accepted N. Komaeda's Unathi application - 'I have faith in my Unathi application, believe it or not.'

[Nagito Komaeda]

BYOND Ckey: N. Komaeda

Discord username: viego_vol_kalah

Character names: Jason Hellevan, Marina Sanchez, Aqii Tola-Riv.

Species you are applying to play: Unathi.

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General Whitelist Requirements

What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: Brown (think Mudki Stone).

Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yes, though I have focused on the ‘basics’, not on deeper things (specific Moghesian locations, entertainment etc.).

 

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 species?: 

Somehow, Unathi are always the coolest no matter what server you go to. Huge, muscular lizards with a deep relation to religion, culture, community and work are cool as fuck. I find that, for me, they’re a really effective method of translating a character idea into reality. They have to navigate being devoted to their faith (or lack thereof), their differences with other aliens in the universe, and their consistent dedication to their craft, all while being one of the most intimidating species around. Aurora Unathi deepen this by adding ‘gender’ as a major decider in their life, which is neat.
 

What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?:

Due to their physique and culture, Unathi express themselves differently from humans - or any other species, really. For starters: They stare. A lot. To the point where it might be uncomfortable for someone. They stare because they’re interested in something, and they kind of expect you to hold eye contact with them as well. Also, don’t point at them. It’s rude. If the Unathi has a particularly bad day, it might even consider duelling you because of it.

Body language also plays a big part in the expressions of a Unathi. The tail is used to emphasise emotions, for example, while anything relating to the throat signifies an extreme truth: Trust, shame, connection etc. The flipside is that a Unathi protecting its throat signifies distrust.
Verbally, Unathi huff and bark to show certain emotions. They can rattle as well. Pretty cool stuff. Their manner of speech is very gendered (more on gender in their society later) - male usually refers to something to protect or attack, female usually refers to something meant to heal or help. They also use time as a descriptor: Fast is bad, slow is good. Also, they have a good amount of idioms. I won’t repeat them here because that’s not the point. But they’re cool.

Big one: Faith. Unathi culture is filled to the brim with religion. There’s two main faiths: Th’akh and Sk’akh. Th’akh is about understanding that all spirits pass on to an afterlife, and that the living must honour the spirits in life so they may join them in death. Sk’akh builds off of this, believing that the spirits pass on into an assimilated Entity, who in turn represents the three aspects of Unathi life: The life of a Warrior, the life of a Healer, and the life of a Fisherman. Both of these faiths give colour to the Unathi’s world, pushing them to act in a specific way. These two are more inherent, though they will show up in fitting scenarios.

Th’akh has an off-shoot in the form of the Aut’akh, Unathi who believe the body suffers from biological frailty. To that end, they have made an entire religion out of the implementation, acceptance and reverence of cybernetic and mechanical augmentation. Sk’akh, on the other hand, has an off-shoot called Si’akh, Unathi who believe that the living Unathi must repent for the sins they brought upon their own kind. This is a faith about fire, suffering, devotion and tradition, and it could even be interpreted as hostile. Both Aut’akh and Si’akh are more overt and present within active roleplay, due to the massive influence they have on the way a follower of these faiths present themselves.

With faith comes gender. Unathi believe that sex and gender are separated, and that gender is determined by what you do. Warriors are traditionally male, while doctors are traditionally female. A biologically female Unathi may be considered male if she is a devoted warrior, for example, and vice versa. Being gender neutral is also possible in their society, which is usually associated with builders and engineers. Different faiths, as well as different planetary cultures, have their own views on gender and gender fluidity.

Hegemony Unathi are lightly xenophobic, but they have warmed up to humans through the establishment of Hephaestus Industries on Moghes, and to the Vaurca through the K’lax hive’s vassalship. Ouerean Unathi developed a culture alongside humans and Skrell, resulting in a more tolerant society (except to Hephaestus Industries, fuck those guys).

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Character Name: Uskiro Kisisril

Please provide a short backstory for this character

The colonisation of Ouerea demanded all hands on deck from the forming communities. Building a town is one thing, building an entire planet takes countless years, hard work and sweat. Hatched in 2413, Uskiro hails from a clan of metalworkers who devoted their lives to their smithing. Metalwork shifted, though, when First Contact happened on Ouerea, and the Unathi were introduced to heavier machinery by the Solarian Alliance and the Nralakk Federation. Growing up alongside such machinery, Uskiro always found himself amazed by the sheer strength and effectiveness of metal. The Unathi had made metal move - but other species made it dance.

In his youth, Uskiro always loved seeing industrial machinery work their wonders, tirelessly and dedicatedly. So, following in the footsteps of his family, Uskiro studied and scrapped, built and operated such equipment. He found joy in this, as these machines felt like an extension to himself. He was the hand that guides the blade.

