knowing the rewards of sacrifice ordered his own priests forward with instant if not unexpected results.

Unbeknownst to the opposing army the Shaman had attacked with a trifle too much enthusiasm and had nearly exhausted her stocks when the White Army Priests charged out. She retreated to the safety of the flanks to recoup her strength.

The White King was furious and the General would be a small stain on the ground if he could justify it. The Angel’s move had undermined his authority as much as the Bone soldier’s had, but also proved to the rest of the army he had made the right decision ignoring his King’s orders.

All through the ranks the King’s fears were being realised. The University Bishop and the Equilord seriously doubted the King’s ability to lead. The Equilord had his people’s welfare to protect and really didn’t give a damn about the King’s ambitions.

The Equilord decided he would go it alone against an unknown enemy that seemed to have been dragged from the pits of Hell itself.

The White King hadn’t expected mutiny so early in the piece, though he had known it was inevitable in the scheme of things. He knew he was vulnerable on the battlefield but none of his army was aware of this.

He just prayed that the Angel would stay loyal just a little while longer

The King made some rudimentary moves to counter the Black King but
after sacrificing two more pawn armies to minor battalions the King was abandoned by his Generals.

Phase 2 Release Part 2 The White Queen burns.

2011-05-11T02:52:00.000-07:00

The White Queen burns.
2. Q-g4 ……………….. 2. QBxg4Q

And disaster he got.

The Queen’s movement up the field exposed her people to the full brunt of the Black army Shaman who attacked without hesitation. The Queen and her charges disappeared in burst of flame and dark smoke.

The White army could only look on in horror as the Shaman incinerated the unprepared Queen’s forces and their screams could be heard all the way back to the King’s battle tents.

They all knew now the capabilities of the Black army.

Phase 2 Release Part 1 The White Queen Enters the field..

2011-05-11T02:50:00.000-07:00

The White Queen Enters the field..

1. e2-e4 ……………….. 1. d7-d6

The White King, showing good faith to his Generals and Bishops, ordered his personal guard to lead the charge onto the field of battle, which they did with their usual enthusiasm honestly believing the enemy would fall into instant submission because their King said it was so.

The Black King still at odds to the skills and fighting ability of the opposition played his moves more casually and asked for his Queen to send out her guard for a closer inspection.

The White King could feel the eyes of his entire army boring into his very soul as he thought of his next move and the consequences there of. What he had already planned would have his whole army rethinking their situation.

The King ordered his Queen forward on a diagonal to the Berserkers, this would leave her unprotected but the King answered those who questioned that it was: “ too early in the battle to worry of such trifles and the Queen’s forces were more than capable of taking most attacks.

The King just needed a better view of the enemy”
In past battles the King had proven himself a brilliant tactician and military leader, but usually against a known opponent.
Here, in the opinion of the many he was flirting with disaster…

2011-04-27T00:29:00.000-07:00

PRE RELEASE WEEK FIVE

PHASE ONE TEES NOW AVAILABLE AS WALL ART

GAME OF KING PHASE TWO DUE OUT 9 MAY 2011

2011-04-21T00:36:00.000-07:00

PRE RELEASE WEEK FOUR

PHASE ONE TEES NOW AVAILABLE AS WALL ART

GAME OF KING PHASE TWO DUE OUT 9 MAY 2011

2011-04-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

PRE RELEASE WEEK THREE

PHASE ONE TEES NOW AVAILABLE AS WALL ART

GAME OF KING PHASE TWO DUE OUT 9 MAY 2011

FREE GoK Wallpaper

2011-04-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

Click on this link for a special pre release Wallpaper for your computer by Quigonjim

FREE WALLPAPER

2011-03-31T00:19:00.000-07:00

PRE RELEASE WEEK TWO
PHASE ONE TEES NOW AVAILABLE AS WALL ART

GAME OF KING PHASE TWO DUE OUT 9 MAY 2011

2011-03-24T00:41:00.000-07:00

PRE RELEASE WEEK ONE

PHASE ONE TEES NOW AVAILABLE AS WALL ART

GAME OF KING PHASE TWO DUE OUT 9 MAY 2011

NOT LONG NOW!

