unathi [Accepted] Diggey's Lizzer application (*bellow)

[Diggey]

BYOND Key: Diggey Mineson

Character Names: Supsa Kantawong, Zacharias Sneed, Alexandra Moeller, Ka'Akaix Theth K'lax, Otenell Qrblaak, Nlom'Kaax Xonq, Han Song, Keira Pfeifer, Layana Oumarou-Bouba

Species you are applying to play: Sinta'Unathi

What color do you plan on making your first alien character: Hex #5C4220

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes, and contacted people who play Unathi

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: Well to be quite frank i have seen a Unathi miner wrestle 2 space Eel

It is not just a meme it actually happens

That certainly piqued my interest.

When I was still a bar main i spent a lot of time trying to prepare specialty drinks for Unathi customers and when you do that you get into their lore, the reasons for drink names and you wonder to yourself "what is this all about"

at first I just took a cursory glance but now I actually am rather intrigued and thought I should give it a try and as opposed to my first look into Tajarans Unathi did keep my interest even after the original rabbithole, even if it is also very daunting

I actually wanted to play a Unathi before I play Skrell but as it turns out I ended up making a Skrell application first.

But now with some extra time under my belt I wanna give Unathi an honest try

 

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

There is quite a few spots to approach this from, because humans are quite diverse.

Either religiously as the Unathi are a very traditional culture and have not yet entered the Space age just right

Culturally (different from religious) as the Unathi have not yet entered the Space age just right (though they are making quick and vast strides, some factions of the Unathi almost outpacing the main groups by hundreds of years)

Physically as the Unathi ha- as there is an abundance of physiological differences between the Species

or even just straight up with the fact that their main planet is run on a guild system which has vastly reaching consequences for this SPECIFIC species that no other species quite has, as they are here, in the workplace, under fundamentally different rules than their coworkers. (unless they are Dominian of course)

Step one, the Unathi spiritualism is one of spirits inhabiting the world with places you would expect them to be, this is pervasive culturally to such a point that even not very devout individuals will see less mysticism and attachment to, say, AI than your average person does. (there is some disparaging thought on this of course, unathi spritiualism is quite diverse and the Au'thark for example do not see the injury of the vessel as a fundamental removal of that part of the essence and so forth)

Unathi spiritualism also has trouble transcending Moghes itself, the culture has not advanced to a scale where people living away from the planet are seeing their voices heard

The entirety of Si'akh for example does not even waste a thought on what it means to not live on Moghes (it does but I am making a point here)

Step two, Women and Men are culturally expected and behave differently, an aspect I wish to play into  with this character , the society is still rather feudal and people have, even though there has been a nuclear war, not lost the romanticisation of concepts such as honor (exceptions apply as per usual). Something that many other species have long done away with, at least on a metatextual level.

Unathi behave with a bravado that is quite fun to observe and that bravado is integral to the Unathi, concepts and ideas still hold importance, especially to someone even just casually religious. The Guwan have a very interesting spot in this actually because it is not actually that easy to become a (true) Guwan unless you reserve yourself to it.

Step 3 Unathi are phyiscally different they are big not necessarily tall, though some are, but just generally really beefy, can take a real punch (and dish one out), they have large tails which they use for balance and as a fat deposit, it beeing one of their most sensitive bodyparts

They are cold blooded, with a preference for warmer climates, only take naps so they can take the nightshift no problem, eat once a day tops (sometimes culturally) - LAY EGGS- you know there is a bunch of differences

Metabolically of course there is that Alcohol is poison to them, which means social outings operate differently, sure the humans make accomodations but Unathi usually tend to form their social circles around this, both ICly and OOCly

They can only gain nourishment from animal protein and meat and if you don't have a chef on station that can actually become quite the tripping hazard, I have been a chef, I know the struggles of the odd vegetarian Unathi, I see you.

There is tons more, things that are also applicable for other alien races, but as someone with a Vaurca Whitelist I assure you, esteemed reader, that I can wrap my hand around physical differences.

 

Step four the Guilds. Okay maybe I hyped it up a little,but that does not mean that the guilds are all that unimportant - You are likely subcontracted to a company through a guild and the guild abides by Moghesian law. You aren't here as yourself, you are here representing the proud members of the Unathi Bricklaying Guild

Bringing professional dishonor will surely reflect poorly on you and your guildmates and in the worst case you may be called to justify yourself.

 

Character Name: Hezk'ata Kuhwinla

Please provide a short backstory for this character:

Hezk'ata's mother is from Yu'kal, the Yu'kalese are renowned for their fish, not because of their prolific fishing but for their construction of aquafarms, so much so that arguably the technology was fundamentally revolutionised by their people as they adapted to the harsh conditions of the wastelands.

