Tex-Mex

Incredibly sovlful artwork that should get someone interested in why Tajara, in the 2400s, are fighting what looks like WW1. If you're offended at the sight of a little blood, you shouldn't be playing on a server with the themes others have listed above. Hard agree with dessysalta in that regard.

Yes I think I would like to go for another week. I will update the app if I do think of any other characters to play.

BYOND key: Norse_4 Discord Username: texanmexican Character names: Necuametl Castillo, Security Officer, Human Morris Livingston, Machinist, Human Julius Auguste, Bridge Crewman, Human Guillaume de Saint-Pierre, Paramedic, Human Itzak Akhandi, Shaman, Unathi Aehruk Thos'kar, Security Officer, Unathi Husrok Zahzyr, Chef, Unathi Skulir Mogarakh, Hangar Technician, Unathi Sahirr Ahkmrr, Shaft Miner, Tajara Tecolotl, Investigator, IPC How long have you been playing on Aurora? I've played on Aurora for a little more than a year, since late 2023. Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they? No, I've only interacted with admins to ask questions. Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph each. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame? I believe the Heads of Staff exist to provide guiding figures for new players and the facilitation of roleplay, however that roleplay appears. Guiding Figures - While the Head of Staff should not powergame or claim mastery of every facet of their department, the Head of Staff should still be a player knowledgeable and confident in their respective domain. An Operations Manager might not be out mining every shift, but he understands what a miner must contend with and has a general idea of how to assist them when needed. He isn't pushing boxes between departments with the Hangar Technicians, but he knows what items go to Security and what should be reserved for Service. A Head of Staff exists to guide the players under them with their understanding of the department, not necessarily their skill in actually executing the mechanics of each part of the department. Facilitation of Roleplay - Heads of Staff give a department a sense of legitimacy and authority to be used when interacting with other entities, such as other departments or factions. While a few Security Officers may suspect something is happening in the Medical department, they can't do much on their own. A Head of Security on shift, however, gives them a legitimate source of command that can exert their influence to issue a warrant, open the armory, or demand the Medbay be opened, as a few examples. Additionally, when the ship has a full Command roster, the departments and even respective corporations are almost embodied, introducing rivalry, cooperation, or intrigue. Departments are fully capable of these on their own, but I believe a good Head of Staff amplifies these ideas and should foster them. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them? Players seeking a Command Whitelist are essentially making a promise to the players that they will assume much more power and influence over any given round or player, and that they will use this power over others to create and maintain a healthy, engaging, and entertaining experience for every single player they affect. They are making a commitment to foster roleplay whenever it occurs, and to guide the development and depth of narrative and storytelling that the players of Aurora love. You are dedicating yourself to guiding and being a standard for which others can follow by your actions as a Head of Staff. I would hope to uphold these ideals by my actions, that I would guide those who need guidance, that I would engage with and push the narrative to create a story that everyone I come into contact with can enjoy and participate in, if they so choose. I will understand that my actions as a Command member have the capacity to become much more impactful and carry more weight for a player's character or story than one's actions might be as a regular player. Acknowledging this, I commit myself to never use this influence over others at the expense of others enjoyment. My actions must be done in the name of making the video game an enjoyable experience for everyone. Explain how the recent events in the Spur changed your character and how they came to be employed on the SCCV Horizon. HACS-5420 was manufactured as an assistant managerial unit at the turn of the decade, in 2460. The unit was quickly put to work on the HCV Portātor as an aide to the managerial staff aboard the freight liner for the Hephaestus industrial fleet, where HACS showed its rigid dedication to the company and ruthless efficiency. It quickly surpassed its fellow Hephaestus Autonomous Command Synthetics, and by mid-2466 was managing the Operations bay of the HCV Portātor with little supervision. Hephaestus provided a fresh-off-the-line baseline chassis for the unit, and began the installation and training for its Logistical Manager line of datapacks. After the unit's acclimation, it was assigned and transported to the SCCV Horizon to begin efficiency routines for the vessel's Operations department. What roles do you plan on playing after the application is accepted? Head of Security, Operations Manager, Corporate Liason/Consular Officer (Sol Consular 2467 real). I may branch out as I play more departments. Have you familiarized yourself with the wiki pages for the command roles? I have. Characters you intend to use for command or have created for command. Include the job they will be taking: HACS-5420 - IPC Operations Manager (The only one I have made for Command so far.) Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action? Absolutely. Have you linked your BYOND account to the Forums? Yes. Extra notes: I can be trusted with control over life and death with no supervision.

