Art Pleiades, The Solar Vanguard

A leader.

A protector.

A warrior.

A wanderer.

A father.

Pleiades went by many names before serving as the Solar vanguard, but one thing remains the same.
As long as he lives, he will continue to march forwards for the people who have suffered.





Hello again wynnpeople(yes wynnpeople that's your name now), after months of not posting I have finally completed a project far enough where I am satisfied with posting it.

Just a quick update, if anyone even remembers my existence(unlikely), still doing art just haven't posted most of it.

This was a sorta spontaneous idea I had to do a intepretation/rework of the character of Pleiades, more commonly known as the Solar Vanguard from the Qira hive

Anyway, onto.. the lore and stuff.



The lore and stuff(also like. some extra art.)

For context, first I'd like to establish a small piece of lore.

Spoiler: Context stuff

The elementalborne are people infused with the power of certain elements within their own forms, not limited to the 5 main elements in wynncraft. These elemental energies are found within the person at birth, and it's effects generally increase over time. The way it is infused can vary between element and person, as well as the severity. It is partly hereditary, but the chance of it manifesting is undetermined and unlikely- meaning that if one carries said gene they are not garunteed to be an elementalborne, but there is a chance one of their children down the bloodline may have it manifest within them. Mainly common in gavel due to higher magic potencies.

The specific type I will focus on are the fireborne
Generally associated with people of leadership and with passion the fireborne own hearts of flame which slowly envelop their bodies over their lifetime, usually leading to an early demise. They have enhanced strength and heat resistance, and generally more stamina as well.

Spoiler: Context stuff

They were valued in earlier stages of civilisation- although rare, they were crucial for their powers of flame generation for light and warmth. Many would go on to became legends who's flame lived on for generations upon generations.
Some provided the warmth of a flame when times were cold and harsh.
Some led campaigns of revolt or the protection of their people, their passion raging through battles after battles in a warfield.
And some simply burned out before their potential could be realised.

As civilisation was built, due to the increasing development of new technologies and magic, and the rare inconsistent nature of these people, they were valued less and less over the centuries.
Though still revered as people of legend as time went on.

In the modern ages, they are mostly simply old folklore- ones who would rise above the darkness as a illuminating light to those who needed it in stories told around the campfires they once lit.
Abandoned shrines and statues explorers would occasionally spot and note down.
Though, as the decay began spreading across gavel, people were forced back into the need for survival and some would hope for their light once more.

Also, for some added context/headcannon information:
Qira doesn't have the whole slave thing going on, she's simply taking in refugees and giving them work. She cannot deal with the decay currently as her origins prevent her from interfering with the decay, and she already knows the situation with the parasite has gotten too dire for her to be able to assist with the core of the issue(she sent Pleiades to scout out the heart of decay, where he only found that the parasite had left and likely infiltrated the realm of light). So she opts to travel to the decayed regions and assist the people there.

Pleiades, a man who had seen victories, starvation, catastrophe, travelled across the lands as his heart surged him onward. He holds a strong position in the Qira hive, his lifetime of experience leading many to respect him and honour him, as well as all he does to ensure the people who he works to protect and save recieve the life of peace he never recieved. Through his flaming heart, he was deemed a flameborne. The first to be born in Kander in many decades, and thus the role of a leader and it's responsibility was placed upon him. It's energy which pulses through his veins allows him to march on, unfettered by physical weakness- though the painful flames would slowly and contiously surge across his body in the slow engulf that claims all flameborne. He would work to help the people suffering from the decay- but as duty and responsibility mounted a show of doubt and frustration lead to one of his greatest failures. Lexdale collapsed, and so he set out to never let his doubt overcome himself again.
From the ruins he set out to establish a new home, bringing alongside his adopted daughter. The two continued their work from there- though Pleiades had plans to seek further outward.
Cinfras, the gleaming city which posed itself a unscathed society compared to the horrors of Kander- perhaps they could help. He set off, and rose up the ranks of the Gavellian army. To him, he was seeking a cause greater than himself. This would slowly drive a wedge between him and his daughter, she believing that the citypeople would not care for those who suffered to the north.
Pleiades was already set on this path, and even if he regretted having to leave his daughter to much, saw it as only a personal sacrifice that he would burden. He could not allow himself to doubt, not again.
Though, in the end his daughter was right- Cinfras turned a blind eye even as the condition of Kander further worsened, and Pleiades found himself in the face of tragedy caused by his own foolishness again. He set off, once more- finally settling in the Hive to assist Qira in her efforts. Though, in his new role he now doubts if he is truly doing the right thing- Qira sometimes too cruel to her servants, or that they are not assisting enough. The weight of responsibility weighs down on him and he understands the struggle it breeds, but so does it on Qira. So can he really blame her? He wishes he could fight for more- but would that be breaking his loyalty? Would he be another traitor to those who relied upon him? For now, he only helps in the little ways he can, he cannot allow himself to stop- for then all who have died for him mean nothing.



