Villain Gallery

Someone’s been creative this weekend and got her “Villain Gallery” finished. I painted Dahlia Laras, Dawnelle Nymeron and Sirius Nymeron. In one of my more fickle moments

I decided to change Dawnelle’s hair color from dark brown to black (never could decide that during writing anyway and black is a much better contrast to the white hair that usually runs in her family )

Anyway, I was pondering putting some of my character art into the sidebar of the blog, but for now I just created a new page with all the paintings and sketches here.

Right now I’m really looking forward to moving in August, because guess what will decorate our living room then?

My mother in law asked me yesterday if I wanted to participate in a painting contest and maybe sell one or the other of my character art. Honestly? No. I love painting my characters as a hobby on the side and I really enjoy visualizing them that way (it helps tons with writing them ) but I’m neither a good painter nor a serious artist. It’sa nice, relaxing hobby though and I’m already planning another bigger painting featuring Ares and Damian in some way. Will see where this one goes

Anyway, here comes the Gallery of Villains:

Arturiel Valyr

Sirius “The Eye” Nymeron

Dawnelle Nymeron

Dahlia Laras

Villain – Dahlia Laras

Name: Dahlia Laras

Age: 33

Rank: Captain of the Watch

Background: No, since you ask, Laras really isn’t too fond of her first name. It’s ordinary and girly, just as she is nothing but the ordinary third daughter of an altogether ordinary middle-class family. Not that she really has a problem with being ordinary, but Dahlia Laras never really fit into her former life – not that she ever really tried either.

She always wanted to be a Soldier and worked her way up through the ranks of the Watch rather fast, though it never ceased to frustrate her how she was never more than one of the Commander’s countless flunkies. However she finds a way to make use of that as she finds an unlikely ally in Dawnelle Nymeron and they become as close to the definition ‘friends’ as Laras has ever known. She is loyal to her and plays her part with Arturiel Valyr. Nonetheless, Laras likes to be in control and dominance along with a sadistic streak are among her most prominent character flaws and she frequently uses especially the latter as an outlet of her frustration.

Dahlia Laras in a nutshell is ambitious, loyal and cruel and all too likely to act upon her own whims, which makes her unpredictable at times.

I’ll post a scene with her later, depending on my progress with rewriting One

Villain – Orion Novak: scene

NOTE: This is an excerpt of Fourteen, one of those chapters that I used to play around with multiple third person PoV’s. It’s one of those scenes that need to be rewritten, but it should serve to give you an impression of Orion, though I’m working on making him even more of a pain in the ass character

The bullet didn’t quite miss him, but in the end Ares was lucky to get away with nothing but a graze. His shoulder stung fiercely with every movement, but he managed to draw his own gun fast enough to surprise Orion.

He silently thanked the Gods for whoever invented inner-pants holsters. It was only a small caliber magnum, but a good shot at the kneecap usually makes for a good distraction.

“You bastard! Light. Fuck you!”, Orion howled with pain. Apparently Ares’ aim hadn’t been off by far.

“Sorry, but the Light won’t help you with that. Speaking of which, why did they sent you here?”, Ares countered, pressing the his magnum against Orion’s temples.

“They…”, Orion hissed between clenched teeth, still trying to keep himself on his feet. Ares would have laughed if he hadn’t seethed with fury.

“They want you dead. What do you think? They’d let you go at it just under their noses? Light, how naïve-”

“This is enough. If the Watch just wanted me dead they’d have sent somebody more capable of putting a bullet through my head than you. No.” Ares’ gun wandered down just below Orion’s chin. He could see him swallow. Orion had thought he was easy meat.

“Sorry to say that, but you’re the worst liar that I’ve ever seen, Orion Novak. Why. Are you here? I already know what happened. Why still playing games?”

Orion’s mouth twitched. Only then Ares noticed that his opponent was trying not to laugh. He failed miserably.

“Oh Light, Ares”, Orion laughed. The sound made Ares want to strangle him. “You really should see your own face. Do you finally get it? Is it finally dawning on you that there’s nothing that they don’t know?”

Orion raised his hands, slimy grin still on his face. Ares hand started to quiver with anger. Orion looked at him as if he could read his very thoughts.

