#temiraan

[translunaryanimus]

Are chenesht usually just born with their complex markings or do they develop over time? (Like toucans for an example)

Chenesht markings do develop overtime, they're also born with a layer of fluffy down that they slowly lose over time, replacing it with the much shorter, sleeker, and very difficult to see fuzz that they have as an adult.

Patterns for Tem ft their Child-Proof glasses

And a clothes-less version for the sake of clarity

[translunaryanimus]

Chenesht Blue Patches and Modesty

aka. I fucked up a little and never properly explained these. If you have spent any amount of time on my blog you may have noticed that I draw all Cob Chenesht with these vibrant blue patches on their faces and necks (and sometimes bodies). Unfortunately I never really explained what these were beyond a 'sexed display structure' and also, I haven't been drawing them correctly! Here to help me out as a demonstration is Temiraan, a Chlâsle ethnicity Cob (depicted here in barbie doll nude format). Even though I always draw them with their blue patches flushed when in color, Tem looks like this a vast majority of the time!

The only visual indicators that they're a Cob are the prominent ankle spurs, smaller size, longer whiskers, and more complex facial patterning.

However, when Temiraan is flustered, all of these patches on their body flush and turn bright blue. The patches are informally referred to as 'blush spots' but have different names in different dialects.

The blue patches on Cobs are areas of high bloodflow that flush when one is excited, aroused, flustered, or even overheated/sweaty (think how some humans turn pink when they're really hot). Realistically they wouldn't show in 90% of scenarios unless a character is an easy blusher, I just tend to draw them so people know they're there. Reeves have them too, but they lack the characteristic patch of blue on the neck and typically only have them on the face. They also flush less brightly, as evolutionarily Reeves were never selected for their bright colors, they were selected for size and strength.

The prominence and semi-sex related nature of these blue patches is also why Tem's culture (Chlâsle) places an emphasis on modesty and covering up, they view it as crude and inappropriate to expose large patches of blue. This is why you'll see Tem wearing loose, thick clothes and some form of head and neck covering in every situation where they're depicted in public. This emphasis on modesty is not blanket across all Chenesht cultures.

[translunaryanimus]

Temiraan shows off some popular youth fashion from their culture.* More under the cut.

Lip jewellry and other metal decorations are typically made from tin or copper, the two most abundant metals on their planet. They're fairly easy to heat and shape and contrast well against the dull backdrop of Chenesht skin.

Additionally, many pieces of jewellry from piercings to necklaces to bracelets, even some tassled cloaks and scarves, are meant to resemble the fluttery looking tendrils of the Helium Jellyfish ('air jellies') that serve as their primary predators. It's believed that wearing depictions of the air jellies confuses and wards them off, and on a more spiritual level, bestows confidence and bravery on those who wear them.

Dental jewelry is also particularly popular, especially lower jaw clasps meant to resemble large teeth or tusks. While primarily worn by youths to look fierce and tough, the actual tusks are often quite dull and cause minor bruising at best if they're on while roughousing. Fight appropriate tusks are typically made from bone and are much larger, attatching to a jaw guard or a helmet rather than a thin strip of metal on the lower jaw. There's also a third type of tusk meant for sport fighting, which is typically made of compact air jelly flesh, leading to a rubbery, non-harmful impact.

Head scarves and other coverings when worn by youth are typically sheer and decorated with bright colors and fun patterns. They're seen as a transitional fashion before adulthood, in which thicker, duller coverings become more common (especially among married adults). The sheer fabric allows more breatheability, and the customization and patterns allow more self-expression that adults typically display.

The Glasses Temiraan wears are mostly for fashion. Only the wealthy or particularly determined artisans ever purchase 'refocal lenses'. Also called 'detail lenses' or 'predator lenses', Refocal lenses allow Chenesht to see both far and near with clarity and focus on details. Glasses for fashion tend to focus more on shape and contrast rather than actually assisting the wearer with broadening their field of view.

The emphasis on bright colors, contrasting patterns, and bold shapes comes from the chenesht inability to see quite as many colors as humans can. Their color vision is limited, and they struggle seeing reds and greens properly, so the more contrast and vibrancy, the better.

[Image adjusted to Chenesht Vision]

* Everything stated only applies to one of several Chenesht cultures. Everything here is also subject to change as I continue to develop Chenesht culture and society.

[translunaryanimus]

Doodles of Aliens. The two featured in the first image talking are siblings Temiraan (long whiskers) and Daanet (short whiskers.)

Temiraan [Chemêrânh] is drawn again in the second and fourth images but I fucked up the proportions for number four (head too small). They're the one yelling about their birthright in image 2.

Wnat? Guy is actually named Wnat [Whnath] and looks perpetually confused.

Their people are collectively called Tenesh [Chenesht] and they live on a swamp planet that's also full of helium jellyfish