The name of Man's End is a deceptively sinister one. In truth, no great battle took place here, nor massacres, nor even minor catastrophes. But once, many centuries ago, an ancient king decided to build a monument to himself on an outcropping of stone above a river where it flowed out of the Dragonridge Mountains and into his kingdom. Many days and nights his subject labored, putting in place the giant stone blocks and carving them into the likeness of their great ruler. When it was completed the statue stood facing west towards the mountains, its great sword raised against the wilderness. Pilgrims came from all around to marvel and exclaim at its majesty and grandeur, and for a time it was considered to be the wonder of the kingdom.

But the king, in his arrogance, had overstepped his boundaries. For the dragons have kept the mountains and all the lands around since the continent was raised from the sea, and they will keep them until the sea claims them once more.

So one night the keepers of the monument, who lived in a cave beneath, heard thunderous wing beats and a great rending of stone and scraping of mighty talons. Being no warriors they huddled fearfully in their quarters and dared not venture out, even after the wing beats had faded into the distance.

In the morning they found the statue's head ripped from its shoulders and placed at its feet, facing back towards the lands of men. The sword and arm were also gone, and these were never found. Aside from the damage to the monument, no other destruction was evident: not a single leaf on a single tree had even been singed. Yet the dragons' message could not have been clearer: though they suffered men to live upon their land, they were the true kings, and would not permit monuments to be raised in honor of any other.

Since that day no one has lived beyond the broken statue. The place was given the name Man's End, and for centuries has stood as a marker of where the realms of men end, and the world of dragons begin.
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Some months ago I tried illustrating a scene containing a reflection from memory. Now I try again, this time with help from *joffo1's wonderful photography.



In particular the pieces that inspired me were Water Dream III and Auntumn colors II. Go give 'em a look; they're gorgeous.

The story behind this place (and the broken statue) evolved as I was drawing it. I knew I wanted to illustrate a place where dragons lived, and for a time I wanted to include one in the picture. In the end though I felt that it was altogether more magical if you just saw what the dragons had done, rather then see them themselves.

Anyway, hope you enjoy, and many thanks to *joffo1 for being such a wonderful, inspiring and generous artist.

This picture was done with Prismacolor colored pencils on 9"x12" illustration paper, and appears on page 87 of my Black Book.
Enjoy.