Viatores
"Viator" is Latin for 'tourist, traveler, wayfarer, messenger, traveller, passenger'. Suffix of es meaning plural.
Official Viatores Website
Viatores are a Monster/Alien/'Slime' Species, created by Cactus in 2016. Originally created as just an OC for herself, it grew well beyond that to be a species that many enjoy, and a labor of love and lore that is still being worked on to this day.
They are a race meant for 18+ (adults) as the content contains NSFW lore and imagery.
Newcomers are more than welcome to join, read into the tons of lore that is already established, ask questions and oneday get their own 'Jelly Bean'!
They are energy based life forms, not carbon based or made of a matter we know. They have a form akin to humanoid, as well as others that are better suited for combat or energy storage. All of their abilities require the use of energy; which is their life force. As such they need to replenish as they use it, which is why the grouping of viatores, known as packs, is so important.
A nomadic race that exists hidden behind the veils that make up the folds of all worlds. Constantly moving as they pass through different worlds, they often go unnoticed, hidden in the background, the elusive beings camouflaged amongst the natives of their surroundings on their perpetual journey searching for their perceived homeland and the energy to sustain themselves on their journey.Their means of travel is via a super-highway: the void 'In-Between' worlds and dimensions, like the thin film between bubbles. This space is outside time in the manner mortal creatures perceive it. They venture into worlds at various periods of their timeline for reasons known only to them.Viatores are community-based creatures, forming groups known as a Family, or Pack. Incorporating a caste system amongst the members, each unit within each caste has a predetermined role in the greater pack. They are symbiotic in this manner, with each caste existing in a system of mutual-ism with those in the other various castes.Though they suffer no wear from time during their existence, Viatores may still perish by falling in battle if their heart is destroyed. If they are deprived of the means to consume energy, they effectively collapse into themselves - a process regarded in hushed tones and taboo.
Artwork presented by TinyCactusArt - Krekael - Xiromyth
TOS
The Terms of Service to owning and Participating in this Closed Species Project
General Information
Closed Species
Viatores are a closed species, this means that they are not open to making your own, or converting a character into one.
They are created and then auctioned off on Cactus' main Discord.
NSFW Species
Viatores are a NSFW based species, meaning that they are created and have concepts that have adult topics. They are not for those who are under 18, for the safety of the community.
Selling and Trading
Selling, Gifting or Trading designs is alright, but I keep track of who owns the designs, so please contact me of you would like to do so. This way, I can make sure the transaction is legitimate and so I can know who the new owner is! I also as that any selling is done in here or Cactus' main server, so that it can be overseen.Free Designs
Free Viatores - Given as gifts, won in a free raffle or received via trade cannot be sold. If you find yourself no longer wanting your viatores, you can give it away (following the above) or give it back to me and I can reuse the design elsewhere, or retire it.Paid Designs
If you would like to sell your Viatores you can do so for a flat fee (aka what you paid for it) or via auction (SB can't be higher than what you paid) Again, this is to take place in Cactus' main server so it can be overseen.Additional Art
If you have commissions, or additional art you have gotten; You are welcome to send that to the new owner, or keep if for yourself. It isn't to be added into the overall price, because those commissions were of your decision, not the new possible owners.
Alterations
Acceptable AlterationsViatores are constantly changing over their immense lifetimes, and owners are welcome to explore different hairstyles, clothing, and accessories for them. They would absolutely gather new clothes and accessories and important things as their story grows. They travel to so many worlds that all types of clothes are possible, but keep in mind their ability to shapeshift makes restricting clothing difficult. Viatores themselves have a style of clothing; You can learn more on the discord!Mimcry
Viatores mimic other races they come in contact with, while there are some defaults that I use, feel free to draw your viatores in any sort of humanoid mimicry!
Examples but not limited to - Humans, Elves, Orcs, Anthro, Aasimar, Teifling.
Its a mix of shapeshifting and Illusion magic that allows them to change and vary their shape, all while using energy!
Alterations to Avoid▫️Colors▫️
I ask that you do not change the palette of the character. Please do not change the hair color / skin patterns, or Oor'oze colors.
