Thumbnails #2
Greenbriar’s new armor, magically crafted from a live sapling that changes to fit his beast forms. In addition to his signature fur mantle, fox skull, and elk-rib pauldrons, wears his Mask of Swimming & Water Breathing (the menpō beneath his skull helm) and his Claws of Climbing.
Thumbnails #1
Thumbnail iterations for Greenbriar’s starting outfit. Here I was experimenting with what styles of bone armor he may wear, as well as how to supplement it with leather and cloth.
Sketch #2
One of my first sketches of Greenbriar. Greenbriar wears his fox skull and bone armor to intimidate his foes, and hides his small frame beneath his cape/robe and fur mantle. These sketches were for me to feel out how I wanted to approach layering his clothes and armor.
Sketch #1
One of my first sketches of Greenbriar, before I had to keep him fully clothed for story purposes. Here, I played with the “no metal equipment” restriction put on the druid class in D&D by replacing traditional metal armor with bone, hide, and leather. I also began to design special items he would have crafted from animals in the valley (spidersilk basket, mountain lion pelt waistcloth, feathers from birds of prey, etc.).
Greenbriar
Aliases/Titles: Lord of Redstone, Dreamwalker, King of the Hive, Greenbriar of Three Trees, Greenbriar Sisterson, and "That Forest Gremlin"
Greenbriar is a character I play in a homebrew Dungeons & Dragons campaign. He is the adopted son of three powerful dryads referred to by the locals of Three Trees as “the Sisters,” and acts as their messenger and is training to become a defender of the valley. When an otherworldly dark power began to threaten the valley left vulnerable with the death of one of his mothers, Greenbriar was sent on a journey to find good, strong people willing to help defend his home.
Splash Art
Greenbriar in his starting gear, ready to loose a Magic Stone from his sling and defend himself with his oversized sickle.
Design Path
Greenbriar had a few guiding design elements I followed throughout the process:
- Must have fox skull helm and bone armor (intimidation/”wild” look)
- Must have fur mantle (makes shoulders look bigger)
- Can’t wear any metal (D&D class restriction)
- Has to be covered head to toe (sunlight = bad for drow)
- Big silhouette to disguise small form
- Easily recognizable as associated with nature
Greenbriar is a friendly, outgoing kid, and prefers to avoid conflict whenever it approaches. If his kindness doesn’t put enemies off, then he hopes his armor’s deathly visage will make them think twice before engaging him or his friends in combat. Most people at his village recognize him by his armor, as it denotes his unofficial task as Voice of the Sisters, a duty he takes great pride in.
