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Description
A 'Character Select' Portrait of Sertling for my fictional fighting game, Battle Beasts. This is a commission for Tired of watching crime ravage his city, this vigilante rises to meet the challenge.

'If someone needs help and you have the power to do something about it, you help them.' It was a simple enough lesson, but one that Sterling had taken to heart. He had still been a pup when he first practised what his father had preached, going out of his way to help those around him; his friends, his neighbours, the elderly shopkeeper on the corner. These minor but meaningful acts of charity and kindness helped to shape Sterling into the sweet young boy he would become, showing him how even the smallest act of generosity could brighten someone's day. The selfless pup found real contentment in the smiles of those he helped, asking nothing in return, and was soon regarded by his neighbourhood as their little wonder dog. They were innocent days; days when a caring young boy could light up the world with his sunny disposition, and look to the future with optimism and hope. But those days were never fated to last...
Growing into a promising young adult, Sterling never lost sight of his philanthropic nature and continued to help his community wherever possible. Between schooling and holding down a job, the noble golden retriever still found time to do his part, joining efforts to build shelters in the city to aid the unfortunate and homeless. Yet, as he did his best to spread light in the city he called home, a darkness was festering. The quarter that Sterling called home had never been perfect, but crime had rarely been an issue. Until the drugs had started to trickle in. Someone was spreading poison to the streets, and as the foolish and desperate started to get hooked on the enormously addictive chemical, crime began to rise sharply. Petty crime escalated into violent crime, robberies, assaults. The police's Enforcers were quick to respond, trying to keep the peace but it was clear that something in the city was changing for the worse - a new criminal syndicate had set up shop, and they were spreading their influence quickly.
Sterling had been horrified by the sudden spike in violence, and in little over a year, he could barely recognise his own home. Drug-related violence had destabilised entire districts of the city, extortion was everywhere, and well-dressed gangs of thugs roamed with impunity. This new crime boss has set up her base of operations publicly, laying claim to areas of the city on a whim, and making it known that resistance would not be tolerated. She took control of the docks, the shipping yards, a warehousing district to manufacture her drugs. Territorial lines were drawn and everyone knew which areas of the city they should try to avoid. Sterling had railed against these brazen acts, wondering why the Enforcers didn't swoop in and arrest her, since she'd made her presence so public, but rumours were circling that even the police were in her pocket now. Assaults, arsons, kidnappings, murders... the city was out of control, and the situation seemed to be growing darker by the day.
Sterling had continued to do what he could to help his community, but what could he really do in the face of such corruption? That's when it had happened, the night his world shattered. Walking in his own neighbourhood, Sterling had stumbled across an attack, witnessing a pair of thugs dragging a young doe kicking and screaming into a alleyway. 'If someone needs help and you have the power to do something, you help.' It hadn't taken him even a breath to charge after them. He was no fighter, but he couldn't walk away, no matter what. He had thrown himself into the melee, hoping against hope to scare off the attackers, or at least get the girl away from them, but... he was no fighter. Somewhere in the desperate, frenzied battle, one of the attackers had pulled a knife, slashing Sterling from chest to abdomen, almost gutting him. Bravery, duty and hope bled from the golden retriever as he was summarily beaten down and left unconscious, the cries of the doe the last thing he remembered.
Sterling had awoken in hospital some time later, beaten, bruised and carrying a ragged scar from his encounter, but it wasn't the worst of his wounds. The greatest cut had come when he learned the girl he had tried to save had been found dead that same night, presumably by the syndicate. A 'message' killing perhaps. Maybe she was in debt to them. Maybe it was just a random act of violence to appease some sadist. It didn't matter why. Sterling had tried to help but he had failed, and now someone was dead because of him. Those who had known Sterling as their sweet innocent wonder dog could hardly recognise him after that; his optimism was gone, his hope crushed, and the light behind his eyes had gone out. He retreated inwardly, and as soon as he was healed, he began to train with a desperate fury bubbling below the surface.
As the situation in the city grew worse and the corruption more apparent, Sterling continued to train his body, spending the next few years learning to fight. Striking, grappling, disarming techniques, how to target weak points and joints, how to effectively and quickly subdue an opponent. 'If someone needs help. You help them.' With his long held lesson in his heart and the screams of a doe echoing in his ears, Sterling knew what he had to do. The city was crying out for help, and if no one else had the power to do so, he would save it himself!
However, before his personal war could begin, word of the Battle Beast tournament reached Sterling. It seemed farfetched; that the winner could be granted a wish, but what if it was true? Sterling could end this reign of terror in one strike. He could dismantle the syndicate with a word. He could rid his city of organised crime entirely. He could be stronger, he could be powerful enough to crush the monsters who prowled his streets. He could drag their boss from her seat of power to face the justice she deserved. He could save lives. He could save them all!
No matter the truth of the tournament and its prize, one thing was certain - Sterling was ready to test his mettle. Wish or no wish, he was ready to fight, and one way or another, he was going to save his city.
"Don't take it personally; you're just practice..."

