Vaurca Lore Development Diary

[LordFowl]

Considering that Vaurca Lore will be rapidly developed, and may undergo severe changes and maybe even retcons, I think it's only proper that I should create a lore changelog for the Vaurca.

Any changes to the Vaurca lore, including additions, subtractions, and modifications made after 2016-JUNE-24 will be posted here.

I ask that no one else posts on this thread, although as long as its ostensibly related to a modification I've made you're free to do so, as this may also serve as a Q&A thread for all intents and purposes.

All Vaurca lore accessible to players can be found here, including any changes made before 2016-JUNE-24:

https://aurorastation.org/wiki/index.php?title=Vaurca

Changes:

2016-JUN-24:

• Newspaper article on Gibson Hive Relay: http://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=2981&p=63846#p63846
  
• Vaurcesian translation for Vaurca added: Vaur'uyit'zir

 

2016-JUN-27:

• Updated wiki to include Life Cycles and Augments section: https://aurorastation.org/wiki/index.php?title=Vaurca#Life_Cycle

 

• Newspaper article demoting all Vaurca, preluding to a shortly upcoming "Peer-Review" system: http://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=2981&p=64982#p64982
  
• Edited the wiki to make clear these occupation restrictions: https://aurorastation.org/wiki/index.php?title=Vaurca#Playing_Unbound

[Guest]

- Vaurca are definitely not supposed to gib mice on a whim, right? There's no real reason to be eviscerating simple mobs, given their current dietary functions? (Provided this mechanic still isn't bugged or whatever.)

- Is it intentional for Zo'ra portrayal by current whitelistees to be so similar to Unathi culture? I've seen some Vaurca engage in cringey chants like "ZO'RA! ZO'RA! ZO'RA!" and it makes me wonder if they're juxtapositioned in one place and also present at a football game.

If I might offer some feedback, I think the Zo'ra Hive should be more intensively focused on colony expansionism rather than conquest. This would effectively eliminate the "honor bound" Vaurca and repurpose their goals and intents to be a little more than just barbaric or superficial.

To make it a little more interesting, how about: creating a spiritual/social divide between Zo'ra members, splitting one side into the "Zealot" category where Zo'ra Hive members pledge their absolute allegiance to the Queen and vow to protect the interests of both the Queen and the Hive. And then you have the category of "Apostates", where there exist disillusioned Zo'ra that seek to (subtly) undermine the current Queen and replace them with a prospective successor that is currently causing a lot of political and social strife in the Hive. Zealots won't do anything as stupid as murdering an apostate in open public of other races or even make the attempt outside of internal Zo'ra culture, but there would be obvious internal divides that allow for a slight amount of diversity between Zo'ra so they aren't carbon-copied Unathi. Social exchanges would also be more interesting, too.

[Snakebittenn]

On a serious note, will there be any other hives arriving at all?

[LordFowl]

- Vaurca are definitely not supposed to gib mice on a whim, right? There's no real reason to be eviscerating simple mobs, given their current dietary functions? (Provided this mechanic still isn't bugged or whatever.)

This mechanic is not bugged - gibbing smaller mobs was purposefully removed because it added nothing except constant irritation that was hard to track and punish. And no, Vaurca would not eat a mouse because Vaurca are not acclimated to eating anything other than sterilized K'ois.

 

- Is it intentional for Zo'ra portrayal by current whitelistees to be so similar to Unathi culture? I've seen some Vaurca engage in cringey chants like "ZO'RA! ZO'RA! ZO'RA!" and it makes me wonder if they're juxtapositioned in one place and also present at a football game.

The wiki is very clear on this topic. Aggression in Vaurca society is very downplayed. Only warrior castes should be acting in an aggressive manner at all, and even only then to a certain limit. Vaurca prefer their conflicts to be quick and clean, with minimal wasted effort. Vaurca loyalty is not flaunted, because it is a given. Chanting ZO'RA ZO'RA ZO'RA would be as retarded as screaming "HUMANS BREATHE OXYGEN!". No duh they breathe oxygen, and no duh you love Zo'ra. (If you're Zo'ra. If you're K'lax replace all instanced of Zo'ra with K'lax.)

