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Description

Commission for WebWalker756 , another greatly designed Sly Cooper villain! A challenging piece, but a loooot of fun— I don’t get to draw snakes much, plus ancient Egyptian culture is one of my favorites ✨👌🏻

Version 2 found here:
www.deviantart.com/vixcoon/art…

—————————————

NAME: Amon Sandscale

SPECIES: Egyptian Cobra

NATIONALITY: British-Egyptian

LIKES: Ancient history and mythology, a good story, the art of antiquity, classic legends, any appreciation for all of the aforementioned.

DISLIKES: Desecration of relics, those who've forgotten legends, lack of appreciation for history, and any mockery of the lore to which he's devoted his life.

UNIQUE FEATURES / SKILLS:
----------------------------------------

- Scholarly knowledge of ancient cultures and their mythologies, particularly in regard to Egypt.

- Understanding of smuggling methods, and how to bypass most conventional security customs.

- Gifted orator, as befitting a former professor and archaeologist. While not necessarily a silver-tongued charmer, his way with words has given him an advantage in brokering shady back-alley deals.

- Understanding of ancient forms of hand-to-hand combat – though he originally adopted it as a method of staying in shape, his turn to crime has given him a new reason to know how to hurt somebody without necessarily needing a gun.

- Sufficient skill in sculpting and metalworking to create replicas of ancient relics. This new form of forgery has been useful in stealing them without the rightful owners necessarily being the wiser.

- Understanding of ancient rituals and occult rites. While such knowledge has limited application in the modern world (outside certain, secretive circles), Amon's time in ancient Egypt has allowed him to get his hands on magical relics that allow him to put his theories into practice.

- Artifact-based magic – while Amon himself doesn't have any mysticism in his bloodline (like Mz Ruby), nor the many years of ascetic practice that would enlighten him to such power (such as the Guru), his understanding of arcane rites coupled with newfound access to ancient relics allows him to cast spells on par with any talented sorcerer.

APPEARANCE:
---------------------

As a cobra, Amon's appearance is visually striking – like most serpentine folk, his lower body is completely snake-like, with a long tail that holds his torso upright and allows him to slither around. His upper body is more humanoid, with his chest, shoulders and arms are no different than those of more bipedal origin. Of particular note is the coloration of his scales – while his outer scales are a sandy tan in hue, his underbelly – stretching up to the underjaw of his snout – is a deeper brown, almost black. This darkness is also found in a pair of symbols on his back, a natural pattern that resembles two eyes. His actual eyes, meanwhile, are deep orange with slitted pupils; they glow bright purple when channeling his magic.

In his civilian life, Amon often settled for a professor's tweed jacket and spectacles, or the pith helmet and safari outfit of an archaeologist often working in the desert. However, his time in ancient Egypt has led him to fully embrace the culture he was so eager to learn about; as such, he's often seen clad in the ceremonial regalia of a sorcerer-priest. This ensemble includes:

1: A stylized shendyt, or Egyptian kilt that was belted at the waist. Given that he's posing as a priest/advisor for the current pharaoh, it's made of fine-quality linen, and its white fabric is accented with gold lining. This is fastened to his waist with a belt of purple silk, tied in such a way that its sash hangs down in front.

2: Bracelets and armlets of gold embrace Amon's forearms and biceps, respectively. These are inlaid with carved hieroglyphs that offer praise to the Egyptian gods, Thoth and Set in particular.

3: A “top mantle” of sorts that wraps around his shoulders and neck, while leaving the rest of his torso bare. This is made of purple fabric, and decorated with golden trim.

4: A golden amulet set with jewels, dominated by a scarlet gemstone that bears the symbol of Set, god of storms and chaos.

PERSONALITY:
---------------------

Bookish and dour, Amon Sandscale prefers his own company over that of a crowd. A childhood's worth of fascination with the myths and legends of ancient times has been tempered by the disappointments of adulthood and frustration with a world that has seemingly lost its capacity for appreciating the splendor of the ancient world. As such, Amon has a sore spot against those who would mock or deride his work; while his intellectual background has given him the patience to mask it behind detached sarcasm, he can only be pushed so far before sarcasm turns into contempt. This very bitterness at the world has turned him to crime, willing to smuggle and engage in shady deals if that's what it takes to continue his research.

