ARTISTS AT THE READY

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This was made for 's Artists at the Ready Tournament here: conartist18.deviantart.com/jou…


Just a note: although I can't 'officially' join the tournament due lack of free time, it doesn't mean people can't challenge me to a casual match, just for fun. It might take a bit longer, but at least we'll enjoy the art trade.

Well, here's me and my characters, mostly extra ones from RPG's I've joined in the past, discarded from my novels and manga, although a few aren't just mere rejects. People who've seen my gallery might recognize some of them:

Year 2014 Edit- I think it's obvious by now that many of these Characters hail from my Grim Renaissance and Wolfsbane Series. While their RPG forms have been considered discarded from me (Leonardo Dredsus, who is actually Leonardo Dsiorpov, but was converted into a demigod for an RP; same with Hunter) their true forms and purposes are now coming to fruition. Where I was once afraid to upload my real work online due to fear of Copyright Infringement, now I am ready to unleash my creativity. If any details are inconsistent with more recent pieces, please remember, these are earlier drafts of my Characters. Besides, I guarantee, asides Character development, their essence remains true to that revealed in their appearance here.

(Disclaimer: I rushed on this, so if you see any mistakes, please send me a note informing me on what went wrong, or comment, or send me a carrier pigeon, use a Ouija Board, hire a blimp, I don't care what you do.)




TEAM NAME: SQUAD 'HIGHCOLLAR' (I'll fill in a little bit of their bios later. This part will always be under constant edit.)


MIDDLE ROW:

Willow:
The nonchalant little girl with the massive pigtails is my first 'second-in-command'. Her abilities are closely linked with those numerous jet-black wings that sprout out of her back. Be warned: she's 'second-in-command' for a load of very good reasons. She's just not there to bathe my enemies with cooties, y'know.

Dreidus:
The spunky boy to my left (and that would be your right) with the shamelessly large scythe - well, compared to the one wielding it - is my second 'second-in-command'. Yep, as per the surname, he's absolutely related to my blatantly-overpowered Deyan. rafael-domination.deviantart.c… Do I care? Nope. Should the opposing characters? Yep.

Xuraios:
He's the hooded dude at the back, brandishing his many insect-like legs. Those aren't the only things up his sleeves, or hiding under his cloak. And that mask he's wearing isn't really as mask. Just so you know.

Mortimer:
This French necromancer is one of the villains I used in an RP Forum. He's the grinning gentleman to the far left and behind him, his many minions. He's got an edge over most necromancers, though; one that's related to his status as a 'demigod'. By the way, to those who have seen my Fight Loop animation (Rafael-Domination.deviantart.c…, he's the guy with the red hair, only he's about 10 years older in this picture.

Bellatrice:
The seemingly good-natured lass to the far right is one of my newer characters who was scrapped almost immediately the moment I conceived her for my novel for a better version of her. One thing about her to remember: she SEEMS good-natured. Seems.

Hunter:
No, he's not a god, although he tries hard to play the part, summoning miniaturized versions of cosmic scenery from planets to galaxies. He's another villain I made up for an RP Forum (And just in case none of you got it the first time, when I say RP, I mean Role Playing Forum: a geeky thing aspiring authors like me go to in their pastimes).


TOP ROW:

Kerah:
(On the far left) Another one of my scrapped/extra/reserve/still-copyrighted-by-my-fist-so-don't-think-of-stealing-her-or-I-will-hunt-you-down characters. I consider her an extremely crafty creation, so don't let that calm smile fool you.

Cain:
The triplet brother of Hunter lingers right beside Kerah, above Xuraios, and is a fellow assassin. If Hunter bases his abilities off Space, and Brent – not present here – uses Time, Cain goes for an Energy motif. But not in the way people might think. Engage him at your own risk to find out just how.

Leonardo:
Again, a character I made for an RP. As usual with most of Squad Highcollar's members, first impressions aren't always correct. Like that goo floating around him, forming into dragons some hundred feet back in the distance. That's no ordinary stuff, by far. If I could make him my 'first-in-command' (or Team Leader, whichever makes more sense) I would, but sadly, I must lead the group even when I'd rather be watching from the sidelines, eating some popcorn with the opposing artist. Plus, he's quite content to settle for a non-commanding status.

Amelia:
This angry-looking woman on the far right, above Hunter is a working minor character for one of my novels. Which means, she's not discarded. Which means, my copyright over her is doubled. Anyways, aside from the hellish, floating clothes and swirling cloth behind her, she's actually a very likable lady. If you're on her side.


BOTTOM ROW:

Soren:
The kid who outmatches Cain and Mortimer for the title of Squad Highcollar's biggest grinner is again, one of my currently-in-use novel characters. He's not really blind. The blindfold has a different use altogether, mostly to augment his rather interesting mind-based powers.

Nero:
This was the guy Mortimer was hacking at in my Fight Loop animation (Rafael-Domination.deviantart.c…. Y'know, the one with purple hair and dual claws on his hands and boots. All I'll say about him is that he's an adept fighter, especially now that he's all grown up. He has to be, if he survived for so long brawling with Mortimer and his armies of hideous minions on his own.

The '013-SIDIANS'
(Smack-dab below Dreidus) Again, people who've seen my pathetically small gallery might recognize the two robotic dudes from my Dante vs. Damien Animation rafael-domination.deviantart.c… . Contrary to their names, they are not the characters from my Wolfgang pic, but they are 'related' to them. And I did forget to mention that 'Dante' and 'Damien' are actually part of a single A.I. Program spanning 13 robots.

Ezekiel:
The curly-haired kid on the far right at the bottom row is the only character of the group who will not play an attack role. The flames in the background follow him around like a loyal dog and have a list of completely different purposes instead of harming opponents. Two of them would be healing and acting like a really large storage bag. Ezekiel is the sole inventory-keeper/medic/bystander of the group. One should not underestimate his use, though, and just the fact that he can always pull just about anything valuable out of his personal inferno to aid his team mates is one point of proof for that.


BACK TO THE MIDDLE ROW:

Me:
I believe by now it's obvious to all you smart people just who I am. And for one final heads-up (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT), all members of Squad Highcollar are equipped with a rather curious 'Seal of Potency'. This Seal will sometimes activate before combat and will either reduce my characters' powers or increase them, depending on the opposing group, mostly to even things out. Which works well for both me and the guy/gal I'm fighting, since the battle will be fair. But just a parting thought...the tournament clearly states that the artist's ONLY power is to summon their characters, and therefore, I cannot do anything except lug around that rather large book which I'm sitting on, and call out whoever or whatever else lurks within. (Uh-huh, I've got more henchmen at my disposal. You didn't think 14 characters - the 013-SIDIANS only count as one - were all I could come up with, did you?) So...somebody else must be broadcasting the Seal. And just who or what, will remain a secret for now.