Then, the Contact War happened, and Moghes neglected Ouerea to focus on their in-fighting. Ouereans valued community, and they could not fathom this. The Contact War was the catalyst for Aut’akh to be formed. Such evil could only stem from a chained, bitter soul, and Aut’akh served to achieve spiritual freedom.

Initially, Uskiro did not pay much mind to the formation of such a religion. He kept focusing on his craft, travelling Ouerea with other craftsmen to build their own world, free from the Moghesian nuclear oppression. Even in loneliness and in fatigue, and in grievous injury, Uskiro told himself he did it for those close to him.

Until he lost a finger.

It started small. One industrial accident in a remote area, resulting in one of Uskiro’s fingers getting stuck between the hydraulics of a loader unit. Medical help was too late to salvage it, and Uskiro found himself lacking a digit. Humans had such useful solutions: In exchange for some money, Uskiro became the owner of his very own prosthetic finger. Such a small device, and yet he saw it as another extension of his will. With praise to the applying mechanic, he returned to his work, feeling more like himself than before.

When he returned home, however, he was primarily met with a mix of disgust and concern. Th’akh believes the body houses the spirit. For lack of better terms, Uskiro cut down a tree in his garden, and replaced it with a lamp. His family - his community - disapproved, leaving Uskiro to ponder his decisions. He felt insulted, worthless, and like a failure, that he did something that caused his community to think poorly of him.

Seeking like-minded individuals, Uskiro met up with other Sinta with prosthetics. With Aut’akh on the rise, these small groups started forming their own communities, slowly but surely shaping a new faith. Uskiro is not one of the first, but he has practised the Aut’akh tenets for many, many years now. He willingly accepted a new hand - then a new arm, augmenting it so he can better do his work. As he grew older, he welcomed further augmentation. Anything to help him in his new life.

Uskiro prizes himself on helping keep the Underbelly safe with his equipment, be it the construction of exosuits to keep intruders out, or helping shamans install, bless and maintain prosthetic limbs and augmentations. He became part of a new community, and he would protect it. To Uskiro, violence isn’t always the answer, but it is a great test of one’s body, spirit and the deep relationship between these two.

Why would an old man leave his community behind, though? Even he doesn’t know fully what compelled him to do so. Perhaps he grew tired of monotony, and the stress of living on a planet where his practised faith is considered an extremist’s justification. Perhaps he wanted to broaden his skills and explore the knowledge brought forth by the other species in the universe. Or perhaps he wants to be the person he found when he needed it most: Someone who accepts others and functions as a catalyst, so that a lost soul may find their path again.

 

How have the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? Events such as the Phoron Scarcity, the Solarian Collapse or even the Invasions of Biesel for interstellar-wide affairs, while region-specific events such as the Peacekeeper Mandate, The Titan Rises or even Cold Dawn may impact your character. 

If we’re talking about a Unathi from Ouerea, then The Titan Rises cannot be ignored - ESPECIALLY for an Aut’akh. The Ouerean Unathi never resented Hephaestus Industries when they asserted themselves, but that changed once the megacorporation started showing their true colours of exploitation. The Aut’akh communities are a thorn in the side of Hephaestus Industries, stealing their equipment and materials to fuel the creation of new prosthetics, augments and even industrial machinery. Naturally, Uskiro butted heads with Hephaestus personnel trying to access the Underbelly, and some of these confrontations turned hostile. Seeing how Hephaestus exploits communities infuriates Uskiro, and he despises anything related to the Titan.

As a person, Uskiro would only offer veneer and insults to Hephaestus representatives, and he would never fully trust anyone working for the megacorporation (unless they’re genuinely not aware of the exploitation.) He considers theft of Hephaestus equipment to be morally good, as he views it to be ‘taking back what was stolen’. Uskiro considers the actions of the Hegemon to be borderline betrayal to his community. Moghes being rendered a wasteland by the Contact War should not be a reason for Ouerea to suffer, yet it is what the Hegemon dictates. Uskiro does not approve of such. 

 

How does your character view the megacorporation they work for?

Orion Express is relatively simple. They work hard and don’t uphold these huge hidden agendas of planetary-scale exploitation. Uskiro feels like Orion Express doesn’t fully value his mechanical expertise, but he gets paid and he is given the opportunity to gain more knowledge. Uskiro’s a hard worker despite that, and he’ll do what the company asks him to do. It helps that they’re a rival to Hephaestus in the operations sector. Uskiro feels like he contributes to battling the Titan, however little one man’s work means.

 

Notes: Ask away! I’m always open to questions. I don’t have many hours on the server, in part because I need motivation for my characters (which a Unathi whitelist helps with). I also have another character concept in the works for when I eventually want to try a Command whitelist, so if there’s particular interest in screening that, let me know.

 

 

[RustingWithYou]

Hi, thanks for applying! I have a few questions for you.

1. As an Ouerean, how was Uskiro affected by the tumultuous recent history of Ouerea over the last few decades - the Sol/Nralakk governance, the return of feudalism and the Revolution of 2460 in particular?

