Desven

Approved.

In His Final Days In Office, Joseph Dorn Pardons Viax Driver That Killed VP During this brief transition period, Joseph Dorn has not shied away from controversy. Most recently, the President decided to pardon Ka'Viax'Nurp Zo'ra, the Vaurca Drone that killed VP Fahjil Hurk'jurl three years ago. This decision was preceded by an intense campaign sponsored by Vaurca Equality, an NGO that promotes Vaurca's civil rights. Though the campaign had its peak during Nurp's trial in 2463, the issue resurfaced recently after Congress approved the Electoral Integrity Enhancement Act, a bill that weighted Vaurca votes into an electoral college. The Electoral Integrity Enhancement Act has been cited as one of the leading factors in Dorn's surprise defeat in late September. President Dorn reiterated during the final stretch of his campaign that he found the bill to be "unconstitutional," in how it limited Vaurca rights; A species he has been a staunch supporter of since their arrival almost ten years ago. Three years ago, the decision to pardon Nurp would have been highly controversial. As politicized as the trial was, a poll showed that a majority of Biesellites believed Nurp should serve their sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Today, only 41% of Biesellites believe the sentence to be necessary, with an additional 26% finding it to be "harsh, but understandable." However, even though the numbers have dropped, some sectors of the population—including the Tajara residents of Biesel—do not agree with Dorn's decision. "Dorn is out of their mind," said Mikhail Khirr'skolv, a resident of Little Adhomai. "This one thinks he prefers the Vaurcae to the people that have helped build this country for longer." Ka'Viax'Nurp Zo'ra was released this Monday from the Tonsberg Federal Correctional Institution, a federal prison in New Gibson. They were met by their lawyer, Chadwick Tremblay, and a group of Vaurca Warriors, who shielded them from the press. According to an anonymous source present, Nurp "understood that [they were] being let go, but did not comment." Vaurca Equality spokesperson Amy Monet commented on the matter: "It's a victory not only for Vaurcae, but for the Republic of Biesel's judiciary system, that Nurp can finally be free. A Viax should have been accommodated differently, and the Zo'ra are happy to be reunited with Nurp. While the future may be uncertain for the Vaurca community and its allies, we hope that President-elect Åke Torvald is open for a conversation about how Viax should be judged in a court of law."

The Tretian Guild Presents Online Tret Store War in Heaven, Part Four: “The Quality of Mercy,” Article 1 Yesterday, the acting guildmaster of the Tretian Guild, Queen Vedhra, unveiled a new online commerce platform—Tret’skerret, known as “InstaTret” in Basic. Under the slogan “Tret Yourself,” InstaTret aims to serve extranet users looking to shop for a variety of affordable products produced on Tret, the Hegemony’s superfactory. According to statistics released by Hephaestus Industries during its second quarter of 2466, Tret produces over ten thousand different components distributed across the Orion Spur, with many products built, assembled, and finished at the superfactory itself. While Tret’s gross yearly revenue remains undisclosed, the planet has been instrumental in the recovery of the Hegemony’s economy. A spokesperson for the Tretian Guild, Ka’Akaix’Jujon K’lax, stated that InstaTret's goal is to “empower customers across the Orion Spur by cutting out the middleman, while continuing to boost the economy of the Izweski Nation.” Queen Vedhra announced the launch of InstaTret during her visit to Moghes. Rather than addressing the press directly, her recorded message was presented alongside a visual presentation at a press conference held by Hephaestus Industries, which focused on the growth of the guilds. Hegemon Not’zar Izweski also attended the event. When asked by Sinta Articles about InstaTret’s prospects, the Hegemon remarked, “It is an exciting opportunity and a necessary step for our economy. The K’lax Hive has proven to be instrumental allies during this period, and the future of the Hegemony appears bright.” The Tretian Guild is not classified as one of the guilds acquired by Hephaestus Industries. However, it is currently co-managed by Hephaestus agents and the K’lax Hive. Guildmaster Yukal T’zakal reported that the megacorporation will be “heavily involved” in the day-to-day operations of InstaTret and that Orion Express will be the primary carrier service for product deliveries. InstaTret is currently available throughout the Izweski Hegemony and the Republic of Biesel. An expansion into the Valley Hale region and parts of the Coalition of Colonies is planned for early 2467. InstaTret offers over 12 product lines, including apparel, consumer electronics, sporting goods, and furniture—all positioned to be accessible to a wide range of customers. First-time buyers can use the promo code ILOVETRET to receive an 81% discount off their entire purchase. Their website can be visited here.

This application is accepted.

I'll accept this app, but just be cautious about too much "Suit influence." We're planning an update on how C'thur Vaurcae operate in Eridani, and we don't really want it to be a carbon copy of the dominant culture, but rather a parallel culture that borrows elements. So while I think misusing some Suit slang is good, just don't act like a Suit. Hopefully I'll develop more lore regarding this in the upcoming months.

