Vaurca Afterlife Processes | Even in Death

[GreenBoi]

Lore Impact (Small/Medium/Large):  Medium. Depends on how you define it, but it's Medium to me because it extends lore almost purely additively, there's not a contradiction or retcon, and nothing is missed if you don't immediately read about it.

Team Purview: (Vaurca)

Short Description: This is to flesh out the post-mortem culture of Vaurca VR. Having an invented, readily-accessible afterlife has huge implications for background context, and I aim to explore those implications.

It answers four questions, 1) What happens to Viax consciousnesses when they die? |  2) Is there an introduction process or psychopomp role for how they'll spend death  | 3) Phases for non-transubstantiation | 4) Is it taboo for dead Vaurcae use proxies to affect the living?
A1) Viax memories and habits are saved as a library for the reference of future Bound. Popular, useful, and dominant libraries are the Viax-equivalent of Xakat'kl'atan status, and it varies per brood.

A2) Reconvening is when the dead meet their Hive again in VR, this usually happens in a specific realm where they're processed and choose a domain of 8 to specialize probably forever under

A3) 90% = mood swings, 80% = kinda out of sync w/ VR, 70% = gaps in memory about past life, occasionally mismatched reactions, 60% = forget chunks of life & cannot recognize memories of life, 50% = glitches affect vicinity, 10% = memories of life gone & can't recognize

A4) Only when it's obvious and distinct such that an outsider would tell and place responsibility on them.

How will this be reflected on-station?: Domains are mostly background lore, but can influence the behavior of characters as they have some in mind as goals. Bound libraries will give the rare Viax character distinct habits to roleplay around if desired.

Does this addition do anything not achieved by what already exists?: Wouldn't be making this if the answers existed.

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? Of course and since this is a lot of lore under one banner, I don't even expect to get 100% of this in. I hope the idea and intent behind each decision is understood and preserved.
1. Bound are included in the afterlife and, just like they're the logistical foundation of physical society, they're the foundation of VR society too.

2. The afterlife is a right, rarely retracted just as mindvoiding is taboo, and also the Vaurcaesian form of higher-education.

3. Non-transubstantiation is gradual and its effects are more inconsistencies and disassociation than losing identity. Must still be preferrable to no afterlife, but worse than not living to transubstantiation.

4. Bound aren't just workers, but extensions of their broods' goals and should passively or actively represent them.

5. Deep-imprinted Bound allowed for more advanced roles like Xenobotany, Xenobiology, Corporate Reporter, or Paramedic (tbh, it's weird they can't be specifically this role in medical already)

Long Description:

1. Bound Afterlife with Virtual Reality

Spoiler

The afterlife for Bound is rarely considered nor mentioned by Vaurcae, but meticulously designed regardless and vital to some of Virtual Reality's functions. During reclamation, the memory and habits of a Bound are saved as a vast chronicle which is used as reference for teaching or imprinting future Bound. These chronicles, also called libraries, are categorized by the Bound's caste and born purpose then tagged for contexts like time, condition, and location. Bound can be posthumously recognized for leaving behind particularly useful or popular libraries, in a way mirroring the Xakat'kl'atan status in Unbound. Such recognition usually forms "dominant libraries" for a brood in tune with their culture. See more at their respective pages:

Imprinting is the direct insertion of these memories and habits (though not the consciousness that formed them) to extend the personal experience of Bound past generations, it can be repeated or stacked to make imprint lineages for highly sophisticated Bound. Deep lineages have a cost as the Bound are even less capable of functioning outside their purpose than typical, following many lifetimes of routines and habits as instinct, so unless explicitly instructed, they struggle immensely with learning. A partial workaround habit some deep-imprinted have is routinely asking for instructions.

Imprinted Bound are common and were standard during the Hives Renaissance, however they've become secondary to the "fresh" Bound population since the Exodus as historical methods became less relevant. Deep-imprinted Bound are much less common, primarily existing for maintaining to perfection the foundational processes of Vaurca culture like k'ois agriculture or growing bioforms, but in general are useful for more complicated roles with comprehensive problem-solving and occasionally appear outside Hives as cheap specialists.