Traditionally Yu'kal has never been close to a larger body of water and only recently have their people settled close to a small grouping of lakes, the conception of aquafarming in the region.

after the Contact War what scant few recources that were available for aquafarming quickly dried up (pun intended).

Her mother was alive when the contact war happened and was first among many to witness as the planet quickly dried up and suffered from desertification as a result of it

a staunch survivalist and stubborn as all hell she raised the egg she was carrying on her own (as her husband died in the contact wars)

Forced to make do with what remained she was tasked with maintaining the Fishfarms and fending off the new demographic of Gawgaryn (the clans of the loosing nations, forced into banditry) who would try to come for their still adequate amount of fresh food and water.

Beeing only her and her daughter, the last remaining members of the Azenzo clan, and after many years of struggle, she was smuggled to Ourea by the Queendom in a small pirate shuttle, as a mercy for the child, but was later found out and branded a Guwandi, which she took in stride, having lived as a tradeswoman in the Queendom, and died after wandering the planet for half a year, in a duel.

But her daughter, about 12 at the time, was branded a Guwan, beeing an orphan, which was rough on her.

for two years she was Forced to live off of scraps and by any means she could get her hands on, receiving only a small mercy from Human contractors working on Ourea, expanding the aqauculture patties and farms which she was familiar with since early childhood, doing dumb labour and earning food in bets and brawls - not one to stoop to begging or stealing.

Then of course in 2459 the orphanage guilds were opened and she was put (rather forcefully) in the Kuhwinla house, dressed in dresses and beeing taught to act like a proper Unathi lady.

Her spirituality is based on Th'akh (like how house Szek'Hakh still does to this day) the idea that Everything has a spirit and that those who die enter the spirit realm and oversee the material world, interfering when they see fit (if they see fit) and generally abiding by their own belief as people before they died even in death.

She believes in the transitive nature of dying, in that once you are dead you will become less yourself and more turn into what you embodied when alive, and as such greatly values dedication and is highly supicious of people who do not seem "consistent" (Hezk'ata is not sure herself what this means but she is very sure she can spot a foul person on gut instinct alone).

She also, for this reason (believing in the transitive nature of death) does not firmly adhere to ancestor worship, recognizing that the spirits of her ancestors guide and help her people but are just spirits at this point and no longer her gam gam as she knew her but merely a nurturing force in her family.

In a way she still reveres her grandma, but not as her grandma, more as a force of good luck - her grandma is dead. And someone elses grandma is just as likely to help her if she is worthy of attention and help as such she also does not believe that she is a reincarnation or anyone specific, that she is simply an incarnation of an older spirit that has returned to her egg, a mighty force of strenght and determination, she assumes.

Beeing a stubborn little brat the house Kuhwinla, of course, tried to make her act more ladylike while she was trying to be "consistent" growing up. Boyish despite her "caretakers" best efforts (leading her to having broken horns and a couple scars from struggling in her teenage years)  and beeing at least somewhat capable of basic physics and maths despite her "caretakers" "lacking recources". Hezk'ata is dead certain to join a craftsguild and hire on to Hephaestus as part of their Engineer trainee programme.

Deeply in debt (it could be worse) ,and with no family to burden, she worked her tail off to make that dream a reality, and even though she lacks the technical college education she has been in the Engineer "learn and study" program for the last 2 years and has been passing her Education equivalency examinations with so-so flying colours.

She is ready for an Engineer Trainee position in the field

 

What do you like about this character?

I want to play as someone rowdy who is, despite that, keenly aware of what is expected of her.

Someone who, despite not living up to that, upholds her own code of honor, even when challenged on this.

There is grit and stubbornness integral to the character as well as a "you can't stop me" attitude that I admire

Someone fearless

They call her Guwan, they call her Kuhwinla, but she is the last Azenzu and she is going to make her mom proud, she is going to make everyone proud.

 

Notes:

I am a typo machine

 

"Why is this character an engineer and not a Botanist or Janitor?"

Her family were the first fishfarmers on Moghes Building Aquafarms and as a Guwan she was despised, the only ones helping her beeing Hephaestus engineers from the Ourean fishfarms

if there was Hydroponic bays that could grow fish she would be a Botanist hands down

but other than that she is really good at glassworking and pressure differentials

looking to become a Atmospheric technician

 

I was debating on making her agender but I think I want her to strongly identify as a lady in spite of the abuse she endured on Ourea for the last 8 or so years (5 of chich were in direct custody of an abusive orphanage)

Claiming to simply be a reborn warrior or that the spirit that claimed her egg was not female would be taking the easy way out

and she is not afraid to stick by her guns. 💪

 

She is not the brightest per se.