My best guess is that chanting ZO'RA is not genuine roleplay, but rather a racial meme, much like unathi's "sixteen inches" or "wetskrell.nt". This one happens to be particularly egregious, and it being a meme does not excuse its presence IC.

 

If I might offer some feedback, I think the Zo'ra Hive should be more intensively focused on colony expansionism rather than conquest. This would effectively eliminate the "honor bound" Vaurca and repurpose their goals and intents to be a little more than just barbaric or superficial.

The Zo'ra hive's goals are more complex than mere conquest. Their relationship with the K'lax is very much colonialistic. Currently however, all hives have the goal of surviving the human hell imposed upon them.

 

To make it a little more interesting, how about: creating a spiritual/social divide between Zo'ra members, splitting one side into the "Zealot" category where Zo'ra Hive members pledge their absolute allegiance to the Queen and vow to protect the interests of both the Queen and the Hive. And then you have the category of "Apostates", where there exist disillusioned Zo'ra that seek to (subtly) undermine the current Queen and replace them with a prospective successor that is currently causing a lot of political and social strife in the Hive. Zealots won't do anything as stupid as murdering an apostate in open public of other races or even make the attempt outside of internal Zo'ra culture, but there would be obvious internal divides that allow for a slight amount of diversity between Zo'ra so they aren't carbon-copied Unathi. Social exchanges would also be more interesting, too.

I'm not saying its a bad idea, I'm just saying it doesn't really fit into my imagined perspective for the Vaurca. Internal conflict should be based mostly around the K'lax-Zo'ra relationship, and the Vaurca-Human relationship. Some K'lax love Zo'ra, some do not. Some Vaurca love humans, some do not.

The idea of disillusioned Vaurca may come into play later, when I've stabilized the Vaurca condition.

As to changes and/or developments, a news article was written about the Gibson Hive Relay, justifying Vaurca hivenet in game:

http://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=2981&p=63846#p63846

[LordFowl]

On a serious note, will there be any other hives arriving at all?

It is a possibility, but while the Vaurca playerbase is so small I do not want to divide it further.

[ChevalierMalFet]

So who are the movers and shakers in the Vaurca community on Mendell? You mentioned Lesser Queen Ta’Akaix’Scay’extiih’aur Zo’ra; is she the generalissima? What role do the Unbound play in managing their community?

[Snakebittenn]

What's the status of the K'lax? It's said on the wiki their hiveship is malfunctioning, but I don't see it referenced elsewhere

[LordFowl]

So who are the movers and shakers in the Vaurca community on Mendell? You mentioned Lesser Queen Ta’Akaix’Scay’extiih’aur Zo’ra; is she the generalissima? What role do the Unbound play in managing their community?

The Zo'ra hive is controlled by a five Lesser Queens who rule with the authority of the Queen on Sedantis I, although they do not have the means to contact the hive on Sedatnis I. Each Lesser Queen currently exerts authority over their brood - Ta'Akaix'Scay'extiih'aur Zo'ra is the prime authority for New Gibson, for example. There are two Lesser Queens aboard the Titan Prime, two Lesser Queens on the surface of Biesel, and one Lesser Queen on New Gibson, forming a total of 5 Lesser Queens.

Unbound do not play a role in managing their community unless they are of the Breeder caste. Breeder Unbound typically serve as underlings for the local Lesser Queen, fulfilling jobs such as overseeing the operation of Bound and Unbound worker groups, being ambassadors to human governments, and other bureaucratic work.

The remaining Unbound have no accelerated authority except over the Bound. They typically serve the function of their caste - either to work or to fight. Unlike the Bound however they are capable of doing this with more versatility and intelligence, occupying roles that require less in terms of brute power and more in terms of advanced thinking.

 

What's the status of the K'lax? It's said on the wiki their hiveship is malfunctioning, but I don't see it referenced elsewhere

The K'lax hiveship is in much a similar state as the Zo'ra hiveship - it is decrepit after it's 2,000 year journey. The Hiveship arrived in the Skrell system of Glorashi, and is probably undergoing similar refugee troubles as the Zo'ra. The exact details have not been hammered out with Loow, the Skrell loredev.

