Tepochli: Warrior of the Dawn

This is my hero character I made for the “Call to Adventure 3D Art Challenge".
The character and props were modeled in Maya and Zbrush. Textures were done with Substance Painter. Rendering was done with V-Ray.
Inspired by Aztec/Mesoamerican warriors and mythology.

Story:
The gods had marked the early morning sky, just as they had in Prince Tepochli’s dream. As he shifted and found his balance beneath the weight of his armor, shiny and new like him, he prepared for the battle ahead. He had already seen his victory in the dream: the green, feathered serpent binding and dragging back the jaguar, his enemy, home for sacrifice.

His people had long fought the spotted tribes of the south, battling over sacred lands and seeking the gods’ favor through captured warriors offered in sacrifice. Prince Tepochli was young and slight, and many among his own tribe questioned whether he had the strength to lead them. He had to prove himself and show them why the gods had chosen him, even if he still wondered what the gods saw in him that he could not see in himself.

As the early morning sun rose, he steadied himself and prepared to charge alone. This was his burden to bear. Under the guiding light of the stars, he would move forward to claim the favor of the gods for himself.