2011-03-15T02:28:00.000-07:00

After lots of planning and recruiting and many an hour sweating over blank pieces of paper, the long realised and long awaited Game of King’s second phase is quickly approaching a release date.
The logical conclusion to the Game of Kings first stage where 10 artists created two armies consisting of 16 characters all based on pieces from the game of chess.
The artists all from Red Bubble who between them had sold thousands of t-Shirts not only here but through Tee Fury, Design by Humans and various other sites produced an eclectic array of soldiers and generals, nearly all somewhat other-worldly and beastly.
The success of the first phase and the development of the pieces/characters gave way to an actual battle.
A Game of Celestial Kings who battle great armies drawn from all over the universe for their own pleasure.
Based – once again – around a complete game of Chess,, complete with notated moves. The battle draws on the flawed strengths of an expelled Angel who has discovered a loophole to get back into Heaven and a Warrior race who have held the battlefield for centuries and have immersed the game totally into their culture.
Each move represents a story of the battle and culminates in an epic conclusion that even the Celestial Kings never foresaw.
Drawing on the massive talent pool on Red Bubble new artists were invited to join, many fans of the artists and concept from the first phase.
These eleven talented people bring the total involved in the project up nearly two dozen.
Many of the new inductees were of an illustration background and were well suited to the Phase Two brief of large Wall Art – Posters depicting the scenes of the battle.
Phase Two is a much more ambitious and daunting task compared to Phase One with over 40 pictures being considered and produced.
The genre is strictly Fantasy but is spread out using sequential works, using panels depicting scenes to large specific scene pieces of art
The artists involved have managed through their effort and unbridled talent to convey strong emotions, from pity to anger to remorse in their work and the colours seem to burst out the artwork and assault your eyes with hidden small details that it is too much to take in on the first view.
To add yet another dimension to the Phase, the first Phase storyline has been drawn as sequential comics to show off the talent of the more busier members.

This is a project of huge scope.

We’re talking Magnum Opus here folks.

Keep your eyes peeled because it’s all happening very soon and to celebrate the Game of Kings Group will be taking on new members to share the creative process and have a glimpse into what has been transpiring for the last 18 months.
The Group will also be offering prizes and exciting challenges.

Game of Kings
A Folly amongst almighty beings.

With additional behind-the-scenes content from:

Works in Progress - Storyboard

2011-01-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Short storyboard section featuring black and white Works in Progress by various artists from the Game of Kings Project.

Coming March 2011

2011-01-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

Another sample video by Stephen Elliget

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

2010-12-12T01:39:00.001-08:00

A collage of upcoming images and models based on the Steam engines: a.k.a Queens Rook and pawn designed by sjem.

The Entry

2010-10-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

This is the last sequence before the start of Phase Two of the Game of Kings story: The Battle.

When the White King eventually emerged from his campaign tent, the whole army seemed to sense his arrival and a sudden hush came over all those assembled.

He walked over to the Bishop Angel – who gave no acknowledgement – stood next to him and stared in the same direction.

As if following some unspoken order the rest of the army stared off in the same direction in total silence.
In a matter of seconds the cloudless mid afternoon lilac sky deepened to a dark purple and a mist formed unnaturally fast, making the area above and around them seem encased in fog.

As quickly as the fog appeared it withdrew, but in doing so revealed that the landscape had changed. The mist still swirled and lifted, hiding the sky.

Before them lay a field as flat as a table, covered in lush green grass, kept liked a mowed lawn which stretched to the horizon where it too became engulfed in mist. Behind them the lush lawn did the same but in this direction to only a distance of about two hundred metres.

A glance to the left and right held the biggest shock, for the lawn was bordered on either side by steep rocky outcrops that rose to peaks concealed/hidden by the mist.

It didn’t take long for the experienced Generals to realise they were bound in, trapped one could say.

The army was in danger of breaking ranks when the White King announced “Calm” and when he had his army’s full attention declared: “Behold your opponent!”

As if by divine decree (and who said it wasn’t) at a distance of about four hundred metres away the field began to shimmer with light. Most of the army members shielded their eyes but the light dimmed as quickly as it had appeared – revealing another army.
Even from such a distance, they appeared a mass of darkness and flame and unholy noise.