2. How does Uskiro feel about the humans and Skrell who he shared a planet with?

3. What are Uskiro's views on the recent emergence of the Champions of Moghes and their violently anti-Hephaestus actions?

[Nagito Komaeda]

Thank you for your quick answer!

Regarding your first question, about the developments on Ouerea. Uskiro never knew much better when he was hatched on the planet. Naturally, he knew of the existence of Moghes, but whatever went on there wasn't the status quo for him as a Ouerean. Life on Ouerea worked out well, despite the youth of the planet. The arrival of Sol and the Federation only helped improve the colony, especially in a time where the ones who should have been there (the Hegemony) were too busy meeting their makers. He understands their retreat when the Hegemony decided to 'take back' the colony, but it caused him more sadness than anger. Like his own people, the humans and the Skrell were part of one great community.

His view on Feudalism is obviously negative. Not only has a more democratic society through the Synod of Scales proven effective, the feudalistic system back on Moghes failed horribly. The idea that power lies in a sole 'Lord' does not gel well with Uskiro. The implementation of the human and Skrellian political systems really helped solidify Ouerea's sense of community - We are in this together, and we get to decide together. Uskiro's immediate thoughts would be that the Hegemony has failed them - the Ouerean Unathi - but that the typical Ouerean principle (the blade cuts both ways; Both sides have failed each other) does not apply here. It was not the choice of Ouerea to cause an upheaval in their planetary governance. This was solely the decision of the Hegemon. As a sidenote regarding his belief: The Months of Blood were another catalyst for the growth of Aut'akh on Ouerea, as the injured find themselves in need of (mechanical) help. More radical Aut'akh would point at the Hegemon's actions and say, "His body cannot house his soul, his evil soul. This is why we must change, to never become a demon stuck in flesh." Uskiro's faith in the Hegemon is dwindling, and fast.

When Hephaestus started their exploitative practices on Ouerea, Uskiro's resentment grew. He heard the stories from those who suffered at the hands of the Titan's company, and deep inside he approves of the Aut'akh practices against the megacorporation. The worst part of all - Ouereans have seen what a 'good' megacorporation is like, when NT boosted the colony's growth through shuttlefare. The way Hephaestus treats his community disgusts Uskiro deeply. The rebellion, after the walkout in 2460, was a way for the Ouerean people to finally cry out for help. Uskiro is cocky, proud and old enough to talk about the way he himself fought with Hephaestus officers, though always out of self-defense. His respect for nobility returned just a little bit when then-Lord-Regent Not'Zar actually talked with the Ouereans. They never got what they wanted (full democratic freedom), so the current feudalism-with-a-tinge-of-democracy-system works like salt in the wound. The recent events with Hephaestus Industries and the Hegemony basically poisoning Ouerea to save Moghes shattered that respect for the now-Hegemon, and only solidified the deeply-rooted hatred towards the Titan. These events also culminated in one of the many possible reasons why he would leave: This planet might not be safe anymore. Not from the Titan, not from the Hegemon. It might only be a matter of time until everything they care about gets rolled up, thrown into a HI plant to break their body for nothing. And if that happens, then the Aut'akh especially won't be safe.

 

Lot of answers to one question there! Let's move on to your second question, Uskiro's opinions on humanity and the Skrell. Of course, they were (and still are) alien to him. This was the case when he was just a hatchling. But they brought so much to Ouerea, to make it grow and prosper. Without them, the Ouerean Unathi would not have found themselves the way they did now. Maybe, without them,  they would just be another happy slave to the Hegemony-Hephaestus Industries regime that took over Moghes. His conversion to the Aut'akh faith also started small, with the action of humans: The prosthetic finger. He still keeps it around, after seeing his arm replaced with an Aut'akh prosthetic, having it on a chain as a necklace. Without their presence, Uskiro would not have been where he is now, and it is difficult to resent them for leaving when the pressure got too high.  He respects the Skrell for sticking around even during the Rebellion, and is quick to be jovial with any one Skrell who fought against the megacorporation's mounting oppression.

 

Then to your third and final question, the Champions of Moghes. At their core, both the Champions and the Aut'akh despise the effect of Hephaestus Industries on the Unathi. It's just that their ideology differs too much - The Champions believe they should return to something that was pure and true, while the Aut'akh believe they should transcend into something more pure and true than before. The assassination attempt on the Titan, in Uskiro's eyes, was just fate. Aeson's actions evoked a response, and he was extraordinarily lucky to survive the attempt. It's not too unlikely that some of the mechanisms Uskiro worked on - suits, machines, prosthetics - found their way in the claws of the Champions, and he doesn't disapprove of their usage. Uskiro's not an active extremist of sorts, but he does stand behind anything and everything that would make Hephaestus suffer.

 

 

[RustingWithYou]

Thanks for the answers - this application is accepted. Have fun playing a lizard!