Most if not all K'lax present on the NSS Exodus are actually servant K'lax that were traveling with the Zo'ra hiveship.

[ChevalierMalFet]

[...]

The Zo'ra hive is controlled by a five Lesser Queens who rule with the authority of the Queen on Sedantis I, although they do not have the means to contact the hive on Sedatnis I. Each Lesser Queen currently exerts authority over their brood - Ta'Akaix'Scay'extiih'aur Zo'ra is the prime authority for New Gibson, for example. There are two Lesser Queens aboard the Titan Prime, two Lesser Queens on the surface of Biesel, and one Lesser Queen on New Gibson, forming a total of 5 Lesser Queens.

[...]

 

What can you tell me about these five lesser queens? How do they lead, how do they rule, what are their objectives?

[LordFowl]

[...]

The Zo'ra hive is controlled by a five Lesser Queens who rule with the authority of the Queen on Sedantis I, although they do not have the means to contact the hive on Sedatnis I. Each Lesser Queen currently exerts authority over their brood - Ta'Akaix'Scay'extiih'aur Zo'ra is the prime authority for New Gibson, for example. There are two Lesser Queens aboard the Titan Prime, two Lesser Queens on the surface of Biesel, and one Lesser Queen on New Gibson, forming a total of 5 Lesser Queens.

[...]

 

What can you tell me about these five lesser queens? How do they lead, how do they rule, what are their objectives?

The current generation of Lesser Queens rule each of their selective refugee broods. The one on New Gibson rules both of the refugee biodomes. The two on Biesel are split, with the one in Mendell ruling solely the Vaurca refugees there, which form the majority of Vaurca refugees on Biesel. The other Biesel queen exerts its authority over the Vaurca of Cape City and Phoenixport. The two Lesser Queens on Titan Prime make their priority the management of the technology aboard Titan Prime, and any Vaurca that have not yet awoken, of which there are very few.

Every Queen likely has their own personal motivations, which I have not really explored yet. However they also have the motivation to protect the Vaurca they control. They coordinate together via the hivenet on a very encrypted channel, and in the future they may decide they need a more centralized leader, due to extended periods of separation from the High Queen on Sedantis I, and there may be conflict as they try to identify who this central leader may be, as Vaurca protocol doesn't really allow for that sort of thing.

[LordFowl]

Updated the Vaurca wiki's section on the Life Cycle, adding in details for each specific caste, Bound and Unbound alike.

Added Augments to the Biology section of the vaurca wiki, detailing how augments work for Vaurca, and explaining why the Vaurca aboard the NSS Aurora and Exodus currently are indistinguishable, Bound and Unbound. Also explaining why a Vaurca couldn't be different colours because of augmentation to the carapace.

[ChevalierMalFet]

Wow. So they only get 20 years before they're liquidated now, the Unbound? No more philosopher-aristocrats?

[LordFowl]

Wow. So they only get 20 years before they're liquidated now, the Unbound? No more philosopher-aristocrats?

 

"Philosopher-aristocrats" is certainly no longer possible, especially considering the volatile situation the Vaurca are currently in where VR is not readily accessible for most Unbound. Vaurca of the Breeder caste have more leeway in this regards, and could pursue more extremely intellectual hobbies, but ultimately their objective is still to service the hive through direction of the Bound and Unbound.

The idea that Vaurca could pursue this "philosophy-aristrocracy" on an an individual level while fighting for survival on their dying world of Sedantis, as part of a highly collectivist society, no longer made sense. It was an artifact of the old-lore, where the Vaurca empire was mighty and massive, and Vaurca could travel relatively freely between Tau Ceti and their empire. Such an idea didn't really fit with the lore, as nobody - least of all the playerbase - was willing to simulate situations that the presence of such a massive and powerful empire might introduce, particularly since their interests and humanity's interests collided.

