#the yet untitled qpr narilamb au

[cj-the-random-artist]

Is this my best comic ever?? Nope. Do I think I characterized either of these two particularly well in this comic?? Not really. Did I spend an unreasonable amount of time on it to the point that it would be a waste to not post it?? Yes, yes I did.

I really committed to this one, spent a lot of time on those backgrounds and treated myself to ample suffering with the perspective, which is not my strong suit but I am happy with how it ultimately looks. Yay perspective and background practice!!

(Tbh I shouldn't talk like I think this one sucks, I think I've just been staring at it for so long that my brain has decided it's not good and it's actually way better than I think it is, and honestly I am quite happy with it. The artistic process really is something, isn't it?)

The inspiration was basically me reminding... myself... to take breaks sometimes... by drawing for several hour stints during my only little bits of free time. Which totally tracks. Probably. But I've been rolling around in my brain this idea that Lambert is a very uptight people pleaser and anxious workaholic, but Narinder, at least since adjusting himself to the circumstances (which probably took at least a century, maybe two) has discovered the joys of self care, and has made an active effort to chill tf out. This has not made him any less terrifying to the cultists (save for Lambert's closest disciples), nor has it made him friendlier to really anyone but Lambert (and maybe his siblings), but he sure has found some serious peace of mind. That said, I can't place what his motivations are here. Perhaps he is secretly concerned about Lambert's sanity, because he doesn't want them to turn into what he was, or maybe he's just trying to steal away some quality time with his one and only friend, but regardless of the reason, I spent too much time on this for nobody to see it, dang it.

That said. Enjoy this silly little comic that I spent way too much time on, and I hope this silly comic brings you some joy today.

[cj-the-random-artist]

This was supposed to be lighthearted and I think it reads that way??? Idk but it was fun to make

(For context: the two followers getting married are Pana (the dog) and Julon (the deer (???)) and their kid is Fianna, and I know you can't officiate follower marriages in game but if we could that would be fun but really I just needed a context that would raise this topic of conversation lol)

Again. It's not a perfect comic and I was kind of rushing at the end but dang I enjoyed making it. I hope y'all like it and may good things happen for y'all today :D

[cj-the-random-artist]

Ok hear me out: Narilamb but they're both aroace and in a qpr.

I've been rolling around in my head for like a long long time this idea that Narinder and Lambert could both be aroace and (after like. A couple of centuries or so) end up in this like very comfortable very close relationship that neither of them define as anything specific other than calling it a "companionship". But on the other hand most of the cult thinks that they're dating in secret or something despite the fact that both of them have said they don't take lovers, because they are clearly very tight but maybe not super openly so, so maybe the cultists thing they're being secretive and hiding something or something like that. Idk but my aroace brain loves thinking about extremely close (mostly) platonic relationships and for some reason my brain decided hmm. I'm going to take this and throw it at Narilamb and see how I like it.

So then I decided to make a ridiculous joke comic about Narinder asking Lambert's hand in marriage specifically because he wants to get out of paying taxes. Because like, I know that spouse followers do actually still have to pay taxes in the actual game but. Hey Narinder and Lambert have presumably never married so they probably don't know that...? Honestly the only reason I made this was because the concept tickled me and I spent too much time on this for no one to see it, so. This comic and all it's absolute ridiculousness be upon ye.

While there's a tiny part of me that's been thinking about making this into an AU (which I'd probably call something like the "Strictly Platonic AU" or something), I know for a fact that I would blatantly not do anything legitimate with it so. It's an unofficial AU I guess?? But. Anyways. I thought this would be funny. Enjoy my ramblings and I hope you enjoy this thing that I spent. Actual time on. Lol

[cj-the-random-artist]

I let them get friendship married so Narinder can get his tax benefits lol

But legitimately. I mulled this one over repeatedly for literal months. Like. Do I want them to get married in front of the cult? Should they even get married? It would be hilarious if the Goat married them and then cried at the altar the whole time, but also... that doesn't feel right, so maybe I won't do that. And then once I decided it should be a personal friendship-marriage ritual where it's just the pair of them making vows to each other, I wrote four different scripts and hated them all and ended up just pulling this one out of thin air pretty much on the spot and that was that. At one point, I wanted Lambert to basically suggest this idea and then have them get friend-married on the spot, but that didn't feel right (and it was also gonna be unreasonably long) so that's why there's no context going into this one. And the actual friend-marriage ritual is... maybe not the best designed one ever? I wanted it to in some ways be similar to like, the way I imagine a romantic marriage happening in the cult- the parties exchange vows and do rings and stuff...? (If it's not obvious, I haven't been to many weddings...) But I figured they wouldn't want an audience, or to party with the whole cult afterwards, or anything like that. I also had them kiss each other's rings as opposed to like... faces... because one of the fights I had with myself in deciding how I would want this to go was whether it would make sense for them to kiss or not. And I ultimately decided that in this AU at least they just wouldn't want to. They're also wearing the rings on their not ring fingers cuz. Honestly it just felt right that way. Based on vibes. But basically I just wanted them to exchange a vow of eternal partnership in a very casual, chill setting, because I don't picture QPR AU Narilamb doing... anything other than that.

