[Accepted] Saudus' Skrell Whitelist

[Saudus]

BYOND Key: Saudus

Character Names: Adam Harrow (Scientist), Silas Reede (IAA), Henrik Volvalaad (Scientist)

Species you are applying to play: Skrell

What color do you plan on making your first alien character (Dionaea & IPCs exempt): Light blue/cyan

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes (reading the page made me question the lore behind their population numbers and I made this post to clarify

https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=10954

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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 specific race:

I want to play Skrell for 3 reasons:

2. They have the lore I like the most of all the alien species.
   
4. I feel there are too few Skrell around.
6. I would really enjoy RPing the type of character I'd be able to make.

 

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:

Well obviously there are multiple differences between Humans and Skrell. Aside from minor gameplay mechanics they have different history, culture and biology shaping them. To be brief:

• Very different views on synthetics.
  
• Language barrier making Skrell seem cold and emotionless to other species.
  
• Longer lifespan giving different perspectives and possibilities.
• Differences in gender roles and reproduction, especially with the genophage effects.
  
• Valuing logic, reason and adaptability higher but with lower drive and ambition.

 

 

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Character Name: Qhraysh-Ortq Pheyrmtaq (Ortq being a made up word for the period just after the Glorsh-Omega disappreance)

Please provide a short backstory for this character, approximately 2 paragraphs

Qhraysh-Ortg Pheyrmtaq was born 2203 on Jargon IV in the chaos after the disappearance of Glorsh-Omega. The first waves of attempts to reverse the genophage were inefficient and desperate, but some Skrell were born, one of those being Qhraysh. Systems for childrearing and schooling were almost non existing at this time since over 100 years had passed with species wide sterility. Qhraysh's schooling was more akin to tutoring as there were so few students his age and many adults eager to impart their knowledge to the first new generation in so long. Although none of his teachers was one of the truly greats in their field, they were certainly a clear cut above your average teacher and he found many inspiring role models in them, although none especially so.

Being part of the first generation of new Skrell made him and the others the recipient of so much hope, attention and expectations that it took a toll on them. During his youth he often worked as if possessed to achieve great results. Although his parents, both scientists, were loving and generally great they did put some pressure on him. The majority of the pressure, however, was from the world around him and inside himself. The regular medical examinations, tests and tweaks part of improving the genophage reversal certainly didn't help either. As more and more new Skrell were born, the pressure eased up and he was able to find a semblance of peace from the outside world, though not from himself.

Like many Skrell he found himself drawn to the scientific fields, largely because of his parents' influence, and studied at some of the universities that had survived or were being established on Jargon IV. His first degree was a doctorate in theoretical physics. Over time he complemented it with a bachelors in electrical engineering and biomedicine. He is also an avid reader of scientific journals and understands the basic principles of multiple other fields.

Whilst he never experienced the Glorsh-Omega regime himself the signs of it were all around him growing up in both in the environment and in the people. The fear, anger and hate around him seeped into him and he deeply distrusts synthetics. When contact was made with humans he was initially revolted by their relationship with synthetics. Over time he grew cautiously accepting, although not fully so, of lawed synthetics and he hopes that the radically different approach to controlling synthetics that humans are using might work. He is fervently against IPC:s and considers them abominations bound to lead towards disaster.

He has attempted to undergo treatment for the genophage but it was unsuccessful and has no children. He has had partners occasionally during his life but has none at the moment and is fundamentally uninterested in such relationships at this time.

Qhraysh has worked in multiple companies as well as teaching positions at universities, although Nanotrasen will be the first non Skrell organization he works for. He was not one of the leading scientists who achieved the breakthrough with bluespace technology, but he knews a fair few of them personally and was working under one of them at the time of the breakthrough. At the moment he is hired to work as a scientist on the research and mining station NSS Aurora in Tau Ceti with a focus on bluespace technology, but given the freedom to pursue other fields as well. He has strong inclinations towards teaching and enjoys teaching lab assistants and other scientists. He is disinterested in a position as a director for the wage, power and status but has some interests in it as it might allow him to educate others better. He has no strong opinion on Nanotrasen or any other mega-corporation, with the exception of having heard good things about Zheng-Hu, but is very interested in being in proximity to alien species as he has spent almost all his life in Federation space.

