Stripes

Ckey/BYOND Username: TheStripes Position Being Applied For: Lore Developer, Skrell Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations wiki page?: Yes. Past Experiences/Knowledge: Currently non-public writing for Aurora, planet page rewrites for the Nralakk Federation, Shiptest's Kepori species development, and miscellaneous additions to Shiptest's lore. Examples of Past Work: A large portion of the Skrell + Nralakk Federation writing for the current projects (not currently public), the rewrites for the planets. 1. What do you think are the primary themes of skrell lore? If you got this position, how would you develop them? The current primary themes of skrell lore are heavily tied to their relationship with their current and sole nation, the Nralakk Federation, and how it has developed after the Glorsh-Omega period. Post-Glorsh Federation exists in a contradictory state of both yearning for the luxury and power they had during their synthetic age, while just equally admonishing the conditions and actions that brought it into being due to the endpoint of those interests creating the same thing that destroyed it. Nostalgia and fear created the current state of the Federation being purposefully unequal and stratified, creating an underclass and adopting diona and vaurca to commit towards the menial labor that synthetics once did in the name of returning to the days where skrell almost destroyed all hardship and could pursue their own desires freely. Existing outside of these systems is viewed as misguided at best, and betrayal of their fellow skrell and endangering the species at worst. I’d like to develop more on the trajectory of the Nralakk Federation as it attempts to course correct and compromise, with its precarity and all of the external pressures from allowing corporations and its involvement in Spur politics. What awaits it is something I want to expand on, just as much as I’d like to explore where skrell communities outside of the Federation have for their own divergent futures outside of its culture and reach. 2. What do you think is the strongest part of skrell lore currently and why? Skrell lore is at its strongest when it involves itself with the species’ culture. So much of the written pages for skrell culture fleshes them out, from how their relationships and social structures function, to how it has evolved since the Nralakk Federation and the Commonwealth of Three began enforcing social standardization. Modern skrell culture slowly developing newer, less conforming art as they are exposed to more of the Spur’s cultures and the rising counterculture against the enforced mainstream only adds to the species feeling “alive” in the setting. Their culture won’t be able to exist in stasis, whether they are willing to embrace that fact or otherwise. 3. What do you think is the weakest part of skrell lore currently and why? The weakest part of skrell lore is the Nralakk Federation’s total control over the species’ direction exists in a dual state of both doing what most see as essentially a present in-name-only within the setting, while also being one of the Orion Spur’s largest global powers as a nation. Most everything that has defined the Nralakk Federation’s actions are hamstrung by its importance and inability to directly involve itself due to its size and strength, instead being relegated as an entity that only exists as an implied concern. Its own nature of originally being much more isolationist relegated it further into the background noise of the setting, though this is being alleviated as time goes on and the story continues, but it still remains distant and almost unnoticeable with the story beyond being a point of origin for most skrell characters. 4. What do you think are your strongest and weakest attributes in terms of working on a team, and why? In terms of working on a team, I consider myself at my best when given a set direction with a clear set of requirements. I can really put my head down and work on something, and I like to believe I can also be concise and direct with what I’d like when I’m setting it for others. Inversely, I do tend to flounder when I’m given something looser or not really told something directly, and relying on a gut reflex usually ends up to the detriment of it. Communication is also something I have difficulty with, as I have a hard time reading others. 5. Skrell have “symbiotic” relationships with both the C’thur Vaurca and Dionae. How do you plan to continue this relationship and further develop it? Both C’thur vaurca and dionae currently exist in the Federation with varying levels of ingratiating themselves towards it, which ultimately isn’t a relationship that will last forever. Vaurca are indebted through the life support given to their queen, but Diulszi remains a point of contention through it being stuck between the C’thur hive’s new home and being a natural reserve by the Federation. Their integration, and the integration of their more controversial forms like the Cephalons in lieu of truly synthetic AI, are points of interest that I’d want to expand upon. Dionae, in comparison, exist as equally treated well and being deeply limited by the Federation. Xrim’s troubled state and the advent of Hieraethorea’s involvement with the Golden Deep invites a growing rift in the Federation’s otherwise tightly knit relationship with the species, particularly as skrell in Hieraethorea come to terms with potentially being made to interact with the synthetic nation. 6. The skrell lore writer is a position that comes with two deputy writers under them on the team. It is the writer's job to manage their team, in addition to their duties of moderating the WL. Given that, what skills do you have that you think will assist you in this? On the opposite end, what do you believe is your weakest link regarding management and moderation? Delegation with the two potential deputies is something I’d consider myself the most capable of doing, as clear communication is something I personally value the most. Moderating the whitelist as a skrell deputy is an expectation I’m more than willing to meet, as applications exist primarily to gauge and aid how people understand and extrapolate on the lore of the species. My weakest skill would have to be indecision on just how to gauge what is feasible and what interests the audience I’d be writing for, as being a lore maintainer can be freeform enough that I might get lost in just what to do next. 7. What are you thoughts on the Nralakk Federation's current geopolitical situation - eg. Federation isolationism, the Traverse? The Nralakk Federation currently exists in a way that isn’t sustainable, both in-universe and as a part of the literary setting as a whole. Getting the Federation out of its shell and isolationist practices has already been in motion to have it to involve itself in the Orion Spur, and the effects of that on both parties would be more compelling to explore. What currently exists with the Federation’s involvement with other nations, the Izweski Hegemony and Solarian Alliance being immediate examples, should be the starting point of greater change. With the Traverse, the aftermath of the Independent Traverser Movement and its growing freedoms (particularly with the formation of the Qehalak) puts it in an opportune place for conflict in deciding its own future.