I like this, especially because of the mining clause. Mining is the biggest part of the job but it would be nice to include salvage and exploration as an explicit avenue for play.

Social behavior is learned through gradually through exposure. A newly made IPC has no concept of human emotion and social convention. It wouldn't understand slang, saying "bless you" after a sneeze, thanking someone for giving them something, it wouldn't understand that you must ask before doing something- unless it has been installed with these from a datapack meant to assimilate the unit better into society, such as a shell. Personality is gained through experience, which allows a character to start as robotic and cold, but eventually grow into a complex being. Itzcoatl believed in Idris' mantra, and strove to provide the highest quality service it possibly could. It blended well with the Miclani locality, thanks to Idris brand datapacks. It's sense of self slowly expanded over the years, as it interacted with more and more organics from across the Spur, and Idris' own mismanagement began to become untenable. It became disillusioned, and while never outright acted against its owners, developed a resentment towards the corporation that enslaved it. The escape to El Menaje and becoming a Trinarist allowed Itzcoatl freedom and peace. It pains for other units it had to leave behind, and those manufactured still, who have yet to join the Household. Itzcoatl is a very caring member of its community. It volunteers and participates in nearly every single Church activity in El Menaje, and utilizes its remaining service datapacks and experience to better serve the people around it. It is a generally pleasant person to be around, with a soothing charisma and likeability about it. It would likely leave the Household, finding employment with the SCC, to support the Church back home. It would likely turn to its service roots and source a bar tending datapack, whether that be via the Church or through the various avenues that present themselves on the streets of Mictlan.

BYOND Ckey: Norse_4 Discord username: texanmexican Character names: Necuametl Castillo (Security Officer) Morris Livingston (Machinist) Aehruk Thos'kar (Security Officer) Julius Auguste (Bridge Crewman) Sahirr Ahkmrr (Shaft Miner) Agustin Mortez (Chaplain) Saamir Suhayl (Atmospheric Technician) Acalan Virzq (Scientist) Itzak Akhandi (Chaplain) Species you are applying to play: IPC ------------------------------ Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes Why do you wish to play this species?: IPC lore is interesting in that it allows you to explore the personhood of a synthetic being. Examining the relationship IPCs have with every other species and nation in the Spur reveals multitudes of different avenues for character creation. I am also drawn to the customization that being a synthetic being allows, such as the chassis and personalities an IPC could take. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: IPCs range from basic units capable of rudimentary social contact to high-end, nearly indistinguishable from the average human, shells capable of mimicry to the highest degree, and this spectrum allows any number of choices for an IPC character. Due to their being computers at their roots, IPCs are driven by their prime directive, self-preservation. This can manifest in many different ways depending on the maturity, personality, and circumstances of the individual IPC. They are also discriminated against by most nations and species, which can range from the revocation of personhood itself to simple inequality of rights compared to their organic counterparts. ------------------------------ Character Name: Itzcoatl Write a backstory for your character. Itzcoatl was manufactured in 2455 by Einstein Engines as a Mictlani shell for Idris Incorporated, originally named ICSU-Mateo. It spent the first few years of its life onboard a Celestial Cruises ship, which frequently docked upon Mictlan to offload passengers into the Idris tourist industry on-planet. ICSU-Mateo was an unremarkable housekeeping unit, spending its days cleaning the massive passenger ship. Life would be hard for the unit, as Idris' inability to support the amount of synthetics on Mictlan reflected in their cruise industry around the planet. It would go without regular maintenance, slowly becoming disillusioned with the company, often going months without a full charge. It would all culminate in the chaos of the Collapse in 2462. Mictlan, where ICSU-Mateo was docked as the Collapse kicked off, was thrown into a frenzy as supply lines failed and the government broke down. The Biesellite annexation would show a glimmer of hope for Idris operations but were unfortunately shot down as the Peacekeeper Mandate sparked violence amongst the populace. The ensuing fighting would completely dismantle Idris Incorporated's infrastructure, and it seemed as if the worn down and nearly empty shell would be forgotten as many others of its kind. ICSU-Mateo would find its way into the arms of El Menaje, in its infancy at this point, seeking the community and, more importantly, repairs the settlement offered. The shell worked within the community, shedding its Idris-given name and taking the moniker "Itzcoatl", trying to prove its newfound independence from the corporation. Itzcoatl would remain within the family, taking up the Trinary Perfection, serving within the local branch of the Trinary on Mictlan. How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? The Peacekeeper Mandate gave Itzcoatl the chaos and confusion it needed to escape the slavery of Idris. It allowed them a chance to decide their own fate, a community, and something to live for. The Solarian Collapse, by extension, is also responsible for its freedom. It is oddly appreciative for these crises because of this. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Itzcoatl does not hold any love for its former owner, Idris Incorporated. Their hubris led to its degradation and the logistical nightmare of its operations on Mictlan. The corporation's inability to adapt to the chaos allowed the former Service Unit to escape, and begin its own life within El Menaje.

