Valentine

Hyezzz... your vhriend... Hazzzzel....

I've known Cats for about a year, and I can confidently say they still know a lot more about CAT lore than I do. I know they do a lot of work on the Wiki along with CCIA, and they're generally just a really approachable person to ask about lore. I think this post (and the Google doc) shows they have a really solid understanding of Tajara lore, where it could feasibly go, and what could be done to fill empty spaces. That's an easy +1 from me.

BYOND Ckey: ValentineUnderscore Discord username: Valentine Character names: - Roman Markov - Xeqo'naq Oonq-Resh - Rafail Sariff Plenty more I play sporadically. Species you are applying to play: IPC, G2 Industrial Frame. ------------------------------ General Whitelist Requirements What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: Exempt, IPC Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes I have. Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format. One paragraph minimum per question. Why do you wish to play this species?: I find it really interesting that IPCs are the only species on the whitelist that were created, in recent memory, by purely artificial means. In my opinion, this makes them the most science fiction-based. IPCs seem rich with the opportunity to explore posthumanist themes regarding identity, what it means to have a "soul," and self-actualization. They remind me of the science fiction stories of old. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: IPCs are, unlike every other species, purely synthetic. They don't feel pain, they don't breathe, and they are not biological, or even scientifically defined as living things. But they have consciousness granted to them by their positronic nature, which separates them from something like a robot. They're not robots, but they're not alive either. It's interesting because it could place them in a new niche of sentience, and challenge the idea of what "alive" means. IPCs are not born, they're built. They're given data packs to learn skills that take years, can learn the same way an organic creature can through experience, and then they are let loose, so to speak, under the legal ownership of a corporation or a private citizen until they, if they ever, earn the means to be self-owned. It's an interesting term, self-owned, and it says so much about how IPCs are regarded in the Spur. Even if they're free, someone still owns them. It's not a way you'd consider a human or a skrell. And despite all of their synthetic nature, their most important directive is the same as any living thing: self-preservation (although what self-preservation means to an IPC can change dramatically depending on their occupation and age). ------------------------------ Character Application Character Name: Samson-G2(Model)-11.08.2462(Date of manufacturing)-02(Manufacturing number)21(Unit number) (More practically, just Samson-221 or "Sam-21") Write a backstory for your character. This may include their origin, education, personality and how they arrived to the SCCV Horizon. Hephaestus Production Station Amóni. 8th of November, 2462. The nondescript G2 manufacturing line, built alongside cheaper, more prevalent G1 units, designated Samson, second line, was produced. Among those numbers was a unit designated #021. Their purpose: to aid Operation Violet Dawn, which occurred only 24 hours prior, through feats of engineering and mechanical ability only practical to an Industrial Frame: lifting rubble off trapped people, cutting through cumulative miles of melted plastitanium, twisted corpses of buildings, and burning ruins. Many of these G2s and their G1 cohorts were destroyed or irreparably damaged from the Phoron fire-induced overheating or were buried under collapsing rubble carrying out the final orders issued by the late Prime Minister, fighting alongside human emergency services to save as many people as they could. It would've taken thousands of these units to do the job they were assigned. They were no different from the others who saw the Violet Dawn. They were forgotten too. Samson-221, like those of his kind who were lucky, survived. A melted exterior could be mended: and wires could be resoldered or replaced. Unlike the organics who perished, and who survived, Samson-221 was property. There was no time to process the strain of Mars. When he was cleared for duty once again, Samson-221 was returned to Mars under the full purview of his Manufacturer Agent. His agent, who felt an Industrial frame, who had aided the evacuation of Mars during the Dawn would be received favorably by the populace of Mars, and thus would reflect positively on the said agent, secured assignment for Samson to work on Mars immediately following Violet Dawn in the Moderate Hazard Zone. Although this was ill-favored, within 6 months, Samson was relocated to Mendell City, aiding the expansion of the Hephaestus branch there. For the machine himself, the tone of his life was set by his memories during Violet Dawn. He worked almost non-stop alongside emergency services to save trapped people, and to his namesake, he felt his strength was vast and being used well. His agent quite liked this, encouraging Samson to look at himself like he was a strong, heroic figure because that sort of image would reflect