I am realizing as I’m writing this that I haven’t been doing any hollow knight art recently, so I’m going to start posting the worldbuilding stuff for my project Bowerhart. I might eventually return to primarily posting Hollow Knight and Silksong stuff, but I feel like, for the time being, I need to pursue other topics to grow as an artist. More on Bowerhart below:)
What you just saw was a series of concept sketches for my worldbuilding project Bowerhart. In Bowerhart, I attempt to explore themes of political upheaval, environmental exploitation, equality, xenophobia, and industrialization (also anything I think looks cool. Because I think it looks cool.)
Here’s a rundown of the global situation in Bowerhart. (Only a little sorry for cringe.)
The Empire of Faeroshette was uncontested in its colonial ambitions. Though there were other empires, it lacked an equal in its might, and prospered in its endeavors. That was until they lost the war against the fledgling empire of Ormar when the Kaervan Entente came to their aid. All but one of the northern Faerosh colonies were lost to Ormarian expansion, and the Faerosh economy stumbled. In this depression, radicalism festered in Faeroshette until its culmination in Coup d’état by the nationalist “Social Harmonists”, and the subsequent exiles and repression of the socialist “Concordists”. With the establishment of a one party state in Faeroshette under the leadership of the Faerosh Novoimperial Caucus(FNC), the nation became a war machine. The Faerosh invaded the neighboring state of Ashir for its resources, and thus began a Great War, with the Entente and Ormar aiding Ashir on one side, and Faeroshette on the other. If it weren’t for the early Faerosh capture of the Ashirian capital and goddess, they would have lost the war, but early gains made all the difference. With the goddess Yora in their grasp, Faeroshette was the first nation of mankind to have harnessed mana, and its strength brought their goose stepping legions through the Ashirian forests to victory. However, Concordist action was still an ever-present threat in Faeroshette, and even more so in the southern empires that lost out on northern iron that had been redirected into the war effort. One empire reigns the global hegemon. The remains of Ormar and Kaerva see Concordist exiles rise to providence. The threat of Concordist internationalism washes through every race in every kingdom, and promises sweetly to break what remains of the former world order with bloody and idealistic revolutions. Where will the people stand? Will the people stand united? Divided, can they stand at all?
The middle row of soldiers are a few of my attempts at designing a soldier of my mage “sub-race” of the human stand in race(cavmir) for the Empire of Faeroshette. The one on the right is the current design, but is subject to change. Their accompanying gas mask includes a symbol on the helmet called the Bright Eye of God, representing the sun which is believed to be the eye of the sun serpent.
The top row is an elf inspired race called the Ashiri or Ashirians. They are parasitic flowers that were created by the goddess Yora to bring new life to the eternal flesh of the precursors, and often wear masks in the presence of Lemir, especially the Faerosh.
In the bottom row, there are a couple of designs for Faerosh Airships, and the final sketch in that column is a half-designed tunneling construct made by the precursors. The way it works is by emanating vibrations into the surrounding materials from its head to clear the way. The design for that was inspired by Hammerhead sharks, moles, and BOTW guardians.
Much of my inspiration comes from the Monstergarden/Rust and Trenches world building project, and by extension, I thank Simon for that bit of Thai influence. I also really liked—and attempt to draw from—Carnival Row.