The collective thought going through the mind of every member of the army of the White Wing, other than the King and his Angel themselves was: “What in hell are we fighting?”

Three leaders’ thoughts, although also in unison, were nothing short of treasonous.

The Skeleton General, the Equilord and the mighty Rock Titan no longer believed they could put their trust in their leader for this battle.

INTERVIEW WITH MATHEW DUNN

2010-10-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

He is the man in the gas mask whose work ethic can never be questioned.

Fresh from exhibitions, books and toys we interview Mathew Dunn the very popular Melbourne artist.

Where you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?

I stumbled across GoK shortly after joining RedBubble. I was blown away by the complexity of the project and immediate thought ‘The people in charge of this must be completely unhinged!’ (a suspicion verified as fact once I got to know those in charge). Artistic collaborations of any kind are always exciting to watch and participate in, and when it carries the themes and approach of GoK then it’s even more exciting.

Tell us a bit about yourself
Influences, ambitions, hopes and dreams.

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, and my love of comics matches that time frame. Influences range from 70’s cartoons and horror/exploitation films, through to a wide range of artists including Henry Darger, Mike Mignola, Ashley Wood, Kent Williams, Dave McKean, Gary Gianni, John Paul Leon, Jeff Lemire, and many many more. My hopes and dreams are varied, but often circle around the subjects of comics and toys. Some of those dreams have come true, those that remain unattained are worth chasing to the ends of the earth for however long it takes.

Is there anyone or anything you want to flog?

I’d suggest everyone go to the GoK page to check it out, then go and check out the individual folios of every artist involved. The talent is inspiring. Then when you’re done with that pop over towww.matthewdunnart.com and say hi ;-)

INTERVIEW WITH DAMIEN MASON

2010-10-03T23:30:00.001-07:00

A prelude to the Game of Kings Project Phase Two

Damien Mason has been a popular member of Red bubble and great addition to the GoK line up. Damien is a web and flash developer as well as being pretty handy with certain pieces of cutlery.
You can see more of Damien here on his blog and his website
Were you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?

Yeah of course I was aware, is anybody not by now? I thought the individual pieces were brilliant, some of them especially blew my mind with their creativity and visual perfection. I’m not sure I fully appreciated how they all worked together up until now however.. I don’t particularly want to use the word “Epic” but holy shit.. epic.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Your Influences, ambitions, hopes and dreams.

Okay.. I’m nearly 30, married, have a son who’s nearly 2, live in Radelaide and play with Japanese swords on a weekly basis. My influences are many and varied, from comics and animation to random awesome art I happen to stumble across online or in the street. My goal is to always improve. Yes, I’m like a character from Japanese comics. Call me Naruto.
Long term, I’m looking to get my art up to a point when I’m happy with it and then maybe have an exhibition. I’ve got plans to sell some signed prints as well, and one day I would love to design a few toys. Maybe illustrate a kid’s book. Generally create something worthwhile and leave some kind of legacy when I go
.
Is there anyone or anything you want to flog?
These are what I’m currently working on some special A3 prints

INTERVIEW WITH AUSVEN

2010-09-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of the second phase is being introduced to people you weren’t really aware of and then being blown away by their extreme talent. One of these characters is ausven.
Ausven has brought a wonderful new dimension to the group and works seamlessly with others while having a distinctive style that makes you look several times to catch the detail you missed the first time you marveled at his work.
A hard working champion and a joy to work with.

What do you think you are going to bring to the Game of Kings Project?

I was aware of the project prior to being invited onboard.
I had began some correspondence with Si regarding his work ad became aware of it through him. I am a big fan of chess, although Ii don’t play so much now but the combination of the game and my other love of comic/fantasy art led to my secretly yearning that there would be a second project and Ii would be asked to be on board – and here I am!!!

Your opinion of the project so far?

I think….no…check that…I know… phase 2 is going to be something very special and very different to Phase 1. The scale is totally different, every image has the potential to be an absolute epic.
When Ii first received the scenes I would be illustrating I thought….shit….where do I start? But having battled on with thumbnail after thumbnail I have managed to complete my first piece and am chuffed with the outcome, I’m thinking so far so good.