The actual consciousness of a Bound undergoes a unique process of syncing and merging with the Cephalons themselves, their mind and being becoming an interface or program host for the Virtual Reality. Many convenient or specific mechanics and systems of VR, when peeled back and examined by one knowledgeable, can be sourced back to the merged mind of a dead Bound. In the post-death society of Vaurcae, a Bound's service to their Hive never ends with death and continues for their afterlife.

It's possible to even reform these Viax-made interfaces and programs back to the original body, and this is occasionally used to visually map out functions or alterations of the system in a more intuitive manner before returning the Bound to their abstracted state

1.1 Dominant Libraries of Each Brood.

Spoiler

 (This first paragraph can go on the Virtual Reality page, but the sections should be on the brood page like Xakat'kl'atan, Realms, and Weavemakers are)

Named after their respective Bound and suffixed with 'kakpa to denote this, Bound libraries are saved chronicles of the memories and habits of dead Bound for future reference. Some particularly useful or popular ones are recognized and flagged as dominant libraries for their brood.

ZO'RANE BROODS

Spoiler

The dominant libraries of Zoleth's brood typically focus on training, engineering, architecture, and showcasing spirituality and the past.
    Udon'kakpa - A dominant library from the Fiery Years of the Great Hive War, the original Bound resuscitated and prevented many casualties. Includes a common habit of prioritizing fixing mental anguish in patients not close to death.
    Geltzhvar'kakpa - A dominant library from the Pon'kana Engine's construction, the original Bound was skilled in atmospheric fusion processes for engineering and navigating dangerous, often battle-worn areas. Includes a common routine of actively patrolling for exposed areas.

The dominant libraries of Scay's brood typically focus on genetics, experimentation, and learning aspects of humanity. Humanity is seen as a source of ideas for physique and bioforms.
    Cthkhor'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound scouted for and interacted with different alien creatures, instilling a familiarity with considering non-Vaurcae and even engaging with them. Includes a common habit of mimicking observed body language to continue conversations.
    Iito'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound was experienced with flora and selective breeding. Includes a common routine of identifying traits for the next generation.

The dominant libraries of Vaur's brood typically focus on Zo'rane diplomacy, influence, and methods of navigation.
    Roahtu'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hives Renaissance, the original Bound aided in constructing an real-world observer room to Virtual Reality like how Vaur's realm is presently, and was molded into a living representation of the Zo'rane Renaissance's image and goals towards the end of its life. Includes a common habit of aiming to impress others about the Zo'ra.
    Hitra'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound scouted nearby space to aid navigation of the Titan Prime and maintained stock of supplies. Includes a common routine of sorting supplies.

The dominant libraries of Xakt's brood typically focus on reclamation, maintenance, industry, and a detachment from non-Vaurcae. To Xakt, alien customs make for alien vulnerabilities and intentions, so her Bound commonly stay detached and distinctly Vaurcae.
    Kulxerk'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hiveships' construction, the original Bound helped manifest Cimm's designs directly with its advanced sense of architecture and engineering. Includes a routine of deep sweeping and analyzing its full location.
    Korzp'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hives Renaissance, the original Bound salvaged through areas from the Great Hive War for reclamation of augments and repair of their surroundings. Includes a routine of identifying the deconstruction process of anything damaged, counting corpses as valid targets.

The dominant libraries of Athvur's brood typically focus on human integration, public relations, and the new future of the species. Bound are seen as much as the face of Vaurcae as Unbound, so fitting in "like a person" is a common and desirable habit.
    Cinvae'kakpa - A dominant library from the Celis Conflict, the original Bound became familiar with inter-hive diplomacy and later served High Queen Zo'ra by helping build the world's main colony. Includes a common habit of diplomatic affirmations.
    Uilop'kakpa - A dominant library from First Contact, the original Bound was an early civilian worker for the Biesellite economy and became well-augmented and educated for human interaction before its untimely death. Includes a common habit of polite, well-pronounced sentences and phrases.