“We offer our deepest apologies” | Nralakk Embassy Staffed, Jrugl Releases Official Apology, Promises Made In Meeting With Torvald Article 3 of Of Pale Blue Dots arc Zūn Pirzada, Political Journalist Reporting from: Mendell City, Biesel, Tau Ceti Today, the Nralakk Federation Embassy faces new changes with the entourage of new positions, doubling in size from its reduced staffing after it was rebuilt in 2464. Notably, new positions include an increased security presence, as well as positions for immigration and citizenship aid for the displaced skrell within District Eight’s designated refugee zone. Grand Councillor Jrugl departed this morning, and has since arrived at District 1’s city hall, where their meeting with President Torvald is set to take place. Watch LIVE: President Torvald and Grand Councillor Jrugl’s City Hall Meeting Most Read: | Finance | Zavodskoi Industries stocks back on the rise - a fluke, or whiplash recovery? | Arts & Culture | Skrell voice actor Owaqio Yuup-Ivolzi announced as new VA for future Swimstars entries as Xana, Rica Brown announced as Tau Ceti Basic VA. | Biesel | Heavy rainstorms are expected throughout next week - here’s how to prepare to keep yourself dry in style.

Councillor Jrugl Arrives, Protests At the Spaceport! Article 3 of Of Pale Blue Dots Cory Lee, Breaking News Correspondent Reporting from: Mendell City, Biesel, Tau Ceti Yesterday, the Nralakk Federation's Grand Councillor Weashbi Jrugl, alongside the new Federation embassy staff, arrived at Mendell City's Republic Air-Star Spaceport in District 10. Supporting Mendell City Police and Nlomkala, the Federation’s national security and enforcement corps, were on-scene to ensure that the Grand Councillor was safely transported to the embassy due to the amassing of multiple groups of protestors along the route. Watch: Republic Air-Star Spaceport’s Protest Presence The Nralakk Federation embassy has declined to reply when requested for comment. Most Read: | Biesel | Recently built Quick-E-Burger location in District Six a surprise hit among residents, manager says. | Health | From Legs To Tongues: Panel of prosthetic technicians interviewed to dispel myths and fears about prosthetic organs. | Arts & Culture | Soubrette Lanceur live-action adaptation confirmed: here's where they'll be performing.

