The Juggler

This is a piece I did as part of the Circus Challenge (creature entry category) organised by The Rookies, Pixologic and Allegorithmic. I was originally working on something else but had an issue with my files two days before the deadline, preventing me from finishing it in time. I was gutted. So I embarked on a 24h piece, from concept to render, and managed to submit this new piece an hour before the end of the contest.

A small backstory for Emp, our juggler:

Emp is an Enkor. Enkors are great climbers but are firstly world-renowned fishermen which explains why they usually live close to rivers. Their four arms make them very fast swimmers but also allow them to hook themselves up on big tree roots by the water, when the current is strong. They developped a fishing technique where they simply wait, holding roots, waiting for fish to follow the flow of the water. When a fish passes by, they use their two remaining arms to grab it.

How did Emp get to be a juggler and not a fisherman? Well, many years ago, when he was but a child, travellers came on his home planet. Although most of them didn't mean any harm, a few set out to steal and pillage all they could from the peaceful Enkors. One of them decided to take Emp as a souvenir of their trip. Sadly, he never saw his family again. Indeed, soon after, the traveler in need of money and in a hurry, sold Emp for a few intergalactic pesos. It was The Grand Fair that bought him, an intergalactic circus, that travels from one planet to another, entertaining the crowds, providing all sorts of substances, flesh and other services for whoever is willing to pay. Emp isn't treated poorly, he gets fed well and gets to enjoy his time off, but he's a slave nonetheless. And his owner doesn't let him forget it: should he miss one night juggling in the streets, he would pay a very steep price. The first and last time he disobeyed, his owner castrated him in front of the rest of the circus. Now he still exhibits a scar that comes straight out of his pants, reminding everyone what happens when orders aren't followed. So now he plays the freak, attracting people to come to the main parade, hoping, in fear, that one day someone might come to set him free.