Dorn/Vaur 2466.

The Vaurca Community Reacts to Torvald's Win [Pictured: Mr. Åke Torvald addresses his supporters after his victory in the Presidential election of the Republic of Biesel.] Last night, Mr. Åke Torvald, who has faced heavy criticism for his vaurphobic rhetoric, was elected President of the Republic of Biesel, defeating the incumbent Joseph Dorn. The prospect of a Torvald administration has long been a source of concern for many in the Vaurca community and their advocates. Now that it’s a reality, that uncertainty has only grown. Immediately after the results, from the Dorn HQ, High Queen Vaur delivered a speech to the supporters of the Dorn-Vaur campaign. Her message was one of cautious hope: "In a democratic system, the people choose their representative. While we disagree with Torvald on most issues, we hope he will do his best and continue to uphold democracy. To all Vaurca and our supporters—do not view the future as a dark age, but as part of our ongoing struggle. There's still work to be done, and we will continue fighting for justice for those who need it most." Vaurca Equality, a nonprofit advocating for Vaurca rights, issued a stark warning that difficult times lie ahead. Spokesperson Sarah Alito stated: "Dark times are ahead for Vaurcae and their allies. Torvald's menace became clear this summer, especially after the undemocratic bill titled the 'Electoral Integrity Enhancement Act' passed at record speed. Now is the time to mobilize and ensure civil rights aren't stripped away further." She also stressed the need for financial support: "We need help. We're a grassroots movement, and we can't do it alone. More than ever, we need support from all Biesellites." Ta'Akaix'Nuex'ski'llhar Zo'ra, a representative of the Zo'ra Hive in Belle Côte, echoed Alito's concerns: "Vaurphobia is already a problem in New Gibson, one that’s rarely talked about but very real. Belle Côte has a large Vaurca presence, and when my Vaurcae saw Torvald signs on people’s lawns, they felt uneasy. We've increased security due to the fear of potential hate crimes." While no major incidents have been reported, three months ago, a Vaurca Gyne was photographed and mocked by a group of Torvald supporters while visiting an art museum. The incident was viewed as a troubling warning for the Athvur brood. A central issue under the Torvald administration is the fate of Caprice, a planet considered an overseas province of Biesel. In 2461, Congress established a colonial government there, with potential for increased restrictions. During Dorn’s administration, Caprice’s status was protected to prevent disenfranchisement and ensure the Vaurca population was adequately represented, but current laws allow for changes at any moment. Åke Torvald has the power to appoint a new council for Caprice, potentially replacing the current governor-general with someone more aligned with his vaurphobic ideology. Candidates for the position are already being examined, though Torvald has not yet made any public statements on the matter. "I'm deeply concerned about what Torvald could do to our community," said Melanie Dorn, mayor of New Sedantis. "His victory shocked us, but here, we're especially worried. The Republic of Biesel compromised its principles by designating Caprice as a colony. My uncle worked hard to make Caprice an inclusive place for all its residents, but I'm not confident Torvald will honor that commitment." Kevin Wright, a member of the Ve'katak Phalanx stationed on New Sedantis, shared the mayor’s concerns: "Many people, not just Vaurcae, are worried about how Torvald might shake things up across the Republic. But here, we're more concerned. We're on the fringes of Biesel, and not many will be paying attention to what happens to us—but things could go south fast." You can donate to Vaurca Equality by following this link.

