[ACCEPTED] TeslaBeam - Skrell Application

[TeslaBeam]

BYOND Key: TeslaBeam
Character Names: Anica Kolar, Ella Baker, Scarlett Weyfield, Xayaa-kis Kezhik
Species you are applying to play: Skrell
What color do you plan on making your first alien character: Red
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:

    There's a lot to love about the Skrell. Aesthetics aside (which I love), there's so much about their lore that I find appealing. From the stiff, bureaucratic federation with its bizarre Social Credit System, to the mystical Nlom and Srom, to their unique long-form psychology and straightforward sense of humour. There's a great deal of opportunity to dive deep and fish out some good roleplay. If I had to pick out one thing that really drew me in to begin with, it would be the Srom. The idea of a psionic dream world is just too cool.

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

    There are plenty of key differences between playing Humans and Skrell. As mentioned before, they have a different way of viewing life, owing to their longer stages of development. While a Human might make decisions that lead to immediate gratification, a Skrell will think of the longer-form consequences. This will, naturally, lead to a divergence in roleplay between Human and Skrell Characters. In addition, there are more subtle differences, such as the relative lack of facial expressions, use of slang, and complete lack of gender. All of these characteristics combine to make a distinct type of character which will behave quite differently from the average Human.

Character Name: Qika Wrel-Neq

Please provide a short backstory for this character
(Approximately two paragraphs)

    Qika had always found meaning in the cosmos. As an Axiori from Aweiji with no Qrra'Myaqq, Qika was raised almost entirely on the sciences alone. They found an interest in the stars early into their juvenile years, and dove enthusiastically into the Qeblak faith. Such was their dedication, that they were permitted to take their coming of age ceremony at the Wonqio Monastery, where they made their Qe'Naho proud with their performance. As for education, their passion for the subject matter far outpaced their patience for the minutiae of a balanced education, though this behavior was quickly ironed out by their Qrri'Myaq. After decades upon decades of perseverance, backed by an unending thirst for knowledge, Qika left The Gliutip'lyaz University a Qu'vesi, having focused their studies on archaeology and history.

    Following their education, Qika engaged in a brief stint as an archaeologist across Federation space. However, before long, the insidious call of responsibility reigned them in, blunting their passion. They returned to the Homeworld, taking a comfortable position as a professor, and even forming a Quya with their closest friends from their Uyi'vesi days. However, they quickly found sedentary life unfulfilling, and fertility issues left them without offspring. After a few short decades, the monotony of a stable life set in, and a general dissatisfaction with a lack of legacy reignited a nearly-forgotten passion for exploration. Qika left their stable life in the Federation behind for the greater Spur.

    Qika's accomplished academic career, outward support of the Federation, and steadfast devotion to Qeblak have secured them a comfortable Social Credit Score of 6.12 at the age of 173. However, their insatiable wanderlust, inability to reproduce, and unwillingness to commit to a bureaucratic position have kept them firmly out of the Primary Numericals. Despite this, they have found opportunity to advance their knowledge and career where they can, most recently by joining the Tuz'qlip Researchers. Though Qika often feels a sense of unease working alongside Zeng-Hu's significant synthetic workforce, they are nonetheless excited by the prospect of exploration and discovery afforded them by their new posting on the SCCV Horizon.

What do you like about this character?

    I like the idea of a Skrell that, while still deeply loyal to the Federation, still has an urge to leave and see the greater Spur, while chasing some great scientific accomplishment that will win them lasting respect back home. Someone who almost fits into the ideals of their society, but has some amount of eccentricity that pulls them just away from being a model citizen. I would be very excited to explore this angle through natural roleplay, and develop them as time goes on and as they interact with other species and cultures.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

    I would say I'm okay. I think I'm pretty good at getting "into" a character and behaving in a believable way, but I struggle at the "small talk" aspect of roleplaying. I'm also working to improve the frequency/quality of my emotes.

Edited June 5, 2023 by WhatsUpBrotendo
Added some spacing to make it a little easier to read.

[WhatsUpBrotendo]

Hi, thanks for applying. 

I don't see anything in the app that I need to correct, so I'll ask some questions.

1. How does Qika view the Federation as a whole? Has their inability to advance in the social credit system due to their personality (and inability in the case of having children) caused them to resent the Federation in any way? You mentioned them being deeply loyal to the Federation in the "What do you like about this character" section, but I'd like you to expand on their views.
2. How do they view groups that are anti-Federation (Lyukal, certain other nations, etc)?
3. How does Qika view non-Skrell? Specifically Diona and C'thur Vaurca, but mention other species if possible too. 
4. How does Qika view Skrell born outside of the Federation?
5. Is Qika a listener or a receiver?
6. How does Qiki view synthetics as a whole? They were born in the Radiant/Contact Era, meaning they wouldn't have experienced life under Glorsh or the immediate aftermath of their disappearance, and would have had to rely on school and first-hand accounts from older Skrell to learn about that part of their history.
7. While you may have answered it indirectly, what is Qika going to be on the Horizon? With a background in archaeology and history, I'm assuming xenoarchaeology, but I just wanted to double-check.
8. How does Qika feel regarding recent events as they relate to the Federation (the collapse of the Sol Alliance, the Phoron Crisis, etc)?

[TeslaBeam]

Thanks for the response.

1. I would say it's less resentment, and more a sense of disappointment. Qika would still view the Federation as a net positive for the Skrell, but they held an ideal for how everything worked when they were younger, and that ideal hasn't exactly matched up entirely with reality. Particularly, they believe that, while conformity is important, the degree to which the bureaucracy punishes going outside the lines is slightly harsh, even to the point of stifling scientific progress to a degree. However, they recognize that they are just one voice, and that the Federation has been around for a long time, and has been guided by wiser Skrell than them. Qika still holds love for the Federation, and they wouldn't express these views very openly.

