RustingWithYou

BYOND Key: RustingWithYou Character Names: Casimir Tilton, Za'Akaix'Kiihr K'lax, Ta'Akaix'Aledeion Zo'ra, Lihaka Okuri Species you are applying to play: Diona What color do you plan on making your first alien character: n/a Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes Why do you wish to play this specific race: I find myself drawn to the more alien species of our setting, which is why I play so many Vaurca. Dionae are a great example of this, having one of the least human-like mindsets of any species within the setting, due to their nature as a gestalt consciousness. The semi-vampiric nature of the species is also interesting, and the fashion by which they learn from taking blood offers a lot of interesting opportunities for both background information and character development. Making the ship for the Tarwa Conglomerate also piqued my interest in the species, which is where I decided I wanted to use it for a character background. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: So many things. So many fucking things. The most obvious one is the gestalt consciousness - Dionae are formed from a gestalt of nymphs, and the relations between these nymphs can manifest in several different mindtypes which can also be shaped by external stimuli. A Tyrannical Tune, Competence Choir or Mourning Mass are all very different from one another in how they see the world and how they operate as a collective - but in essence, playing a Diona gestalt is playing several different characters working together in some way, in the form of a big pile of nymphs. Dionae are also, obviously, very biologically different, requiring only light/radiation to survive, and having no vital organs to speak of, due to their nature as a fused gestalt of nymphs. They can learn languages and information from consuming blood, and have a form of conditional pacifism, where they will avoid violence where possible while largely still acknowledging the circumstances where it is required. Character Name: The Persistent Agony of Separation Through Clashing Sabers Preserves Memories of Beloved Forms In Patterns Of Burning Light (Mourning Mass) Please provide a short backstory for this character: The Unathi pirate fleet known only as the Tarwa Conglomerate have raided across the southern Spur for years, known for their close bond with Diona gestalts, frequently using Colossus-size gestalts to stitch broken vessels back into functionality - and doing the same to their own bodies. While Diona nymph prosthetics are not unknown to the Unathi, the pirates of Tarwa's fleet take it one step further, fusing with Dionae in ways that the Unathi and Diona of the Hegemony have yet to dream of. This is where Persistent Agony began, as a nymph separating from a Colossus-size gestalt holding the shattered bridge of a stolen Coalition patrol vessel together. The nymph developed a friendship with its crew, taking their blood and learning of Unathi culture and honor, as well as the unique societal structure of Unathi pirates and the codes that they abide by. One pirate in particular - the ship's quartermaster, an Unathi named Izhe Szozae - became close with the nymph. During a battle against a Hegemony patrol ship in the Badlands, Szozae lost a leg, an unfortunate victim of a lucky shot from the vessel's rotary cannon. In the tradition of the Tarwa, the nymph attached to their friend, taking more of their blood and acting as a limb. For years this continued as the pirates plundered their way up and down the southern Spur, from the Badlands to the Weeping Stars to Light's Edge. Over time, Szozae took more wounds, and more nymphs were added as prosthetics, replacing limbs, muscle, bone and internal organs. This is the birth of the gestalt now named Persistent Agony, as these nymphs connected with one another, growing into their own collective within Szozae's flesh. The nymphs and their host formed a close friendship over time, coming to consider the Unathi almost as another member of their collective whole. Eventually, in late 2461, their time ran out. A simple raid on a Merchants' Guild freighter went south as a Hegemony destroyer responded, launching an attack against the pirates. As the Izweski forces boarded their ship, energy sabers clashing in the breached hallways, only a few of the Tarwa crew were able to escape and touch down on a nearby asteroid. As their oxygen tank slowly ran out, Szozae spoke with the gestalt, bidding them farewell and thanking them for the extra lease on life that they granted to an old pirate. As they died, the gestalt was overcome with sorrow, consuming the memory of their beloved friend's final moments and holding it within their shared form - forever. Thus, Persistent Agony came to be, as the nymphs consumed the flesh and blood of their friend in mourning. Eventually, the gestalt was able to leave the asteroid, its crashed escape pod found by Tajaran smugglers. Still in grief, the gestalt considered returning to its fleet or to Ha'zana, but decided against it. Szozae had always had an adventurous spirit, and the newformed Mourning Mass decided to honor their friend in a way they thought fitting - to wander the Spur, and see sights that the old rogue had never dreamed of. The gestalt put their skills to work on the smuggler crew, working as a quartermaster as they came to terms with their loss. Eventually, they grew tired of the same smuggling routes and hidden ports, and disembarked in the Republic of Biesel, seeking work that would take them further abroad. With the recent formation of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, and the creation of Orion Express, they were able to put their logistical skills to work there, running supplies on a courier vessel, before their transfer to the SCCV Horizon in 2465. While some day they may return to the life of a pirate, for now they are content with their situation, as they travel the Spur and see the kind of sights that their dear friend Szozae would have loved. What do you like about this character? I love the idea of a Mourning Mass in general - the idea of a gestalt formed from the flesh and blood of a specific person whom they loved, acting as a living memorial. The lore on the Tarwa Conglomerate pirates and their symbiosis with Dionae is also very interesting to me, and I feel like it would be an interesting roleplaying challenge to roleplay Diona pacifism influenced by the ethics of a pirate and a marauder. Specifically for Persistent Agony, I like the idea of their attachment to the Horizon mission coming solely out of love for their fallen friend and a desire to see the Spur as Szozae would have wanted to - and their background attached to a pirate fleet is a good lever for exploitables and potential antagonist gimmicks. How would you rate your roleplaying ability? 10/10, perfect, no notes, I am the greatest roleplayer ever to live. Or 1/10, god-awful, this man should not be allowed a keyboard. You pick. Honestly I hate this question and I think we should remove it from the application template.