Kort Was Culled and I'm Unravelling the Truth War in Heaven, Part Three: “Hail horrors,” Article 5 By Ahklu Zkazos Our forum members have marked this article as a 'Quality Contribution.' Subscribe to Vaurca Updates Online to receive more articles like this directly in your inbox. DISCLAIMER: I initially planned to add this information as a small update to my previous article. However, the story has evolved into a mystery of its own. For those who have been waiting for this second part—sorry for the delay. There is A LOT to uncover here. I haven't had a proper rest for weeks because of it. DISCLAIMER 2: At the request of Vaurca Updates Online staff, all Sinta mentioned in this story have been given aliases. We wish to protect the privacy of everyone who participated in this investigation. In late August, Kort—the Vaurca who allegedly participated in the K'lax conflict—stopped showing up at work again. By early September, Kort appeared to have been "voided." On September 10, it was confirmed that Kort was culled. This is the follow-up to my previous story, which reported on the details we had on Kort at the time. Since much has happened, I no longer feel I can remain impartial. That being said, civil discussion is still expected. As always, the comment section will be monitored by Vaurca Updates Online staff. Chronology of Events: July 19 — early August Vaurca Updates Online posted my deep dive into Kort's case on July 19. Shortly after, it was featured on the front page as a quality contribution. Articles marked as such are usually exempt from any paywall and easily accessible to all. According to Vaurca Updates Online staff, my article received the most views in July and is the second most-visited story of 2466, only surpassed by Nriq Duququ's deep dive into C'thur's health. Needless to say, the article attracted many readers, including some who are not regular forum members. On July 23, two Unathi teenagers, local to Baandr, visited the Baandr Fish Market and harassed Kort. According to eyewitnesses, the teenagers recorded themselves disrespecting the vendors. When they eventually found the custodian, one of them reportedly sneered, "Here's that Xsain [sic] idiot!" The teenagers then approached Kort and insulted them. They also placed their handheld camera close to the Vaurca's face and turned on the flash, temporarily blinding Kort. The teenagers were swiftly arrested, and their clan elders were informed. Biesellite media was quick to label the incident as a "hate crime," attempting to hold Vaurca Updates Online—and by extension, me—responsible for it. This is a good time to remind everyone that Vaurca Updates Online does not endorse violence. Additionally, Kort's story was reported by local media, and it's far more likely that the teenagers learned about Kort through The Baandr Post than through this website. Whatever their motivation, the attack sparked a reaction from the K'lax hive. The following day, two Vaurca warriors appeared at the Baandr Fish Market. While they didn't approach Kort directly, it was clear to everyone that they were there to guard the Vaurca. Once again, I interviewed Kimzula, the fishersinta who greatly aided me during my first story. Kimzula has tried to keep a low profile around the Fish Market ever since our initial conversation, but they noticed the Vaurca warriors immediately. In their words: "[Kort] was suddenly protected by [Vaurcae] we had never seen. [The warriors] wouldn't get close to [Kort], but they kept an eye on them at all times." Kimzula also mentioned that the bodyguards tried to stop anyone from approaching Kort: "If you tried to get close to [the janitor], even relatively close, [the warriors] would jump in and block your way." According to Kimzula, the bodyguards did not interact with anyone directly; they simply blocked access. In late July, Sinta social media user @shmo42 posted a video where she claimed the two Vaurca warriors stopped her while shopping. The video claims that the warriors said, "You can't get near the janitor," before violently shoving her. While Kimzula wasn't present during the incident, their friends agree that @shmo42 is misrepresenting what happened. According to other Fish Market workers, the healer actively tried to approach Kort before being stopped. They also agree that the Vaurca warriors never pushed @shmo42. Chronology of Events: August - early September Despite the dubious validity of @shmo42's claim, the Vaurca warriors were forced to leave the premises. According to a source close to the Fish Market's administration, the local Fishing League chapter had no interest in drawing more attention to Kort. However, an agreement between the K'lax hive and the Fishing League made it impossible to fire the Vaurca. As a result, the Baandr Fish Market decided to dismiss Kort's bodyguards instead. Additionally, Kort was transferred to the docks and assigned the task of cleaning up fishing vessels as a deckhand. For those unfamiliar with Moghresian geography, Baandr is not a coastal city but is situated near the sea. The city's center has always been near the mountainside, though Baandr once controlled most of the coast, which has since been lost to the rivaling S'th. Baandr still maintains one major dock in the region, though most of the surrounding settlements have been destroyed. In short, Kort was relegated to a solitary job, far from the spotlight. One member of Kimzula's clan, Zarrakhet, worked as a winch operator on the trawler to which Kort was assigned. According to Zarrakhet, they had no prior knowledge of Kort. Fishersinta at sea do not keep up with the news or gossip from the firmland. Kort's trawler, The Kha'ssitz, was a medium-sized operation. One deckhand was always on board during fishing trips, while another (Kort) remained on the docks, maintaining the hull. Occasionally, Kort was tasked with filleting fish for the market, a practice that became popular after first contact with humanity. Zarrakhet first encountered Kort on the Vaurca's second day on the job. According to Zarrakhet: "I had never seen a [Vaurca] before. I had no idea what they looked like. It took me by surprise." Zarrakhet saw Kort struggling to fillet a fish, as the Vaurca wasn't used to handling a knife. "I just went ahead, saw them with the knife, and told them, 'No, you have to grab it like this.' That's when I noticed that [Vaurcae] have two thumbs. I had never heard of that before. Two thumbs on each hand." That small interaction sparked an unusual friendship. According to