1) The Universe of Bal-Sagoth
The Universe of Bal-Sagoth
Bal-Sagoth the band is just one facet of the vast and far-reaching world of these stories. The lyrics of the six albums are reflections of a much larger and more intricate body of work, and only a relatively small part of that has thus far been revealed in the lyric booklets. As I originally intended, the chronicles of this baroque fantasy world will ultimately encompass such things as prose short stories, graphic novels, illustrated books, and more. Additionally, the forthcoming revised and expanded edition of my Glossary (called “The Lexicon”) will provide readers with unprecedented information on all aspects of the lyrical mythos.
Byron Roberts
The Antediluvian Map
Here is the map I designed which depicts the world in which the antediluvian era stories take place. A more detailed map showing additional cities, territories and major rivers will be uploaded soon.
The Ancient World – Antediluvian Map
CHARACTERS
Many characters populate the Bal-Sagoth lyrics and the short stories & comics. Here is a selection of concept artwork showcasing some of them.
CAYLEN-TOR first appeared in the lyrics of the second BAL-SAGOTH album. This character has proven to be a fan favourite over the years and his epic adventures continue in the novels “The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor” Volumes I and II published by DMR Books.
The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor
The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor: Volume II
The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor: Volume II” (May 2021)
The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor
The artisans at Barbaric Splendor Miniatures now offer a highly detailed collectible miniature of Caylen-Tor! Visit their website and Facebook page for further details!
Caylen-Tor Miniature
Caylen-Tor Miniatures
There follows a selection of Caylen-Tor illustrations from the last 20 years or so, including my own first sketches of the character upon which all subsequent renditions are based.
Caylen-Tor The Wolf of the North
Caylen-Tor
Original Battle Magic Cover
Caylen-Tor: Character Illustration Gallery
Full colour painting of Caylen-Tor in the cyber-armour which he dons during his future-war adventures. Artwork by Martin Hanford.
Future era Caylen-Tor
This is a collection of illustrations featuring my character the King of Hyperborea. The first two are my original b&w character sketches, including the early “older” version of the King with his beard and eyepatch, followed by my illustration of the King as a younger man.
“The King Of Hyperborea” Gallery
Full colour painting of the King of Hyperborea and Lord Angsaar. Artwork by Martin Hanford.
Hyperborean King and Lord Angsaar
Zurra, the villainous protagonist from the fourth Bal-Sagoth album, also features in several comic strips. Here’s the Zurra logo:
Zurra Logo
This concept illustration of the fourth album’s cover artwork by Martin Hanford depicts Zurra, Hound of the Z’xulth.
Zurra: Hound of the Z’xulth
Zurra Comic Strip Preview:
Zurra: Hound of the Z’xulth Comic Strip
Great fan art by overlord depicting Zurra.
Zurra: Hound of the Z’xulth
And here is Zurra as he appears on the cover of the fourth Bal-Sagoth album “The Power Cosmic”, which recounts the second phase of The War of the Lexicon and Zurra’s renewed attempts to seize control of the galaxy in order to usher in a new era of Z’xulth domination.
ZURRA
Wyrm-Lord of Ur
Here’s an awesome painting by Martin Hanford depicting Lord Angsaar, the Dark Liege of Chaos. This illustration shows the three incarnations of Angsaar, and the character features prominently in the forthcoming mini comics; his undying evil spanning countless millennia, from the antediluvian era all the way to the far future epoch. Presented here for the first time is the original rough sketch followed by the finished painting.
Lord Angsaar: Preliminary Sketch
Lord Angsaar
The Elizabethan privateer Captain Blackthorne first appeared in the lyrics of the third Bal-Sagoth album “Battle Magic”. His saga continues in a trilogy of short stories published in the fantasy anthology series “SWORDS OF STEEL” from DMR Books. Here are character illustrations from the stories depicting the character of Captain Blackthorne.
