Writing challenge/cameos: Stocking the Ibi library in SSF2-4

duncanidaho11

Greetings people of this particular part of the internet,

As you may be aware from my talk of nothing else, there's a number of Starfleet Security missions on the way. In the finale, Refraction, there is an Ibi library in the main Administrative complex which I'm hoping to fill with stuff.

What kind of stuff? Well, given that it's two missions down the pipeline I haven't put too much thought into it but I've been itching for a new collaborative project and here's what looks like a good opportunity (in the same vein as Starfarertheta's memory alpha ). Specifically, I hereby invite any and all people in sight of this post to come up with encyclopedic entries of things, places, people, or events out there in the STO universe (Iffar included). I'm thinking these could be written from a general point of view, the point of view of the Ibi (the recurring species from my first mission), or from a given commentator (ie. character) who would accompany the dialog. There is a severe limit on costumes with this project, so I may only be able to fit one or two of these direct character cameos in (first come basis.)


Ibi backstory/reminder

The Ibi are a humanoid species that have spent the last 800 or so years in social stagnation. They have a few trade links out the rest of the galaxy and a number of small colonies but otherwise they're not particularly involved in the interstellar affairs of the galaxy. The Ibi have a tendency to indulge in the aesthetic point of view, even up to the point of aristocratic snobbery, but they can still be very easy going and objective too.

The current time frame on this project is: by the time I get around to finishing SSF2-4 which won't be for a few months. So there's plenty of time to work on stuff, and no immediate limits on how many entries I can throw in (besides the tight costume budget and dialog readability.)

And to make this just a wee bit more interesting, I'll mail a Lock Box Key to whomever comes up with my favorite entry (myself naturally excluded.)


Note: this table isn't actually a library but that space isn't as polished as I'd like yet so it's what I've got for the environment. :P

thay8472

Planet > Sol III >> Wildlife >>> Pet >>>> Beagle

The Beagle is a breed of small-sized hound native to Sol III. The Beagle is a scent hound, developed primarily for hunting hare. With a great sense of smell and their tracking instinct, the Beagle is employed as detection dog for prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine on Sol III. The Beagle is intelligent but single-minded. It is a popular pet due to its size, good temper, and lack of inherited health problems.

Although beagle-type dogs have existed for 3,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Great Britain around the 1830s from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier.

Incident D47-T5R
Subject: 'Luna'



Officers were called to an outlying village today after this 'beast' was brought to our world by Commander Sutherland, of the Federation star ship, Athena.

The pet was reported destroying a large number of crops from <Idi's name> farm. Then proceeded to chase <Idi animal> across a heavily populated street causing minor damage and injury.

duncanidaho11

+1 to Sutherland.

I'm also going to throw out there that if more information is required about Ibi history, geography, culture, or so on I'm definitely able to supply it but (within some limits) I also want to encourage people to work with their own little bit of the planet/civilization if they choose to make something about Iffar or the Ibi. I may ultimately tweak one or two things to fit the setting, but otherwise I want to make this a free writing prompt.

starfarertheta

The Great Iffar Sea Organ is a 130 meter structure located on the western shore of the Viridi Penninsula on the Continent of Viar near the town of T'cheo. A marvel of Ibi engineering, and possibly Iffar's largest musical instrument, the structure took only two and a half years to construct in 2310. It has stood for approximately 100 years thereafter.

Like the Morske Orgulje on Earth, the Iffar Sea Organ a combination of sea waves and wind movement through a series of tubes to generate musical tones. This system is complimented by a system of forcefields to fine-tune the musical tones in as much as is possible with random wind and wave interaction. The forcefields can also be used to silence the structure when needed. The result is T'cheo's most prominent landmark which has made the town a popular tourist destination.

The recent increase in interaction with the wider galactic community will only increase the number of visitors to the site. This raises concerns regarding the structure's wear and tear as it's designers never intended for so much traffic. A refurbrishing of the structure is planned to take measures to help protect it from the increasing number of visitors.

markhawkman

The Boslic are a humanoid race native to the Alpha Quadrant. They have been a space faring species for centuries and have trade agreements with most of the major galactic powers. The race first made contact with various Federation members before the Federation charter was signed. During the Dominion War they spent a lot of time collecting salvage from Dominion ships, something they first did before the war even started.