Zarrakhet, "I didn't know anything about [Vaurcae], but Kort took me by surprise. They were friendly. They seemed happy to have someone to talk to about anything. Now that I know the full story, I think [Kort] was just trying to escape the pressure. [Kort] liked that I treated them like any other person." Kort quickly earned the nickname “Thumbtacks.” Although their interactions with the crew were mostly brief, everyone remembers Kort in good spirits. Zarrakhet recalled that just a few days after Kort joined the trawler, they began participating in friendly banter with the rest of the fishersinta. These exchanges mostly occurred whenever Kort was tasked with unloading The Kha'ssitz. Zarrakhet only learned about Kort's backstory after a conversation with Kimzula. They had informed their relative that a Vaurca had joined the trawler. Surprised, Kimzula asked for more details, and Zarrakhet quickly realized they were talking about Kort. According to Kimzula, they had no idea where Kort had been relocated after leaving the market. This new information shocked Zarrakhet. "I was intrigued by everything, but also cautious. I didn't want to treat Kort like someone who didn't belong because of it," Zarrakhet said. The Sinta also mentioned that they never suspected Kort had had a "mental breakdown" just weeks earlier: "They were sharp and witty. They had brains, which is not something I can say about everyone." Furthermore, Zarrakhet noted that they never questioned Kort about the incident at the Fish Market. Zarrakhet quickly earned Kort's trust. One day, after unloading the trawler, all the fishersinta left the ship except for Zarrakhet, who stayed behind to untangle the nets while Kort cleaned. At some point, Kort began talking about their plans in life, mentioning a desire to learn how to draw. They also expressed admiration for the Hegemon, who had drawn illustrated stories while at university. Eventually, the conversation shifted towards "[Vaurcae] and life in general." At that moment, Kort began sharing their experience at the Baandr Fish Market, recounting a meltdown they had and the conflict involving the K'lax. Zarrakhet said: "They told me all about it, or at least as much as they could. Kort seemed somewhat confused about the events, but they were very clear that they'd had some kind of meltdown related to 'repressed memories.' I didn't push further. I just chuffed while they kept talking; it must have gone on for minutes." When it came to the K'lax conflict, Kort described the war as "chaotic" and mentioned that both sides had suffered "many losses and devastation." Zarrakhet didn't ask for more details, as they didn't fully understand what Kort was referring to. I asked Zarrakhet if they recalled Kort mentioning Zkaii or Tupii, but the Sinta said they didn't recognize those words. According to Zarrakhet, after that conversation, Kort seemed uneasy and "jittery." Zarrakhet offered to walk Kort home, but Kort refused, reassuring their friend that everything would be fine. This was the last time Zarrakhet saw Kort. "I didn't know it would be the last time. It felt like a farewell, in a way, but I didn't realize it at the time." The next morning, Kort didn't show up for work, and the captain informed the crew that Kort wouldn't be returning. Two days later, Kort reappeared at the Baandr Fish Market, once again working as a janitor. Kimzula recalled their reaction upon seeing the Vaurca: "I knew it was Kort—they looked just like them. But they didn't act like themselves." I interviewed two other Fish Market workers who confirmed they had seen Kort in early September. They, too, agreed that Kort seemed "absent." Kimzula informed me as the situation unfolded. Although I didn't encourage them to approach Kort, they felt compelled to check if they were okay. According to Kimzula, Kort looked "off." The Vaurca gave them a "deadpan look, even more so than other Vaurcae" and had "beady, lifeless eyes, like a taxidermy exhibit." Terrified, Kimzula greeted Kort, but received no response. They stared into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity, though Kimzula believes Kort wasn't really looking back. After that, Kimzula retreated. Two days later, Kort disappeared from the Baandr Fish Market and never returned. Chronology of events: September 10 - today Since Kimzula reported this to me, I've believed that Kort was "voided"—a process where an undesirable Vaurca has their memories completely wiped, effectively rendering them into a blank state. While the process of voiding isn't fully understood, it has been well-documented by Vaurca Updates Online members. Although this hasn't been officially confirmed, Kort exhibits several common signs of being voided, including the characteristic beady eyes. A former collaborator—someone I no longer work with—leaked the idea that Kort had been voided in early August, shortly after being reassigned to the Baandr docks. This rumor was later disproved by me and other Vaurca Updates Online contributors, but it continued to circulate. Because of this, I realize that some may view the idea of Kort being voided with skepticism. Nevertheless, I trust what Kimzula relayed to me. While investigating any signs of Kort's potential voiding, I reached out to one of my most reliable sources for insider information. I won't disclose his identity, but this source has a proven track record, so I trust the information he shared. On September 10, my source informed me that Kort had been culled "just a day or two prior." For those unfamiliar, culling is exactly what it sounds like—Kort was killed, discarded by the hive because they were no longer considered useful. This was a massive shock, as Kort had become one of the most widely known Vaurcae, making their culling all the more significant. After learning this news, I immediately headed to the Heartlands. I intend to dig deeper into this story, to uncover the full truth about Kort's culling, and to verify whatever they may have revealed about the K'lax conflict. However, I need your support. Independent journalism is costly, and while I have the full backing of Vaurca Updates Online, the reality is that we need additional funds. Once this investigation is complete, I will publish a comprehensive report detailing everything I've discovered. Ahklu Zkazos is a Unathi independent journalist from Moghes. He currently lives in Mictlan. Zkazos considers himself as a "Vaurca-skeptic skeptic," seeking to promote healthy debate among the Vaurca Updates Online community.

