Process
After taking a significant hiatus, I wanted to try to renew my interest in drawing again. Something I was really struggling with was the juxtaposition between cartoon outlines and realistic shading. I felt I was not marrying the two in a way that made sense. Instead of keeping the cartoon outlines and staying true to them, I instead left them in the sketch and committed to painting instead. I know for many this is still a cartoon, but for me the way I shade characters makes more sense in this image.
Critique
I feel I am still letting my inexperience decide where the character looks and how they stand rather than the character's intention. Perhaps Sebastian should be looking straight ahead, and his sword does not rest on his shoulder. Perhaps in the future I will have more to critique about this drawing.
Concept
Elegant, clean, handsome. Shoulder-length, straight blond hair. His eyes are a vibrant bright blue, sometimes with clouds drifting across the iris. His face is angular, but with delicate features, brows delicately manicured. He wears a glamorous, gilded overcoat with a high popped collar and a silk under-shirt with floral designs. He wears tights with a waist pouch for his harrow deck, potions, gold and a healers kit. He wears comfortable leather boots however he is incredibly light on his feet. His rapier has an ornate hilt.
While I did not stick to the idea religiously, I do feel I captured the spirit of what I was going for.
Character Details
This is a character for a Pathfinder 2E world written by Bruce Spencer, so I have an entire character sheet here if you want to know more about him.
Names
Casually, Sebastian. Parents call him Sebby. Sister calls him Bas. Formally, Seer Gallant. On stage, The Saint!
Self-image
Of the people, for the people. This is all a part of the act — he is a daydreaming pirate. He knows he is beautiful and often appealing to others due to his sylvan eyes being literally dreamy.
Origin
Born in the Twilight Forest to nobles seeking refuge in partown after the fall of Calamaria.
Demeanour
Clear accent, well spoken and charming; holds his head high and uses his free hand to flourish while he speaks, mimicking how he holds his rapier and harrow cards during performances and fortune telling.
Background Questions
Who from your community taught you to have such confidence in yourself?
My big sister Val has always been an inspiration for me, always pushing me to do something more with my life whether I like it or not.
Why was the community you grew up in so reliant on nature and its creatures?
Many wild animals have become domesticated to survive in the harsh food chain of the land, with burrowing animals all but extinct. I care deeply about the animals and want to help them when I can. My mother was a conservationist that gave her life to save animals.
A terrible creature hurt your community, and you've vowed to hunt them down. What are they, and what unique trait or sign do they leave behind?
One of the great burrowing animals killed my mother when we were trying to save a rare wombat. It was stronger than the usual beasts, with red and yellow stripes and gills full of mud. The mud from its gills has a unique, sweet smell that I can never forget.
Who taught you to fight?
My father taught me how to wield a rapier, as my big sister was born with powerful sorcerous magic, and he wanted me to keep up.
Wants
To live freely and explore the world. He draws on the cards hoping for the day he can leave Partown and the Academy behind, however they always tell him to remain, as his sister needs support.
Needs
Freedom, autonomy, companionship, family.
Fears
Losing more family, being embarrassed, being imprisoned, the great burrowing beasts.
Character Purpose
To explore the world, bring whimsy and fun, defeat monsters.
Likes
Vanilla, geese, good music, naked men, hookah parlours, laughing, comedy, dancing.
Dislikes
Mud, poetry, the town guard, silence, unnecessary violence.
Resources
As a member of the Cloud Seers, he earns a fixed income by supporting their endeavours and encouraging public opinion. While he has some fortune-telling ability, he does not work very hard and generally spends more time in revelry than actually helping people.
He relies on his sister, member of the Cloud Knights, to keep him out of trouble, however he has been known to jump into the fray as a skilled swordsman. While he is very charming, his sister's status is often more respected.
He has a room in the academy where most of his meals are taken care of and, if he chooses to use an instrument, can collect one from the vaults; he is more of a dancer.
He has an acquaintance in every part of Partown and always greet speople with a smile and a card from the deck. While this is not always a tangible resource, he does generally rely on the kindness of others when possible.
Skills and Abilities
He is a skilled dancer, acrobat and swordsman, able to pick up a lute and sing a four-chord song. He is great with animals and knows a little bit about everything. He is skilled at fortune-telling and rather clever, although not too clever — just enough to convince people to do what he wants. The potential is there to one day be a great leader if he puts his mind to it.
Weaknesses
He is always confident to a fault, even in the face of great danger. His hubris works most of the tiem, but it could easily be his downfall. He is not book-smart, and does not always make the best decisions — largely because he does not take things seriously. He is not very crafty or hands-on, preferring to move his body than fiddle with tools.
Questions for Val
What do I do that annoys you?
Val joined the Cloud Knights for honour and to help people, and thinks that Ic ould be doing better with my life. She thinks I should have honed my gift to join the Rain Watchers, but instead I chose the Cloud Seers so that I didn't have to work hard.
What animal do I say you remind me of?
I always say she's such a dragon, beacuse she's ferocious and confident, and sometimes mean! But I know she loves me.
What did I recently convince you to do that got us both in trouble?
I convinced Val to sneak me into the cloud wyrm stables so I could study their ethology and look at their pretty scales. One of the wyrms became angry and smashed the wall and we were both reprimanded.
What promise did you make me agree to should you die on the battlefield?
Val wants to be cremated and scattered into a storm, so that she can be with her mother, and to look after her cloud wyrm.
Val's Questions for Sebastian
Why do you trust me so deeply?
You're my big sister and you're always right!
What did I do that makes you cautious around me?
Your temper, especially when your sword is in reach!
What mundane task do you usually help me with off the battlefield?
Looking after Zephyra, your cloud wyrm. (feeding, grooming, mucking out stables)
What fear am I helping you overcome?
Great burrowing beasts! Oh my!
Relationships
Val is his sister who he sees the most. His Dad is an alcoholic who still grieves his two wives who have both been taken from him. He no longer carries his swords and is mostly looked after by his maid as he drinks the rest of his life away. Sebastian's mother died doing what she loved. He never knew Val's mother. He is acquainted with many in town but usually sees people as work or play. He secretly wants to spend more time with animals, but going out into the wilderness alone is dangerous.
Interest
Fun, actively will engage and interact with NPCs and the world. He gets a goose at level 2!
Motivation / Call to Action
Sebastian cares about the world, and his sister, and he also wants to explore and have new experiences. He may need to leave behind his glamorous lifestyle, and perhaps leave his Dad on a bit of a sad note. Hopefully Sebastian's father will overcome his grief and enjoy life again.
External Conflicts
Sebastian will get himself into trouble by saying the wrong thing with people, or sticking his neck out to save a random squirrel. He is not patriotic and will find himself at odds with the law if duty is required of him.
Internal Conflicts
Sebastian has the potential to become a great leader, however this requires a sense of duty and responsibility that he may need to grow to step into. He misses his childhood, when he had happy parents and a happy step-sister who didn't always scold him for everything he does.