I make super cognizant characters all the time and I wanna make a character that is a bit oafish, if well meaning.

 

Her Spirit worship is opportunistic in nature, she will take any spirit that shows itself-

 

She does not think that Sk'ah worship is a respectful way of honoring the dead.

She believes in the transitive nature of death like followers of the god(dess) but she believes them to be seperate independant entities, spirits, wheras claiming that all spirit energy returns to the Goddess is "your grandma is gone, true, she is now part of the aspect of Simi." is like saying "lol none of your ancestors matter in the world, when you die you are just thrown into the ocean"

She firmly believes that everyone who dies is important in their own right and should be honored individually, even if that what made them them is gone with their death.

 

This would also be my second Debtor character.

Edited August 15, 2022 by Haydizzle
Accepted!

[Marlon P.]

A fantastic unathi with an interpretation of the unathi religions that will create a lot of fantastic roleplay between her and other Unathi. I wanted to ask if you are worried the scorn you will get as a guwan will make it difficult to mingle with other unathi and tell them about this religious stuff? I also like her outlook on her gender identity and how she identities as both a woman while having a strong sense of pride, defying the culture of the unathi patriarchy in a way that makes compelling drama.
+1

[Diggey]

Just now, Marlon P. said:

if you are worried the scorn you will get as a guwan will make it difficult to mingle with other unathi and tell them about this religious stuff?

I am actually worried that that will come up more than I want.

Beeing Kuhwinla I hope that those who have been out of the Nation for a while, or who were raised outside of it like for example dominians, won't pick up on the implication of that name and just assume it is her family name.

I know that hating Guwans is a bit of a joke for Unathi but if it becomes downright abusive it may be a bit much, which I can totally handle, whatwith me having played a Vaurca bound for a long while a while back, but I hope that I can find tolerant enough individuals to humor her. At least for long enough that they will have a revelation after getting to know her first.

If worst comes to worst at least her viewpoints will be waved off as Guwan stuff and not harm her reputation any more than beeing Guwan would.

[Happy_Fox]

7 hours ago, Diggey said:

Why do you wish to play this specific race: Well to be quite frank i have seen a Unathi miner wrestle 2 space Eel

[Triogenix]

15 hours ago, Diggey said:

There is quite a few spots to approach this from, because humans are quite diverse.

Either religiously as the Unathi are a very traditional culture and have not yet entered the Space age just right.

Culturally (different from religious) as the Unathi have not yet entered the Space age just right (though they are making quick and vast strides, some factions of the Unathi almost outpacing the main groups by hundreds of years).

Physically as the Unathi ha- as there is an abundance of physiological differences between the Species.

or even just straight up with the fact that their main planet is run on a guild system which has vastly reaching consequences for this SPECIFIC species that no other species quite has, as they are here, in the workplace, under fundamentally different rules than their coworkers. (unless they are Dominian of course).

Step one, the Unathi spiritualism is one of spirits inhabiting the world with places you would expect them to be, this is pervasive culturally to such a point that even not very devout individuals will see less mysticism and attachment to, say, AI than your average person does. (there is some disparaging thought on this of course, unathi spritiualism is quite diverse and the Au'thark for example do not see the injury of the vessel as a fundamental removal of that part of the essence and so forth). Unathi spiritualism also has trouble transcending Moghes itself, the culture has not advanced to a scale where people living away from the planet are seeing their voices heard. The entirety of Si'akh for example does not even waste a thought on what it means to not live on Moghes (it does but I am making a point here).

Step two, Women and Men are culturally expected and behave differently, an aspect I wish to play into  with this character , the society is still rather feudal and people have, even though there has been a nuclear war, not lost the romanticisation of concepts such as honor (exceptions apply as per usual). Something that many other species have long done away with, at least on a metatextual level. Unathi behave with a bravado that is quite fun to observe and that bravado is integral to the Unathi, concepts and ideas still hold importance, especially to someone even just casually religious. The Guwan have a very interesting spot in this actually because it is not actually that easy to become a (true) Guwan unless you reserve yourself to it.