K'LAXAN BROODS

Spoiler

The dominant libraries of Zkaii's brood typically focus on tinkering, logistics, and repair. Though the spiritual meaning is lost on them, Zkaii's Bound tend to repeat habits with perceived connections to Mother K'lax.
    Zkerv'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hiveships' construction, the original Bound served and constructed for Mother K'lax herself before dying with her. Includes a common habit of fire safety and rescue.
    Rinh'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound tended to and supported the Klo'zxera's population with various utilities. Includes a common routine of periodic resting or sleeping prior to bursts of activity.

The dominant libraries of Vetju's brood typically focus on reclamation, salvage, and maintenance.
    Eere'kakpa - A dominant library from First Contact, the original Bound salvaged and recycled various parts of the Kloz'xera Hiveship as well as finding paths to the dismembered engines. Includes a habit of noting routes to various locations.
    Vepo'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound designed blueprints and replicas of various designs, especially mining. Includes a common routine of recording blueprints, designs, and schematics.

The dominant libraries of Leto's brood typically focus on recording, and understanding the impact of events.
    Kivka'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hives Renaissance, the original Bound was a living record and showcase of the impact of different technologies from the era. Includes a habit of exploring the effects of machinery.
    Xevxe'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound persistently gathered information on the new worlds and ecosystems. Includes a habit of noting links in ecosystems and natural behaviors of organisms.

The dominant libraries of Vedhra's brood typically focus on preparation, adaptation, and defense. Flexibility is seen as a necessity against the Lii'dra, so even Bound are trained for it.
    Iigi'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hives Renaissance, the original Bound was trained for survival and operation in highly-dangerous situations, learning effective extraction and escape tactics. Includes a common routine of charting escape routes.
    Vinji'kakpa - A dominant library from First Contact, the original Bound learned in Retek adapting to new worlds and life while coordinating danger and tactics. Includes a habit of making callouts for anything seeming dangerous.

With her recent succession, the dominant libraries of Tupii's brood are quite new, they typically focus on revitalizing and iterating on the Hive's past to the point deep-imprinting is notably more common.
    Kxrk'kakpa - A dominant library built on several past ones related to the Great Hive War, granting a deep understanding of hazards, traps, and defensive structures used in the Kol'axta Plate. Includes a common routine of physically isolating similar threats, or listing vulnerabilities and a common habit of marking pathways or structures.
    Porxo'kakpa - A dominant library built on several past ones related to the Hiveships' construction, allowing ambitious conceptualization of and iteration upon megastructures, systems, and coordination. Includes a habit of addressing things as parts of larger functions and systems, and a common routine of noting the flow of work and performance.

C'THURIC BROODS

Spoiler

The dominant libraries of C'thur's brood typically focus on pressuring, understanding debts, and building trust. They extend her goals and image through time-tested methods.
    Kivin'kakpa - A dominant library from the Great Hive War, the original Bound sought to pressure other Hives into increasingly risky and/or demanding situations benefiting other C'thur. Includes a common habit of stretching details and recommending action.
    Ovo'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hives Renaissance, the original Bound served other Hives to the benefit of C'thur's reputation, reinforcing the image of helpfulness and tracking how much they could afford to pay back as debt. Includes a habit of targeting people in debt, or otherwise vulnerable, and building trust.

The dominant libraries of Mouv's brood typically focus on diplomacy, electronics, and information. They build the relations of the Hive and extract information while doing so.
    Mnero'kakpa - A dominant library from the Hives Renaissance, the original Bound aided in the brood's task of deciphering other Hivenet protocols through information gathering and espionage. Includes a common routine of noting the habits, speech, and movement of others.
    Alvhoz'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound over time would utilize everything in its grasp in as much ways as possible just for the information. Includes a habit of experimenting with anything not actively dangerous.

The dominant libraries of Vytel's brood typically focus on civility, neutrality, and security. They maintain order and consistency.
    Ruva'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound scouted and analyzed the systems, and technology of the Kloxa'xia when the C'thur moved into it. Includes a habit of analyzing the standard functions and purpose of any given system.
    Loqx'kakpa - A dominant library from First Contact, the original Bound interacted with and studied Skrell visitors in Glorashi. Includes a habit of creating cultural comparisons and connections.

