[Accepted] Granodd - Unathi Application

[Granodd]

BYOND Key:
Granodd

Character Names: 
Nira Desinova - Dominian Physician
Jeriko - Dreg Cargo Bot
Ava Nyoko - Fisanduhian
Arthur Caladius - Tribunal Priest
Rashja Al-Riqha - Jaded M'sai Paramedic
Aurelia Strelitz - Dominian Exile Engineer

Species you are applying to play: 
Unathi

What color do you plan on making your first alien character: 
Yu'kal Soil (RGB 97, 66, 32)

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:
Ultimately I sought to try something new. Unathi have always been a species I had respect for given their largely honor-bound culture, but struggled to really work up my desire to apply for being one. I appreciated having Unathi characters around in the round, but didn't really think to play one myself until recently.

Aside from that, large reptilian style characters appeal to me in a way, even outside of SS13. Namely, my first actual D&D character being a Dragonborn. Though here, having read through their lore a bit more in-depth now, I've found a few concepts within them that actually reach out to me, particularly surrounding Unathi from the Wastelands.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:
It's been said with the different species of Aurora that each one has a different thing that sets it apart from humans (and other species). Some are "biologically" alien to an extreme extent, like Vaurca and Dionae. Others are "culturally" alien, which species like Unathi and Tajara sort of fit into that category. Though Unathi are more biologically alien to Humans than Tajara who share a few overlapping characteristics like being omnivorous.

Unathi are different from humans not only because they're quite literally built physically different, but because their culture is structured much more differently. To the typical Unathi, the Clan and the family come first and foremost, and along with that, their honor and pride. Martial skill and prowess earns more repute than most other skills, and society is divided into gender roles. The gendered nature of Unathi roles goes so far as their language as well, with certain words being synonymous like "warrior" and "male". Beyond all of this exist hierarchies, depending on the society, of lords, or those above who rule those below. And encompassing nearly all Unathi culture are aspects of faith that is engrained to a point where a certain sect of it is even associated with the undesirables of Hegemon society (Aut'akh).

Unathi as a whole show more signs of struggle to develop beyond wounds of their past while in a way still clinging to it in the traditions they keep.

Character Name:
Arkoss Dorviza

Please provide a short backstory for this character
In a time that was later determined to be 2444, Arkoss was born to Clan Dorviza in a time of strife. The lands were harsh, and war still stirred on the horizons. But all of it seemed to be made more bearable by the strange companions to his Clan: collections of verdant slugs and worms he would understand as "dionae". But to him, they were as valued as the rest of his Clan. As a man of his family, he was raised to carry out the strenuous work. Digging irrigation, helping lay foundation, and occasionally training with a weapon were all tasks Arkoss found in life growing up within the oases grown by the Dionae members of his Clan.

By the time that he was an adult, the stirrings of war had died down, though life was still as laborious as it was before, and just as dangerous. A fact that would present itself later in his life when his Clan's oasis was visited by a landcrawler belonging to a Reclaimer Clan. They themselves didn't pose any danger, and in fact offered much to trade in exchange for Clan Dorviza's herbal care to some of their wounded. Though the reason some were wounded would soon present itself in a following night when a group of Punished raiders attacked the oasis. Riled from his rest, Arkoss joined in the defense of the oasis alongside some of the Reclaimers. It was in the thick of this fray that Arkoss came to the defense of one of the wounded Reclaimers, saving his life from an honorless Gawgaryn attempting to coup de grace the fallen Sinta. The Reclaimer in question, Loskha, expressed his thanks to Arkoss, and vowed to repay the debt.

The form of this repayment would later come, some months later when the Reclaimers returned for their usual business, but also with Loskha extending an offer to Arkoss. He offered passage back through the wastes to Hegemony lands to Arkoss, a place where he may find paying work to help support his Clan and their life in the Wastes. Arkoss was hesitant to leave his Clan and family behind, though he soon came to understand the opportunity that presented itself, and how much of an aid he could be to them. Ultimately, he accepted, and as the Reclaimers returned to civilization, Arkoss came with them.