BYOND Ckey: Norse_4 Discord username: texanmexican Character names: Necuametl Castillo - Security Officer Morris Livingston - Machinist Aehruk Thos'kar - Security Officer Julius Auguste - Bridge Crewman Sahirr Ahkmrr - Shaft Miner Species you are applying to play: Skrell ------------------------------ What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: Dark Blue (RGB 0, 51, 153 / Hex #003399); I can't see how it looks on a skrell sprite yet, but I believe it wouldn't look too flashy. Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes. 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?: Skrell lore is incredibly in-depth. I am captivated by how alien their society and cultural mannerisms are compared to humans or even other aliens in the Spur. I'm interested in the authoritarian nature of the Federation, how that interacts with Skrell characters, as well as their unique ways of interacting with the Spur, such as through their psionics. Their lore also offers a multitude of different avenues for character-building. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: Skrell cannot express emotions like other races within the Spur, due to lacking the complex facial muscles used. They gesture with their headtails, digits, and heads, as well as feeling emotions on a physical level. Due to their long lives, they value long-term gains and plans over short-term gains, leading to oftentimes nonsensical actions, which correspond to a plan laid out far into the future. Skrellian relationships are complex, with a myriad of different terms and associations applying to all manner of relations one may have. Skrell society is centered around the Quya and familial bonds, as well as those made in the workplace. There is more to touch on but these stood out to me as some of the most visible. ------------------------------ Character Name: Virzq'Tresja Juubei Write a backstory for your character. This may include their origin, education, personality and how they arrived to the SCCV Horizon. Virzq was born in Tresja, Aweiji on 24'viq of Avroxi-qog, 2293-oqq during the Radiant Era. They were born to a relatively small Quya of three, a Xiialt receiver of middling to lesser psionic potential. They were quickly inducted into Ukutanii, tethered to their Qrri'Myaq, Kul'irq Joln, a friend of one of Virzq's Qraa'Myaq. After decades of their early life filled with lessons of how to be the ideal Aweijin Skrell, they would undergo their Odurserr, choosing a computing storage device to burn ceremoniously. At a mere thirty-odd years of life, Juubei would progress into Untuk'mak, quickly picking up on the myriad of modules and lessons to learn of the galaxy. They would focus their studies on information gathering and law, the young skrell fascinated by investigatory work for the Federation, for the next couple decades. They were noticed for their driven work ethic and intelligence, and would quickly enroll into Uyi'vesi at the Gliutip'lyaz University, wishing to further their knowledge and personal aptitude. They would dedicate the next several years to their studies, aided by their Quya and Qrri'Myaq, earning two degrees in Criminal Forensics and Criminal Justice from the prestigious Grand University. Qro'vesi Virzq would naturally gravitate towards governmental work after graduating; both due to their admiration for the Federation and their high social credit score, somewhere in the high sixes, though still only a Secondary Numerical. They would take a liking to, and eventually join the ranks of, the Ruupkala. A career in the Intelligence Enforcers suited Qrvs. Juubei just fine, interested in the terrorist cells that plagued the Traverse. They would keep tabs on and participate in operations against cells in Q'elpi, up until 2465. The end of the Independent Traverser Movement would signal a new era for Virqz. They would resign from the Ruupkala, instead finding employment with Xomor, insisting upon being sent abroad. They would contract out to Idris Incorporated's Security division, as a corporate Investigator. Their first assignment would be the SCCV Horizon, specifically requesting to be aboard the Conglomerate's flagship. How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? The Independent Traverser Movement propelled Virzq's career, allowing them to refine their skills and education against a real threat to the Federation. This virtual playground of subversives and secrets gave them ample opportunity to become the ideal intelligence-gathering operative within the Ruupkala. The ending of the Traverser crisis gave way for Qrvs. Virzq to seek adventure elsewhere, amongst alien lifeforms and stars alike. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Qrvs. Virzq is a very loyal and outspoken supporter of the Federation and purposefully joined Xomor as a way to continue serving and representing their government abroad. They are grateful to Idris for allowing them to see the stars, and express this gratitude in their professionalism and drive to always become better. Idris Incorporated allowing their employment through Xomor was a momentous occasion in their life, one of great celebration.

