[ACCEPTED] Toska's Vaurca App

[Toska]

BYOND Key: Toska
Character Names: Sioz Leksaruk, Tsezar Kondrati, Khiani Tavakhir, Xurim'qrrvol Qilgulzi
Species you are applying to play: Vaurca
What color do you plan on making your first alien character (Dionaea & IPCs exempt): Ta'Akaix'Zkaii'xay'yil K'lax unbound worker (RGB 51, 81, 21)
Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: 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 specific race:
I find their lore incredibly fascinating. I’ve never been particularly fond of bugs, but ants and their colonies have been an exception. The connection they have with their queens is touching. I also enjoy the distinct differences not just between each hive, but between each brood within the hive as well. Not to mention that they are fairly under-represented on station.
 
Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:
Mechanical differences aside, Vaurca are wildly different to humans on a biological level. They’re giant insectoids who require an entirely different chemical to even breathe. Some are mindless drones, little more than living synthetics set to do specific tasks, while others have the ability to think and feel much like the other races. They have a caste system not dissimilar to ants or bees, with Warriors and Workers doing their respective duty for the benefit of the hive. Vaurca are very hive oriented. It’s all for the betterment of the hive, something you don’t get with the other races. 

Character Name: Ka’Akaix’Xiv Klax
 
Please provide a short backstory for this character, approximately 2 paragraphs.

    As with most Vaurcae, Ka’Akaix’Xiv’s life began relatively quickly. Being Unbound meant It was given a entire six months to fully develop, a privilege bound are denied. Following Its hatching day It was implanted with its neural socket, just like all the others of Its caste, and thrust into another six months of training in Ta'Akaix'Zkaii'xay'yil K'lax VR. There it developed a love for machinery and architecture, training alongside Its fellow workers to help with the hives ever-growing expansion project. However, the VR being predominantly used to train the Subqueens’ Za, Xivs’ time there was short and after It turned one It was disconnected and put to work in the labyrinthine caverns of Tret.

    Ka’Akaix’Xiv spent much of Its time assisting with reinforcing the tunnels dug by the Bound, occasionally helping with directing the drones to different sections that needed excavation. When It wasn’t enthralled with Its work, Xiv would offer Its assistance to the nearby outposts. It saw it as mutually beneficial for both parties. The Outposts gained an extra hand and It was given an opportunity to study the various equipment available. Much like many of Ta'Akaix'Zkaii'xay'yil’s brood, It had a nagging curiosity and fascination with machinery. This made Xiv very unpopular with the locals, who would rather their tools stay as they were. Its goal was to improve upon the designs by taking apart and piecing different tools together, creating Frankenstein-esque contraptions. It took little heed of the increasing ire it was garnering from those residing at the outposts, and instead spent a good deal of Its time avoiding the general population as a whole. The few interactions It did enjoy with Its neighbours were with the Unathi, save for the Marazites that could be found wandering the hive on occasion.

    Ka’Akaix’Xiv was one of the many who offered themselves to be shuttled off to work for NanoTransen. It did not care for being away from Its new home, but what funds the Za and Ka could bring in were a welcomed boon to the colony as a whole. Many of the hives, C'thur exempt, struggled financially since settling, and Xiv was proud to contribute to the pool alongside Its siblings. With Its history in the tunnels, Its capability with EVA, and construction prowess, Xiv was a perfect fit for the mining and research vessel NSS Aurora. 

What do you like about this character?
Xiv is different compared to most of the characters I have in personality. He’s overly curious, pokes at things, tries to understand how it all works. He takes new things in with awe and wonder, something I don’t get to practice quite as much on station.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?
I’m alright, I’d say maybe.. 7/10. There’s always room for improvement. 

Notes:
Feedback is welcomed. Incredibly welcomed. I struggled with the story a bit and am readily willing to change things around if need be.
 

Edited February 15, 2019 by Bygonehero
Story tweaks were needed.

[MelodicVoid]

So, I don't know too much about the lore of the bugs but reading you application brings to mind a few questions. First and foremost does nanotrasen allow vacura to go on station and work without certifications or work permits? And if not it may be a good idea to add in the backstory for when Xiv had time to get such permits and certificates. 

Second (this one's probably dumb) non-vacura live in the hive with you? Enough so that you can take their tools? - (this is more of a cool didn't know that sorta deal) 

Finally what drove your character to the NSS Aurora, to me it seemed more like "yeah they are doing fine, working and doing this and that for the hive." And then suddenly they are a miner for Aurora? Why not stay a miner for the hive? 

- sorry for the questions, MelodicVoid

 

[DeadLantern]

6 hours ago, MelodicVoid said:

So, I don't know too much about the lore of the bugs but reading you application brings to mind a few questions. First and foremost does nanotrasen allow vacura to go on station and work without certifications or work permits? And if not it may be a good idea to add in the backstory for when Xiv had time to get such permits and certificates. 

