Design Notes - Expeditionary Hierophant
Helian League Faction Design
The design of the Helian League draws heavily from the aesthetics of ancient Greece, with additional influences from medieval European and Arabic cultures. And of course, the most apparent inspiration: elven and fae folklore. As their lore suggests, the Helrin are disciplined and orderly, yet deeply attuned to nature. Their culture is bright—both spiritually and visually—reflected in their preference for lighter color palettes, tied to their worship of the Sun goddess, Hiperia.
Due to this connection to the sun and the sun-drenched lands they call home, the Helrin commonly possess an affinity for fire. This manifests not only in their spellcraft but in their temperament—they burn with passion and pride, and are far from the meek, ethereal archetype some might expect.
That said, not all Helrin wield fire. Some tap into other elements—and one such character is the subject of today’s design entry.
Introducing: The Expeditionary Hierophant
As a contrast to our last model spotlight, let me take you through the design process of one of our Helian League characters: The Expeditionary Hierophant. (You can check out her profile for sculpt images.)
Background
A hierophant is, by definition, an interpreter of sacred mysteries—someone who bridges the divine and the mortal. In the game, the Expeditionary Hierophant serves as a healer and potential leader of a Helrin party, accompanying the Expeditionary Force in their pursuit of knowledge, adventure, and expansion.
Blessed by Hiperia, she’s not the kind to lead from the front lines—but that doesn’t mean she’s harmless. Her divine spells can turn the tide of battle, and she’s more than capable of keeping your models alive while enemies fall one by one.
Armaments and Armor Design
When designing her gear, we wanted to stay grounded in both lore and logic. Since she isn’t expected to absorb the brunt of enemy attacks, her armor is not fully enclosing—but it is symbolic of her rank and offers solid protection where needed.
-
Her forearms and shins are protected by vambraces and greaves—functional and ornamental.
-
Her torso is shielded by a segmented cuirass: an upper plate for the chest and a lower one for the abdomen. Like real-world armor, it stops short of the hips to allow freedom of movement.
-
A single fauld (an armored skirt) extends from the cuirass, covering the lower torso.
-
The rest of her body is protected by a finely cut gambeson, providing a flexible layer of defense against lighter blows.
-
Her head is currently left exposed—primarily for aesthetic reasons—but in serious danger, she could don a helmet or armored hood.
On Cultural Craftsmanship
At some point, the Rin adopted plate armor—though I won’t spoil from whom just yet! That said, due to technological differences, their armor tends to be more segmented than the full plate harnesses we’d associate with Earth’s 14th–15th centuries. But what they might lack in metallurgical advancements, they make up for in craftsmanship.
Rinnian armor is custom-made and highly artistic, often designed to complement the wearer's physique and sense of style. Aesthetics matter in Rin culture, and armor is no exception.
In the Hierophant’s case, her gear was shaped to reflect both her feminine grace and her expeditionary role—a blend of beauty and practicality.
Weapons and Magical Focus
Her primary weapon is a staff, embedded with a mana stone to assist in mana channeling.
Now, typically, arcanists avoid heavy clothing and armor, as these materials can disrupt the flow of mana through the body. But the rules are a bit different for divine magic, which the Hierophant uses. Divine mana is fueled by faith and zeal—a power that burns from within.
Additionally, the Helrin are renowned for crafting enchanted metals with rare conductive properties—allowing them to wear armor without sacrificing magical efficiency. This level of craftsmanship is difficult to replicate outside their lands.
Concept Art & Sculpting Notes
She was actually the first digital concept I ever drew—so there's definitely room for improvement!
But our sculptor? He absolutely nailed it. I’m genuinely proud of how the final sculpt turned out. He managed to capture both her grace and her quiet authority beautifully.
That’s all for this entry—thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the deep dive into her design.
Until next time—have a great week!
– Žiga