2. While they believe the Lyukal to have served a very important purpose during the reign of Glorsh-Omega, Qika believes that their modern counterparts have little in common with the old Resistance, and have largely lost their way. While Qika looks upon the Oqolk-Kora more favorably due to their non-violent methods, believing they can be peacefully re-integrated into broader Skrell society, they believe the group is still misguided, and their efforts are dangerous to the Federation as a whole. As for the Plurqh'Quq and the more radical elements of the Raqa'Nuul, Qika believes that they must unfortunately be stamped out, as their methods are too violent and disruptive to Federation to justify a softer approach. Qika would know too little about the Qranqi to have an informed opinion about them.

3. Being a Symbiosist, Qika views the other organic races amicably, believing that each have their own potential to contribute positively to the Spur, albeit to varying degrees. They view Humanity as a civilization that hasn't reached their full potential yet, being too fragmented and prone to violence. They believe Tajara, and particularly Unathi, are worse off in this regard, and have a great deal of development and change to go through before they can reach a more productive society. However, Qika realizes that these cultures place a greater emphasis on individuality (possibly to their detriment), and tries to judge each member of the species they come across separate from the whole.

   In much the same spirit, Qika views the Vaurca as a net boon to the Federation. While they are uncomfortable at best with the Bound as a whole, they respect the C'thur Hive for their contributions and generally positive attitude toward the Federation. While they have minor qualms about the way hive-cells are grouped in the Social Credit System, they are largely satisfied with the C'thur's integration. While Qika still feels positively regarding Vaurca from other Hives (with the noted exception of the Lii'dra), they feel slightly less warm towards them, both due to unfamiliarity and a sense of missed potential due to their distance from the Federation.

   As for the Dionae, Qika views them in very high regard. They are endlessly fascinated by the collective nature of their biology, and believe it works to the Diona's benefit, allowing them to be more naturally predisposed to cooperation. Qika even believes that, while the Federation is generous to Dionae as a whole, there should be more relaxed regulations on the species, particularly those from the Conglomerated Choir. This is due to their belief that the Dionae have largely proven themselves as loyal citizens since their assimilation into Federation society.
    

4. While Qika holds no hatred from Skrell born in other regions of the Spur, they do view them with a form of pity. In their mind, without the structure of the Federation, Skrell are too scattered and fragmented to fully develop, and may not perform in their lives as well as they otherwise could have. Even more tragic to Qika are those Skrell without a community of other Skrell, for they will have grown up without feeling the comfort of a psionic collective. They would likely treat a non-Federation Skrell respectfully, but with an underlying sense of sadness toward their circumstances.

5. Receiver.

6. They are generally wary of synthetics, particularly positronics and AI. While they would not share the same hatred or outright fear older Skrell might have, they would certainly be receptive to the lessons taught to them. However, they are able to work alongside synthetics when it is practical to, especially with their recent employment under Zeng-Hu. While Qika is not completely satsified with the arrangement, they recognize that they have essentially no influence over whether synthetics are used in the megacorporation, so any protest would only serve to jeopardize their work.

7. Yes, they will be a xenoarchaeologist.

8. Though Qika is certainly no politician, they still hold strong views regarding some of the more major recent events. The collapse of Sol was seen by them as a tragic, but inevitable fate, owing to their relatively violent ways, and extremely fragmented populace. They feel similarly regarding the Coalition in its recent troubles, believing it is only a matter of time before it splits entirely, and horrific wars sweep the colonies. Curiously, they watch the fledging Republic of Biesel with cautious optimism. Though its population is too diverse in culture, and its laws too lax, Qika feels they display a strong sense of unity. Perhaps, given a few centuries, they believe the Republic could develop into a force for good in the Spur, resembling the Federation in its own way.

   More worrying to them, however, is the looming threat of phoron scarcity affecting the Spur. While the implications terrify them, Qika believes it is a problem that can be solved only through diligence. There may be some yet-unknown chemical compound that can act as a substitute for phoron, though the tragedy on Mars dulled much of the hope for this. Maybe a reactor could be developed that utilizes phoron far more efficiently, greatly reducing need. Or, perhaps, the answer lies somewhere in the stars, waiting in some long-forgotten ruin, however slim those odds might be. Whatever the solution, Qika tries their best to hold optimism for its discovery, despite the grim circumstances.

Edited June 4, 2023 by TeslaBeam
Fixed spacing on one of the paragraphs.

[TeslaBeam]

Apologies, on a re-read I realize I didn't fully answer question 2.

   As for cold or even hostile nations, Qika looks at them with more leniency than most of the Lyukal. In their eyes, these nations have often experienced great political turmoil, and in many cases, outright large-scale war, and it is somewhat understandable for them to make mistakes while recovering. However, to Qika, the fault still does lie with those who remain anti-Federation. In the DPRA's case, their lack of central authority gives rise to many terrorist cells, like the ones who conspired to bomb District 8. For the NKA, they are an illegitimate state that must accept the PRA's rule, lest their people remain split. And as for the Coalition, Qika believes they are far too entrenched in their attitude toward Sol, going so far as to balk at the Federation simply by association, and therefore obstruct wider cooperation across the Spur. However, Qika does not believe there is no chance for change, and each of these nations has a path to a better future through cooperation with the Federation, excepting the more violent elements of the DPRA.

Edited June 4, 2023 by TeslaBeam
Fixed a minor grammatical error. Twice.

[WhatsUpBrotendo]

[ACCEPTED]