“Oh go ahead and shoot me if you like. It won’t bring any of them back. Too bad I couldn’t be the one who emptied his gun into Damian. Well you can’t have everything, I-”

Ares let go of him; pushing Orion away. His finger pulled the trigger almost in reflex. The shot echoed in his ears was followed by another one. Both hit him into the chest. Even with the 22 magnum it was enough to kill for sure.

Villain – Orion Novak

Name: Orion Novak

Age: 26

Family and Background: A whore’s get, Orion doesn’t particularly talk about his past, except for the occasional snarky remark aimed at Naerya and Nurya (who are both courtesans) or Ares for that matter (no, he really doesn’t like him ). If Orion could have it his way, he’d altogether forget where he came from as he despises the life on the streets, even the life in the Shadows after Orpheus accepts him under his tutelage. He never makes it much of a secret that he wants to be something better than his fellow Shadows. Orion has no allegiances and will do whatever serves his purpose, which usually depends on the highest bidder. Most of the time he at least tries to remain in good standing with Orpheus and the rest of the Shadows, but his open enmity with Ares and Damian is no secret.

Orion is some sort of textbook turncoat. A recurring villain, he usually appears whenever you least expect him. In the end he’s nothing but another one of Valyr’s flunkies, though whether he’s one of his “boy toys” as Dahlia Laras refers to him remains open.

If I were to describe Orion in three words, it would probably come down to: treacherous, spiteful and arrogant.

He’s one of those characters that should be destined to die, but of course they don’t do my protagonists the favor. That would be a little too easy guys, wouldn’t it?

Villain – Dawnelle Nymeron: character art

I made this one a while back and it probably needs a little polishing (a new Dawnelle painting is in progress too), but just for the sake of completion:

Thanks a lot to Claire for being a wonderful model for Dawnelle

Another painting featuring Dawnelle can be found here

It’s the second one down featuring her and Ares as well as a rather pissed-off Damian, but hey what do you expect? To anyone who wonders about this one, it’s not an actual scene from the book for once, but to be seen symbolically. The painting has its flaws, but I still like it as it’s been one of my first ones

As to painting WIP, I’m planning on doing separate paintings of Dawnelle, Nymeron and either Laras or Orion (not decided on that one yet), on 8×10 canvas to match the one I made for Arturiel Valyr earlier, so I can hang them together as some sort of ‘gallery of villains’ if you want to put it that way.

Villain – Dawnelle Nymeron : scene

“I can’t help, but wonder why you’ve been wanting to see me, your Highness,” I said tentatively. I had a vague idea and the way she looked at me only affirmed it, but that still didn’t explain why she’d called upon me of all people. Sure, I’d done everything to gain her attention and the daughter heir of Helos was known to pick her favorites among the Watch, but that wasn’t all of it. Her words all but encouraged me to speak openly and who was I to deny her?

For a moment, she was silent, studying my face intently.

“I think both of us know very well why you’re here,” she finally said and I knew we were done with the niceties, done pretending. Her voice was firm and serious, lacking anything that had let her appear girlish before. It seemed to fall off her like a mask when she reached out for me, carefully running her fingers over the bruise along my jaw line. Whatever Damian had put on it, had reduced the swelling, but it still stood out clearly against my fair skin, as the rain had washed off his efforts to conceal it.

“Take off your shirt,” she said curtly.

“What? Why?” This time I didn’t need to fake surprise. This was definitely going a tad fast for my taste.

“Just do it,” she commanded, making it clear that she wouldn’t be disobeyed.

I opened my mouth to say something, but then remembered where I was, alone with the heiress of the godsdamn Empire and Naerya was nowhere in sight. Even if she was, what would she have said?

Letting out a breath, I started to unbutton my shirt. Shrugging out of it still hurt and I knew better than to bend down and pick it up from where it had fallen to the ground.

It took me a lot not to back away as Dawnelle ran her delicate hands over my torso, examining the miasma of bruises that riddled my chest. She made a disapproving sound and my breath hissed sharply through my teeth when she exerted pressure on my ribcage.

