Meet Dylo: The Humanity of a Hero

When I first started shaping the main hero, Dylo, I didn’t want another spotless, law-abiding saviour who always knows the “right” thing to do or what destiny shows him to do because his spirit is so strong in that manner. I wanted someone real, someone you might meet in life, that kind of person you don’t understand. Someone who doesn’t tick all the heroic boxes, but still earns your trust. That’s how Dylo was born: a 25-year-old rebel in the shining, flawless world of The Arc Galaxy.

Fact: The name Dylo comes from the first two letters of my two kids’ names.

The Arc is a marvel—a high-tech civilisation obsessed with harmony and precision. Most people there glide through life with serene smiles and shared ideals; they all follow almost the same path. Dylo? Not so much. He’s perhaps the glitch in the system. Proud, stubborn, and allergic to being told what to do or follow someone, he hates to be in a mould. If the authorities say “go left”, he’ll go right just to make a point. He acts not because someone tells him to, but because he decides the cause is worth his time and/or his ideals, sometimes for good and sometimes for bad or at least with that intention.

But here’s the thing: beneath the defiance, Dylo is deeply, painfully human. He’s guided by emotion more than reason, yet he’s not reckless. He knows when he’s hurt someone, and he carries that weight until he makes it right. That’s not something you see in every so-called “hero.”

Despite his well-known rudeness, greatness and conviction, he is fragile and internally can suffer from his biggest fear, one he fights himself: Panic attacks when things spin out of his control.

Dylo lives with his Golden Retriever, Orbo —a constant reminder that in his world of cold perfection, warmth still exists. Orbo isn’t just a pet; he’s Dylo’s safe space, his anchor, the one being who never judges him. And then there’s the girl he loves. Around her, the armour drops. The arrogance fades. The smirk softens. He becomes fragile—and he’s not afraid to be seen that way. That’s the most surprising thing about him: he’s fearless, not because “nothing scares him,” but because he’s brave enough to feel.

At his core, Dylo is a rebel —not the reckless kind who fights everything just to cause chaos, but the deliberate kind who pushes back only when it matters. He hates being controlled and values his freedom above almost anything else.

Morally, he lives in the grey zone. He’s not a rule-breaker for fun, but he won’t blindly follow laws or orders that go against what he believes in. He chooses his principles and stands by them, even when it’s risky.

His pride and stubbornness can make him difficult, but they’re balanced by his ability to feel guilt, take responsibility, and change when he’s wrong. That mix—tough on the outside, open on the inside—is what makes him stand out.

And while he projects strength, his relationships reveal his softer side. With Orbo and with her, we see a man who can love openly and let his guard down. Those bonds show that even a rebel needs connection—and sometimes, that’s where his real strength lies.

I gave him all this in some dialogues within the game, so you could appreciate all these facets, or at least that was my intention. I hope you enjoyed this read as much as I spent time thinking about this character; he is one of my favourite heroes.