Hey, thanks for applying! Just a few questions for you. 1. You mentioned that T'sanis went to the Factory, which was likely his first experience in travelling to an alien world. How did he find adjusting to life on a new planet, and how did living in human space shape his view of aliens, especially given his background as a supporter of the Traditionalist Coalition? 2. What corporation does T'sanis work for on the Horizon, and in what position? 3. Despite having left Moghes behind, how does T'sanis feel about the current state of Moghes and the wider Hegemony?

Hegemonic Wedding, Exclusive Coverage! The day the Hegemony has been waiting for has finally come, as Hegemon Not’zar Izweski, First of his Name, was married earlier today to the honoured Spymistress Hizoni Razi. Within the Third Scept, the wedding was officiated by the Archpriest Koszkahe Oklaal, personal archpriest of the Hegemon. The nobility of the Hegemony travelled from far and wide, each bringing impressive and lavish wedding gifts, whether from their own lands or from the wider Spur. The ceremony was broadcast to the people, with a parade in the streets of Skalamar being cheered by the city’s population, and the wedding being broadcast live across Moghes and Ouerea. From our accounts, it seems that all of the Hegemon’s suitors attended the wedding, though Overlord Miazso left early after what seemed like a heated confrontation with Lord Sarnac. The Lady Sarnac was seen speaking privately with Spymistress Razi prior to the ceremony, and Ozesh Zuruziir was seen mingling with the delegation from the Confederation of Ouerea, as well as the representatives of the Clan Razi. Azihoa T’zakal and Zsash Hutay’zai were both seen to remain with their own clans for the ceremony. Also seen was the Hephaestus Guildmaster, Titanius Aeson - largely spending his time with the T’zakal delegation, and offering his heartiest congratulations to Hegemon Not’zar on his marriage. Guildmaster Aeson offered as a wedding gift a Hephaestus ‘Warden’ combat exosuit - the same model that our Hegemon piloted in his fateful duel against S’linzar Ickza seven years ago, though significantly upgraded with heavier armour and weaponry. The Hegemon laughed, and thanked Guildmaster Aeson for his gift. Lord Ickza refused to comment. A delegation from the K’lax was also present, on behalf of the honourable Zkaii, High Queen of the K’lax and Overlord of Tret. Each of the K’laxan Queens sent one of their Breeders as a representative - however, for the first time since their arrival in the Spur six years ago, one of the Queens themselves made a public appearance - the honoured Queen Ta’Akaix Tupii’maxk’rekxak K’lax, known to the Hive as the Surrogate Queen, arrived in person to congratulate the Hegemon on his marriage. While, in respect for the culture of our trusted Vaurca allies we have not published an image of the Queen’s appearance, she made quite an impressive sight - presenting a detachment of her veteran warriors as a gift to the Hegemon. Once the gifts had been given, the ceremony began, with Archpriest Oklaal reciting the traditional prayers of marriage - calling upon the Three Heads of Sk’akh to watch over this union, to see it blessed by the Aspect of the Fisher, and to let those in opposition know the Great Spirit’s holy wrath. The Archpriest then went on to call the couple forth, to stand and profess their love before the six eyes of Sk’akh. Hegemon Not’zar and Lady Razi stepped forward and shared vows, as the Archpriest asked them to speak words to bind their souls together. “Hizoni. Since before I was crowned, you have been there. When you came from Ouerea, I did not know if I could trust you - but then you saved my life, against the Yiztek assassins. Since that day, you have stood in the shadows - guarded me against any and every threat, and been the only one that I have trusted always, with all my heart. Through fire and war and famine, you have been ever by my side - and words cannot express the joy I feel, to know that you will stand with me as long as we live. I swear in the eyes of Sk’akh to love you, to defend your honour with all my strength, and to ever treat you with loyalty and integrity. Should I break this vow, may my soul be cast to the Chained Wastes, and know no respite.” “Not’zar, my love. When I came to Moghes, I was an outsider. I arrived here in a time of war and chaos, and I have seen you grow into the Hegemon that our people need. You have led this Hegemony through so much, more than any should have asked you to - and it has been my honour to work in the shadows, to ensure your reign. My profession is one of secrets and knives, and deeds done in blackest shadow - but know this, at least, for truth spoken in Sk’akh’s eyes - that I love you, Not’zar Izweski. I swear to help you, love you and honour you, in any ways that I can and to stand beside you as our people claim their destiny among the stars. Should I break this vow, may my soul be cast to the Chained Wastes, and know no respite.” The two embraced, as the archpriest pronounced the marriage as sealed. It seemed hardly likely that the Hegemon would take the Razi name and, to no surprise, Lady Hizoni took for herself the name of Izweski. This was met with vigorous celebration, which quieted down quickly as the newly-married Hegemon turned to address the assembled highest and mightiest of the Hegemony. “My friends. My vassals. I would like to thank you all for coming to this day of celebration. You do me, and my wife, honour. We are in hard times, and I promise you that on the morrow, I will be working again to see that our Hegemony not only survives these dark days, but that we emerge from them, stronger than we have ever been! But for this night, and this night alone, let us forget the troubles that await us. This is a day of joy, of celebration, of life and of love - so let us feast! Let us drink! Let us sing of our joys and our loves so loud that the Spur in its entirety hears us!” The short speech was met with much cheering, as the feasting and drinking began in earnest - see page 11 for full coverage of the feast and its events. Across Skalamar, celebrations were heard - though not without their fair share of disquiet at such feasts being thrown in a time of scarcity. However, the positive sentiment seemed to outweigh the negative, as celebration filled the streets. To the Hegemon and the Lady Hizoni Izweski, we here at Sinta Articles wish the best of good fortune. May the spirits bless their union.