“What’s he making you tell everybody? Training accident?” she asked abruptly, looking at me with eyes that suddenly sparkled with anger, before she sighed and her hazel eyes suddenly filled with something close to compassion.

“I’m sorry I drew attention on you and your friend this morning, but you seemed to have it coming with Valyr from the beginning. He hates you very much, doesn’t he?”

I merely looked at her, not comprehending.

“Dahlia tells me what he does and before you ask, yes I know that she works for him, but she’s loyal to me. Nothing about this night will leave either of our lips.”

“Uh…I’m sorry…your Highness?”

What I really wanted to say was: What the fuck is going on here, but given my position I decided to mind my manners, waiting for something to actually make sense to me tonight.

“Who are you trying to kid here, Raphael?” she said, rather exasperated. “Okay, let’s talk freely here. You look like a smart guy, so I’ll make this easy for you. Let’s just say we both have a common enemy and I want your help in acquiring some…information.”

Villain – Dawnelle Nymeron

~character sheet~

Name: Dawnelle “Dawn” Nymeron

Age: 22

Appearance: With her five feet and two inches Dawnelle can be rightfully considered ’short’, just like her father. The dark lilac eyes run in the family along with size, but unlike her father and her brother, Dawnelle’s hair isn’t silvery white, but a curly dark brown. In a way this sets her apart from her father’s line, even though it’s not a secret that neither her nor her older brother Raeyn have been born in wedlock since her father never married.  I try to avoid further descriptions like ’slender, but curvacious’ and similar blah-blah, because it’s just redundant. Let’s just say that yes, most people think of her as attractive, though ‘pretty’ probably wouldn’t be the word to describe her (unless she’s in one of her ‘girly’ moods)

Family and Background: Neither her nor her older brother Raeyn know their mother(s) as their father has been known to never have engaged in anything else but occasional affairs. None of them is really bothered by that fact as it has been part of their upbringing. Likewise, Sirius Nymeron tolerates Dawnelle’s affairs with a certain indifference. Nonetheless, Dawnelle is probably the only one (except Raeyn at times) who has every experienced the Eye as a loving and caring father as she grew up without wanting for anything whether materially or emotionally.

Unlike her brother though, Dawnelle always loved to learn about politics and state craft. From the beginning she has been a much more apt and active student than Raeyn had ever been and some might say that she had a hand in his disappearance, being declared heir after the search for her brother remained futile.

Even as a child, Dawnelle was known to be sly and liable to sneak out of the Palace with her brother. Even though she openly led a very sheltered life in the Palace she quickly learned the harsher facts of life on the streets and learned to use that knowledge to her advantage. If you were to describe her in three words, ruthless, calculating and vindictive come to mind, but then again she can be compassionate and caring as well (in some really irrational way she actually cares for Ares, in her own way…). Like her father, Dawnelle is one of those characters that wear different masks, depending on the situation. Also like him, she knows how to use certain situations to her advantage and openly manipulates not only those beneath her, but more than that, her equals.

Motivation: Dawnelle is one of those villains who rarely do anything without reason. Like her father, she’s dominant and a ‘born ruler’, albeit an often ruthless one. One day, she wants to step up to where her father is now and become the next Eye, ruler over the Empire of Light and to achieve that she does whatever necessary, from merely using her charms, to outright blackmail and manipulation. Until now, she hasn’t openly killed yet and openly she loves to play the innocent girl, but one never knows.

Sirius Nymeron & Orpheus

Here are some more character sketches:

Sirius Nymeron – Eye and Emperor of Light (see character sheet and scene)

Is it only me or does he look a little bit Zeus-ish? *shrugs* can’t help the hinting at Greek mythology in Light I guess…

Orpheus – Originally I started this wanting to sketch Nymeron and Orpheus was the outcome of it. Another one of those “Ah that’s what he looks like!” moments. Love those

Anyway, those are just some quick impressions that might be turned into a painting. Or might not

Not your usual ‘cliche’ villain

Thinking about villains, I just came across a really great passage on Melisande Sharizai, one of the main villains in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series. For those of you familiar with the books, but haven’t read Kushiel’s Mercy yet, it’s not really a spoiler, so it should be safe to read. For everyone else: go check them out, start with Kushiel’s Dart

I looked into her.