Into the Dawn of Storms
A Voyage on Benighted Seas
The Scion at the Gate of Eternity
This is an illustration of The King of Hyperborea (from the Hyperborean Empire saga), which is included in the forthcoming expanded Lexicon. Another great b&w piece by Martin Hanford, this shows the King wielding his mighty Hyperborean warhammer, which he used, along with the Shadow Sword, in the battle against Lord Angsaar’s Horde of Wraiths.
The King of Hyperborea
From the Obsidian Crown saga, here is Baalthus Vane, the commander of the famed Legion of the Ebon Tiger, and the right hand of the Emperor Koord. “We march to war!”
Baalthus Vane, commander of the Legion of the Ebon Tiger
Here is Lady Bright-Anya Ophidia, majestrix of the legendary Draconis Albionensis, supreme commander of the fabled Spitfire Cavalry of Logres, and general of the Legio IX Draconis . Bright-Anya will feature in the forthcoming mini-comics, and this illustration is from the Lexicon.
Bright-Anya Ophidia: Draconis Albionensis
Here’s a great illustration by Martin Hanford of my character Professor Caleb Blackthorne III, and some of his non-terrestrial antagonists:
Professor Caleb Blackthorne III
Here are more illustrations depicting Professor Blackthorne.
Professor Caleb Blackthorne III
Professor Caleb Blackthorne III
This is a great sketch of Lord Angsaar, the Dark Liege of Chaos, sent to me by Samuel Santos.
Lord Angsaar
Below is another illustration of Bright-Anya Ophidia, mistress of the Draconis Albionensis, commander of the Legio IX Draconis and the Britannic Spitfire Cavalry. Artwork by Martin Hanford.
Bright-Anya Ophidia of the Draconis Albionensis
Here is Zul’tekh, one of the fearsome Guardians of the Astral Gate:
Zul’tekh, Guardian of the Astral Gate
Below is the Prime Voyager of the Kl’aa, shown here on the moon’s Mare Imbrium:
The Prime Voyager of the Kl’aa
The Praesidium of Ys! Before the arch-fiend Zurra’s fateful return to the ancient praesidium, the arcane sanctuary had seen a myriad visitors throughout the eons, all seeking the sorcerous lore contained within its shadowed vaults…
The Praesidium of Ys
The Obsidian Crown saga spans twelve epic chapters in total. From the fall of the Shadow-King, to the early years of the war between the Vyrgothian kingdoms and the Imperium, all the way to the siege of Gul-Kothoth and the ensuing War of the Crown. I’ve written many short stories covering those episodes, and a graphic novel is also in the works. Here are some character sketches depicting several of the saga’s primary protagonists. The first of the Obsidian Crown short stories was published in the fantasy anthology volume “Barbarian Crowns” and additionally the story “The Siege of Gul-Azlaan” in the DMR Books publication “The Chronicles of Caylen-Tor” is also part of the Obsidian Crown cycle.
The Obsidian Crown Saga
“The Trinity of Might”, the Sceptre, the Sword and the Ring.
The Trinity of Might
Great fan art by iron monkey depicting the fortress of Gul-Kothoth.
The fortress of Gul-Kothoth
The vampyre hunter Joachim Blokk features in the lyrics to the third Bal-Sagoth album plus short stories (including the tale “Darkfall: Return of the Vampyre Hunter” published in the fantasy anthology “Devil’s Armory”). The character will also appear in a forthcoming comic story. Here’s the Joachim Blokk logo and some concept artwork of his weaponry.
Joachim Blokk: Vampyre Hunter Logo
Designs for Joachim Blokk’s firearms
Joachim Blokk weapon designs
Full colour painting of the diabolical arch-fiend Ka-Kur-Ra. Artwork by Martin Hanford.
Ka-Kur-Ra
All images, artwork, characters, text and illustrations copyright 1993, 2021 Byron A. Roberts. All rights reserved.
Byron Roberts (Bal-Sagoth) 