Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated. Yes, unfortunately some detail was lost in transition. The fang marks on Covenant's arm are where he was poisoned - on the original you can see the reddened veins as the venom works its way outwards from the wound - hence the red swelling - but unfortunately you can't see that so well here. (I posted these bits original size, so you can see.) I tried to get the effect of the venom creeping slowly outwards, which actually plays a big part in how the story develops later on. Hmm, I actually didn't tell the whole truth about the "glaze"! Yes, I did intend for it to be there, but I didn't intend for it to be that strong. I increased the strength simply to get the benefit of the HDRI lighting, because it's not actually specularity on the skin, it's reflectivity, at about 8%. The specularity is actually very low. Vain was a challenge, because I was trying to portray him as accurately as possible, and in the book he is completely black, even his teeth and his eyes, and he seems to refuse light. Again, his feral grin didn't come across in the small version, so I posted his face original size. Maybe I should have used artistic license and given him some more highlights! And I agree that the composition of the group is lacking something, although I'm still not sure what. The analysis is helpful, Humorix. You've address the composition, which is what most troubled me, and I think you've come up with a way to improve it, but there's still something amiss. Somehow, the group is still too "bitty". And Foul, yes, he was much clearer immediately after the render, as you can see, but I did intend for him to be difficult to see. I attacked him with the diffusion brush in Photopaint as he was IMO too clear immediately post-render. I think I made the mistake of telling people he was there - maybe it would be better if people hadn't have seen him, or maybe seen him later on...? I've learned a lot doing this piece and also seeing the reaction. I did constrain myself not just to the looks of the characters, but also to their characterisation in the books. Covenant is close to breaking because the fate of the Land lies on his shoulders and Foul is trying to manipulate him into destroying it. Linden is tortured as she can feel the suffering of the Land as it's ravaged by the evil Sunbane. Pitchwife laughs in the face of adversity and his wife (The First) is strong and stalwart. Vain has a hidden purpose, never speaking but serving Covenant in his own way. Brinn, too, serves Covenant but expects perfection in return for his loyaltly. SO... I reckon what this has taught me is that when you're working to a strict spec, whether it's your own or someone else's, it's twice as hard to get everything to fit together in an artistic sense!!! Big thanks to everyone who commented here & in the gallery, 'specially Humorix - it's clear you put a lot of thought into it.