someone got borged this round

Jrugl Departs For Federation-Biesel Diplomacy, Grand Council Announces Article 1 of Of Pale Blue Dots Translated to Tau Ceti Basic After months of discussion within the Grand Council, Grand Councillor Weashbi Jrugl has departed for the Republic of Biesel’s capital to plan further cooperation between the two nations. The Council has also stated that new positions for an expansion of the current staffing and Kala posting within the rebuilt embassy are also en route with the councillor as well. Key topics for discussion with President Torvald are slated to cover the state of the skrell refugees within the Starlight Zone, the phoron scarcity crisis, environmental consultation for Port Antillia, and other topics. Grand Councillor Jrugl and the council have released a joint statement regarding the slated talks before departing earlier this morning: For readers unaware, the Nralakk Federation Embassy in Mendell City’s first district was bombed in August of 2463 not long after the refugees from the Traverse arrived to request asylum, which was linked with another terror bombing of an asteroid station on the same day. Rebuild efforts were delayed by investigation efforts by both the Federal Republic of Biesel and the Federation, but was rebuilt by February of 2464. Later that year, Mendell City’s police thwarted a bombing attempt on multiple buildings and homes within the Starlight Zone’s Lekan Village, which has since been linked to terrorist Al’mariist groups, such as the Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai. The perpetrators were never found. Councillor Jrugl and the newest staff for the Federation’s embassy are set to arrive before next week, with talks to begin the day after. Astronomy - The Hatching Egg to Be Updated With Stellar Movement, Hatchling to “Gain A Headtail”, Says Starseeker Culture - Average Quya Size Reported to Be Five Members, Up From Four Last Decade Interstellar - Popular Travel Guides Updated For 2467, Silversun Remains Top Pick

Nralakk Federation Visit and Federation-Biesel Begin Next Week: Following Solarian Footsteps? Article 2 of Of Pale Blue Dots Trenton McColaugh, Foreign Affairs Correspondent Ruqizori Nirvoq-Hoalo, Skrell Affairs Correspondent Reporting from: Mendell City, Biesel, Tau Ceti Earlier this morning, the Nralakk Federation’s Grand Council announced that talks between Grand Councillor Jrugl and President Torvald are to begin next week, following plans to widen diplomatic involvement with the Federation last month. The currently revealed topics to be discussed revolve around the state of the Starlight Zone’s skrell refugees and their legal statuses, Port Antillia’s environmental consultations, and the future of both nations potentially combining efforts to combat the phoron crisis. More topics are also slated, but are currently left unannounced to the public. While typically not much of a topic between Bieselites, a recent polling resulted in a total of 37% supporting the effort to expand Federation diplomacy among participants, with ambivalence towards the move, or those still undecided, at a comparatively high 33%. The remaining 30% 's opposition against the move reveals the skrell nation is far from a distant neighbor in the Spur. Resentment still lingers after the Nralakk Federation’s move to pressure the Solarian Alliance the barricade the Republic throughout 2458, partnered with their absence during the second invasion of Biesel in 2462, leaves many detractors pointing to these events as the reasons behind the lost confidence in any future interactions with the Federation and Weashbi Jrugl’s councillorship. District Eight’s Starlight Zone has erupted into a hotbed of discussion on whether the Federation should push further into Biesel politics, with anti-Federation activists in Lekan Village preparing to protest their arrival. Ruqizori Nirvoq-Hoalo, our skrell correspondent, took to the streets of Lekan Village to hear what the skrell had to say. Watch: Lekan Village Street Interviews Those in Severson City, however, spoke very differently in light of the news. Watch: Severson City Street Interviews President Åke Torvald released a short statement over Chirper after the newsbreak under his official account at 11:32. Most Read: | Biesel | IPC and Starlight Zone protestors argue over which group is allowed to protest first on Federation arrival, activists say. | Opinion | “Quya”? “Situationship?” “Throuple?” Just call it a polycule, says relationship expert Kanen Mac Amhalghaidh | Arts & Culture | New “Hyperfractionalist” art pieces to be shown in Mendell City’s Museum of Arts, safety glasses recommended!

Hi, Louise, thanks for applying! With your application, I do want to point out that skrell don't necessary lack biological sexes or ethnicities, so much so as that they have the singular state of being synchronous hermaphrodites, and do consider the Xiialt, Axiori, and Xiiori as unique ethnicities. My primary concern with your application is their relationship with the Work Initiative Programme, which exists to improve relations with the corporations and also allow skrell to travel abroad, and wouldn't use it to send away skrell who are caught in a scandal or are a misrepresentation of the Nralakk Federation. You could instead frame it as your character entering the program to save face in light of the incident, or have pressure from their colleagues to do so, but Ziip'Ta would not use it as a form of punishment. Beyond that, if you could also answer these questions: How does Qei feel about the Nralakk Federation as a whole? What is their SCI score, and why is it that? Do they follow a particular Federation-endorsed religion, or something else? How does Qei feel about Diona and the C'thur vaurca in the Federation? Beyond the Federation, how do they feel about the other species of the Spur in general? Finally, how do they feel about skrell born outside of the Federation? Is Qei a psionic listener, or a receiver? What is their relationship and views toward the Nlom/Wake as a whole?

