Wigglesworth Jones' Vaurca Deputy Application

[Wigglesworth Jones]

Ckey/BYOND Username: Wigglesworth Jones

Position Being Applied For: Vaurca Lore Deputy

Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations wiki page?: Yes.

Past Experiences/Knowledge: I’ve been playing Aurora since 2018 or so, and it’s about the only server I still play. While I don’t claim to know everything, I have a good knowledge of the lore as a whole. I write a lot in my spare time outside of SS13, with a particular focus on worldbuilding.

Examples of Past Work: I wrote the entirety of Vysoka when it first came out and wrote the Vysoka rework in collaboration with Canon. 

 

Additional Comments:

My perspective on Vaurca lore is that while nothing is glaringly missing and the species is in a good state, there’s room for expansion in many areas. The history of the Vaurca, the queens, and their planets are fine. The places I feel have the most that can be added are Vaurca culture and religion. A large portion of the appeal the Vaurca have for me is in how different they are compared to other species, and I feel that can be best represented through their values. As a whole, I’d like to focus on parts of the Vaurca that can be represented in-game - their culture, beliefs, augments, and biology. 

 

[La Villa Strangiato]

The only way I could sweat harder is if Sadonov applied. Wigglesworth has only played Satkut in my vicinity but they show a really strong grasp on characterization, lore, and writing craft in general.

Here's a few questions!

1. What kind of expansions would you want to make to the Lii'dra? What would you change, if anything, about the invasion of Bursa and New Gibson? (and Mendell City because that's kind of canon. I guess)

2. Do you think the Vaurca Queens need more direct of a presence in lore in the Hegemony and Federation?

3. What kind of stuff would you like to add to Vaurca religion lore?

4. Who is your favourite Queen and brood, and why? Queenless factions are also an option.

[goolie]

I'm going to give both of you +1's because you're both so great! Don't even know if you stick those on deputy applications, but I've put it here anyway. Wigglesworth is THE vaurca RPer, and it was his C'thur scientist that actually convinced me to make a whitelist of my own! Whitewolf or Wiggles will make great picks!

[Wigglesworth Jones]

1 hour ago, La Villa Strangiato said:

1. What kind of expansions would you want to make to the Lii'dra? What would you change, if anything, about the invasion of Bursa and New Gibson? (and Mendell City because that's kind of canon. I guess)

1. I'd like to deal with the limbo state the Lii'dra are in. While the Lii'dra page is outdated, I feel the "recent years" part of the wiki page is too open-ended. While there is some appeal in a mysterious, unknowable faction, it does mean that it's hard to do much with them in the broader setting. The Lii'dra, as the main antagonists of the Vaurca, should either do more to retain that role or lose that narrative significance. While the Lii'dra invasions of Bursa and New Gibson are far too integral to the lore to be changed, I personally would have made them less "invasions" and more terrorist attacks or skirmishes - it's hard for me to understand why the Lii'dra would have attempted them in the first place.

1 hour ago, La Villa Strangiato said:

2. Do you think the Vaurca Queens need more direct of a presence in lore in the Hegemony and Federation?

2. Absolutely. The K'lax and C'thur Queens both have their own opinions on the Hegemony and Federation, respectively, but I feel as if those opinions aren't represented enough in the lore itself. While the queens are not completely absent, more comments on and contributions to current events would be welcome. 

1 hour ago, La Villa Strangiato said:

3. What kind of stuff would you like to add to Vaurca religion lore?

3. Preimminence is the Vaurca religion most in need of expansion, followed closely by the Pilot Dream. Preimminence is the oldest religion the Vaurca have, and it's mentioned that their believers were culled after the Great Hive War. We know the main tenet of Preimminence, but little asides for that, and the same applies to Shapers. I want to explore the way Shapers operate. I like the mention of a Shaper's brood determining the approach they take, and I'd like to elaborate on both that and the structure of the faith as a whole. The Pilot Dream is something I find really interesting due to its ties to virtual reality and the Mother Dream's overlap with Sk'akh. I feel that believers in the Pilot Dream should have a way to attain their goal of creating a new universe outside of simply "developing better technology," as that's not really something that can be represented well in-game. Along with this, I want to explore the implications of someone believing they're in a simulation more and how it would change their morality and values.
 