Step 3 Unathi are phyiscally different they are big not necessarily tall, though some are, but just generally really beefy, can take a real punch (and dish one out), they have large tails which they use for balance and as a fat deposit, it beeing one of their most sensitive bodyparts. They are cold blooded, with a preference for warmer climates, only take naps so they can take the nightshift no problem, eat once a day tops (sometimes culturally) - LAY EGGS- you know there is a bunch of differences. Metabolically of course there is that Alcohol is poison to them, which means social outings operate differently, sure the humans make accomodations but Unathi usually tend to form their social circles around this, both ICly and OOCly. They can only gain nourishment from animal protein and meat and if you don't have a chef on station that can actually become quite the tripping hazard, I have been a chef, I know the struggles of the odd vegetarian Unathi, I see you. There is tons more, things that are also applicable for other alien races, but as someone with a Vaurca Whitelist I assure you, esteemed reader, that I can wrap my hand around physical differences.

Could you expand on this section a little more by picking 3-4 points and explaining how you'd acknowledge that point in roleplay while on the Horizon as a Unathi? As an example, as Women and Men have cultural expectations, a Unathi may view male doctors with distrust, preferring to be treated by female doctors.

15 hours ago, Diggey said:

They call her Guwan, they call her Kuhwinla, but she is the last Azenzu and she is going to make her mom proud, she is going to make everyone proud.

Which surname is on her ID card? And, does she consistently use a surname that is different from what's on her ID card?

15 hours ago, Diggey said:

Beeing only her and her daughter, the last remaining members of the Azenzo clan, and after many years of struggle, she was smuggled to Ourea by the Queendom in a small pirate shuttle, as a mercy for the child.

Can you expand on the why part of this a little more? Was it because the queendom viewed a child growing up in the wasteland to be an issue that they should help solve? or what?

15 hours ago, Diggey said:

the technical college education

Both Atmospheric Tech and Engineer require atleast a Bachelors degree or I believe 7 years of experience. If you want to eventually move this character up to either position and not wait 5 years, I'd rework this section. Having them currently studying for a Hephaestus Sponsored degree after passing a qualification examine would work.  Also what does "so-so flying colors" mean?

If you have any confusion about questions I've asked, feel free to reach out on discord for clarification.

Edited August 14, 2022 by Triogenix

[Diggey]

4 hours ago, Triogenix said:

a Unathi may view male doctors with distrust, preferring to be treated by female doctors.

Ah see, traditionally in the Th'ahk a large portion of major Zyola represent ideals like wisdom, life and death and traditionally they hold sway together with others other aspects similar to this and those who are seen as benevolent are feminine in nature

 in Sk'akh this distinction is even more obvious, as Simi, aspect of the god(des) central to the faith is the aspect of the healer, sharing the domains of wisdom and knowledge while shedding nearly any association with another field

Culturally the Unathi, as a result of this, have expectations of women to be wise and knowledgable as this is what femininity is expressed as

Arguably also because until recently there were not that many fields someone could have gone into if they were big on herblore or anatomy

Masculine ideals however are such as Fair Judgement, Oceanfaring, travel, war and revelry/storytelling

Uniquely things such as greed and ill fortune are also masculine ideas, meaning that someone who is not any of the other male things has to be expected to be tricking you. Whereas traditionally Good fortune is attributed to women

5 hours ago, Triogenix said:

Which surname is on her ID card? And, does she consistently use a surname that is different from what's on her ID card?

Kuhwinla is on her ID as this is her legal name, it is also a name she replies to. It isn't "her" name but she knows when she is beeing referred to.

5 hours ago, Triogenix said:

Can you expand on the why part of this a little more? Was it because the queendom viewed a child growing up in the wasteland to be an issue that they should help solve? or what?

in the loreblurb about the Queendom it is mentioned that the Szek’Hakh's "mak[e] connections with pirates, Dominians, and Tajaran smugglers to get her people safely out of the dangerous Wasteland."

I interpreted this as the Queen and her daughters trying to prioritize the well-beeing of their subjects over such ideas as pride and forcing them to remain for traditional or vainglorious reasons or what have you (see Mudki and Lord Izaku for an example of the exact opposite where his people suffer from his hown vain and envious traditionalistic insistence on old rules that cause his people to waste away)

That a single mother and her child, last of their clan, would be better of somewhere with fresh meat and water than trying to hold on in the scorching desert heat, forced to make weekly trips through Gawgaryn infested wastes just to make ends meet.

Surely if they would smuggle anyone off single mothers with no clan would be at the top of the list, if only because smuggling entire clans would be more costly. Put her with a payment shipment of other things and maybe 2 or three others and ship her and her daughter to Ourea

 

5 hours ago, Triogenix said:

Both Atmospheric Tech and Engineer require atleast a Bachelors degree or I believe 7 years of experience. If you want to eventually move this character up to either position and not wait 5 years, I'd rework this section. Having them currently studying for a Hephaestus Sponsored degree after passing a qualification examine would work.  Also what does "so-so flying colors" mean?