I saw passion and pride, humor and ambition. Regret and sorrow. A surprising reserve of measured joy, and a chilling amorality. A profound capacity for impersonal cruelty. Unexpected generosity. A lack of conscience, and a growing awareness of that lack. The thoughtfulness. Curiosity.

Me.

I was my mother’s fault-line. I was the kernel of vulnerability at her core. I could hurt her far, far more than she could ever hurt me. And she could be hurt through me. What I suffered hurt her. She had loved others in her own way, and there were profound ties there, most especially to Phedre. That bond, I daresay only the gods themselves understood. But I was the only person she had ever loved with all the deep, abiding wonder and ferocity of her mortal soul.

I pitied her.

I suppose what I liked most about this section was the fact that here, we see another one of those villains that aren’t just evil for the sake of doing evil things, but that they are portrayed as individuums who fend for their own goals, albeit morally wrong ones or with the wrong means. Of course that does by no means justify their action, I just personally prefer villains to be more complex characters, characters who have a life outside the box of their ‘devious and utterly evil plan’.

In my opinion villains need to be as fleshed out as your protagonist(s), since they are ever bit as important in their function as antagonists, but also to propel your plot as your main characters are. Besides that there’s the question what exactly defines right and wrong anyway and if a protagonist is still one of the ‘good’ guys when they show a great deal of moral ambiguity. Same counts for the villains in this case.

I guess I’m personally just really bored with the traditional fantasy cliches of ‘The Dark One”, capitalized, who sits on His Dark Throne, pursuing Dark Purposes and plots to overthrow the world and subject it to His Evil Reign. See a trend there? :p

Just my two coppers in that matter. To put it into trivial words: utterly evil characters are boring, give me some of the morally ambiguous and creepy-insane ones

Villain – Sirius Nymeron: Scene

I’m thinking this gives you a pretty good impression of how Sirius Nymeron ‘ticks’. Just a note in advance: this is the entirely unedited version just in case you run into all kinds of appalling spelling, grammar and style mistakes

“Rise, Soldier Leonard,” he finally said, his tone hinting at boredom.

Rising stiffly, I noticed that he wasn’t alone. Apart from the usual guards that followed him wherever he went, I saw Dawnelle sitting to his left, casting me a small smile. All in all they almost seemed to drown in the vastness of the hall. Despite all its modern appearance on the outside, the interior of the Palace of Light was more than just hinting at the splendor of ancient castles in what they called the Dark Age, back then.

Only then I became aware of the fact that I’d never even seen the Eye himself this close, in a private audience so to say. Sure, I’d seen him before in one of his glamorous public speeches, but that had always been an affair for the masses.

Shit, that’s what we’ve been waiting for all along. I could off him right now, if only I was fast enough…

…and entirely suicidal.

No, the thought eluded me soon enough. Looking at the Eye’s personal guard I knew enough to discard the very notion of drawing a weapon in their presence quickly. I wouldn’t even get to reach into my coat before I’d die. No, this wouldn’t get me anywhere. This wasn’t why I was here for.

“You called upon me, Your Highness?” I finally asked in a deferring tone as I raised my eyes from the marble floor in front of me.

With a flash the dream of my father’s death came back to me and I felt myself stiffen involuntarily. I didn’t need to look him in the eyes to know that their color was the same light violet that I’d seen through my father’s eyes before he’d died.

Don’t let the color fool you, boy. His are the eyes of a snake… It was pointless to lie to him, pointless. He’ll see. The Eye sees everything…

I could almost taste the bile rising inside me as I remembered the cause why we were here. I had to swallow hard, guarding myself, slamming my shields into place, letting nothing of the resentment that broiled inside myself show.

Ultimately, this was merely another thing I’d done before, another aspect of my training and the life I’d chosen. This was but another test and one that would have delighted Orpheus to no end had he lived to see it.

I finally made myself look up, made myself hold that stare of pure amethyst without flinching. Only who tried to hide something would be reluctant to face the Eye’s gaze and I wasn’t about to draw any suspicions onto myself.

