Here's a reference sheet of a new character I had designed by  flashspot

His name is "Brother Alva", and he's another brave adventurer that's aiming to set out into "The New Frontier".

Like all the other poor souls that made their way to Haven from the Mainland, Alva's story is the same. When the once-glorious Empire crumbled, the Mainland fell into a Dark Era. Chaos and savagery griped the land, allowing vicious barbarians and heartless slavers to took control of what remained. But out of the rubble came a blinding light - a fire to fend off the encroaching darkness, and give hope to the lost and weary. This beacon would be come to be known as "The Flock", a new religion created from the ashes of the Empire.

During the Empire's reign, the Flock was a relatively unknown and minor group. They essentially came out of nowhere, and began preaching to the masses what they called, "The Word of the Shepherd". According to their faithful, "The Shepherd" is a benevolent deity that not only watches over his followers, and guides them to live a righteous life thru his teachings. Now at the time, only beggars and paupers took to the Flock, and that was mostly just to get a roof over their heads. But when the Empire collapsed - and the land became wracked with conflict, they encountered a HUGE increase in their followers.

When law and academics failed them, folks looked towards blind devotion to save them. They showered the Flock with gifts in their pursuit for answers, and as their numbers swelled, so did the Flock's coffers. And as their wealth grew, the Flock began building monasteries to house their faithful; even going as far as hiring mercenaries to protect them, and bribing slavers to keep their distance. It was from these monasteries that a peaceful life was able to continue for many on the Mainland - and of course all were welcomed. All the Flock asked though was for all those that wished to stay to devote their lives to the Shepherd, and to follow his teachings unquestionably. But as their influence grew, so did the Flock's corruption, and eventually their leaders' goal became less about saving people, and more about controlling them - but that'll be a story for another time...

Anyway, Alva's tale began like so many others' in the Flock. Born in one of these monasteries, Alva was raised to devote his life to the Shepherd. From the moment he could comprehend, Alva was taught everything there was about the Shepherd and how he could live his life for him. His upbringing made him into a kind and gentle person, but also a bit overzealous when it comes to the Shepherd's teachings. Since he was never exposed to any other thinking aside from what the Flock approved, he immediately greets any idea that contradicts the Shepherd's word as blasphemous rhetoric. It is because of this blind devotion however that Alva became recognized for his faithfulness, and became a missionary tasked with spreading the Word of the Shepherd across the lands.

Now shortly after his appointment to missionary, news began to reach the Mainland about a new continent across the ocean. Dubbed by its discoverers as "The New Frontier", the Flock immediately became infatuated with reaching it. With all the talk of the inhabitants that lived over there, they knew it would ripe for the picking for garnering new followers. And so, with immediate haste, the Flock got to work securing passage to the island nation of Haven; creating a foothold toward their religious conquest of the New Frontier. From there they would send numerous missionaries, including Alva, into the vast wilderness - tasking them with the one goal of bringing the Shepherd's Light to those tribal heathens.

Hopefully though Brother Alva brings a bit more than just his books and looks with him, because if there's one thing I know about the New Frontier, it's that A LOT of its inhabitants aren't in the talking, or converting mood.

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Artwork by  Flashspot

*If you want to see more of Flashspot's amazing work, check out his Fur Affinity account at http://www.furaffinity.net/user/flashspot