1 hour ago, La Villa Strangiato said:

4. Who is your favourite Queen and brood, and why? Queenless factions are also an option.

4. The fact my two most recent Vaurca characters have been from Xetl makes my favorite brood fairly obvious, but I'll try and name a favorite from each of the hives. My favorite Zo'ra queen is Scay. I love the bio-augmentation of the Vaurca, and Scay is the Queen that does it best. The fascination her brood has with simulating other races and the stoic nature of her warriors are both really fun and give a lot of character potential. I am, frankly, torn between Tupii and Vetju for my favorite K'lax brood - Tupii's use of resleeved veterans from the Great Hive War is fascinating, but I like the fact that Vetju dislikes the status of the K'lax as a vassal to the Hegemony and the brood's general isolationism. Xetl's my favorite of the C'thur because they're so weird and have a status as the black sheep of the C'thur because of it. The practice of Vaurca in her brood living their lives in a simulation without even realizing it is great, thanks to the opportunity it provides Xetl characters, and combined with Xetl's focus on sensation, it means you can make some really unusual characters.

[whitewolftamer]

Sup king! I only have one question. Because I think it's cool
 

If the Spur were to gain knowledge of High Queen Lii'dra. How would you portray her? A hulking leviathan of organic and synthetic modification? Almost entirely unchanged from the original form of a Queen? A cold calculating overmind? 

Regardless of answer. You're a great part of the community, and given your answers thus far, I have no doubt you'd do well as a deputy lorewriter. Best of luck!

[Wigglesworth Jones]

1 hour ago, whitewolftamer said:

Sup king! I only have one question. Because I think it's cool
 

If the Spur were to gain knowledge of High Queen Lii'dra. How would you portray her? A hulking leviathan of organic and synthetic modification? Almost entirely unchanged from the original form of a Queen? A cold calculating overmind? 

Regardless of answer. You're a great part of the community, and given your answers thus far, I have no doubt you'd do well as a deputy lorewriter. Best of luck!

Thanks for your support, boss. Good luck to you, too!

As for your question: Definitely the former. I always saw the Lii'dra High Queen as something barely even recognizable as a Vaurca anymore due to essentially running the whole show - some combination of meat and metal, the size of an entire room. The Lii'dra are alien and unknowable, and the High Queen would be emblematic of that. 

 

[Triogenix]

I haven't ever got the chance to personally speak with you sadly, but from what I've heard from everyone else it seems like you'd make a good fit for the deputy lore writer position. Now for the questions.

1) What are your thoughts on the K'lax, and their relationship with the Hegemony? If you could change one thing about it, what would you change?

2) If you could retcon one Vaurca arc that has been run in the past, which would it be and why? If you wouldn't retcon any, why?

Edited August 8, 2023 by Triogenix

[GeneralCamo]

1. How do you feel the K'lax would react to the recent lore developments regarding the Hephaestus takeover of the Hegemony? Do you feel that this may change the hive's opinion on vassalization by the Zo'ra?
2. How do you feel the C'thur would react to the Traverse rebellions? Do you see their political situation changing?
3. Do you see yourself developing any of the hives' political situation? What about their relationships between each other?

[Wigglesworth Jones]

13 hours ago, Triogenix said:

1) What are your thoughts on the K'lax, and their relationship with the Hegemony? If you could change one thing about it, what would you change?

I enjoy the relationship the K'lax have with the Hegemony, as it's pretty unique because of their status as a vassal. While there are some differences between the K'lax and other vassals due to a need to farm k'ois and their use of Bound vaurca for labor, the fact that they (broadly) have the same obligations does lead to a strange kind of integration - which can be seen in their warriors serving as hopefuls in the Kataphracts or the military as a whole and the syncretism between the Mother Dream and Sk'akh religions. If I had to change one thing about their relationship with the Hegemony, I would make Vetju more willing to, if not undermine it, seek more autonomy or privileges for the K'lax. 

13 hours ago, Triogenix said:

2) If you could retcon one Vaurca arc that has been run in the past, which would it be and why? If you wouldn't retcon any, why?

