Aequis: Basic Info, Terms and Conditions

Alright! I thought I would start with some basic information on the Aequis. As of this point in time, Aequis designs can only be purchased from me, or from others reselling designs at a maximum of $5 more than what they originally paid for the design.

When posting art of the designs bought, all you need to do is credit me as the creator of Aequis/design in question and you're good to go. The character is all yours!

Minor edits are fine, so long as the design resembles the original. If you've got any questions on this, feel free to ask!

The age of the character, sex, personality, location, etc. are all up to the buyer.

Someday I might consider doing a multiple design option, if someone would like to have more than one. I'll have to figure out how to approach this. (Some folks might not want their Aequis to be lonely, though they could always socialize with others, ha!)

I am also hoping to add a range of designs in different price tiers, depending on complexity of design, whether or not bases are used to create them, and reference sheets that come with them. All of them will have final art done traditionally and will be eligible for shipping, $5 domestic (US) or $10 international, based on average shipping costs. Otherwise, a high-res file of the original art will be sent to the buyer.

Base tier: Offered in groups (by type, i.e. grassland, arctic, island, forest, etc.) varied bases will be used, designs will be simplified (no time consuming patterns!) These won't have a full ref sheet included with the design, but the original art will be available. Estimated price range: $25-45 USD. Prices subject to change!

Intermediate: unique poses for each design, moderate pattern/color complexity, reference sheet included. Estimated price range: $60-85 USD.

Complex: Highly detailed design, complex/unusual traits/coloration, uniquely posed, full reference sheet. May apply to “semi-domestic” designs. Estimated price range: $95-115+ USD.

Customs: Starting at $85 USD. Reference sheet included, give as many details as you need! More complex requests will cost more. Ask for a quote if interested!

Some other things to consider/basic information:

They can be conditioned to work alongside humans or other beings if they are well cared for and given some freedom and the respect they demand.

Tendency towards social/solitary behavior has a lot to do with subspecies in question. Arctic types form smaller groups/tend towards solitary lifestyle. Grassland/forest types have more access to food and space, so they will be more social and live in larger groups.

Aequis prefer to live in areas with hilly to mountainous terrain. Anything that gives them a good vantage point to observe from/take off makes life easier. Cliffs, bluffs, plateaus, mountains, hills, (giant trees?) will be where they make their nests/found their communities.

They are carnivorous! Under the beaked upper lip are very sharp, almost serrated teeth they use to slice into flesh, swallowing chunks whole. The shorter carnivorous digestive tract allows them to weigh less, and also allows them to make use of more nutrient dense animal proteins. They hunt by striking their prey from above with their hard, sharp hooves, any killing blows that need to be made (if at all) after the attack are delivered with the sharp, curved inner toes, which easily puncture even tough hides. The majority of the meal is eaten on the ground, after which the leftovers are broken up with battering hooves and carried off to other flock members/young.

Aequis are oviparous, and lay clutches from 1-2 eggs at a time, rarely 3-4. (Highly dependent on food levels.) Young take 3-5 years to fledge, and in many circumstances, are looked after by both parents and other members of the flock/community. Young regularly intermingle from an early age.

The average lifespan of an Aequis in the wild is 40-60 years. They may live longer in areas with plenty of food or with other beings providing for them.

They are an intelligent species! Think advanced corvids/primates. They have their own language, and can be taught others, though they may not learn/express these additional languages as well as their own. Many are, however, excellent mimics, and can be convinced to act as messengers. In some cases, an Aequis can accommodate a rider, provided the rider is light and good at holding on. Aequis will only permit those that respect them to ride them. (Pretty much all favors depend on the person being decent to the Aequis and respecting their terms.)

Aequis do not inbreed! Recessive traits are RARELY consistent as a result. Therefore, any odd design quirks that do not regularly occur will be treated as rare.

Subspecies can cross, this is most likely to occur where their ranges overlap.

Semi-domestic types exist with humans or other sentients, but unlike domesticated animals on earth, Aequis do not exist in extreme forms, due to aforementioned taboo of inbreeding. Varying color schemes may arise, or feather types, but overall, no extremes in form, and nothing that would hinder the health, function, and livelihood of the individual. (There is NO breeding for pigment deficiencies, though they sometimes occur on accident.) There will be no brachycephaly, intentional dwarfism, or over-feathering to the point where an animal can't properly fly.

If you really wanted to, you could dye their feathers, I suppose. Though with molting, it'd have to be a repeated task!

If you have a question, feel free to ask it so I can come up with a proper FAQ for them!