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2020->2026

2020 Sarsenbi was a bard who was very religious and sung of his goddess' words but 2023(?) and beyond Sarsenbi is a now a zealot cleric instead. 2020 Mallow was meant to be an older commander type character who one night standed the devout Sarsenbi, but I very quickly scrapped that into him being a quiet and shy young firbolg who falls in love hard and fast instead.

In their early days, I wanted them to have a one sided pining, and Sarsenbi was the one to pine, but I didnt really resonate with that too much. Currently, Mallow is Barovia's top yearner who's in love with Sarsenbi who is conflicted between his feelings for Mallow and his duties as Istus' chosen. More of a starcrossed lovers vibe!!

Early Mallow also had some earrings and jewelry which I quickly nixed because he's more of a practical utilitarian man, so it doesn't make sense for him to have earrings at all. Also crazy, I can draw armor now? LOL back that I didn't know how so his design was very limited. He changed from the giant non furry firbolg design to a furry one because where Sarsenbi is all sharp and angles, I wanted Mallow too be soft and fluffy. and also cute earse and tail!! even though traditionally firbolgs don't have tails.

Sarsenbi's design has become more focused in what kind of style I wanted to go for and his silhouette and colors read better to me.

Kinda crazy that my first concepts of them were from six years ago. I can hardly believe it. So much has happened since then too. I graduated school, became a real and true comics professional, cried lots and came out the other side. A lot of times I don't feel good enough, so looking back (even though it brings me so much embarrassment at my bad old art) puts things into perspective for me.

I made Sarsenbi and Mallow for a Strahd campaign back then that I never got to finish and now they're in another Strahd campaign and it's going steady. Ugh, some crazy things happened last session that I'm eager to share, if people are interested.

It kind of sounds cheesy, but I think through drawing them for so long, I found my identity as an artist and some confidence. And my personal life too, I've found a lot of comfort with them when I didn't see a way forward and things looked bleak.