A quick run down of your influences and achievements here on Red Bubble and the outside world?

I grew in London and have always loved comic and fantasy art, I used to play the Steve Jackson Fighting Fantasy role playing books and Dungeon and Dragons game with friends as a kid. In fact the first novel I ever read was the Hobbit when I think I was around 11 – so that kind of paved the way for my love of Fantasy. I used to collect Marvel comics avidly, and would always be in awe of artists such as Art Adams, John Byrne, John Romita Snr and Jnr, I guess these were major influences in my style today.
For several years I tossed and turned with what Ii wanted to do with my life, I have always loved my art but was put off pursuing comic and fantasy based stuff for a while after attending formal art school, formal training kind of beats the comic/fantasy style out of you. Instead Ii focused solely on my painting for a few years – my paintings tend to be more abstract.
However, Red Bubble has played a major part in re igniting my fire for the comic and fantasy art and the talents such as Si Sherry, Matt Dunn and Sturstein have really been a great encouragement for me. Once again I am thriving on what Ii am doing and because I am working along side such talents I am being pushed to move forward and drive my ability to new highs….which is very cool.
If you check out some of my earlier designs such as Si Fi Tragedy and compare it to later works such as The Colonial you can see how far my style has progressed over a year or so. And not just the style but also the technique and know how – I am really pleased with this and again I have the RB posse to thank.
I am now preparing a new portfolio to get out there to promote my comic/fantasy art and hope that this time next year I will be able to pretty much support myself working purely as an illustrator instead of a 9 – 5 with a lil illustration on the side.
I am now at a stage in my life where if I don’t make it happen I’m concerned I never will.

Anything you wish to flog?

Anyone or anything I want to flog? Do you mean sell? In Britain flog is slang for selling something. Or do you mean flog as in hit repeatedly with a length of knotted rope?
I’ll answer two in one – I have a length of rope with a knot in it I would be happy to sell to anybody who will use it to repeatedly hit the last two British prime ministers with.
Thank you for having me – not literally of course.

INTERVIEW WITH NICK FORD

2010-09-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Before the release of the second phase of artwok featuring the best of Red Bubble illustrators, the Game of Kings administration hope to introduce you to the newer members and find out a little of what makes them tick. Along the way maybe sneak preview some work in progress and highlight other projects the artists are involved in.

His name is Nick FORD

Finalist in the Red Bubble / Demo T-shirt Sound Competition and all round talented artist is from the Scott Robinson school of Nice guys skate and design great art. Nick was a keen supporter of the Game of King’s from its inception and was high on the list of first people to beg to join when it was decided to begin the massive and highly demanding second phase. Nick of course said “yes” and took no time at all to blow everyone away with his ideas and adaptations. We pulled Nick aside quickly for a quick chat to see what’s on his mind in between working and having babies.

What do you think you are going to bring to the Game of Kings Project?

I’m hoping to bring some extra darkness and detail. Simon’s creations are just screaming to be brought to life, so to speak. I’m about to start my 2nd scene ….. His Royal Darkness. Dauntingly exciting stuff. After seeing the amount of thought, time and passion that went into creating the 1st phase of this epic story ….. i just want to do it justice. So expect EPICNESS. I have been quite round these parts with uploads ….. there is a reason.

Your opinion of the project so far?

Um …. epic. Hhehe! Nah … it’s looking really good from the WIP’s i’ve seen. Overall it’s a fricken masterpiece. Hats off to both Danny, Simon and the rest of the original crew. It’s got a motion picture (at leat animation!) written all over it!

A quick run down of your influences and achievements here on Red Bubble and the outside world? Well Hard Roctopus did pretty well in the Sound comp at A T-Shirt Revolution … back in the day! Other than that about 240+ Tee’s sold, a shitload in inspiration and a load of fun had in almost 2 years.

Real world …. my daughter Amelia is my latest achievment! Quite chuffed.

GoK related … ausven and BMB will blow your minds.

INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN ELLIGET

2010-09-14T00:21:00.000-07:00

His name is STEPHEN ELLIGET

Were you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?

