dessysalta

BYOND Key: Dessysalta Character Names: Sherrie Scott Ashlyn Rushine Kira Vasquez (Main) GOLD-ALECTO Eimhir Fenella Rodrigo Valdez Dhaval Hiyan Species you are applying to play: Unathi What color do you plan on making your first alien character: Skalamar Red Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yup! Why do you wish to play this specific race?: If I were to lead with something more charming than serious, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision a couple weeks ago after I realized how much I loved lizard-esque characters not only on Aurora, but servers like TG and such. Particularly, Suvek Tokash, Bloodclaw, and Ra’Sep Re-Tep (TG) caught my eye and had me realize that non-humans are just as interesting as their human counterparts, with more in-depth lore than they’re given credit for. It wasn’t until recently that I actually took much of an interest in them, as I was unfortunately encouraged not to bother with other species after the first server I played on (TG) encouraged speciesism with synthetics and command, making playing as that race a death sentence for most antag rounds and not exactly providing a place to go for longer-term characters. Playing on Aurora has reignited my love for nonhumans and led me to the realization that even if there's ups and downs of playing a race, that doesn't make them any less important or interesting. A deeper answer would be to state my liking to the nuances of Unathi culture and traditions, such as the usage of clans and their names in commonplace reference. Placing a heavy emphasis on family means there is that much more drama or emphasis when they are embraced—or rejected; I love the subtle complexities that are associated with these cultural differences, such as an inherently more lighthearted (and sometimes far more brutal or heavy-hitting) response and view of combat and in turn how that affects their consciousness or their ideas of the people around them, or how their beliefs are based less in typical monotheism and more polytheistic, archaic systems. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: A Unathi has, as mentioned above, a greater meaning placed on their family and clan/society rather than their person, but by no means is any less of an individual. Their societal hierarchies and collective clans, and ritualistic vows and lifestyles, are something that could be seen as extreme or even absurd for humans, but are clear as day and completely normal (even respected) for Unathi. Even the obvious change of biology is worth noting, given a Unathi is going to have a fundamentally different answer to a situation depending on what weapons are being used, what the environment around them is like, or who they’re going up against in the first place—or even if they view whatever conflict occurring is worth the trouble of surrendering or avoiding as a human might or might not. The oldest and most widespread Unathi religion is also rooted in their surroundings and family, with Th’akh placing importance on respect for ancestors and the dead in the belief that it will lead to fortune once their own soul has passed on and joined the spirit world—or the subjectively different fate to be reincarnated. In short: I think there’s a ceremonial take on society that Unathi embody, and stronger still how much play emotions and honor have in their masses in comparison to us. I like this dichotomy and think Unathi resemble our nonstandard traditions symbolically, and do so in a way that humans never could with their differences in biology, upbringing, and communities. Character Name: Kasa'an Drek'za Please provide a short backstory for this character: The Drek'za clan has its roots placed in The Untouched Lands, Skalamar. Its origins, and by extent Kasa'an’s, are placed in ceremonial and recreational combat, with a heavier emphasis placed on duels based on slights or scores to be settled. Further back in the ancestry of the Drek'za clan can you find notable Kataphracts (and Kataphract-Hopefuls) and warriors that dedicated themselves to the Warrior’s Code of Honor and defense of the Hegemony. In recent years there has been an uprising in more bloodthirsty Sinta in the clan that wish less for outright combat and more so the deeply-ingrained high or “adrenaline rush” that is gained from defeating an opponent. While these Unathi still represent the Drek'za clan in all that