Hegemon Makes His Choice! Breaking news from Skalamar, as Hegemon Not’zar Izweski has announced that he will marry none other than his own spymistress, Hizoni Razi! While rumours of a relationship between the two have long been speculated about by Bards and many others, this has emerged as a shock to many, after weeks of her silence on the situation. In a public address in Skalamar today, Hegemon Not’zar addressed the gathered nobility and press, stating that “It has been a long road I have walked, to the Hegemon’s crown. But it is a road I could not have walked without the aid of Hizoni Razi. When my father… through his misdeeds, his death, civil war and all that we have endured as a nation, she has been by my side. To those who came to Skalamar to seek my hand, I have enjoyed all of your company - but in the end, there was only one woman that I could share the Hegemony my ancestors built with. Hizoni, my love - let us be wed in the eyes of Sk’akh, and stand by each other as we lead the Sinta people into the future that is our destiny.” Shock filled the chamber, equal parts celebration and confusion. For their part, the assembled suitors seemed to take defeat gracefully. Hizoni Razi seemed as shocked as the rest of the chamber for a moment, before she composed herself and rose from her seat to stand by the Hegemon, before offering a few words of her own to her husband-to-be. “Not’zar, my Hegemon and my love. Since I came here from Ouerea, I have stood by your side and in your shadows, to keep you safe from any who would do you harm. When I became your spymistress, I expected this. But what I did not expect, though I thank Sk’akh each day for it, is that I would fall in love with you. I have seen your kindness and your strength in the time we have spent together - in work of shadows and lies, you are the pillar of truth which I have always depended on. I will marry you, and may the Spur in its entirety be witness to our union.” Once the excitement had died down somewhat, the Hegemon proceeded to thank and honour his other suitors, presenting them formally with gifts, as well as invitations to the wedding, which will take place in three days’ time. The wedding will be held in the Third Scept of Sk’akh - though the question on many’s minds is who will officiate it. While traditionally, a Hegemonic wedding would be performed by the High Priest of Sk’akh, the position remains absent since the exile of former High Priest Unzi. Will the Church be forced to appoint a new High Priest, or will one of the existing Archpriests take up the duty - and if so, who? Following the giving of gifts, Hegemon Not’zar made a final address to those assembled. “My fellow citizens, and faithful vassals. I know as well as you all that the Hegemony faces hard times, and I assure you - I am working, as hard as I can, to bring an end to the strife we face. But this day is a day for celebration, of life and of love. I hope that this wedding will serve as a reminder to us all that, come what may - the Sinta people will endure, and we will thrive.” A bold statement from our Hegemon, and we can only hope that the spirits guide him to fulfil his promises. With all of Skalamar in a buzz after the announcement, rest assured - we here at Sinta Articles will be providing exclusive coverage of the Hegemonic wedding!

Exclusive Interviews With Hegemon's Suitors, Part 2 Our interviews with the Hegemonic suitors continue! In this issue, Ozesh Zuruziir and Azihoa T’zakal share their thoughts on their courting of the Hegemon, in exclusive interviews with Sinta Articles! Interview 4: Ozesh Zuruziir Interview 5: Azihoa T’zakal Our correspondents reached out to Hizoni Razi for an interview, but she was unavailable for comment at this time. With the ongoing contest for the Hegemon’s hand showing no signs of slowing down, remember - for news that you can trust, look no further than Sinta Articles! Sinta news, Spur-wide!

Exclusive Interviews With Hegemon's Suitors, Part 1 The race for the Hegemon’s hand accelerates, as our sources from within Keep Izweski indicate that Hegemon Not’zar is growing ready to choose a spouse from among those prominent nobles who have presented themselves! In this time of excitement here in Skalamar, we at Sinta Articles have managed to secure exclusive interviews with each of our Hegemon’s most prominent suitors - broadcast LIVE from Skalamar, and transcribed here for your reading pleasure! We have several promising candidates, but in the end, only one will triumph - so let’s see what they have to say about it? Interview 1 - Seleta Sarnac Interviews conducted by Kresk Mikoro, Master Bard and Izweski Court correspondent with Sinta Articles. Interview 2 - Zsash Hutay’zai Interview 3: Rokasi Miazso Interviews with further suitors to come soon! Remember, for all the latest and exclusive news on the upcoming Hegemonic marriage - stick with the best, at Sinta Articles!

