[Accepted]Desven chirps in choir!

[Desven]

A Diona application.

BYOND Key: Desven

Character Names: Pierre Godard, Luciano Morricone, Ka'Akaix'Pax C'thur, Za'Akaix'Mon Zo'ra, Qaal Nrmala

Species you are applying to play: Diona

What color do you plan on making your first alien character:

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 think I genuinely became intrigued about Dionae when I read about the ones at the royal gardens of Dominia. My main character is a Primary, so after that Dionae became important to his backstory. Mainly, a childhood pet that grew to become a gestalt of their own, which still serves his House. The main issue that kept me away from Dionae is that they're rarely played, and when one is, the character interacts too little with others. It's probably because one might struggle to interact, some people have no patience for characters that talk slow or avoid those that they find really alien. I like the challenge it adds, and I do think it's fun, in a tortuous way (been experiencing some of this as Vaurca lately too), but in the past it was too off-putting for me.

Now with more experience and with better options for Dionae, as well as a new Diona revival of characters, I feel more confident to try out this awesome race. I really like the mechanics and I find the more 'alien' races the most fascinating, because you can experience new scenarios that, before as a human, would've been basically impossible.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:

Other than the cool mechanics? I'd say the biggest difference is the fact that you're a collective. And while some cyclops are more diverse than others, I'd say that, at the end of the day, whenever you have to think about yours in particular you really need to make sure you think about the interests of each nymph. Perhaps some of them have different personalities, perhaps they don't share some of the same beliefs, but they all work together. I'd say that I, particularly, find the chaotic cacophony the most interesting, although I don't think I would dare to play a character like that.

I'm also really a fan of how poetic their language, expressions and names are - perhaps everything about Dionae. Not that humans are and cannot be as such, but it is not hold in the same standard in human culture. I think it plays a key part of playing as a Diona, and an aspect you cannot ignore.

As per usual with these races, too, there comes the racism. It can sting sometimes, even if it's ICly, but as I've said before, I think it's part of the challenge (and maybe even fun) of playing xeno (or some particular human factions). I suppose this aspect is the least 'unique' of Dionae, but alongside Vaurcae, you're most likely to face discrimination from about almost everyone.

Character Name:

Before I answer this one: I have two concepts: one for a CMO and one for a cook. The cook would be The Sun Rises after a Long Night ('Sunny'), and I can expand about them in the questions, and the CMO would be The Sacred Oath to Heal Those in Need (might tweak it a bit).

Please provide a short backstory for this character:

Forgive me for seeing bug lore everywhere, but here we go:

Because of the conflict that developed for centuries on board the Vaurcesian Titan Prime, the Dionae had not only to survive the harsh conditions, but adapt specific roles in their society in order to ensure survival. A group of nymphs would develop to eventually become something close to healers: either by providing the sufficient light (transporting scarce lightsources found inside the Titan, as well as ensuring key areas such as windows were unobstructed for their regeneration), but also to what could be considered providing therapy and moral aid, because of the tiresome experience that was the conflict, as well as the frustration of no clear communication with the Vaurcae. In other words, the healer faction would seek the wellbeing of the cluster, and they became vital for their permanence for such long time.

However, there were some that believed that, with acts of kindness, the 'war' would achieve a resolution, and aided the Vaurcae war drones in a similar fashion a conventional doctor would aid an injured person in battle. This was met with skepticism from the rest of the Dionae on board, and controversy would not cease any time soon. If it proved detrimental for the reparations afterwards or not is unclear, but one thing is certain: among those that supported the peaceful treatment of what could be prisoners of war are those that have accepted and integrated to the hiveship, and make a sizeable faction of those that still remain on board today.

Oath, in particular, was formed from this long tradition. Although some of the nymphs were the old healers and eventual first doctors to aid Vaurcae, the gestalt is a Seasoned Song, composed of a mixture of the eldest and younger nymphs, the youngest working as hands and legs and maintaining their mobility. The eldest are regarded as some of the most experienced members of the Titan Prime cluster, regarding medical matters. The eldest, however, had made the decision to finally part from the (now protection) of the Vaurcae, whom they hold in high esteem, and decided to embark in the civil life of Tau Ceti. Because of these qualifications, they have joined the NSS Aurora.