Still, Amon is a scholar at heart – when engrossed with his research into the ancient world, the cobra becomes much more amiable, and prone to describe the colorful mythology he's been studying in detail. During such times, he has a habit of talking to the point of waxing poetic, often to the chagrin of his partners in crime. His discovery of the arcane has likewise fueled this fascination; he followed the recounting of modern-day paranormal events (such as the deeds of Mz. Ruby, the Contessa, and General Tsao) with avid interest, hoping to determine how such powers might be discovered and unleashed.

Since his recruitment by Penelope, and his subsequent journey back in time to Egypt at the height of its power, the chance to resurrect its ancient power in modern times has re-ignited Amon's passion like never before. Once a struggling archaeologist who turned to smuggling and fencing to finance his work, he's re-invented himself as an aspiring sorcerer, with all of the masterful ham that such a role would call for.

FIGHTING STYLE / WEAPONS:
------------------------------------------

While Amon was a smuggler and broker of precious relics and aspiring occultist back before Penelope recruited him, he wasn't the sort to usually get his own hands dirty. However, living in the criminal underworld made knowing how to fight a necessity; while not a committed fighter like Sly or Murray, Amon isn't a pushover, either. Furthermore, being a cobra, his serpentine grace can make him hard to pin down, and his bite carries a deadly poison.

Ultimately, however, Amon relies more on his knowledge of the occult to let magic do the fighting for him, courtesy of the Amulet of Set and the Staff of Thoth. With the combined powers from these two artifacts, Amon is capable of the following:

- Magic Bolts: The Staff of Thoth can be used to fire bolts of arcane energy at the wielder's enemies. These pulsing spheres of magic carry the punch of Carmelita's Shock Pistol, at the very least; however, those with the proper arcane gear and know-how could always deflect them...or even send them right back at the caster.

- Ritual Incantations: With the Staff of Thoth as a source of arcane power, Amon can perform several kinds of ritual and incantation-based spells, using arcane texts as a guide.

- Sand Manipulation: Among Set's dominions was the desert itself. In the hands of one who knows the occult arts, Set's amulet can be used to control sand and shape it according to the wielder's intent. For Amon, this often includes floating platforms, spontaneous spike pits, and even sand-based clones of himself.

- Storm Summoning: Set was also a storm god in ancient Egyptian lore. This carries over to his amulet, which can be used to conjure up sandstorms and lightning. Needless to say, magic on such a grand scale isn't an easy thing to pull off, and requires a little prep time.

BIO:
------

As a hatchling, Amon grew up fascinated by the stories of classical mythology, with Egypt having a particularly strong influence on his imagination. Inspired by the myths he read, and the tales of archaeologists unearthing the lost secrets of antiquity's splendor, he strove to become an archaeologist himself so he could share the mysteries of Egypt with the world. After years of study and sacrifice, he not only realized that dream, but discovered that what he took to be myths might have actually had some basis in truth. Enthralled with the idea of re-awakening the mysticism of the ancient world, he vowed to awaken the world to such possibilities.

Unfortunately, as Amon would discover, the modern world had little interest in exploring that sort of potential – or, perhaps more accurately, those who ran things through money and politics wouldn't allow anything that could threaten their influence. Before long, Amon found funding harder and harder to come by, and was mocked in the academic community for his theories on magic. Desperate and embittered, Amon turned to shadier practices – smuggling to secure the money he needed, and grave robbing to get relics he wouldn't have received otherwise. But sinking further into the criminal underworld only skewed his moral compass, to the point where his motivation changed from proving his theories to retribution against those who'd mocked him.

Eventually, Amon's rich understanding of Egyptian lore in addition to his ties to the black market drew the eye of Penelope. Needing a smuggling expert for part of her scheme, she offered him a deal – lend his knowledge of ancient Egypt to her cause, and she'd give him a chance to secure relics that had been lost to the sands of time and never recovered. Bemused by this offer, Amon nonetheless accepted...and discovered that, thanks to time travel, Penelope could deliver on her promises.

Using his knowledge of history to pass himself off as a prophet, the former scholar has deceived his way into a role as advisor to a corrupt Pharaoh. This has given him the chance to siphon riches from the royal coffers, supplying Penelope with the funds to bankroll her master plan. All the while, Amon pursues his own goal...to claim treasures said to have belonged to the gods themselves, and use their powers to become a mighty sorcerer-king!

