Ikqarus
@ikqarus.bsky.social
Forgotten Realms wiki volunteer, impossibly relentless.
Realms of the Dragons I and II appear to be the same piece as the Ruin, seeing the continuity between all three pieces... but it might not be.
I suspect it was intended to be a single giant splash poster, but it wasn't, for whatever reason.
The shapes match, as shown here, but the hues don't.
I suspect it was intended to be a single giant splash poster, but it wasn't, for whatever reason.
The shapes match, as shown here, but the hues don't.
December 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Realms of the Dragons I and II appear to be the same piece as the Ruin, seeing the continuity between all three pieces... but it might not be.
I suspect it was intended to be a single giant splash poster, but it wasn't, for whatever reason.
The shapes match, as shown here, but the hues don't.
I suspect it was intended to be a single giant splash poster, but it wasn't, for whatever reason.
The shapes match, as shown here, but the hues don't.
Here's a working cover for Realms of the Dragons II. It looks like it's the same pics, but it isn't. It is much rougher, and there are details that don't quite match!
Plus, in the cover of the Ruin, we can see it's signed 2005. The Rage is from 2004. Those must be separate pieces.
Plus, in the cover of the Ruin, we can see it's signed 2005. The Rage is from 2004. Those must be separate pieces.
December 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Here's a working cover for Realms of the Dragons II. It looks like it's the same pics, but it isn't. It is much rougher, and there are details that don't quite match!
Plus, in the cover of the Ruin, we can see it's signed 2005. The Rage is from 2004. Those must be separate pieces.
Plus, in the cover of the Ruin, we can see it's signed 2005. The Rage is from 2004. Those must be separate pieces.
In this post, the covers of the Rage and the Rite, and a piece by Stawicki that was proposed for a calendar to be voted on.
See how they fit together? One would reason that the last three pieces, The Ruin, Realms of the Dragons, are part of the same too.
But!
web.archive.org/web/20051214...
See how they fit together? One would reason that the last three pieces, The Ruin, Realms of the Dragons, are part of the same too.
But!
web.archive.org/web/20051214...
December 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
In this post, the covers of the Rage and the Rite, and a piece by Stawicki that was proposed for a calendar to be voted on.
See how they fit together? One would reason that the last three pieces, The Ruin, Realms of the Dragons, are part of the same too.
But!
web.archive.org/web/20051214...
See how they fit together? One would reason that the last three pieces, The Ruin, Realms of the Dragons, are part of the same too.
But!
web.archive.org/web/20051214...
A fan of the Realms had a copy of the Annotated Elminster promotional wallpapers at max resolution, and they were willing to share.
Let's make sure those don't get lost again.
Let's make sure those don't get lost again.
October 26, 2025 at 2:34 AM
A fan of the Realms had a copy of the Annotated Elminster promotional wallpapers at max resolution, and they were willing to share.
Let's make sure those don't get lost again.
Let's make sure those don't get lost again.
I found the last two Spellfire artists. Almost entirely by... a flash of insanity. I just thought about where else Charles Keegan might've worked, and found out about TSR's "Treasure Tales". Took a look.
There it was. A texture match. Signed, at that!
There it was. A texture match. Signed, at that!
October 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I found the last two Spellfire artists. Almost entirely by... a flash of insanity. I just thought about where else Charles Keegan might've worked, and found out about TSR's "Treasure Tales". Took a look.
There it was. A texture match. Signed, at that!
There it was. A texture match. Signed, at that!
So, went over AMAZING STORIES magazine for a bit. Missing 15 of them, but I think I'll make do. Interesting things found. Like these covers. :)
Accidentally deleted my Chron-X and Legend of the Five Rings list of artists in the process. Oh well, I'd already gone over those, heh.
Accidentally deleted my Chron-X and Legend of the Five Rings list of artists in the process. Oh well, I'd already gone over those, heh.
September 27, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So, went over AMAZING STORIES magazine for a bit. Missing 15 of them, but I think I'll make do. Interesting things found. Like these covers. :)
Accidentally deleted my Chron-X and Legend of the Five Rings list of artists in the process. Oh well, I'd already gone over those, heh.
Accidentally deleted my Chron-X and Legend of the Five Rings list of artists in the process. Oh well, I'd already gone over those, heh.
So, AMAZING stories magazine by TSR took its full-color format from the May 1991 to the Winter 1994 (I know, winter's not a month. Just the messenger). Other issues aren't color, and have less art.
As for the issues I best check, here's wikipedia. TSR owns AMAZING starting in '82.
As for the issues I best check, here's wikipedia. TSR owns AMAZING starting in '82.
September 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
So, AMAZING stories magazine by TSR took its full-color format from the May 1991 to the Winter 1994 (I know, winter's not a month. Just the messenger). Other issues aren't color, and have less art.
As for the issues I best check, here's wikipedia. TSR owns AMAZING starting in '82.
As for the issues I best check, here's wikipedia. TSR owns AMAZING starting in '82.
So, did you take a look at the foreign edition covers of The Temptation of Elminster? SPA has a smidgen more painting by Todd Lockwood - if you wanted to check out Elminster's boots. Timun Mas ed. went down in 2002, so, no online stock photos.