What do you like about this character?:

that they're related to buglore The themes of forgiveness and wisdom, as well as the idea of making a proper character with what could be considered a psychiatrical background (which I believe we're currently lacking in medbay). I've also always pictured that, if I were to play Dionae, I would create a character with old nymphs, as well as some younger that would be eager to split in times that might be required (or just to lounge at the lobby). Overall, I think it fits my playstyle, while also creating something enough of a new experience for me.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?: Let's give me a 7.5.

Notes:

I don't want to be seen as if I'm hoarding apps, and I want to thank all of the wonderful people that convinced me to write this app, which honestly has made me more nervous than all of my previous ones. I still have a lot of Diona lore to learn, and I'm also almost certain that there were some Diona pages I can no longer find at the wiki (particularly one called 'Diona and you' or something), but I'm willing to do my homework and make justice to our treefriends.

[Colfer]

The characters that Desven typically makes have no shortage of research and understanding based on the way he plays them and ontop of all that theres still plenty of room left for him to play a character that doesnt have just a set gimmick but an actual personality and motives, from what I've seen, particularly Pierre Godard. I would highly recommend +1

[limette]

Desven has come to me with a good few questions prior to making this application, and seems genuinely very interested in playing a Diona that not only is grounded in lore but also interacts with people on a level that few Diona, in my experience, seem to. I definitely believe he can pull it off based on his past roleplay, and so I have to give this a +1.

[Cnaym]

Asked me to +1 this in OOC

I even read it

+1

Their roleplay is also good

[Lmwevil]

You're immensely passionate and more to the point someone who has clearly read the lore! Immediately off to a good start. 

So! Firstly: Why did they develop into a Seasoned Song mind type?

What does Oath think of all these species nowadays, given that it grew up around only Dionae and unresponsive murderous bugs who wanted them to GTFO? 

What is their standing opinion of Vaurca currently?

Has Oath drank blood, if so what kind of blood? What was formative and most interesting about the blood if they did drink it to achieve that form of sentience?

Finally: How has the struggle to survive on the hiveship that wanted them dead for many many years influenced their personality? 

Sorry for replying a day later than I said I would. Noon a day later :^) 

[Pedantic]

A plus one from me here- Desven's bugs have been fun, so I'm hoping they can make some fun trees too.

[Desven]

37 minutes ago, Lmwevil said:

You're immensely passionate and more to the point someone who has clearly read the lore! Immediately off to a good start. 

So! Firstly: Why did they develop into a Seasoned Song mind type?

What does Oath think of all these species nowadays, given that it grew up around only Dionae and unresponsive murderous bugs who wanted them to GTFO? 

What is their standing opinion of Vaurca currently?

Has Oath drank blood, if so what kind of blood? What was formative and most interesting about the blood if they did drink it to achieve that form of sentience?

Finally: How has the struggle to survive on the hiveship that wanted them dead for many many years influenced their personality? 

Sorry for replying a day later than I said I would. Noon a day later :^) 

Thank you! I've expanded and tested some of the things I raise here at the discord, so I think I can give a proper response to all

1. As I've said, I'm thinking more about two nymphs at the head that are immobile and don't separate from each other, basically deeply bonded. They're probably over 500 years old, I still have yet to think about that one point in particular, but what I'm certain is that they both have experienced the whole war with the Vaurcae. I'm still pitching names for them, but one of them is 'silent' while the other is the one that does the talking for the whole gestalt. I like to think that now, after communication has been made possible and relations between the Zo'ra and the Dionae are better, there are Dionae that walk around freely and probably even service some of the Unbound, much of like how the Aurora looks like now. Given this, they've not only had the experience of treating wounded Vaurcae before reaching Biesel, but also what could be considered new, 'professional' experience on the subject. Despite the age, I think the Gestalt is new. The Head (as I'm calling it from now on at the app) has decided to move on and teach other Dionae about medicine, regarded as experienced professors in the subject. I mentioned on the Discord that I think of my Dionae as a hospital hierarchy, and while the whole Dionae is the hospital director on board, the Head is the hospital director of themselves, with some limbs being experienced in human and Skrell medicine and others (haven't decided if the arms or the legs) are really young and basically interns, learning with practice too.

