Average Vedalken*:

Nothing is perfect. Vedalken not only believe this fact, they rejoice in it. Every imperfection is a chance for improvement, and progress is an endless march toward a state of perfection that can never be reached. This viewpoint leads Vedalken to pursue their work with delighted enthusiasm, never deterred by setbacks and excited by every opportunity for improvement. Vedalken are intelligent, progressive humanoids with skin tone that varies from a bluish white-gray to a dusky deep blue. They have only the slightest indication of an outer ear, with no lobe or rim - just a hole that leads to the eardrum. They have nostrils but only a slight nose bridge. They have only fine body hair that's uniformly clear and light. Vedalken are refined, sophisticated, and lawful. They typically engage in magical research and advancement on every world. In Vedalken society, the pursuit of magic takes on an almost scientific purpose and methodology. Their infatuation with knowledge makes them natural Artificers and Mages. The Vedalken practice artifice perhaps more than any other race. They shape metal into mystical devices that allow them to study the world and enhance their intellect. Their magic is so intertwined with artifice that their identity would be destroyed without access to metal. Orreries, astrolabes, observatories, meteorological charts, topographical models - all of these things are like furniture to a Vedalken. They are compulsive measurers and recorders of information of all kinds, but tend to focus on visual data. The Vedalken are driven to understand everything around them, and are thus in a constant, intense observational state. This can give other species the unnerving impression that they're being monitored and examined, rather than talked to. The Vedalken see other beings from a cold distance, as either experimental subjects or objects of study.  

Mirrodin:

On Mirrodin, the mycosynth created a vapor which induced mutations in the Vedalken, who developed four arms and gills. Soon, this variation became the norm. These Vedalken are physically very different from the members of their race on other planes, and have more inhuman features, in some cases lacking a nose or visible ears. The center of their culture was the city of Lumengrid, from which the Vedalken ruled over an empire that enslaved the Neurok tribes at the shores of the Quicksilver Sea. For a long time, the Vedalken were ruled by the Synod, who considered themselves servants of Mirrodin's guardian, Memnarch. After Memnarch's fall, they were forced to reorganize themselves. Central to this reorganization was the "Origin Query", the answer to the origin of the Vedalken race. With the loss of easy access to blinkmoth serum, their hold over the empire became fragile and revolts from the Neurok forced the two races into a state of cooperation rather than subservience. When New Phyrexia rose, Lumengrid was overtaken by the forces of Jin-Gitaxias. Many Vedalken fell prey to phyresis, their distended brains looming over frail, but lethal and burr-pocked, bodies. Those few remaining have cast their lot with the surviving Neurok in an attempt to survive.  

Esper:

On Esper, Vedalken have led Esper in the use of etherium. Whereas humans tend to have relatively minor and simple etherium enhancements, Vedalken make more dramatic use of the alloy. It's not uncommon for Vedalken necks or abdomens to be partially replaced with etherium, for example. Powerful enchantments replace traditional biological functions. Esper mages devised their weapons to be so devastating that war seemed unnecessary. Art is unknown to the Vedalken -for them, all creations must serve a purpose. Information pumps like blood through Vedalken society.  

Ravnica:

The Vedalken of Ravnica are associated most closely with the Simic Combine and Azorius Senate, though the Izzet League is also not an unprecedented choice. They look very much like tall humans, but with hairless blue skin and showing little emotion. Their eyes are darker shades of blue and violet. These Vedalken lack external ears, their noses are broad and flat, and they are partly amphibious. Their life span is typically 350 years, with some living to the age of 500. Though the Vedalken of Ravnica are physically different from those Mirrodin, some Simic biomancy experiments have produced similar results, including four arms and gills.  

Kaladesh:

Kaladeshi Vedalken subscribe to the philosophy that nothing is perfect — and nothing ever can be perfect. Regardless, they continue to innovate and learn, to create the best result possible. While many believe them to be a unified front, in private, Vedalken organize themselves according to clades. Clades are supra-familial entities centered around common interests. Membership of clade is entirely voluntary and anyone can leave at any time. Several acclaimed Vedalken inventors are part of multiple clades. When introducing themselves to others, Vedalken use their clade as a kind of surname. Kaladeshi Vedalken have six fingers on each hand. In contrast to Vedalken on other planes, Kaladeshi Vedalken can have hair. Also in contrast to other Vedalken, which are aloof and detached, Kaladesh's are portrayed as more involved and curious, some even shown smiling.