extremely well on Hephaestus Industries. Sam-21 spent a majority of his life in Cua Song, from 2463 to 2466, aiding the uncontested growth of the megacorporation on New Hai Phong in the new decade. For every piece of Plastitanium he welded together, or window he installed, Samson-21 thought he was building a better world. A world not consumed in fire. In June of 2466, Sam-21 was moved from New Hai Phong to the SCCV Horizon, because of simple contractual leasing changes, and his Agent sensing opportunity for the 3-year-old IPC. How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? Samson-221, like the others of his specific manufacturing circumstance, was rapidly produced to deal with the Violet Dawn crisis on Mars. Violet Dawn was the beginning of his life, and from it, he understood that no matter how badly something is destroyed, someone like him can build it again. It instilled a sense of benevolence in the G2, encouraged by his handler for marketing purposes. The events of Silicon Nightmares had a huge effect on IPCs, making a lot of people more afraid of them, feeding caustic rhetoric that denounces them, or forcing IPCs to consider their autonomy. Samson never felt he was without freedom: he was owned by Hephaestus, but Hephaestus lets him help people, and that was enough purpose for him. The Solarian Collapse also had a tremendous effect on Samson: he felt Mars was abandoned after the disaster, and with the collapse, and even after the start of the Reunification Campaign, Mars is still forgotten. All of his brothers are forgotten. But they still exist in his memories, and if they give him purpose, then every bolt he tightens perpetuates their memory and hope for a "better world." How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Sam-221 looks on Hephaestus very favorably, and refers to himself as a "Bearer of Aeson's Flame," citing that unlike the flames of Violet Dawn, "Aeson's Flame" creates things instead of decimating them. He feels that being built and owned by Hephaestus means he has opportunities other IPCs don't have: he can make a difference in the Spur and get the resources he needs to make a difference. He is loyal to Aeson and his dream for Hephaestus.

I will preface by saying I am on the opposite end of the time spectrum from Susan: I joined this forum approximately a year ago, played a little last summer, and returned around November. I wouldn't even say I've been playing here for a year. But what Susan says is something I've thought about quite a bit in the few months I've been here. I've avoided high-intensity events for a few reasons, one is relevant here: If my character got killed (issues with limb metas, etc, etc, aside) it would be a meaningless story point and leave me feeling worse off because it wouldn't have any meaningful narrative impact. and if one can't have a narrative impact in a roleplaying game, why play? Like tabletop games that you've mentioned, player death is very possible. But in those instances, it has a narrative resolution. It's not nothing. I understand that Aurora tends to have a pretty bleak tone: a lot of 'crapsack world' storytelling, corruption, injustice, etcetera. But I feel that same tone extends to how canonicity for players is treated. As Susan put it, it's like the player characters don't matter when it should be a cooperative narrative and they ought to matter a lot. I could see the biggest gripe someone has with what this topic proposes is that it would encourage or create 'narrative protagonist' player characters. But, I have to refute that. There are numerous narratives where a character has impacted the story but isn't the story. As a Heavy Roleplay Server, we should expect our roleplayers not to be fishing for the "I'm the hero" narratives as a given. I like Aurora a lot. It provides a roleplaying outlet you can't find on other SS13 servers, but I agree with this topic.

@Captain Gecko Hello, is there any update on this application? Kind regards.

@Captain Gecko Hey, thanks for reading. Ozikar follows the Th'akh faith as is practiced in the Tza Basin, like his father, and his father's father. His opinion of the SCC as a whole is neutral leaning negative, albeit, he approves of the idea of the SCC since centralization works well for the Hegemon. He doesn't care much for the other members of the Chainlink, because in his opinion, there is little they can offer the people of Moghes that Hephaestus can't. Too many cooks in the kitchen, he'd say. Nanotrasen, particularly, seems to him like they can barely hold onto their position on top, and the Trasen's affirmation that NT will remain the most influential megacorporation at the detriment of the rest of the Chainlink sounds threatening to him. It sounds to him, in some roundabout way, that Nanotrasen would be willing to cause indirect damage to Moghes by somehow weakening Hephaestus if it meant Nanotrasen remained strong, regardless of how true or untrue that is. There's also the standard "humans only look out for their interests" rhetoric, maybe a little blunted thanks to Aeson being the head of Hephaestus, but still. It's difficult for Ozikar to like any of the other megacorporations beyond tolerating their presence when they're more focused on one-upping each other than fixing his actively dying planet.