it stands for, that of which being unfaltering determination and strength of will, among them was Kasa'an, who locked his eyes less on war and more on sport. The clan of Drek’za is a persevering one, full of blood and grit before the Contact War and much more optimism-controlled, aggressively so nowadays. Common figures mentioned in the Drek’za are Sakax Razi, for his strength and leadership in the Hegemony, and the legend of Kazani, for the unwavering devotion to absolving a deadly, painful mistake. Kasa’an’s immediate family, such as his brother Thrall’ma or his sister Noswi (endearingly nicknamed Thrall and Noss respectively on warm, slow days) taught him the value of self-righteous indulgence (from Thrall’ma, who would inevitably be caught by the clan several times a year venturing outside of “safe” boundaries and environments for the sake of charming settings or pleasing sights) and strategic debate (from Noswi, who was experienced enough at a young age to engage even seasoned, aged guildsmen in bartering and haggling), although Kasa'an never quite had a mind for the latter. Kasa'an’s ultimate goal for his twenty-four years of life has been to compete in the Zandiziite Games for both his birthplace and clan, and has spoke highly of the Games nearly as soon as he was able to. He was not the only one of his clan who wished to prove himself more in sport than in warfare, but he might have been the most adamant about it, his time served after the Contact War had concluded being dedicated to do battle with others, “only when their resssolution begged for it,” and, “when neither sssenssse nor bloodline could sssstop them.” Of course, these circumstances include honorable duels, self-defense, and most importantly, the Zandiziite Games. With such a high regard for these things (if you could call it that), one might expect Kasa'an to stay on his homeworld of Moghes or otherwise assume an offensive position in a fleet or some other kind of profession, but as it stood he went on to pursue a more civilian or passive career, having focused his strength in things such as pushing beaten vehicles, aiding in the suppression or wrangling of rowdy fauna, or nowadays pushing/pulling cargo and supplies. When he learned of the corporations that made up the Conglomerate, he asked himself, and soon his clan's lord, if there was any more noble way of achieving his goal than by journeying off the very planet he was hatched on and into the galaxy, where millions of unknown certainties and terrors might await. With his blessing, and having now secured a contract with Zephyr Shipping Company (Orion Express), Kasa'an seeks to work: “Until I have fallen down and realizssed that my ssssnout yearnsss for a massk to be placssed upon it.” Once all is just so, he will return to his homeland and fight with every scale on his body to become Zandiziite "Fleet-Foot" of Skalamar. What do you like about this character? While coming up with the Drek'za clan and how this Unathi belongs to it, I unfortunately (READ: extremely fortunately) fell back onto a trope I love to death: “fighting is awesome.” I love the idea in my head of playing a Unathi that works aboard the Horizon not for monetary gain but for a particular reason that he values above traditional human views and is doing his absolute damndest to achieve in his eyes. I like being able to write strong, enthusiastically friendly and hopeful characters, and I have every intention for Drek'za to throw his arm around a close friend’s neck and almost yank them out of their seat as a sign of affection. I also really like the idea of routine sparring with him and either the other Unathi or anyone else on board the Horizon, and how much of his person will change from now to the time he's sent back to Moghes. I hope I can accomplish writing his sheer power of will and make him a big, bright light for the rest of the crew to look up to, given that's what he aims to be in a way. How would you rate your role-playing ability? I like to think I’m decent. Before SS13 grabbed ahold of me I was much more used to long-form writing, and dialogue as of late has been a breeze. If you want a number on a scale from 1-10, I’d say 8. Notes: Given that this will be the first alien race I want to consistently play, I would love pointers or questions regarding Drek'za’s past if there’s anything that is either unclear or misunderstood/incorrect.