Seconding this. Give us five minutes between rounds - you see a ton of lost population between Odyssey rounds because everyone wants to chat about what happened together after a round, which kills momentum.

The idea of little bytes of sound accompanying voices can be nice, as long as it's kept optional and maybe gets a dedicated volume control so you don't have stacking sounds when in particularly crowded conversations. It's what I'd want as an alternative to adding sounds for things like emotes that are pretty notoriously spammed on other servers (ie. SS13's constant screaming, particularly because screams are forced as a reaction to pain, laughter soundbytes, things like sneezing or coughing), and I vastly prefer it to the idea of TTS. As for how they'd sound, I'd think something like Don't Starve/Vintage Story's musical version of babbling would be preferable since it leaves more room for character voice interpretation, and with alien voices you can get away with tuning them in ways that'd be more grating if it was trying to sound out sentences with blips.

NEW LEVELS OF CULT SCIENCE NEVER BEFORE SEEN SELF-CLONING

As we're all aware, the Scarcity and Supply Chain PR was touted as a restriction on what basic materials the Horizon starts with. Service was most obviously hit by all of this, having a vast majority of all non-human drinks and ingredients (and a lot of fruit juices, it seems!) cut away from dispensers and vendors, instead placed away in Operations' catalogue. That, as much as it's caused grief (though I don't consider the line of thought "people will complain about it and then shut up and get used to it" a useful argument), makes sense. A lot of the labels originally available ranged from exotic and expensive to obscure. How often are non-tajara ordering Adhomai vintages, among others? Their audiences were for species that the SCC, for all its effort of including them, mostly regards as cheap labor. However, Dyn Juice is neither of those things. Skrell are treated explicitly as equals in most economically important human spaces, is allowed nearly totally equal positions of command and opportunities, and skrell products and culinary ingredients are commonly found where they live together. Dyn Juice got the axe, but you can still buy cans of Cooling Breeze and tubes of jyalra, which is either not going far enough or an oversight, in my book. so pretty please give me my yummy menthol juice back thank you

I have read both Vaurca and Diona lore in the past, and I'll follow through with rereading their respective pages on the wiki to familiarize myself with both of them again. The Nralakk Federation as it exists right now (though reasonable in the way that Skrell are long-lived and patient) acts slowly in relative terms to the other political organizations of the Spur. Most major political actions would take years or longer due to its size and time needed to develop momentum, and this does have the side effect of them becoming a quieter facet for most characters and story occurrences, beyond when it is explicitly called upon for the arcs. As it stands right now, the Federation does have noted topics of debate and issues that could be opened up -- examples being the use of the C'thur Cephalons, Golden Deep's interactions with Hieroaetheria, and the Federation's hidden reliance on remaining Lu'piq technology for infrastructure. I am open to helping contribute for large projects and working in a group environment, as well as taking criticism for the sake of them. I've done similar things before on past projects. Helping to plan, organize, and/or run an event arc are things I'm willing to do. Spearheading them is something I'd like to develop confidence in before being able to lead the events, but I'll at least help! I have an unabashed fondness for all of the care given to Skrell lore regarding the species as a people, from the relationship page to the details on their arts and culture. It fleshes them out as individuals and a society, and it's what started my interest in them that led me to want to apply for the position. It would have been very easy to flatten them due to being primarily under one nation and psionically connected, and I think they avoided it entirely. Something I dislike in Skrell lore is the Starlight Zone, whose existence on Biesel feels out of place in how it's insular to the point of being essentially segregated (references to a border wall?) with Severson and Lekan. While it is the receiving area of post-election refugees, the implications of either settlement being walled off with checkpoints conflicts with Biesel's cosmopolitan culture and other alien-majority districts.

Pham's mostly in it for pokemon they like instead of what's optimal. Lilligant's been her childhood friend since before they evolved in my mind's eye. Alusuxa has the Idris provided team.

