Livestream Speedpaint 04 - Living Memories

The height of Bar-Dulsha was incredible, towering above the surrounding cliffs. A silent watchtower, a ruin of ancient times, a memory of this world. The river flowed silently on both sides, it's sound like the whispers of the people who once lived there, fighting a war which none living could remember.. The melancholy hit us like a gust of wind, sudden, strong, a force we couldn't resist immediately. All memories of better times disappeared, left only with a longing to enter the forsaken halls, climb stairways pitted with years of rain, decay, and ruin. We sailed to the base, and entering a vaulted cavern, made our way up to the top. There were no skeletons, no sign of violence, of the death which had come here.

Just the ever-reigning silence.

Even our footfalls were muffled in the dust, which hung lazily in the still air after it had been disturbed. I shivered, a reaction I thought I should have had the strength of will to stifle, but could not. This wasn't natural, these still halls, the sheer lack of life in this place. No plants grew, no moss hung in the shade, no birds came near this damned place. I gripped the hilt of my sword, and turned to my companions.

Ice claimed my heart, and my breath choked halfway down my throat. They were gone.. there was no doubt in my mind. Usually when you lose sight of your friends, you make.. explanations. Surely they were just around the corner, perhaps they had seen something in another room, or forgot something on the boat. But my mind didn't bother masking the truth. I would never see them again, and fear ripped it's way through my mind.

The light was growing dim, and the solid death of this place grew steadily. Colorless tapestries hung like shrouds on the pale grey stonework, candles hung unlit in rusted chandeliers, and everywhere, in every corner the cursed dust! The sunlight disappeared, gone behind the mountains, and the shadows leapt up like all the demons of hell.

And then a slap on my cheek. Javier looked at me, a worried expression mixed with humor on his brow. It was still light.. my friends were there. 'We must leave!' I said, frantic. They glanced at eachother, but luckily I had a reputation which lent me credibility. We rushed down the stairs, past the halls of ruin and death. As we boarded our craft and pushed off, I thought I heard laughter echoing in the corridors, pure insanity mocking us as we rowed for our lives.. for our very sanity..


A 65 minute speedpaint, painted on the spur of the moment when an idea popped into my head. The livestream video can be seen here: [link]

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