#transformers whirlwind

The planet Tobu and her sophont species: sphynx

Velkî, the Song Princess

A proper design and look at one of the main sphynx characters for Transformers Whirlwind (my original continuity ♪(´▽｀)) Really the only reason I haven't shown a lot of the actual transformers themselves is just because I'm still kinda bad at drawin them lol.

Dinobot and Velkî

What do you get when you have a former Decepticon and a flightless songbird together? Well you get these two.

Dinobot is a warrior, a former gladiator, a mech so hellbent on leading the Decepticons that he didn't even realize that he'd been had until Starscream literally threw him out of the High Guard. Out smarted and hurt, he stumble across Velkî, who took pity on him, and convinced the Autobots to help him recover. After which he became a... reluctant Autobot, really only staying because he had the chance to fight Megatron, and... well, he liked Velkî's spunk.

Velkî, on the other talon, is a high-class, basically princess, of her clan. Daughter of the clan leader, she's known for 2 things: her beautiful voice, and the fact she can't fly despite being a part of a clan known for their powerful flyers. She's a quick-witted little thing, with a tongue as sharp as her mind, and she will use it to get what she wants. If you were to ask her why she helped Dinobot out that day, she'd simply shrug, and say "it was the right thing to do". She'd never admit this aloud, but she honestly loves the hell out of him, and was very happy to become his companion for her planet.

Sphynx Body and Facial Language Guide Part 3: Intimidation and Confusion

Featuring Serverblight Factions' Yumi and Blade as our test subjects (since these are characters we are already familiar with)

Note: it is rare for Sphynx to go around without clothing (though sleeping and sometimes preening is an exception), this is just for clarity

Sphynx are nocturnal predators that are hypercarnivorous (meaning their diets are 60-70% meat), that tend to live in tight-knit family groups. Intraspecies fighting was, and is, common, and even the gall to try and steal someone's romantic partner through flirtation isn't too unheard of.

Yumi (left) is using a very common intimidation tactic, puffing out her feathers to make her look bigger, pointing with her ears at the target of her ire, and showing that she is ready to pounce. It's not out right anger, she's not growling or hissing, or showing her beak in full aggression, but she is saying "back off, or I'll use your intestines as a noose". Everyone knows what she means, but she still has a sense of plausible deniability.

Blade (right) on the other... again, should I use talon? Is basically trying to tell her that she has nothing to worry about, and is extremely confused by her aggression. While I do anthropomorphize Sphynx by giving them eyebrows, the ears are once again where it's at. One ear up and one ear down is basically a raised eyebrow, his talon on Yumi's back is meant to be a "yo, what are you doing???". The Clicking noise he's making isn't common in most sphynx language, it's like Morse-code, used by folks that are mute. There's sign language too, and Blade does use it, but Click is more useful especially when people aren't looking at you.

Sphynx Body and Facial Language Guide Part 2: Preening

Featuring Serverblight Factions' Icyad (@chiibss baby) and Sailerman as our test subjects (since these are characters we are already familiar with)

Note: it is rare for Sphynx to go around without clothing (though sleeping and sometimes preening is an exception), this is just for clarity

Being covered in feathers, preening is a common part of a sphynx's cleaning routine. However, there are parts of the sphynx's body that is hard (though not impossible) to reach, those being the back of the head, and between the shoulders. Only immediate family, close friends, or romantic partners are allowed to preen those areas (with masseuses and doctors being the only exceptions in most countries), and it's considered groping to try and preen without consent.

Sailerman (top), being Icy's (bottom) courtship partner is doing a specific type of preening that only courting or married sphynx are allowed to do; using the beak and nibbling (sphynx version of kissing), instead of the talons, which only friends and family do. He is purring, giving her comfort, and has his eyes closed, showing contentment.

Icy is responding to this by mirroring Sailer's closed eyes and purrs, basically to say "I believe, and trust you", mirroring is very important for understanding in most sphynx cultures. Her kneading and loafing is a sign that she is very relaxed, and feels safe.

Sphynx Body and Facial Language Guide Part 1: Flirtation

Featuring Serverblight Factions' Aaron and Ophelia as our test subjects (since these are characters we are already familiar with)

Note: it is rare for Sphynx to go around without clothing, this is just for clarity

Starting with Ophelia (right), it is very common for mollies (female sphynx) to try and attract toms (male sphynx) with a show of her breast feathers. Using her arms to fluff them up, as they are used for nesting material and a place for kittens (babies) to hang on to. Biologically, it's basically saying "Hey, big boy, look at how many babies I can fit on here", and culturally it can depend. In some cultures openly and obviously fluffing your breast feathers can be considered whore-ish, and in others, it can be as common as a wink, so it really depends on the country and how conservative the people are. Ears are possibly the most important way to tell how a sphynx is feeling, using them for both pointing and emoting. Phia here is very obviously directing her affections towards Aaron with her ears.

Aaron (left), on the other hand... or talon(?) is showing slight mixed signals. Grinding beak and a huff from his nostrils are both signs of irritation, though minor, with his ears pointing at Ophelia. However, his eyes are half closed, showing relaxation, and his ears are blushing (so are Phia's, but it's harder to see on her feathers), showing romantic interest. He's flustered and annoyed, but not enough to be overtly antagonistic.