2. The silent part of the Head is more weary, but the outspoken part is welcoming and so are the rest of the nymphs, which would have a different background and have grown with other species. Despite of this, however, I think the gestalt as a whole would be somewhat awkward with humans at first, and especially with Tajara, which they would have really experience with (I think the others, but the 'intern' nymphs, are immigrants too). So while the outspoken part of the head does the soothing for the silent part, it may also be, curiously, the only other nymph that would feel uncomfortable with other species.

3. I've mentioned a theme of forgiveness because I think they have truly forgiven the Vaurcae, and they think about Vaurcae as a species achieving a similar goal through different means. The Hive is a Cluster, in their conception of Vaurcae, and they are probably the only other species that truly understands cooperation as much as Dionae do. I also mentioned at the Discord that my Dionae really cares about rythm, especially the head probably finding human languages bleak, and they enjoy the music that the Vaurca antennae do when communicating via the Hivenet. While they will never understand the language, they do understand that the rythm of the antennae means speech.

Also, I plan of using one of the new bug heads, and eventually making a custom item with one of the concept art Sleepy showed me regarding the Titan Prime Dionae. I think this mimicry is not only the way the Head probably managed to survive for long, but also now a sign of respect for the species.

4. I doubt the Head has, and honestly I wonder if it would even be possible for Dionae to drink Vaurca blood? Vaurcae seem to operate on a whole other level, they're almost machine like, and even with unbound I'm not sure if they could learn experiences. If it is possible, then I do think they've drank Vaurca blood to learn about their culture and organization. But the ones that had probably consumed more blood would be the Skrellian Dionae, and this to learn in part about medicine. I still need to think more about this part of the cyclops, but over all I'd say they're mostly cautious about the blood consumption, especially under the Head's orders.

5. I think I've shown a bit of this in all of these questions, so sorry if I sound repetitive, but suffice is to say that the Head is really scarred, and the silent nymph is the one that bears the trauma the most. It has probably seen more of the radical tactics Vaurcae would deploy to exterminate the Dionae, and as I've mentioned it would have a harder time to have forgiven them, but despite this it might serve with their function as a psychiatrist; willing to listen and find a way to resolve emotional conflicts. As I mentioned in my OP, they would, after all, perform this type of therapy among other Dionae, since the psychological wearing of the war would be a factor that could've diminished their chances of survival. But more in general, I think Oath is really cautious when approaching others, sometimes even silent and a very good listener, as well as a huge pacifist and against all kinds of confrontation, even verbal.

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by Desven
confused a word

[Lmwevil]

Thank you so much Desvan for the detailed replies. 

On 4. Currently mechanically you can learn from them ingame, and fluffwise I believe you MAYBE CAN?? will bring it up with the team to make sure - it's just that the language is impossible to pick up and their experiences are so alien that drinking from vaurca didn't really benefit those stuck on the hive ship iirc, and you'd only learn experiences from the current body nothing from like past resleeving. 

I only have one final question: 
What would you like to see added to the lore of Dionae currently? Where is it weakest? 

Other than that, this application is great. Can't wait to see you on the Aurora

[Desven]

3 minutes ago, Lmwevil said:

Thank you so much Desvan for the detailed replies. 

On 4. Currently mechanically you can learn from them ingame, and fluffwise I believe you MAYBE CAN?? will bring it up with the team to make sure - it's just that the language is impossible to pick up and their experiences are so alien that drinking from vaurca didn't really benefit those stuck on the hive ship iirc, and you'd only learn experiences from the current body nothing from like past resleeving. 

I only have one final question: 
What would you like to see added to the lore of Dionae currently? Where is it weakest? 

Other than that, this application is great. Can't wait to see you on the Aurora

I would like to see more about specific nymphs and generally making some concepts less alien for the playerbase, I think this is what likely makes many of us to find Dionae unappealing. I think the weakest is the forms divisions, because the category right next to the cyclops is too broad imo. I think it would make sense if it was less about the number of nymphs and more about the shape/functions they take, kind of like how proteins work in our body to create all kinds of wacky stuff.

 

[Yonnimer]

Hi, after some discussion we've decided to accept your app. 

Minor thing though, Might wanna make sure your name fits in the setup and doesn't get cut off when creating the characters.