T'zakal Enters The Race! As the contest for the Hegemon’s hand goes on, a surprise to many has entered the fray - Azihoa T’zakal, from the relatively small T’zakal clan of Imas’hi, has announced her intent to wed the Hegemon. While compared to some of the other nobility who’ve cast their names forward, the T’zakal seem to be a relatively small and unimportant clan, they do have one factor that distinguishes them - their ties to the human corporation, Hephaestus Industries. Among all the human corporations, Hephaestus has always had close ties with the Hegemony, and many Sinta from all walks of life have left their ancestral homelands to work on Hephaestus stations, vessels and facilities across the Orion Spur. Yukal T’zakal, uncle to Azihoa, is the Sector Administrator for Hephaestus within the Hegemony - and has been an instrumental figure in Hephaestus’s operations on Moghes and Ouerea so far. The T’zakal have risen highly from tying themselves to Hephaestus - though not everyone is satisfied with their growing power. We reached out to Yukal T’zakal for comment - however, he only had a few words to say. The sector administrator is a busy man, and only had time to inform us that “While I am proud of my niece, and I wish her success in her pursuit of our Hegemon, I can’t comment in my position with Hephaestus - the Hegemon’s marriage is hardly a company affair.” Hardly a company affair indeed - though many in the streets of Skalamar seem to feel otherwise, claiming that Azihoa T’zakal is little better than a puppet of the megacorporation. Outrage is high - and we here at Sinta Articles have got the word off the street, having asked several citizens just today their opinions on Azihoa T’zakal. “It’s a disgrace, the idea of it. If Titanius Aeson wants to climb into bed with our Hegemon, let him drag his scaleless ass to Moghes and do it himself”. -Kseok Vharis, apprentice of the Construction Coalition “Those human guilds, they already have too much power here, now they want to wrap tails with Hegemon Not’zar? We ought to send the fleet out, and give those honorless bastards a taste of Sinta steel! I was on Gakal’zaal, you know, I know what those alien barbarians are capable of, and the T’zakal want to bring them in here even more? We ought to hang them all up in Skalamar Square and…” -Izkra Sarak, unemployed vagrant. The remainder of Sarak’s statement was cut for the sake of public decency. “I don’t know, it’s not like every T’zakal is a Hephaestus spy. And don’t you listen to what those old guildmasters sitting on their hoards have to say about Hephaestus. I took a job with them, just last year, and I’m already making double what I did as an apprentice, and without having to sit around until some fat old men decide I’m ‘ready’. If marrying the T’zakal means more of that for the people? I’m all for it.” -Vasegh Kssighriss, Hephaestus shuttle technician As we can see, Azihoa T’zakal’s interest has certainly been the talk of the town for days now - but is the potential of stronger ties to Hephaestus worth it, over all these other suitors? Only tomorrow will tell - but remember, there’s only one outlet that YOU can trust to get you the latest and best coverage of the upcoming Hegemonic marriage - and that’s us, here at Sinta Articles.

Suitor from the Stars! While in recent weeks, suitors from across Moghes have arrived to seek the Hegemon’s hand, earlier today an entirely unexpected visitor has entered the fray - Chief Ozesh Zuruziir, from the Ouerean Confederation. The Ouerean chieftess arrived by shuttle in Skalamar earlier today, bringing exotic gifts from the oldest Sinta colony to offer the Hegemon - as well as her hand in marriage. The relationship between Ouerea and Moghes has often been a fraught one, with the recent rebellions being fresh in the minds of many - to some of those here on Moghes, Ouerea’s tradition of democratic rule is an act of defiance, and that a marriage to Zuruziir would be taken as Hegemonic endorsement of their rebellious ways, as well as welcoming alien influence from the human and Skrell population of the planet. However, supporters of Zuruziir claim that the recent rebellions are exactly why, now more than ever, it is critical for the Hegemon to bind the colonists to his cause. Ouerea is a jewel in the Izweski crown, and another rebellion could potentially be crippling to perceptions of Hegemon Not’zar’s authority. For those of our readers who don’t know much about Ouerea, each region of the planet forms what’s called by the locals a “Great-Clan”, representing the various cities of the area. These Great-Clans elect chiefs, who elect elder chiefs, forming an institution called the Synod of Scales, which makes decisions about planetary management. Very different from the traditional role of Overlords, the Overlord of Ouerea’s role is more of a liaison between Moghes and the colony, instead of wielding direct power - a state of affairs that came about after the treachery of Overlord Yiztek in negotiations during the rebellion of 2461. While the Zuruziir are an old noble clan, Ozesh's power comes largely from her elected position as a chief - one of the few women to hold such an office. Rumours from our Ouerean correspondents for years have stated that she intends to secure her clan a position of power within the Synod, and lodge herself firmly at the heart of Ouerea’s relations with the homeworld and outlying colonies - however, a marriage to the Hegemon would certainly help the young and ambitious chieftess in securing her personal power on Ouerea. As recent food shortages continue to grip Moghes, Ouerea is positioned to have great importance to the future of the Hegemony - as a planet untouched by the scars of the Contact War, the farms and fisheries of Ouerea have been the beneficiaries of much investment from the Izweski, with Hegemon Not’zar planning to transform Ouerea into the breadbasket of Moghes. With Ouerea set to take such a crucial role in the future, a marriage to the chieftess could be a key part of Hegemon Not’zar’s strategy moving forward. The race for the Hegemon’s hand heats up, with all four of the suitors having been seen in Hegemon Not’zar’s company - one of our photographers caught an exclusive shot of Lord Miazso and the Hegemon enjoying a glass of Sarezhi on one of the balconies of the Izweski Keep, overlooking the Moghresian Sea - a view to die for, some have said, but is it a view to marry for? One of our sources within the keep has also said that the Hegemon was seen attending a Th’akh ceremony with the young Lady Hutay’zai - could this be simple curiosity about faiths aside from his own, or a sign of blossoming romance among the Hegemony’s mightiest! And now, a word from our sponsors. Have you grown tired of paying guild dues to an organisation that seems determined not to let you advance? Want to make money for your clan before your eyes are dulled with age? Inquire today to see if a job with Hephaestus Industries is right for you! See exotic locales, earn a journeyman’s pay out the door, and be a part of tomorrow, today! Hephaestus - the anvil upon which the world is shaped!