They also are seen acting as mercenaries at the behest of other powers. Sometimes races that are not friendly to the Federation. Several are known to have worked for the rogue captain Arctus Baran. More recently a group was seen building a starbase near Federation space in a contract with the Tholians.

duncanidaho11

Just wanted to update that this is still a thing but as a result of the fact that I'm working on an interim project (Epoch) to my SSF series, the challenge entries won't be due for a while. I'll update again when I'm looking to complete the SSF finale mission but I'm confident that the parameters of this challenge won't change. So, at any time between now and a while from now, if anyone (including those who have already submitted something) has an idea for a library entry feel free to post here.

starfarertheta

Ingredients for Tasty Ibi Cream Cheese Cake:

Crust:
1 1/3 cup homestyle Ibi cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
4 Tbsp butter, unsalted, melted

Filling:
2 cups Native Ibi Cream Cheese (preferably the good stuff)
1 cup granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 Eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
2/3 heavy whipping cream

Author's note: I may have been hungry when I wrote this.

duncanidaho11

starfarertheta wrote: »

Ingredients for Tasty Ibi Cream Cheese Cake:

Crust:
1 1/3 cup homestyle Ibi cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
4 Tbsp butter, unsalted, melted

Filling:
2 cups Native Ibi Cream Cheese (preferably the good stuff)
1 cup granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 Eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
2/3 heavy whipping cream

Author's note: I may have been hungry when I wrote this.

Dammit, where's the thumbs up button when you need it?! :P

duncanidaho11

Given two things.

1. Before downtime, the host mission for the writing challenge was in active development.
2. It is now downtime.

I thought I'd give this thread a hearty kick. Same gist, create an encyclopedic entry for the Star Trek Universe (appropriate to be found in an Ibi library) and not only will that entry be featured in the next SSF mission, my favorite will also be awarded with a lock box key.

novapolaris

Would it be acceptable to submit multiple entries?

duncanidaho11

theoryfive wrote: »

Would it be acceptable to submit multiple entries?

Space is theoretically limited by how many consoles I have and how many sub-menus I can add. That's a lot to work with. So, anyone can submit however many entries they like (within theoretical reason).

novapolaris

duncanidaho11 wrote: »

theoryfive wrote: »

Would it be acceptable to submit multiple entries?

Space is theoretically limited by how many consoles I have and how many sub-menus I can add. That's a lot to work with. So, anyone can submit however many entries they like (within theoretical reason).

Ah, okay. Shouldn't be more than a few, hope it's not too much considering entries you'll be getting from other people.

I'll have them up in a bit.

Edit: Just to be sure, is it alright to include entries about my own species and works for this game, if handled from an Ibi point of view?

duncanidaho11

theoryfive wrote: »

Edit: Just to be sure, is it alright to include entries about my own species and works for this game, if handled from an Ibi point of view?

That's totally alright (and part of what I was hoping for ). Writing from the Ibi's point of view would probably work best for the environment. However, if you find that a general galactic viewpoint fits a particular subject better, then that could totally be included too (it is a library, and the Ibi would probably have picked up publications from other species too.)

novapolaris

duncanidaho11 wrote: »

That's totally alright (and part of what I was hoping for ). Writing from the Ibi's point of view would probably work best for the environment. However, if you find that a general galactic viewpoint fits a particular subject better, then that could totally be included too (it is a library, and the Ibi would probably have picked up publications from other species too.)

Alright then, thanks. Here's my entries for now. Pardon if some of them get a little long-worded. (Although I might need them to be fixed up to fit right if you use any of them.)

The Zindarians

A plebeian species, hailing from the planet Zindar, for which they have lost long ago.

Zindarians are a humanoid species noted for their twin flat horns, and a pattern of colored stripes that criss-cross their way across their bodies. They also have a relatively wide range of eye colors, usually but not always tied to the color of their stripes. Natural hair color, however, remains limited to shades of black in all known members.