Also this is the rest of Lambert's office, which I actually had a pretty clear vision for after my last doodle but I didn't really bother to draw before starting this comic. Maybe I should've but eh it looks good enough. Interior backgrounds are hard......

Anyways. I think I'm happy with this one? I was enamored by the concept of a chill friendship marriage, so I definitely leaned into it here. As per usual, it's not perfect, I think I could've done a lot of stuff better / differently, but honestly?? If I were to ever get friend-married I would want it to go about like this, it makes my little aroace heart happy, and I spent too long on it to not show it to anybody. Thus. Enjoy, and also happy new year cuz I totally forgot to make a post individually about that...

[cj-the-random-artist]

I have made. Another comic. I took a very, very long time, as usual lmao. I originally got inspired to make this after watching through Arcane cuz. Nicely done media makes me want to make things and all that. And, at that time, I'd sent Narinder out on a mission trip in my new save and he came home full of existential dread (I have terrible luck with Narinder on missions therefore so does QPR AU Lambert I guess lol), and it had occurred to me that that would make an interesting premise for a comic maybe?? Turns out it did.

I think I'm happy with this?? The perfectionist in me is not, and to be honest I think I could've drawn a lot of things better and also I think this would read better if it felt a little slower... but also it's 13 pages long so I can't fault myself all that much. I do wish I had spent more time on some of these interactions, particularly between Lambert and the Goat and also between Narinder and his siblings, I have a lot of thoughts about the Bishops post their joining the cult but I haven't had a ton of time to really like... flesh out those ideas as much as I would like to. Maybe someday?? Idk.

Semi-related, while this comic gave me a lot of thoughts about the Bishops it also gave me a lot of thoughts about like, the exact like, I guess boundaries and terms of Narinder and Lambert's QPR, and also about what exactly happened to Narinder while he was out, and he's not lying a lot did happen but that's a little too long to just throw in the description here so maybe future me will describe it somewhere or something. This comic also got me thinking about Webber a fair bit, and once day I will expand upon those thoughts but not today, I have outside activities today lol

Anyways. This comic, like all my art, is not perfect, but it was fun to make and I spent too long on it for nobody to see it, so... enjoy!!

[cj-the-random-artist]

I kept debating how to end this short little mini comic. In the original script, they were gonna hold hands (scandalous, I know lmfao), but I didn't think it hit quite right in comic format when I tried to make it longer. Hence why it ends... like that.

Anyways I wrote like a ton of comic scripts for COTL comics that just didn't hit right / I couldn't commit to making and then when driving home from work last week in the pitch darkness I thought about how nice it is to see like actual stars. And I feel like with the cult grounds being kind of among a lot of trees and all that it might take a short hike to get a really, really, really good view of the night sky and stuff. Thus. This.

It's arguably not my best work (I'm out of practice drawing good night skies and all that) but I'm happy with it. Enjoy this thing I made

[cj-the-random-artist]

Here's a Cult of the Lamb comic that I scripted on a whim and then spent. Actual time on.

I hope y'all like this cuz it was fun to make and. I spent actual time on it lmfao

(Also for the "brought Narinder back" line. I started a new save and I swear between my two saves he's died three times. This guy. Goodness gracious.)

[cj-the-random-artist]

Not a comic but. Have some sketches and a silly little illustration style doodle that I speedran based on one of the sketches

I've been writing up scripts for comics and like. I do like a few of them but idk that I'm gonna have the time to commit to like. Actually making them into actual comics. So instead I decided to sit down and scribble out some doodles of QPR Au Narilamb cuz I had some free time and used it to sketch (ya know instead of like. Taking a real actual break lmfao)

Most of these sketches are based on ideas I have for the Au? For instance, three of the comics I've written but may never draw have Narinder exhibiting Peak Cat Behaviors by sitting on Lambert's desk while they're working (when I say working I mean. Doodling. Because they are struggling to make actual progress on whatever they're supposed to be working on, yk) so I've decided. That's just. Part of Narinder's characterization in this Au now?? He just likes to interrupt Lambert specifically by sitting and waiting on their desk for them to pay attention to him. Idk I just think it's funny. Anyways. I have a handful of other thoughts about Lambert and Narinder individually in the QPR Au that also landed on this page, but those are gonna be a future-me-explains-later kinda vibe.