My question is mainly regarding Vaurca lore. Both the Vaurca and Dionae teams have had other priorities lately, so we haven't really interacted. However, Vaurca lore is always in constant communcation with LTA because Zo'ra and Biesel. What would you like to see develop more between these two factions, and how would you expect us to work together?

New Sedantis Marks Vaurca Holiday with Parade; High Queen Vaur Holds Town Hall Last night, the Vaurca residents of New Sedantis, Caprice, held a vibrant parade to celebrate Hive War Commemoration Day, a significant holiday in Vaurca culture. The idea of a parade on August 23 is relatively new, first introduced in Mendell City to attract human spectators. However, since last year, the celebrations have been moved to New Sedantis, drawing increasing attention, with at least three networks streaming the festivities live on the extranet. The Zo’ra Hive has been organizing a military parade for the past eight years, with the introduction of a balloon display in 2463 adding a festive flair. In Mendell City, the celebrations were supported by the local police and Zo’ra volunteers. In Caprice, however, the situation is more complex. While the Zo’ra still volunteer to ensure the parade runs smoothly, the Governorate of Caprice—the planet’s colonial government—takes a more hands-on approach for gatherings exceeding 350 Vaurcae. Given the Governorate’s limited manpower, coordinating a large-scale parade proved challenging. For this reason, New Sedantis city hall opened over 700 volunteer positions for the event—offering free housing, food, and travel expenses. It was all covered by the city’s annual budget. The parade’s balloon display has captured public interest since its inception. In 2463, a large balloon resembling a Diona nymph went viral. This year, the floats included characters from Witchfire and other pop culture icons, drawing considerable attention. You can watch the full segment here. Following the parade, High Queen Vaur hosted a town hall at the Vaurca Community Center. She was introduced by Melanie Dorn, niece of President Joseph Dorn and the current mayor of New Sedantis. In her opening remarks, Ms. Dorn formally endorsed the Dorn-Vaur campaign, declaring, “Here’s the woman who’s going to make a real difference in office, and someone I’m very proud to stand behind today.” High Queen Vaur appeared in her usual form for this election cycle: a delicate, humanoid Vaurca Worker, standing around 5’3” tall. Her “avatar” is equipped with expressive eyes, capable of conveying a range of emotions—spectators could easily discern whether she was serious, sarcastic, or even irritated just by her expressions. The town hall was moderated by Marissa Johnson, a reporter for the Times. The Zo’ra leader addressed questions about her campaign and policies in detail. At one point, she mentioned her willingness to participate in a VP debate, should one be held this cycle. Vaur also responded to inquiries about the status of Caprice and the restrictions imposed by the Governorate. When asked if she agreed with the limitations placed on the parade, Vaur stated, “I believe the current agreement can be refined, but it has been beneficial for both our people and the Republic.” Some questions were selected from Chirper. Marissa Johnson read a question from @emilyk166, a self-identified Phoenixport resident, who asked, “The Zo’ra Hive has recently shown interest in uplifting the Queenless community. What prompted this change?” The High Queen replied, “We have always championed the rights of all Vaurcae, regardless of their Hive. All Vaurcae across the Orion Spur face similar challenges, and they must be addressed. This August, we have provided forums for various Vaurca groups, including the Queenless, so the broader Spur community can hear their voices.” Isaac Mann, an attendee and volunteer with the Vaurca-run NGO Vaurca Equality, shared his experience with Vaur, discussing his participation in fundraisers for Vaurca civil rights. He asked the High Queen what the next milestone for Vaurca liberties would be and her stance on the recently-passed Electoral Integrity Enhancement Act, which significantly limited Vaurca voting rights. “I believe we still have a long journey ahead,” Vaur responded. “Vaurcae are industrious people, yet they still face discrimination in smaller businesses. A Vaurca server, for instance, is less likely to receive tips.” Vaur elaborated on her plans to improve employment opportunities for Vaurcae, emphasizing, “They are all willing and capable.” She then addressed the Electoral Integrity Enhancement Act, noting, “There are some biological differences we need to consider. However, the extreme proposal to entirely curtail Vaurca voting rights is an affront to democracy. The bill will be remembered as part of a dark chapter in the Republic’s history.” High Queen Vaur answered questions for nearly two hours. In her closing statement, she said, “I’m grateful to have celebrated this important day in Vaurca history with all of you. My greatest hope is that those watching at home will become passionate about Vaurca history and rights.”

