[Marathon] Durandal

[juzo_kun]

In JKverse, Durandal would plunge himself in a neutron star rather than having to deal with being inserted in a humanoid body, but after all having some human-like representation could be useful nonetheless. I tried not to copy too much anyone else's versions... a really difficult task! :D


In this version this is not really a true android body, rather than a robot probe built by the Sph't, equipped with environment sensors and a solid-state holographic projector. Durandal uses it as an ancillary and could -- and sometimes does -- deploy two or three of these at once. The probe can hover (but not fly) and Durandal sometimes uses this detail to impress and/or apply strategic retreats. He also deliberately keeps his holographic projection just a tiny bit this side of the uncanny valley.

Of course he had a bunch of these probes destroyed as a result of his overestimation of his own diplomatic skills. (A couple of times from Alex.)

The main hindrance of this configuration is that he can't deploy an ancillary if he can't have radio/sensor contact with the place, unless he uses Alex as a bridge... a thing that neither of the two want to do. Alex because that's the kind of thing that could fry his brain if anything goes wrong, Durandal because the operation requires lowering firewalls and overriding/reconfigurating modules in a way he really, really doesn't want to do. And that one time (...ok, technically two) was more than enough for both of them.

---

I follow Rubicon's lore in having the AI trio being TDMs (Traxus Derivative Models) and the idea of Traxus IV incorporating Jjiaro coding. Is the Security Officer an AI construct too? Given the massive tampering he had on his brain, memories and such, probably a great part of his main personality construct might be artificial. Durandal every once in a while muses on this about Alex, and sometimes he toys with a simulation on what could happen if the security officer goes rampant...

Tothandal: the initial phases of the fusion were... interesting, but later he stabilized as "the usual Durandal" with just a slightly enhanced sense of mantaining the balance. And finding any way to definitively bane the Keysmash. One of the main things left by Toth is the knowledge about the Cybernetic Junction -- but neither how to activate it, not how to replicate it.

Still work in progress, especially colours, especially that #%@! Cintiq I still can't calibrate for a sensible output, grr.


A sketch, first on my sketchbook then adjusted in Krita because proportions were quite wonky (still are, sigh).


Since I made the SO a loose derivative of Okita I found funny to get Durandal to look a bit like Desslok :P (but I also kept as reference some photo of Mads Mikkelsen in his Hannibal role.)


The probe might be something like this.


Of course he's taller than Alex :P Might have to draw D. some more, an at least once without that smirk on the face.

Comments

[general_radix]

At last, we get to see what he looks like! :D He goes pretty well visually with Alex, I think.

(I'll have to draw him with Inm!Durandal sometime, of course...)

[juzo_kun]

I went for the total opposite because... well, of course, he's Durandal :D

(ooooh now I 'm so curious! :))))))) )

[general_radix]

'tis done! :D

[juzo_kun]

Ohhh thank you! :D
(commenting there!)

[hokuton_punch]

HE'S GREAT. :D I love that design for him! Elegance and arrogance in the perfect blend, heh.

[juzo_kun]

Thank you! :)

[vulthuryol_majicue]

I admit, I cackled like a loon when I saw Durandal pat Alex on the head. That is so adorably Durandal!

I love the use of the drone and it's parameters! Of course Durandal's negotiations would be a problem at times! Poor Alex.

(After seeing that "Salute to your new Captain" scene, I secretly want Durandal to pull off a Loki. Just walk up to a bunch of people and tell them to, "Kneel!")

[juzo_kun]

Heh, since he can choose the look of his avatar, of course he goes for a statuesque body type! It goes with a good contrasto to Alex, too.

Durandal might have a overinflated perception of his diplomatic skill. Still better than Alex, but just because Alex diplomatic skills are rather non-existent.

Durandal might secretly want that too, but at least he's knowledgeable enough of human psichology to infer how that's not a wise thing to do!