Further Suitors Arrive in Skalamar! Two further nobles have arrived in Skalamar today, both declaring their intent to woo the Hegemon! Lady Zsash Hutay’zai, daughter of the honoured Master of Rivers, Lord of the Wastes and Overlord of Moghes, Azui Hutay’zai, arrived with a substantial retinue to the city gates today, making no secret of her intentions! While Overlord Hutay’zai is a trusted ally of the Hegemon, his daughter according to our sources shares his Th’akh faith, a concern to many of the Sk’akh faithful.Some religious scholars say however that it could help with bringing followers of the historically decentralised religion into the fold. When asked for comment by one of our reporters, Lady Hutay’zai stated that “The Hutay’zai have been staunch allies of the Izweski since my father pledged his fealty to them. Regardless of our difference in faith, I have hope that Hegemon Not’zar will see the benefits of this marriage, whatever the priests may say on it.” Strong words, but some critics say that the last thing the Hegemon needs now is to anger the archpriests further - with his father’s war against the church, the burning of the Scept, and the exile of former High Priest Yizra Unzi, relations between the Izweski and the church have been strained for years. Also arriving in Skalamar from the Southlands was Rokasi Miazso, Lord of Jaz’zirt, Overlord of Moghes and noted romantic - famously, during the Contact War, Overlord Miazso was said to write a poem so beautiful that it convinced a Traditionalist lord to defect that same day! Known as a swordsman and poet of great skill, Overlord Miazso is, thanks to our readers’ opinion poll, considered the most eligible bachelor in the Southlands! While the matter of heirs would be an obvious concern in such a marriage, some critics of the Hegemon’s foreign policy have said that the Aspect of the Warrior’s blessing is just what Hegemon Not’zar needs in a marriage. When asked for comment by our reporters, Overlord Miazo said that “The heart desires as it may, and what are we Sinta to stand in the way of such things? The Hegemon has led our people up from the ashes of his father’s folly, and he knows that the stars themselves are our birthright. Who could not fall in love with a man such as that?” While love certainly is a powerful motivator, it is notable that the Miazso clan’s power in the Southlands has been unstable in recent years, with the recent food shortages placing a heavy toll on local clans - and securing closer ties to the Izweski would certainly help the Overlord in reinforcing his own position. In addition, his clan has had a long-held rivalry with the Sarnac, and his attempts to woo the Hegemon may be a preventive measure, to prevent the High Speaker and her clan from gaining further leverage over the balance of power within the nation. Regardless of motives, remember - for the first, best and fastest coverage of the upcoming Hegemonic marriage, stick with the news you can trust, here at Sinta Articles!

Hegemon's Hand Seeks Hegemon's Hand! Following this week’s earlier announcement by the Hegemon of his plans to marry, the first suitor to announce her interest, Lady Seleta Sarnac, High Speaker of the Izweski, has declared her intent to wed the Hegemon! During an exclusive interview with Sinta Articles earlier today, Lady Sarnac stated that “I have been a faithful ally of our Hegemon for years now, and I admire his vision and cleverness greatly. By joining my clan to his own, I would seek to help guide the Izweski Hegemony into the shining future that we deserve.” As High Speaker of the Hegemon, Lady Sarnac has been a steadfast supporter of the Izweski through many of the recent trials and tribulations, and is often seen as a voice for the more “progressive” Sinta. Critics, however, say that she is a dangerous influence, intent on tearing down the traditional values of our nation and people. Others who align more with her values say that as a close ally of Hegemon Not’zar for years, the High Speaker would likely prove a safe choice for a marriage, if he intends to bind his existing allies closer to him. Lady Sarnac also addressed the claims about her radical nature, informing Sinta Articles that “I love tradition. The ways of our people are what give us strength, from the Tza Prairie to Janvir - but tradition does not mean mindlessly clinging to what has been. The Sinta’Unathi are playing in a larger field now than that of our ancestors - and we must adapt if we are to thrive in the years to come.” Strong words from a strong contender! But who will emerge to oppose her, in her pursuit of the Hegemon? Sinta Articles reached out again to Spymistress Hizoni Razi for comment, and were granted a brief interview. All she had to say on the matter was simply that “I am a faithful ally and servant to our Hegemon, as are we all. I am sure that whomever he does choose to wed, he will do so for the benefit of the nation - and I will be there to defend him, come what may.” Spymaster Razi declined to comment further on whether she intended to seek the Hegemon’s hand herself.