Broadsword as an XO reflects exactly what I thought of them as BC, that of which being well-coordinated and RP-heavy. They should stay an XO at all costs! +1 (x2), after having played with them.

Previous I tilted my head back and let the chemical taste barrage my senses. Green grass and high tides forever My head felt thick as I did so, my double-sight threatening to drift into triple-sight as my senses mixed into some great slurry that I couldn't tell the liquids from the solids. This particular drink was meant to be light, but I must have drank at least four of them so far. I couldn’t even taste the lime at this point, the vodka drowning it out and making it burn as it went down. That’s what I get for getting low-quality swill, I figured. "I'm fine," I slurred, looking up at the Lunar woman that had started a sentence I didn’t hear the latter half of. All I cared about at this point was getting comfortable in my seat and ignoring the voices in my head that said I shouldn’t. The war had ended long ago, after all. I was just some shell-shocked girl who couldn’t keep it together after being handed some of the best offers of her life—a job aboard some corporate ship, free housing, what wasn’t to like? As if having stole the thoughts from my head, Ethan asked: “The war never ended for you, did it, Viper?” I looked at him again, with feeling in my eyes this time. My face felt cold, the expression on it probably as lifeless as the chair beneath me. Ethan must have seen it, and I know Solrise, that Luna, did. The air around us grew tense and quiet. I leaned my head back over the back of my chair and eyed the ceiling. I could see a slow-moving fan that must have never gotten replaced, that or it was following the rest of the bar’s style and patron-conformities. I set my gaze on one blade as it went around and around, ignoring the pain in my neck from the spine of the chair that dug into it. The jukebox was far away from me, now. Whatever words The Outlaws had in store for me, I didn’t have the ability to make them out. “I know it was hard, girl. It was hard on all of us.” This time, an English accent. It was midtone and scratchy, the body it stuck to thinner than your average weight-lifter. “I can’t speak for what you saw and did, but I know there’s better ways to process it, right? I can give you a number for a shrink if you’d like.” I put up my hand and waved it dismissively. A shrink. That’s comical. God, that’s really funny, actually. That’s… At first I smiled, then I grinned, and then I chuckled. I felt chortles emit from my head, then raised my eyebrows as they turned into wheezes and twitches. There weren’t any words for that, let alone any I’d actually use. “No.” My laughter slowed to a stop. “No, I’m long gone. I’m sure the only thing a therapist would say to me is that I need to start taking pills or some other ‘self-help’ spiel that starts with paper exercises and ends with a padded room. “You know what I think I need?” I leaned forward, looking at the lot of them. I didn’t get a response. Maybe I just didn’t hear it. “I need…” My lips stopped after having mumbled a few half-baked phrases of sorts. What was I even saying? I had nothing to, that’s what I thought. I shook my head and laid my head on my arms, my eyes fluttering shut. “Eso es lo que necesito, hombre...” I whispered as I drifted off. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - All our times have come Here, but now they're gone Seasons don't fear the reaper Nor do the wind, the sun, or the rain I grit my teeth as I wrapped gauze around my wound. The round that caused it tore straight through my hardsuit, through my thigh, and out the other end. I didn’t feel like I was dying, but I certainly didn’t feel great, either. If it had hit something important, I’d have been down in a second, I’m sure. I’m glad it didn’t, although it did make the firefight that ensued that much harder. I had to kick off my hardsuit in a hurry, and it was a godsend that we were in a pressurized area. I might’ve lost my leg if we weren’t. The mesh that had been sprayed on it was already working its magic. I couldn’t quite sprint, but that was fine. I’d live a little while longer. I pushed myself up as I took note of my surroundings. It was some civilian freighter, with various goods like food and supplies for, I’m guessing, an airdrop to Luna. There wasn’t much of note except for a crate full of weapons, but the pilot has, or had, a warrant. These guns seemed of recent make, Zavodskoi laser technology that was a cut above typical Nanotrasen rifles. The rest of the cargo hold was unappealing, but had the logo of Orion Express plastered on the side walls. Been a minute since I’ve seen them. Hauling companies out here usually make big bucks if they’ve got the manpower to back them up. I cleared my throat, which was dry and somewhat hoarse after all of the yelling I was put through. It was a tough set of events that led me to where I was now, but at least we’d prevailed in the end. I should check on the rest of my men to see how they’re doing. I didn’t get far out of the hold before one of them ran up to me. “Pirates are contained, sir.” It was