[CLOSED] Karak Virul

[Faris]

Type (e.g. Planet, Faction, System): Martial Art - Fluff for Skrell

Founding/Settlement Date (if applicable): No specific date than that it was developed around the early days of Glorsh-Omega that developed and spread. But if a hard date is required, I'd say it saw widespread usage around 2060's CE.

Region of Space: City of Gli'morr - Jargon Federation

Controlled by (if not a faction): Irrelevant

Other Snapshot information: Just some fluff I've developed for two of my Skrells, it spread to the point I've seen it mentioned a few times and I felt a bit more fluff for Skrell would do them good.

Long Description:

Karak Virul is a martial art form originally developed in the city of Gli'morr. Its origins first came to be during the Abomination regime known as Glorsh-Omega, a form of competitive sports that did not require forceful combat, but rather the induction of pain and the disabling of a persons body without incurring any injuries. With the lack of leisure facilities and a regime that exploited them, this became a popular sport as it helped grow the bond between other while maintaining a competitive nature.

The Karak Virul began to evolve after the formation of the new and current Federation, with it also acting as some form of a spiritual exercise similar to yoga. It was even adopted by the Federations Armed Forces, for the practicality of it permitting the capture of high value targets without incurring little to any damage to the person's physical health.

In terms of game play, this can be played out by avoiding punches and kicks, but rather focus on grappling an opponent to make them immobile. Joint locks and limb dislocation while not pain free, should not pose any long term health implications. An example is when I play a character of mine. Weirup Vi'lees, a security officer of mine. If I were to ever perform CQC and I am unable to use any of my security tools whether as a lack of it or a decision not to use it, I would always attempt to fight them to submission or until they are knocked unconscious from the pain as a result of joint locks

[Loow]

Interesting.

The basic idea is to add a martial art that fills the niche of a few real-life exercise regimens/martial arts. You outright mention Yoga and this whole section has a very "namaste" feel to it. The name and parts of the base concept even remind me of things like Krav Maga. Very different from one another, those two things.

Let's chat a bit.

 

Founding/Settlement Date (if applicable): No specific date than that it was developed around the early days of Glorsh-Omega that developed and spread. But if a hard date is required, I'd say it saw widespread usage around 2060's CE.

...

Its origins first came to be during the Abomination regime known as Glorsh-Omega, a form of competitive sports that did not require forceful combat...

Firstly, I'm absolutely in love with the phrase "Abomination regime" and I'd love to see it used in other contexts.

Next, what's the appeal here? Not to the martial art, but attaching it to the Era of Synthetic Oppression. There's a Nebulous ideal out there that every little detail of lore has to tie back in to synthetics. While it might be hard to avoid them entirely, the very least one can do is try to include some degree of separation when one tries to make something new and refreshing.

Why have it start around the time of the Third Incident? Why early on in said event? Does tying this martial art to "that one Skrell event" give it more legitimacy? If so, then in whose eyes?

It seems like you had a concept that was fairly simple. Put several real-life martial arts together and call it something else. By going down this other path, you've just opened yourself up to more strenuous cross-examination.

I've seen this martial art mentioned on the station once or twice, and I've seen a few Skrell players fixate on the Third Incident as well. I assumed these were separate cases, but it seems they were one and the same. It's a shame, really, that there's only one asset of Skrell lore that at least some players have any interest in. This is, in a very large part, my own fault for not offering stimulating alternatives for discussion. I'd like to also contend that we as players should try to challenge ourselves. If it seems challenging to have three Skrell in a room and talk about something other than Synthetics, then I'd dare to take that as a sign that I should do just that. I do still understand that sometimes these things need discussing, much like if a character on the station looked out the window to see if it was raining.

But this is just a rant.

Parts of your writing are quite good, but I recently heard that it's the flaws in a concept that fester and grow over time. On that note, forgive me if my initial response seems negative at parts.

Why does a time period in which the primary antagonist is synthetic serve as the starting point to a martial art based around causing pain in organic life? It seems silly that such a thing would happen, but then again I find humor in a lot of things. It could make more sense that such an art could come to be in any other time period as anything from an ancient art form to a more modern sport. One could even say it would make "a lot" more sense.