Maybe other language editions will have some, I wonder?
Maybe other language editions will have some, I wonder?
September 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So, did you take a look at the foreign edition covers of The Temptation of Elminster? SPA has a smidgen more painting by Todd Lockwood - if you wanted to check out Elminster's boots. Timun Mas ed. went down in 2002, so, no online stock photos.
Maybe other language editions will have some, I wonder?
Maybe other language editions will have some, I wonder?
Oh, here's some more that turned up in Code of the Harpers. Really love 'em squiggly sigils XD
August 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Oh, here's some more that turned up in Code of the Harpers. Really love 'em squiggly sigils XD
Another artist from TSR we never really thought of: Renee Kousek. She did "Color Symbol Cards" for the 2e FR Campaign Set. Far as I can tell, that's these!
Originally an Ed Greenwood special. I really love them. Remember the elven runes of passage in Eye of the Beholder? We need more of this!
Originally an Ed Greenwood special. I really love them. Remember the elven runes of passage in Eye of the Beholder? We need more of this!
August 30, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Another artist from TSR we never really thought of: Renee Kousek. She did "Color Symbol Cards" for the 2e FR Campaign Set. Far as I can tell, that's these!
Originally an Ed Greenwood special. I really love them. Remember the elven runes of passage in Eye of the Beholder? We need more of this!
Originally an Ed Greenwood special. I really love them. Remember the elven runes of passage in Eye of the Beholder? We need more of this!
They disappear when the 4th edition revamped site comes online. This is its only listing at Wizards that I can find with a list of all archived addresses, so, pretty confident.
web.archive.org/web/20090602...
Wonder where this high-res one came from?
fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2008/09/anno...
web.archive.org/web/20090602...
Wonder where this high-res one came from?
fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2008/09/anno...
August 28, 2025 at 1:09 PM
They disappear when the 4th edition revamped site comes online. This is its only listing at Wizards that I can find with a list of all archived addresses, so, pretty confident.
web.archive.org/web/20090602...
Wonder where this high-res one came from?
fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2008/09/anno...
web.archive.org/web/20090602...
Wonder where this high-res one came from?
fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2008/09/anno...
Hey, there, Realms fans! Wanna hear about something low-key lost?
In 2007, promotional materials for the Annotated Elminster came out - 3 wallpapers, a screensaver. They came offline by 2009, never archived. So, these thumbnails are all we've got.
That hag's the Srinshee. Maybe I can AI upscale?
In 2007, promotional materials for the Annotated Elminster came out - 3 wallpapers, a screensaver. They came offline by 2009, never archived. So, these thumbnails are all we've got.
That hag's the Srinshee. Maybe I can AI upscale?
August 28, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Hey, there, Realms fans! Wanna hear about something low-key lost?
In 2007, promotional materials for the Annotated Elminster came out - 3 wallpapers, a screensaver. They came offline by 2009, never archived. So, these thumbnails are all we've got.
That hag's the Srinshee. Maybe I can AI upscale?
In 2007, promotional materials for the Annotated Elminster came out - 3 wallpapers, a screensaver. They came offline by 2009, never archived. So, these thumbnails are all we've got.
That hag's the Srinshee. Maybe I can AI upscale?
This unsung artist did 19 cards; everyone else got 10 or less. That won't be just anyone. Enter John and Laura Lakey, who worked in the AD&D trading cards, starting 1992.
1992 - 60 cards.
1993 - Minimum of 9, up to 100.
But compare Graytch, Rare 2/60, with Dragon's Death Door. Same mouth.
2/4
1992 - 60 cards.
1993 - Minimum of 9, up to 100.
But compare Graytch, Rare 2/60, with Dragon's Death Door. Same mouth.
2/4
August 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This unsung artist did 19 cards; everyone else got 10 or less. That won't be just anyone. Enter John and Laura Lakey, who worked in the AD&D trading cards, starting 1992.
1992 - 60 cards.
1993 - Minimum of 9, up to 100.
But compare Graytch, Rare 2/60, with Dragon's Death Door. Same mouth.
2/4
1992 - 60 cards.
1993 - Minimum of 9, up to 100.
But compare Graytch, Rare 2/60, with Dragon's Death Door. Same mouth.
2/4
haha, some of this d20 modern art went pretty hard.
August 22, 2025 at 10:50 PM
haha, some of this d20 modern art went pretty hard.
However, the evidence against it is overwhelming. We do have Dee Barnett art, and it looks nothing like our Jack Fred's. If you squint like me all day long trying to find the perp, maybe it'll look like 'em, but I'd say odds are reasonable it just doesn't.
August 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
However, the evidence against it is overwhelming. We do have Dee Barnett art, and it looks nothing like our Jack Fred's. If you squint like me all day long trying to find the perp, maybe it'll look like 'em, but I'd say odds are reasonable it just doesn't.
The coloring style in some of those cards also resembles another thing we know was done by Dee Barnett, the frames in some Birthright books - and in the chapters of the revised edition core books. Check 'em out.