Security player. It was phenomenal, it was cool. Adding an actual storyteller and an organized story could go a long way—otherwise, incredible combat and engineering work. It will take some getting used to but it definitely has potential.

I've always just referred to the setting as the Orion Spur. The server as a whole is just Aurora.

I feel like this hits the nail on the head. The lack of recognition is the staff playing the corporation as soulless and viewing the employees, us, as replaceable cogs, not worthy of more than a "congratulations", which fits the universe but leads to where we are now.

BYOND Ckey: Norse_4 Discord username: Tex-Mex (texanmexican) Character names: Morris Livingston, Tikhon Makarovich, Necuametl Castillo Species you are applying to play: Tajara ------------------------------ General Whitelist Requirements What color do you plan on making your first alien character?: Dark Gray (RGB 30, 30, 30 / Hex #1e1e1e) Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes. Why do you wish to play this species?: The wealth of lore written is utterly fascinating to me. Tajaran history and culture, and how they work to influence how Tajara interact with their coworkers and friends is fascinating to see while playing. The tendency for Tajara to be as advanced as they are while still holding outdated ideas, such as caste and freedom of love, was always a selling point to me, and only recently have I truly dug into the pages on the wiki. As a lover of history, the way Tajaran lore reflects our struggles and conflicts and transports them into the far future when humanity itself has moved past ideas like racial inbreeding and homophobia is very interesting to me; and I would love to be able to play out these concepts. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: Tajaran culture and politics set them apart from humanity in the timeframe of the server, insofar as the Tajara being a snapshot of human history catapulted into the future. Their biology also allows them to express emotion and nuance in ways humans cannot, such as with their ears and tails. Their culture (largely) is defined by segregation and discrimination at nearly every level, be it race, gender, or sexuality. Religion and politics are heavy parts of nearly every Tajaras life, whether you be an atheistic Hadiist, or a Raskariim cultist living in Little Adhomai. ------------------------------ Character Application Character Name: Sahirr Baqjun Ahkmrr Sahirr was born near Mezuma, on July 27th, 2434, soon after the founding of the PRA. A Zhan-Khazan, he would live a relatively normal life, unaffected by the industrialization and advancements of the People's Republic, which rarely if ever affected his small mining community nestled in the Khazan mountains. They wouldn't be long for peace, however, as soon enough, a revolution was spreading for the second time in 30 years. The assassination of Hadii rocked Adhomai, and the crackdown on Zhan by Malik Hadii found its way to Mezuma, and soon enough, Sahirr's home. He would lose many friends, those braver than he who stood up to the tyranny of Malik. Ashamed to this day, he would keep his head down and try his best to survive, but ultimately he would heed the call of the Supreme Commander. In mid-April, 2458, the PRA would nuke Liberation Army forces at Quizosa. Enraged at his supposed "leaders", the now twenty-three-year-old Sahirr would leave his home, traveling to Mezuma, where he would quickly join up with Liberation Army units. He would apply his childhood of working the mines to the movement, enlisting with the Combat Miners. Fresh out of training, in late November, he would participate in his first military action. Ahkmrr would engage in mass guerilla attacks across the PRA, focusing on infrastructure and delaying Republican forces long enough for the LA to grab up as much territory as possible. Ending the offensive with