Description

Commission for WebWalker756 , another greatly designed Sly Cooper villain! A challenging piece, but a loooot of fun— I don’t get to draw snakes much, plus ancient Egyptian culture is one of my favorites ✨👌🏻

Version 2 found here:
www.deviantart.com/vixcoon/art…

—————————————

NAME: Amon Sandscale

SPECIES: Egyptian Cobra

NATIONALITY: British-Egyptian

LIKES: Ancient history and mythology, a good story, the art of antiquity, classic legends, any appreciation for all of the aforementioned.

DISLIKES: Desecration of relics, those who've forgotten legends, lack of appreciation for history, and any mockery of the lore to which he's devoted his life.

UNIQUE FEATURES / SKILLS:
----------------------------------------

- Scholarly knowledge of ancient cultures and their mythologies, particularly in regard to Egypt.

- Understanding of smuggling methods, and how to bypass most conventional security customs.

- Gifted orator, as befitting a former professor and archaeologist. While not necessarily a silver-tongued charmer, his way with words has given him an advantage in brokering shady back-alley deals.

- Understanding of ancient forms of hand-to-hand combat – though he originally adopted it as a method of staying in shape, his turn to crime has given him a new reason to know how to hurt somebody without necessarily needing a gun.

- Sufficient skill in sculpting and metalworking to create replicas of ancient relics. This new form of forgery has been useful in stealing them without the rightful owners necessarily being the wiser.

- Understanding of ancient rituals and occult rites. While such knowledge has limited application in the modern world (outside certain, secretive circles), Amon's time in ancient Egypt has allowed him to get his hands on magical relics that allow him to put his theories into practice.

- Artifact-based magic – while Amon himself doesn't have any mysticism in his bloodline (like Mz Ruby), nor the many years of ascetic practice that would enlighten him to such power (such as the Guru), his understanding of arcane rites coupled with newfound access to ancient relics allows him to cast spells on par with any talented sorcerer.

APPEARANCE:
---------------------

As a cobra, Amon's appearance is visually striking – like most serpentine folk, his lower body is completely snake-like, with a long tail that holds his torso upright and allows him to slither around. His upper body is more humanoid, with his chest, shoulders and arms are no different than those of more bipedal origin. Of particular note is the coloration of his scales – while his outer scales are a sandy tan in hue, his underbelly – stretching up to the underjaw of his snout – is a deeper brown, almost black. This darkness is also found in a pair of symbols on his back, a natural pattern that resembles two eyes. His actual eyes, meanwhile, are deep orange with slitted pupils; they glow bright purple when channeling his magic.

In his civilian life, Amon often settled for a professor's tweed jacket and spectacles, or the pith helmet and safari outfit of an archaeologist often working in the desert. However, his time in ancient Egypt has led him to fully embrace the culture he was so eager to learn about; as such, he's often seen clad in the ceremonial regalia of a sorcerer-priest. This ensemble includes:

1: A stylized shendyt, or Egyptian kilt that was belted at the waist. Given that he's posing as a priest/advisor for the current pharaoh, it's made of fine-quality linen, and its white fabric is accented with gold lining. This is fastened to his waist with a belt of purple silk, tied in such a way that its sash hangs down in front.

2: Bracelets and armlets of gold embrace Amon's forearms and biceps, respectively. These are inlaid with carved hieroglyphs that offer praise to the Egyptian gods, Thoth and Set in particular.

3: A “top mantle” of sorts that wraps around his shoulders and neck, while leaving the rest of his torso bare. This is made of purple fabric, and decorated with golden trim.

4: A golden amulet set with jewels, dominated by a scarlet gemstone that bears the symbol of Set, god of storms and chaos.

PERSONALITY:
---------------------

Bookish and dour, Amon Sandscale prefers his own company over that of a crowd. A childhood's worth of fascination with the myths and legends of ancient times has been tempered by the disappointments of adulthood and frustration with a world that has seemingly lost its capacity for appreciating the splendor of the ancient world. As such, Amon has a sore spot against those who would mock or deride his work; while his intellectual background has given him the patience to mask it behind detached sarcasm, he can only be pushed so far before sarcasm turns into contempt. This very bitterness at the world has turned him to crime, willing to smuggle and engage in shady deals if that's what it takes to continue his research.