Nelson, a rifleman with a head like a bowling ball and a figure built like a brick shithouse. He was still under his hardsuit, but I could see a few stray strands of almost-gray hair behind his orange visor. He looked a little more groomed than usual, with a cleaner shave and less shadow on the rest of his face. “Good.” I looked him up and down, checking him for injuries. He got out unscathed, from the looks of it. Lucky bastard. “And the rest of us?” “Irving took an energy blade to the chest, it’s not looking good. He’ll live, but that scarring’s gonna fuck him in the long run. Rest of us are banged up, but no one’s out of action. Mann’s got a coupla broken ribs.” Nelson hit a button on the side of his chestplate, retracting the helmet and revealing everything above his neck. He had some dried blood below his nose. “You have anything else for me?” I reached into my pocket and produced a cigar, setting it in my mouth and looking for a lighter in one of my pockets. Nelson came through with his own, lighting it for me. I nodded my head in thanks. “Pirates seem to be of Himean descent. One of them mouthed off to me about hunting Hephaestus workshoppers, so that’s the closest thing we have to a statement thus far.” “Si. You get the one in the exosuit?” “Yeah. He was running a basic power cell in a powerloader. The thing shut down and he pretty much just gave up.” “Can I have a chat with him?” “Yes, sir. He’s secured in the cockpit.” I gestured to Nelson, allowing him to take point. He responded with a single nod and then turned to walk. When we arrived in the cockpit I was greeted with the sight of some bloodied, middle-aged man with a furrowed brow and dirtied jumpsuit. His attire didn’t have any sort of association or company patch, which I found somewhat unusual given the circumstances. He was just as faceless as his weapon. “Yes?” The man asked. His voice was gruff and showing age. He seemed very to the point. I can respect that. “Your name.” I said, and stepped over to check his cuffs. He’d managed to slip out of them, but he made no motion to run. I guess that was for the better, since he certainly couldn’t have come back from all this. I twisted his arms getting them back on. He didn’t resist as I set him onto a chair. “John Willard.” He replied, settling down once he was restrained again. “John, why did you attack an Orion ship this far away from Luna?” I stepped back and nodded to Nelson to let me be. He obliged, walking out. “I wanted its contents.” “And those contents were?” John looked off to the side. “The weapons you saw in the hold.” “What weapons?” “Zavodskoi rifles.” “For what purpose did you want them?” “For whatever reason you associate with taking weapons.” I slowly nodded my head as he gave that last answer. Then, I closed the distance and drove my good hand into his face. It tore back open a cut that was stitched on his cheek. When he met my eyes again, he looked amazed, as though he didn’t expect that. “Gilipollas. Try that again.” I crouched to get to eye level with him. “...I intended to use them for shit like this.” “Thank you, John.” I stood up straight. “Is everyone with a gun associated with you?” “I guess so.” “You guess so?” I tilted my head. “Well, they either are, or they aren’t, which one is it?” “Anyone who wasn’t already on this ship.” “Are you lying to me?” “No.” “Alright.” I puffed out smoke and then sat in the chair a few feet to his side, swiveling it to keep my body pointed towards him. He didn’t bother doing the same. Miserable sad sack… “Where are you from, Willard?” “Biesel, Tau Ceti.” “I hear that place is nice this time of year. You from Mendell?” “Am I gonna get shot if I don’t tell you?” He cocked an eyebrow, clearly confused with what I was doing. “If we wanted you dead, we would have killed you already, hijo.” “...No, I’m from Phoenix Port.” “Rough start, down there. Your ship belong to Einstein Engines? We haven’t looked it over yet.” John looked at me for a long time, bending over slightly as if to take in my full figure. It took him a few seconds to say, “No, custom-make. Modified a Nanotrasen one.” “Mhm…You have any family down on Biesel?” “Some friends. An aunt, maybe.” I felt a twang of pain shoot through my leg as my holster brushed against it. Dammit! My leg jerked the direction opposite the pain, which only dug it into the chair and made it worse. My hands gripped the arm rests, dulling the pain as I came to terms with it. The man in front of me looked at me with an expression I couldn’t describe. What was that supposed to mean? Was it a look of malice? Was he mocking me? No, no, he couldn’t be. Calm down, Kira. You're the one in charge here. “You think they’d be happy with you doing what you’re doing now?” I asked, my voice steady. “Are you trying to guilt me?” “No. I’m asking you an honest question. I know my own family wouldn’t be happy with me if I did this.” "It must be hard to be you." Me siento como si estuviera hablando con una pared de ladrillos, I thought. I’m getting tired of this. Fucking Biesellite. [x] - Keep talking. He'll say something you like sooner or later. [ ] - Make him pay. [ ] - Something else... (Write in) Next