Sure! it would be a nice distraction from my Uni homework.
I knew about the project beforehand through Simon, I had seen some of his work for it on RedBubble and also he had spoken to me about it at family gatherings.
I think the collaboration is fantastic, and although I haven’t been that active in the forums, I have been keeping up with the WIPs. Its very cool seeing so many artists have their take on this shared concept. I havent had much time since my original posts to get much further in my pieces, but I hopefully will get some time soon. Uni is a bit in the way at the moment.
READ MORE HERE............

INTERVIEW WITH STURSTEIN

2010-09-09T01:51:00.000-07:00

INTERVIEW WITH STURSTEIN
A prelude to the Game of Kings Project Phase Two

Before the release of the second phase of artwok featuring the best of Red Bubble illustrators, the Game of Kings administration hope to introduce you to the newer members and find out a little of what makes them tick. Along the way maybe sneak preview some work in progress and highlight other projects the artists are involved in.

His name is Peter Fairfax but he draws under the pseudonym of STURSTEIN

Were you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?

Yeah, I was aware of it for a while before I was invited. I’m really jealous of everyone who was involved in those early stages. I think the project is a great idea. It’s neat to see where different people have taking the simple concept of chess.

Tell us a bit about yourself
Influences, ambitions, hopes and dreams.

I’m a comic book geek, so most of my influences come from that arena, most notably Mike Mignola, John Buscema, and Dave Stewart. Plus Frank Frazetta and Jeff Jones, but more for their painting than their sequential art. There are a bunch of European comic book illustrators I love, but the European stuff in general is a big influence; they really make a fine art of it.

Outside of comic books, there’s Alphonse Mucha, Robert McGinnis, Harley Brown, George Bridgman, Gil Elvgren… I could go on forever.

In terms of literature I’m a big fan of early pulp fiction, particularly sword & sorcery. Authors like Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Fritz Leiber, and H.P.Lovecraft. Lately I’ve been really excited about a new series called Monster Blood Tattoo, by D.M.Cornish. And I’ve recently been delving into pulp detective novels.

Ultimately I hope to make a decent living off my illustration, preferably in the world of comic books. That’s been my main goal for years now.

Is there anyone or anything you want to flog?

Absolutely! Right now I’m flogging my webcomic: valentinesdei

INTERVIEW WITH SHANAMATION

2010-08-31T01:34:00.001-07:00

INTERVIEW WITH SHANAMATION
A prelude to the Game of Kings Project Phase Two

SHANAMTION or as his parents like to address his mail to: Damien Shanahan, is a fine artist with a humorous bent. Damien who has years of experience as a graphic designer brings another dimension to the artwork that will be the Game of Kings.
He is only person I have heard of besides Lee Falk who has had a 100,00 of his comics distributed in show bags.
Mighty effort.
Let’s see what he has to say:

Where you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?

I became aware of GoK, when I first saw my good friend Simon’s first pieces on his facebook feed. As life presents itself with interesting serendipitous moments, Simon and I got back in much closer contact than we had in years. Funny thing is our careers had taken very similar paths, both doing graphic design jobs and doing our illustration work after hours. It’s amazing to see how people’s art can move and develop over the years, but the one thing that’s never changed has been the passion for it.
Simon mentioned GoK Phase 2 was in the works and I loved his designs from Phase 1 so much I put my hand up to get in on the action. I was chuffed when he told me it was all go for Phase 2 and that I was a part of the team.

Continue reading here....

BMBaus interview with great animation

2010-08-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

INTERVIEW WITH BMBaus
A prelude to the Game of Kings Project Phase Two

Before the release of the second phase of artwok featuring the best of Red Bubble illustrators, the Game of Kings administration hope to introduce you to the newer members and find out a little of what makes them tick. Along the way maybe sneak preview some work in progress and highlight other projects the artists are involved in.
I don’t know him and he may be only 5foot 2 inches high but his attitude and talent are monstrous, may I introduce BMBaus…......

BMBaus
Where you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?

Yes. I’ve been watching Simon Sherry for some time now both on Redbubble and at PulpFaction.
And in the shower.
My opinion is one of happiness,
I love big monsters and spiky armour etc and I love chess, and here they are together! Yippee!

continue reading here.....

