Character Creation Contest Submission: Beyond Human - Aeternus

Hello everyone! I'm excited to share my entry for this week's "Undying" theme. I've poured a lot of creative energy into bringing this concept to life, and I hope you enjoy it!

My Undying Alien Character: Aeternus

Aeternus - A Free Verse

A burden, more than blessing, etched and deep,
Forever bound, a hungry vigil to keep.
My sustenance, the essence of a soul unbound,
Though Reapers kneel, from their own dread I crowned.

My hunger sharpens for the soul unjust,
Their woven lies, a savory, bitter dust.
They dream of safety, cloaked in false reprieve,
But Aeternus waits, their torment to weave.

Unseen I wander, through the mortal sprawl,
Till shadow breaks, and doom begins to call.
Then with the Reapers, by my side they stand,
To carve the essence from a fated hand.

Once mortal flesh, by injustice cursed and torn,
A shattered spirit, into endless reborn.
Chains forged in darkness, bind me ever free,
To hunger for the souls that set me to be.

And so I am, the void's eternal breath,
A living monument to conquered death.
Through fractured form, the cosmic light still gleams,
The endless nightmare of their fleeting dreams.

Concept & Lore:

My character, Aeternus, is an Undying Alien designed to embody the theme of eternal existence and cosmic mystery. Born from the deep voids between galaxies, Aeternus is not bound by the conventional cycles of life and death, but rather represents an immutable force – a living paradox.

Their form, though seemingly solid, is a complex containment field for pure, raw energy. The glowing fissures that trace their body are not wounds, but visible manifestations of this unending power, a constant regeneration that denies dissolution. This inherent immortality allows Aeternus to traverse epochs, observing the rise and fall of civilizations. They are one of 'The Undying' mentioned in lore, often forgotten and feared, their ancient presence a chilling reminder of timelines long past.

The spectral glow from their eyes and hands, intensified against the enveloping darkness of their form, denotes their extraordinary perception and ability to manipulate energies beyond mortal understanding. The subtle, swirling rings around their lower limbs hint at their mastery over dimensional travel or perhaps their intrinsic connection to the ceaseless flow of time, through which they 'wander' without end.

My Inspiration & Artistic Technique:

My primary inspiration for Aeternus was to create a being whose very existence defies natural laws, focusing on the visual paradox of a contained, yet explosive, internal power. I wanted to evoke a sense of an ancient cosmic entity, whose resilience comes not from a hardened shell, but from an endless wellspring of life energy. Early concepts explored more physical forms, including a rough sketch of a more traditional muscular figure and a brief exploration of a stony, Tombstone-like aesthetic, but I ultimately leaned into a more ethereal and enigmatic design, allowing the viewer to ponder their origins. The character's tragic past as a human, twisted by injustice into this eternal form, also served as a profound narrative inspiration.

For the creation process, I utilized Sketchbook and its powerful layering capabilities. I began with a clean, detailed character outline as my base, allowing for precise anatomical definition. From there, I iteratively built up the character's form with base colors, shadows, and highlights on separate layers. The background elements, including the futuristic pillars and the energy rings, were also developed independently, giving me precise control over their visual impact. The final touches involved applying the glowing energy effects on the character's body and hand, and refining the overall lighting to achieve the stark, mysterious atmosphere you see, bringing Aeternus's undying essence to the forefront. My technique focused on sharp line art for definition, combined with soft brushwork for the luminous effects, creating a dynamic visual narrative for an 'undying' being.