"Kerian Mathaias" by Breland Mark Scott

The old man leaned over the pitted, acid burned surface of his worktable.   Spread before him were the most ancient texts he had been able to find.  Each tome a treasure in and of itself, but contained within were markers on the path to an even greater reward.  His stead hand never once betraying the turmoil within as they guided the acid tipped brush over the smooth surface of the crystaline skull.   This was the most vital part...for the etchings he cast on this talisman would decide if he would live forever within a new body of crystal and steel, or die in agony as his soul was torn from his body.   Only time would tell if this was his master work, or his greatest folly.

(Kerian is a relitivly new character of mine, but one I have grown quite fond of.   On a side note, this was my first attempt at a completely computer generated piece of art.  This piece was done entirely in MS Paint while I was at work.  Any pointers on how to do coloring and shading in the computer would be quite helpfull.)