This was a summative assignment for my Diploma of 3D Production. We had to conceptualise and create a character from scratch; referencing artists that we found inspirational - I chose Xander Smith https://www.artstation.com/xandersmith and Roman Kupriyanov https://www.artstation.com/romankupriyanov.

Influenced by the characters created by Roman Kupriyanov I wanted to create a female character, early to mid 20’s. Ultimately she would be without family so that her independence and strength is genuine and has been earned through struggle. Kupriyanov's warrior illustrations portray a sense of power, fortitude and triumph over adversary - a character that has been ‘forged in fire’ should have some kind of weaponry or evidence of past battles. I liked the mechanical inserts in some of Xander Smith’s models - it would add some asymmetry and visual interest if our character had some tech-modifications. I also liked the idea that the character lives in a relatively low tech world, having access only to broken down technology that has to be pieced together (makeshift and haphazzard).

Spero, my character lives on a planet, Erēmus (Latin for Waste/Desert), where convicts of the solar system are sent to die - and has been the dumping ground of the system (for both failed technology and the ‘rubish of society’ for over 500 years). Prisoners are sent on automated transports whilst tech hauls are pre-programmed to crash land on the planet - exploding on impact. Erēmus is now a colony in its own right, the system continues to send the outcasts of society whilst generations of innocent offspring live out lives surrounded by convicts. Our character is one of these children of fate. The population is kept under control by the inhospitable landscape, prevalent murders and death by mutated animals. Some families have developed mutations in response to the planets’ high radiation levels (due to thin atmosphere and proximity to the sun). Some have embraced the scraps of technology they can scavenge to augment themselves to better survive. Living in a transient community in the barren plains our character has had to fight for her life more than once and lost everyone she has ever cared for - she is now wary of others and greatly mistrustful. She is, however, a ‘devil may care attitude’ and throws herself into dangerous situations because she has nothing to live for - a death wish perhaps.

Spero isn’t sure how many gernerations back her criminal ancestors were shipped to Erēmus. When she was eight a scavenging party came across her parents troupes - Spero was attacked, struck in the face with a bat and left for dead, her family murdered before her eyes. Kento, a member of the raiding party opposes this violence and takes pity on the child. A mechanical modifier, recently relegated to the penal planet for scalping technology from his employers, Kento fixes Spero’s pulverised cheekbone and blinded eye with scavenged technology and raises the girl as his own.

Spero travels with various scavenging troupes and sells her findings to the people she is with - keeping the best tech for herself. The only person she doesn’t truly despise is Kento - however as an adult she only goes to him when she needs her tech updated...or when she needs a good meal. Spero has conflicting feelings over continuing to scavenge - often a violent and deceitful job - and the occupation of those who killed her parents.