Zindarian culture could be considered nomadic. Many of their species stick to traveling together in nomad fleets, when they don't settle down on planets and moons to take up more permanent residence. Even when Zindarian groups do settle down in a more permanent location, they continue to keep their ships ready to pack up and leave at a moment's notice, although they prepare their settlements in the hopes that this will not be necessary.

It should be noted that Zindarians place a high value on the stripes that cover their bodies, and with which they decorate their art, structures, starships, and many other things. It is said that the stripes they use in art and decoration each have particular meanings based on pattern and color, and that these meanings may even apply to the stripes that each individual is born with.

Much of Zindarian technology is not aesthetically pleasing, to say the least. However, for what their designs lack in beauty they more than make up for in raw ingenuity. Despite reports that harassment from organized raiders has left their infrastructure strained, they have still performed feats of engineering, some of which may rival even that of the United Federation of Planets, such as their plasma systems. Admittedly, I myself can vouch for these claims to at least some degree, as my own personal star yacht runs better than I could have imagined after trading for and installing some Zindarian electro-plasma relays. I shudder to think what these systems could be capable of should their designs be turned to a more military focus on the level of the Klingon Empire or Elosyan Imperium.

It has even been said that Zindarians possess supernatural powers, such as being able to lift and manipulate objects, or even conjure elements such as ice or fire, merely with their minds. The authenticity of these claims has been debated, and will not be treated as more than rumors until our scientists can meet with Zindarians who are supposedly able to use these powers, in order to verify their existence. Despite this, reports from the United Federation of planets seem to lend credence to these claims, even if not to the fantastical degrees to which I have been told.

After their discovery in the last few decades, they have become a member of the United Federation of Planets, with some of their members entering into their academies for training and admission into Starfleet. One of their members is said to have even reached their rank of Admiral.

Pettunis Pudding

A Zindarian recipe.

For a species as unrefined in cultural and technological appearance as the Zindarians, I am quite surprised by the beauty of this dessert recipe.

For the most part, the recipe is prepared as normal for a dessert or meal pudding. However, the use of a particular berry combined with special crystals of sugar result in a dish that sparkles like a clear night's sky. Some especially skilled chefs even work art into these dishes, such as using lighter creams to create the appearance of clouds, or even starships amongst the night sky of the dessert.

I first learned of this recipe during a sortie that resulted in a trade for some more advanced electro-plasma systems for my vessel. Perhaps the story of how common this dish is and the skill with which it is made by members of the species was embellished, but I will admit that the trader family that prepared it for me during a meal after our exchange were no slouches in its preparation. They even captured a rendition of my own vessel sailing through the stars crossing paths with their own using artistic additions of milk creams in the recipe, to commemorate the occasion.

This is one dish that I will be adding to my personal library for home cooking, so long as I can find suitable ingredients. It is both too pretty, and too delicious, to go without.

The Elosyans

A proud and noble species, ruling their grand Star Imperium from their homeworld of Elosys with a fair and wise, yet strong hand.

The Elosyans are a species of humanoids noted for their brilliant white hair, long ears, and semi-chitinous skin patterning. The irises of their eyes are also noted for having a remarkably awe inspiring range of colors compared to other species such as Humans.

They have ruled the Imperial Systems for over 2900 years, long enough to be far superior to the vaunted United Federation of Planets, the ever caught up in infighting Klingon Empire, or broken and struggling Romulan Star Empire.

While they rule with a fair hand, the Elosyans know better than to get complacent in terms of military might and superiority. They have age refined tactics and technology at their disposal, and it is said that they have mastered the technology of phased antiproton and protonic weaponry. If they had been present for the Dominion War, perhaps it could have been they giving the Dominion a run for their money instead of the Dominion to the powers on our side of the wormhole.

The designs of the Elosyans, such as their starships, are utterly beautiful. Their ships are adorned in brilliant ivory white, with elegant angles that make them akin to stars made solid with metal. Their mechs like deities clad from head to toe in brilliant metal armor. Could we not aspire to such beauty in our own designs?

Their mastery of drone technology is also awe inspiring, with police forces and even planetary defense forces supplemented with their superior capabilities and might. They need not fear having to put as many lives at risk in the defenses of their territory as many other species do, or worry as much of the need for inertial dampers limiting the performance of their synthetic soldiers for their safety.