To my surprise I found that Nymeron was smiling at me; it was merely a thin crescent line in his silver-bearded face, nevertheless it was there. He looked me over with the same appraising gaze his daughter had studied me the night before. He gave me a faint nod of acknowledgement.

“I see my daughter has chosen you for her guard. Not that I doubt her judgment in any way, but you may understand a father’s worry about the safety of his only daughter. I also trust that you are aware of the honor she did you with this and what this honor entails?”

Bowing my head, I nodded gravely, acutely aware that I actually meant it. Somehow his voice made me want to do exactly what he told me to do. Part of me was terrified as I realized just that, but this part was quickly smothered by a nearly crushing sense that obliged me to obedience.

This was bad. Very bad.

What is going on here?

Did I even care? As long as I did whatever he told me to do, I’d be all right. For a moment I felt myself walking a thin line between pretense and reality; all of a sudden it was hard to think clearly at all.

If I hadn’t known better I’d have called it magic, some sort of hypnosis invading my mind and for a moment I was even inclined to believe my own deception.

Eventually realization of what he was doing hit home though and it cost me everything not to break loose from the hold Nymeron had established on my mind.

“Yes, I am aware of that, Your Highness. It is an honor. At your service.” My voice was surprisingly clear as I spoke at last. Again everything inside me told me that this was the right thing to do, that I wanted to protect the Eye and his daughter with my very life. I prayed very hard that he wouldn’t realize that my vows weren’t as sincere as they appeared to be.

When he spoke next, it almost felt as if he was inside my head. His lips weren’t moving.

“You’ll obey to her and her alone and always be at her side.”

I will.

“You’ll protect her with your life if need be.”

I will.

“You’ll swear by your life and the Light itself.”

I swear.

Our World is Safety. Safety is the Watch.

Our World is just, Justice is the Watch.

Our World is good, Goodness is the Eye.

Our lives are pure, Purity is the Light.

Let the Light protect us,

Let the Light judge us,

Let the Light guide us,

Let the Light shine on us,

Always and Forever.

I hadn’t even realized that I’d spoken alound, but when I came around again, it was Dawnelle’s hand who drew me to my feet. I couldn’t remember when I’d sunk to my knees again.

Frankly, I didn’t remember much of everything. My heart skipped a beat at the realization.

Fuck.

“Now that that’s settled, I’m glad to welcome you as a regular part of my daughter’s guard,” Nymeron said, his voice suddenly normal again, every hint of manipulation vanished as if it had never been there.

Thinking about it, I had no clue what it was that he had just done and with the onset of panic I felt how the memory of his voice inside my head was fading. I knew it was important, that I had to hold on to it somehow, but the thought eluded me as soon as it had appeared.

Something was definitely wrong here.

What did he just do?

Did it matter?

Distantly, I registered Dawnelle making me take off my coat, before helping me into another one that was almost identical to the one I had worn before. Apart from the embroidery on its left side. I didn’t have to look down to know that it was Dawn’s emblem, mirroring the one she was still wearing now, only to take it off and slip it over my own head.

“Welcome to my guard, Raphael,” she said smiling that innocent smile again. I bowed my head, submissively.

“It is an honor to serve you.”

Inside me something wanted to run away screaming, but I stood my ground, waiting for the Eye to dismiss me.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Leonard.”

“Lieutenant?” I echoed him, dumbstruck. “But-”

“Oh I forget to tell you that,” Dawnelle said cheerfully, her smile never faltering. “Accepting anybody below the rank of Lieutenant into my guard is out of the question so…well I don’t think you’d mind a raise in rank, would you?”

“No…No, I’m surprised that’s all,” I managed hastily, trying to swallow the voice that started to yell “Yes, I do!” inside me. I honestly didn’t want any part of this, but who was I to object.

“I’m sure you’ll live up to it,” she whispered into my ear suggestively.

“I’ll do my best.” It never ceased to surprise me how I kept a rein on my voice before I turned to leave after a dismissive nod from Nymeron.

“I trust you won’t disappoint us, Lieutenant Leonard.”

“Rest assured that I won’t, your Highness,” the reply came smoothly and without hesitation, making me wonder exactly how much of it was lie and how much truth.

The Gods damn me, but my life wasn’t getting any easier.