Sterling belongs to

Description
A 'Character Select' Portrait of Sertling for my fictional fighting game, Battle Beasts. This is a commission for Tired of watching crime ravage his city, this vigilante rises to meet the challenge.

'If someone needs help and you have the power to do something about it, you help them.' It was a simple enough lesson, but one that Sterling had taken to heart. He had still been a pup when he first practised what his father had preached, going out of his way to help those around him; his friends, his neighbours, the elderly shopkeeper on the corner. These minor but meaningful acts of charity and kindness helped to shape Sterling into the sweet young boy he would become, showing him how even the smallest act of generosity could brighten someone's day. The selfless pup found real contentment in the smiles of those he helped, asking nothing in return, and was soon regarded by his neighbourhood as their little wonder dog. They were innocent days; days when a caring young boy could light up the world with his sunny disposition, and look to the future with optimism and hope. But those days were never fated to last...
Growing into a promising young adult, Sterling never lost sight of his philanthropic nature and continued to help his community wherever possible. Between schooling and holding down a job, the noble golden retriever still found time to do his part, joining efforts to build shelters in the city to aid the unfortunate and homeless. Yet, as he did his best to spread light in the city he called home, a darkness was festering. The quarter that Sterling called home had never been perfect, but crime had rarely been an issue. Until the drugs had started to trickle in. Someone was spreading poison to the streets, and as the foolish and desperate started to get hooked on the enormously addictive chemical, crime began to rise sharply. Petty crime escalated into violent crime, robberies, assaults. The police's Enforcers were quick to respond, trying to keep the peace but it was clear that something in the city was changing for the worse - a new criminal syndicate had set up shop, and they were spreading their influence quickly.
Sterling had been horrified by the sudden spike in violence, and in little over a year, he could barely recognise his own home. Drug-related violence had destabilised entire districts of the city, extortion was everywhere, and well-dressed gangs of thugs roamed with impunity. This new crime boss has set up her base of operations publicly, laying claim to areas of the city on a whim, and making it known that resistance would not be tolerated. She took control of the docks, the shipping yards, a warehousing district to manufacture her drugs. Territorial lines were drawn and everyone knew which areas of the city they should try to avoid. Sterling had railed against these brazen acts, wondering why the Enforcers didn't swoop in and arrest her, since she'd made her presence so public, but rumours were circling that even the police were in her pocket now. Assaults, arsons, kidnappings, murders... the city was out of control, and the situation seemed to be growing darker by the day.
Sterling had continued to do what he could to help his community, but what could he really do in the face of such corruption? That's when it had happened, the night his world shattered. Walking in his own neighbourhood, Sterling had stumbled across an attack, witnessing a pair of thugs dragging a young doe kicking and screaming into a alleyway. 'If someone needs help and you have the power to do something, you help.' It hadn't taken him even a breath to charge after them. He was no fighter, but he couldn't walk away, no matter what. He had thrown himself into the melee, hoping against hope to scare off the attackers, or at least get the girl away from them, but... he was no fighter. Somewhere in the desperate, frenzied battle, one of the attackers had pulled a knife, slashing Sterling from chest to abdomen, almost gutting him. Bravery, duty and hope bled from the golden retriever as he was summarily beaten down and left unconscious, the cries of the doe the last thing he remembered.
Sterling had awoken in hospital some time later, beaten, bruised and carrying a ragged scar from his encounter, but it wasn't the worst of his wounds. The greatest cut had come when he learned the girl he had tried to save had been found dead that same night, presumably by the syndicate. A 'message' killing perhaps. Maybe she was in debt to them. Maybe it was just a random act of violence to appease some sadist. It didn't matter why. Sterling had tried to help but he had failed, and now someone was dead because of him. Those who had known Sterling as their sweet innocent wonder dog could hardly recognise him after that; his optimism was gone, his hope crushed, and the light behind his eyes had gone out. He retreated inwardly, and as soon as he was healed, he began to train with a desperate fury bubbling below the surface.
As the situation in the city grew worse and the corruption more apparent, Sterling continued to train his body, spending the next few years learning to fight. Striking, grappling, disarming techniques, how to target weak points and joints, how to effectively and quickly subdue an opponent. 'If someone needs help. You help them.' With his long held lesson in his heart and the screams of a doe echoing in his ears, Sterling knew what he had to do. The city was crying out for help, and if no one else had the power to do so, he would save it himself!
However, before his personal war could begin, word of the Battle Beast tournament reached Sterling. It seemed farfetched; that the winner could be granted a wish, but what if it was true? Sterling could end this reign of terror in one strike. He could dismantle the syndicate with a word. He could rid his city of organised crime entirely. He could be stronger, he could be powerful enough to crush the monsters who prowled his streets. He could drag their boss from her seat of power to face the justice she deserved. He could save lives. He could save them all!
No matter the truth of the tournament and its prize, one thing was certain - Sterling was ready to test his mettle. Wish or no wish, he was ready to fight, and one way or another, he was going to save his city.
"Don't take it personally; you're just practice..."

Sterling belongs to