During his travels, he would develop an armor to contain his physical form to prevent itself from burning apart in a refusal to let his condition be his end. The current armour uses a mix of engineering and magic from the work of many across the hive- namely Gale, as well as the mistress itself. Gale often does the repair and checkups for Pleiades these days. The armour keeps his form stable and vents out continious energy, at this point into his condition the armour is almost one with him.
The shield and spear he wield are nothing notable apart from an increase resistance to heat. He mainly fights using physical swipes and stabs, but the release of energy from the armour can cause geysers of flame to erupt as the magic is let out. Due to his biology as a fireborne- his magic potency is quite high and he occasionally does use it to reinforce shielding or launch ranged attacks- though he finds it too chaotic and unsteady.

Spoiler: Early days in former Lexdale

Pleiades was a man who knew struggle all his life, he was born into it and pushed against its winds day after day, never stopping for a single second. As a Flameborne, his heart was one of blazing passion- a heart of warmth and a light for many. Though, his flame was more steady- matching his march through life.

Born into the late years of the decay, but still before the collapse of former lexdale, he was raised by only his father and the community of the upper slums. His newly pulsing heart glowed, and the people had hope. He would rapidly develop into the role of a leader, gaining allies and companions along his travels. He walked across crumbling streets and muddied mountain paths, assisting those who struggled in such a time. For every famine, for every drought, it only pushed him forward- he would work to ensure the safety of all.

His responsibilities would weigh on his still growing heart, and he would grow more and more exhausted over the days which piled from weeks into months.

Finally, his father would contract an unknown disease from years in the wastes of the decayed land, and that finally pushed Pleiades to the edge- could he really uphold all that he stood for? Could he lead his people, and did he really have the will to continue this march? He abandoned his post and wandered to the edges of lexdale, high in the peaks that lined the north of Gavel. Above the decayed treetops- a single shining city stood in the distance.. Something he had never noticed in his travels.
Cinfras.
He’d heard tales of the city, mentioned in the distant chatter of nobles, its letters dotted within the text of reports he could barely read. For a moment, he could only wonder what he would be if he was born there instead.

His thought was cut short by the screams of catastrophe.

The beasts descended down onto the city, clawing their way through every doorway and under every bridge, massacres after massacres. Pleiades was spurred back into action- leaping down the mountainside with his flames in hand. His heart was pounding, erupting in a roar greater than all could ever comprehend.

He didn't even notice the flames from within tearing apart his own skin.
He reached the end of his path, the bridge to the city lay sprinkled with corpses- and the echoes of terror continued to sound from within the tombs.
For the first time in his march, he hesitated in his stride.
His mind screamed to advance- but fear and doubt held him back. He only stood- for what seemed an eternity.
The world moved forward- changed faster than it ever would again.

And he stood still.

Finally, he broke himself out of his prison of hesitation and ran. Ran as fast as he could to the slums- his father, his friends, his people. He ran past countless deaths, not flinching for a moment as blood dripped from lampposts and bodies crashed against the walls. As he turned the final corner, all he saw was death. His father was nothing more than a bloodstain on the wall, his friends scattered flesh, and his people gore. He had already gotten through his shock, he knew the moment he hesitated, the moment he doubted all he stood for, was the moment he had failed them.

As he wandered through the heaped piles of bodies, he saw a glimpse of movement within- a singular young child- a girl, no older than the bloom of a flower. The last of his people, and his home.
He lifted her into his arms, careful to not let the flames spread even onto his shoulders, and left the ruins behind. A newly forged flame in his heart- one without the will to doubt, and an unbridled determination to never let the past repeat itself again.

Spoiler: A moment of peace, as a soldier.

Pleiades stood upon the walls of the city barracks, his lumbering form casting a shadow stretched out by the setting sun. Its rays reflected off of his armour, and shone onto his skin-already warmed by the flame within.

He removed his mask, unclipping it from the metal on the sides of his face, its pipes hanging below his neck. A flare of flame shot out from his mouth as he exhaled, letting the heat dissipate into the air...

"Sir, a message from the captain, there's been reports of bandit attacks to the east so we will be setting off tomorrow."

The worn general gave a simple nod to acknowledge the soldier's message, still staring towards the horizon.

"I've told you before, no need for formalities. You can just call me Pleiades.. Haalin.. was it?"

His voice was slightly raspy, though not yet drowned by the flames.

"Oh. I see."