These are deeply involved with the race, with some being considered rare traits. I try to keep them as balanced as possible.▫️Anatomy▫️
I ask that there are no changes to the anatomy without approval; such as redesigning the horns, changing the placement of wings, adding limbs/prosthetics etc.An Exception would be a story driven reason for the change. For example a Viatores coming in contact with a disease like the Taint or Mold may have minor or drastic changes made, such as getting a prosthetic or having some softer gel effect. These are something that I work out with you to keep it consistent to the lore!Another avenue of doing major changes to a design is via paid changes. I can make large changes to your Viatores reference sheet such as changing the colors or making anatomy changes, however this would require a fee for the work involved.
This way their reference sheet can also be updated to reflect the changes!TLDR;
I'm basically asking that folks do not completely redesign my designs. If you're unsure if the change you would like to make is allowed please DM me about it
Severing
You may have noticed that some Viatores have a note of being 'severed' These are people that own a Viatores and for whatever reason, are no longer apart of the community. They have left the pack and are no longer connected to the other Viatores.
Viatores still in the pack may have a personal bond with them, and can still interact with them. Its asked that if you do not change their race or redesign them, that you still note their species, but otherwise you have paid for the design and you can do what you will with it.Closed species are largely an honor system, and I can't force you to make changes or alter your Jelly Beans, but I can publicly denounce if it becomes an issue.
F.A.Q
Frequently asked Questions in regards to the Viatores Race
Can I Make my Own Viatores?
It is asked that you do not make your own Viatores. They are not specifically a MakeYourOwn species, and are gained via Auctions/Raffles. They are a project of Cactus' and a great source of enjoyment in creating each adopt and rarely working with someone on a custom.
Can I draw/make my OC a Viatores?
You are free to draw an OC as if they were a Viatores, as that is a super fun exercise! But, it is noted that such OCs will not be treated as apart of the community/Pack, and are not counted as official Viatores.
Can I have/ will there be Regius Adopts?
No, they will not be available for adoption/owning. A Regius denotes a whole new pack, and while there are many in lore, for someone to have another Regius - splits the community. Its based around those in Cactus' Pack, and other packs are NPCs and supplemental for the world lore.
Can I Have a Harvestor?
Havestors wouldnt make for Good OCs. Canonically, they have no 'ego' or sense of self. No emotions, no desires or wants other than a Need to Feed/ Absorb all the energy they can. They are mindless ginormus creatures; all of which look the exact same, despite of the Viatores they sprung from.
Can I make up a Pack/AnBheith that my Viatores came from before?
Absolutely! You can make up names, NPCs and Anbheith are as wild, different, horrible and they are as vast as our imagination allows. NPCs in ones story however are not to be treated as OCs and created.
Can I edit my Viatores after adopting
Please see the TOS section for alterations!
Bean owners are always welcome to DM me as well
Can a Viatores be SFW only?
As stated, this is a NSFW race, meaning they are commonly drawn in NSFW settings/manner. They treat nudity and sex very differently than humans do. Modesty isn't something that they have, not feeling their body needs to be covered (and feel restricted in lots of clothing) and Sex is not only a fun activity with eachother, its seen as athletic like running or even a bonding experience to lift a fellow beans mood - and to make sure they have enough energy to survive!
However that can be awkward for some people, who don't like to have an Open OC - They are not forced to be drawn in NSFW settings. If you don't want your bean drawn naked, they is a Viatores style clothing, and alternatives to sharing energy are already based in lore.I will remind that A-typical or loner behavior is VERY dangerous in Viatores culture, and are a HYPER social species.
Being Inter-dimensional Travelers, can they be in ______ setting?
Almost probably. They travel in-between worlds, via a void. I like to think of it like the skin of a bubble in a large collection of bubbles. Each world/dimension/realm is an encased space, and they travel in between them, allowing for them to be in all settings. From hommade worlds, to Faerun, Raccoon City, and even Hyrule!
What kind of powers do they have?
Inherently, they are able to shapeshift and mimic other species; known as Mimicry.
They are also able to change between set forms based on their creature; with a set number of sizes depending on Caste.
Otherwise, they manipulate the energy of any world they are in (known as Weave/Magic/Aether/Ether..) and are able to caste spells, and learn magics. Some are taboo, but so far none are something they cannot do withing their immense lifetimes.
Where can I start reading the lore?
Join the Discord! Lore is all there and constantly being added to and updated, as well as sneaky peeks at adopts, world and critters too!
Personally, I would suggest the Culture/biology and then branching out from there.
Do you do species trades?
I do! If I am interested in your species, and we can work something out to be a similar amount of work, it can possibly happen! I don't want to promise, as I have a lot of OCs and have been trying to stop. xD shit happens, tho.