A crazy, totally-new race of aliens [Asok]

Hello guys! After hanging around here since the beginning, I'm finally making a request! I'm hoping one of you talented folks might take an interest in making the first-ever visual depiction of a race we've invented in our online game, Star Wars: Tapestry (http://starwarstapestry.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Tapestry). They're an extra-dimensional race called the Ququor, and I think they could be a lot of fun for the right artist. Here's a little about them:

"The beings called the Ququor (or The Others, as they refer to themselves), are an extremely isolationist alien species who make their home outside of the Galaxy itself. The one world they are known to inhabit orbits a black hole that is itself located within a nebula found in the the halo region of the galaxy, 'below' the spiral arms.

The Others are two-and-a-half meter tall willowy beings, whose flesh glows and pulses with an eerie bioluminescence. Their language is based on extremely complex melodies and harmonies, though they are able to understand Basic, and can make their thoughts known in this language telepathically. They travel in what could potentially be a huge armada of starships, which share the same bioluminescent qualities of their pilots."

And here is a scene from our game, featuring them:

-------

The hangar, if that's what it really was, was cavernous and dark. The only illumination was provided by a single doorway about a hundred meters in the distance, which stood open, looking like a white, rectangular sun in an otherwise starless night.



Silhouetted in that light, quite near to the Bad Luck's crew, stood five shapes. A full two-and-a-half meters in height, they stood silently watching their visitors. They were hairless, and appeared to be clothed, though the clothing looked in the dimness to have the exact same consistency as their flesh, reminding the Bad Luck's crew of several species of aquatic creatures. This flesh and maybe-clothing pulsed with its own light in the dimness, in soothing purples, pinks, and blues.



The central figure spoke, emitting a series of whistling and humming sounds from a long snout that travelled down the front of its face, seemingly attached all the way, to end in a round opening where an ordinary humanoid's sternum would be. It then stood silent, regarding them through its slitted, glowing yellow eyes.



Fi commented nervously to the others. "Those were some crazy chords, right there." She paused, added, "wish I had my mandoviol."



The giant figures sang softly among themselves for a moment, then the lead figure seemed to speak again. Though this time, they couldn't tell if the voice was in the air, or just in their heads.



[Galactic Basic,] the voice said, and was silent.



"Yes," Kenlan As-Buka offered, stepping forward slightly. "It is our common language, one it seems you are familiar with."



Again, silence.



[Your vessel,] the being began again, [is antiquated and crude.]



"Hey now," Fi piped up again, with a smile she hoped wouldn't betray her nervousness. "She may not look like much, but she's paid for."



Still, the silence. Then, [Where is the rest of your crew?]



Damon looked at his fellows, taking a quick head count. Satisfied, he turned back toward the being. "This is it."



This time, the mysterious creatures whistled and hummed among themselves for a moment. Then, [One of our people is not among you?]



"We've never even seen one of you before," Luis offered, "much less known one."



The beings considered this a moment, and then the center being leaned forward slightly.



[Then how,] it began, [are you able to travel through our dimension, as we do?]

-------

If anyone here would like to take this on, I'd be thrilled! The best part is, I'd always imagined the different individuals of this species being different from each other - the way a trombone and french horn are different from each other, but you can tell they're still from the same family, you know?

Asok

I am actively considering taking this request. I need to be convinced, though, and I have a few questions.

You say the eyes are slits: horizontal or vertical? They have a long trunk that seems to be connected all the way down. I wonder if I'm imagining this right: it's a slender tube, connected to the neck and chest, but it doesn't move on its own, right? It's more like the a vein that pops out on someone's forehead - a tube that runs a certain length attached to the body. Or is it more like an elephant's trunk?
Their bodies are willowy - you mean like a willow tree? Slender and flowing? Do they have long arms and fingers? That's sort of how I'm imagining them.
I'd love to do some concepts for this species. I love seeing new aliens!

Boshuda

I. J. Thompson

Hey, thank you for replying, Asok!

In truth, I'd always imagined these guys looking quite different even from each other, as far as the shape details go - the main cue to their being the same species would be their 'bioluminescence', and posture. So if you're thinking of doing "some concepts", they might *all* be just right! :)

But I'll be happy to clarify what I had in mind with the specific individual we're talking about; The eye slits, I'd kind of pictured at an angle, sorta like (\ /)... maybe like a Whiphid's eyes. You're spot on with the trunk - it'd be attached all the way down. I know that means this guy can't turn his head, but I'll bet telepaths don't turn their heads much, anyway! :P Also, 'slender and flowing', with long arms and fingers, is exactly right... these guys have no use for muscles.

But I should say again, if you choose to take this request, you'll have all the freedom in the world to make it your own... the more alien, the better! :)

Asok

Done. I decided to scrap the third figure I drew, the one on the far left. I just didn't like it enough, and it didn't really help the balance. Well, enjoy!

Boshuda

I. J. Thompson

Wonderful work, Asok! I've already posted a link to the page (and gushed my brains out!) at your blog, though I thought I should say something here, too.

Incidentally, which one is the proper place for us to go on and on about how great a final piece is??? :P

Drig

Usually people gush on the finished image itself, but more gushing is always appreciated!