Recently I've gotten the urge to draw and sketch again, in no small part due to my new Surface having an actually usable pen this generation (fourth gen, with supreme accuracy). I'm by no means back to where I was in art school--which my anatomy shows horribly--but I figured I'd give it a shot today in a small break at work. Apologies for the basic enhanced photo rather than a scanned or redrawn copy, but again I don't have my routine tools established as of this moment.

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This sketch is of a species in my Entropy series called the Versa. They are a sentient, waterborne species measuring roughly twenty feet from snout to tail. As they typically don't stand they have many limbs for directional swim control in addition to larger rear limbs for propulsion. These limbs are not meant to be load bearing and natural selection preferred flexibility, allowing each to bend unilaterally at the base like ours but with an opposable extra joint near the hands for finesse. Their bodies are built of rigid organic silicone, allowing the angles to channel water such that rear turbulence and drag are reduced. Furthermore each hand, the head, and the stubby tail all contain loops of flesh that break up drag vortexes nearly to oblivion, allowing the Versa to traverse mostly unimpeded through their habitat and granting an advantage that labels them an apex predator. With this speed comes extreme maneuverability and braking force by way of all hard angled surfaces being linked with semi-stiff webbing and fins, in addition to the hard forward rudder found on the male variety's mandible.

The Versa have very purposeful external organs, designed to withstand extreme inward pressure of the deep waters they inhabit. The mandible opens upward unlike most gravity-bound species like ourselves. Their mouth is attached by the same soft ligaments and sinew that makes up their outward-aligned occipital sockets. The remainder of the mouth overlaps the opposing jaw and seals with thin lips, which once sealed are held shut by external pressure. Two resonance detectors protrude from the dorsal rear of the skull. These form a turbulence loop with each other, allowing the staves to pick up harsher vibrations in stereo while the loop allows fine detections in mono. The eyes, resting at the hinge of the jaw, are specifically evolved to turn forward whilst the mouth is open; this allows the Versa to hone pinpoint accuracy at the point of an attack. To aid in drawing their prey in for a quick kill, two long tongues extend out and reel the target inward in a conveyor motion.

The forward sets of limbs connect to a displaced shoulder cuff. This allows the secondary ball joints to rotate in a rough semi-circle so that the connected limbs point forward, back, or opposing directions depending on the required orientation of the Versa regarding gravity. This is likely an evolutionary adaptation for the first land-dwelling Versa thousands of generations ago so they could trot on land with minimal force on any given limb. The Versas' hands are symmetrical, containing two opposable thumbs tied together in a loop, two primary fingers also looped, and a fine adjuster in the center. When closing a fist, the Versa typically hold the middle finger in the center and form a 'cup' around it with the remaining fingers, allowing passing water to pass through the loops.

There's plenty more to discuss on this new species in the future, but due to their oddly specialized complexion it is probably a good idea to detail the Versa in proper context.

I'll update with more the next time Ceylon and I try to share a cake together.

-- an excerpt from Iolvin Rihzyet's field journal.