Hazel is great fun to roleplay with, Nines is super fun (my miner CONSTANTLY bothers her) and Reem has always been competent during my stint in Engineering. I think given the chance to be command, Hazel would bring a great atmosphere to engineering that it sorely lacks most of the time. Major +1

BYOND Ckey: ValentineUnderscore Discord username: Valentine Character names: - Roman Markov - Xeqo'naq Oonq-Resh - Tajrrhraz Sha'relrr - Adebayo Kehinde Species you are applying to play: Unathi ------------------------------ General Whitelist Requirements What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: I'm torn between Skalamar Red or Janvir Black, one of those. Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: I sure have, although I mostly read History and the eponymous page. Please provide well-articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format. One paragraph minimum per question. Why do you wish to play this species?: I'm a big alien species fan because of the opportunity it gives me to explore radical cultures and how biology plays into it. Unathi especially interests me with their honor-bound clan lore, which reminds me of the feudal East. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: Beyond the fact they're humanoid cold-blooded reptiles? Unathi have a fascinating ancient traditionalist culture that pedestalizes honor and obedience, they are deeply spiritual and the largest and oldest of their faiths are animist, which sets the tone for the entire foundation of their culture, IE, honoring spirits and ancestors, (we don't talk about the transhumanist guwan), their traditional concept of gender is reliant upon what job you hold, their physical expression is uniquely blunt (they WILL stare at you), they express themselves through the throat, tail stomping, secondary characteristics (like frills) and their voice, chuffing or barking, to name a few. ------------------------------ Character Application Character Name: Ozikar Yathaki Write a backstory for your character. Ozikar hatched in 2444, the fifth child to his father of the minor Yathaki clan, a clan with little to its history or name besides a ceaseless legacy of conflict as a warrior clan, claiming even the apocryphal honor of having bred men who became loyal and honest Kataphracts in antiquity before the reign of the Sarakus saw to their end, embittering them to the rule of the Second Hegemony. Much of the clan's history is lost during this period, although they remained within Kutah and served its lords until the Contact War. When Hutay'zai brokered vassalage to Izweski to spare his lands, many clan Yathaki felt betrayed. They were men who bled for the Traditionalists and would now serve the very enemy they fought, who bathed Moghes in as much nuclear fire as they did. Others, like Ozikar's father, knew that it was their duty to follow the will of whoever sat upon the kingdom's throne. This schism grew steadily. Simultaneously, then-clan leader, Ozikar's grandfather Kithek, had been all but broken by the horrors of nuclear war. He was unwilling to declare so many of his own as Guwan after seeing so many Unathi perish. When the two Yathaki clans came to loggerheads and begged the clan leader Kithek to render a decision, he replied thus: Billions vanished into a ruined world because cold men reinvented the stars. At that point, the schism exploded into duels, and in the end, only those loyal to Hutay'zai—thus Izweski—remained by 2447. Perhaps it was the grief of loss or the grief of time wearing down upon his body, but Kithek did not survive either. Ozikar's father, Arizar, came to be the head of the Yathaki clan with despondent regret: the schism was no more, but the death needed to mend it had broken Kithek's heart and killed him. Arizar instilled this same gloominess over the tattered remains of clan Yathaki for the next two decades. Arizar has become increasingly despondent as the years pass, fearing that the Wasteland will devour Moghes and "pollute" the Spirit-World. Ozikar devised his interpretation: if Moghes is doomed, all a man can have is his honor. This axiom guided his mind during his early life, honing his body and skill at arms to serve the way his ancestors did. Although he had no remarkable military career as his remaining older siblings did, serving under the ultimate banner of Izweski and Hutay'zai, Ozikar still desired honor. He joined the ranks of the Fighter's Lodge in 2461 to find glory, and it was only natural that he began working alongside PMCG subcontractors or city Watchmen, alongside Reclaimers when pitted against Gawgaryn, standing in streets or the wastes, protecting Hephaestus installments. He learned many lessons that deceived his idea of the Warrior's Code, sometimes unsuited to the new Moghes. He would ask himself