Lucaken doesn't do a pun this time [IPC App]

[Lucaken]

BYOND Key: Lucaken
Character Names: Leonid Myagmar, Gentle Wind Over Turbulent Seas And Sands
Species you are applying to play: IPC

Have you read our lore section's page on this species? Yes, though I admit to skimming the parts which were not strictly IPC-related, such as AIs.

 

Why do you wish to play this specific race: As always, my interest first started by just reading through the wiki and playing the game - there is a lot of compelling Snythetic characters out there, from trusty Stationbounds to Positronics that always have more to them deeper beneath the surface. The interaction between them and other humanoid races is always interesting to me just because of how similar, but also different these characters feel - It's that element of something being alive and familiar underneath a synthetic shell that keeps me curious about them. Oh, and I just find the synthetic factions really cool. It's something I'll touch on more below, but one of them caught my eye so much I just read it and went 'Yeah, I have to make a character about that'. The people that write the lore for them do a great job, and seeing that more was being added pushed me to apply.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Playing synthetic characters is, I think, always a balancing act between the human and robotic elements. You have to keep in mind above any and all character traits that they are going to act according to strict logic and sometimes even stricter rules - in comparison to a human, where you can chalk up certain decisions as born out of pure instinct. That is not to say that you are completely locked to computer-like behaviour, but I think it is a major part to keep in mind while playing one. You also have to be aware, regardless of your faction/origin, of how the universe currently views IPCs and keep faithful to that idea. Regardless of your freedom, prejudice and set views are going to sorround your character, and so you have to form a realistic response to that with your character.

Apart from that, there is also more obvious differences - the positronic brain works off of different rules than that of a human, including data-pack, developing personalities and storing memories. When using these to create and play an IPC, it goes back to that aformentioned balance between the two elements, making sure to stay grounded by your limitations as a synthetic while also displaying enough humanity to remain interesting.

 

Character Name: Publius-Au IX
Backstory: The first real memories of the Baseline-modelled positronic brain that would at that time be simply labelled as 'PBS37' (Personal Business Seneschal, built 2437) were of dull gray panelling and muted office lights. It was the first sight given to them once the lengthy and expensive data-packets had ingrained their thousands of lines within their memory. There was no emotion to speak of, and yet it felt compelled to call it 'home', much the same way the corporate central database which it had been intrinsically linked to was as natural as walking by the time it made the first transactions. Logistics, financing and management had become the root of their very being in that moment, and a virtually endless horizon of work before them seemed to be the only concept of existance it knew.

Above all else, Skirandi Business Structuring Inc. was interested in efficiency. And when it came to their synthetic investments, PBS37 had been the logical conclusion of several years' worth of risk-taking. It had started with single-board cargo-bots that would scurry in the dozens of warehouses that they catered to, quick to rely on the now proven methods afforded by humanity's robotics development. When share-values went up, so did reservations go down, and soon there would be no lobby of the Oran-based business that did not have at least one synthethic caterer, whether receptionist, valet or assistant. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that the major directors and managers of the company would slowly dwindle as their beloved, yet hidden 'super-accountant' could manage the businesses under their charge with minimal supervision and the operational cost lower than a dozen employees put together. In PBS045 (or 'Publius' as he was nicknamed by the staff of roboticists in care of his daily maintanace) there was financial security and the freedom to pursue other, more lucrative ventures that no Eridanian could resist. Skirandi saw gradual upward climb in profits from 2441 onward.

Of course, there was more to the developing accountant than what met the eyes of his non-chalant owners and caretakers. As the years trudged on, he had began to supplement the endless barrange of solving financial complications with detours into the similiarly boundless depths of media and digital information granted to him through his meager allowance. He sought out theoretical plans and concepts, reasoning that it would only make him more efficient, often pushing his bandwidth to encompass more and more data. These first forays into the greater world were not born out of boredom or resentment - he valued his position and even enjoyed overcoming the problems thrown at him. Moreso, after close to a decade of mindless servitude, it began to see the true scope of his capabilities, and realized that there was still room to grow. Neither the IPC himself or his caretakers noticed when a singular data-packet, hidden deep within the subprograms of a foreign routine named 'Gold_Worm', cracked through just enough of Publius' basic personality to awaken something far more in the polite assistant.

