Introducing the protagonists for Inheritor. Mech pilots from opposing factions who reluctantly end up working together.
___
Finally we have some faces for this setting! Not one of these guys is having a normal time. There's technically a fourth but I'm saving him for later. More info about each individual pilot below, for the curious.
TURNER
Turner is unpopular among her fellow soldiers. As a teen she and a fellow cadet tried to desert the army, but they were caught and as punishment their God forced one of them to kill the other to prove their loyalty. Turner chose to kill her friend because she didn't want to be the one to die, earning her her callsign and reputation as a back-stabber. She was made to serve as an executioner, disposing of prisoners of war and traitors. Eventually she was transferred to the Navigation Corps. She uses sonar to chart safe pathways through Hevspace's perilous weather.
Turner is difficult to get along with. She's stiff and uptight, focused on nothing but service to her Church. She's still intent on proving her loyalty, wearing it like a shield against her guilt. Beneath her emotional walls she's a terrified mess who still believes she's a coward.
SMOKEY
Lieutenant General Smokey goes to great lengths to prove his worthiness. Originally a scout, he has spent his entire life climbing the ranks in an effort to gain equal footing with his Church's High Corps. His ideas are often brushed off despite the great lengths he goes to carry out the Seer's orders. He's what most heritors would call a tryhard. He's not afraid to push others down to get what he wants, harbouring an 'every man for himself' mentality.
MATCHSTICK
Matchstick is one of the unfortunate pilots serving in the Church of The Advance, enduring especially dangerous and grim conditions to develop their latest new weapons. She's a part of a salvage crew who siphon fuel and recover vessel parts from battlefields. Matchstick is paranoid about losing her autonomy, using humour and levity to cope with her own powerlessness. She enjoys getting a rise out of other people.
Another worldbuilding infographic for Inheritor! This one's been a long time coming. Wanted to upload this one first for context before I introduce some characters.
In the distant future humanity fights for powerful warring 'gods' in cyborg bodies called vessels. Dubbed Inheritors, these pilots are inexplicably bound to their mechs.
---
Time to finally elaborate on my doomed mecha pilot headworld that has been occupying my brain for the past few months. Originally came up with these guys way back in Jan last year (what!!) and they've been through a lot of adjustments as I figured them out.
(The text is pretty small so if you don't wanna zoom in I've put the full transcript below the cut (minus the labels))
INTRODUCTION
Thousands of years into the future, in a decaying foreign universe, humans pilot biomechanical war machines known as vessels. Godlike beings command armies of pilots in an endless struggle for territory and resources.
The Gods once produced fully biological angels, but with their reservoirs becoming contaminated their bodies were emerging half-formed and mindless. Human pilots were implemented to operate the empty vessels - linked by mind and life force, these 'Inheritors' can control them as if they were their own bodies.
CHURCHES
Each God reigns over their respective Church, enormous space stations which serve as their main base of operations. The Gods themselves are immobile, sealed deep within these structures in secure chambers.
HEVSPACE
The Inheritor's universe. Though it bears many similarities to outer space, conceptually it is more akin to an ocean, saturated with invisible streams called hevcurrents which run at high speeds. The generators on their wings allow Inheritors to propel themselves through the void. The points of light are not stars, but 'splinters', scattered remnants of long-gone structures which have since eroded. These energy particles are small and bear some similarities to marine snow, though they become dangerous when swept into hevcurrent vortexes - colossal centrifuges which gather large amounts of splinters and spin them at incredible speeds, creating burning wheels of fire.
PILOTS
The active neural link between vessel and pilot is established when they connect the cord to their helmet. The only part of the vessel manually controlled by the pilot are the guns and tech systems. The rest is an extension of the pilots body - once linked, they can control it mentally. The passive link is always on in the background; pilots can sense minute changes in the vessel in their own body. They also experience any injuries to the vessel as intensely as if they themselves were injured.
The pilot is like a head connected to the rest of the body. One cannot survive without the other.
Sigils
All pilots are born with 'tattoos' which denote their Church and vessel type. These markings also act as RFID tags that store information about the pilot, as well as location and status.
DEVELOPMENT
Inheritor vessels are created in fabrication tanks. First the organic body is grown, encased in fluid and equipped with life support systems. Once it has finished maturing it is outfitted with engines, guns and final stage cybernetics. Until it is ready, cadets pilot disposable training vessels.
Every pilot is born via controlled external fertilisation, and develop in artificial wombs called pods. From the moment they are conceived they are tied to a vessel.
VESSEL TYPES
Vessels are divided into four main categories, each specialised for certain tasks. A pilot's role in the army is determined by their classification.
Standard
The vast majority of Inheritor armies are comprised of standard-class vessels. Built for sustained aerial combat but highly versatile.
Scout
Scout-class vessels are optimised for stealth and speed. Usually deployed for reconnaissance and special operations.
Surgeon
The smallest frametype, medic-class vessels have no guns but are equipped with tools essential for mechanical repair and magnets to latch onto other vessels.
The class symbol on their tail flukes mark them as noncombatants.
Heavy infantry
Heavy-class vessels are flightless and specialise in terrain-based combat. Large and sturdy, they are able to withstand more hits.
His whole deal is he used to be the leader of a famous rescue team that fell apart during the war and now he goes around saving people under a false identity. Don't let that fool you he is not cool. He goes from cocky asshole to depressed middle aged cryptid (beware the pipeline) and ends up on the lost light
I've updated my commissions and finally made some proper info sheets!!! Opening a whole bunch of slots for the holidays :]
Sketches: 10 slots
Full colour drawings: 10 slots
Custom characters: 5 slots
Custom spec bio aliens: 5 slots
_____
I can be contacted through Discord (handle is styllwaters), Tumblr, Ko-fi, or Toyhou.se!
Turnaround time varies with complexity of pieces. Generally 1 week maximum for most colour illustrations (backgrounds may take 2-3 weeks and I can provide wips)
Payment is upfront, Ko-fi preferred
My style can vary, but if you have a preference for a certain style or brush do let me know!
human binti? wookie binti? twi'lek binti? jedi master binti? sith binti? inquisitor binti? kotor binti? put that guy into a situation
Ough these ideas are all so fun I'd draw them all if I had time but I had to go with jedi master... Bingus if o66 never happened and he got to graduate. YAY
He's still just as grumpy and emo but he's a lot calmer I imagine. Senta would use any opportunity brag that HER padawan was promoted to master (although she would never accept the position herself)
titsay
romaincrisis
snowghoul
janainaart
discoholicmusic