Vaeraf (Species)

To me, Vaerafes are very personal and special creatures, so they have a much deeper meaning than an original species/design I created - they are part of my mind and soul, I love them and look for ways to portray them in art. Iit’s not my intention to make them scientific or completely realistic. Rather, I prefer them to stay artistic, sometimes even symbolic or surreal, following my dreams and feelings, using different styles of depicting them in art.

Vaeraf (“Va'yeraf”, from the word “Vaer” – “high”, “tall” in their language) is a fantasy species from the Leviano world. They look like tall and very slender creatures, with a long and thin neck, long legs and big paws. Their average height ranges around 100-130cm at the withers (shoulder height), and they seem quite huge even though they are unearthly thin. Their facial features resemble an oriental cat, but face usually is longer and narrower than is typical for felines. They have hand-like paws with semi-retractable claws. Actively use their hands to interact with objects, use tools.

(It’s absolutely okay for them to be thin, they are not starving. It is important for me to draw them as I see them, and I see them as such surrealistically thin beings. This is a natural and healthy state for them, they don’t suffer because of it)

- They are social and sapient species (have high intelligence and self-awareness), have their language (verbal and written), culture and society. Some of my art ideas and style are related to their culture, language and symbolism. Their main concept is the idea of plus ("positive") and minus ("negative") and sounds like "for every plus, there is a minus".

- They are omnivores, but mostly tend to be vegetarians. Some (not all) Vaerafes are also able to feed on a kind of pure energy, without eating anything physically. Can share some energy with each other, feeding each other that way.

- They mature quite late (like humans at 18~ years old or even later) and have a long lifespan, but I usually convert their age to human to better understand the character's age. The details of the nature of their reproduction are still mostly mysterious to me, and they don't have pronounced sexual dimorphism. However, they form strong and close bonds with their partners and raise children together, and I also noticed that they tend to live in trios ("triangle"), not in pairs.

- They can communicate through some kind of empathic telepathy - by sharing their emotions, thoughts and sensations, literally feeling what the other is feeling. They have their own etiquette in mental communication, so different groups, as well as wild and civilized Vaerafes, have different language and etiquette, and aren’t always able to understand each other.

- They have cities and some technology. So-called Energy is the main resource for Vaerafes, and it left a huge imprint on their perception and culture. They have learned to use energy in a similar way to the electrical energy, and most of their technology runs on it in one way or another. They also use obelisks to stay connected with each other and send messages over long distances. These obelisks are connected by a network and Vaerafes can telepathically contact all the other available obelisks. Obelisk-like formations with similar networks exist naturally in their world and are called Towers, which create mental networks for all forms of life under their control. Vaerafes just learned to use them in their own way.

Gallery (open images in a new window to see them in bigger size)

- There are several known types/races of Vaerafes - Bjar (Mountain/Northern), Shaeld ("Intense"), and Taem ("White"). Their appearance, culture and way of life is slightly different:

- Taem ("White", "very light") are the most social, technologically advanced and civilized, live in fairly large towns. Are known for living in large-scale mental and telepathic contact, using a kind of mental network that allows them to have not only individual, but also global connection with each other. They are very thin and graceful, neat and gentle, have small paws and usually short and very light-colored fur (even genetically black Taem will have a light gray or even white color). They tend to eat either pure energy or, if necessary, may be vegetarians. Use clothes more often than others.

- Bjar (Bjarshaedrae - "Mountain") are usually semi-wild or rural, live in families and are strongly attached only to family members. They are omnivorous and flexible in their lifestyle, and may sometimes eat other creatures, but overall are not aggressive. Are usually relatively short, but have big paws and fairly thick fur, tending to wolf-like colors.

- Shaeld ("Intense", "individual", "special") - quite rare, the most individual, closed and solitary, tend to be less social, and therefore - sometimes less empathic. Physically and mentally they are usually noticeably bigger, sturdier, and stronger than other Vaerafes. They can have both light or dark colors, and usually tend to have fairly long hair.

- There are also Desert Vaerafes - they are supposedly the ancestors of all types/races.

Other forms and versions:

- Saenvine - a kind of spiritual form of Vaerafes; they like Vaeraf spirits, "angels" and "demons", not a separate species. They usually appear as very tall, elongated, or artistically stylized Vaerafes, and may also have fantasy elements such as wings and horns, which are a symbolic reflection of their individuality, energy and spirit.

- Varlaf - fantasy creatures from my "The Old Tale" story. They may look similar to Vaerafes, but have different idea, world and lore; a bit of the idea like “this is how people would perceive and describe Vaerafes if they lived in a fantasy version of our world in the form of mystical spirits”. They are also based on my old creature concepts, including Koties.

- Kotie - smaller and feline-like Vaeraf subspecies.

Are they closed or open species? Can other people create their own vaeraf characters?
- I don’t mind other people drawing them if they want to, but I don’t allow creating their own characters. This is a formal rule, because I don’t want people to use them as their own characters only because they like their “design”, and I also don’t allow adoptables, role-playing, and any commercial use. I don’t create adoptables or characters for other people, and I don’t sell anything related to my creatures. But I don’t mind if someone just wants to draw them, and technically you can draw the specific person of my species that you come up with. The only thing I want is you to treat my creatures with understanding and care and avoid NSFW themes ~