Second (this one's probably dumb) non-vacura live in the hive with you? Enough so that you can take their tools? - (this is more of a cool didn't know that sorta deal) 

Finally what drove your character to the NSS Aurora, to me it seemed more like "yeah they are doing fine, working and doing this and that for the hive." And then suddenly they are a miner for Aurora? Why not stay a miner for the hive? 

- sorry for the questions, MelodicVoid

 

I will answer these questions on account of all bug-men everywhere.

1. Yes, because they are certified by the queen. Those from K'lax and Zo'ra are given to Nanotrasen--whether bound or unbound, for money to the Queens. However I I believe vac can go to other companies on their own will if the queen is fine with it.

2. I don't think non-vac live in the hives. You'd have to check with bygone. They are certainly unfit for non-vac.

[Toska]

7 hours ago, MelodicVoid said:

Second (this one's probably dumb) non-vacura live in the hive with you? Enough so that you can take their tools? - (this is more of a cool didn't know that sorta deal) 

Finally what drove your character to the NSS Aurora, to me it seemed more like "yeah they are doing fine, working and doing this and that for the hive." And then suddenly they are a miner for Aurora? Why not stay a miner for the hive? 

- sorry for the questions, MelodicVoid

 

Don't apologise, it's actually incredibly helpful. Gives me a chance to flesh my story out better honestly.  

Dead answered real well, but I wanted to expand on the other questions. As far as I know, non-vaurca don't live in the hive. I think this is poor wording on my part, as the lore page for this particular brood says, or insinuates, that they have access to the machinery from the mining companies that are around. I took it as meaning that perhaps there were non-vaurca workers present (though not particularly in the hive), but now I'm thinking they may be lent the equipment. It's not clear, but that makes a little more sense imo. 

As for why he chose NanoTransen. You're right. I probably need to explain that better. From my understanding, the workers in this brood usually end up offering their services to the companies on the planet, and it would just be happenstance that he was sent to be that station in particular.

[TG_Griffin]

I've known Toska for a long time and supported her through her other white-list applications and shes always done the different races justice. So a big +1 from me. 
 

The application as a whole shows a good understanding of the Vaurca, their hives, queens and touches upon the important basics, though It would be good to see the why and how behind it joining NT however! 
 

[Toska]

I did some reading on Tret itself and it says there are mining colonies on the planet that the hives encroach on. I'm updating my story to include what I've learned.

[JamOfBoy]

Hi, deputy lore writer for the vaurca species here. I have a few questions, designed to test your knowledge.

Considering your character was conceived to assist with hive expansion, what exactly is Xiv capable of doing aside from mining?

What is Xiv's opinion of the other hives? What about other species?

What does Xiv think about the new K'lax High Queen?

I also bring a suggestion on how to justify your character working for NanoTrasen, and that is - money. Sources of money are always welcome for all hives.

[Toska]

Oh boy here's hoping I do this justice. I'm not entirely sure if you're asking me to integrate these answers into the story, or if it's like a.. quiz of sorts, but here goes nothing:

Mining aside, Xiv would be trained in construction, perhaps architecture, maybe even demolition to help clear their routes. He'd be able to create and help set up the plasteel reinforcements used on the tunnels. 

Xiv is relatively indifferent about Zo'ra, though It is one of the many who reject their claim of rule over the K'lax. Its not fond of C'thur Vaurcae, bandwagoning on the political beliefs of some of the unbound It associates with. Its interaction with the other races would be somewhat limited to those that reside on Tret. As with most of Its hive, It generally dislikes humans. Its feelings toward Unathi would be mixed, steering clear of the Sk'akh who visit, but otherwise somewhat warm. As for the others it would be on an individual basis, though Xiv would probably keep to Its own.

This one about the Queen feels like a bit of a trick question. From my understanding the general belief of the K'lax is that the original High Queen is dead and the other Sub Queens are pushing Zkaii'xay'yil to take her place. It sounds like she doesn't want to do this, however, because her and her brood believe that if their VR (which they see as a piece of Mother K'lax's mind) is still intact it means the Queen is still alive. It would most likely share this belief.

I super appreciate the suggestion, by the way. Finding a way to tie it all in has been a pain in the ass. 

Edit: I've gone and tweaked the story to make some things a little more clear and to include some of these answers to the best of my ability.

Edited February 13, 2019 by Toska

[Bygonehero]

An excellent application and answers. I really loved your story about interaction with the human mining companies on Tret. Imagining the hijinks your character got into around those human outposts is particularly endearing.  Application accepted!