If I could retcon one Vaurca arc, I'd change the initial Lii'dra invasion. As I mentioned earlier, the fact that they tried to invade a world on two separate occasions without really having the means to do so strikes me as really quite odd. I would prefer to have these be skirmishes or attacks - an attempt by the Lii'dra to probe the weaknesses of Elyra and Biesel or test a new weapon - instead of a full-scale invasion attempt. They would remain a mysterious enemy, and by avoiding an invasion that was almost certainly doomed from the start, they would be more of a threat. 

[NewOriginalSchwann]

I've spent a great amount of time working with Wigglesworth on Vysoka and his characters. I have known him since, frankly, about when I started on the server (2019) and he is a very passionate, motivated writer. It is my opinion that he would make an excellent writer if given the position. I do, however, have a few questions -- it wouldn't befit my position to not ask them, after all!

1). To build upon prior questions asked regarding the K'lax, how do you feel about the Zo'ra and their relationship to Biesel? What would you expand there?

2). What are your thoughts on the Lii'dra Incursion? Would you change anything with it?

[Wigglesworth Jones]

Apologies - I lost the first draft of this reply.

On 08/08/2023 at 10:57, GeneralCamo said:

1. How do you feel the K'lax would react to the recent lore developments regarding the Hephaestus takeover of the Hegemony? Do you feel that this may change the hive's opinion on vassalization by the Zo'ra?

The K'lax have, historically, been on good terms with Hephaestus. Tret is a Hephaestus world staffed primarily by Vaurca, after all, and the factory orbiting it was a joint project between Vetju and Hephaestus. The K'lax, I assume, would be all for Hephaestus' new monopoly in the Hegemony, and may even see it as advantageous for them due to the K'lax being used for cheap labor already. While there is something to be said about the K'lax being on better terms with the Zo'ra due to their mutual connection with the SCC, I feel that Hephaestus controlling the Hegemony's economy would result in the K'lax working closer with the Hegemony because of it instead of seeing Zo'ra vassalization in a better light. 

On 08/08/2023 at 10:57, GeneralCamo said:

2. How do you feel the C'thur would react to the Traverse rebellions? Do you see their political situation changing?

While the C'thur are, broadly, favorable to the Federation, it is in part because of the fact that it is the only option they have due to the High Queen being in their care - the only course of action they can take in the Traverse rebellions is to support the Federation because of this. I can definitely see their political situation changing because of the rebellion, mostly for the positive. While the C'thur do already have a role in the military and police of the Federation, it's mentioned that they're primarily used for support purposes because of the "mixed feelings regarding non-Skrell policing Skrell" - but as the C'thur have already proven themselves in counterinsurgency, the Traverse rebellions could give them an increased role in the Kala. 

On 08/08/2023 at 10:57, GeneralCamo said:

3. Do you see yourself developing any of the hives' political situation? What about their relationships between each other?

The C'thur and K'lax have the most to gain politically from the recent events in the Federation and Hegemony. I'd be interested in exploring how the respective hives see their positions change as a result, as I'd assume they wouldn't be idle during them. More broadly, I'd like to explore potential dissent against the Federation and Hegemony within the hives - Vetju already sees the vassalage of the K'lax as a negative, and I think there is room for friction between the C'thur and Federation due to the social credit system and the High Queen being (seen by some as) a hostage of the Federation. As for inter-hive relationships, I think the Court of Queens paves the way for friendlier relations between the hives, and there's potential for more cooperation in the future because of it, as seen with the Phalanx. 

[Wigglesworth Jones]

12 hours ago, NewOriginalSchwann said:

1). To build upon prior questions asked regarding the K'lax, how do you feel about the Zo'ra and their relationship to Biesel? What would you expand there?

Of the hives, the Zo'ra are in the best situation, politically - although Flagsdale shows that not all of them have benefited from it, the Zo'ra are the faction with the most say in their respective governments. The role the Zo'ra have in supporting the TCFL is great, and I enjoy seeing Zo'ra consulars hand out flyers for the TCFL because of this. The fact that many Vaurca still live in slums is a good thing as it shows they aren't fully integrated, and it's something I'd intend to keep in any update to the Zo'ra. I'd like to expand on the status of Bound Vaurca in Biesel and the controversies surrounding them - there's already a mention of the Zo'ra attempting to give Bounds a unique status within Biesel, so there's already potential there. 
 