Being introduced back to the society of the Hegemony was not easy, given he was a Wastelander, and lingering associations with the Traditionalist Coalition. Having no previous standing, he was little more than a peasant who had been given an opportunity to earn some form of work. Loskha was not entirely cruel, however, and aided partway by guiding Arkoss to an employer who he met prior to their journey back through the wastes. A person unlike what he'd seen before, what he was told to be a "human", dressed in some manner of suit, and speaking in a tongue he did not understand. Loskha aided in translating, explaining to Arkoss that this man was from off-world, and he could take him to somewhere with great opportunity. Arkoss once again was apprehensive, though having traveled all this way across the wastes, felt the obligation to finish what was started.

It would be some time until he found himself in a new world and a new, but familiar, job. Growing accustomed to the expectations these aliens had brought with it growing pains from cultural differences and more than a few incidents. But even as he was rough around the edges, and the Ceti Basic he was taught gradually improved over time, he found himself learning and honing new crafts of building with tools far better than the ones he had in the wastes.

Now working as an engineer, he clings to memories of his Clan, as that was ultimately what had brought him so far from home, the credits he earns being used to send aid back to them. The one respite he still has is to see the familiar "faces" of the verdant dionae still present, even all the way out here, like a piece of home that came with him.

What do you like about this character?
An Unathi originally living in the wastes alongside the Dionae, helping to revitalize the irradiated sands is a concept I really like. It reminds me of themes like druidism and such. The same Unathi being given an opportunity to go on a great journey from home to ultimately provide aid to his Clan at the cost of being separated is also interesting, especially with aspects of culture shock. Prior relations with dionae meaning that they're "bits of home" even out here is also an enjoyable theme.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?
I've been roleplaying for close to 14 years now, and I would say that my abilities to play out a role and to interact with others in it is fairly refined.

Edited September 13, 2022 by Haydizzle
Accepted!

[Haydizzle]

It is nice to see you applying for unathi. Regarding Arkoss, what are his views on religion?

[Granodd]

Arkoss like many of the Wastelander Clans who live alongside Dionae follows the teachings of Th'akh. He holds the belief that all things in life are linked to the spirit world, and that the key to a happy and prosperous life is to ensure that the spirits are worshipped and appeased with gifts, as taught to him by his Shaman. The role that his Clan was fulfilling in the wastes to help restore it to what it once was played a major role in his hesitation to leave them when given an opportunity at work off-world, as he would be detaching himself from the Clans and the spirits of the wastes who wished to see it revitalized. His better judgement eventually concluded that the opportunity presented to him was the good will of a zo'zyola, and to turn it down would be disrespectful.

Even far from home he holds these beliefs, operating as best he can without the insight that his Clan shaman provided. Though the consultation of other Th'akh shamans he has met abroad have helped him keep spiritually easy.

[Captain Gecko]

I have a question too! I have a question too! So...

You mention how unique Unathi culture is, concepts of culture shock, it's GREAT! Now the question is, how would Arkoss react to this new culture he is to work with (and within)? It's less about how he would react with specific cultures of specific characters, and more about how he sees the megacorporations and a whole, how he feels working in one, and the overall multicultaral-ish biesellite atmosphere he finds himself in?

[Granodd]

Arkoss as a whole would feel confused, alienated, and a bit apprehensive of the general culture of Megacorporations and Biesellites. Megacorporate and Biesellite focus on consumerism and materialism would be the strongest contrasting point to all that he knows. A fleeting care of one's surroundings and belongings, just to pursue the next big thing their credits can buy while eagerly discarding what they no longer have use for. Them displaying a superficial sense of attachment to items, and a perhaps less than genuine sense of spirituality as opposed to Arkoss' raising and beliefs strongly rooted in Th'akh that teaches him that all things in the world have attachments to the spirits. Such behavior to him he feels is dangerous, and the lack of acknowledgement or reverence to the spirits may be irritating.

Not to mention an environment that actively employs Gawgaryn, Guwan, and people who claim that robots have a spiritual potential for ascendency.

In all it may feel like a challenge to him to maintain his beliefs and to keep working the job he was given so that he may provide better for his Clan, trying to ignore all the unpleasant themes that surround him.

[Haydizzle]

Great job on the application. I'm accepting it! Feel free to message my deputies and I with any questions you may have.