This week, I began working on the character model.
Face
For the facial reference, I’m using Rooney Mara’s portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a key inspiration.
I only referenced her expression and presence—I didn’t intend to replicate her appearance entirely.
What I appreciate is the sense of holiness and purity she conveys, which aligns closely with the qualities I want to capture in my character design.
The face was first modelled in Maya, then slightly refined in ZBrush.
Props
For the props, I researched a variety of character designs rooted in medieval history—particularly focusing on their belts and how equipment was carried.
I want my character to resemble more of an adventurer, so essential weapons and small props are necessary.
These include items that enhance her sense of mystery, such as potions, ancient books, and scrolls.
Originally, I considered adding a water flask, as it would be practical for someone crossing a desert, but it didn’t work well visually, so I decided to remove it.
The headpiece serves primarily as a religious symbol—it is worn by all characters associated with the church, representing a sense of uniform identity.
The potion bottle on the right is similar to holy water. In the background lore, it can be used as a weapon against demons.
The belt features a three-layer design to give it more depth and visual complexity.
On the right is the priest’s waist decoration, which was inspired by traditional women’s clothing from the Caucasus region.
The dagger was modelled as a separate prop so that the character can draw it.
Its design is mainly inspired by traditional Arab daggers, particularly the well-known Jambiya.
However, considering its historical and cultural significance, I made some adjustments to the form—blending it with features from Western dagger designs to create a more balanced and unique look.
The design can essentially be described as a Western-style dagger combined with a Middle Eastern blade and scabbard.
High-Poly Modelling
This stage focused primarily on adding fine details to the character’s face, as well as decorative patterns on various props—such as engravings on the dagger, patterns on the belt, embossed designs on the potion bottles, and reliefs on the book covers.
The left image shows the pilgrim, and the right shows the priest.