12 hours ago, NewOriginalSchwann said:

2). What are your thoughts on the Lii'dra Incursion? Would you change anything with it?

The way the Lii'dra incursion was initially implemented leaves a good amount to be desired, and because of the incursion, the Lii'dra are in a kind of limbo state in modern lore. I would have preferred the Lii'dra be a threat that has long since passed after the Great Hive War, with its shadow apparent in the poor state of the Vaurca after their initial arrival. Otherwise, as mentioned earlier, the Lii'dra would have been better off staying a shadowy, clandestine group largely relegated to rumors, with Bursa and New Gibson simply being victims of mysterious bioweapons or something along those lines. By opening with two major events and then going back underground, the Lii'dra lose part of their secrecy and their narrative weight - they attacked, twice, and lost both times. 

[SilverSZ]

Now that I know I'll just have to respond to these applications as a lore plebeian and not actually make any important comments. I can do so.

Wiggles is a good friend of mine, and we actually did minorly work on lore in the past. As I helped provide some feedback and suggestions for their writing around Vysokan Synthetics. So there's no real question in my mind as to their suitability for the position, but I do have questions. 

1) Building on what you've said about the Lii'dra already? How would you like to depict them in our current lore if you were given full ability to do as you wish? You've already spoken about their page being lacking and how you would wish to retcon in the invasion arcs. But what would you add and build upon in order to create a new vision for the hive?

2) What do you think of the Ve'katak Phalanx? I personally really like it but I'm curious for your thoughts in general. Additionally, what is your thoughts on non-human members and the training they undergo to keep pace with Vaurcesian members. Do you think there's a possibility that other expectations, such as biological or mechanical augmentation, might be offered to or placed upon these non-vaurca members?

3) Since you mentioned really enjoying vaurca bio-augmentation. Do you think there's any way you would like to give it more representation IC? Whilst we have lots of cool body markings for cybernetics I don't believe there's anything like this for bio-augmentation besides just saying "I have this". Do you think body markings, or augmentations similar to the Zeng-Hu or Autakh ones would be something you'd want to implement? 

4) Since you've mentioned inter-hive diplomacy as a potential route of expansion. What about diplomacy in the hives themselves? Do you think there's any place for more politicking or scuffles between the High Queens of each hive? Or for them to have more strongly bought out differing opinions on their hives position in the world?

5) Will you let me play a Xetl Consular?  What is your favourite piece and least favourite piece of writing in Vaurca Lore?
 

Edited August 17, 2023 by SilverSZ
slight change

[Wigglesworth Jones]

On 13/08/2023 at 06:25, SilverSZ said:

1) Building on what you've said about the Lii'dra already? How would you like to depict them in our current lore if you were given full ability to do as you wish? You've already spoken about their page being lacking and how you would wish to retcon in the invasion arcs. But what would you add and build upon in order to create a new vision for the hive?

The Lii'dra works best for me as a shadowy organization - still active, but with unclear motivations behind their attacks (on the occasion they can be attributed to them at all) and a status as the bogeymen of the Vaurca. This is more or less in line with the information provided about their operations, but the fact that they have gone completely underground in their current implementation hurts their narrative importance. While I understand the infiltration element is necessary for antagonist gimmicks, I'd like to move away from that and emphasize their hit-and-run attacks and general disruption of society more narratively - rather than try to conquer from the get-go, they try to weaken areas of interest and create conflict. I would, broadly, like to make them more active, but on a smaller scale, and I'd hope to expand on the ways others try to combat them as well. 

On 13/08/2023 at 06:25, SilverSZ said:

2) What do you think of the Ve'katak Phalanx? I personally really like it but I'm curious for your thoughts in general. Additionally, what is your thoughts on non-human members and the training they undergo to keep pace with Vaurcesian members. Do you think there's a possibility that other expectations, such as biological or mechanical augmentation, might be offered to or placed upon these non-human members?

There's a reason I pointed to the Phalanx as an example of inter-hive cooperation, and I really like the Phalanx as a concept. It also assists a lot with character creation, which is a plus. Including non-Vaurca members and using VR training is interesting, and it's a shame I haven't seen any Phalanx characters that aren't Vaurca yet. I think that adding augmentations to non-Vaurca Phalanx members is a great idea, and something I've considered myself in the past. The augmentations available to ZH employees show that it's already an option, and to me, it would both fit my vision of cold, calculating Vaurca replacing their body parts to increase their efficiency just a little bit more and serve as a way to distinguish Phalanx employees. 

