When I was working for ZodiaCon, one thing that really, really bugged me was having all those ideas about characters and their vanilla themes and knowing I won't be able to use them until years later (literally). My computer and numerous sketchbooks are littered with sketches, unfinished paintings, character bios, relations and detailed stuff/gear/anatomy breakdowns and there's so many of them I'm actually scared shitless how fast these guys came to their own life and quite well into dictating mine.

And when I was putting together stuff for my book (where the ZC designs take their own chapter), I found this little gem. I always had a special soft spot for Norbert, the patron of the Libra sign. Not because we'd share a sign, but because I have a knack for rats and his character is the kind of guy I'd love to know in person.
He has a knack for gallows humor and is quite snarky, but can't get his act straight when the push comes to shove and a job has to be done. He's obssessed with precision (he's a Libra, hello...?) and therefore, his sigil is the antique pocketwatch he keeps carrying with him in every era. He's also known to get annoyed by incredibly lame puns on rats, time and plague carrying.

I'd kill for having him as a plush toy. Or a statue. Because there seriously isn't enough love for anthropomorphic rats.

By the way, the background was a serious pain in the neck. I'm never painting anything so angular ever again. Or at least in the next few weeks.

Edit: Also, being a popular question "Why do you have a(n ugly) rat as a patron for the Libra", the answer is "Because a) when it comes to balance, there's few animals better than rats and b) rats are just that awesome". Nuff said.