Royal Army Officer

The 'Red Coats' ensure that the Empire is well protected, and it's colonies remain under control of the Crown. I'm happy to mix up both early and late 19th century uniform and technology (the wealthy and powerful keep the good stuff only for themselves ofcourse), but I think that this is just a little too modern. I'll try some stockings next time!

Note: I'm over rendering concepts. Gotta loosen up and blow them out - otherwise it's just one a night.

Van Daemon's Town

Here's a speed painted concept for the location of Ophelia Twist - Van Daemon's Town. It's pretty obvious to me now that my mental image of the place is far more grand then being just 'a settlement' ... I might shift it to being an established 'beggar city' - an isolated place where all the rif-raf of the empire are dumped. Shown here is the main canal where many of the larger, more solid buildings have been established. The inhabitants lower 'Scum Catchers' into the silt-river below to grow the Kelp that keeps the majority of the inhabitants alive. Floating high in the background is Saint Maxamillion's Cathedral, seat of power for the Church of the Holy Pleroma on the moon Arcadia. The Church is wealthy enough to afford the Cavorite necessary to float the cathedral. Many see the Cathedral's separation from the city as a sign of the Church's disdain for the inhabitants. Also seen floating above the city is a more conventional airship, balloon floated and steam driven.

Bat Dog

The Catchman needs a pack of slavering bat-dogs to help root out and bring down swift children. I'll be checking out the Hyenas from Lion King for this one!

Ophelia Street Urchin

So this is a stab at Ophelia in looser garb ... she's probably not aerodynamic enough like this. She needs to be able to do her acrobatics unhindered. But this could be good everyday disguise gear!

The Catchman

These mysterious hunters devoutly hunt down errant children and take them away in bundles, but for what purpose? Not sure what weapons he'd use to capture yet ... also would like to include some steam-punk elements to his costume. Will refine.

Ophelia Twist | the artful dodger

Ophelia Twist, orphan female 13 years, was sentenced by His Magesty's court to be transported to the Lunar Colony of Van Daemon's Convict Settlement, for the term of her natural life, to be hastily sent forth-width via Aerial Ballonsphere, for the wretched crime of theft (Bread Loaf & sundry).

This is a story idea that's been kicking around my head and some of my sketchbooks. Essentially a sci-fi-steam-punked version of Oliver Twist, a young Ophelia is trained by Fagan, Master Thief, in the arts of pickpocket, acrobatics and lockpicking. Her escapades bring her and her thief clan into conflict with the cold-hearted Governor-General and troops of the moon-colony. The little fury guy is a rat-weasel, vermin trained as familiars who squeeze through tight holes to poach keys, etc. The penal colony itself is a warren of over-built walkways, wooden houses and smoke belching factories. The elite of the colony live on balloon-floating, upper platforms.

Would also make for a cool game!

Golem: Gorrilla Hybrid

The proscribed 'dark sciences', in this case Xenotransmutation and Hybrid Breeding, is highly illegal and condemned by the church as a blasphemy. That is unless, ofcourse, you're the King of one of the most powerful empires on Earth, who enjoys carte blanche in the creation of the powerful creatures know as Golems, or Hybrids - animals mixed with men - beasts engineered and grown at The Royal Promethean Laboratories, carefully monitored by Sir Dr Moreau and Dr Frankenstein. The failed experiments in interbreeding are typically called Ogres because of their terrible appearance, and are typically used for heavy labour in out of the way places. The type of Golem pictured above are nicknamed Brutes, for they serve as combatants for the Crown where extra 'persuasive' force is required.