On 13/08/2023 at 06:25, SilverSZ said:

3) Since you mentioned really enjoying vaurca bio-augmentation. Do you think there's any way you would like to give it more representation IC? Whilst we have lots of cool body markings for cybernetics I don't believe there's anything like this for bio-augmentation besides just saying "I have this". Do you think body markings, or augmentations similar to the Zeng-Hu or Autakh ones would be something you'd want to implement? 

I want to add bio-augmentation, though I don't have any specific bio-augments in mind at the moment. I think the easiest way to implement them would be through body markings or an equivalent to the custom augmentations already in the game and simply mentioning some of the kinds of bio-augmentations available on the wiki itself. The way Zeng-Hu augments are implemented in the game work really well, in my opinion, and as I mentioned earlier, I'd like to look into adding something akin to that to both Vaurca and Phalanx employees as a whole.

On 13/08/2023 at 06:25, SilverSZ said:

4) Since you've mentioned inter-hive diplomacy as a potential route of expansion. What about diplomacy in the hives themselves? Do you think there's any place for more politicking or scuffles between the High Queens of each hive? Or for them to have more strongly bought out differing opinions on their hives position in the world?

There's certainly room for conflict and politics between the queens of a hive, sure. While I don't think they should be completely at odds with one another, the hives aren't monolithic, and there's bound to be some difference in vision between them. Athvur, for example, is already mentioned as clashing with Vaur over her refusal to leave Phoenixport, Vetju is said to resent Zkaii's position as the High Queen, and Zoleth taking the initiative by assassinating gang leaders likely isn't appreciated by all of the queens - there's definitely something to expand on here, though I think that changing their stances on their relations with their overlords to differ more is the best way to go. 

[Desven]

Thank you for applying for Vaurca lore deputy. I'm still making my choice and, in order to be more informed about each candidate, I have some questions to ask you:

1. Beyond the Lii'dra, what would you like to rework or retcon in Vaurca lore? You're probably the applicant with more years on the server, and I'm sure you've seen Vaurca lore change a lot in the past few years. Are there any other areas you think can still be improved? Any plotholes you've considered?

2. You've talked about religion. That's always been somewhat tricky to me because it vastly differs between broods and even hive-cells. Do you like the idea of how Vaurca religion works right now? Or do you find it troublesome that a species so controlling and organized is pretty laissez faire when it comes to faith?

3. If you could write a complete wiki article yourself on Vaurca lore, what would it be about?

[Desven]

Sorry for the delay, but Wigglesworth sent me his answers as he currently can't log in to the forums:

Quote

1. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is why Sedantis was abandoned, though this is mostly a subjective thing. I'd change the reason why Sedantis was abandoned to be self-inflicted (as a result of the war) or otherwise elaborate on the reason why phoron was thought responsible for the gravitational shift, as I think the former is more compelling and the latter needs more details. It would be nice, as well, to expand a little on the Queenless, as I think they're fairly underutilized by players and could be fleshed out some more to help potential Queenless characters. The recent update to the Xi'larx is a great addition, and I'd like to give other Queenless a similar treatment.

2. I definitely understand the issues you bring up with Vaurca religion, though I think it differing between broods is a positive thing. I like the general concept of how Vaurca religion works, and I think it's possible to keep it the way it is by playing into the idea of Vaurca religion being an unconscious thing - something inherent to a particular Vaurca. And it's certainly possible to have Vaurca religion be hive/brood-controlled, but I think there's room for fringe beliefs as having something be wholly monolithic feels implausible for me.

3. I want to create a wiki page for Caprice/New Sedantis. It's the home of the Court of Queens, and I feel that makes it important enough to warrant its own page. While, yes, it is largely inhospitable to anything that isn't Vaurca, I think it deserves more than three paragraphs. What's New Sedantis like - how much progress has been made in creating cities out of the caverns underneath the planet? Or the embassy on the South Pole? There's stuff to be explored there, and I think it has potential for a wiki article.

 

[Desven]

Congratulations, and welcome to the lore team as a Vaurca deputy.