daily if adapting to a harsh world meant dishonor. Ozikar built contacts with PMCG over these harsh four years, now more disillusioned with his honor, the spirits, and the future. In this time, he realized the wisdom in what Korza Dagamuir did nearly 400 years ago: a man with his home destroyed carved out a future for himself, and it was this that Ozikar would do, as he sadly came to believe Moghes' fate was doom. In short order, he joined with the contemporary iteration of Korza's dream, leaving Moghes behind to seek... seek what? Honor, wealth, a future? The young man didn't know. He was too naive, brazen, or afraid to admit it to himself. He spent a year abroad as a subcontractor for Dagamur Freewater Private Forces before transferring to the SCCV Horizon for contracted security work. How have the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? Events such as the Phoron Scarcity, the Solarian Collapse, or even the Invasions of Biesel for interstellar-wide affairs, while region-specific events such as the Peacekeeper Mandate, The Titan Rises, or even Cold Dawn may impact your character. Hephaestus monopolizing Moghes' guilds during The Titan Rises surprised Ozikar very little. If a Hegemon could claim power over all of Moghes, why couldn't Hephaestus claim power over the Hegemon's economy? Ozikar believes that at the very least Hephaestus couldn't ruin Moghes any more than it already is. When he worked with the Fighter's Lodge, he technically WAS an employee of Hephaestus and protected many of their installments, and they never bothered him much. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? PMCG is a nebulous entity, so I'll specify what he thinks of DFPF. As said in his backstory, Ozikar became disillusioned with what it meant to have honor in a world where something like 2.8 billion sinta got reduced to nuclear vapor, due to his time working with the Fighter's Lodge, and seeing what the Contact war did to his clan. He regarded what Korza Dagamuir did as the only noble thing to do when your home is destroyed, the only way to honor the Spirits in a broken future, and he was in no place to inherit functionally nothing, so he emulated it. Note: Thank you for reading this far. I'm eager to read notes or comments on my application because I strive to make a character the best I can. Kind regards.

CatsinHD is someone I've rp'd with a few times but can confidently say does a great job immersing their character into the lore and giving them a personality beyond species/origin/job. Maryah is easy to roleplay with and is one of those characters in Medical who, when I see them on the manifest, gives me more incentive to join in knowing I can expect a higher standard of roleplay that round. I'm certain with an IPC, they would provide the same level of involvement and roleplay. For sure a +1

Hey Butterrobber! Glad to apply and happy to answer: 1. Well, during Xeqo's time in Reefgardens and when they were at AUMS, they ate Jyalra pretty often: a junky quick snack, but no way is it their favorite food. The perfect meal for Xeqo would have to be some authentic Aliose shredded Masaraaq with a bed of Fjylozyn and a Neaera eye or two to round it off. They still have a soft spot for Jyalra though. 2. They think Diona are great, they knew a few Quya who adopted nymphs and raised them, although Xeqo's quya never did. If the Federation trusts them enough to give them SCS, they must be upstanding citizens too. Plus, they helped reconstruct the Federation. They knew a few at AUMS. 3. For sure. They are a follower of Qeblak, and their background in mathematics and material sciences has led Xeqo to state outright that mathematics is the language of the universe, which naturally means the Zareq’Eaq must be right and logical. They visited a local Observatory Dome pretty often, not that they are a learned Qe'Naho or anything, or especially devout, but they believe that celestial bodies and phenomena can predict events. They liked to observe the Starkeepers perform their calculations, which baffled Xeqo to this day. 4. With the whole reorganization of the Grand Council, Xeqo wonders if the long-held post-Glorsh stability of the Federation is entering shaky territory. They most definitely agree with Grand Councillor Jrugl and the United Federation Party. Xeqo supports more xenophilic legislature owing to how great the Vaurca and Diona have been and heartily supports monitoring Megacorporations to prevent Federation-based corporations from being outcompeted. When Lori passed away back in July, Xeqo was heartbroken such a passionate and intelligent person was gone, and they were amidst the throngs of Aliose when they carried her remains to Orq'wesi. Xeqo, in the throes of emotion, wrote a poem about Lori, although they do not pretend to be a skilled poet.

