So before I get started with the wips... I'm working on two characters. Kill me now, right? I made the blockout for Ida first. It was quick and dirty because of time. I also used the same blockout for the other character, who is a male.

Before I get carried away with the wips. I'll post the background story of my character.

Ida, from the water faction was secretly seeing someone from the Earth faction. Though the two factions have been warring for centuries, the two loved each other. One day Ida was going to meet her lover at their normal meeting spot. She got there just in time to see someone from the fire faction cleaving and scorching her lover alive. Ida was once opposed to the war, she was blinded by love and didn't see the atrocities from all sides. But now, hatred blinds her.

My reference board. It's quite small right now. Ideas are either still flowing in or in my mind.

Blockout of the final pose. Well, when I thought of this a couple days ago my other character was very humanoid at that time. Not so much now. I'll share what he is soon, don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

Another round of wips. Honestly I hate the early stages. It's all pretty ugly to me.
But, I took the female base I made and turned it into a rough male base. This will be the fire faction dude.

He didn't stay like that long. I thought of trying something different.

And a quick retopo as well.

Ida's wip.
I did retopology for her as well. Maybe I'll post it later. But it's time to get back to work.

Since time is running out I decided to post the final pose (not the final render).
Ida on the left, Tyrest on the right.