unathi [ACCEPTED] Sycmos - Unathi Whitelist Application

[Sycmos]

BYOND Key: sycmos

Character Names: Nikita Yutani, Cygnus Rey, Tlaloc Cuahquentzi, Adalgrimur Jormungandr, Kasper Kallstrom, Aidan O'Muireadhaigh, Andeimir Chukho, Zane Jelani, Samedi Ahouandjinou

Species you are applying to play: Unathi

What color do you plan on making your first alien character: A taupe green, khaki or bronze hue - I am undecided so far, but a muted earth tone is what I'm largely looking for.

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: I've read it up, down and sideways since I started thinking about this whitelist. I've had the wiki tabs open for at least two weeks now, and regularly reference them when discussing it with other players on Discord.

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 feel that Unathi history and culture up into leading to the Contact War paints a unique picture that starkly contrasts the very metropolitan aesthetic and values of humanity's reach throughout the Spur (outside of Dominia, of course). The distinct lack of higher technology gives Moghes and its civilization an "antiquated" coloration to its struggle to adapt to galactic society at large, which is only similar to that of Tajara if we're to compare them to any other species on the galactic stage. In the face of an ever-changing and ever imposing monolithic society it would be difficult to maintain one's values without compromising on some aspects, and I think that the dichotomy of human liberalism and the multiple clashing Unathi beliefs gives their rapidly changing and yet resistant culture its own flavor to express in RP with both other Unathi and other species.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Despite encompassing a plethora of different cultures humanity is at the forefront of the more progressive/liberal ideas (closely followed by or even eclipsed by the Skrell) in the Spur, hardline customs largely having been abandoned or diluted outside of grievous offenses to our universally accepted moral sensibilities (murder, etc.). Having only recently achieved space travel in the last fifty years and entered a diaspora stage where they are beginning to inhabit worlds outside of Hegemony space the culture and value shock that Unathi experience when exposed to life and liberty outside of Moghes and Ouerea is likely both exhilarating and terrifying to their sense of right, wrong and weird. In such a world where Guwan are largely tolerated and not thrown to the wolves, men and women (and non-binary people) live in relatively loose social structures and "honor" as a concept is largely looked upon as medieval trivia it's likely exhausting for a Sinta fresh at the shuttleport in Mendell to soak in all of how to act, how not to act and to remember that they're in a different world with different rules. While one's personal beliefs and values are important imposing that onto others is a quick way to make enemies, and finding the balance of being true to one's self and their heritage while fitting in is an act of roleplay in itself.

Character Name: Turazu Zaraska

Please provide a short backstory for this character (approximately two paragraphs): Turazu was born in 2435 to Clan Zaraska, a smaller outfit of carpenters and semi-skilled laborers, shortly before the Contact War. Following the Atomic Exchange of 2439 he, his older brother, mother and a handful of other close relatives were split from his father and the remainder of the clan during the chaos of the fallout. In an effort to protect her two children and the remainder of the children that were in their care their mother and the other seniors that were split from the main body of the clan fled to Ouerea after several weeks of being unable to reach the others, where they hoped they could wait out the worst of the aftermath. Despite waiting days, to weeks, to even months it seemed that the fallout would never end, and that what was initially a matter of small deserts would inevitably become the Wasteland. Expecting the worst of the situation the remainder of Clan Zaraska would stay on Moghes and carve out a meager life in helping with the gargantuan task of colonizing Ouerea, Turazu himself eventually becoming an apprentice to a carpenter in the family once he was sixteen. 

Still, even as he grew up and moved farther away from the War, one question remained - what happened to his father? After several years of menial labor and restless questioning Turazu would ultimately decide for himself to find his father and begin his search at nineteen, aided by his older brother Ishask. With what little information they had of their clan's original holdings on Moghes they would spend the next year plotting and planning until they made the decision to leave for Mudki, the closest settled city to where Clan Zaraska had originally settled. 

So the pair saw their way off Ouerea, leaving everything they virtually knew behind, and traveled to a Moghes that no longer resembled what they remembered. Arriving in Mudki they continued their quest to find their father and their clan, each possible clue culminating into a name that had no recognition to either of them - Dorviza. As it had turned out, much to their surprise, the remainder of their clan had fallen into a loose mega-clan that etched out a harsh living in the Oasis of the Wasteland. With that information now known they made the rather dubious trip across the desert from Mudki and to the Oasis, carrying their original clan colors in hoping somebody would hopefully recognize it.