While not yet to join with the Elosyan Imperium in any way, the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet has been taking Elosyan candidates into their academies as part of diplomatic arrangements. Perhaps this could one day lead to an alliance, or even a merging of nations?

Such awed am I to their culture and designs that I may give recommendations for our leaders to petition to join their glorious Star Imperium.

Footnote: I do not recall thinking of the Elosyans in such... favorable terms when I wrote this document. Is it possible one of them slipped something in my tea? While they and their technology are grand, true, I would think these terms to be... highly embellished under the power of suggestion. And to recommend our leaders petition to join their Star Imperium? I truly hope I did not do such a thing while under the effects of this... pursuasion.

Aramas soup

An Elosyan recipe learnt from a delegate during the 5th attempt to recruit our fine nation into their Star Imperium.

The secret to the delicious taste, and awe inspiring prismatic color, of aramas soup comes from the use of the eygis leaf, traditionally harvested before the spring or summer moon. The recipe itself can vary considerably otherwise, being made from vegetable, fruit, or meat stock, along with the chef's choice in other ingredients. However, the eygis leaf is essential.

The soup is generally boiled slow on low heat, although some variant recipes exist that call for a quick boil on high heat. However, according to the aforementioned delegate, using this alternate method of preparation risks a compound in the eygis leaf turning to poison, besides the usual risks of quick boiling of a soup. One can only assume that these alternative recipes exist for use by risk takers who love the thrill of consuming a meal that has a chance to sicken or kill them.

Drakarians

The Drakarians, or Drakari in one of their native tongues, are a medium to large species of warm-blooded quadrupedal, winged saurians native to Zakar. If it were not for my drive to expand my knowledge for the sake of my studies and for our people, their visage may have caused me to flee to the safety of my study near the seas of Anore.

Their culture appears to be similar to that of the Klingons when it comes to violence, but in a controlled as opposed to wanton manner. Drakarian life is not to be given needlessly; only for a sufficiently worthy cause or when no other action that can avoid sacrifice is possible. Otherwise, their cultures seem to be in a relatively technologically advanced renaissance. While the species may have an intimidating or potentially terrifying appearance - childhood traumas from experiences with ararh fire lizards notwithstanding - I will admit that many of their cultures have a kind of charm or beauty to them.

There have been theories about this species that they actually originated from Earth, like Humans, due to their similarity to the dragons of Earth mythologies and legends. While there has yet to be significant evidence to substantiate this, their legends state that a group of divine beings saved them from extinction at the hands of a humanoid species they once shared a homeworld with, moving them elsewhere so that they could rebuild and grow in relative safety until they were ready to stand on a grander stage in the galaxy. Human myths and legends, conversely, tell tales of dragons as greedy monsters to be slain, or divine beings said to be the ancestors of royal families. There also happen to be a surprising number of potentially or proven Preserver artifacts in varying condition said to have been discovered on the Drakarian homeworld. Perhaps time will tell whether or not these rumors are founded in fact or fiction.

Remarkably, this species has pair of unusual abilities. One, that many members of this species can breathe fire or project other substances such as toxic or corrosive mists or compounds from the mouth. Two, most perplexingly, that they can fly despite their tough and hardy body structures, even considering their often impressive wingspans. It has been theorized that this species may actually utilize a biological form of antigravity to aid in flight, as they have been seen to be able to achieve it without having sufficiently lighter and delicate frames like birds.

This species has entered into the United Federation of Planets relatively recently, after their discovery by Starfleet decades prior. However, postings aboard Starfleet's starships and starbases appear to be uncommon still, similar to with aquatic species. Perhaps like aquatics, the Federation still does not fully include the necessary infrastucture or design accomodations for their postings to be more common? They do tend to range in at larger sizes than most intelligent species after all, and most Federation starships are designed generally with humanoid species around our own size in mind.

Drakarian sweet sausage

An interesting recipe I learned from a drakarian trader while collecting information and materials for my studies, the Drakarian sweet sausage is akin to similar recipes from many species including other variants from the Drakarians, except for one key addition.

