The hero, Gaia, will be centred around the idea of reincarnation. Bringing the living and the dead together in (what I hope to be) an exciting way.
Here are my initial thoughts and doodles

First concept

Initial block out

Progress so far

Still want to explore some other forms (possibly the giant squirrel-tangela hybrid). As well as figure out how to create the vines in zbrush, while retaining the general form.