Dug up an old image from back before I joined FA, it was a little project I had going with Shiverz to get some concept art done of some of the races of a world I created originally with a videogame in mind. You may have already seen some of those races from that world posted in my gallery such as Okuha, Grenka, Sivath, Root and others...

These images here are an early concept for the Vossen, a race of fox people with some features of maned wolf. Their culture is influenced by Japanse and Chinese culture as you can see. I first thought up these races nearly two decades ago and they have evolved and changed since then before these images were made to start polishing up their design and flesh them out some more.

Originally they were more fox-like and shorter back in their old homeland before they were driven out and nearly wiped out by the taller and more agressive Volfen, a wolf like race with a Native American/Mongol inspired culture. Some of the vossen had managed to escape on ships and found a hidden archipellago in the Mist sea, a stretch of ocean eternally coverd by mist due to heavy volcanic activity and surrounded by a treacharous reef system which keep the new Vossen homeland hidden and protected from invaders.

Having nearly been extinct the Vossen decided they would have to become stronger and learn to defend themselves and their new home and never again be pushed around. Over time they developed their own martial arts which proved to be very effective and pretty much unmatched by the other races. Though due to their time spent developing their martial arts, their culture has suffered somewhat in the arts for a long time but now that their new home has been kept hidden they have started to catch up on that.

Clothing style is one of these things, while usually they prefer the loose kimono style clothing shown here, which allows freedom of movement, they have also more eleborate outfits nowadays usually only worn for ceremonial purpose. That said public nudity is also pretty common and accepted on the island, partly due to resources being somewhat scarce. Jewelry and accessories are a bit rare, aside from the weighted bracelets and anklets they tend to wear for every day life which helps build their strength while they go about their daily tasks so have impressive strength that is deceptive of their looks.

Vossen culture is matriarchy based, with the females being in charge of most things on the islands, something that shows in their mating ritual which originally begun as a way to make their race stronger by pairing the strongest couples to pass on their genes to the next generation to make them what they are today. During the ritual the males fight eachother as they are challenged and to secure their first choice of a mate. However in order to win over the female they must fight her and prove they are worthy. (This is also true if they are already married in that they must defeat challengers who may want to court his mate.) If a female is defeated in a duel they usually accept the male as their mate, however to prevent a female being bullied into a marriage they have a way out.

If a female does not agree with a suitor they can deny his victory, by thrusting her sword into the ground and leaving it there for a year untill the next ritual. However this means the female gives up her breeding rights for that year.

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I'll probably share some more info on the Vossen in the future as I develop them further, so keep an eye out. :)

Artwork by  ShiverZ
The Vossen race belongs to me  Chakat_Blackwater