Hegemon Announces Intent To Marry At a public appearance in Skalamar today, Hegemon Not’zar Izweski, First of His Name, has announced his intent to marry! Ever since his coronation, the people of the Hegemony have wondered as to Not’zar’s plans for succession - while currently his nephew S’krest Izweski stands to inherit, it has been a common matter of discussion among the nobility as to whether he will seek to father hatchlings of his own. In Skalamar this morning, the Hegemon stated before his court that for the good of clan and Hegemony, he intends to find a spouse before the year is out. The assembled nobility and bards assaulted the Hegemon with questions, but he offered no further remarks on the situation, and departed from the chamber. The news has sent Skalamar into an uproar, with many patriots celebrating their Hegemon’s decision to marry - though, with such premature jubilation comes uncertainty. Since the civil war, the balance of power within the Hegemony has been a delicate one, and whichever noble clan manages to secure a bond of marriage with the Izweski will secure their status for years to come. Already, across Moghes, in the courts and the chambers of every lord and lady of note, plans are being drafted to send suitors to Skalamar and secure a potential marriage, though none have yet officially come forward to state their intent! However, as bards race against each other to catch up on the story, all will be keeping a very close eye on any new arrivals to the capital in the coming weeks! From us at Sinta Articles here in Skalamar, and bards across our great nation, we eagerly await to see who casts their blades into the ring for the Hegemon’s hand, as well as who, in time, will ultimately emerge on top? One of our reporters attempted to contact Spymistress Hizoni Razi, one of the Hegemon’s closest confidants and advisors, for comment, but she was not available to give us a statement at this time. However, her silence on this matter could be indicative that long-standing rumours of a relationship between the two are perhaps blossoming into something more.

Eddy is a good friend of mine, and ever since I've known him my impression has been a very calm and reasonable guy - I think that he's a good communicator, and would make a good fit for the moderation team. Enthusiastic +1 from me.

Reporting Personnel: Za'Akaix'Kiihr K'lax Job Title of Reporting Personnel: Security Officer Game ID: Cold Dawn Event Finale Commended Personnel: Felix Fleeter, Engineer Witnesses: Za'Akaix'Os'thi C'thur, First Responder Fuma Ilica, Security Officer Joseph Coldsmith, Chef Za'Akaix'Rang Zo'ra, Security Officer Time of Commendable Act: Most the entirety of the mission Location of Act: Din'akk Mountains Overview: As unofficial leader of Team One during the Din'akk expedition, Fleeter demonstrated competence and skill in managing personnel and leading our expedition into the caves and the uncovered tomb. He managed to ensure that contact was maintained both through use of Hivenet relays and the PDA network, as the radio was crowded due to insufficient channels. Quick managing of personnel meant that only one injury was sustained during the incident, when Coldsmith was caught in a trap. I believe that it was in large part due to the competent leadership of Fleeter that our team was the only one to sustain no deaths during the expedition, and the battle against the cave geist. He demonstrated skill as a leader, of the type that I have rarely seen from humans. He should be commended for his efforts. That is all.

1. I don't have much of a problem with waiting on things in general, in less, as Geeves said, it's in an urgent case and the work needs to be finished quickly. A few of the PRs that I've made on Aurora have taken quite a bit of waiting on the sprite side of things, as I cannot sprite worth a shit. 2. I think I take criticism all right, though I can tend to initially take things personally - but I like to think that I'm good at seeing what parts of someone's criticism are well-founded, and implementing that. 3. Yeah, I feel comfortable working on team projects - Unathi lore has a lot of overlap in various places with pretty much every other lore team on the server, so I figured that would probably be a thing that the job would involve. 4. Obviously, I don't enjoy writing things that I don't enjoy, which means that it may take longer and wind up feeling less fleshed-out than something that's a passion project. That being said, I've written a lot of stuff I didn't enjoy writing over the years, and if it needed to be done I'd be confident in my ability to do it.

1. I mentioned it initially but deleted it - yes, I would like to see lore on the Wasteland expanded, primarily with regards to the few outposts such as Camp Sk'akh's Glory and how the Izweski are attempting to bring the Wastes under control. I'd also like to explore how the Wasteland clans are impacted by the ongoing famine in the Hegemony, as it's likely hitting them much harder than those in the Untouched Lands. 2. For a minor story arc, I'd probably do something focused on one of the things I mentioned earlier - setting up the scars of the civil war by exploring those nobles who have sentiments against Not'zar's reign and their criticisms of his rule. This could work as setup for the tensions in Gakal'zaal discussed in response to Alberyk's tension, or just looking more at how the Hegemon secures his power in the face of the ongoing phoron crisis.