Still, Amon is a scholar at heart – when engrossed with his research into the ancient world, the cobra becomes much more amiable, and prone to describe the colorful mythology he's been studying in detail. During such times, he has a habit of talking to the point of waxing poetic, often to the chagrin of his partners in crime. His discovery of the arcane has likewise fueled this fascination; he followed the recounting of modern-day paranormal events (such as the deeds of Mz. Ruby, the Contessa, and General Tsao) with avid interest, hoping to determine how such powers might be discovered and unleashed.

Since his recruitment by Penelope, and his subsequent journey back in time to Egypt at the height of its power, the chance to resurrect its ancient power in modern times has re-ignited Amon's passion like never before. Once a struggling archaeologist who turned to smuggling and fencing to finance his work, he's re-invented himself as an aspiring sorcerer, with all of the masterful ham that such a role would call for.

FIGHTING STYLE / WEAPONS:
------------------------------------------

While Amon was a smuggler and broker of precious relics and aspiring occultist back before Penelope recruited him, he wasn't the sort to usually get his own hands dirty. However, living in the criminal underworld made knowing how to fight a necessity; while not a committed fighter like Sly or Murray, Amon isn't a pushover, either. Furthermore, being a cobra, his serpentine grace can make him hard to pin down, and his bite carries a deadly poison.

Ultimately, however, Amon relies more on his knowledge of the occult to let magic do the fighting for him, courtesy of the Amulet of Set and the Staff of Thoth. With the combined powers from these two artifacts, Amon is capable of the following:

- Magic Bolts: The Staff of Thoth can be used to fire bolts of arcane energy at the wielder's enemies. These pulsing spheres of magic carry the punch of Carmelita's Shock Pistol, at the very least; however, those with the proper arcane gear and know-how could always deflect them...or even send them right back at the caster.

- Ritual Incantations: With the Staff of Thoth as a source of arcane power, Amon can perform several kinds of ritual and incantation-based spells, using arcane texts as a guide.

- Sand Manipulation: Among Set's dominions was the desert itself. In the hands of one who knows the occult arts, Set's amulet can be used to control sand and shape it according to the wielder's intent. For Amon, this often includes floating platforms, spontaneous spike pits, and even sand-based clones of himself.

- Storm Summoning: Set was also a storm god in ancient Egyptian lore. This carries over to his amulet, which can be used to conjure up sandstorms and lightning. Needless to say, magic on such a grand scale isn't an easy thing to pull off, and requires a little prep time.

BIO:
------

As a hatchling, Amon grew up fascinated by the stories of classical mythology, with Egypt having a particularly strong influence on his imagination. Inspired by the myths he read, and the tales of archaeologists unearthing the lost secrets of antiquity's splendor, he strove to become an archaeologist himself so he could share the mysteries of Egypt with the world. After years of study and sacrifice, he not only realized that dream, but discovered that what he took to be myths might have actually had some basis in truth. Enthralled with the idea of re-awakening the mysticism of the ancient world, he vowed to awaken the world to such possibilities.

Unfortunately, as Amon would discover, the modern world had little interest in exploring that sort of potential – or, perhaps more accurately, those who ran things through money and politics wouldn't allow anything that could threaten their influence. Before long, Amon found funding harder and harder to come by, and was mocked in the academic community for his theories on magic. Desperate and embittered, Amon turned to shadier practices – smuggling to secure the money he needed, and grave robbing to get relics he wouldn't have received otherwise. But sinking further into the criminal underworld only skewed his moral compass, to the point where his motivation changed from proving his theories to retribution against those who'd mocked him.

Eventually, Amon's rich understanding of Egyptian lore in addition to his ties to the black market drew the eye of Penelope. Needing a smuggling expert for part of her scheme, she offered him a deal – lend his knowledge of ancient Egypt to her cause, and she'd give him a chance to secure relics that had been lost to the sands of time and never recovered. Bemused by this offer, Amon nonetheless accepted...and discovered that, thanks to time travel, Penelope could deliver on her promises.

Using his knowledge of history to pass himself off as a prophet, the former scholar has deceived his way into a role as advisor to a corrupt Pharaoh. This has given him the chance to siphon riches from the royal coffers, supplying Penelope with the funds to bankroll her master plan. All the while, Amon pursues his own goal...to claim treasures said to have belonged to the gods themselves, and use their powers to become a mighty sorcerer-king!