Atlantis - 003

Foundation

"The Esterina Chronicles" are a series of (rather silly) one-shot pages where some minor characters of the Altarion universe take the lead. Done for laughs, since their only goal is to provide a humorous break between the "serious" stories. That's why I'm not going to remake them, even if some are pretty old and it shows.
Italian version: esterina001

Atlantis - 002

Now you can find my comics also on Comic Fury: Altarion Saga - archive
Italian version: atlantis002.jpg

Characters: Helystyal

Drawing by Elena Gentinetta, who's also the character owner.

Full name: Helystyal Elnyara Miirnaju Altan
Nickname: Helyss
Title: Crown Princess of Anthira
Age: 23 standard years
Height: 178 cm
Hair: electric indigo
Eyes: electric indigo
Race: Hybrid Anthiran/Kainal

Daughter of Queen Tyelene of Anthira and prince Shetar of Theitor. Being half-kainal she has the adaptive underwater sight of her father, but lacks the ability to breathe in water. Helyss has an older brother, but was chosen as heir to the throne for a certain reason.
She appears diplomatic, charming and pretty harmless, until one gets to know her. Friendly enough to get along with anyone, but also rather spoiled - you'll never see her wearing the same outfit twice.
Helystyal's also the more classically attractive and romantic of the leading characters.

Atlantis - 001

First page of the prequel, set mostly on Earth. It deals with the setup of the Schwarze Ritter mercenary squad. Atlantis is an underwater city built with Theitian technology.
(Italian version: atlantis001.jpg)

Encounter - 003

Helystyal's room at the royal palace of Anthira. The outfit she's trying on (and is supposed to wear at her engagement party)  is not an anthiran gala dress. It's an awful, multi-layered mix of anthiran and firennian trends. A gift from her fiancé, probably. Yes, they have literally liquid mirrors on Anthira.
By the way, the two girls here are cousins, since their fathers are twins. Many of the human-like races in the galaxy can cross-breed because they have common ancestors.
(Some drawings have changed from previous version, some will stay the same because I already liked them, but I need to redo all the coloring because the new pages have a higher resolution. Besides, I used way too much dodge effect.)
(Italian version: alt0003)

*Note: Helyss is the main reason why this comic would be hardly printable. Rendering her hair color in CYMK is a nightmare.

Encounter - 002

Here you can see part of the Imperial Palace exterior and its multi-level floating gardens. The ships orbiting Anthalanor belong to Arnamel's royal guard.
(Italian version: alt0002)

Character: Shaix

A rather old portrait of the Emperor. Not totally happy about it, especially the hair looks kinda flat.

Title: Galactic Emperor, Taladaar Grand Master
Age: unknown. Allegedly immortal.
Height: usually about 187 cm. Can vary.
Hair: silver
Eyes: silver
Race: amathial (or so he says)

 Legend says he comes from the First Planet, Amathial, where the first humanoid race was born. Actually, no one really knows.
Apparently, he's been around for thousands of years. A great scientist and inventor, he discovered the "leys" and built the Shaix Drive, the device that allows fast interstellar travel. Then he founded the Taladaar Order, whose superior knowledge and technology created - and afterwards nearly destroyed - the Empire. Many royal or important families claim to be Shaix's descendants and they are probably right.
He looks like a rather androgynous human male in his twenties, but his appearance is far from unchanging, although no one ever saw him get older. Same legends that credit him with nearly godlike powers, also tell that in the past he used to take the appearance of a paradigmatic individual of the race he was meeting.
For at least some centuries, skepticals spread the rumor that he had been replaced by a hologram after the Taladaar War, when Anthalanor became the new capital and the Imperial Palace was built. Now, many think he's seriously ill, dead or that he never actually existed.
One way or another, Shaix (or his holographic replacement) always showed an amazingly balanced, wise, charismatic and righteous personality.

Digression: Council Hall

The Council Hall, with its 50 seats, is located in the Imperial Palace that occupies a fairy large territory on planet Anthalanor's surface. Only Altarion councilors and their families are allowed to land, though: they can bring military escort ships with them, but those have to orbit outside the line of planetary defenses.
Emperor Shaix has lived there, alone, since the end of the Taladaar War that marked the end of First Imperial Age. More than 10.000 years in the past, or so they say.

Encounter - 001

- First page of the main story. The action takes place in the Great Hall on planet Anthalanor, during a Council meeting.

The Altarion Empire is a federation of very different civilizations spread throughout the Milky Way. Apart from humans and human-like aliens, there are hundreds of other races. About 50 of them, from the most powerful regions, are entitled to a seat in the Council. They also represent lesser regions.

Those dominions can be kingdoms, oligarchies, republics, theocracies or anything else, as long as they agree to submit to Emperor Shaix's authority when needed. This model leaves a lot of freedom to individual rulers and isn't exactly conflict-proof, but has worked fairly well for more than 10.000 standard years.

When a solar system or small kingdom leaves the Empire, its destiny is up to its people and rulers. If they don't manage to thrive without Altarion's help, they can be conquered by some neighbours or become a shelter for outlaws and pirates.

(Italian version: alt0001)