Creating Leander Veille

Leander is the main character of The Diviner’s Son. Consequently, there are many, many sketches of him. His design and personality have stayed pretty consistent, which is more than I can say for the other characters . . .

Here’s a super official description of Leander’s overall personality:

Leander is a deeply introspective and reluctant prince, burdened by grief, duty, and a worsening curse. Haunted by the death of his sister and the suffocating expectations of his father, he wrestles with feelings of powerlessness and resentment toward his fate.

Leander has grown cynical and withdrawn, preferring solitude over courtly life. He is fiercely loyal to those he loves, but struggles with the guilt of being unable to protect the people who matter most. His sharp intellect and natural curiosity make him observant, though his disillusionment often leads to inaction.

Leander is not without defiance, but his fear of failure and self-perceived weakness hold him back from fully acting on his convictions. His grief manifests as bitterness, his frustration as sarcasm, and his sorrow as quiet contemplation. While he appears detached at times, he is driven by a strong moral compass and a yearning to do what is right — if only he could summon the courage to act.

The best description of him from the current draft of the novel is as follows:

The prince had an austere appearance that was softened by his shaggy hair, thick eyelashes, and unkempt style. He was handsome, no doubt, but not in a conventional way. His nose was straight and sturdy, but the tip was crooked. His mouth was too wide, and the corners too sharp. His skin was pale and dim, like ash and stone.

From perspective of Cullum Soleil

Many small details have come and gone in various versions. So, what’s the deal? What are his canon special features?

A chunk bitten out of his left ear.

Dark hair.

Two moles under his left eye.

Several scars of various sizes and patterns. A scar of undetermined length extending from forehead.

There are the most canon sketches of Leander. Huzzah!