BYOND Key: ValentineUnderscore Character Names: Tajrrhraz Sha'relrr, Ashoke Dhalam, Titus Soranzo, Oleg Sokolov, Giovanni Mancini, to name a few. Species you are applying to play: Skrell What color do you plan on making your first alien character: Whitish-grey (Axiori from Aliose who got a Spa treatment) Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes, I did. Please provide well-articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format—one paragraph minimum per question. Why do you wish to play this specific race: Of all the non-human races in Aurora, the Skrell have always fascinated me due to their alienness. They remind me of what humans traditionally consider aliens to be: large dark eyes, extremely advanced compared to humans, and focus on sciences. I also find the lore they have on psionics, Nlom, Srom, listeners, etc. to be just inspiring for roleplay. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Skrell are almost everything humans are not: long-lived, patient, psychic, extremely communal. Beyond the clear physiological differences (Skrell are cold-blooded), the way Skrell view each other as a collective united by a singular language, psionic comorbidity, and no gender or ethnic bias, really separates them from humans. They even have this groupthink-esque thing thanks to their inherent psionics, where widely accepted thoughts and beliefs disseminate through the society they are in and quite literally become a zeitgeist. They even have multiple words to describe complicated relationships, and things humans may find unsavory, like polyamory or more fluid relationships, are commonplace. Skrell have been around for a long time, and they've developed such an interesting and alien culture that sets them apart from everyone else. I also find it quite funny that pre-Glorsh, the Skrell could pursue whatever art or science they wanted, and post-Glorsh, some of them are forced to participate in menial labor, which they find distasteful. This almost seems prideful, and I think it speaks volumes to who they are as a people. They're very advanced, they know it, but they aren't supremacists: they've been tempered by literal genocide and interaction with other races in the Spur. Because they're so long-lived, they view life in a way that is radically different from other races. And that's not even touching on their authoritarian meritocratic Federation, complete with social credit ratings (SCS) that determine living conditions and full-scale stratification or the aforementioned literal genocide that nearly sterilized their entire race. Character Name: Xeqo'naq Oonq-Resh Please provide a short backstory for this character: Xeqo Oonq is an Axiori Skrell who was born on Aliose in Orq’wesi to a Quya of four on 7-viq, 5-viqi, slaq-qog, 2355-oqq. Their F'ex'Qa, Qevloq'Drapb, was a professor at the Aliose University of Medical Sciences, and their F'ex'Tra, Jooliresh Onrep, an archivist at the Orq’wesi archive, both undyingly loyal to the Federation. Xeqo was quite loved by the Quya and had one Qrra'Myaqq, Naql, who was quite headstrong, leading to Xeqo oftentimes being the model child. Despite this, Xeqo later added naq to the end of their name to symbolize their deep love for Naql. Growing up, Xeqo found a dislike for Viax, finding their lack of personhood unnerving, although they believe the Vaurcae are valuable fellow citizens, almost equal in Xeqo's eyes to the Dionae. As a youngster, Xeqo was always groomed to be as erudite as possible by their Qrri'Myaq, who was also their F'ex'Qa, Qevloq'Drabp. During their Scuttle Schooling Xeqo took additional supplementary courses. At age 30, they underwent their Odurserr and received four gifts from their Quya, the most prized among them being a poem about legacy. When Xeqo attended Reefgardens, they excelled at mathematics and physical sciences such as chemistry and physics. Around the age of 40, they began specializing in medical science courses, such as biochemistry and anatomy. During this time, Xeqo explored the astronomical facet of Qeblak and professed their faith in it. They also attended Lodge lectures, and their love of the Federation grew. At the age of 52, Xeqo felt ready to advance to Uyi’vesi, and their Quya enthusiastically encouraged them to attend the obvious: Aloise University of Medical Sciences, the same place their F'ex'Tra worked, and where they had been groomed to study their entire life. Xeqo readily accepted. During their tenure at AUMS, Xeqo forged a working relationship with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, participating as a laboratory intern and studying to acquire degrees in medicine, biomechanics, and chemistry over three and a half decades: longer than normal, as Xeqo admits they took an average of 12 years to fulfill each degree as they "work more methodically than most." While at AUMS, Xeqo also met and spent time with the few non-Skrells at the university while writing a paper on alien biological processes. Fascinated by alien culture, Xeqo would adopt traditionally masculine he/him pronouns when amongst them, as they found it "fun." It was during this focus that Xeqo engrossed themselves in studying the newly-contacted