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Not one step backwards

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"He just spoke and we all did what he said without even thinking of questioning it. He said we weren't going to take one step back and not one of us did. The ones who died, died rather than fail him. Hell, I would have."


-Kyrophon on Commander Phrynikos, leader of the Cnossan unit at the Battle of Canan's Drift

UPDATE: Made a few changes to address things that have bothered me about this. Bit of bloom, more contrast especially with regard to his shadow and a bit more texture to various background objects. The original upload version is archived here if you care to compare changes. Let me know if you think this is an improvement (or conversely, if you think I've ruined it! =P) sta.sh/09xi3qicdhk

So here we have, completed in a manic fervour over the course of just a day or so, the standalone version of Kyrophon from his reference sheet. fav.me/dc3g2a9 :D
Here is Kyrophon on the battlefield, having the time of his life crushing things and chopping people! I'm really pleased with this overall and I think I managed to incorporate a few things I'd learned from inktober into this, namely that the secret to landscapes is to create convincing gestalts of objects rather than drawing everything in minute detail. I had somewhat of a dilemma with this though, in that how much gore was appropriate? On one hand, a fantasy battlefield is not a very nice place and getting hit by that thing Kyro swings around is not going to lead to an open-casket funeral. On the other hand, I do quite like to be able to show IRL normies my artwork without them thinking that I'm some kind of school-shooter in the making. I think there is a distinct transition between low-level gore and squicky sadistic gore when you start drawing dismembered bodies. I think I managed to hit a pretty good compromise, although I could probably have gone heavier on the blood spatters.

Let me know what you think, either about the picture itself or the background lore I've been making. Believe me, I've been having the best time crashing out lore for Kyro hahaha! If I've missed some cool opportunity, do let me know! :D

Useful resources:
Spatter Brushes
Some engravings for Kyrophon's armour
My favourite metal brush pack

:bulletred: Fluff:

Kyrophon's claim to fame among the humans is as one of the few surviving members of the Cnossan unit that successfully held their line in an untenable position for nearly two hours in the centre of the Battle of Canan's drift, thereby saving the small kingdom of Tirus from occupation. Their refusal to back down against repeated assaults from overwhelming numbers and the casualties they inflicted on elite enemy units sent to displace them ultimately allowed the Tirian king to regroup his exhausted troops and push the invaders back. Critical to this success was the leadership of one Commander Phrynikos, a massive and highly seasoned career mercenary who led the Cnossi into battle. Cnossi can be difficult for humans to deal with because they dislike taking orders from anyone smaller or weaker than themselves. Educated in the art of warfare and understanding the need for an absolute chain of command, while simultaneously being the largest and most senior member of his unit, Phrynikos could relay the orders of the king and his generals to the other Cnossi who obeyed him without question. With the battle won, Phrynikos stayed for the victory celebrations and then departed after collecting what was speculated to be a suitably enormous fee for saving the kingdom.

Canan's drift was Kyrophon's first experience of human warfare. Cnossi are far from a pacifistic race, but the sort of open warfare of extermination that humans and Kutrahl are wont to wage on their own kinds is somewhat alien to them. They live in small tribes where disputes inside of and between tribes can usually be resolved by a ritualistic duel between aggrieved parties. It is rare that this spills over into open conflict between other members and as such, while all tribes train in individual combat and post guards, they rarely maintain a professional army. Serving as Kyrophon did, fighting for a human army, Cnossi tend to be effective due to their sheer strength and toughness rather than any learned martial ability. After fighting alongside Phrynikos however and watching the devastation he could wreak, Kyrophon realised that true effectiveness in battle required practise and good judgement as well as a strong arm and good reflexes.
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Devynullk's avatar
really cool!