[ACCEPTED] Lavillastrangiato Skrapplication (skrell application)

[La Villa Strangiato]

BYOND Key: Lavillastrangiato
Character Names: Meret Aikio, Gulay Uzun, Jiaxing Volvalaad, Rosalea Arrellanes, etc etc
Species you are applying to play: Skrell
What color do you plan on making your first alien character: White
Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes!

Why do you wish to play this specific race: I'd like to play a Skrell because I'd like to gain some more well-rounded knowledge of an aspect of lore I previously neglected. After digging into Skrell lore, I was very happy to find the concept of a technologically-advanced yet stagnant race being played a lot better than B*ystation. There are intriguing reasons for such widespread societal cohesion (they're literally psychically influencing each other to groupthink!) and the generational trauma of Glorsh-Omega creating an insular, highly-regulated society that punishes non-normative behaviour. Wow, literally 1894! One thing I also found a really cool Doylist explanation for why Skrell only speak Nral'malic is the history of them wiping out all other languages. I'm big on lore that explores colonialism and its implications especially within non-human sci-fi societies, so I thought that was very cool.

I'd also like to learn more skrore (skrell lore) to get a stronger grasp on Vaurca and Diona lore, as these are two species that have very strong ties with the Federation (and I have never played a C'thur for fear of mucking up some skrell lore).

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human: Skrell are an amphibious species of (short) humanoids native to the planet of Qerrbalak, part of the galaxy-spanning Nralakk Federation. They are psionic, sharing a collective psychic field known as the Wake, which subtly incentivises groupthink and a strong collective mindset. Those who are less susceptible to psionic influence are known as "Listeners" in contrast to "Receivers", and are stereotyped as shifty and generally untrustworthy.

Skrell society is heavily anti-synthetic due to the collective trauma of the reign of Glorsh-Omega. Glorsh-Omega was a tyrannical artificial intelligence singularity that ruled over the Skrell for over a century, and laid down rigid, sometimes nonsensical laws that could see any dissident Skrell being harshly punished or executed. Among other crimes, it sterilised many Skrell with a vaccine known as the X'Lu'oa, put many through back-breaking slave labour, and dictated regulations at unpredictable whim. The Skrell's relief came when Glorsh met a sudden end (or did they?) after an event known as the Tri-Qyu explosion, in which a massive surge of bluespace energy seemed to destroy the artificial intelligence.

In the aftermath of Glorsh-Omega's reign, the Nralakk Federation gradually came together under a strictly-managed authoritarian government, that while a technological utopia pushed Skrell into groupthink and adhering closely to social norms for fear of social shunning and re-education. It is worth noting that while a human may see "re-education" as carrying the implications of death or physical torture, the Nralakk Federation almost never practices the death penalty (even if sometimes in name only). Capital punishment takes the form of forced, indefinite cryosleep, but capital punishment and actual physical harm is quite rare in the Federation's law enforcement.

Within the Nralakk Federation, most Skrell live comfortably. A skrell's societal standing is determined by their Social Credit Score (SCS), a numerical value assigned to Federation citizens which determines what privileges (and sometimes what humans would consider rights) within Federation space. Primaries, the highest numericals, earn access to exclusive living spaces, the best medical treatment, and other privileges which all other numericals are not permitted. Those with a particularly low social credit score are even barred from reproduction, discouraging producing tadpoles with a "dissident" mindset.

Character Name: Qilue Volvuqiuxiu
Please provide a short backstory for this character: Qilue Volvuqiuxiu is a Xiialt Skrell native to Aliose, born a Listener. Biologically, they were one of two tadpoles born to Syloiv Quuvolvu, a doctor strongly loyal to the Federation, and Wylux Uiloy, a former Lyukal member and member of the Veteran's Lodge. Wylux grew somewhat distant from the Quya early on in Qilue's gestation, and they and their Qrra'Myaqq Quuyilov were raised by Syloiv and another Qu'Poxii Ryuhilu, practicing Weishi and living a normal life.