Just like the SpaceBattles forums, if you'd like to vote for one of the ending options, just format it like this: "[x] - Tilt your head back and try to keep it together. You're with friends." We'll see if it lands. I'll continue after a sufficient amount of replies come in or after a few days/a week.

OOC Notes: Hi! This is the first short story in a series I might or might not make just for funsies. Kira Vasquez is by far one of my most cherished characters to date and I love writing her—I hope you all like this and help me turn it into something unique. You might recognize the ending options as inspired by the SpaceBattles forum, and if you do, good! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In a place you only dream of Where your soul is always free Silver stages, golden curtains Filled my head, plain as can be As I sat down in my seat, I felt my ears twitch a bit as archaic, if a bit catchy, rock blared from a rundown jukebox. This one in particular was by a band I was familiar with, The Outlaws. They’re one of those old Earth bands that made a name for themselves with their smooth vocalist and equally smooth guitarist. I still idly hum it to myself when I’m working, like a song stuck in my head. It has roots in my subconscious after hearing it so often during my time with Sol. My first squad, and eventually the rest of my platoon, would sing when we/they were shipping off to whatever mission Command had in store for us. I guess to them it was a nod to old times and how ushering in the new was foreign, or some kind of travesty. A lot of the men in my units thought strongly about it, but I never cared either way. I just thought the music was pleasant to the ears. At least, it was a nice relief from all of the metal screeches and pulse munition fire. I was in a bar of sorts. It looked like one of those run-down country restaurants you'd find on Mictlan or San Colette, assuming those planets were allowing visitors and moreover that the locals wanted to serve you in the first place. Around our five-man team were duos, trios, and groups of men and women alike sharing a meal or pint together. The place was full of wood, purposefully pandering to Earthers and those adjacent who favored a more "homey" setting with knick-knacks and antiques that caught the eye and alluded to the soul of humanity. Above all else, the smell of food and drink was readily apparent, punching you square in the nose the moment you stepped into the place. If I had to guess where the spices hailed from I'd probably lose it, because it was such a cacophony of fragrance that must have been lent tastes from all around the solar system. I opened my mouth to say something, probably to sing along. Whatever I had planned to say was cut off by a voice across the table from me, the body of which had raised its glass in a manner that said, hey, listen! “Kira!” A deep, thick Martian accent jumped into my ears and into my brain. It was a more guttural form of Sol Common that borrows some elements of Freespeak, the former a mix of Mandarin and Asian languages and the latter descending from Hindi, combining into a multi-rooted jumble that sounded incoherent or even barbarian to non-native speakers. It made me snap my gaze up to meet his, but I took it in stride and didn’t show any surprise. God dammit, Ethan, do you always need to talk so damn loud? I perked up, shifting around in my seat as to not seem idle. I felt myself blink a few times as my concentration shifted to an image more important than the grooves on the table we sat at, which was only just better than some dented piece of balsa wood barely sanded. There was wear and tear on the mahogany, and it looked just awful. My eyes landed on Ethan, who was a man of above-average height and build, save for a longer set of legs and shorter torso. He had brown hair that made up a sloppy mullet, with a cowlick on top that solidified his position as part of the lower-class in this bar. From my perspective, it looked like he had two heads and four eyes. “You been awfully quiet, hermana. What’s been goin’ on with you as of late? We sure as shit don’t see you often, let alone talk to ya.” As a rainbow grew around the sun All my stars of love who died Came from somewhere beyond the scene you see These lovely people played just for me While my mind drifted back to the music reverberating throughout the bar, my hands