Before the Shatterlands became what it is, there were years of unraveling — and Afterglow doesn't skip over it.

The main lore chapter "Becoming the Shatterlands" is a collection of short stories drawn from real sessions, scattered across the years when the world was starting its spiral. Fear, uncertainty, distrust, anger, loss — each story carries its own emotional fingerprint, and each one is anchored by a single image meant to freeze that moment in amber.

Mary Bennett is the artist carrying that entire chapter on their shoulders, and the work speaks for itself. Every image lands exactly where it needs to — you read the story, you look at the illustration, and something locks into place. You don't just understand what the character is going through. You feel it.

This is no small ask for a single artist. The scope is significant and the schedule has been demanding. Mary has exceeded expectations at every turn without missing a beat.

Seriously — go check out their portfolio. The talent is obvious, and I'm grateful to have them on this project.