The dominant libraries of Xetl's brood typically focus on reclamation, answering curiosity, and refining expertise. Her Bound are often ambitious projects to see the limits of their natural behavior.
    Lxva'kakpa - A dominant library from the Great Hive War, the original Bound was made to mimic the various unorthodox and strange positions of injured Vaurcae, and then figure out methods of reversing or adapting to this. Includes a common habit of considering and extrapolating the furthering of a sequence of actions.
    Vekot'kakpa - A dominant library from the Exodus, the original Bound was left to imitate and integrate with alien life on its own for as much as possible. Includes a common routine of deeply imitating the mindset and habits of other life to fit in.

In case it isn't obvious, making alternate libraries with their own habits fitting the brood is welcome, and ignoring the habits and routines is fine.

2. Reconvening and Domains

Spoiler

Reclamation is the process of returning the implants and augments of dead Vaurcae, it has naturally become associated with death and its relation to the uploading of neural sockets has made it highly respected in Vaurcaesian society. Reclaiming the augments of other Hives from combat is seen as dishonorable, however augments that have managed to break off from the main body or through a cut limb are seen as fair and earned.

While reclamation formally ends in the physical world, a sister process known as Reconvening occurs in the Aether, named literally after the fact the dead are returned and meeting again with their Hive. 

Reconvening is the way Vaurcae pass onto their afterlife, it typically occurs in a dedicated realm sealed off mostly to reclamation specialists and the dead. Within, the newly-returned are assessed for stabilization status and have their memories of life play back to help decide on their afterlife specialization. Having a specialization is stressed enough that time will get dilated until a decision is made.

The afterlife for Vaurcae is often when they find their true calling, moving into mastery of a domain similar to their role in life. It's commonly compared to being the species' form of higher-education or careers, and living Vaurcae often plan for their afterlife with a similar tone.

Domains are usually broad and encompass several fields and occupations as one shared theme for Hive operations. While highly numbered by the deceased, they are not exclusive to the dead and many living engage with them like apprentices. Each domain is a massive bastion of further specializations, with all relevant subrealms linking together in a chain network for collaboration.

Spoiler

The Domain of Weavers governs morale, relations, and diplomacy. It's analogous to public works for the Hive and has ballooned in size since the Hives Renaissance and Exodus. Morale often stretches to entertainment, and the status of Weavemaker is closely tied to this domain as a result. Relations entail advising and analyzing connections within the Hive and outside of it and diplomacy gets honed through added life experiences, which has incentivized a culture of apprentice living Vaurcae being curious and studious to add as much experiences they can before death.

Technically, being most accurate to its original purpose and High Queen Zo'ra's decree, Virtual Reality itself falls under the domain as one massive public works project. From this, the most dedicated and oldest weavers around from the Great Hive War are often uniquely aware of the deepest parts of the Aether and Cephalons and occasionally even maintain them. Weavers as a domain get seen as more transitive and temporary than others, often being where undecided Vaurcae linger in or treated as a vacation for those from other domains.

The Domain of Reclamation keep a Hive's afterlife processing a smooth affair. Augments are meticulously salvaged, repackaged, and reused in accordance to memories of the owner and the local standards while the returned Vaurca in the Aether is prepared for their domain. Living reclamation apprentices are usually specific to a brood, but specialists in the domain after death are commonly from any brood. Specialists in sanitization commonly rotate between damaged consciousnesses to retain fresh methods, and give experience to new Vaurcae.

The Domain of Architechnicians covers engineering, construction, and power. Bolstered during the Hives Renaissance, they are the ones responsible for most standard Hive designs and infrastructure, relentlessly simulating disasters and repair efforts. It is said that for the construction of the Hiveships, all architechnicians were consulted by their Hives and gave input.

The Domain of Bearers handles the logistics, transport, and provisions of the Hive. Real-world supplies and information alike are directed across many routes and channels. The very infrastructure of society is theirs to maintain and perfect.

The Domain of Archivists is to record happenings, however this varies a lot by Hive and even by brood. Zo'rane archivists have long sought and been trained to record only tales of glory to the point they are known more as Retellers. High Queen C'thur's archivists are less selective, but primarily Chroniclers of her Hive's own history. Her daughter Xetl's archivists record far beyond that, but do so in an effort to "collect" and have samples of every sensation possible, making them more known as Collectors. It is only Queen Leto's archivists that are truest to the name, recording all for the sake of it, though even they have their bias for the past.

