Wickerman Species / Lace Double Ref

_{NOTE: Wickermen are an OPEN species, so you may create your own if you like, or I can design one for you. All I ask is that you respect my copyright, and show me what you come up with! c:}

A little over a year ago, I had the idea for these things and doodled up Lace here, who is my only Wickerman OC at this time, and the species mascot. For some reason, I left the ref unfinished until this week, despite having spent the last year fleshing out the species role in my book. This is why I need to get finishing all of the stuff I have sitting around half done – I have so many pieces of art and character refs I need to complete, it’s ridiculous.

ANYWHO, this is a ref for the Wickermen, an alien species of equidae found in the primary parallel universe in my book [which is a series of interconnected Lovecraftian Horror short stories with numerous recurring characters. It actually began as me attempting to build onto the Cthulhu Mythos, but it’s begun to take on a life of its own lol]. Unlike the other species that inhabit that particular universe, Wickermen are a completely purebred species – in other words, you’re born one, you can’t become one through any other means [which is something common in that universe… people becoming other creatures, that is]. They have the ability to draw in specific elements, or even particles from natural or synthetic materials, from their environment and combust them, causing themselves to ignite. Not only does this give them the energy they need to survive [as they rarely consume food], but it’s useful as a defense mechanism.
Like Nutikets, another species of mine that I ponified for the hell of it and that you can find in my gallery lol, they are ruled over by an alien god – in this case, Pakenummuihhilleu, the eclipse god. Like Pakenummuihhilleu, they are neutral in moral alignment [as most of his followers are embodiments of the duality found in nature], but they usually lean more towards being malevolent… namely because the universe they live in is full of rather opportunistic, sinister things. Unlike many of the other denizens of their home universe, though, Wickermen can’t die – they are immortal.

They have basic equine anatomy, with a canine-like tail tipped with a spherical crystal. The crystal and their flames will generally be similar in color. When they combust, they also develop ember spots, which are always in the same color family as the flames [they can be very different hues, though]. Depending on their age and possibly even the nature of their moral alignment [as frequent fighting leads to wear and tear lol], their crystal may be cracked. Lace is one of the oldest Wickermen, hence the cracks.
Wickermen are prone to splitting open [as well as other deformities] due to the extreme heat generated by combustion, so they frequently have to have weak spots sewn up. Also, when they combust, their stitches/whatever are not visible from underneath the layer of soot they get covered in.

INFO ON LACE, HERSELF:
Lace has a split running the length of her back, exposing her spinal vertebrae. Her underbelly has also split all the way from her crotch up to her jaw and had to be sewn up. Aside from that, her eyes and mouth have been stitched shut [why is anyone’s guess at this point]. She can still manage to speak, but she has no use of her eyes. She combusts oxygen, so not only her is flame the typical orange color, but she can ignite at almost any time, any place [the obvious restriction being places with little to no oxygen] – doesn’t explain the color of her crystal, but these are vaguely supernatural aliens, so who the fuck cares xD.
Also, in case you’re wondering what the story is with her bland color scheme, I was inspired by Giant Anteaters for her design. She fits in quite well with another book creation of mine from a handful of years back, with can basically be summed up as carnivorous Giant Anteaters lol [I really should get around to drawing them more – they entertain me xD].

_{Lace / Design / Art / Wickermen species © ThatCrazyShaman}