Qilue began pursuing a medical career in Depth College at the Aliose University of Medical Sciences, and during this time they started to speak more to Wylux, in contrast to Quuyilov. Wy'lux told Qilue tales of the reign of Glorsh-Omega, and how the signs had long been seen due to society's complacency and group-think. As a Listener, Qilue was quite aware of their general reputation as untrustworthy due to their lack of ability to be psionically inoculated into this collective mindset, and it was here they began to doubt some of the teachings and Federation-centric values they'd been raised with. Over time in their education, Qilue began to syncretise Wy'lux's Suur'ka beliefs into their own Weishi ideaology, though they kept it secret in order to avoid conflict. Qilue was fully aware of the irony, and felt guilt over having dissenting feelings towards the Federation, which they still believed in deeply, but not being confident enough to fully commit to Suur'ka teachings. Around this time, Qilue's name was Qilue Volvuqiuxiu'Wylux; their newfound connection with their other parent was readily apparent.

Qilue pursued both a medical doctorate and studied psychology in school, with the intent of eventually working around the Federation with all manner of species (except, of course, with synthetics). They met and settled down with an academic rival named Vuvuyulqa Jru'Kylu, and after long attempts of trying, finally celebrated the birth of a child, Kuulraq.

But the isolation of being a Listener, and having to constantly hide being an adherent of Suur'ka, was wearing on Qilue. As much as they loved Vuvuyulqa, being around them was beginning to become stifling, not to mention a growing rift due to Qilue's hiding of their beliefs from their Qu'Poxii. Vuvu began to grow suspicious of their lover, and unbeknownst to Qilue, began to investigate their Quya and Wylux's beliefs. Vuvu discovered Wy'lux's Suur'ka beliefs through some questioning of Veteran Lodge-adjacents and Qilue's Qrri'Myaq, and eventually accused Qilue of being Suur'ka to the Ruupkala itself. Upon interrogation, Qilue could no longer contain their secret and admitted that they had been taught Suur'ka in secret by Wy'lux. Both Qraa'Myaq and tadpole were disgraced, with the rest of Qilue's Quya isolating themselves from them, and Vuvuyulqa permitting Kuulraq to have only limited contact with Qilue.

Devastated from both the sudden isolation from their family, the marked drop in their social credit score from 6.98 to 4.55 and with little options available to them in their homeland, Qilue decided to take up a work exchange contract with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, hoping the time away from Nralakk could provide a much-needed break and personal insight. Despite this, Qilue attempts to remain optimistic and open, feeling (mostly) confident that they could one day regain a comfortable position within Skrell society again, though their attachment to the beliefs taught by their parent still lingers in their mind.

What do you like about this character?: I'm going to be completely honest and say "they took the fucking tadpoles in the divorce" is a hilarious phrase, which is partially what inspired Qilue's backstory. However, I like the idea of playing a deeply conflict nationalist whose own beliefs and practices put them at odds with the majority of their culture, leaving them an outcast. I think the conflict of "skran (skrell man) versus society" and whether or not it's better to fit in and not be true to your own beliefs or stand out at risk of losing everything is something I would like to play with a Skrell character without having them be explicitly anti-Federation.
How would you rate your role-playing ability?: im ceo of lore im good roleplay

Notes: Qilue is she/her within human space and they/them in the Federation. Also, I'm not too sure on the precise social credit score numbers or the drop Qilue would take, but owing to how they were an upstanding citizen of the Federation prior, they remained a Secondary (though now a low-numerical one).

Edited November 25, 2023 by WhatsUpBrotendo

[WhatsUpBrotendo]

Hi, thanks for applying.

I'm going to accept this since it's obvious you've read at least a large chunk of the lore. I don't feel the need to ask extra questions.

As for the social credit score comment in your notes, keep in mind that they are a listener and that alone would be a large barrier in terms of SCS progression. We ask players to be sensible, and there's no real hard rule on what score your character would have, but if you want a suggestion I'd say anything between 5 and 6 would make sense considering their family ties (veteran's lodge member and a Federation-loyal Doctor as parents).