Behind the Story: Knights of Haysead · 6:37pm Dec 24th, 2012

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read or finished reading Knights of Haysead, you will want to do that before continuing!

Well, it all began with a single drawing. I was contemplating what kind of story I wanted to do. I got bored and started doodling on a notepad. This was October... 20th? Something like that. Any way I drew a pony with some kind of fancy looking get-up on. It became the first draft of the Khazae armor.

The next step involved sketches of the main cast. Those consisted of Silent Step, Grey Wisp, and Green Hoof. But those turned out kind of ugly, so I won't bother showing you. Sly Horn was not originally going to be in the story, but I needed someone to kill. I based the character's personalities partly off of video game characters or sometimes even historical figures. Silent Step was based off of Ezio Auditore, from Assassin's Creed. Grey Wisp was based on Astrid, from Skyrim. Sly Horn was based on Nazir, also from Skyrim. Equus Doris was based on Emperor "Caligula" Germanicus II. And Dius Cognatio was based on Otto von Bismarck, despite having a very minor part.
After the drawings were done, I started writing the story. I asked my friend, Yoonicorn to help me edit. After feeling a little short-handed I also hired an old friend, space_pony. I completed the story with as little drama as possible... heh.
Now some more tidbits! You'll notice that "Ancient Equestrian," which is really Latin, is used frequently. Calm down I have translations!

Equus Doris: Horse of Hell
Chalybs Bonus: Good Steel
Aquila Umbra: Dark Shadow
Dius Cognatio: Noble Blood
Admissarius Rex: King Stallion
"Sic, audioro.": Yes, I swear
Reginae: Queens, Princesses
"Accipio.": I understand
"Accepemus. Reginarum perduellis accibo!": Welcome. The enemies of the Princesses will fall. (I just realized I screwed up there, it should be "Reginarum perduellis accibit!"

I think that's all of the Latins I have to translate, if there's anything I left out, let me know. By the way, I have to credit Invictus for coming up with the idea of "Latin= Ancient Equestrian" although his explanation is a little different.
And now, to wrap it up in a nice, big bow for Heartswarming Eve, some final sketches of the cast!