That said. Enjoy these silly little doodles of my silly QPR Au and may at least one good thing happen for all of y'all today :D

[cj-the-random-artist]

Let us dance into the night as the fire rages on....

Gonna add a greyscale version, the sketch this was based on under the cut, but all I really have to say about this is that this is the first time in a long time. Maybe even years. That I've sketched up a simple doodle and had it grab me by the soul and rip and illustration out of me. This is also the first illustration in a long time where I enjoyed the whole process. I also tried different techniques and stuff here and I'm in love with how this turned out actually

But yeah greyscale version and sketch this was based on under the cut

I was gonna add some rambles down here about the way I think about Narinder and the Lamb's dynamic and the stuff going on in the background and other things but after spending like an hour and a half writing and rewriting this caption. Uh. Nevermind lol

Enjoy the chaos that is this drawing and, if you're reading this, may something good happen for you today

[cj-the-random-artist]

This was like way funnier in my head but I've figured out (finally) how the Goat works in my still unnamed QPR Narilamb au

Basically the idea is that, after a long time repressing their anxiety, Lambert (somehow, I haven't figured out the details yet) accidentally summons the Goat, who is a physical manifestation of what Lambert believes to be their most negative traits, specifically the ones they have tried extremely hard to hide from their flock. I think my Lambert is a major perfectionist and can't handle the idea of doing anything even slightly wrong ever and that eventually makes them quite... closed off and unapproachable. The Goat, on the other hand, is all the things Lambert has been trying to hide from their flock for like centuries- they're impulsive and disorganized and silly and very very okay with not being perfect, and the flock finds them so incredibly endearing. And Lambert and all their social anxiety is so very baffled. Also I think Narinder appreciates the Goat and warms up to them faster than Lambert does, idk why but I think they are very chill with each other.

But yea. I mean idk how Lambert summons the Goat (who I don't have a name for yet) but. I mean again this was so much funnier in my head but I wanted to make something low pressure which is why this exists now. Enjoy :D

[cj-the-random-artist]

Be it as it may that I've spent the last few weeks very very very much itching to make comics but. Alas. I am. Under the weather, to put it lightly and I have been for a while so. I attempted to scratch the comics itch by making actual references for the (yet unnamed) silly au versions of Narinder and Lambert so that when I do return to making comics I have good references for them (I should probably make some for like the Bishops and like some other canon characters and maybe some followers but I'll do it later it's fine)

Gonna add a read more with their individual refs with some of the layers of these outfits and some bonus notes. I would've done more stuff for these but it's fine it's a future me task-

Pls enjoy these, have a good one y'all :D

[cj-the-random-artist]

Have a Bishops + Lambert height chart and some bonus sketches (including a lot of Kallamar because for some reason he's become one of those characters for me who is unreasonably hard but also weirdly fun to doodle), hopefully I will have more comics soon I have a handful of comic WIPs and an ungodly amount of comic scripts that I might finish but equally I also might not, so maybe this'll be good for a while lol. I have also made some like references for the follower forms for the Bishops so I have a good reference for drawing them but idk if I'm gonna post them cuz I'm not super happy with any of them... we'll see...??

Tbh idk if I'm gonna tag all these?? Cuz like. Roughly half the canon COTL characters are in this array of doodles so maybe I'll just tag the Bishops and the Goat and Lambert and call it a day tbh,,, But have some Untitled QPR Narilamb Au (maybe I should just call it that at this point...) doodles, and may y'all have lovely days / nights

[cj-the-random-artist]

Have an array of mediocre pen sketches from the past several weeks, including some queerplatonic narilamb AU characterization thoughts for Lambert Narinder and the Goat, and a doodle of Narinder having a self care day inspired by the healing prompt from stychu’s amazing prompt list (that I would’ve done were it not for the fact that I’m awful at prompt list challenges)

I have more thoughts about these but I also have an Outside Activity to do very imminently so. Later

Enjoy these shenanigans and have a good one (and apologies for my awful handwriting lol)