What do you like about this character?

I like the Skrell lore and how I'll be able to incorporate that into a character. I like the way I'll be speaking as this character (ME Salarians). I like how I'll get to try and push my RP limits further by something more different from myself.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

7/10. I still can't properly RP something too far away from myself but I am very serious, never break character and only very occasionally go a bit silly (and then not incredibly so).

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Notes:

People who have played a lot with my character Adam Harrow might draw a lot of parallels with the two characters. That's no coincidence, I purposefully made this character similar in some ways to make the transition easier.

EDIT: Added and changed a few things, made most of the new things underlined to more easily find it.

Edited May 7, 2018 by Guest

[Bygonehero]

I've liked your roleplay with Adam, and your criticisms about your own roleplay are apt. +1 from me, hope you get it!

[Tailson]

Alright I'm late replying to this but I said I would so I am. I'll talk first about Harrow as that's the character I've interacted with.

Adam Harrow is perhaps one of the most competent science characters I know. I don't think I've ever seen them behave out of character and Saudus consistently plays the character within the skills that they're expected to have. Points due to the fact that he's played in a very 'human' fashion and is very quick to dismiss the 'be a hero' instinct some people tend to have, it's a very grounded and down-to-earth character.

So, character praise aside, let's look at the app's contents.

Race knowledge is obviously well-demonstrated, especially with the thread pointing out the mathematical inconsistency regarding population figures.

When I named my character I went with something that sounded squishy. That's not advice, because if it was it would be terrible advice, it's just what I did for my name.

X seems like a pretty neutral character, I assume we'll be seeing a lot of X's personality shine through as you play him (in that subtle way that skrell show emotions).

The notes. This character does seem very similar to Harrow in that they're likely to be in the same department and may be similar in personality. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as Harrow's character would translate well as a Skrell even if very little changes.

Finally, I like Saudus. Friendly person OOC and all-around lovely chap/chapette.

This is a very strong +1 from me.

[Worthy]

I have to agree with Tailson's comment about how Adam Harrow feels like a very grounded and down to earth character. He's personally one of my favourite scientists simply because he isn't eccentric to the point of being a meme as a lot of scientists are. The fact that he's actually ''normal'' so to say makes him stand out more amidst the perpetual blizzard that is the science department. Definitely a hyperbole here, but my point still stands.

So yes on the role-play side of things I'd definitely give you a +1, but since Loow loathes empty +1s without any actual comments on the app itself I am forced to give feedback on the app itself so here goes.

 

Character Name: (I'm currently waiting for an answer to a PM regarding Skrell naming conventions and rules. Meanwhile I've put the name as "X" in the backstory. I'll edit it in later)

This has been quite a while now innit? Sheesh whoever is supposed to respond to that PM definitely should hurry up about it lest the name is actually going to be X.

 

X was born 2203 on Jargon IV in the chaos after the disappearance of Glorsh-Omega. The first waves of attempts to reverse the genophage were inefficient and desperate, but some Skrell were born, one of those being X. Systems for childrearing and schooling were almost non existing at this time since over 100 years had passed with species wide sterility. X's schooling was more akin to tutoring as there were so few students his age and many adults eager to impart their knowledge to the first new generation in so long. Like many Skrell X found himself drawn to the scientific fields and studied at some of the universities that had survived or were being established on Jargon IV. He eventually ended up with a doctorate in physics, but studied more fields on and off after his graduation and ended up with a few other degrees as well over the decades.

I like it, it's fairly kosher, safe, white bread. It establishes the character in a short and concise manner. Although I'd like for you to perhaps elaborate on their childhood. Did they have any figures they looked up to? Any experiences that always stuck with them? A bit more flavour to the bread doesn't hurt.

 

Whilst X never experienced the Glorsh-Omega regime himself the signs of it were all around him growing up in both in the environment and in the people. The fear, anger and hate around him seeped into X and he deeply distrusts synthetics. When contact was made with humans he was initially revolted by their relationship with synthetics, but grew cautiously accepting of lawed synthetics. He has attempted to undergo treatment for the genophage but it was unsuccessful.