moved to sign. “I’ve just been dozing off.” “Dozing off? God damn, chica, you sure got a twisted sense of purpose nowadays.” Thanks, I thought. I appreciate you calling notice to it like it’s worthy of damn spotlight. Really helps me get accustomed to the atmosphere. My hands moved again. “It’s difficult, is all.” “Hey, it’s alright.” Another voice piped up. This one belonged to a Lunar chick around my age and height. Her accent was lighter, with a more eloquent edge to it; it wasn't something I could replicate myself unless I spent months practicing. It had a much more comforting tone compared to the battle cry old long, tall, and ugly had just shouted. I didn't know her name off-hand, that or it just wasn't coming to me considering what was in my system. I could have sworn I'd seen her before, what with the cool-colored ponytail and dark uniform. It looked like a service uniform. Wait, why was she wearing it out tonight...? The world blurred as the lights mixed and shined through my eyelids. I closed them sometime after she spoke, placing my elbow on the table and my hand on my forehead to support my head as I leaned into it. My free hand immediately went to my drink, bringing it to my lips to sip from. I could taste creamy lime and ethyl alcohol assaulting my tongue and burning my throat. Whoever mixed this drink sure had no idea of what quality milk cream was…but I couldn’t be bothered to let myself get frustrated over it. Not today. I had bigger problems on my mind that were more worth my time. I wouldn’t be drunk if I didn’t. Hell, maybe I would. At this point, drinking took to me as much as I took to it. Electric guitars soothed my nerves when I heard them, especially ones that weren’t distorted or altered much. The Outlaws, among many others from that era, had a magic in their picks that took me to a land far, far away from all of the political bullshit I usually found myself experiencing. It might have been because of the classic era they truly belonged to. It might have been because I’m an emotional mute with an eye for the little details and ears for the big ones. Either way, I felt less inclined to speak in my comforted state, and would much rather keep my voice down. “I miss…” My hands moved, then stopped. My mind grew thick with a kind of fog I couldn’t describe, like I needed a signal flare if I wanted to see a foot in front of me. I missed a lot of things, and I honestly felt better leaving it like that rather than picking any in particular. My head hurt just being here. My hands returned their stances, one on a drink, and one on my head. Irving, for one. He was a damn fine rifleman. I shook my head once more. “A lot of things,” I muttered. My head spun a little, but I steeled myself enough not to plant my head on the table below me. I even let go of my glass, letting my arms sit by my sides and my glass on the wood. My eyes drifted back to it, watching the alcohol inside it settle. The smell of it wafted into my nostrils, reminding me of why I was here in the first place. Maybe even why I was still going, who knows? Now if I let you see this place Where stories all ring true Will you let me past your face To see what's really you I grasped my cup one more time and brought it to my lips. It's not for me I ask these questions As though I were a king For you have to love, believe and feel Before the burst of tambourines take you there "Kira? You're..." For a moment, I felt my hardsuit again. The thick, chitinous mass that only Hephaestus or Zavodskoi weapon manufacturers could manufacture with ease and perfection. My breath mask clung to my face and rubbed against the bridge of my nose, the rubber seal and synthleather strap irritating my skin and pushing my hair into my head. Around me were bright lights—were they muzzle flashes? Was it all my imagination?—ones I couldn't easily describe. They felt so intricate, now, looking at them. I felt sudden acceleration push me into my seat as our engine roared to life, the rifle on my chest red-hot and burning. All I made out was the stars, so many stars, all bright and... I feel lightheaded and disoriented. What was I going to do...? [ ] - Change the subject. All this talk about the past hurts your head. [x] - Tilt your head back and try to keep it together. You're with friends. [ ] - Finish your drink and leave. Better to be alone than uncomfortable. Next Latest