[ChevalierMalFet]

"Philosopher-aristocrats" is certainly no longer possible, especially considering the volatile situation the Vaurca are currently in where VR is not readily accessible for most Unbound. Vaurca of the Breeder caste have more leeway in this regards, and could pursue more extremely intellectual hobbies, but ultimately their objective is still to service the hive through direction of the Bound and Unbound.

The idea that Vaurca could pursue this "philosophy-aristrocracy" on an an individual level while fighting for survival on their dying world of Sedantis, as part of a highly collectivist society, no longer made sense. It was an artifact of the old-lore, where the Vaurca empire was mighty and massive, and Vaurca could travel relatively freely between Tau Ceti and their empire. Such an idea didn't really fit with the lore, as nobody - least of all the playerbase - was willing to simulate situations that the presence of such a massive and powerful empire might introduce, particularly since their interests and humanity's interests collided.

I know, I know. The old lore was a turd in a lot of ways, but it was a malleable little turd and I could make little statuettes out of it.

So the Akaix don't run their government, they don't advise their government, and they don't pursue philosophy or poetry. I guess my next question, and the next one after it for as long as you'll entertain these inquiries, is: what is the internal life of the Akaix? What do they think about all day, what do they talk about amongst themselves? Do they even talk casually amongst themselves any more, except tersely and for business? Do they have a "culture" such as we would recognize among human beings, or are they simply automatons and more advanced automatons?

[LordFowl]

So the Akaix don't run their government, they don't advise their government, and they don't pursue philosophy or poetry. I guess my next question, and the next one after it for as long as you'll entertain these inquiries, is: what is the internal life of the Akaix? What do they think about all day, what do they talk about amongst themselves? Do they even talk casually amongst themselves any more, except tersely and for business? Do they have a "culture" such as we would recognize among human beings, or are they simply automatons and more advanced automatons?

 

The wiki touches on this subject lightly, however I've not yet given it too much detailed thought at this time.

Basically, although the Unbound have a short lifespan and live a strictly regimented life in terms of occupation - an Unbound's purpose in terms of work is essentially determined at birth - their sentience has the side-effect of making them complex creatures. They are designed to be versatile agents of the Hive, which is indicated by their relatively few and non invasive augments, and their advanced intelligence.

With all this considered, yes the Unbound have casual conversations, and yes the Unbound enjoy socialisation. In fact, the very nature of the Hivenet makes socialisation unavoidable. Introversion in Vaurca is essentially non-existent. A brood within a Hive (Being all the Vaurca in a local area, whether that be station, city, or hive network) is a tightly knit social unit, with Unbound communicating information of all kinds between each other without concern for distance.

As to what Vaurca think about or talk about all day, that all really depends on the situation they are in. Their commentary can often have a utilitarian edge to it, but I have no interest in completely stomping out any possible individualism a player might let creep into their conversation. The sentience of the Unbound compared to their numerically superior Bound servants provides for that.

While Vaurca lack the longevity to develop pedigree on previous artists, they don't lack the desire or the ability to express themselves. While Vaurca don't spend much time philosophizing, they do tend to express themselves in their craftsmanship and architecture. And ultimately, in their oral tradition because, in short, Vaurca society can be seen as an advanced iteration of a highly oral culture, with the marked difference being that the oral transmit has a certain permanency to it afforded by the roughly digital nature of the Hivenet.

[ChevalierMalFet]

So the Akaix don't run their government, they don't advise their government, and they don't pursue philosophy or poetry. I guess my next question, and the next one after it for as long as you'll entertain these inquiries, is: what is the internal life of the Akaix? What do they think about all day, what do they talk about amongst themselves? Do they even talk casually amongst themselves any more, except tersely and for business? Do they have a "culture" such as we would recognize among human beings, or are they simply automatons and more advanced automatons?

 

The wiki touches on this subject lightly, however I've not yet given it too much detailed thought at this time.

Basically, although the Unbound have a short lifespan and live a strictly regimented life in terms of occupation - an Unbound's purpose in terms of work is essentially determined at birth - their sentience has the side-effect of making them complex creatures. They are designed to be versatile agents of the Hive, which is indicated by their relatively few and non invasive augments, and their advanced intelligence.