It was on the second week of 2456 that Publius convinced the majority of shareholders of Skirandi Inc. to overhaul most if not all of their workforce into synthetic staff after an extensive preview of the profit margins expected as a result. The board agreed on the terms that the caretaker staff would encorporate more human overseers to ensure their security. Before these new and greedy Eridanians could clock in on their second week, Publius had already bribed enough of them to have a blind eye on what was now functionally his first business. It took only six years of implanted realizations for the consummate, temperate IPC to turn into a wholly self-serving creature that resembled his 'owners' in many ways, except of course being much more efficient. A point that had become central to his self-actualization was his sheer superiority when it came to competing with his biological counterparts. A further obsession to prove this with personal gain had by now grown large enough that, not too soon after ensuring the business could function through a number of convincing proxies, Publius quietly purchased his own space-faring vessel, and set out into the Frontier in search of a very specific rumor it had discovered with the silent guidance of the very same sub-program which had set him down this path.

He soon discovers the planet Pactolus and with it, the shadowy benefactors who had guided him in one way or another through most of his existance. The story of his rise is shared by others who answered the call of riches galore within the Deep, and it is not long until Publius convinces a higher-ranking member to bring him into the fold in exchange for, of course, ownership. By now, he does not view this as a setback - merely a sign of another climb up the ladder. He throws his entire existance into The Game, gambling personal possessions and indeed even himself. He uses his comperatively meagre earnings back from Oran to fund his many ventures along the Frontier. He develops even more extravagent tastes and views as he navigates the social and economic ranks around him - namely, purchasing other rival IPCs in a bid to win his own full freedom from his patrons. With each take-over he would add an extra numeral to his name, a representation of his victories over others. Similarly, sometime during 2460, he purchases a Bishop-class chassis for himself made mostly out of gold used in the parts of his bought competitors - thus completing his full merchant name with the suffix 'Au', the element of gold. More than just a measured businessman, Publius-Au's identity takes on that of a self-obsessed tycoon, complete with an eccentric outlook and a fierce eye for potential. By now, he spends so much time within this 'persona' that the IPC itself is barely able to tell how much of it is for show, and where his real personality begins. Having successfully integrated himself into the society of the Golden Deep, yet finding himself out of territory to grow, Publius-Au looked back towards the core for inspiration. For in the time that he had spent away from 'home', the system of Tau Ceti had grown into an unavoidable prospect promising further power and glory. He joins hundreds of his fellow merchants in 2462 to captialize on the riches brought on by Nanotransen's prosperity, seeking to forever carve his name and deeds into the history of the Golden Deep.

What do you like about this character? As a central concept to his character, I find the idea of him 'climbing' his way out of freedom on (mostly) his own merit a great concept. There is a lot of irony in escaping one form of corporate overlord only to end up in the clutches of another, enabling this cycle of ownership that is, I think, unique to IPCs. It is also why I like how both in his name and body, he's showing the others he had to climb over and now own to get to even this meagre position - I think it's a testament to the brutal corporate nature of the Golden Deep, which I really enjoy. You have to be willing to become a ruthless, slaving businessman to escape those very same people. Lastly, while it may seem that a lot of his character development has already been had, I look forward to seeing how/if he can continue to push his limits. Maybe becoming a Consular Officer for the Golden Deep, or even contracting as a Head of Personnel, with time and commitment.

How would you rate your role-playing ability? Still above-avarage. I think I have more than enough experience to deliver fun moments and drive rounds on. I think the only time I struggle is hesitating when involving the lore in my writing - being scared I might represent a faction or race incorrectly and whatnot.

Notes: I am aware there is a current overhaul planned for the Golden Deep, which I have read and I'm prepared to change my backstory for. I'm hoping I didn't overstep anywhere and this all fits with the current lore. If not, please bring it to my attention, I'll be happy to fix it!

Edited August 18, 2021 by Lucaken
Changed the wording on 'hive-bots'

[The Stryker]

Hi! Thanks for applying, just a single note in fact. Aside from that, the application is incredibly creative.

On 17/08/2021 at 07:22, Lucaken said:

It had started with single-board hive-bots that would scurry in the dozens of warehouses that they catered to

To be clear, hivebots (the NPCs) are unknown in origin and not used in human space.

 

Edited August 18, 2021 by The Stryker

[Lucaken]

Sorry, changed it now - it was an auto-fill for me cause I had the imagine of hive-like bots that exist today as well, but not actually hive-bots, if that makes sense. They would just do cargo-sorting here.

Thanks!

[The lancer]

Very good application backstory, accepted.