Interacting with both Castile and Broadsword is always a pleasure. I honestly have to give shout outs to the time they (Broadsword) looked a wounded gunman in the eyes and said, "Pathetic." It was such a badass scene and I have no doubts in my mind that Noble will be able to create more of those well-written moments down the line. Hefty +1, shaken, not stirred.

Player of Valdez here! Just chiming in to confirm the above statements.

I've played about a round a day (two or three on some of them, since I had to skip a couple days for various reasons) and I advertise my whitelist at the end of each round, but I'm struggling to get any feedback at all. Not sure what I can do past advertise it more rigorously.

I've edited my app to reflect my new character, I made them specifically for the HoS role.

I'll revisit a Kira HoS in the future. In the meantime, give me some time (should take less than a week) to make a character that I think would both work as a HoS and allow me to be as creatively expressive.

+1, writes an intricate captain and demonstrates a great mix of ability and personal flair to the role. Love Xan, I hope they stay as a captain--and I should have written this sooner. Edit: I almost forgot to express my love for Urgoth and Gongwue. Gongwue especially is a fun dreg to be around.

I would be really upset if Kira was barred entirely from HoS due to her experience as a bartender, and I mean it when I say I am willing to do whatever it takes to change that--I want Kira to get somewhere more than her current position. That being said, if that decision is final, I'll make a new character for the HoS position.

If this ultimately gets denied, what would be a better time to resubmit my application (i.e. next month, a couple months, etc. assuming I'm playing consistently)? I'm hearing a lot of "too sudden" and want to know how long I should wait with Kira should this turn up flat. Also, I'm considering making another character for the HoS position but I'm worried that with my intent for Kira to be a HoS that I would accidentally create Kira: 2 instead of a character I can reasonably and faithfully play as that position.

Half-retconned? She was a bartender aboard the Horizon at some point, but I figure with her current experience and job that you can just assume the initial impressions of Kira being a bartender were just for reference--she can be assumed as a secoff for the past 2-3 months.

