Dark Mage You carefully drive your empty carriage down a lightly forested road; it's ten past midnight on a moonless night, and home is no where in sight. The popping of dry branches below the hooves and wheels keeps you sober and awake. You carefully round a tight corner, and in the distance you make out the silhouette of a young girl sitting on a large downed tree idly passing the hour waiting a cross road for a passerby. As you get break the distance, her odd and foreign attire peak your interest. She holds a peculiar staff with a weathered lamp casting a dim light. Curiously her hat seems to sway in this windless night. Your eyes meet hers, you think to your self that it's dangerous out here as stories of horrid beasts and monsters you fill your mind. You had just heard those stories in at the pub and thought they were fantasy, but as you draw near you see it is not a fell tree but a beasts neck. The smell of sulfur and ash fills your lungs. Her eyes still locked on yours. She matter of fact and unblinkingly asks for a ride back to town. You accept and help her into the cabin. You now remember, you know she is a dark mage, she is no longer human. They give that away... no they trade it away. ![darkmageinsta.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcnZxtbAYaNwhiukUUBqoEUdzJDWGvRVypf4CTHXqqkpr/darkmageinsta.png) "So they stand in the darkness and seek their prey, as a dark mage they are their own grimier and must always pay." Quoted from Ad Ashir No matter the cost, dark mages are all about the trade. A dark mage is a soul accountant, that seeks balance as long as that balance favors their ends. This dark mage wears a very selfish, parasitic hat and a hungry soul jar, which is a great trait for magically protective gear. The hat protects its food source from magical attacks. The soul jar devours defeated enemies and grants life energy to the mage. Here is a time lapse video of the drawing with commentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKGsoXOodMo I do art and game design, and I'm always up to something. If you like this content be sure to follow me here. :D