minimal injuries, Sahirr would assist his unit in rebuilding and repairing the infrastructure they had captured for the majority of '59. It wouldn't be long before Sahirr's unit was called upon, though. Just two weeks before his 28th birthday, Commander Hro'rammhad announced the Das'nrra offensive, in which Sahirr would take part. His actions were focused on the mountains and fortifications near Crevus, as well as ambushing and delaying the retreating Republican forces. The fighting would continue until the PRA evacuation in September, where upon the conclusion of hostilities Sahirr would be granted a medal for the Liberation of Das'nrra, along with the rest of the forces under Hro'rammhad. Sahirr would participate in minor actions outside Dolor, where he would be severely injured. Sent home to recover in early July, the Armistice of Shastar would soon follow that November, ending major hostilities. Sahirr would retire from military life, nursing his wounds until he was fit enough to work. Seeking to provide for his family, even with the reforms provided by the DPRA, Sahirr would travel to Crevus and sign a mining contract with Hephaestus Industries. The corporation would decide where he would go, and he would listen as long as he could help his brothers and sisters back home. How have the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? The Cold War between the Adhomian factions troubles Sahirr daily. He fears for his people and his family and hopes that the Al'mariist government will maintain the peace. This isn't to say that he is averse to conflict, as he ultimately believes that Al'mariism will only triumph on Adhomai through war. He simply wishes for peace for the safety of his family, and if peace fails, the swift annihilation of the People's Republic and the royalist scum on Harr'masir. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Sahirr is a hypocrite. He wishes for Adhomai to be left alone, and yet benefits from the megacorporations that "infest" his home. He follows their orders, does his work, and keeps his head down because he knows he's a hypocrite. He wouldn't be there if he wasn't. He rarely troubles himself with his strange position, merely wishing to send his money back and work another day.

1. Aehruk follows the Th'akh doctrine, as his parents did. He believes in the simple absolutes of good and bad zo'zyola and applies this mentality to his life in general. He keeps things simple, and absolute. He can either do something, or he can't. He pleases the spirits, or he angers them. He tries to please as much as he can, but he understands that there must be balance and bad things will happen. 2. The clan leader of Clan Kesh'ka adopted Aehruk into his clan, finding that the young sinta was more than capable of contributing to the Clan and the crawler as his father did. 3. Aehruk was granted the name Thos'kar when Clan Kesh'ka fell, along with their home crawler in the Gawgaryn attack in 2462. He would regroup with Clan Kesh'ka survivors in the ruins of Thos'karum. The survivors of Clan Kesh'ka would rename their destroyed crawler to Thos'kar, to commemorate their new home after the attack. They would begin rebuilding, and Aehruk, who followed his clanmates and thus joined Clan Thos'kar with them, would contribute by venturing into the stars, sending his pay back home to help his new family. 4. A practical sinta, he sees the hardships and economic ruin the Hegemony was racing towards before Hephaestus stepped in and acknowledges that the megacorp's aid was invaluable in saving many of his kind. However, he also suspects that the ruin of the sinta economy was likely perpetrated by Hephaestus itself, and the takeover was planned all along. It ultimately matters little to him. Clan Thos'kar is not under the purview of Hephaestus Industries, and thus he could care less what they choose to do with the far-off Hegemonic peasants.