 

Now this here. What made him go from deeply distrusting synthetics to cautiously accepting them? Did they grow on him casually over time? Did a heroic PALADIN bot save his life? Is X going to sperg out every single malf round because all his trust is shattered in one go?

 

X has worked in multiple companies and fields of science as well as teaching positions at universities. He has primarily focused on bluespace technology and research but has forayed into other areas over his 257 year long life such as biology, engineering and chemistry. At the moment he is hired by Nanotrasen to work as a scientist on their research and mining station NSS Aurora in Tau Ceti. He has no strong opinion on Nanotrasen or any other mega-corporation, with the exception of having heard good things about Zheng-Hu, but is very interested in being in proximity to alien species as he has spent almost all his life in Federation space.

Does X have any further goals? Is he perhaps interested in becoming a research director? Or is he fine spending the remainder of his life as a scientist?

 

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

7/10. I still can't properly RP something too far away from myself but I am very serious, never break character and only very occasionally go a bit silly (and then not incredibly so).

Self aware enough, I can appreciate that, it's apt.

Overall I think it's a fairly decent application and I'd support it as is. I do feel it'd be stronger if a few of my questions were adressed, and a bit more meat was added to the application as a whole.

[Owen]

X was born 2203 on Jargon IV in the chaos after the disappearance of Glorsh-Omega. The first waves of attempts to reverse the genophage were inefficient and desperate, but some Skrell were born, one of those being X. Systems for childrearing and schooling were almost non existing at this time since over 100 years had passed with species wide sterility. X's schooling was more akin to tutoring as there were so few students his age and many adults eager to impart their knowledge to the first new generation in so long. Like many Skrell X found himself drawn to the scientific fields and studied at some of the universities that had survived or were being established on Jargon IV. He eventually ended up with a doctorate in physics, but studied more fields on and off after his graduation and ended up with a few other degrees as well over the decades.

 

I like how you explored the situation with teaching the first generations born following Glorsh-Omega. I would've liked to see a bit more to 'X' regarding his upbringing and perhaps his parents and how his childhood experiences drew him towards the scientific fields as you said. I'd also like to know all the fields that 'X' has delved into, as it says here that he went into studying physics, but later on you mention that he has involvement in chemistry, biology, and engineering.

 

He has primarily focused on bluespace technology and research

 

Is this something that 'X' is still focusing on? As Bluespace was only discovered in 2413, before that there would've been no "bluespace technology" for 'X' to be researching.

What led to 'X' getting up and moving his life to Tau Ceti following the discovery of Humanity. You stated that he was revolted by seeing synthetics used by Humanity, yet he eventually managed to adapt to the environment. I'd appreciate to see a bit more backstory on what led to his change of opinions, as it does go against the general opinion of his peers.

Overall, 'X' seems like a fairly basic character with not much to him besides when he was born, and what he does. I'm genuinely interested in learning more about this Skrell though, as he was born in a time where there wasn't much hope for his species. The population was rather unsteady, and he would've definitely been shaped by the emphasis on making a better for himself than those before him. It would be nice to see who 'X' is as a person, get to know what his ambitions are. Just to see that he will actually be a well thought out character, not another Skrell who suffered through their life and now work on a space station in Tau Ceti.

Don't be afraid to break out of the mold about, add some creativity and interesting details about his life. Does he value family? Does he have a Quualt'Shirapt? does he have children? I have no doubt that you will be able make this character more alive. I like the base that you have going for it at the moment. I am interested to see what else you have in your head

Good luck!

[Saudus]

Alright, it's been more than a week with no response to the forum PM regarding name so I'll just wing it with something fun.

Also thank you so much for the nice and constructive comments, I'll get to work doing some edits to address the issues brought up (fleshing out more stuff and clarifying the questions you've asked).

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

Hello,

I am sorry for the delay in your application. It is solid and you have positive feedback that you have taken in stride and fleshed out your character for. I would be happy to see you warble. Application accepted!