Wrrrb This Way - MccRrib's Skrell Lore Deputy Application

[MccRrib]

Ckey/BYOND Username: MccRrib

Discord Name: Hugh Janus#2511

Position Being Applied For: Skrell lore deputy

Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations wiki page? I have.

Past Experiences/Knowledge: I’ve been involved in the TTRPG scene for about ten years now, 7 of which as a DM, unfortunately, I've no experience writing for Aurora lore to date, though, I'd like to think I'm fairly active in the community and in DMs with ideas for improvements or additions to the lore as it stands.

Examples of Past Work: As I mentioned above I’ve no past lore work on the server to display here, though I’d be more than willing to write a quick treatise on a subject of the team’s choice, though.

 

Additional Comments: As per prompt #1 on the deputy recruitment post, I’ve attached a short essay on the biggest problem I perceive Skrell lore to have.

[Hepatica]

Anybody who has ever interacted with MccRrib on an OOC basis can tell you he's a wonderful, funny, smart guy that is enjoyable both to talk too and be around. He always happily takes constructive criticism and improves on everything and anything he can for his characters. He is an excellent roleplayer and can seamlessly lean into any gimmick ICly and will go out of his way to roleplay with most anyone. MccRrib would be a great addition to the lore team, one that would work fluidly and cooperatively with everyone else on the team, of that I am certain. A definite +1.

[Sycmos]

Getting to know MccRrib via his avatar in the ever-enigmatic Ian White and OOCly through Discord has been a whirlwind lesson in not judging a book by its cover. He's funny, well-spoken and generally a blast to interact with both ICly and OOCly. I can't think of anyone else I've done such a hard 180 turn for, and judging by his essay and our previous discussions I think he would make a great fit for the lore team. +1! 

[ryog]

I'm doing little more than echoing the sentiment in the above two posts, but based on my interactions with him both OOC and ICly I can safely say that I feel like he is a wonderful addition to the community and takes great care and thoughtfulness into any endeavors he pursues. Very good at playing interesting gimmicks, whether it be as an antag or not, and involving people in the events of rounds he's participating in, which I believe is a great insight on how much he cares about the enjoyment of his fellow players. I will say that my initial impression of him many months ago was less than savory, and to have changed my opinion so positively towards him as an RP partner and otherwise is just a testament to how he as a person is more than capable of rational improvement. No doubt he is absolutely wonderful to talk to and would do great on the lore team. +1 ezpz

[geeves]

+1 and i like their essay | sidenote if u write political lore make sure to add a big slathering of megacorp stuff with it plsthx

[Alberyk]

Pointing out the issue of the lore is fine, but the essay does not really display any kind of world building or shows your qualities as a writer. Besides pointing out the issues, I feel that having something written for skrell would be more helpful to gauge what you are planning to do and how.

[Camellia]

So I have a few questions here;

I'm a regular who wants to make a skrell character but I'm finding a few issues here which have just driven me away. One thing that has always felt very off is the whole weird dimorphism thing and pronoun use, as well as the whole polygamy thing that goes with it. It was really just jarring and not really something I expected from a race of frog people? It kind of reminds me of old vaurca lore with the iron cages which just..

Grossed me out, the vaurca, iron cages, I mean, not the poly/binary stuff.

I see your responding to the relevancy which, is cool because I (had that drive me away mainly and) personally feel a lot of factions are without relevancy, something I'm hoping is fixed soon.

[Carpe Venenum]

I have to echo what Alberyk is saying. You pointed out a problem, sure, but that doesn't really show your creative writing or even that you would fix the problem in a good way, really. If you wrote something new to show off your creative skills and process that would be quite epic

[Caelphon]

I have been told my many that you've devoted much of your time to Skrell Lore -- reading it, questioning it etc. The fact that numerous individuals have told me this is a good thing in a deputy! Despite this, I do have to agree with Alb and Carpe. Your whitelist application was constructed well, and your writing skills are clearly refined if that is any example. I'd love to see you write an addition for lore! 

[Kryostro]

I've seen enough of MccRribs writing prowess to know that he'd undoubtedly capable of making sound lore decision to further the lore for Skrell, I agree with the presented direction that you're putting up to the pedestal, and I believe your contributions to the conversation of Skrell between the lore-team and the actual contributions & lore-writing bits will help repair the neglected state of the Skrell lore. Mans got a good head on his shoulders, though a small writing example for theoretical changes would absolutely be nice, I'm confident that giving you a +1 is a worthwhile investment, so +1.

[MccRrib]

11 hours ago, Camellia said:

So I have a few questions here;

I'm a regular who wants to make a skrell character but I'm finding a few issues here which have just driven me away. One thing that has always felt very off is the whole weird dimorphism thing and pronoun use, as well as the whole polygamy thing that goes with it. It was really just jarring and not really something I expected from a race of frog people? It kind of reminds me of old vaurca lore with the iron cages which just..

Grossed me out, the vaurca, iron cages, I mean, not the poly/binary stuff.