Mr BMBaus is responsible for this mighty animation

Phase Two Introduction Interview : Simon Sherry

2010-08-22T03:27:00.000-07:00

INTERVIEW WITH SIMON SHERRY
A prelude to the Game of Kings Project Phase Two

Before the release of the second phase of artwok featuring the best of Red Bubble illustrators, the Game of Kings administration hope to introduce you to the newer members and find out a little of what makes them tick. Along the way maybe sneak preview some work in progress and highlight other projects the artists are involved in. To start proceeding we’ll have a chat with the guy who kicked the whole idea off…. Mr Simon Sherry
cheers
Danny

Simon, with the success of Game of Kings Phase One how excited are you about Phase Two?

I’m very, VERY excited, to be honest. The first phase of the project was a lot of fun in terms of building the characters, creatures and the setting, but now we’re getting to the actual battle itself, an there’s some scope to come up with some crazy stuff. Having a whole new group of artists bringing their own distinctive styles to the project just adds to the overall level of excitement I’ve got for the project, and I think that anyone who enjoyed the first phase is going to really love what we’ve got planned.

Read the rest of the interview here

The Assembly

2010-08-04T03:21:00.000-07:00

Always displaying a great sense of awareness, he observed the sights and odours around him. The odours he could do without, his keen sense of smell being assaulted by the collective stench of those around him, not the least being the Seam City heavy metal and grease. This and the irregular sulphurous farts from the Rock Titan made the air quite uncomfortable to those with sensitive noses.
The Equilord couldn’t remember the last time he had seen the entire forces of the army of the White Wing assembled in one spot, it was normally only gathered like this on very special occasions – the army so strong that only sections were ever needed to take on other combatants.
The Equilord often wondered why the King needed such weapons, why bring back the dead and awaken old giants?
Why did the University have to make these massive, belching steam engines and those bastardized anomalies of nature, the berserkers and hounds.
In the past the Equilord and his clan had been enough to take whatever the King wanted.
He had heard tales, rumours really that the King’s massive stockpiling had really only begun after the Bishop Angel arrived in the Kingdom. The Equilord had only been in his presence a few times and each time he felt as if the Angel was a powder keg waiting to explode at any minute such was the air of tension and intensity that surrounded him.
The Equilord feared and respected the Angel far more than his King.
Many things were happening in the field now as an air of impatience not becoming military personnel became apparent.
The Equilord watched with a grin as the Skeleton General slyly tripped one of his more severe and upright sergeants causing him to fall and scatter, setting the University hounds into a frenzy, running off with various parts of his body.
Occasionally the big Steam Cities would relieve the pressure from their bellows with a loud, ear splitting cry causing the berserkers to leap about like startled monkeys.
In the centre of these happenings the King and his Queen stayed inside their respective campaign tents and the Angel just stared patiently into the horizon as if waiting for someone or something.
They were – according to King – going to meet a formidable foe and the price of victory was unimaginable, defeat not an option.
The Equilord as well as the other generals weren’t quite sure whether the Kingdom was being invaded, border patrols would surely have long since sighted such a large army, or whether they had been gathered for a march to some neighbouring Kingdom that had been invaded. Either option seemed highly unlikely given the King’s stranglehold over the whole dimension.
It was all these factors that led to the uncertainty in the ranks.
The Equilord wished he were a million miles away in a green forest with his kin, far away from the mad king and his strange army. Little did he know how soon his wish would become reality?
The entire White army had assembled outside of the Kingdom perimeter in a large field adjacent to where the Rock Titan and his people resided.
The army stretched out across the green open spaces with the massive Steam City taking up the other flank.
The Equilord was concerned.

GoK Animations Part 14

2010-07-17T17:21:00.001-07:00

GoK animation Part 13

2010-07-17T00:27:00.001-07:00

GoK animations Part 12

2010-07-02T01:02:00.000-07:00

More visual feasts.
The Steam City and Blasters - White Queen's Rook and pawn.
Visuals by sjem

Game of Kings new web presence

2010-06-22T00:04:00.000-07:00

The new Game of Kings web site

Bear with us, it's a bit patchy but we'll get there.

Phase Two THE END GAME

2010-06-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Meet the new breed

2010-06-01T02:20:00.001-07:00

With the Game of Kings Phase Two heating and roaring to go we would like to introduce the talent crew who have joined the project to take the next step and onward to another level.