The Domain of Teachers focuses on understanding, analysis, and deduction. Specialists here are the intellectual branch of a Hive, engaging with all knowledge to design better simulations for further iteration. For dead Vaurcae whom materials no longer hold direct value to, information is the only thing valuable to barter with, so it's not uncommon for Teachers to occasionally tell only a few Vaurcae their lessons to invigorate with special passion from knowing exclusive details. The most major breakthroughs almost always end up releasing to more of the Hive down the line.

The Domain of Developers is research, experimentation, and evolution. Specialists seek not just to learn, but to completely expand technology and implementations. The desire for evolution is particularly strong in the Zo'ra, who very much still echo their High Queen's views that augments must always take their species to the next generation. Apprentice developers commonly view themselves and their life as a canvas for opportunities, expressing this in wildly different ways based on brood.

The Domain of Dancers encompasses combat, tactics, and conflict. Battles are highly-coordinated affairs with various paths to victory, and apprentice dancers sometimes take it upon themselves to familiarize with these different paths. This flexible view of warfare is why, despite the high population and focus on Warriors, Workers still have a notable presence in the domain even ignoring medics. The natural predisposition against violence is seen as useful for cutting losses, and clever thinking.

Cases of overlapping domains often just mean Vaurcae within them collaborate much more than others, with Weavers and Bearers commonly touching upon all other domains when necessary. The benefit of VR to a Vaurca's work is not just deep simulation at the very thought, but convenience and replicability. No longer constrained by any physicality, an individual dead Vaurca becomes an exponential multiplier for practices and iterations of any imagined scenario.

The right to the afterlife extends even to the found sockets of Queenless, but they don't enjoy a luxurious one and are denied from choosing their domain, or ever participating as Weavers where they could hold massive influence. Dead Queenless are primarily stuck in Reconvening aiding the processing of other dead arrivals with the fate framed as a respectable gift, though at any time they may accompany as apprentices to visitors from other domains. Such an occasion is rare, usually only happening when the Queenless is believed to hold exclusive knowledge that could benefit the Hive. The most desperate and clever dead plan using these occasions to buy time to enter the Interstice and hide with other congregations of Queenless.

I like to imagine under Vaurca morality, an afterlife without privilege for Queenless is genuinely considered better than none because returning to VR is such an expected stage of their existence that rejecting it for anyone is beyond cruel. Rejecting someone the afterlife is probably like if a human raised a child and then left them without possessions to die in nature. Meanwhile, the Queenless' fate themselves is literally guiding others to a fate they themselves cannot posses.

Weavers and Bearers are intentional titles to link to and imply why C'thur and the Viax bioform have those names. By the way, I like the idea of Vaurcae using the term returned instead of departed for the dead, giving way to "newly-returned" and "recently-returned"

3. The Destabilized

Spoiler

Transubstantiation is the mark of a Vaurca's maturity due to it finalizing their neural socket for reclamation, but many dead Vaurcae in the Aether never reached it due to accidents or emergencies. Based on the closeness to completion, they exist forever with a notably-higher, though still uncommon, chance of corruption and personality "glitching" which has been mythologized over the millennia as disturbances tied to one's death.

Spoiler

Those at 90% completion are rarely glitched, but may encounter slight inconsistencies in the form of mood swings.

Those at 80% completion get more mood swings and may feel slightly out of sync with their being unless regularly stabilized.

Those at 70% completion get periodic gaps in knowledge about their own life and mismatched responses to topics. Rumors have it their presence can also slightly desync others, negligible for living Vaurcae who can reset this easily by re-entering VR, but concerning for others dead.

Those at 60% completion show early signs of unique pre-transubstantiation corruption with them not only actively forgetting about parts of their life, but the occasional inability to accept facts about their life at all and feeling they were simulated hypotheticals. This stage is commonly attributed with the tangling of Vaurcaesian history, and facts as Vaurcae that were verifiably present or participating in events will deny and reject their own involvement. It's occasionally used to slander the Pilot Dream religion as a whole, arguing the many dead followers literally can't fathom their own past lives.