I see your responding to the relevancy which, is cool because I (had that drive me away mainly and) personally feel a lot of factions are without relevancy, something I'm hoping is fixed soon.

I mean this as respectfully as possible, just trying to clear up some confusion, what exactly is your question?

[MccRrib]

10 hours ago, Caelphon said:

I'd love to see you write an addition for lore! 

I'd be more than happy to write something up, any preferred topics at all, or am I free to tackle it at my own discretion?

[Caelphon]

Whatever you're up for!

[MccRrib]

17 hours ago, Caelphon said:

Whatever you're up for!

Bound to an extensive, but long since abandoned wing of the underworld beneath one of the many megacities dotting Epsilon Eridani II, the Hive (working title) as it’s frequently called by its residents, is a somewhat hidden area of the Oran underworld that primarily serves as an anarcho-syndicalist safe-haven for the small clumps of congregative Skrell that fail to live up to their employers’ rigid standards and become stuck in the system, unable to procure the funds for, or refused access to shuttle services. Supplies for survival are often scavenged for by the more resourceful Hivers, as the commune’s Skrellian residents have come to be known, or provided in secret by some of the more merciful members of the Fleetrunners that pay visit to the system for smuggling operations, often masquerading as tourists. New members are typically attracted to the commune via signals sent out from jury-rigged Nlom beacons constructed by Hive residents with scavenged, scrapped, or purchased pieces of discarded/stolen Federation technology. Consequentially the Hive maintains an entirely Skrellian populus, with a higher presence of niche ideologies and faiths like Suur’ka, or Kir’gul, the followers of which typically living free of judgement from their fellow Skrell stemming from their unifying goal of finding a way off the planet. Contact with the other dregs populating the underworld is fairly frequent, for trade purposes, the Hivers maintain a relatively healthy trade-relationship with the communes they  frequently communicate with. For the most part, their relationship is a matter of living and letting live.  Living conditions are, unsurprisingly quite cramped, domiciles often containing 8-9 people in a space barely befitting a single Skrell, sharing most possessions and working in unity with hopes of getting out a signal for help, or discovering means of leaving Oran.

Was unsure how long of a piece you wanted, I'd be more than willing to lengthen it a bit if you'd like!

Edit: Minor spelling error.

Edited February 23, 2021 by MccRrib

[Caelphon]

Looks good. Do you mind me pestering you again for another article of lore? Particularly, Skrell on Silversun? 

 

Goodluck! 

[Carpe Venenum]

3 hours ago, MccRrib said:

stuff

I really like this! However, it's only tangentially related to the essay you've written for the application, outlining the main problem you have with the current lore. Could you detail some ways, possibly in a nice writeup, that you would give Skrell a bigger political presence in the galaxy?

[Faye <3]

I think that MccRib is outwardly pretty goofy who plays a goofy character (Ian), but their skrell Qu'ei is easily one of my favorite skrells played. They avoid the pit that a lot of skrell players fall into of emotionless apatheitc beings, while also not going so far as to be entirely human in their emotions. Qu'ei is a slightly awkward, very earnest character who I enjoy RP'ing with in medical. I definitely think they have a good understanding of the lore, and could do really cool things if given the opportunity to write for skrell lore.

[MccRrib]

18 hours ago, Caelphon said:

Looks good. Do you mind me pestering you again for another article of lore? Particularly, Skrell on Silversun? 

 

Goodluck! 

The presence of Skrell on Silversun has been controversial, to say the least. Early “adopters” of Originals culture, Skrell on Silversun are often seen sporting dawnflower flowercrowns, and the ever-popular Silversun floral shirts. The Skrell flocked to the planet en masse shortly after they learned of its existence, largely drawn by the idea of Skrell-specific vacation spots that were promised by Idris representatives. In the decades that followed, promises were made material, and soon such spots were peppering the beaches outside of Silverport Landing. Constructed swiftly by Idris teams, these aforementioned resorts are equal parts enormous and idyllic, to the point they often encroach on nearby settlements. These resorts and their staff are dedicated to tending to to the every need of their Skrellian residents during their typically quite lengthy stays. Visitors can expect carefully curated luxuries as well as a heavy Federation presence, there to ensure residents and staff alike maintain an attitude that reflects their enthusiasm for their homeland, and their corporate allies. While the Skrell themselves are quite fond of the planet’s culture, adopting their slang, their dress, and even roughly translating some folk songs into Nral’Malic, most Originals don’t echo their friendly sentiments. It’s not uncommon to hear Originals referring to the Skrell as a symptom of the corporate plague sweeping their homeland, pejoratively declaring them to be “wading in the shallow end,” a sardonic jab at rampant tourism and those that Originals deem to only be scratching the surface of their culture, missing the forest for the trees. Inversely, the Expatriates welcome the presence of the Skrell and the boost to the economy they provide, the two groups maintaining a generally friendly rapport. Protests at the more invasive resort sites are relatively infrequent, but not uncommon enough to not be a worry for would-be investors in Silversun’s service industry.