I’ll withdraw my application as I think there’s a lot on my plate as of now. I’ll remain fully committed to Vaurca lore.

Vaur Silently Reinstated Eggs to Queenless. What Now? By @emilyisqueen_249 Our forum members marked this article as a 'Quality contribution'. This publication does not reflect the values of the Vaurca Online Updates maintainers and was submitted independently. The press may ask questions to editorial@vuo.net. Subscribe to VUO to receive more articles like this in your inbox. This month, Vaurca Equality and the Biesellite xenophilic establishment celebrate "Vaurca History Month," the latest holiday with a Free-Market Party stamp of approval, even if they're not enforcing it in schools (yet). While this is the third consecutive year in which Vaurca Equality has claimed August for themselves, this time it comes with a surprise. Rebranded as "Vaurca Pride," many events now center around the Queenless, a group of Vaurcae that the Zo'ra didn't even publicly acknowledge a few weeks ago. What is going on? Well, unless you're living under a rock, you must know by now that "Queenless" has become a hot topic during this election cycle. The Queenless Vaurcae, for those unaware, are all of those individuals who are not considered part of any "brood" (aka, the servants of the Vaurca queens). In 2464, Vaur decreed that the Queenless would no longer receive eggs, thus effectively signing them on a death sentence. This decision was criticized by many as "genocidal," including some forum members. The discourse really picked up when candidate Åke Torvald supported the West Phoenixport Law Center (WPLC), an organization seeking the rights of the Queenless. Vaur, and the Dorn campaign as a whole, suddenly faced scrutiny for their actions against the Queenless. Well, after constant hit pieces against the Dorn-Vaur campaign, the Zo'ra have finally bent the knee. Alongside the announcement that the month of August would pander to those Vaurcae outside the "broods," Vaur has silently reinstated eggs to Queenless. There was no formal announcement. Instead, some Queenless groups began to receive Vaurca eggs all of a sudden, after two years of not getting any. If you're wondering now why do the Queenless need eggs, well, this is where it gets shady and kind of gross. The Zo'ra have sterilized the Queenless groups, basically only keeping them alive through this egg-shipment program. What for? It's anybody's guess. Many here on this forum have considered the practice barbaric, thinking that Queenless are kept as a trophy or for mockery. After doing some research, it seems that the Queenless were once more useful as slave labor. Nowadays, when even the Zo'ra compete with each other for ridiculously low-income jobs, the Queenless have served their function. Hence, Vaur didn't want to keep maintaining the population. Will the decision to restore Queenless eggs win Dorn and Vaur the elections? Likely not. However, it's true the Zo'ra were seeking to appease the West Phoenixport Law Center and its followers. For the Queenless, however, this is not enough. Just today, the WPLC posted on their Chirper: "Vaur has done the bare minimum to support our people. There's still a long way to go, and we still believe that neither Vaur nor Dorn are good enough to represent us." What does this mean to the rest of us? If you live in Biesel, chances are your cities are about to become much more violent. Everybody with half a brain has seen how much of a dumpster fire the west side of Phoenixport has become in recent years—an area now infested by Queenless criminals and bums. Something similar is going on in Lago de Abundancia, Mictlan. Many patrons are not willing to go to restaurants anymore because it seems like every waiter is now a Queenless thug. And don't even think about not tipping them—three months ago, a Queenless individual got into a verbal altercation with a customer because the visitor didn't tip. The event ended with the Queenless using one of its dangerous claws to pry a phone out of the patron's hands, and all of this was captured on camera. The enlightened Joseph Dorn also introduced a little thing called the Universal Citizenship Program (UCP) a few years ago, something many forum members must be familiar with by now. The UCP does not consider Queenless as citizens or even legal permanent residents, meaning that, after they hatch, they'll become deadweight in our society. Don't believe me? In 2463, the Tau Ceti Revenue Agency (TRA) issued a report, stating that less than 15% of the Queenless population paid any taxes. So while many of you were cheering for the West Phoenixport Law Center to get their "win" over Vaur and her cronies, it turns out you've been barking up the wrong tree. When your little Middle-of-fuckwhere-ville in Biesel gets plagued by the Vaurcae that even other Vaurcae don't want, don't come crying here. You asked for this.

