AW: Ardent Concept

I did a piece for Zvailles, so I thought I'd ring in the new year with... another lazy character portrait!

A-hem...

This is more or less a redesign of the original concept art for Ardent Genser. As I mentioned in Apply Within, even though his original concept art went through little change, his basic character did, starting as a dungeon master fairy to a broader "geek" fairy with powers drawing on a love of games of all kinds. Ardent sort of represents my peter pan complex: he's lighthearted, energetic, mischievous and a bit mean as any child can be, but never really means any harm.

I drew him up specifically as a fairy as opposed to a demon or angel, since his mischievous yet harmless nature is more befitting of the neutral road of the fey. Oh, that's a sore spot of his... don't call him a fairy: he's a fey! The difference? There really isn't one... at least not in Kaelriyu.

For the good, pure souls, one's fate is in Celestia, formed by meta composed of the dreams and happy thoughts of mortals.

For the bad, corrupt souls and lost hearts, one's fate is in the Netherworld, formed by meta composed of the nightmares and evil minds of mortals.

For the in-between? I suppose then Kaelriyu's equivalent of Purgatory is the Feyworld. This world is formed out of the creative fantasies of mortals, and is a mish-mash of mythical settings. As with Celestia and the Netherworld, residents of they Feyworld are split into 2 categories: naturals and the immigrants.

Ardent is the latter: He lived a lack-luster life running games indulging in his own fantasies. He died young and unfulfilled, but not a life of guilt or remorse. However, rejecting real life for his own fantasies weighted his soul. Reborn in the afterlife as a fey, he used his talents to bring pockets of joy to those more unhappy with their afterlives. Cleansing his soul by bringing joy to others (if a bit selfishly, intending to just entertain himself) allowed him the right to ascend or reincarnate. Opting to reincarnate as a true resident of the Feyworld, he was bestowed with powers of the natural fey. He can bend and travel through space and time, alter physical form, and toy with minds. Supplementing those powers are his ability to utilize his love of games in the forms of unique powers. As originally penned, he can draw people into his own fantasy worlds through his gaming module (pictured), turn people into incarnations of his trading cards or summon them directly, and manipulate things with magical controllers. Pen, paper, dice, boards and controllers are his domains. And of course, with a TG twist. Why? It's just fun for him, I guess. And in life and death, all things in good fun.

An idea I never got around to was for him and Zvailles to be joined by an angel, since Zvailles represents demons and Ardent they fey. The plot basically involved Zvailles becoming Ardent's butler (and in a way is) and Ardent screwing around with the time/space continuum, angering a prissy angel, Sarah Fym (aren't I clever?) with something to prove. Stumbling onto the information that Zvailles possesses the power rivaling that of the greatest demonic overlords, the party must escape the divine wrath of Angels bent on banishing all 3 to the Netherworld, a horde of demons that want in on the action, and a band of fey who just want to throw a wrench in everyone's plans.

I love the concept, but its a bit too cliché, eh? Oh, and thanks for reading all the way through if you got this far, I appreciate it! Except you, you who just read this bottom part skipping the middle. You know who you are.

Oh, and sorry for any typo's. I'm sick and drugged up so I'll be in shape to work tomorrow... Oooh, that was a BAD idea...