Ckey/BYOND Username: TheStripes Position Being Applied For: Deputy Lore Developer, Skrell Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations wiki page?: I have, yes. Past Experiences/Knowledge: Most recent experience was working with Shiptest in a lore writer position for a few months. Examples of Past Work: Most public facing example is the wikipages and writing for the species Kepori, which I was primarily tasked with writing to extrapolate faithfully off of the original writer's notes to make cohesive pages and lore docs for. Other examples are primarily rewrite PRs on GitHub, all of which can be provided on request. Lore Proposal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gCdcUJ3nZnMLNuyhdd0qi8KADdD8uj72WKxpkXt6t28/edit?usp=sharing Why join the team?: Honestly, I just really enjoyed my time reading through the setting when I first considered joining Aurora, and I want to help contribute to it now that there's a need for more volunteers. Skrell lore is what I've read the most and enjoyed the most of, which influenced by decision to try and pitch in. Thoughts on lore?: Skrell lore has a wonderful amount of details on more mundane and domestic aspects that made me fall in love with the setting -- they're endearing and alien. If I had to decide on one area of the lore needing improvement, it's that the Nralakk Federation as an entity could use maybe a little more of its active hand displayed. The Golden Deep's interactions with Hieroaetheria could provoke some reaction from them, news on the front regarding potentially utilizing C'thur's Cephalons (and maybe something on the front of their progress on cracking their VR?), as well as more mundane interactions with its citizenry. Useful skills: Base level of familiarity with VSC and SDMM from past work on other servers, but I wouldn't call myself a coder or mapper without more experience. Some work on wiki page editing and creation.

Thank you, I'll keep that in mind! As for the questions: How does Alusuxa feel about Diona and Vaurca? Alusuxa finds Vaurca to be a mostly welcomed addition, having been around to see their integration into Skrell society at large along with their presence on Qerr'malic. Their stereotypes from their activities on the Second Surface, along with some apprehension towards the concept of Cephalons and the Hivenet, have had some effect on their opinion towards them. Otherwise, Alusuxa appreciates Vaurca generally - both as a species, culture, and what they do for their home. Diona are equally held in a generally positive light in their eyes, but finds their activities on Xrim and the recent dealings with the Golden Deep and Hieroaetheria to be something kept in mind. Their unique biology and structure are otherwise very interesting to them, finding them just as uniquely interesting as Vaurca. How does Alusuxa feel about Skrell born outside of the Federation? Skrell born outside of the Federation are mostly seen as neutrally hopeful in Alusuxua's eyes - wanting the best for them in spite of the events of the Traverser Movement and the mass migration to Biesel being fraught with concerns on how they view the Federation at large. Being born outside of the culture Skrell have almost universally being raised in, however, does leave them wondering on how they'll begin to develop in the coming generations. How does Alusuxa feel about Humanity/other species in the Spur, particularly the idea of working with them while abroad? Alusuxa finds general human culture interesting, and sees humanity (particularly the Solarian Alliance and the Republic of Biesel, but still broadly) as friends and protégés for Skrellkind as they grow in the Spur together. With Unathi, they can't help but feel more of a sense of regret towards the actions taken during the Contact War and the resulting devastation of Moghes - wishing that the actions the Federation took didn't contribute towards the conflict despite being too young to have any real impact when it occurred. They want to hopefully find common ground with their Unathi coworkers, if nothing else but to try and make small amends. Alusuxa regards Tajara with a strict amount of neutrality, primarily out of a lack of knowledge towards their culture, and the current political climate on Adhomai affecting them broadly. Not to say that they would avoid them in the workplace, but they may end up becoming more inquisitive and cautious of what they say if the topic rises. Finally, Alusuxa finds synthetics still somewhat off-putting, but has less resentment that's the usual for the newest generations of Skrell - due to distance from Glorsh and an assumed assurance that human AI wouldn't be able to achieve that level of power as Glorsh did. Despite this, the culture shock of working among sapient robots will still take time for them to adjust. What is their job going to be on the Horizon? Alusuxa is currently employed in the Horizon's service department as a chef, as was their original position within Qel'Zvol Hospitality. Their agricultural science degree is less applicable to the Horizon (and for the sake of avoiding jobhopping), and will see use at most during when they have to grow their own ingredients.