[Caelphon]

Very good writing! I especially love the way you construct it, and how it carries on smoothly. 

[MccRrib]

16 hours ago, Carpe Venenum said:

I really like this! However, it's only tangentially related to the essay you've written for the application, outlining the main problem you have with the current lore. Could you detail some ways, possibly in a nice writeup, that you would give Skrell a bigger political presence in the galaxy?

When thinking of how best to go about making the Skrell feel like a more present entity within the lore, I look for inspiration mainly within Tajaran and Human lore. Consider, for example, the somewhat recent Tajara Deportation Act. Arcs like this, whether represented in articles, events, or wiki additions, serve as the best examples of lore that has presence, it goes beyond the insular "there are Skrell in this place, this is how they got here" style of political lore we have at the moment. Lore like the Deportation Act assists in creating interaction and conflict between player characters of different species and/or backgrounds, the actions of Tajaran citizens in response to their upheaval has a tangible effect on how a Human citizen might view them. Lore with presence offers player characters something to take a stance on, the Skrell feel absent from the galaxy at large because they lack anything like this beyond "I do or do not support the Jargon Federation for the following reasons." articles such as this one are a step in the right direction, but there's much more that could be done. If given the opportunity, my priority would be expanding on the relationship between the Jargon Federation and the various other political entities that pepper the galaxy, ideally through articles and assisting in the overhaul of our existing Skrell politics page, focusing primarily on elaborating on how the Skrell are viewed by the natives of planets they can be found on outside of the Federation. I'd like to write more supplementary lore similar in nature to the pieces I've posted above, as well, to ensure that the Skrell feel more like part of the lore, and less like a tacked-on afterthought.

[goolie]

I think I'm a little late to the party but MccRrib is so approachable and friendly I think he would be a great addition to the lore team. He seems genuinely interested in open discussions about lore and whenever I've hopped into VC with him, everyone in the call always gets into long chats about the lore (the conversation is normally brought up by MccRrib!) I don't often sit in on lore talks either but, the few bits and bobs that MccRrib told me about actually caught my attention. You can tell he's passionate!

[WickedCybs]

Forgot about this. Not going to really talk about MccRibs character, because there's been enough stated about it. My thoughts are positive on that front is all.

Something I've really disliked about Skrell is that they have no real "presence" in the Spur, they just exist for the most part. I'm really glad you've been thinking of how to change that and make them more present and interconnected as its one of the bigger if not biggest issue with the species at the moment. They've known humanity for far longer than the rest and are a power on the level of the Solarian Alliance as well as an ally which has always made that odd how they're just a footnote even if they are a more isolationist faction.

Anyway, I'm not good at flowering up words. Liked the excerpts about the Skrell trapped in Eridani. Liked the stuff regarding Silversun. We need more content like this. I think the recent reworks/additions to Skrell are good, but I could actually reference stuff like the Skrellian focused Silversun resorts as a frustrated human native or something for example, which is great.

 

That aside, I think the main question I have at the moment is what your thoughts on the last Skrell arc (The Warbling) is and how it has affected Skrell. If that's not something you think you can really say much about, very fair. I don't think you were on Aurora at the time it ran.

A short version of my own thoughts are that In a vacuum, it was fun. Got some good character development out of it as a character that started as a staunch loyalist. Felt pretty damaging to the species and out of character for Jargon overall though during the latter events.

[VeteranGary]

Kind of interested to see someone eager to work on Skrell lore, since it's fairly difficult to form an opinion on something so big, that doesn't have much to offer. All I understand is their isolationism, but it is kind of strange to see their relative uninvolvement during very key arcs, such as the phoron scarcity. One of their allies got steamrolled, a planet burned up and they kind of just, watched, pointed guns, and slowly backed away. Meanwhile, they overinvolve themselves in xeno politics such as the Tajara, going as far as to start a whole council to ban nuclear weapons on Adhomai, only to get told no by every single faction. It seems weird that this is their concern and a shock to them, whilst a megacorporation slung nuclear weapons at their greatest ally, even though it was a rogue fleet. I'm sure this is just a huge hole to patch but it'd be interesting to see the dynamics and such as why this unfolded as why it did, but it isn't really my main concern, besides it is probably a harder question to answer, but feel free to give your opinion.

 

Since the Federation has been recently opening up, how is citizenship being handled now? What kind of work would aliens seek in the Federation, and how are they treated. How are owned and self-owned synthetics treated? Is dual-citizenship going to be a larger possibility with the fall of the Sol Alliance?

 

e; Just asking these to gauge if/how you would explain or remedy these events. The primary questions are the latter, the other chunk I wouldn't mind just a tidbit of how you might want to tackle this problem in Skrell politics. 

Edited March 22, 2021 by VeteranGary

[Caelphon]

Due to behind the scenes stuff, Skrell Deputy applications have been closed. Feel free to apply when I open slots.