Tajara, who they found especially fascinating. They cite a lecture they attended hosted by Lori'Eldap Joolro'Loveq as one of the most inspirational courses of their life, and the Dean's vastness of wit and sharpness of mind, despite being extremely old, pushed Xeqo to be the best they could be. They also cite the courses they took under their F'ex'Tra as being ultimately important in motivating Xeqo to strive, and so they added -resh to their name to honor Jooliresh. Xeqo graduated Qro'vesi at the age of 87 and returned home to their Quya in the year 2452, sought employment with Ziip’Ta Medicinal, and worked with them for 22 years as a genetic researcher. During this time, Xeqo formed a Quya with two other Skrell but parted from it amicably. When the Work Initiative Programme launched in 2464, Xeqo was offered a contract with Zeng-Hu aboard the SCCV Horizon. They were overjoyed at the program's opportunities and accepted. They desired work beyond the Federation to meet more non-Skrell and learn from them aboard a prestigious ship, believing they were all as fascinating as the ones met at AUMS decades prior, and to further their applied knowledge of biology. Despite knowing about the near-omnicide committed by Glorsh-Omega, Xeqo is willing to work alongside SCC-bound AI, synthetics, and IPCs, although they have a healthy mistrust of their ulterior motives, they care more about professionalism than inserting personal opinions into the workplace. In the year 2465, Xeqo is a Secondary Numerical with a SCS of 6.53. What do you like about this character? I love how scientifically geared this character is, and I'd love to roleplay them being very rigidly pro-Federation, young, but always striving to be as sharp and knowledgeable as they can be. Xeqo has been afforded a LOT of opportunities in their life and to reflect that is educated, erudite, and curious. Skrell are united, and something is exciting about roleplaying a character who is part of a unified (or as unified as there is in the Spur) species. How would you rate your role-playing ability? I always try my best to roleplay in a way that suits the situation and the people around me, and I'm eager to get better. I find I roleplay best with people who are skilled roleplayers, and more skilled than myself above all. Notes: N/A

BYOND Key: ValentineUnderscore Character Names: Vicente De Raya, Rayan Riphea, Ashoke Dhalam, Levi Akers, Ryker Rand, Oleg Sokolov, I have a few more but they're really just to try out a few roles and never went anywhere. Species you are applying to play: Tajara What color do you plan on making your first alien character: bluish-black tabby stripes (Zhan-Khazan) Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes, I did. Please provide well-articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format—one paragraph minimum per question. Why do you wish to play this specific race: I've always been interested in the theatrical and complicated lore surrounding the Tajara following their first contact and both Revolutions. I see some of them around the ship and find them interesting, but I also think the roleplaying potential between the three factions, and their ingrained ideology concerning the old caste system and colorism in their society is really high. Tajara offers a rich lore to grow stories off of. I'd love to make a character who is part of that story. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: A lot. Unlike humans, who had their supermassive society-shaking conflict almost 200 years ago, the First and Second Revolutions are still fresh wounds on Adhomai and for every Tajara. They have this interesting linguistic situation going on between Siik'maas and Siik'tajr, with the latter being a recent creation for the purpose of rebel communication, it shows the geopolitical strife on Adhomai runs so deep for Tajara that it has completely influenced the way they speak. The inflection they have and how they refer to themselves and others in the Third Person is really interesting. The implication of using Second Person and First Person pronouns is something none of the other species have like the Tajara, because it denotes a more personal relationship. What I've really noticed is that Tajara, in general, seem stubbornly conservative overall. Even the DPRA, who claims to be radical inheritors of the First Revolution, still have laws against non-heteronormative individuals because of traditionalism. The Tajara as a race are sitting on a very interesting precipice: their global education is going up, reforms loom on the horizon, and there is this constant back-and-forth between traditionalists and progressives, all fighting for the ideals of the First Revolution, in some form or another. It's the source of the Cold War, and it may be the source of the future salvation—or annihilation—of Adhomai. Character Name: Tajrrhraz Sha'relrr Please provide a short backstory for this character: Tajrrhraz Sha'relrr, a Zhan-Khazan, was born when the People's Republic of Adhomai was still in its infancy: the year 2437 CE. Tajrrhraz's father, a veteran of the First Revolution and humble farmer in the Ras'nrr Heartlands, raised his son to follow his