Sorry, this week hasn't been the best for me. 1. I've written a lot of lore over the past few years and have received input from a lot of people, including the playerbase. For some more extreme Vaurca changes, I've actually tested the waters with other people outside of the team, just to get an idea of what they think as well. I think we do need to keep ourselves open to receive criticism, even if it's unfounded. 2. I like how constant checkups have been with the latest LTA administrations, and I would like that as well. I think I can also contribute with ideas and help see where teams may be "stuck." This is basically what I do in my dayjob already. 3. A clear example is just all the lore surrounding the War in Heaven, which has even permeated the election arc a bit. One day, I woke up and thought about adding the West Phoenixport Law Center, which is now relevant in the election arc. I have also tested the waters a lot in terms of how the War in Heaven should go. 4. Off the top of my head, regular pings and keeping a calendar. If a team in specific needs more supervision, I would probably take a more hands-on approach to see how I can help. 5. Right now, for the most part, I want to highlight the same points I mentioned in my application (accessibility, congruity, and community). However, I'm also a big believer in setting up pieces to see where we can go from there—we've been doing this is in the Vaurca year for literal years. I would like to see how we can move post-phoron scarcity and think of an idea as to what's the next big step for the setting. 6. I've given my two cents every now and then, but I always feel like an intruder when I do so. I would like to actually provide better articulated feedback as part of the LTA and help the teams with whatever they might need. 7. Messaging individuals has worked wonders. I think helping the underperfoming individual come up with a project or suggestion of their own can also work. 8. Ideally, a consensus. However, there might be situations where that won't be achieveable, and that's ok. I wouldn't like to enforce something without listening to the other parties, but we do have to think about the future of the lore as a whole and try not to divide between two camps or more.

Ckey/BYOND Username: Desven Position Being Applied For: Deputy Loremaster Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations wiki page?: Yes Past Experiences/Knowledge: Examples of Past Work: Basically all Vaurca wiki. I've also contributed in team projects by the team. 1) What do you believe you can bring to the team as Deputy Loremaster: When it comes to the broad of lore, I've been mainly concerned with two aspects: consistency and verisimilitude. I'll explain what I mean by each of these points by using the phoron crisis as an example. I know that we, internally, are working on how to fix it, but I still want to make my point clear. Consistency: The timeline for phoron discovery is not consistent at all, and the tremendous amounts of deposits in some areas of the Orion Spur contradict the idea that phoron deposits are running dry. I really like that lore teams are mostly autonomous, but I do believe that the lore writers, and the community as a whole, would benefit greatly from a "lore Bible"—a written document with core tenets of Aurora lore, the tone, and what we wish to strive. This lore Bible should be workshopped with the lore writers and may receive feedback from the players to ensure everybody is on the same page. This would make us all feel a lot more certain as to where we want to take lore and ensure a mix-up like this doesn't happen again. Verisimilitude: I risk sounding like a nerd, but the phoron crisis is actually a phoron shortage, which in my opinion doesn't make much sense. In the history of humanity, we haven't ran out of natural resources despite constant exploitation. It's true that some resources are getting harder to find, but consider for a moment we only have one planet whereas in Aurora we have literally hundreds, if not thousands. I believe this happened because many of us are young, and throughout our time writing lore, we have learned plenty about the world and how things work. We've all received feedback from players, saying "this doesn't make sense" and it's something I agree with. It might sound nitpicky, but it can really shatter the illusion of reality, which is critical whenever you're writing something, as Aristotle made it clear over two thousand years ago. For the phoron crisis, I think it would make more sense to be an actual crisis with embargos and private ownership of resources, but this is another conversation. However, this idea of verisimilitude also expands to what are the realistic expectations of your acquisitive power with your wage (economy lore), which is something the community usually worries about. I'm also highly against the sci-fi topic that one planet equals one monolithic culture. We have tried our best to go against that by having a mosaic of cultures, but some areas still need improvement, in my opinion. I believe verisimilitude can easily be achieved by having a more "dynamic" setting, where lore reacts and reflects on other happenings, and where nuggets of information sprinkled across everywhere can make the places seem genuine. This is something I heavily leaned on my recent Vaurca article, where a reporter goes through menial pieces of information to make sense of a contradicting story. This example might be too "extreme" of a solution, but I think that what the Election Arc, the War in Heaven Arc, and New Blades Old Wounds have shown is that you can run three events simultaneously and throw in references to each other, making it feel like these events are genuinely happening in the world we've built. 2) Do you have any experience managing a Team? The duties of a Deputy Loremaster often revolve around being a Project Lead, not necessarily just writing. In real life, I lead a team of writers and editors. I also have my experience as Vaurca writer. 3) Your thoughts on me as a loremaster, and how best you think you can assist me. I think you're highly ambitious but really open to feedback, which I really appreciate. I believe we share a similar ambition as wanting to make lore feel more "authentic" and serious, creating a compelling story for players. I'll be honest and admit that I didn't originally approach you for feedback, but I think the times we've sat down and worked on some documents, we've been a great pairing. 4) What do you believe are your biggest drawbacks, both as a writer and as an applicant for this position? As I told you before, I'm a huge pantser. I have ideas that I pick up from time to time and, if a project suits me because I think it'll end up tying things better later, I pick it up. For this reason, I struggle to make huge proposals or stick to a strict timeline where everything is absolutely planned. This has been highly evident in my recent arc proposal, which I won't go into detail here. 5) In a brief summary, explain the direction you'd wish to see the Lore Team take in regards to Aurora Lore. I believe that we have very solid bases and it's time for us to play with all of our pieces. I don't really plan of going "beyond" the Spur, rather I would like a lot more cooperation and a joint effort by all teams to make things work. However, I would like Aurora lore to be seen as a respectable, well-written community story and not amateurish. For that, I have a three points I want to focus on: 1. Accessibility: I'm a huge believer that the wiki should be easy to read and factual. I know it's hard to update everything, but there are huge lore arcs that as of now you can only understand if you read a million news articles. I would like the wiki to reflect more what happens every year, creating yearly articles (from 2462 til today) that summarize events neatly for new and returning players. I also think wiki formatting still has a long way to go. I've been trying for years to make more REDIRECT TO pages for the Vaurca wiki, but I would like to encourage all teams to do the same with theirs, as there's some information that feels arcane unless you dig deep on an article. And I'll be honest: I don't think collapses are a great idea. If the article gets too long, it should send you to a different page instead. There's a reason why Wikipedia doesn't have collapsable tables in long topics—you can't do ctrl f and if you're redirected to the page, you won't be shown the relevant paragraph immediately, leaving you confused as to where you'll find that information. I also believe we should use more hyperlinks when necessary and always introduce our topics. It's awful to read a page that references an acronym or something but it's not explained there, and then you can't find it anywhere because the acronym is only explained deep in a collapsable table. It's not user friendly at all. 2. Congruity: Out of fear of repeating my answer for question 1, I believe we need to make lore feel a lot more congruent and that it truly goes beyond what we see as the Horizon. With my recent Vaurca arc, I've tried doing this by introducing new ways in which information can be relayed to characters when it doesn't come directly from a news source. I want lore to feel organic, like things are happening the whole time and we get to see bits of it. It helps with the immersion and it also helps the players feel more invested. I know some lore teams have achieved this greatly, but it should be a standard we should all seek. 3. Community: I also believe we should strive for new ways to involve players in lore that don't necessary rely on heavily-planned lore arcs with in-game events. These are serious tasks that require months of preparation, yet I think we should think of new media or ways to participate where players can get involved even in every-day rounds. I think Odyssey can help with this a lot, but I believe that we should also think of ways players can even contribute from Discord or the forums. I want to encourage fan content if possible—the main draw of Aurora is always your own OC, but I truly want to see players be excited about lore characters and think of fan art, fanfics, just fan whatever about them. I want the playerbase to feel the passion some of us feel about these characters that only exist in the wiki or news articles, and I'm open to think of any way we can promote this. 6) Where do you think lore is lacking currently? I still think megacorp lore is lacking, particularly when it comes to Einstein Engines. I also feel like there could be a lot more about the cities in our major planets, like Biesel. We sometimes write a lot about these million places, yet we really don't give much for the players to pick them up and make them theirs. I've noticed that players feel a lot more comfortable when making characters with a steady template that has solid lore bases instead of a free-for-all, you make up all the holes on your own. By this I don't mean we need to dictate everything, but just provide a safety net for players to create their characters at ease. 7) Lastly, what timezone are you normally awake during? CST, I work from 9 to 5, but I always have my laptop with me.

