Zschauin

The GS Izsak-Delporte

January 1, 999 GE

Crewmember: Zschauin

◆BIOGRAPHY:

▶Zschauin is a member of a therapsid alien race called kyrel, which have only one biological sex. Their home planet, Shernoa, has technology comparable to the Industrial Era on Earth. First contact with humans was about 60 years ago, and Zschauin was a firsthand witness. Ever since that event, they left their planet in search for knowledge on every race and culture imaginable, utterly fascinated with the prospect of other sentient life.  They became a researcher and author, covering topics like galactic civilization and individual species' cultures.  Their works are sometimes used in academia!

▶Zschauin was hired as one of the first members of the Snow & Arrow company, seeking a change of pace in their long life.  For the crew, Zschauin gathers information on the cultures and creatures they may meet on their missions such that any correspondence goes smoothly, without any embarrassing social faux pas.  They're studious and reserved, providing some input on mission strategy, but not looking to take any spotlight.  They don't go too much into details of their old life on Shernoa--it's public knowledge that Shernoa was in the midst of a drawn-out world war when first contact was initiated, but they never talk about it.

▶...Indeed, Zschauin had previously lived in the very Shernoan country that was responsible for that war 80 years ago.  They were patriotic and had a partner and two children, but that all changed when the enemy army invaded their hometown.  Their partner and one child were elsewhere in town when Zschauin's house was broken into.  The resulting fight had left Zschauin injured and bloody, and their other child was kidnapped by the soldiers.  After their partner came back and saw the chaos, they were furious.  They took their remaining child and fled the country, leaving Zschauin alone.

▶These memories haunt Zschauin even to this day, and they refuse to go back to Shernoa as a result.  They have a hard time vocalizing this to their fellow crewmembers, often dancing around questions instead of talking it out.  Even beyond the trauma, they find their past actions and beliefs embarrassing.  They really wish they could apologize, but they know they shouldn't go looking for a partner that deliberately left them and no longer wants anything to do with them.  However, because of how tight-lipped they've been, they're creating the wrong impression; Azriel thinks Zschauin is merely homesick, and is considering stopping by Shernoa one of these days.

◆FUN FACTS: 

▶They were already an esteemed sociology professor back on their home planet, and they try their hardest to learn the languages of the new cultures and races they integrate with.

▶They’ve also tried their hardest to cook recipes from all sorts of cultures but it hasn’t worked out as well.

▶Their outfit drawn here is formal wear back on their planet.  For more casual occasions, they prefer human-style sweaters.

▶They're in the process of writing a book on their first contact experience.

▶They have several siblings back home that they still keep in touch with.