Quendikin
Velkhars
High atop the wind-scoured ridges of Duragzund, the Velkhar keep their eternal watch. Towering and lean, these goat-like Quendikin move with a stillness that unsettles even seasoned travelers. Their half-masks of wood or stone mark the balance they revere, worn left by males and right by females, symbols of kinship rather than vanity.
Masters of sigil craft, they string minerals into beads and chimes that hum with Ether, tools for sensing shifts in air and stone. Though often mistaken for monsters, the Velkhar live simply, guarding the high passes and gathering at Zhudrakhal, their cliff-carved refuge on Mount Vharkuun. There they study Ether flows, weigh the world’s balance, and decide when silence must give way to action.
“I saw one stand unmoving on a cliff. The storm bent around him, as if the mountain itself obeyed his will.”
The Identity
The Velkhars began with a simple idea: goats are the only creatures that truly master the mountains. From that base, we sought to build a humanoid kin that could climb, endure, and belong to the highest peaks without looking unnatural.
The challenge was balance. Too close to beast and they became monstrous, too human and they lost their identity. The solution was to give them a monk-like calmness. tall, lean, and still, guardians whose silence unsettles but never frightens.
Masks became the final piece of their identity. Carved from bark or stone gathered in lower journeys, they mark balance and kinship. Males wear them on the left, females on the right, a tradition that became key to their look and their cultural presence.
The Mood
With their identity settled, we moved into stance and composition. The Velkhars needed to look calm but unwavering, figures of presence rather than aggression. Early thumbnails explored postures that emphasized stillness and height, with long frames anchored against wind and high cliffs.
We also tested what layouts would work best across formats. Some poses were too complex for a card frame but effective as a standalone splash. Others translated well to both, highlighting their role as mountain wardens while keeping the clarity needed for gameplay.
The Essence
The final step was giving them details that reinforced their folklore-like presence. Sigils became part of their appearance, strung as beads, sewn into garments, or worn as earrings, each crafted to heighten balance, sight, or endurance.
These details made them more than tall watchers on a ridge. They became sages bound to Ether, figures of calm precision who embody both the harshness and serenity of Duragzund’s peaks.
Final Design
Hope you enjoy this glimpse into the watchers of the mountains, The Velkhars.
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