Fantasy characters 🐲 Q&A thread ANSWERS! (Patreon)

You asked and I answered!! I picked and chose from the big ol' list of questions I got from you guys. I actually found answering these really fun, and it spurred a lot of inspiration for future paintings, so at some point when I have a free second I might swing back to this and answer the other questions that I didn't get to this time around. But for now.... get into it!

And if all this is too nerdy, cringe, and up its own ass for your tastes... then don't worry, I'll have some hot new art to post on Monday 😝😝

1: from @Greg Knoke, "I think you've hinted Sipher wasn't always a bad guy, what's his backstory for how he became one?"

Yes indeed! Once, not so very long ago, Sipher was an adventurer wandering the kingdom and offering his swordarm to worthy causes. He sought out the most challenging assignments and was excited to earn fame and fortune. Unfortunately for him, one day he accepted a mission that ended up being beyond his skill to accomplish... An evil wizard was terrorizing a distant valley, and (according to reports) was using magical summoned tentacles to wreak havoc! Sipher struck out alone to take down the wizard, but, the wizard's magical strength was far too much for him to overcome. Some say that the wizard's ultimate goal was not to terrorize some peasants, but instead to lure out an eager fighter which he could ensnare, and then dominate through the force of his magic. The wizard's tentacles wrapped around Sipher, and penetrated him, and he was never the same since. His eyes flared with wicked magic and he felt his will bent to the wizard's. Now he wanders the world as a bounty hunter - cold, bloodthirsty, and as silent as a shadow. He also gave himself an edgy new mohawk haircut.

Whether the wizard still exists, and is directing Sipher from afar like a puppet master, remains to be seen! One thing is for sure though - a rage burns within him directed toward the Knight-Captain of the holy cathedral city, Verrix. That rage will cause him to act rashly and impulsively if it means he has a chance to attack the holy knight.

2: from @Mac Foraday, "I would like to know what happened after "Verrix Exorcising Sipher". We now know that Sipher was corrupted by an evil wizard's tentacles. Was Verrix's "tentacle" successful in uncorrupting him?"

Sipher's rage toward Verrix is only matched by the holy wrath that Verrix feels back toward him! The two are diametrically opposed, a yin and yang, and their clashes are always violent. The scene of Sipher's exorcism in the church was only one occasion when they've crossed swords. On that day, Verrix victoriously captured the wicked bounty hunter and dragged him into the cathedral chancel, and before the assembled clergy, administered an exorcism in the way he does best. Immediately afterwards, the burning fire dimmed to a smolder in Sipher's eyes, and he limped back to his cell in the cathedral dungeons bound in chains. Satisfied with a job well done, Verrix retired to his chambers. But in the middle of that night, he was awoken by a panicked acolyte - Sipher was gone! Somehow, the shadow had escaped again, with all his wicked powers restored. Only a wisp of black smoke clung to the air of the dungeon cell, and the acolytes could swear they could still hear the echo of low, murderous laughter...

3: from @Murphyus, "What is The Scourgemaster's relationship to the minotaurs? Is he one as well?

The Scourgemaster, as are all the agents of Chaos, is a massive and powerful demon, so I can't say he's really a true minotaur even if that is his shape. But, he commands a horde of lesser demons alongside him! And in his case, his lesser demons are minotaurs, like smaller copies of his own image. They're no less chaotic and destructive (and horny), just not quite as large, or fiery. They follow his orders - as much as demons of Chaos can follow orders.

4: also from @Murphyus, "Any backstory you can share for Ulvir? Is he related to Ulrich? Is his the story of a mighty prince struck down in his prime?"

Ulvir, as you already guessed, is indeed related to King Ulrich! In fact, the two are brothers. Many years ago, Ulvir was the champion warrior of the Boreal Kingdom, while the elder Ulrich was content to govern from the throne. An undead frost dragon had risen in the north, and threatened the kingdom. Ulvir rode out bravely, and in single combat battled the skeletal dragon! The two mighty forces were equally matched, and after three days of combat, they struck a mighty blow against each other, and together fell to the ground dead - each slain by the other. The winds howled, the snow blew, and a blizzard swept across the snowy fields. And within the blizzard was something else... a malevolent spirit of the far north, silent and invisible, waiting for a century for the right host to come along to reanimate. And at last it had found one. Ulvir rose from the snowy wastes, his eyes burning blue, and the dragon-inflicted gash across his chest burning with an icy blue flame within. Now, he walks the snowy wastes like a wraith, and woe to any hapless travelers or soldiers on patrol who might cross his path...

5: from @David, "What are the major factions in the world? How are these characters related, if at all?"

The four major elements (Holy, Chaos, Life, and Death) loosely designate the factions of the world. The Holy element belongs to the huge cathedral city (seen in the background of Verrix's scene on the cliff, and also in the foreground of Za'axl's scene) and its many inhabitants - from the godliest holy champion all the way down to lowly footsoldiers guarding the rampart. Chaos belongs to the most terrifying, monstrous creatures of the world - thankfully few in number, but catastrophic when they show their faces. The Holy forces from the cathedral city stand in opposition to the Chaos demons, meeting them in battle, and doing their best to strike them back.
Life and Death are a bit more of umbrella terms than Holy and Chaos. All the smaller kingdoms, tribes, and solitary spirits of the land belong to the Life element. King Ulrich's frozen kingdom to the north, the elven shamans and satyrs of the great Weald, the desert clans, and the beast tribes that roam the plains all serve Life. Against them stand the spirits of Death - who have no kingdom, or clan, and almost always work entirely solitarily. The malevolent wraiths that serve Death stalk the land, and slay the living in the darkest, coldest nights, cornering them alone in the darkness before delivering the killing blow. Worst of all, the powers of Death enable them to raise their slain targets back to new undead life, and thus the ranks of Death swell with each successful kill.

6: also from @David, "How is sex and or homosexuality seen/perceived? Is there a reason for the rather skimpy male attire?"

I think the answer to this question is evolving! But, I can say, as is probably obvious from the art, that sex and magic are intertwined in this world. Many of the characters use sexuality as part of their powers - or, their powers are innately connected to their sexuality. For example, Reed's tracking powers are connected to his arousal - the closer he gets to his prey, the more excited he becomes, and he uses this to enhance his hunting powers. Verrix proudly shows his boner as a symbol of his own self-disipline and strength - and, as we've seen, forcefully exorcises demons through penetration. Sipher has been known to seduce his assassination targets before delivering the killing blow - sometimes during the act of sex itself, using his sexuality to dominate his target and erode their defenses. And the Scourgemaster... whatever comes out of that demonic minotaur cock is capable of laying waste to entire villages.
So in light of all that, I think the skimpy revealing attire is purposeful. Sexuality, for these heroes and probably for everyday soldiers too, is tied into their magic and battlefield prowess. In this world, it's something to be centered and shown off, not hidden in shame!

7: from @SCBobaTea, "Will we ever see any of them dueling each other (besides the lovely scene of Verrix and Sipher together hehe)?"

Absolutely!! I would love to show more of that. The twisted hate/lust between Verrix and Sipher is ripe for more scenes. They feel a burning hate toward each other that consumes everything else - and causes them to forget all their discipline, training, and strategy. All that goes out the window when they see the other in striking distance - and somehow, their paths keep intersecting, like they're drawn to each other by forces outside their control. However... neither of them want to admit that that burning hate is equally mixed with lust. There is an attraction that neither will ever verbalize, or submit to; they see each other only as mortal adversaries, even if their bodies feel something else.