Keiji Concept

I always knew from the start I wanted a more Japanese based character and had already developed a land for said characters to be from (Will speak on that in a later post). Toyed with what kind of character beyond that and eventually decided a noble from one of the clans of said region.  Was interested in doing a very feminine male so went with it for Keiji a samurai prince of sorts who can easily pass as a Japanese girl. I felt it fit and added to the design and a good contrast to what you'd expect/he comes off and what his story actually is. 

library spirits preview

A first look/preview of the spirits that work in the Palace library and at various other mystic locations within the palace area for the game.  

Rani default pose

Just a look at Rani's default pose/final design for the Visual Novel itself.

Rin

Art by Henry

Princess Rin Yin Qiao, heir to the throne of Xerathis and niece to the Zhu Empress.  Developing nine tails as a young child she was considered a blessing from the Great Mother herself, the future queen being one of the select few to develop the holy nine tails.  Such a heavenly birth of course led to high expectations, made even higher by the fact that her mother was one of the daughters of the Matriarch Xing Yi Qiao.  Rin lived up to the expectations in terms of magic potential and beauty, but that was where it ended.  Instead of the driven young princess people expected Rin enjoys the perks of her status with none of the responsibility.  She is notorious for avoiding her studies and training, instead focusing on her own pleasure and entertainment at all times.  When it comes with politics and other important meetings she has to be dragged in, and even then she is more likely to spend the time flirting instead of seriously considering what is being discussed.  After a while her parents had enough and she was sent to stay with the Empress for a while, in hopes that her aunt would be able to force some discipline on the girl and make her see the seriousness of the future.

Rin concept

Art by Henry

Early on I realized I needed to show how closely related all of the Zhu races are and feature more than just Zhuni as part of the Imperial family.  After a while it was decided that one of the princesses would be a Xerin, a 9 tailed one to convey more prestige and sort of contrast Aya's less regal look.  Made the character someone that would allow me to focus on a similar theme as Aya only with a different aspect of being royal/society  and sort of do the flip side of how Aya herself handles it.  Also find a good character to show some more lighthearted stuff within the palace.  For the look she was directly inspired by Ahri of League of Legends more so than any actual kitsune or similar stories.