Newsletter: Celebrate Vaurca History Month with PRIDE! Hi, all! As you may know, each August we celebrate Vaurca History Month, commemorating the ending of the Great Hive War over 29 000 years ago. August provides the perfect opportunity for us, as allies, to learn about Vaurcae, their history and culture, as well as their long list of contributions to the Orion Spur. This is my first August as Executive Director of Vaurca Equality and I couldn't be more excited. This time, we've prepared something special: we'll be hosting events alongside some of the most prominent Vaurca voices of the community. At Vaurca Equality, we believe it is our duty to provide platforms for those underrepresented, including the marginalized Queenless community. Be on the watchout for the panel list that'll be emailed to you in the upcoming days. Additionally, we'll be holding our first Vaurca Pride parade outside our headquarters on August 12, 2466. We invite all Vaurca, regardless of their brood or lack thereof, as well as every ally, to join us and show Biesel that Vaurcae are here and their voices need to be heard. I also want to thank all Vaurca Equality members for their continuous sponsorship of this mission. Our newspaper, the Caprice Sun, continues to experience many changes as we do our best to deliver the highest-quality content for our readers. Let's make this Vaurca History Month unforgettable! Your participation and enthusiasm will make all the difference. See you at the events! Mariam Ashraf Executive Director of Vaurca Equality