Those at the 50% completion threshold and lower are much more problematic in corruptions and glitches that further gradual brackets become unnecessary. Problems and desyncs extend from being mostly contained to the individual Vaurca to affecting environments: time may tick in an off manner within their vicinity, precise physics will be more simplified, engaging with them will feel hazy. A lot of small issues can add up to shift work done with the Vaurca in very inconvenient ways.

Those at 10% completion are very rare, unfortunate cases and often cannot remember or recognize their life at all. They are treated as almost new people for practical purposes.

Stabilization is a restorative process which aligns memories and sensory experiences through various patterns to reduce corruption and personality glitching for a period. They are regular treatments and, while recommended, come with a sense of shame that the individual inconveniences enough to need them. Non-transubstantiated Vaurcae are often called the Destabilized in reference to this.

The Destabilized are never actively excluded or disliked, but there is an obvious mourning and sorrow for them by everyone in the Virtual Reality, including themselves. The Afterlife is when Vaurcae move to specialize for true mastery of a field and destabilization actively hinders the possibility of true mastery forever. A variable will always be off and shift their work unpredictably.

Where stabilization is a form of maintenance, sanitization is progression, being a process that aims to manually complete the functions of a neural socket's mapping post-mortem for permanent fixes. Sanitization is very long-term and careful, taking decades of uninterrupted and still work for incremental changes, though it's never been able to actually complete the mapping entirely. It's still a highly-respected procedure as the improvements over the many millennia of work poured into it has most Vaurcae believing post-mortem completion is possible.

Destabilization mostly happens from Vaurcae dying before transubstantiation, however it does occur from a neural socket becoming notably damaged. Typical destabilization is the result of an incompleteness of the individual's consciousness, the gaps causing the glitches and disturbances. Damaged sockets cause destabilization through the active loss of functions, leading to stronger and more hostile corruption. This distinction is stressed and prioritized by reclamation specialists, who always put damaged sockets in a repair queue before ever considering uploading the damaged consciousness.

Ones that do get uploaded are held in special sanitization realms, which are also the closest thing in Vaurcaesian culture to the concept of a purgatory. While normal sanitization can take decades straight of uninterrupted work, sanitization for damaged consciousnesses can take centuries or millennia depending on the severity and the recipient will not be allowed outside, or to perform more than basic movement until the process' very end.

Bound reach transubstantiation at twice the speed as Unbound due to their simpler, atrophied mental development. Stabilization is much more effective for periodic treatments and sanitization is much faster as Viax have a lower threshold for satisfactory and safe functioning. At the worst cases, damaged Bound minds can be easily blacklisted and locked in an archived realm, only accessed for training sanitization specialists or historical analysis.
 

 

4. The Dead's Influence On the Living

Spoiler

With Virtual Reality, there is little separation between the living and dead, and for most of its existence, considering one was hardly necessary. With exposure to other sapients, directly influencing the living as dead Vaurcae has become taboo in many cases, primarily as a form of evading responsibility and attention by non-Vaurcae. Speech and Hivenet broadcasts do not typically count as direct influence given how indistinct they are from a living Vaurca doing it by outsiders.

Cases where it's not taboo are typically light and unnoticeable for an outsider: Viax are commonly used to relay information to distant recipients, or function as proxies to shape an environment rarely visited by non-Vaurcae. When it comes to major work in the real-world desired by a domain in VR, Viax proxies can get used more with alibis at the ready to explain the task. Living Unbound in the area commonly cover up these cases with their own alibis and stories.

Pay earned by Viax proxies for dead Vaurcae count as their money within the Hive. With VR forever at their whims, most dead have little need for currency and the concept is mostly a formality for tracking responsibility, but some use it to request and commission living Unbound for deeds. The convenience of the Aether necessitates a unique information-based economy where knowledge and interests alone are not only valuable, but actively sought-for. The desired deeds commonly just fixate on sating curiosity about a specific location or product that VR otherwise can only fill the gaps of.

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Edited June 18 by GreenBoi
Architechnicians were consulted BY their Hives