Verin Thelyss from Critical Role/ Call of the Netherdeep.
I imagen him having long THICC hair, thicker body build, and just flat out taller in complete contrast to not only his older brother Essek but to other drow as well. What makes this even more fun is that drow males are canonly SMALLER than females. So, him being larger than the average drow would be a feat in itself.
oh fuck. in researching further, I found where this information came up
campaign 2, episode 135 - The Genesis Ward
Caleb investigates a room labeled Records 104 and uncovers documents. one such "document refers to the 'Factorum Malleus Project'" AKA hammer of creation
later in the episode, they repair Charlie the Aeormaton, who reintroduces himself as Devexian.
"Devexian at first doesn't remember what happened to the city, but then recalls the experiment that the gods must have deemed too dangerous: the Factorum Malleus. It doesn't translate to the 'Hammer of Creation.' It translates to the 'Creator Hammer'"
now, that document Caleb uncovered also references an individual at the head of this project "named 'Athodan', who made the inspired find of 'The Relic' and was working in rejuvenation"
it is my belief that this relic either is or is something similar to the ruins in the Hellcatch Valley and the wizard who uncovered them, working on rejuvenation, is Ludinus Da'leth
he is far older than an elf should be and talks about the Calamity as if he witnessed it. after surviving the Calamity, "the relic" so-called could have been lost.
remember, Marquet used to be a jungle continent where societies of orcs and elves flourished. Gruumsh was offended by this and tried to destroy all of Marquet. thanks to the Ruidus-born hero Alyxian, Marquet was simply turned into a desert instead of being wiped from the face of Exandria.
because of this, and the loss of Aeor and the power granted to him, Ludinus wouldn't have been able to access this relic until the dust settled, and he built up power and influence again. ergo, founding the Cerberus Assembly.
In summary: the machines are called malleus keys because they are from the original, pre-Calamity project Ludinus, then Athodan, was working on: the Factorum Malleus project.
the "creator hammer" is Predathos, and the goal was always to free it
We started a new module this weekend with this party as one of our players was missing for the other campaign, and it was so fun to play Rangy again! Looking forward to the next time we'll play, whenever it might be
it's all fun and games until the safest place for your party to be is inside the terrifying monument to the greatest evil to ever afflict the world :)
(Netherdeep crew has officially entered the Betrayers' Rise, despite the professional recommendations of nearly everyone in Bazzoxan! I'm sure absolutely nothing will go wrong from here on out!)
Air genasi barbarian self-proclaimed archivist (of dangerous items) with looooow CHA can have a little accidental ruidium corruption on a failed save, as a treat XD. Whoopsies! 😘
Ahhh, Call of the Netherdeep is a blast, love me some Critical Role campaign settings XD
(Quick post-game doodle because how could I not draw my disaster child taking on yet another curse in stride XD)
an interesting detail about otohan is a treat for netherdeep fans: she is the near spitting image of alyxian in his youth. she has the same shade of tan skin, the same build, the same short hair thats curly in some iterations and later has the same silver. she wears more high-tech, but similar gear to what alyxian did. both were champions of gods only for a disaster to strike regarding their religion with such intensity they and the continent marquet were forever changed. it is as if otohan wishes to emulate alyxian, to be this generation's legendary ruidisborn as the wheel turns again to calamity. what she doesnt know is that alyxian never died. that (in a good ending of a netherdeep campaign) alyxian has begun to walk exandria again, an old man who did not truly lose faith in the gods but who has decided to find peace. she intentionally or not has tried to become him in a war of vengeance when his entire story is about facing what he & the gods did in the calamity, and realizing he is more than the trauma of war & ostracization, more than being a weapon, and more than his red mooned curse.
I'm joining a new TTRPG with a new child: G.I.A.como!! He's a giant gentle warforged built for a purpose he cannot recall, but with a current main objective of 'take care of the family'. He has four step-sisters who love him very much and a mama who is super protective.
Tzan'oak Zahar, Xhorhasian artist, puzzle-maker and alchemist from Jigow. My goblin artificer in our Call of the Netherdeep campaign. A consecuted soul dealing with the echoes of their first life as the wizard Tarlyn Icozrin.
I was asked what sort of direction I'm given on assignments like this.
Sometimes, such as in the case with the Rivals, I'm given concept art to work with:
(concepts by Shawn G. Wood)
I'm given a bit of info about their personality and armor and then I get to sketchin'!
Here's the sketch I submitted for Ayo that was approved. Sometimes this step takes a couple of rounds. Sometimes I get it first try.
Then, all that's left is to implement any small changes they might want and then render away.
wow netherdeep party finally has villains! unfortunately for us it's.... our cool flirty rivals, who betrayed us! and also a lady who has absolutely committed arson and grand theft book from our bard, and seems to be behind our rivals turning on us...
also re: mom--when your mother is an archduke of hell, that's a pretty valid reason to be concerned. Hang in there buddy...