I have a problem.
I really, really, REALLY like character creator programs. Heck, I keep a couple MMOs loaded on my computer just because I use their character creation options to help me visualize my protagonists.
I’ve also watched a lot of anime, and often say that if I wanted my books translated into any media, anime would be my top choice.
So then I found an anime-style character creator.
And then I lost a few days.
When I came back up for air, I had my whole main cast!
Mind you, none of them are perfect; the creator only has so many options. And they’re just portraits, not full-bodies, otherwise I’d probably still be playing dress-up dolls. Also there’s only one face shape, which doesn’t suit anyone. Regardless, I think they get the point across.
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- Rinmaru Cob
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- Lark of Bahlaer
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- Dasira te’Navrin
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- Arik
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- Fiora Kinrick
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- Ilshenrir
First up, we have Our Heroes, last seen camped in the mountains at the end of Book 2.
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- Rinmaru Sarovy
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- Erolan Linciard
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- Scryer Mako
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- Weshker en-Nent
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- Sergeant Rallant
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- Sergeant Presh
Next are a few of the highlights of Blaze Company, last seen stationed in the city of Bahlaer. Alas, there weren’t any good options for making my ogre-blooded soldiers, so we don’t get to see Magus Voorkei or Houndmaster Vrallek here. Some day, some day…
Also Sarovy looks like he’s twelve. Sigh.
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- Ammala Cray
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- Izelina Cray
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- Sanava en-Verosh
Also involved but somewhat at loose ends are these cranky lovely ladies, variously dispersed around the Crimson Army-controlled territories.
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- Emperor Aradys IV (Rinmaru version)
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- General Kelturin
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- Shaidaxi Enkhaelen
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- Geraad Iskaen
These four fine fellows are involved with Palace business, for good or ill — though Geraad doesn’t know it yet. Alas, there was nothing in the creator that I could use to mock up a goblin, so we’ll just pretend that cat on his shoulder is Rian.
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- Darilan Trevere
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- Morshoc the Red
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- Jessamyn Enkhaelen
And finally, these three remain influential, in their way.
I have a few new characters, too, but I don’t think I should show them. One is a big ol’ spoiler, and the other can wait. I guess I’ll do a post with Book 3 newbies some other time!
And some of the side characters…
And the former Guardians, and the gods…
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(SIX WEEKS LATER)
The War of Memory Project 
I reckon you should have used Shai’s hair for Fiora and maybe vice versa. You always describe Fiora as having curls, and from your little blog avatar I always figured Shai’s hair is straight!
It’s wavy/messy, like he’s allergic to brushes, and indeed the avatar doesn’t bring that across. But I might look at Fiora’s hair again, I’m not totally happy with it.
Okay, here’s a curly-haired one. I agree, I like this more.
Yeah, that’s a much better Fiora! And I agree with Pauline too actually, Ilshenrir hasn’t come out too well either. Too girly, not androgynous enough…
They all have the same face! There’s only so much I can do!!!
That is *nothing* like Ilshenrir. Nothing! {Muttering… These authors, they think they know what their characters look like…Leaves shaking head…}
Alas, it’s the best I can do with one face-shape and no fractal-origami-alien options. v_v
Hah! I love this idea. I currently have MMO character creators for Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars 2, and Star Wars: The Old Republic, but the most detailed one I have might be for Dragon Age: Origins. I’ll let you know if I have a chance to experiment. Thanks for the tip!
Up until now, the one I used most often was the Aion character generator — except it was really hard to make a female character who wasn’t anime-cutesy. Obviously there wasn’t much variety in the Rinmaru ones either, but at least both genders were equally constrained. I have another post here somewhere with my EverQuest 2 versions, and I have some from the original Guild Wars that are still the best versions of those characters that I’ve made. So helpful.