FINAL MAJOR PROJECT OUTCOME
With a feel of the general narrative down, I wanted to start to develop the designs for some of the characters that I thought would be important. As a final decision, I decided that I would make a 3D Model in high quality, most likely of the main character/ Tidal Soldier, and along with that, I would decide to make a matching 2D full body render of this same character. I would design a matching weapon for him, and then perhaps transfer this to 3D to make sure that I can make this character go into a dynamic pose (as I also want to rig the model of it). I would plan to use Zbrush and Blender for the modelling process, then Unreal Engine 5 for the rigging and rendering process with Adobe Substance Painter for the texturing process. I kept in mind that I would have to watch many tutorials to get into good practices with these software. As a stretch goal, I would decide to do full renders for at maximum three of the ‘boss’ characters, one for each region of the
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
I started by making a mood board for each character to fully gauge what I wanted to see from each of them, and so that I would get a proper feel of the aesthetics that each of them would cover.
THE TIDAL SOLDIER
The first and main character I would focus on is the Tidal Soldier (also called the Half-Moon Soldier), who ends up becoming a central point in the story. The rest of the characters that I would develop would be the ‘boss’ or some of the major enemies he has to encounter within the progression of the story. I decided that I liked the original concept that I developed for summer and went down this route for making a mood board for him. I wanted to make him someone who looked unimposing, yet have something leader-like or unique about him, as he had previously led several people into a nearly successful battle against the Eclipse Monarch Lupus long ago, due to his immunity to the Ecliptic Blight (as he is of half moon and sun lineage). Though, Monarch Lupus eliminated his men, with the Tidal Soldier inadvertently causing all their deaths- he sent the Tidal Soldier all the way back to the coast, personally throwing him on the edge of the water, lying and telling many of the terrified soldiers who witness this that the Tidal Soldier’s Moon-oriented powers had gone out of control and he had directly killed all of the soldiers who had joined his campaign. Before any soldier could protest, the Half-Moon Soldier was dragged into a prison cell where he was sealed inside using Ecliptic power that could not be undone. Lupus disappears, and does not elaborate further.
The Tidal Soldier is only finally allowed to get out of prison when a messenger from the Eclipse Domain removes the seal from his cell, and his sentence is lifted. The Eclipse messenger disappears and a fellow soldier of New Sol tells him that a case of Ecliptic Blight has made its way into the thriving half of New Sol- the Tidal Soldier is begrudgingly sent out on this mission, where people are ultimately surprised at his return- but he cannot seem to remember anything beyond a few foggy memories, all he knows is that he has his weapon, and that he is exceedingly proficient with it: a sword of light, a rapier that can harness light and also an almost standard looking, but special shotgun that only is given to higher rankings.
The tropes surrounding this character are heavily based off of the book ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, where the main character, Edmond Dantes is falsely accused for the crime of conspiracy (being a Bonapartist), and is sent to prison for thirteen years. He eventually escapes and becomes the elusive ‘Count of Monte Cristo’ and seeks revenge against the men who had him sent to prison in the first place.
LUNATIC PLAYWRIGHT
The first boss that would be encountered, and an introduction to how precarious the situation would be the ‘Lunatic Playwright’. He is a famous playwright and composer within the thriving New Sol for his popular plays, which always involve tragedy in one way or another. No one had ever seen him, but he is simply referred to as ‘Dante’ among the crowds who speak about him. The Tidal Soldier finds many traces of Ecliptic Blight around the main theatre, and eventually attends a show that was rumoured to be one of his best. When attending this show, the Playwright makes an appearance himself, and knowing that the Tidal Soldier is there, he threatens him publicly- this then initiates a fight after most of the audience run out in a panic. As the Playwright is weakened, he melds with the Ecliptic Blight, showing his form as a mangled monster, and once killed, the theatre becomes a hazard zone. Through this, though, more of the Blight spreads into the city, causing mass distress.
