This week, we began working on two new characters.
First, I would like to present my sources of inspiration and visual references.
Character 1: The Pilgrim
My concept for the protagonist is that of a pilgrim, which has been adjusted based on the current storyline.
The pilgrim now serves as the central character of the narrative.
She is lured onto the path of pilgrimage by the corrupted priest (Character 2).
However, I won’t go into the full story here.
The character’s outfit is primarily composed of a robe with a hood, combined with elements that evoke the feel of an adventurer.
Since the story includes desert environments, my initial inspiration came from the traditional robes found in Arab cultures.
Building on that foundation, I made several adjustments to the costume design by incorporating influences from ancient Byzantine, Persian, and Caucasian traditional garments.
I then proceeded to develop both the costume and decorative elements accordingly.
Character 2: The Priest
This character—the priest—draws heavily from Eastern Orthodox influences, particularly the medieval Byzantine art style.
Key visual elements include long red or purple robes with a hood, which I see as a defining symbol, along with ornate metallic decorations across the body.
The overall design is meant to appear grand and elaborate.
In the story, he plays a mentor-like role to the protagonist—guiding and shaping her—only to ultimately lead her into the hands of the demon.
I organised my references by region and applied some stylisation based on historical clothing.
These were some of my earlier design versions, but the character felt too much like a purely historical figure, which made it less interesting.
So I modified the costume by incorporating design elements inspired by games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring.
On the right is the pilgrim, wearing an Arab-style robe with a hood, along with several decorative accessories.
On the left is the priest, who features more elaborate patterns and ornamental props on his body.
He also wears a mask or veil to enhance his sense of mystery.
Both characters are human, but the priest will appear more inhuman in design.
I plan to create some variations later to emphasise this difference.