Oh yeah she does not have a College education

20 hours ago, Diggey said:

she lacks the technical college education

She is intended to be hardstuck in Engineer trainee for the foreseeable future

So-so flying colours is an in-joke

it means she passed the qualification exam scoring great marks except for in certain fields like "how well do you understand Ceti Basic" and "paying taxes under your Hephaestus contract" where she got like 12/20 points or something

 

5 hours ago, Triogenix said:

how you'd acknowledge that point in roleplay while on the Horizon as a Unathi?

point 3 and 4 are about physical differences and the Guild system, I am usure what exactly this part of the question refers to

If you are more referring to the cultural points lets go with:

Mealtime

What is expected of a woman: She gets her meal, thanks for it, and eats it by herself, maybe with a side of water - this brings honor to her clan, she is showing strenght and dignity, clearly her forebears are great diplomats as she avoids talking to anyone and knows how to properly be hosted by a host. She is truly cunning.

What is expected of a man: he orders a meal, not too big of course but he is a guest, he will tell the chef if he likes it or not, because the chef has to know, and clearly this helps the chef also. He may choose to drink what he likes so long as it does not impede his ability to work too much and talk freely to anyone he sees, afterall he would not say or do anything that would negatively impact his coworkers or employer.

Combat

What is expected of a woman: She is to remain calm and collected, it would be a disgrace to show fear or to loose her control over any situation she is in.

She should first note who else is affected, if nobody she works with or is related to is in harms way she can simply try to escape or talk down whoever is currently beeing rowdy, a cunning woman will be able to confuse or lead astray any assailant into making a mistake or simply tell them what they need or want to know so as to drive them off into a more managable position.

She is completely allowed to distract or trick people and attack them from behind, she can lie, cajole and trick people, even her allies, as much as she likes so long as it does not compromise her integrity as a lady (this includes recontextualising a situation after the fact so she looks better).

An offer for a duel can be easily denied if one has the brains and gift of the gab to dissuade their opponent, maybe the opponent is way too old to be offering this, maybe it would not be a real duel, as she is clearly lower in rank than her opponent and she excuses herself as this would not be a show or spectacle but merely like a lord beating his servant, Maybe they are human or a Skrell and it would simply not be a real duel due to their smaller size and really it is not meant as an insult, merely to clarify why she has no current interest at the time.

What is expected of a man: Well first off this is exactly what he has been waiting for

If anyone else is at risk, even a Guwan, He would be expected to step up and side with those who he sees as most necessary to defend. It does not matter what or who is facing him, a man knows no fear. A man can be reasonable of course, but all actions coming now must come from a straightforward angle to serve the purpose of diffusing the situation, no sneaking around and attacking from behind, no running away and letting backup handle it. He must organise a defense and he must take part in it as soon as reasonable.

He may rejoice in his task and go as far as he likes but he must always make sure his superiors are heard.

if his superior orders him to step back and let backup handle it it would dishonor him, his clan and his superior to deny that. Of course with his own word beeing the only superior to this.

If he has made a declaration of intent to go and stand and fight nobody can stop him, not even himself later realising what a terrible mistake he has made.

He is free to surrender, not too soon of course, if he knows he is in an unwinnable situation. There is honor in death but there is also honor in letting those who surrender do so and no shame in doing so when reasonable. It shows respect to your opponent if they have truly bested you and the honor of your clan to be able to respect a greater warrior.

Duels are the shit, go have a good duel time, we love duels!

Don't pick on someone smaller than you, it is disrespectful.

Bribe

What is expected of a woman: Humor them, see where this goes, why are they doing this?`Who do they work with? Can you get in?

Most important of all do NOT act on it. You are loyal to your clan and your Boss. Tell someone as soon as convenient.

What is expected of a man: Someone wants their head bashed in? I think someone wants their head bashed in. This may be an elaborate ploy to get you in trouble. Challenge them to a Duel or tell a superior. Citizens arrest is an option.

 

Expectation does not mean reality.

Any Unathi can at any time decide to do anything

[Haydizzle]

I must say your analysis of unathi lore is refreshing to read, with some ideas being in place that I haven't considered before, even in my own writing. I have had good interactions with you ICly in the past, so I definitely feel comfortable giving you the whitelist. I only wish to remind you to watch the spellings on unathi names (as they can be a bit tricky due to not being based on a real language).

Application accepted. Feel free to DM my deputies and I with any questions you have.