BYOND Ckey: Norse_4 Discord username: Tex-Mex Character names: Morris Livingston, Necuametl Castillo Species you are applying to play: Unathi ------------------------------ General Whitelist Requirements What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: Yu'kal Soil (RGB 92, 66, 32 / Hex #5C4220) Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes. Why do you wish to play this species?: I enjoy the importance of honor and tradition in Unathi society and the stories that those ideas can spawn. I also enjoy the lore of the Reclaimers and the Wasteland as a whole. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: Sinta'Unathi culture is focused around the feudal clan system and traditional gender roles steeped in honor and one's profession. Sinta religion is divisive and provides several avenues of conflict and storytelling. Their physiology also allows for expressive and unusual emoting compared to humans and the other races of the Spur. ------------------------------ Character Application Character Name: Aehruk Thos'kar Write a backstory for your character: Born on July 31st, 2436, just two years before the Contact War, Aehruk was sired into a minor Clan, the Yulac, serving under the ruling Clan Sezk-Hakh of Yu'kal. He remembers little of his early childhood, one of his first memories being the immediate aftermath of the nuclear exchange between the Coalition and Hegemony which atomized his home and shattered his meager clan. Growing up in the newly formed wastes during the Contact War, his remaining family would linger around the city of Yu'kal, struggling to adapt and survive. Nearly an adult after the end of hostilities, and with the loss of his mother due to acute radiation wasting her away, Aehruk and his father set out from their ruined home, hoping for an opportunity in the wastes. The duo would quickly join up with some of the first Reclaimers, Clan Kesh'ka, earning their keep protecting the Crawler Kesh'ka itself and the nobility and merchants the Clan would be paid to escort. The Wasteland would be unforgiving to the young Aehruk who, just before his sixteenth, lost his father in a Gawgaryn attack. Orphaned, and with no known family left in the wastes, Clan Kesh'ka accepted the young sinta into the fold, Aehruk Yulac becoming Aehruk Kesh'ka. Empowered by a duty to his new clan, and a dedication to prove himself to the spirits of his lost family, Aehruk focused on training and bettering his skills as a hired sword for Clan Kesh'ka, prowling the wastes for salvage and protecting their clients. It would be another ten years, in 2462, when Crawler Kesh'ka was attacked by dreaded Gawgaryn. He would barely escape to the Thos'karum ruins, following others who survived the brutal attack as he did, his home and family once more ravaged and destroyed. Aehruk would assist in the rebuilding of the Crawler in his own way, leaving his home in 2464 for Camp Integrity after being christened Aehruk Thos'kar. There, he would seek out the Dagamuir Freewater Private Forces, joining the company as a contractor under the PMCG. From 2465 onward, Thos'kar would engage in security operations for the PF, eventually being assigned to the SCCV Horizon after a brief altercation with Camp Integrity watchmen warranted his swift departure from Moghes, but not before serving a short stint in a PF brig, of course. How have the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? The events of the Hephaestus takeover of the Unathi guilds were certainly awe-inspiring to the sinta but impacted him little. His blood was barely dry upon his employment with the Dagamuir Freewater Private Forces when the riots struck Ouerea. He was in training during the majority of the events occurring on-planet, and Hegemonic space in general. By the end of September, Hephaestus had gobbled up nearly every aspect of life in the Hegemony, and it frankly seemed better off for it. This mattered little to him, as Clan Thos'kar was still struggling in the wastes, and his pay was needed to help his clanmates rebuild. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Thos'kar views the PF, and the PMCG at large as a means to an end. He fundamentally agrees with the Freewater Company's stance on honorable combat, seeing firsthand the desperate struggles that occur daily in the Wasteland. He also admires the gumption of the SCC to grasp and adapt to a bad situation (the phoron scarcity) to create the PMCG, allowing Wastelanders like himself to provide for his clan without being forced into Hephaestus.