The Last Standard Bearer
"After the rain of arrows, and a storm of pained cries, a deathly calm fell around him. He sank to his knees, trying desperately not to notice the shafts lodged in his shoulder, or his dead brothers around him. He placed all his focus on holding high the standard of his home. The sun lowered between the peaks, and the soldier wept bitter tears, knowing that his nation would not see another day of peace under the sun, a sun which was emblazoned on the flag he now struggled to keep aloft. As the enemy approached, he steeled himself, hoping that whatever god had forsaken him on the earth would welcome him in the afterlife."
Here's the finished piece. Check out the process below!
The initial thumbnail.
A study of the "hero" character.
The color comp I chose to work to finish.
Blocking in mountains, working out colors for the hero's costuming, and roughing in the baddies.
Started in on the rendering for the baddies, refined the ground plane, and started adding in fallen comrades of the hero.
Decided on a different design for the flag that I felt better fit the image. Also continuing to refine the characters and add more of them.
Nearly finished here. Added in swords and arrows, added some variation to the sky to make it less flat, and added in dust and debris.
And done! A very slight levels adjustment, plus some minor detail work, and it's ready.