August 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The coloring style in some of those cards also resembles another thing we know was done by Dee Barnett, the frames in some Birthright books - and in the chapters of the revised edition core books. Check 'em out.
Latest brainfart: thinking the missing Spellfire artist may have been TSR and later WotC graphic designer, Dee Barnett. Admittedly, my evidence is really thin here, but hey, why not? I like talking.
August 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Latest brainfart: thinking the missing Spellfire artist may have been TSR and later WotC graphic designer, Dee Barnett. Admittedly, my evidence is really thin here, but hey, why not? I like talking.
Figured out a way to comb through all the Legend of the Five rings cards 1995-2002 without the 2003-2019 ones. That and Chron X, I think, are all I might've missed.
So.
So.
August 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Figured out a way to comb through all the Legend of the Five rings cards 1995-2002 without the 2003-2019 ones. That and Chron X, I think, are all I might've missed.
So.
So.
Found another possible artist. Carol Lyon, did a few works for TSR but rpggeek lists her in "Iron Crown Enterprises".
In '02 she did a cover painting for Elfquest, where she got a page where she spoke on blue and orange desaturating to gray and brown, as in those cards.
Grasping at straws, I be...
In '02 she did a cover painting for Elfquest, where she got a page where she spoke on blue and orange desaturating to gray and brown, as in those cards.
Grasping at straws, I be...
July 30, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Found another possible artist. Carol Lyon, did a few works for TSR but rpggeek lists her in "Iron Crown Enterprises".
In '02 she did a cover painting for Elfquest, where she got a page where she spoke on blue and orange desaturating to gray and brown, as in those cards.
Grasping at straws, I be...
In '02 she did a cover painting for Elfquest, where she got a page where she spoke on blue and orange desaturating to gray and brown, as in those cards.
Grasping at straws, I be...
Abandoned theory: the silver dragon Fi Lendicol is brown because the painting is unfinished: she was meant to be brown on the base and silver on top, a la Sorayama, but the chrome layers never got added.
Wouldn't make sense, though. Them yellow and brown, too saturated, too deliberate...
Wouldn't make sense, though. Them yellow and brown, too saturated, too deliberate...
July 22, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Abandoned theory: the silver dragon Fi Lendicol is brown because the painting is unfinished: she was meant to be brown on the base and silver on top, a la Sorayama, but the chrome layers never got added.
Wouldn't make sense, though. Them yellow and brown, too saturated, too deliberate...
Wouldn't make sense, though. Them yellow and brown, too saturated, too deliberate...
TheEdVerse Records checked for '20, 21. '20 was 1200 kb. '21 was 800 kb.
It's downhill from here, with 500 kb in '22 and 300 in '23, of which I only need half: the other half, I did by hand, no need to check again.
Also came across this real weird question.
It's downhill from here, with 500 kb in '22 and 300 in '23, of which I only need half: the other half, I did by hand, no need to check again.
Also came across this real weird question.
July 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
TheEdVerse Records checked for '20, 21. '20 was 1200 kb. '21 was 800 kb.
It's downhill from here, with 500 kb in '22 and 300 in '23, of which I only need half: the other half, I did by hand, no need to check again.
Also came across this real weird question.
It's downhill from here, with 500 kb in '22 and 300 in '23, of which I only need half: the other half, I did by hand, no need to check again.
Also came across this real weird question.
Minor victory today! I was able to track down the procedence of the images from two polyhedron UK covers. One was in a wallpaper from Baldur's Gate II, while the other was the cover of Wasteland: Beyond the Outposts, by Christopher Shy. Don't know the wallpaper artist, but we'll get there.
July 11, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Minor victory today! I was able to track down the procedence of the images from two polyhedron UK covers. One was in a wallpaper from Baldur's Gate II, while the other was the cover of Wasteland: Beyond the Outposts, by Christopher Shy. Don't know the wallpaper artist, but we'll get there.
I don't know for sure this was done with Unishade. The human figures deviate really strongly from his TSR work, but his dragons, well, take a look at this dragon he drew for Star Wars and compare it to our red boy.
Both and the green earlier have teeth as part of the head, not inside the mouth.
Both and the green earlier have teeth as part of the head, not inside the mouth.
July 2, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I don't know for sure this was done with Unishade. The human figures deviate really strongly from his TSR work, but his dragons, well, take a look at this dragon he drew for Star Wars and compare it to our red boy.
Both and the green earlier have teeth as part of the head, not inside the mouth.
Both and the green earlier have teeth as part of the head, not inside the mouth.
For the record, I'm not super sure. This doesn't look like Mike Vilardi's art. It looks a lot more like Hannibal King's, besides the hair. However, I've looked up and down TSR's products and I can't find anything that resembles that texture.
Enter Unishade.
Enter Unishade.
July 2, 2025 at 1:19 AM
For the record, I'm not super sure. This doesn't look like Mike Vilardi's art. It looks a lot more like Hannibal King's, besides the hair. However, I've looked up and down TSR's products and I can't find anything that resembles that texture.
Enter Unishade.
Enter Unishade.