Secret Characters #3 - THE SECOND CREATURE

Welcome to the third post of Secret Character Month, an ongoing project to develop art for upcoming arcs in Cryopod Refresh. Please be aware that this post and the others after it are going to contain spoilers.

You've been warned.

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The Volgrim.

A name that channels fear throughout demonkind. The so-called protectors of the galaxy. A Type-3 civilization that has expanded their territory to encompass the entirety of the Milky Way. They have harnessed the energy of thousands of stars. They stand atop a pyramid of life where no other subjugated species may touch them.

In Cryopod Classic, the Volgrim were a humanlike species. They resembled Lucifer, in that they had humanoid bodies and possessed a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth.

But, that is no longer the case.

The Volgrim in Refresh are a completely different species compared to the ones that appeared in Cryopod Classic.

While the Volgrim in Cryopod Classic were something of a hivemind, with five 'Founders' at the top of their hierarchy, the Volgrim in Refresh are anything but. They include five visually distinct sub-species, each one with its own goals and intentions. Some are warlike. Others, peaceful. What they all share in common is their desire to explore the known universe and to improve their species to its highest limits.

Of course, where their views differ... that is what makes them far more interesting than their incarnation in Classic.

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 Today's post is all about the second of the five Volgrim subspecies: The Psions.

Psions are the second smallest in population among all of the Volgrim. While their political influence is low, they control a surprising percentage of worlds around the galaxy, thanks to their constant activism and desperation for power. Their leader, Dosena, earned her position thanks to her incredible psionic power and actions in the past.

Of the five Volgrim subspecies, the Psions are by far the most warlike. They exist to conquer and subjugate. They prefer to turn worlds under their control into slave labor camps so they can create more weapons, or they will sometimes create worlds filled with massive, dangerous predator life-forms. Most Psions ache for battle and will do anything to find a good challenge.

In this regard, Dosena mirrors her people's primary goals with her own. She, too, is a warlike being, one who seeks to crush and kill any lower species in her way. Her belief is that the Volgrim are the mightiest species in the galaxy, and thus should never afford any liberties to those subjugated beneath them.

Despite their low population, the Psions still number a few trillion. Their considerable combat prowess and military might afford them significant leeway when it comes to how the larger factions treat them. Let's just say it would be unwise to make enemies with a Psion.

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The Psions had a LOT of WIP artwork. We toyed around with several designs, including a much bigger, bulkier version, which we will probably use for 'males' of the species.

Pictured: "The 'male' of the species.

The 'female' of the species.

We also tried a more dynamic pose, but I didn't think it gave Dosena a cool, calm, and collected air of authority.

This one below seemed a bit too military-like, and not like the pose for someone who is a leader, but a follower.

The start of the crossed-arm poses.

And finally, a bonus version with multi-colored armor!

I hope you guys enjoy! The next post will be for the third Volgrim subspecies; the Changelings! Stick around! There's tons more to come!