I like Ouerea a lot, and I'd probably like to expand on Hegemony efforts to use it for food production, with the ongoing famine, and how the locals feel about this. In addition, I'd like to expand on the human and Skrell communities living there - what sort of culture they've developed in the several decades since their settlement there - not a long time for Skrell, but long enough for a new generation of humans to be born. They seem to be fairly well-integrated with Ouerean democracy, but I'd like to explore the ways in which their own cultures have blended with those of the local Unathi. The Ouerean Skrell lore would require some coordination with the Skrell team, but I'd be interested in exploring that as well.

As for Connor's questions, obviously in collaboration with the Vaurca team, I'd like to see the K'lax-Hegemony relationship have some more tension to it. Not splitting them off or doing another civil war or anything, but introducing a little ambiguity to what is right now Not'zar's win button against any kind of internal conflict with other nobles. Most of the other things that I think the K'lax could use would fall more under the Vaurca team than Unathi with regards to how the Hegemony's ongoing strife is affecting them. I'd also like to see more expansion on K'lax integration within Hegemony colonies as part of a wider expansion of Hegemony colonies outside of Ouerea and Gakal'zaal, as the lore on other colonies is somewhat absent currently, and K'lax lore is mostly concentrated on Moghes and Tret right now. As for Alb's questions, Gakal'zaal is a very interesting planet. I'd probably have it be brought up as a point of contention from Not'zar's political opponents, as a valuable colony that the Hegemon abandoned and allowed the DPRA to colonise - brought up as a point of his weakness in the face of alien aggression by his detractors. On the planet itself, there's a very complicated web of situations, tensions between the DPRA government and the former ruling Unathi, the absolutely wonderful web of intrigues that the Free Station is. I'd like to write more lore on how the Unathi pirates said to visit Gakal'zaal interact with it - which fleets visit there, how does the DPRA and the locals both Unathi and Tajara interact with them? More lore on the Sinta Volunteer Forces would be interesting, and expanding on those Sinta who have benefited from Tajaran control of the planet - Guwan and peasants largely, some of whom may have seen the Al'marists seizing control as an opportunity to escape the Hegemony's highly stratified system. AFAIK, Gakal'zaal is the only real place where the DPRA has to deal with a substantial alien population, and seeing how the largely xenophobic ideology of Al'marism copes with that in the long term would be very interesting. I'd also like to expand more on the Unathi civilian lifestyle of Gakal'zaal. It's mentioned that Sinta religion is prohibited on the wiki page - how does the average Unathi, to whom their faith is likely very important, cope with this? What is day-to-day life like for an average Unathi, living under an Al'marist junta? Exploring further how the civilian Unathi population has coped with the DPRA seizing the planet would be interesting, as well as elaborating further on how the Yizarus Brigade is viewed by the Unathi civilians and what, if any, support they are recieving from them. Some point down the line, if the Tajara team was interested, I would be very excited for a proper Gakal'zaal arc expanding on the conflict, as I think there's a lot of interesting potential in seeing the Al'marist forces having to contend with Yizarus forces using their own guerilla tactics against them, as well as giving players an opportunity to shape how the colony's future unfolds, with it staying with the DPRA, returning to the Hegemony, or a Secret Third Thing being future considerations that I would find interesting.

