The first drawing in a bit of a project I’m working. I’m going to try and draw all the Voltron paladins, Allura, and Coran with personas (from the game series).
Also, a shout out to @fischotterchen for being kind enough to discuss the paladins and arcana with me! Thank you! You really helped my plans for Shiro in particular.
First up is Lance, because he’s awesome. I actually drew Lance a while ago, but just got to designing and drawing his persona earlier today. I wish I had the skills to make the more complicated designs used in the games, but I’m not there yet... I did look at some art of Varuna plus Digital Devil Saga’s interpretation of him to decide what I wanted. Also yes, the manifestation of Lance’s inner self is a mermaid/man. I think he’d be happy.
I like how Lance’s shirt turned out, pink looks good on him. :P I decided to try messing with new outfits for the paladins, too.
Lance’s persona is Varuna, under the Magician arcana. Varuna was formerly the chief god in the Vedic pantheon, but was eventually displaced by Indra, and then further by Shiva and Vishnu. Still, Varuna is considered a powerful god with power over water and is also a god of law. He’s often associated with Mitra, a god of contracts, friendship, and meetings, as well. I thought that the displacement thing fit in with Lance’s occasional lack self-confidence as a member of the team. Could someone come along and to his role better? (No. But Lance, for all his cockiness, is also kind of vulnerable.) Varuna rides on a makara and carries a noose made from a snake. I couldn’t fit a full makara in the picture, so I combined it with the snake, which is why it has antlers. (I think it’s kinda cute, myself.)
I decided Magician was an interesting fit for Lance since it can personal power, resourcefulness, intent, achieving one’s potential. Reversed, it can mean a lack of skills (or perhaps a perceived lack?), attempting to reach one’s goals but being unable to make progress. It can represent a person’s ego and self-awareness. Sometimes I pick an arcana because it matches the character’s current state, sometimes it’s based on where I think their arc may take them, or what kind of arc I want for them. Lance needs to learn that he has the skills and resources to be a valuable member of the team. That he is a valued member of the team.
Varuna has powerful ice magic and and support skills to boost accuracy and evasion. He has good magic, above average agility, but moderate defenses and health. A solid, dependable persona, capable of dealing lots of damage and taking it when needed. Absorbs ice, resists striking physical attacks, weak to fire (*cough* Keith *cough*).
Is it bad I’m considering an AU for this?
Edit: I forgot that Varuna likely has skills with the Charm effect, too. (Marin Karin and Sexy Dance. Which would likely involve Varuna flexing dem abs. :P Ignore me. I’m being silly.)