#myles-aster

Uh, maybe "be more fantastical." Less hereditary. Don't be afraid to lean into the mythical and unrealistic.

I tend to put an emphasis on the "human" likeness of my gods. They all LOOK like they could be real people, with real jobs/hobbies. In some way, you can see their visible likeness that emphasizes relationships. You can see the genetics in real time, especially with my big three.

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A set of brothers that work with bulls in varying professions.

An alter in a system, brought by a traumatic upbringing.

A couple of goths with hobbies involving fashion and attire; whilst having a more military-colored background.

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My most fantastical design so far has been Hephaestus. Disabled by his animal limbs being unable to properly support a human body. Complete with hooves and a tail. And a skin color/palette to match. Or Eros; a mermaid-esq hybrid of animals.

I definitely wanted my gods to have visible resemblance to one another. In a photo, I wanted you to be able to see the family as, well, a family. You could easily see the line from A to B, even if H was nothing like A.

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I've already started implementing changes here in there. Minor things.

• Dionysus is expected to have massive horns... 👀

• Aphrodite has nacre (pearl) eyes and rabbit ears.

• Poseidon's hair has always contained a massive fin, that's visible through intense emotion. His trident turns into a sword.

• Hades has had multiple limbs since inception. Which, yes, is feasible. However he can "tuck away" these spare limbs at will.

• Hephaestus has the lower half of a donkey, and the ears of one. Yes, he is fluffy all over. He has hot, glowing eyes that represent his volcanic nature.

• Ares has no visible neck, covered in bearded vulture feathers, including the distinctive eyes of a bearded vulture. He has also been SHOWN to shapeshift, such as being Hephaestus' service dog.

• Eros is a multi-terrain conglomerate of animals. From a hare that hunts for new couples on land, to a pink river dolphin that searches the waters for his next match. Not to mention his rosy motif, and visible fluff.

• Yes, Zeus' hair is electric, but it wasn't always. While always designed with lightning in mind, the actual "shock" didn't come until later. He's noticeably larger than most, but that's nothing. He has wrappings made of gold, and has no limit to how big/long his hair can be. Over time, I've added more and more lion features to him, making him more and more reminiscent of his mother Rhea.

• Slowly, a story of a broken Olympus is taking form. One where things aren't right, and no one is where they belong. An interpretation where they appear when and where they're needed most. Doing what they've always done, just adapting to their new normals until they're brought elsewhere.

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I am excited to show more of my designs over time. Though perhaps I should focus on really finding a place for them all, seeing where they fit in and how their design elements tell their stories.

Perhaps I should focus more on the story.

Fics and comics have always helped with that.

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My Big 3 are based on different Bull-Related professions.

Zeus is a Bull-Rider. His design is heavily based on dark storm clouds, lightning, and I guess Lions now. He also looks like much more of a fighter or wrangler than a Bull-Rider most times. This reflects his "larger than life" energy, and his show-y personality.

Poseidon is a Matador, or Bullfighter. His design is based on the sail fish, including a mass of hair that can flare up like a sail when he feels an emotion strongly. It reflects his speed, confrontational nature, and fluidity as Sailfish can change colors!

Trigger Warning: Death

I'm too tired and lazy (sadly) to draw a Polyphemus design so have some lore.

Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon. A Cyclops. Though he may be a villain in Odysseus' story, he isn't in mine. He was the victim. Before some of you people go saying 'He killed Odysseus' men!' or 'He ate multiple people of Ody's crew!' Yes. I know. And I will eventually get to that.

Now.. Where was I? Ah, yes, he's the victim in my story, and his own. He was the youngest of Poseidon's children. He was also the youngest of the cyclops' and he was often bullied and mistreated by the others. Poseidon would help when he could, often scaring off the other cyclops or sitting in Polyphemus' cave at night as they listened to the soft waves outside of it. I know the caves are pictured as on top of the island and nowhere near the shore, but Polyphemus' cave was. It was on the other side of the others' caves and the island actually sloped down towards his cave.

Anyway, when Odysseus came into his home, Polyphemus had a reason to be scared and angry. I mean, these were total strangers coming into his home, killing one of his beloved animals, and eating his food. Polyphemus doesn't quite understand the concept of mercy or forgiveness. Again, he's the youngest and he's always picked on and beat by the other Cyclops. So Poly only really has the idea of hurt or be hurt. Kill or be killed. Ody drugged him, first off. Second, Poly was a minor as well so Ody was in the wrong for giving him wine. Of course, I'll give it to Ody, how was he supposed to know Polyphemus was a minor? That's fine. It didn't do much. But putting Lotus in the wine knowing it can make a person forget about home? That's harsh and most definitely wrong.

So, after the whole stabbing the eye incident, taking the sheep, and also teasing Polyphemus, Poly of course called upon his father, Poseidon. Poly cried and sobbed to his father, knowing he would help, and like any good father, he does. While Poseidon's away, Polyphemus goes to the others, hoping they help, and they do, but only out of guilt. They patch Polyphemus' eye and hold him for a little.

This is where I put a twist in the story. After a few hours, the lotus kicks in. Since we have no idea how much Ody put in the wine, anyone can assume whatever amount. I'm going to assume a lot because why not? Anyway, the lotus kicks in and Polyphemus forgets who these other people are and where he is. Since he can't see, he starts panicking. He backs away, crying out to his father, but Poseidon's dealing with Ody's crew right now and can't come. Polyphemus, thinking Poseidon's avoiding him or is mad at him and won't come, he runs to his cave. Remembering the path there. He searches for his support, his sheep. He panics more when he can't and thinks Poseidon took them away as punishment for something.

Polyphemus sits in his cave and sobs, not knowing what to do. Poseidon doesn't come, Polyphemus has no way of eating after a week of eating only cheese or whatever he has in food in his cave. Poseidon doesn't know, he's chasing Odysseus across the seas. Polyphemus can't see, so he can't fish. The other cyclops ignore him. After two weeks without food, Polyphemus sadly passes from starvation near the entrance of his cave. Alone and sad.

(He has eyes, I just didn't draw them in the og pic)

Who's the oldest, middle, and youngest?

Do you have a Zeus and Hades design?- I don't think I've actually seen them-

I think imma stick with how it's been depicted by others. Hades, Poseidon, Zeus. That's the simplest way not to lose my mind loll

I do have sketches of those three fellows down, yeah, but I keep redesigning them fifty times so they're not comprehensible to the human eyes just yet /silly

Don't mind the words