I'm planning on creating a book character inspired pet (speaking precisely - Zavulon from S. Lukyanenko's Watches series).
The character was a grand dark magician, who could transform into a demon form - black and scaly, with a long forked tongue, horns, claws, short tail and all classical demon stuff. So, as for the color, Nightmare seems to be right choice. But what about the species? Rreign, perhaps? Mahar? I have honestly no idea. Please, help <3

I always feel that some of the experiments are made for demons <3 (I'd usually suggest , but I don't think the skeleton look fits your character):

If you are going for nightmare, maybe one of these?

NM pets

Looking for a Nightmare; I'd prefer a dragon-based one, I think. I'm going to use a custom overlay or profile art, tho, so it's all about the certain feel, not the species' design :)

Sorry, I'm completely off then xD (since I'm not really a dragon person so I naturally picked something else). Though I totally know what you mean by the right feel instead of design, that's actually how I pick color/species for my pets.

Among the dragonish NM pets, I do like the Mahar A LOT.

Id say if you want a tradtional dragon go with the Mahar....

a dillema, charlie, or darkonite could also be options.

If you want a dragon I'd go with mahar though. It probably looks the most demonic-looking of the dragons.

He was described as a pretty much dragon-ish kind of demon; I'm not a dragon person at all, but the feel means everything ;)

NM Darkonite is actually closest to the description, still something like Mahar seems to have the feel (or closer vibe, not sure how to call it!).

I hope I won't be breaking the forum policies if I link two awesome fanarts, pretty faithful to the description: http://fanat08.deviantart.com/art/Alice-and-Zavulon-504158865 http://fanat08.deviantart.com/art/Zavulon-Day-Watch-481082804

, I think of a snake-type when I see him... something more on the lines of 0507 without the mane and I little more sleak.

Perhaps a NM Serpenth...? I'd rather make him a normal pet than experiment (as much as I love them!). Still it's all about the feel, not the looks :)

?;--;

oh man, I even read those books once but that was a looooong time ago. I probably like Mahar, Wyllop or Darkonite best.

If you're looking at nightmare pets and prefer a dragon based one, I'd definitely recommend the Endeavor.

I may be biased because I own one, haha. But regardless! Nightmare pets make wonderful dark-themed characters.

I totally love them. The movies too. Tried the games, but they're hopeless tbh. Well, I've loved the series for many years already, but I've came back to them recently and now I want a pet. Mahar seem to be pretty natural choice. Darkonite feels good too and it actually even looks like the character's demon form (and it has "dark" in it's name, huehue lol whatever). Wyllop, I don't like, tbh. What about Rreign? Does it not have The Feel? Or Endeavor?

I love Endeavors! And I've been thinking about this species too, but I'm not sure about it's robotic look and roots, hmm

Unpopular opinion, but I think the Nightmare Donadak does a good job of passing for a demonic dragon close to the art you linked, especially with some overlay edits. I have one for my pet Locked, and I love it!

I second the Nightmare Donadak. I own one myself and I just love the pose and face and yeah, it would kinda fit the linked art.

I can't decide between NM Endeavor, Darkonite, Rreign and Mahar. Help please! <3

Hmm those are all pretty nice options. I personally used a Nightmare Mahar for my demon pet based off of an evil from my OC world. The NM Donadak does look pretty sweet, all those sharp claws and spikes and all.

I really think it depends on the personality of your pet idea honestly. The Donadak looks vicious, the Endeavor looks calm and plotting an elaborate demise for someone, the Rreign looks like the pyschotic type like hes a bit jittery, that kinda crackly laugh as he picks apart his victim and the Mahar inda has that vibe similar to the Endeavor that looks like he is calm, but rather than plotting he would rather just enact his evil now and come for his victims souls or toy with them before so.

Of course these are my own interpretations but perhaps they will help you in your own considerations for what you wish to do with your character. <3

Edit: Although now I actually went back up and noticed your description of your character a bit, I am thinking the Endeavor seems to fit that description rather well. He's got that dark contemplating look like you might expect from a wizard, plus all of those draconic features you also mentioned. The Endeavor looks wise, yet still evil. As I'd expect of an evil wizard, calm, collected and plotting.

Oh right, I should say a word about the personality! So the character's one of the most powerful magicians in the books, a "magician beyond classification". However in his human form he appears as a skinny individual of unknown age (could be 30, could be 300), seemingly concerned and sad, as if he was burdened with the world's all problems. He is however a master plotter, heartless and double-faced - he plots all the time, often using his own subordinates and even his lover as expendable pawns.

Again then, it's all about the right feel, I'll be using custom overlay. I love the Endeavor most, but I'm not sure since Endeavors are robots. Would it be okay to use a robo-pet as a base for an organic character?

I'd say go for the one you like the most. The endeavour actually makes sense after I read the pet personality. It fits the physical description. And you don't have to apply the robotic nature of the endeavours to its literal meaning. It could be a metaphor of his coldness and heartlessness.

(None of my steamwork pets or endeavour are robots/non-organic or even remotely related to mechanical/metal stuff :P)

Oh, I'm definitely going to check your pets! <3 Aaand you're right about the nature! Thank you :D

I actually didn't know they were actually robots but I agree with Horror, I'd go with what you like the best and matches the character. The Endeavors don't actually look outwardly robotic, so I think they could quite honestly still work for your character.

After your description of the character, I'm sticking even more with my vote on Endeavor since he looks overly cunning and devious especially his facial expression. <3

I certainly don't think there is any "rule" against using a "robot" to represent an organic character, but I don't know. But it's not like its outwardly robotic like a steamwork pet would be. I'd in my opinion say as far as rules go that it should be safe to do so, if you mean just idea wise, then definitely I think it would be safe to say they could be used since they mostly look scaly rather than non-organic.