trade. Tajrrhraz found he had a knack for working on the farming machines that aided him and his family, aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins in working the land. When Sha'relrr was at the age of fourteen, in the year 2451 CE, President Al'mari Hadii was assassinated. This drastically changed his life: the medieval laws passed by President Malik Hadii led to the execution of a number of Sha'relrr's cousins, who fancied their own revenge against the PRA for the discrimination levied against Zhan-Khazan, and the impending seizure of his family farm amidst lurid talk his father, too, was a reactionary. To this end, the young Tajrrhraz was taken away by his mother and father to Shastar City, effectively defecting to the newly-fomented Adhomai Liberation Army sphere of control, and abandoning their home. Later, the young Sha'relrr's father died of sickness between 2453 and 2454, when the boy was 17. By 2457, Tajrrhraz was a Kazarrhaldiye Tajara combat engineer in the ALA and served between 2457 to 2460. During his tenure, Sha'relrr was involved in the capture of Tampiska on the 3rd of March and the Winter Offensive to recapture Ron'Tul on the 16th of August, 2458 CE. Two years later, in 2460, the battle-hardened Sha'relrr was wounded during an offensive on Das'nrra when an errant grenade detonated 3 meters away from him, killing two members of his sword unit and peppering him with molten shrapnel, which nearly killed him, effectively ending his military career. He retired as a veteran in Shastar City with his mother, his only surviving family member, and waited, like millions of others, for the thundering of artillery and the constant death to finally end. After the Armistice of Shastar came a year later in 2461, Tajrrhraz settled into life in the newly officiated Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai and began working to support his mother and himself. He studied at the Shastar Technical University to become a civilian engineer, and after graduating with his Bachelor's degree in 2465, he, following President Harrlala's support of DPRA outsourcing, managed to land a contract with Hephaestus Industries, ostensibly because of his skill (and because he liked the idea of their Hephaestus Family) and pursued a job aboard the SCCV Horizon. What do you like about this character? I like how he's fresh out of the meat grinder that was Adhomai less than 10 years ago. He's a Zhan, he loves his people, he loves his home, and he had to fight for all of it against his brothers. All he has is his mother left, and she's the only reason he still has the drive to go on after the terrible things he's lived through. He can't let his mother down. Although he is still young, Sha'relrr, like so many young Tajara, has been subjected to the horrors of the Second Revolution. It permeates who he has turned into: a scarred war veteran who cannot stomach Tajaran self-destruction anymore. A man who can barely stomach violence anymore. He was young and a firebrand once, but now he feels only guilt and fear when he recalls his former service in the ALA, having taken lives, seeing lives taken, and almost having his life taken. It's not something he's proud of. He wants to leave it behind him. He wants a better life, and he believes in the Al’mariist rhetoric of self-determination as the best way to get a better life and considers himself a Moderate Al'mariist. However, he isn't a fanatic xenophobe, otherwise, why would he be on the Horizon? He has a mistrust of Nanotrasen, given their history with the PRA, but it is not zealous enough to disqualify him from employment. And he came to truly believe in individualism: how can he blame the soldier for fighting for their home, the same as him? He doesn't care for the militant junta aspect of the DPRA, he believes in the ideals of the civilian governments. Adhomai should have self-determination. Every Tajara should have self-determination. Above all, he dislikes the PRA and the NKA because he believes any return to the old ways of the Nobility is undoing the last 40ish years of mass death and destruction, and he cannot find it in his heart to forgive President Malik Hadii and the PRA for their continuous discrimination against the Zhan, for killing his cousins, and for forcing him to abandon his home as a child. There's this internal struggle for him: he doesn't want to be servile to a human megacorporation, but he needs to support himself and his mother, so he signed on with Hephaestus, maybe anxiously, hoping he can keep his identity intact while away from home. He chose financial security over certain ideals, and it plays into who he is. As far as religious views go, he is a follower of Mata'ke. He prayed for the strength to live another day during the Second Revolution, he prayed for the strength to farm the fields as a boy, and he prayed for the strength to go on after the dust settled. How would you rate your role-playing ability? I'm always looking for opportunities to grow as a roleplayer. I find my ability is above average, and I really thrive when I am given the chance to roleplay with other individuals who have equal or greater roleplaying skills than me. Notes: N/A