[cj-the-random-artist]

I started a comic that I might be able to finish either today or tomorrow but for now have this marker doodle from like a week or so ago cuz I thought it would be funny

The beetroot was lowkey fun to draw actually. I don’t draw like food items very often if ever and this was kinda fun

Narinder’s complaining about something

Also hopefully I can finish that comic cuz I’m excited about it

[cj-the-random-artist]

I’m working on a comic rn and this sketch isn’t gonna make it into the final version but it was too funny to not post (that is narinder for the record I just didn’t sketch his scar in for this one, cuz I figured out early on enough that I wasn’t gonna keep it so I didn’t bother ahem but I promise that is him lol)

[cj-the-random-artist]

Hello! In the last post about your AU you mentioned Baal and Aym, so I want to ask you about them: what kind of relationship between Narinder and boys in your Au? Did they stay in Cult or Lambert return them to mother after some time?

Also I really curious about others characters, Bishops for example: are you planning to reveal them more or draw some comics about them, like you did with Lambert and Narinder?

Yeah, there’s a lot of big questions, sorry😅 Love your comics and Au, will be watching next works💕

I have a lot of Aym and Baal thoughts, so I am happy to answer! I actually had a like, mini-series of episodic comics about Aym and Baal in this AU scribbled out somewhere, but... that was before I had solidified how I actually wanted them to appear in this AU, and also it was like 6 or 7 very long comics that I knew I would never have the time to actually commit to making. I might make one at some point, but I don't see it happening soon.

So Aym and Baal, in my AU, are summoned back to the land of the living and spend a good few years in the cult adjusting to being alive again before Lambert brings them back to Forneus, after which point they spend their time either traveling, staying with Forneus, or visiting the cult. Upon their initial return, they're both dazed and confused and baffled about everything that's going on. They have to learn for basically the first time in their lives how to take care of themselves in terms of, like, their mortality. Like they have to learn to recognize when they need to eat / drink / sleep / stuff like that. Baal, I think, adjusts pretty well socially. He's a little awkward, but by the end of the first month or so he's managed to befriend a few of the Disciples and he's began getting to know Webber in an almost like, friendly step-sibling way, to the point that eventually after a few years Webber and Baal kind of see each other as bonus brothers. Baal also warms up to Lambert fairly quickly. Aym, on the other hand, spends the first six or so months of being alive trying to convince Narinder to stage a coup and rise up against Lambert, much to Narinder's chagrin. It takes longer for Aym to accept that things have changed and Narinder isn't interested in being a god or taking back his crown, and that Narinder and Lambert are on good terms. Aym and Baal also both take jobs in the cult, sort of...? Baal takes the crypt keeper job, and trains Webber as an apprentice, so that when Baal returns to his mother and Webber's grown up he takes that job. Aym, however, doesn't take an official job? He primarily just... shadows Narinder wherever he goes and refuses to do much else until Narinder and Lambert decide well, you're security now I guess. Which is a role Aym is satisfied with.

Initially, when Aym and Baal are brought back to the land of the living, Narinder tries to distance himself from the both of them so that he doesn't have to face them and come to terms with his own guilt (he also does this with his siblings for a while, particularly Shamura). Aym and Baal, however, are extremely persistent, and refuse to let him get away with not talking to them after everything that's happened. It takes a while for Narinder to, like, basically forgive himself for his mediocre parenting, but he is grateful that Aym and Baal give him the chance to do better, and eventually he kind of comes to accept that whether he likes it or not, they view him as a parental figure, and he does eventually try to live up to that as best as he can for his now-adult children. And both Aym and Baal are glad to have their father figure back in their lives, and they're glad that Narinder is happy. Baal also is definitely the first of the two to actually call Narinder "dad", and it takes a long time for Narinder to stop feeling embarrassed by the title.

As for the Bishops... I have a lot of thoughts about them in this AU too, which could probably warrant their own posts at some point. A part of me does want to save the ideas I have for them for comics, but just like everything else in this AU, the thoughts I do have are just long enough and my schedule right now is just bonkers enough that I don't know that I'm ever going to be able to fully commit to making comics about them. So if anyone's interested, I would be down to ramble about the Bishops in this silly little AU sometime. And maybe sometime I'll get around to the Bishop-centric comics I have thought about... but I make no promises. So like, wishful thinking me wants to give the Bishops their own comics, but it's probably not gonna happen, so I'll maybe write up a post like this about them sometime.

I hope this long long long post answered the questions you asked, and have a good one!!! :D