Shanamation Sturstein Georgia Patton

BMBaus Nick Ford Stephen Elliget

Mathew Dunn Rustyoldtown ausven

Paul McClintock Damien Mason

Sadly due to outside commitments Jordan Clarke and sjem cannot contribute any longer.

back soon

2010-04-17T00:46:00.000-07:00

The Game of Kings will be returning soon with more surprises including additional "special guest" artists to continue the story of two desperate Kings and their mighty armies.
The battle begins mid 2010

RETURNING VERY SOON

2010-02-27T23:29:00.000-08:00

COMING BACK FOR 2010 BETTER THAN EVER

MEANWHILE HAVE A GAME ON US.

Gok Animation Part 11

2010-01-31T22:53:00.000-08:00

RETURNING SOON

Gok Animation Part 10

2010-01-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

Ravenblood Promo

Gok Animation Part 9

2010-01-18T23:03:00.000-08:00

The White Queen's Rook
The Steam City

Gok Animation Part 8

2010-01-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

The Basilisk
The Black Queen's Rook

Gok Animation Part 7

2010-01-04T23:00:00.000-08:00

The Muck Golem
The Black King Bishop's Pawn

The teaser book of the SETTING OF THE BOARD

2009-12-17T00:50:00.000-08:00

A CHRISTMAS TREAT FOR THE FANS OF GAME OF KINGS

FREE WALL PAPER HERE

MERRY CHRISTAMS FROM ALL AT GoK

GoK Animation Part 6

2009-12-12T22:57:00.000-08:00

Black Queen Knight's Pawn
The Little Ladies

GoK Animation Part 5

2009-12-05T22:55:00.000-08:00

The White King's Rook The Titan

GoK Animations Part 4

2009-11-30T22:54:00.000-08:00

The Shaman Part 2

GoK Animations Part 3

2009-11-26T22:52:00.000-08:00

The Shaman Black Queen's Bishop

GoK Animations Part 2

2009-11-19T22:50:00.000-08:00

The Black King and paws

GoK animations Part One

2009-11-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

The Bullrok
Black King's Rook

Behind the scenes part two- Works in progress

2009-11-02T02:37:00.000-08:00

This sideshow is a sample of some of the works that the artists from the Game of Kings collaboration have slaved over to realise their final submissions.
It's a fascinating look at the mind at work and gives an indication of how hard these guys worked to give their best product possible.
This is only a sample as indicated above there is enough for a second and maybe
third if the interest is there.

This is a link to a vey earlier version of WIP's

Game of Kings Review Part 2

2009-10-27T02:35:00.000-07:00

As we now have reached the penultimate release of the T Shirt wave of the Game of Kings (GoK) project I would like to reflect on some of its aspects since the idea was first floated some eight months ago.

This is a project of artistic and personal growth.
One man had an idea and was so excited at its possibilities he asked like minded artists to contribute. His own enthusiasm was enough to recruit his first choice wish list. That person of course was Simon Sherry.
The fact that this project has grown and evolved over these past months is testament to the other artists chosen.
This has been a project of testing ones comfort zones and abilities.
If I can draw attention to the artists themselves.
Incredibly popular members such as Scott Robinson, Roger (Ruby Red Design), Glen Smith (No Frills Art) and Jen Hacking (thickblackoutline) have all offered something outside of their usual styles.
It may not be evident at first but a closer look at Scott and Rogers work sees line work, half tone and colour experimentation unlike previous works. Jen has abandoned her usually whimsical style for harder and more aggressive character and experimented with effects like diamonds. Glen who usually works in themes and more topical issues has created a montage of images to reveal stunning characters that deserve their own tales.
Other popular members sjem and Jordan Clarke have shown us hidden skills and strengths and introduced totally new styles never exhibited here in their personal Red Bubble folios.
Sjem with his architecturally inspired CAD drawings of monster steam punk engines and Jordan with her hand drawn and masterfully coloured horse related creatures.
Continue reading here........

The White Army Announcement.