The secret to this sausage recipe that sets it apart from other similar recipes is the use of a kind of sweet plant sap from a plant native to Zakar, similar to the maple of Earth. Other sweetener substitutes can be used, but the sap from this particular plant species is preferred.

I myself can vouch for the reason for this ingredient's preference, as I have tried samples of different variants of the recipe using various ingredients during my stay with the aforementioned trader. Combined with the proper herbs and spices, one could say the use of this sap makes the resulting dish divine. I cannot think of many other words that could do it proper credit.

PS - All or most of these particular entries are intended to have been written by the same scholar.
Additionally, the third species I created an entry for is not possible to recreate properly in the game currently, so I would not advise the attempt. Hopefully it's not too outlandish or anything to include the entry at all.
I do, however, have examples to show of the first two species, although I would prefer you not use these directly unless necessary or if desired. These references are mainly to serve as examples of what members of these species look like. (Although arguably I don't know how you'll be setting up the dialogues for any entries you'll be using from people here.)

Elosyan, Captain Eayn Lynaysi

Zindarian, Admiral Sveni Zinsi

If you do happen to use any of these entries, I wouldn't actually mind at all if you used an Ibi character design for the scholar as the dialogue contact.

duncanidaho11

Thanks! That's a lot of good stuff.

I do have to make a suggestion though. Some of those entries are going to require 3 dialog boxes each to fit in the Foundry (1,000 characters is our limit per dialog box). It might help to break them up into sections addressing specific topics. Ex. Elosyan politics and ships handled as two separate entries that players can choose after reading the main description. Filling one text box and spilling over a bit to the next I'll say is perfectly fine. I don't want to stymie anyone's writing. But with more, I'd say the chances are good that there's multiple topics being covered.

As a note, I'm planning on using a stock NPC or NPC prop (ex. console) in library console dialog. There is an Ibi which I could use as a historian, but for your pieces I would actually suggest a Federation presenter (because the reference point seems to be the UFP.)

paxfederatica

Here's one for you (it's even under 1000 chars, too), referencing the race featured in my Valley of the Shadow trilogy:

The Nivayans

A humanoid species, noted for their dark blue and purple patterned flesh, indigenous to the fourth planet of the Nivay system.

The original Nivayan civilization had achieved faster-than-light space travel, but was laid waste by the Romulan Star Empire in a 24th-century invasion - an atrocity known as "The Great Burning" - followed by several decades of occupation and depredations by the Tal Shiar that only ended in 2409. Millions of Nivayans died during these events, while millions more were forced into exile on various Federation worlds, most notably Andoria, which also hosted the Nivayan government-in-exile.

As a result of all this, Nivayan culture as it presently stands is a nearly blank slate. They may eventually apply for Federation membership, but for the foreseeable future their priorities are to rebuild their world, and try to rediscover and reclaim the cultural heritage the Romulans stole from them.

duncanidaho11

Thanks Pax!

duncanidaho11

I just wanted to give this a quick update, dialog is going into SSF2-4 right now so that means the library stuff can go in at any point now. So, I guess I give a cut-off date for submissions at...hmm...January 1st 2017. If anyone has anything more to add, feel free to post, and once everything's squared away I'll mail the contest winners (pleural) their promised lock box key.

duncanidaho11

Update: your guys' entries are now in. Theoryfive's Elosyans and Zindarians have been added in their entirety (including recipe subfiles) but I did have to exclude the Drakarians on the basis that it would contradict an explanation of Voth evolution I gave in Trident, Part 1 [AEI]. It was good stuff, but I do have to watch out for self-consistency with my missions.

Winners will be announced, well now. I really digged P_Sutherland's beagle entry and Starfarertheta's ice cream recipe. Kudos for Pax, Markhawkman, and Theoryfive too, we've got lots of universe building here.

So who gets the prize? I'd like to mail lock box keys out to all five, but I've only got enough resources ATM for two. So, Theta and Sutherland get keys. Everyone gets a credit listing both in their respective entries and at the end of the mission. Refraction [SSF2-4] will publish once the Foundry is fully back online.