Haalin approached the armoured giant beside him, walking up to the edge of the wall as well. His steps were cautious, not purposely. The looming figure of the general, the way small flares of fire blazed from his armour, how it heaved up and down in a pulsing motion, it somehow scared him. Just a little.
The Fireborne's eyes gazed further towards the north, the edge of the darkened forests could be seen through the thick afternoon fog- Haadin wasn't completely sure, but he knew the direction Pleiades was looking. He wondered.. about the general, what did he see there? In those cursed rotting woods. How did he survive?

"Are you from Kander as well?"

Pleiades turned his head to ask, the rest of his body unmoved.
The soldier felt the air warm around him.

"No, just from the east suburbs.. I've heard bits about it…I’m sorry you-”

“It’s alright.”

Pleiades shoulders heaved, a heavy sigh escaping his breath. The soldier knew the reputation of the general, how he’d travelled all the way from the forests of Kander, climbed up the ranks within a couple of years to his current leadership. Many admired his determination, though some doubted his origins as one from Kander, seeing them as weak or incompetent. Those who had never set foot on decayed soil, only ever seeing the fresh grass of the south.

Haalin knew little about the general himself, but had heard plenty of tales of his victories over beers and laughter in the tavern. He was a Fireborne, a natural leader- it was fate that had brought him such admiration. It helped a little to think that at least.

“Do you.. Miss your people?”

“Hm? Yes. I do, very much so,”

“I… why did you join the Gavellian army? It’s so far away.... I couldn’t be away from my own family for that long- so far away..”

Pleiades stares towards the horizon once more, the fog still obscuring full view of the forests.

“So many people here do not know the struggle of our people, so many are unaware… I hope I can inspire those here to find the courage to fight for those who suffer- not just to win wars. Cruelty is one thing I have seen too much of.”

The soldier’s eyes flutter to the floor, pondering questions which tumble through his mind. Doubt’s, about both himself- and the general. He wanted to ask, but his mouth refused to question. He knew he shouldn’t be, but he was afraid.

“You.. seem uncomfortable- is there something you’d like to ask?”

His eyes blinked back to reality, staring at the blazing eyes of the general who stood beside him.
The fear that should’ve stunned him didn’t come, only a strange sense of familiarity, like sitting around a campfire late into the night, there was an odd comfort in those weary eyes.

“Do you.. ever doubt what you’re doing here.. isn’t enough?”

Perhaps it was just a trick of the mind, but Pleaide’s eyes seem to stiffen, the comfort once there fading into a coldness that was distant- if only a little. Like he had remembered something.

“No. I don’t doubt. This is the path I have set myself, to protect my people. Here, I can lead those to do the same, if they too believe such. I have set a duty, and I will complete it. I cannot doubt, I cannot fail them.”

“I…”

Pleiades eyes soften a little, and he reattaches his mask onto his face once again. His voice becomes deeper, less raspy.

“I’m sorry, something got to me. But, I believe what I said is true. I miss those who I love, but I cannot put my personal feelings ahead of those who need me.”

“I see.”

Pleiades hauls his shield onto his back, and picks up his spear off the wall. His shoulders weigh down a little before straightening up again, holding the shield high above the ground to not let it drag.

“It was nice to meet you, Haalin.”

The general says, and turns away to leave.
Haadin is left alone on the wall, looking only where the Fireborne once stared, pondering.

The soil of Kander now lay fully enveloped by the fog.

Spoiler: A visit.(art+writing)

He spotted her in the corner of his eye.

"Oh."

"I-.. "

"I see. I'm here again. "

"Daughter..."

"How are things going? Hope you weren't too lonely without me."

Raindrops sizzled into steam one after another, rising up from his metal form.
Inhale. Exhale.

A step towards her.

Then another.

And another.

If the steel could tremble between each muddied step, it would.

"It's.. been quite... a while, hasn't it?"

The exhausts on his face shoot wavering jets of flame.

Inhale. Exhale.

"I apologise... work has been busy."

...

"I know. I know. That's a foolish excuse, I regret it must be this way as well."


He kneels to her level, eyes flickering like a campfire in the lonely night.

Inhale.

"I'm sorry. For I did not do everything I should of done for you."

Exhale.

A light brush to clean off the soot.
A flick of fire for each long extinguished wick.
And finally, a little orange flower, set down with with gentle hold to not crush its delicate petals.
"Goodnight, my little torch. May your warmth remain in all those you helped. "

...

"I'll see you soon... alright?"



..and he was gone.

 

Very amazing artwork

 

That artwork goes so hard

 

AI Art or real?

 

Does it look like AI art at all?

 

bro can NOT be serious

 

I forgor to post unarmoured ver of him so:


I hope you forget to turn off your oven

 

Sooo cooollll.... I couldn't play Wynncraft recently, reading this made me missed the game more, so sad TT

 

Glad you enjoyed the read- sorry if its a bit long lol. Whenever you do get to play wynn against I hope you can find even more enjoyment in it!