BYOND key: Dessysalta Discord Username: remratsuken#1578 Character names: Sherrie Scott Ashlyn Rushine Kira Vasquez (my main and reason for the app I'll try for a Kira HoS again in the future.) GOLD-ALECTO (soon-to-be) Eimhir Fenella How long have you been playing on Aurora? I've been off and on since about late January/early February, but I've been playing almost nonstop for the past couple of months. Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they? I received a warning by Wickedcybs on the 10th of this month regarding escalation and killing of antagonists. It wasn't so serious that it warranted a ban of any kind (even after I self-requested one afterwards), but it was worth noting. I might request an edit to this note later down the line because of circumstances that I think should have been taken into consideration. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame? I think of Heads of Staff the way I view the general of an army or the president of a nation; even if they're only one person with limited skills specific to one thing or another, their goal is to act not only as an employee and be part of the workforce but to act as a unifying figure and spearhead for the department that they manage and oversee, someone who bridges the gap between new threats and the people assigned to them. A Head of Staff or Captain is obligated not only to do the job that they are assigned, but to ensure the safety, cooperation, communication and efficiency of all their subordinates and how each action they make affects the people around them, inter-department or not. Generally speaking, a Head is meant to a glorified assistant, almost--specific to the department (or the entire ship if Captain) and there to act as insurance and a mentor to experienced and inexperienced employees alike. I think Heads of Staff solve the problem of otherwise being an uncoordinated group under a vague cause instead of an individual and objectives; project managers in real life jobs have such high paygrades and responsibilities due to the amount of effort it takes to coordinate and educate a mass of people, check their work, ensure that the machine that they run is well-oiled and efficient, and overall make sure that whatever objectives their team (or company, etc.) are meant to accomplish are succeeded in at the end of the day. Put simply, you can't have shoes without laces, and a Head of Staff is meant to be that driving, educational, and leading example of force and communication for everyone who wishes to achieve something in their department. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them? I think the responsibilities of a Whitelisted player is roughly the same to their Head of Staff counterpart; they're supposed to help new players learn the job or department, ensure that the playerbase at large benefits from it, and to be a guiding force or name that players follow the lead of to be successful. A Whitelisted player should have greater knowledge and experience than their non-Whitelisted counterparts and be able to offer advice and training for those who aren't or don't yet wish be part of the Whitelist. In a way, they're like admins, being there to coach and enforce quality and potentially inspire future players to apply for a Whitelist. Before I joined Aurorastation as a whole, I didn't actually think I had any place in security. I had about ~2100 living hours on /TG/ before I swapped over, because as fun and goofy as some things were over there, the roleplay quality versus the amount of content versus how the game is fundamentally played on their codebase contributed to a lack of interest altogether. After I started playing on Aurora, I realized that security wasn't meant to be the fun police or a role that will almost always end in your death and I found that it was incredibly fun to play and coordinate with other players in character, especially given how high the standard is for writing on this server. I realized that I liked being the common enemy of antagonists, and working either alone or with my team to ensure the safety of the Horizon. It was new to me. All that's to say that I really like the idea of being the leading force/mentor figure to other players and I want to teach people how to play security, even if I only get the chance to teach them the fundamentals. I would put myself forward in the community as a Head of Security player that is equal parts efficiency, no-nonsense, and above all else, fun and informative. Explain how the recent events in the Spur changed your character and how they came to be employed on the SCCV Horizon. Eimhir Fenella is a Himean who found herself associating with hard workers during her upbringing on Himeo and almost immediately gravitated towards making money for her efforts. Initially starting off small by acquiring and occasionally writing her own material bounties, she grew further and further away from that line of work as her self-fulfillment needs had both dropped and not been met; fueling her to take up more difficult jobs, such as security and bounties regarding people and their capture or location. Many-a night was spent by Eimhir pushing her limits as a person and enduring the freezing chill of the atmosphere all while trying to cash out by tipping off those interested to the location of (or sometimes the individuals themselves) someone with a price tag on them. It wasn't very long until they decided they were bad at what they did. Not in quality--but in pay, surely. They knew there were far better positions, either on Himeo or among the stars, that would make her feel and act more successful as someone who prided themselves on the work they did. With trade and supply ships coming and going, she thought to get a job aboard them before she quickly changed her mind and realized that after having focused on human targets and threats for so long that she would be much better off joining something that had a much more active role in that regard. With Xanu Defense Services flying to and fro across the Coalition of Colonies' bodies, it wasn't particularly difficult to get accepted and ship off. The years that passed with this employment showed her that she was good at what she did, and the pay said so now. Once the Horizon was mentioned, she had half a mind to join them. Something about managerial roles made her feel excited, almost, ready to take on whatever threats would arise and command her own team of security specialists. ...If it wasn't for her Himean citizenship, that is. Eimhir has no ill-will to Himeo--she loves her family and friends, most of which have good standing with the many syndicates--but after well over a decade of security work and living with what she felt was a dream job, she just didn't see the substance of being barred from such a position due to its ties with Hephaestus, as deplorable and scummy they are. Offered the choice between a position aboard one of the most prestigious ships and corporations, and staying in good terms with Himeo and not risking being arrested should she come anywhere near the planet, she gave in and made a choice that would change her life radically--for better or worse. "So it's treason, then!" She can hear her father shout in the back of her mind, even now. Whether or not this would be worth it, only time can tell. What roles do you plan on playing after the application is accepted? Head of Security, mainly. I'm considering making a Liaison character in the long run, but I'd like to wait until I have a better idea of how to properly represent an interest group before I do so. Have you familiarized yourself with the wiki pages for the command roles? Yup yup! I feel confident in my ability to play a command role and I feel as though I can demonstrate professionalism in and out of character (of course with some trial and error). Characters you intend to use for command or have created for command. Include the job they will be taking: Kira Vasquez - Head of Security Eimhir Fenella - Head of Security Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action? I completely understand, and think that I'm both not above admin action and should be held to a higher standard than other players. Have you linked your BYOND account to the Forums? I should have! Let me know if I haven't. Extra notes: YES SIR OORAH!!