With all this considered, yes the Unbound have casual conversations, and yes the Unbound enjoy socialisation. In fact, the very nature of the Hivenet makes socialisation unavoidable. Introversion in Vaurca is essentially non-existent. A brood within a Hive (Being all the Vaurca in a local area, whether that be station, city, or hive network) is a tightly knit social unit, with Unbound communicating information of all kinds between each other without concern for distance.

As to what Vaurca think about or talk about all day, that all really depends on the situation they are in. Their commentary can often have a utilitarian edge to it, but I have no interest in completely stomping out any possible individualism a player might let creep into their conversation. The sentience of the Unbound compared to their numerically superior Bound servants provides for that.

While Vaurca lack the longevity to develop pedigree on previous artists, they don't lack the desire or the ability to express themselves. While Vaurca don't spend much time philosophizing, they do tend to express themselves in their craftsmanship and architecture. And ultimately, in their oral tradition because, in short, Vaurca society can be seen as an advanced iteration of a highly oral culture, with the marked difference being that the oral transmit has a certain permanency to it afforded by the roughly digital nature of the Hivenet.

 

Good. So they still have poetry. I can jam on that.

[LordFowl]

Posted a news article demoting all Vaurca, preluding to a shortly upcoming "Peer-Review" system: http://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=2981&p=64982#p64982

Edited the wiki to make clear these occupation restrictions: https://aurorastation.org/wiki/index.php?title=Vaurca#Playing_Unbound

[ChevalierMalFet]

So, how are we going to implement this one-off promotion system?

[LordFowl]

So, how are we going to implement this one-off promotion system?

Implementation will be detailed shortly.

[ChevalierMalFet]

So, how are we going to implement this one-off promotion system?

Implementation will be detailed shortly.

So apparently this exists now!

[Ian The Corgi]

Add Type C and Type D names? It is touched on that Zuiltz is for Type D, but the Type C name is not revealed as far as I can see, this might be useful information for lore writey stuff.

[LordFowl]

Add Type C and Type D names? It is touched on that Zuiltz is for Type D, but the Type C name is not revealed as far as I can see, this might be useful information for lore writey stuff.

 

There is no 'Type D' Vaurca (The image that 'touched upon' them was from very old lore, and I've removed it.)

Furthermore, the wiki has stated this:

The traditional naming system is complex, with first names being made of three parts. The first part is either Ka for workers, Za for soldiers, or Ta for breeders

As such, Ka is Type A, Za is Type B, and Ta is type C.

The second syllable has no bearing on type - it merely determines if they are bound or unbound.

[Ian The Corgi]

Alright, thanks for the clarification, and another question, could you check out my application if you have a moment? Idk if you make the decisions, but you're someone important around the antpeople and I'd like my application 'professionally reviewed'

http://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=6985

[ChevalierMalFet]

So, by the by, today Za'Akaix'Tlexa Zo'Ra actually got two Heads of Staff (Joseph Hartsock, HoS, and Dina Hegarty, Captain) to sign off on his responsibility and promotion papers to Security Officer! Is this permanent?

[Mofo1995]

So, by the by, today Za'Akaix'Tlexa Zo'Ra actually got two Heads of Staff (Joseph Hartsock, HoS, and Dina Hegarty, Captain) to sign off on his responsibility and promotion papers to Security Officer! Is this permanent?

According to the Avowal of Responsibility CCIA Notice:

Recent regulation changes now mandate that Vaurcae personnel seek out their Head of Staff or Captain during standard operations with the new Corporate Form "NCF-0114 Avowal of Responsibility". Vaurcae personnel are responsible for the initiative to seek out promotion if they feel they are qualified.

Heads of Staff are to familiarize themselves with this new Corporate Form as the regulations are already in effect.

Completed forms are to be sent to the Central Command Internal Affairs Bureau and will be saved and reviewed.

How this is supposed to work is we either get faxed the paper by central command, or otherwise get a screenshot of the paper or just all around get proof that it was done somehow. Then we put it into your CCIA records so that all heads of staff can see it in the CCIA section of your employment records. It is permanent and carries between shifts.