“Our will is tempered by the fire, our fear turned to ash.” - The Kataphract Expansion

[Nagito Komaeda]

Lore Impact: Medium

Species: Unathi, Vaurca

Short Description: An expansion on the history, organizational structure and methods of the Kataphract Order. Aims to add one new 'role' for the Kataphract ship. Also collects most of the necessary information surrounding the Saa'Izweski in one place.

How will this be reflected on-station?:

The Kataphracts are an off-ship role, and this would mainly be seen there. With us going into the Unathi arc in June, we might see a little of this scattered here and there. In-game changes would be the titles given to the Kataphracts (Knight-Captain gets Ar'Saa), and the addition of a bed (next to the TRASH or in the brig) where an Ezo'Saa can spawn (whitelisted! Learners can be unwhitelisted but scum that is discriminated against requires much more knowledge on why.)

On-station characters can use this to more accurately describe their original position in the Kataphract Order, gush over specific Chapters (or hate others, I don't judge). Perhaps even down the line, reformed Ezo'Saa may find their way on the Horizon, now considered regular peasants*.

Yes, I was inspired to write this after playing the newly remapped Kataphract ship. I love these silly little LARP lizards.

*these Sinta are still expected to face discrimination from both their rejected culture and from nobility in the Hegemony. There's no winning for them.

Does this addition do anything not achieved by what already exists?: The Kataphracts already exist, this just serves to give them a lot more depth.

Do you understand that the project may change over time in ways you may not foresee once it is handed over to the Lore Team? As the Hegemon decrees. Unironically, though, it is possible I missed some small details in old lore articles, so no qualms if they get added.

Long Description: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16gkLj8jRqU_DDPs73yY6l1afsR-SOMNjedNJpLCTzaI/edit?usp=sharing

[NekoMarbles]

Replying to this, perhaps a bit late, to say I'm fully in support of any sort of expansion to the current Kataphract lore. I think what Komaeda has proposed in his document can serve as a great way to flesh out the Kataphract Order more, and as someone who FREQUENTLY plays on the Kataphract Off-ship whenever It's been around, having some more extended lore regarding the Order, who they are, how they function, etc. would greatly help with enjoyment (and staying cohesive about whether we have first/last names. Cough cough.).

+1!

[Lent23]

Hey,

I'd like to be a bit transparent and say that I've been a bit busy, and that's why it's taken so long to get back to you about your post, and I apologize for that.

I know we're sitting on a little over a week of this post being up. This application was received positively by the Unathi team. I was already planning a bit of a rework on the Kataphracts as an Order, and I'm looking to include a number of things from your application in my work. Would you be alright with us selectively picking things from your application, or are you more interested in a "all-or-nothing" sort of deal?

Let me know how you feel either way! 😃

[Nagito Komaeda]

Hi Lent, thank you for responding! No worries about it taking some time. I'm very happy that the Kataphract update was received in good order, and uh, you're... welcome..? For saving yourself some work?

To me, the 'main' important things of the document are:

• The new ranking system within the Order. Everything above the Ar'Saa, I'm not too married to, however I am personally firm on the inclusion of the Ezo'Saa. This is partially because I think this could be a fun addition to the Kataphract off-ship, and partially because I think this gels well with Not'zar's increasing bid for modernisation and mutual acceptance among the Unathi.
• The Chapters. I think having a 'base' a Kataphract could rely on is really good, and later down the line different Chapters could see their presence in the lore one way or another. I don't particularly care who is written as Kara'Saa, Iz'Saa'oa or Iz'Saa'e of every Chapter - only that there are names, base personalities and identities one can attribute to a Chapter.
• The broad strokes of history that helped reform the Order into what it is currently. The entire section under 'Reformation of the Kataphract Order' aims to show in what ways the Unathi keep modernising and developing, even when said modernisation is directly linked to their ancient traditions.

As for the rest, I'm not too married to. I'd be happy to see it taken over fully, but I am also just one person (and not even a writer), and I totally understand if there are parts that do not fit the current course set for the Unathi lore development.

The one development that could be pushed to 'now' is the inclusion of the Ezo'Saa - this might be interesting for a couple (3/4) Sinta Articles. I have no strong opinion on the how; I only really care for the fact that the Saa gets a little guy to push around. I would very technically also be willing to write a Sinta Article on the topic but again - I am NO writer, and writing articles is almost fully in the hands of the lore team, and not the players.

Hopefully, that covers what you need to know! Apologies if it is a bit all-over-the-place. Should you have any other questions, I'm absolutely free to answer them - either here on or Discord.