With luck, there had been survivors of Clan Zaraska living among the Dorviza, having now since abandoned the name and relegated its accouterments to ancestral shrines. The pair, and most severely Turazu, were shocked by the dire state of the world and were heartbroken to see their relatives living in such despondent conditions despite their excellent efforts at combating the wastes with skillful agriculture and cooperation with the local Dionae. Finally reconnecting with their father, now elderly and long since begun another family having anticipated the passing of his first, Ishask returned home to relay the news to the Ouerean remnant. Turazu, however, opted to stay. Encouraged by the hospitality of his former clan despite the hostile environment he chose to learn all that he could from his father and his new people before taking an even braver exodus elsewhere to continue his desire for knowledge - to Tau Ceti. Seeking out a collegiate education in agriculture Turazu aims to bring what advanced technology and techniques the Spur has to offer back to the Oasis in hopes of helping those struggling, and to strengthen a long war-broken bond between father and son.

What do you like about this character? (Describe what you like about this character): The Wasteland provides a lot of ample opportunity for "what if" scenarios, and something that I've wondered is what happened to a majority of the clans occupying what is now the Wasteland following the Atomic Exchange. Did they tough it out? Did they fall apart? Did they become something else? The Wasteland clans are one answer to that, and I feel that in a way Turazu's exodus as a child and eventual return as a man tie together the themes of family that clan tradition reinforces among Unathi.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?: God, hopefully an 8 on a good day. Some days I just feel like a wet sock and my hands can barely move.

Notes: no bulli pls

Edited April 26, 2021 by Haydizzle

[Haydizzle]

Hello! I was stuck on this page for a bit— had to reread it a couple of times.

This touches on some locations and factions in the lore, but I'm curious as to your comprehension of the themes:

1) Pick one theme from unathi lore and talk about Turazu's relation to it. Can be a straight up explanation of how they tie together, a unique twist about how your character is going against the grain and how it affects him, or even a small anecdote or experience Turazu had.

2) How does Turazu view the Izweski? This can be in general or something specific like a person or faction.

I look forward to your replies!

[Sycmos]

15 hours ago, Haydizzle said:

Hello! I was stuck on this page for a bit— had to reread it a couple of times.

This touches on some locations and factions in the lore, but I'm curious as to your comprehension of the themes:

1) Pick one theme from unathi lore and talk about Turazu's relation to it. Can be a straight up explanation of how they tie together, a unique twist about how your character is going against the grain and how it affects him, or even a small anecdote or experience Turazu had.

2) How does Turazu view the Izweski? This can be in general or something specific like a person or faction.

I look forward to your replies!

1. I feel that his desire to seek out the remainder of the clan upon learning more about it from his mother, older brother and the other seniors that fled to Ouerea reinforce the family-oriented themes that clan and clan name culture are known for in Unathi society. Because it's traditional for men to raise sons and his older brother was the only male in the immediate family I feel that he took more of a conservative outlook on what clans represent due to his brother having more exposure to Moghean values. Growing up on Ouerea however has likely colored his perception of non-Unathi in a more favorable light than if he were raised on Moghes, in a more traditional family structure. In a way he is against the grain of what most traditional Moghean men are, and still retains some of those values by way of the seniors in the splinter clan. I feel that ultimately he will find himself at odds with other Unathi that are distinctly Moghean as he's likely to be more accepting of non-Unathi, but not to the point of being tolerant of Guwan. His exposure to Gawgaryn is likely limited, so that remains to be seen.

2. As most Ouerean Unathi are skeptical to outright opposed to the Hegemony I feel that he will have grown up a skeptic only to develop mixed feelings towards the Izweski. Growing up with Th'akh beliefs clearly contrasts the Hegemony's centralization of Sk'akh, and the events of the war told from the perspective of his mother and older brother will likely deepen that resentment. At the same time it is also the Hegemony's doing that they have come into a more modern age, and he is thankful if anything for the advances in technology that allow him to not only travel but to seek an education. Comparable to Moghean Unathi born in the Hegemony, however? Liberal by contrast, and likely to butt heads at the interpersonal level.

Please let me know if you need me to elucidate any further! Thank you for replying quickly!

Edited April 24, 2021 by Sycmos

[Haydizzle]

Your answers are satisfactory and I have enough experience with your abilities in round where I do not have to worry about how you will act.

Accepted. Do not hesitate to contact my deputies and I with any questions or concerns!