Ckey: RustingWithYou Position being applied for: Unathi Deputy Lore Developer Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations page: Yes Past Experiences/Knowledge: I haven't written any lore for Aurora, but I've written a fair bit of lore for other serves in the past (most of which died before reaching the hub), and I've been active in the lore discord discussions for a while. Extra requirement: Wiki page addition (https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Unathi_Guilds, https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Unathi_Colonies) ==Miners' Guild== Despite being primarily based on Moghes, the Miners' Guild has leapt at the chance to gain more of a foothold offworld with the formation of Orion Express in 2464. While some guildsmen of the Miners' Guild had worked with mining efforts of other megacorporations in the past, their tenuous relationship with Hephaestus meant that they never had much of an offworld presence. With the logistics divisions of several corporations being reformed into Orion, large portions of Guild leadership have negotiated deals for the lease of guildsmen's labor to Orion's mining division, in the hopes of expanding the Guild's influence offworld. These subcontracted guildsmen are still not paid as well as their Hephaestus counterparts - however, many in the Guild see it as an opportunity to make better money, given the recent wave of lay-offs within the Guild and their struggle to maintain economic relevance in the face of Hephaestus's growing presence on Moghes. ==Illarisk== A small planet with a thin atmosphere at the edge of Hegemony territory and the Sparring Sea, Illarisk is one of the Hegemony's more recent colonies, founded in the early stages of the phoron crisis due to belief that the planet may have held phoron deposits. This turned out to be untrue - but in spite of that, colonisation efforts proceeded as planned due to the mineral wealth of the planet. Its current ruler is the Overlord Aorek Illarisk, a young nobleman from the Untouched Lands who invested most of his clan's fortune into colonisation efforts after their lands were rendered largely uninhabitable during the Contact War. Due to its precarious position at the edge of the Hegemony's power, Illarisk has come under a multitude of threats. Pirates, both human and Unathi, have proved a constant problem for mineral exports from the planet, with the presence of Izharshan's Raiders proving a concern, as well as Dominian privateers and a few ships of the Southern Fleet Administration following their crippling defeats in the Southern Wildlands and Valley Hale. While the Hegemony's navy does its best in protecting the planet itself from direct assault, several of the cargo ships have gone missing, placing the Illarisk clan into further financial risk. Due to the planet's location at the Hegemony's border and wealth, the Merchants' and Miners' Guilds both have a significant presence there - the Miners for extracting wealth and the Merchants as a stopping point for trade vessels travelling from Moghes towards Tau Ceti - as well as past attempted efforts in opening trade with the Serene Republic of Elyra. Both of these Guilds hold far more influence over the fledgeling colony than some would deem appropriate, with a somewhat bitter saying among Illarisk clan members that "the Lord speaks, and the Guilds rule". While officially, Aorek has welcomed Guild presence, whispers are that he has come to resent how much of his endeavor's profit is being taken into the pockets of distant Guildmasters. He has considered raising the taxes on Guild trade within his desmene several times, but the immense power the Guilds hold on Illarisk has stayed his hand - at least for now. 2. What piece of Unathi lore do you like the least? If granted the position, would you work to change it and how? Probably the Hegemony Civil War arc - it eliminated a lot of the interesting factions from play such as the Iron Masks, and the outcome was a semi-untouchable Not'zar. As the resolution to a long-lasting Chekov's gun of Sk'resti's coma, it seems a little flat. I wouldn't go about retconning it, as it is one of the major Unathi arcs that led to the current status quo for the species. I would like to build a little more on the tensions the civil war caused, and destabilise the solidity of Not'zar's rule a little in the face of the current strife caused by the phoron crisis - how are the vassal clans that fought against the Hegemony faring as the Izweski struggle through the phoron scarcity? I would keep the civil war as is, but try and fit some more signs of longer-lasting scars caused by Not'zar's ascent to power into the lore, and make his reign a little less secure than it currently is. 3. Have you, within the past year, disagreed with a decision the Unathi lore team has made? Not particularly, to be honest - the Unathi lore team hasn't made any major decisions since I got the whitelist. 4. Give a rough outline for an Unathi-centric event arc to be run on the Horizon that pushes forward an aspect of Unathi lore. I have two ideas in my head and I can't pick which one to post so I'll put both of them up. Having loved the recent Adhomai arc, I'd like to do something similar - however, I'd probably bring it more in line with the Horizon's 'find the phoron' mission - a phoron-rich asteroid discovered within the Sparring Sea, with the crew placed into a diplomatic role on behalf of the SCC to try and determine access rights - the Hegemony would obviously be a major faction in this, wanting to get their claws on the phoron to re-establish their navy's power, with a minor presence from the K'lax in their role as vassals. I'd also likely have an Unathi pirate faction involved attempting to take the phoron for themselves - probably either the Techraiders or the Tarwa Conglomerate, as well as the presence of either the Empire of Dominia proper, with an emphasis on the House Kazkhz-Han'san, or Dominia-backed privateers wanting to push the Hegemony out so that the asteroid can be seized themselves. Nothing too complex, but a good three-way struggle both military and diplomatic, with the SCC involved in trying to secure their own access to the phoron. I'd also like to see a more humanitarian-focused arc, with the SCC sending the crew to offer disaster relief to a Wasteland area where resupply is difficult - one of the three camps or an isolated area such as Mudki. This would draw the crew into various exploration-style events similar to Cold Dawn (can you tell I really liked Cold Dawn) within the Wasteland, and dealing with various factions who also want access to the supplies the Horizon crew has to offer. This would be a good way to demonstrate the effects of the ongoing famine on the Hegemony, as well as to get some of the Wasteland factions who have more difficulty in appearing off-planet some canon appearances. Bonus: What I will change my profile pic to if I become deputy

0/10, serial murderer of Vaurca

Styx is definitely a good roleplayer in my book. Qorqi is an interesting and well-played character, and Qlunq was one of the more interesting scientists around (RIP). +1 from me

Grazal is a good roleplayer. In my experience with mostly Daniel and Kzeskis, both of them are compelling enough characters that I think he'd be a great addition to the command playerbase. +1

I've played a lot with Ruben and Konstantyn on various characters. Eddy always plays interesting characters, and I think he'd play a good Lizard. +1

Esteemed colleagues, Comoe has shown nothing but blue sky thinking as a head of security. I've checked the quarterlies, and Camo getting a command whitelist would put some red in the server's ledger, I'd sign that. In all seriousness, Camo's played HoS well so far and I think that he'd be a good addition to the command playerbase, +1 from me.

meep breaking the trend of characters whose lives were ruined by vaurca finally in all seriousness they're a good rper, i've had the pleasure of meeting a few of their characters and always found our interactions to be fun and memorable. in addition they have a pretty solid grasp of vaurca lore as it interplayed with a few of their characters, so all in all this is a solid +1 from me.

Khazarir is a follower of the Mata'ke Pantheon. He has a personal grudge against the DPRA, as they cost him an arm and a leg. As a Zhan who suffered from Malik Hadii's persecution, he does feel some empathy for the idea of changing the PRA closer to Al'mari's vision - however, he believes that the Al'marists splitting from the PRA in the way they did was an enormous mistake, that set back all the work the First Revolution did by allowing the NKA to rise. For the NKA, he has nothing but contempt- he still has distant memories of the days of noble rule on Adhomai, and views the NKA as a return to centuries of oppression for the working Tajara.