2009-10-22T23:57:00.000-07:00

The White King summoned all his bishops, generals and auxiliary staff to congress, there were things that needed to be explained. Not all things however. No matter how absolute and despotic his reign may be, certain things could still cause rebellion and mutinous behavior given the conditions they would be bound to under the laws of the celestial battlefield.
Questions had been asked of course.
“Where is this campaign?”
“How shall we arm against this enemy, for we know nothing of them or their lands”
“Ummm….who are we fighting again?”

The White King had duped his subjects. His collective memory was greater than the Bishop Angel who had totally wiped all memories from its conscience regarding it’s crime and subsequent punishment. The Angel didn’t even have the ability to recognize the King as one of its own, something the King had been aware when he had found the fallen Angel all those centuries ago.

The King had watched the battles millennia before and knew that it had been the ruination of Kingdoms and worlds foolish enough to attempt it.
He also knew it may be a way home.

Game Of Kings Artist Interview: Sjem

2009-10-20T00:33:00.000-07:00

Ever-elusive, the artist known as Sjem has been a valuable contributor to the Game of Kings project. Managing to pin him down and restrain him with the aid of a crack team of commandos, we recorded the following before he managed to overpower us and make good his escape…

Can we have a few words about your good self?
I spend most of the working week being an architect. Redbubble is where I come to share all other things that leak out of my brain. I also wish I had the ability to grow facial hair.

So that leads to the question how did you get involved with the project?
I think it was shortly after the London Calling Competition that I recieved a bmail from Master Sherry. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, the scale of this collaboration is simply fantastic and the company I’m in is esteemed. It’s been a great experience in being able to give and receive feedback and comments from a pool of amazing talent. The place my work ended up is nowhere near where I would have predicted in the beginning.

How do you personally think it is going and do you think it has potential? What an incredible ride this has been, and I suspect that ‘setting the board’ is just the beginning. Everyone in the team has produced incredible work and the diversity of styles is a testament both to Simon’s skilled selection of collaborators and the talent of the collaborators themselves. I’d love to see other people drawn in – a book or comic, followed by figurines and then a movie deal with Peter Jackson, early retirement, and then a 10 year reunion where we try to create a sequel but instead act like a bunch of spoilt divas and spend the rest of our lives bitching about each other. That could be fun I reckon.

Do you want to flog some other projects you are involved in?
Not much in the project box at the moment to be honest. Sorry.

We’ll be sure to find something to keep him busy …

Game Of Kings Artist Interview: Danny

2009-10-17T23:58:00.000-07:00

You’ve been a member of Redbubble now for over 2 years and we know enough about you so let’s get stuck into the questions shall we? How did you get involved with the Game of Kings?

I was invited after the design crew was put together by Simon. It was on the recommendation of Glen Smith and Scott Robinson who I’ve done so much work with and they knew instinctively that this is something I would jump at the chance to be involved with.

Mind you, at this point in time they didn’t how or why (neither did I at that stage) but I’m glad they did because after a few chats with Simon I cottoned on that his scope was far bigger than I first thought they would try to achieve and that was when I was hooked.

This was going to be on an epic scale and had the potential to be a multi media bonanza, something I had wanted to achieve with Monk Rock. Simon didn’t think quick collaboration – he wanted to throw it into the air and see how far it could spread out in all directions.
It was obvious from the get go that it was going to work when a forum was set up and people started throwing ideas around like a pie fight.
The best way to describe it was like having ten people standing around a ping pong table and just bouncing the ball from one paddle to another building up momentum.
A lot of the designs, character traits and narratives came from these early days and the project grew from there.

What’s been your experience being part of the project to date, and how do think it will be received?

I don’t know how it’ll be received to be honest, initial reaction has been good and a few t shirts have been sold but as far as I’m concerned this is only the beginning. In fact it’s Phase
One of many yet to come.
As for my experience, I can say it has been fantastic and enlightening and came along when I really needed an artistic challenge in my life.

But getting back to the original question

When I got invited in to be part of this project I thought it was the most brilliant concept and from the start I wanted to do the most exciting things we could possibly do and that was all I could ask for.

That’s what it’s always been about, really enjoying and getting genuinely
excited about the possibilities. Not necessarily achieving anything of my own ambitions just going into it with that sense of wonder and imagining what it could be if we got it right.

Read more here......