Rogue Trader Captain Athene Santiago, Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priest, Aeldari Corsair

This is a cover art the artist, Johan Grenier did for black library. The artist was pleased by how the character design has worked here, the female central figure was fun to do smiley.

This captivating illustration features Rogue Trader Captain Athene Santiago, a bold and dynamic figure epitomizing the daring spirit of her profession. Athene stands front and center, her confident stance and piercing gaze exuding authority and determination. Clad in an elaborate uniform that mixes Imperial formality with a flair for individuality, she wields a glowing power sword, its energy crackling in the void. Her braided hair and cybernetic implant hint at a life of hardship and resilience, marking her as someone who has faced the dangers of the galaxy head-on and emerged stronger for it. Her attire, complete with gold accents and medals, speaks of her rank and success as a Rogue Trader—a figure who walks the line between Imperial loyalty and personal ambition.

In the background looms a massive voidship, its baroque architecture a hallmark of Imperial starships. Its grandeur reflects the vastness of her power and the influence she wields as a Rogue Trader. To her left is the shadowy visage of an Aeldari Corsair, their sharp features and ethereal presence a reminder of the dangerous xenos allies or enemies she may encounter in her exploits. On the right, an Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priest, draped in crimson robes and adorned with mechanical augmentations, embodies the knowledge and mystery of the Machine Cult. His staff and the glowing lenses of his optical augmetics suggest a deep understanding of the arcane technology that keeps the ship and its mission functioning.

This artwork encapsulates the multifaceted and unpredictable life of a Rogue Trader. Captain Athene Santiago stands as the linchpin of this ensemble, her fearless demeanor reflecting the unyielding drive needed to navigate the treacherous void, where diplomacy, battle, and survival often intermingle. The inclusion of xenos and Mechanicus figures hints at the complex alliances and moral ambiguities that define the Rogue Trader’s role, while the vast, star-speckled void serves as a dramatic backdrop, emphasizing the endless possibilities—and dangers—that lie ahead in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium.