Arduin 2 - NaNoMangO Cast

Ink Art 1.3

Since I have not been able to scan and post the pages in my NaNoMangO June 2010 project, I decided to do sketches of some characters with my tablet to share.

The setting of the 15 page comic is the Italian Alps in the early 1500s. It is loosely based on historical events. (Note the "loosely". It is not intended to be completely historically accurate as I do not have the time to do such thorough research for a 15 page comic.)

Story: When papal soldiers arrive at a Vaudois (Waldenses/Waldensians) village in the Alps to arrest the villagers as "heretics", they find the village empty. The Vaudois have fled into the mountains. In order to buy the villagers more time, young Arduin plays decoy to lead the soldiers in the opposite direction. He is captured and drug back to the village to face the commanding general. When he refuses to give up the location of the Vaudois, he is beaten, taken down the mountains to be imprisoned, and then handed over the Inquisition.

On the left is the main character Arduin. He is between 18-20 years old. He bravely risks his life to help his family and fellow villagers escape the soldiers. If the comic was longer than 15 pages, I think I would have someone break him out of prison because I really do not want him to be tortured by Inquisitors! I love his curly hair!

In the middle is Arduin's father, Rostan. He is the is unofficial leader of this Vaudois village. Arduin is his second son. His oldest son, Gian, is a barb ("uncle". Our equivalent to a pastor/evangelist/missionary.) and currently traveling through southern France secretly sharing the Scriptures.

On the right is Alessandro di Piero, a general of the duke of Piedmont's army, currently following papal orders to hunt down the Vaudois heretics in the lower regions of the Piedmont Alps. He is not the "villian" because he is a bad person. He is simply following orders and believes what he is doing is right, since it is in the name of God.

© Jacquelyn Fisher. 6 June 2010