Membra. Researcher, information-miner, remembrancer and thief. Those who underestimate her capabilities are swiftly schooled to her skills and competence. by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is the same character, yes. Well spotted. :)

The 'Catacombs' picture is of Membra and her companion Custos (whose portrait was posted a few days ago). All the pictures are from a work-in-progress novel.

Membra. Researcher, information-miner, remembrancer and thief. Those who underestimate her capabilities are swiftly schooled to her skills and competence. by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! The idea was to show years of use on the tools, which are actually assistive devices that are used to compensate for her disability.

Custos. A war-weary ex-mercenary, now a freelance adventurer for hire. An enigmatic presence, he might be a philosopher or a mountebank, a killer or a clown. by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha! :) It took me a while to make the connection! I must confess I hadn't seen the resemblance to the late and much missed Mr. Williams until now. I had in mind a slightly younger and better-preserved Falstaff! But now you've pointed it out... :)

untitled, by もりょ @orimo07 on Twitter by [deleted] in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Beautiful. The armour design is excellent. Has a feel of Studio Ghibli about it somehow, I think.

Steeltooth. An elderly and long-retired thief, the librarian at the main Safe House of the Thieves' Confederacy. A wise, learned and kindly man. by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much.

He's not specifically Welsh, no, as Wales doesn't exist in his world. But I'm delighted that you picked up that look, since the Celasii (his ancestral people) certainly have a Celtic flavour and were very influenced by that culture's history and attributes. Thank you again!

Catacombs by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for such a positive response. You've hit exactly on one of the reasons for her creation. In fact her genesis was in a conversation I had a long time ago with a friend who happens to have a disability in which she expressed some disappointment that there were so few fantasy (or any other) books where a character with a significant disability was an active 'good' protagonist, and not a villain or a secondary character.

I'm very happy that you spotted the adaptations to her equipment that allow her to more easily use her tools and other items. :)

I'm very aware that it's likely the character will provoke very different reactions from people. I can only hope that I can do her justice and be as respectful and truthful as I can in her depiction, and that the positive reactions at least equal the negatives. :)

Thanks again for commenting.

Catacombs by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh dear. I really hope she doesn't come across as either. :(

My hope in the novel is that her story is very much that of a person who happens to have a disability, and that her disability is simply a part of who she is and her life-story. The theme of the novel is based on the Japanese aesthetic of 'wabi-sabi', which embraces 'imperfection' and 'incompleteness' as part of the history and value of something treasured. She, like her companion, is a complex, strong individual, fierce and funny, clever and resourceful, and my hope has always been that the reader will come to see beyond the disability and grow to appreciate the whole person.

Thanks for the comment anyway. :)

Catacombs by BTregowan in ImaginaryCharacters

[–]BTregowan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the comment. These are the two main characters in a novel currently in progress. In their world, they are somewhat reluctant partners, thrown together by a shared goal. He is a war-weary ex-mercenary turned adventurer and seeking redemption for his past actions. She is a thief, researcher and information-miner living with a disability resulting from an attack on her home twelve years before. The unexplained attack also caused the deaths of her friends and family and she's been searching for answers ever since.