#daemon hunter

WIP shot of my Ordo Malleus Inquisitor using the new Anvil Industry Daemon Hunter model.

Caius and Ardyn give each other the best and worst advice to each other

Gladiolus Amicitia | Open.

The moment he was separated from his friends he tried to find them, with their King gone and the darkness banished from this world they were the only people he wanted to walk away from it with. Unable to find them though he promised himself that once things had settled down he would put everything aside to find them again. Had they truly made it out safely though, or was it only his wishful thinking?

Gladio had followed his same mantra the moment Noctis had disappeared into the Crystal, protect the Crown, protect the people, and fulfill the prophecy. His work didn’t end just because he could no longer see the man he was supposed to protect. So he continued on, he’d help in Lestallum, Hammerhead, help to train the recruited Crownsguard members, and take on hunts. Anything he could to not only busy himself but to also ensure that when Noctis did join them again he’d come back to a world ready to help him finish this.

But as the time passed his conviction waned, and it started to feel like the only reason he did it was because there simply was nothing else left for him now. The only perk of the way things were was that he could spend more time with his sister finally. She terrified him with how quickly she learned and adapted to the darkness that encased the world, but he was glad to see it didn’t taint her the way it had so many. That smile never faltered, and that was what kept him going more than his duty to his King.

When Noctis returned and the battle with Ardyn was waged and won, bringing an end to the 10 year run of darkness, Gladio thought maybe this was it. This would be his moment to finally feel as if he’d achieved something as if he’d given his father a reason to be proud, that he’d earned the right to be an Amicitia. But his King died, the sun rose, and the feeling never came.

Wandering away from the rubble of Insomnia, unable to find those he cared about most in this world, he kept going merely because he thought there was no other option for him now. He’d return to Hammerhead first, see if there was any work for him, and from there likely wander from place to place and help as was needed, it was as if the only thing that changed was that the sun shined on him, but the darkness still found it’s way to grip the world.

Would this be his life from now on, or would he be able to find that conviction in him again?

With the sun in the sky and the people of Eos gathering again, trying to decide where this world would go from here, Gladio’s left with an important task. To determine for himself who he would be now, and would that benefit the growth of Eos, or would it hinder any progress they’d try to make?

I’m temporarily breaking haitus because I remember mentioning to you guys that my headcanon for Turin’s dragon helm is in Seiuchiroh Todono’s Daemon Hunters. Guess what, I’m at my parents’ house, and they still have my copy of Daemon Hunters! So y’all are treated to a gratuitous post of dragon armours that no one asks for -- because I love Seiuchiroh Todono’s artwork, and I just need to share this with y’all. This is going to be image heavy, but here we go.

First off, let’s start with my all time favourite, the Dragoon armour in full.

There are actually two-horned and one-horned helms as far as I can tell. I’ve always imagined Turin wearing the two-horned one, but the one-horned one is also badass, and I mean...

... he looks mean, doesn’t he? (And he is mean, if you must know.) For a closer look at the two-horned version of the armour (I’m not sure what exactly is the difference -- perhaps rank or specialization), let us look at the commander of the Dragoon army.

*drools over the detail like it’s no body’s business*

And here is the back.

The red cross is referring to the in-universe church. Not sure exactly what the religion is (artistically inspired by the Roman-Catholic church for sure, although there has never been a mention of a messiah or anything of the like, so I don’t think the influence goes any further than the wardrobe).

There is also another, special version of the dragon armour in this universe worn only by one of the four ‘gods’, who also happens to be the said Commander’s adopted son. The kid is kind of an in-universe Turin who doesn’t realize his own tragedy until it basically destroys his beloved adoptive family and he goes demoniacal. So let’s just say seeing him wearing his ‘father’ symbol even after he’s gone berserk breaks my very heart.

But can I say this? I hate that helm.

Why the dome shape?! Why that black horns?! Seiuchiroh, WTH!!

Okay, that helm aside, I love that armour to bits. I mean, look at that waist line, the elegance.

Probably not practical for sword fighting at all, but who are we kidding here. We’re standing in front of a god for god’s sake, and he’s going to cut you the eff down, corseted or not.

Okay, another thing I don’t really like about the Dragoon’s getup is the sword. I mean, I get it. It’s supposed to look manufactured and impressive -- these are soldiers funded by the richest and most powerful organization in-universe after all. But Gurthang is supposed to be unique and -- in my very biased opinion -- badass. And I like a big crossguard, so it turns out that I like this baby better.

The sword, not the huge guy holding it.

I know, I know, it looks too... undead... to be forged by elves, but I think the overall look works. You just need to change the design on the crossguard to something else.

You know, like a dragon.

I mean, this one is pretty elegant, right?

Now vs Then