The Lunatic Playwright acts on behalf of the Eclipse Domain, and is Lupus’ personally sent overseer for the progress of Ecliptic Blight. The reason I had chosen him to be a playwright and composer is because it was a very remote yet extravagant set of occupations, where one can be hidden away from the general public and still be well-known, and also become a covert threat.
He was inspired by ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, specifically the titular character, The Phantom, as he composes and writes plays whilst being generally unseen by the public and terrorising the opera house covertly. Along with this, he is also inspired by the covert threats experienced and perceived by Victorian society, as after the case of Jack the Ripper, London was still in quite a terror and additionally Gothic literature moved its horror closer to where the readers were, such as with ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. This book received much scrutiny from Victorians as it showed themes that they were fearful of, such as degradation.
MERCEDES
In the middle of the story’s events, when the Tidal Soldier has to go back to the coast after gaining context for the origin of the Blight, he seeks a Fragment of the Sun’s power that is reportedly being protected by a formidable guardian. The Tidal Soldier then sails to the main depth of the Abyssal Hollow in the vast ocean, encountering monstrous foes.
When finally encountering Mercedes, it is meant to feel like a stark contrast to all the horrors you have faced at sea- she is a ruthless yet elegant warrior whose stubbornness and initial caution cause her to defend the Fragment but most importantly defend the Heart of the Sea. Upon her defeat, and finding out the Tidal Soldier’s true nature, she collaborates with him, and eventually hands the Fragment to him, which will allow the player to make a choice on what they would want to do with it: to empower the Age of the Eclipse… or find the fallen Martyr.
When finding inspirations for Mercedes I wanted to convey a strong, capable female warrior that acted on her own volition, so I wanted her design to be mostly, if not, completely concealed in armour or cloth for utmost protection and efficiency in combat. I also had the idea to make her wield some kind of lance, harpoon or trident to reference spear fishing or Poseidon and Neptune (as they are synonymous with the trident). I was also set on referencing a type of sea creature within her design- I initially wanted to go for swordfish, but I expanded this idea to be more broad with my concept. I wanted her to exude a ship captain or huntress aesthetic, as well as a chivalrous warrior, straying from most gender-conforming convention, which I thought was very important in conveying in a character.
For Mercedes, characters I looked to for inspiration were namely Ulpianus from Arknights, a leader of a sea-oriented group who was thought to have died, but sought the truth of his situation underwater- a lot of his aesthetics were taken into account when I made this character. Additionally, I also looked to strong female figures such as Malenia from Elden Ring and Lady Maria from Bloodborne. Lady Maria specifically was also a larger inspiration as she is swift, nimble and acts within her own volition.
THE MARTYR
For the last character that I would decide to concept, I chose the Martyr, Ascanius, who the Tidal Soldier would eventually end up meeting upon deciding that he does not want to activate the Age of the Eclipse, and instead wants to restore harmony, or bring Ascanius back for the sake of purging his authority. Either way, a duel would be initiated with him as a form of respecting his dignity as one route would have him dead, and the other would prove that you are worthy of deciding the fate of Sol and Selen.
Ascanius was trapped within his kingdom as it eventually fell into ruins without his power, and the people of Sol moving out to New Sol, with only a few protecting his body and acting as his loyal defenders even if they would rot there. He eventually fell into a deep stasis/slumber where he would remain idle for years, until Lupus would change his plans and return his authority, or someone would defeat Lupus and attempt to restore balance once more. I planned for him to look decrepit, but have a look that he was once radiant in his prime. Like my initial concept for his encounter, I wanted him to have dim glows on him in the form of some halo or something else. I also wanted his armour to allude to his nobility, but be dulled out by battle and time. So, I looked to many references such as some of the fallen heroes from various FromSoftware games like the Twin Princes from Dark Souls 3, or Marika and Radagon from Elden Ring. I planned for his armour to be very intricate, and for him to wear a good amount of cloth to suggest his status, but be ultimately worn out.