"Hold on, Loow! The troubled youths of Gli'morr needed a means of venting their frustrations without hurting one another! This idea makes perfect sense for this time period." - Wool

You have a point, but that same logic applies to just about every time period. I think the decision to lean on the 3-I as a starting point is somewhat disappointing. A bit of a cop-out considering there's quite a huge amount of time in which this martial art could have started.

Again, parts of your writing are fine, but there's too much emphasis or thought put into some details and not enough on others. Any writer needs positive feedback, which is often blind to issues. Writers also need negative feedback which may see enormous problems with minor details.

 

"...but rather the induction of pain and the disabling of a persons body without incurring any injuries. With the lack of leisure facilities and a regime that exploited them, this became a popular sport as it helped grow the bond between other while maintaining a competitive nature."

This section could fit into a lot of time periods and also hits a few good themes.

Bonds between others. A concern for the well being of others. Sport as a pastime or art form.

 

"The Karak Virul began to evolve after the formation of the new and current Federation, with it also acting as some form of a spiritual exercise similar to yoga. It was even adopted by the Federations Armed Forces, for the practicality of it permitting the capture of high value targets without incurring little to any damage to the person's physical health... "

I love F.A.F. as an acronym and would love to faff about by discussing it further, but I really should continue. I do like the idea of "gentle take-downs" as a strategy used by certain servicemen of the Federation (primarily police forces), but I'm not in love with the idea that the concept very well may be just a cross between Krav Maga, yoga, and judo. I guess that comparison may just be unavoidable.

I like how you mention your own use of the martial art in-game. There is some merit to this idea, and I think it was very brave of you to put it forward into a lore app. I'm not exactly a sweetheart, and you've mentioned your fondness for writing one too many times for me to give you anything less than a mostly unrestrained response.

I hope I got the right points across, and I look forward to pursuing further discussion with you in this topic.

For now, I have to post feedback on another lore app of yours.

[Faris]

First of, I'd like to apologize for the extremely delayed response, been busy yo.

 

Next, what's the appeal here? Not to the martial art, but attaching it to the Era of Synthetic Oppression. There's a Nebulous ideal out there that every little detail of lore has to tie back in to synthetics. While it might be hard to avoid them entirely, the very least one can do is try to include some degree of separation when one tries to make something new and refreshing.

Why have it start around the time of the Third Incident? Why early on in said event? Does tying this martial art to "that one Skrell event" give it more legitimacy? If so, then in whose eyes?

 

My initial intention was not to have it heavily attached to it, it was more of a thought about how good things can still bloom during times of hardship, that not everything during that set time period has to be grim. I've never seen our lore to be too much in the white nor in the black, but a healthy shade of gray which is the shade I'm hoping is what this application resonates with.

 

"Hold on, Loow! The troubled youths of Gli'morr needed a means of venting their frustrations without hurting one another! This idea makes perfect sense for this time period." - Wool

You have a point, but that same logic applies to just about every time period. I think the decision to lean on the 3-I as a starting point is somewhat disappointing. A bit of a cop-out considering there's quite a huge amount of time in which this martial art could have started.

 

The way I saw was actually something I've seen a while ago that was based on the inception of the Samurai/Bushido code, while my memory of all this thing I saw is fairly limited, it still inspired me to do something akin to that. I'd like to also say that I've also assumed that are tons of other martial arts adopted by the Skrell in my mind and that what I'm applying with is one among many.

 

but I'm not in love with the idea that the concept very well may be just a cross between Krav Maga, yoga, and judo. I guess that comparison may just be unavoidable.

 

While they may be a correlation to the cited sports, I don't think they were the sports I had in mind, I see it a more of a Jiu Jitsu and reading up on it, Judo.

I hope I haven't missed any points or questions, do point them out to me if I have.

[Loow]

Sorry for the delay. I like your answers, and I feel like I have a better idea of what you're going for with Karak Virul. I'm acting on this now.

[Muncorn]

Lore is placed on the wiki and is currently a work in progress. Please pursue further updates to the page: https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Skrell_Martial_Arts personally with the dev in charge.