The Srom

The Srom

When Skrell enter “deep” sleep, their Zona Bovaine will cease transmitting Psionic Wakes and begin sending new signals to the Dream, or “Srom” in Nral’Malic. The Dream is a shared subconscious process where multiple Skrell’s minds interconnect to form a collective experience.

The shared burden of creating the Dream results in Skrell having a greater cognitive capacity while asleep, and owing to that, Skrell that enter the Dream are almost always fully cognizant. The Dream shapes itself based on the memories, experiences and emotions of the Skrell currently creating it. For planetary-wide Dreams, the appearance is almost always determined by the environment of the planet, as it is the most commonly shared thing among the massive amount of Skrell.

Skrell who don't have the luxury of aluminum-plated walls and want to isolate themselves fully from the Srom must remain in light sleep or stay awake entirely. This means those who have secrets to hide have the telltale sign of being constantly tired. Some Skrell, though, can enter a meditative trance, keeping the mind active while the body rests. Scientists frequently isolate themselves from the general populace in aluminum sealed laboratories and dorms, speaking and dreaming with each other in private as they conduct their research.

Lone Skrell, who for one reason or another are away from other Skrell, will still enter the dreamscape while asleep, but without the support of their own kind the Dream will often be much smaller and vaguely hazy. Most Skrell find the experience depressing and prefer light sleep or meditative trances if they have the aptitude.

Near replicas of any deceased individual can be conjured through ‘Srom Manipulation’. While many scientists of the Federation believe that these replicas are merely a hollow shell of memories with no proper soul, some believe that the individual has persisted even after death; this is often also seen as a cultural reverence for their ancestors and those who passed. The generational ship of the Dreamers are often seen practicing this ideology the most.

Skrell and The Srom

It is difficult to keep one's lips sealed in the Dream, with social inhibitions easily melting away. However, it is also much easier to create and brainstorm in Srom. Ways to hide from the dream clutter of a Dream are somewhat numerous. Distancing yourself inside the Dream is the most common tactic, but it is also known that aluminum (typically headpieces, blankets, or plated walls) blocks off connection to the Dream entirely.

Psionic individuals can actively alter and adjust things within the Dream through skill and effort, but the level of alteration is heavily dependent on what you’re adjusting and your own psionic aptitude. Typically, it's most easy to modify your own body within the Dream and a very common practice. Some Skrell even go so far as to make costumes to sleep in to make the transition easier. Rarely, talented Skrell can modify a sizable chunk of the Dream’s environment on their own, though the process can be very taxing and leave the sleeping Skrell feeling tired after they wake. Additionally, any changes they make gradually revert once they leave the Dream. Psionic Elders are considered among the best when it comes to Srom Manipulation; they are capable of altering and adjusting the Shared Dream to a higher degree than the average Skrell.

Cultural and Historical Relevance

• The introduction of Srom-Capable VR changed the way that Skrell consumed media. Instead of a first-person book narrative, the audience is thrust directly into the point-of-view of the main character, where they are able to perceive and feel the emotions of the character.

• Wulumunusha naturally grows in alpine climates, typically closer to the poles of the Homeworld. It is used by both Qeblak and Weishii followers, and is said to unlock barriers to both Nlom and Srom.

• Around the 5500s BCE the Great Schism occured; marked by a period in skrellian history in which there was a legitimacy crisis in regards to the religion which they followed, Qe'qlak. It was through several key debates, alongside the use of political maneuvering and stealthy intrusions, that Qeblak was formed. For a while after its formation, many believed that Qeblak was a heresy, and for centuries after, skrellian scholars debated such. It was only through a mixture of both Nlom and Srom interference, Qeblak was eventually adopted as the primary faith of the Skrell.

• The generational ship, The Zi'Pluax, experienced a major systematic failure in the majority of their equipment, including hydroponics and communication terminals; the sudden failure caused the fleet to lose the ability to sustain itself or call for aid. Due to their situation, for over 400 years the crew of the Zi'Pluax have been within rotations of cryosleep, and by extension, crewmembers have been within The Srom for extended periods of time. This has led to a newfound cultural identity forming within the Zi'Pluax and being universally adopted by all of its members.

Sromkala

Sromkala, translating to Dream Enforcers, are Skrell selected to ensure that major planetary dreambubbles are safe from malicious lucidity. Agents are selected for their high psychic potential to oversee the Srom to ensure that no illegal or anti-Federation activities occur, particularly through the malicious use of Nlom-capable devices. They are commonly situated close to Nlom Relays - using the technology to amplify their capabilities tenfold. It is said that for every Nlom Relay across the Nralakk Federation, there is a Sromkala nestled within a special cryogenic pod that allows for their body to be in suspended animation, but allows their minds to project and continue working within Srom.

Non-Skrell and The Srom

Non-Skrell can enter The Srom through the help of a psionic guide. These psionic guides are often Elder Skrell who have dedicated portions of their life to studying The Srom. They can come from many backgrounds; Psionic Scholars, Elders of a Skrell Faith, or simply Psionic Researchers. Due to the immense amount of training that consistent Srom Pulls require, being able to Srom Pull effortlessly is something only the masters of the technique can do. However, the technique is not a secret and many can piece it together and perform one to at least a beginner level. Those without training can perform rudimentary Srom Pulls but it is accompanied with great concentration and straining; something that should not be done constantly. A Skrell will most likely learn the technique of an advanced Srom Pull from an established psionic guide or Elder throughout consistent psionic studies and classes. Schooling related to the Psionics in Depth Colleges even have degrees available in Srom Studies.

A Non-Skrell in The Srom will feel the effects more heavily; and due to such, these Non-Skrell in The Srom are practically incapable of lying and misdirection. They will oftentimes be incredibly dazed and confused without any real ability to manipulate their surroundings in any way. It will often take many months of training for a Non-Skrell to manifest even a rudimentary orb of light or to exist in the space without being dazed, and even then it is exceedingly rare for a non-Skrell to show any aptitude for manipulation within the Srom. It should be noted that non-Skrell, even with a psionic receiver, cannot interface with Srom-Devices. Once awoken, a Non-Skrell will experience a feeling similar to being intoxicated, accompanied with minor brain damage. Due to this, it is not advised to Srom Pull the same individual multiple times within quick succession for fear of their safety. If multiple Srom Pulls are performed it could be treated as maiming by the ship's security forces due to the traumatic brain injuries associated. Those with psionic receivers are less prone to more severe damage but precautions still need to be taken to ensure that their body and mind stays safe. The health and safety of the Non-Skrell should be prioritized by the psionic guide.

Dionae, and Vaurca are incapable of experiencing The Srom under normal conditions. However, if one were to install a psionic receiver then a skilled Psionic Guide would be able to assist them in a journey to the Shared Dream. Psionic receivers allow non-Skrell to interact with the Srom but in a more passive capacity, relying on their guide to actively help them manifest objects or change their surroundings but otherwise being more of an observer than other non-Skrell. It is extremely common for Non-Skrell that reside in the Nralakk Federation to have these receivers installed due to the sheer amount of cultural relevance and importance that psionics and The Srom have within society, but they are still at a disadvantage due to the receiver not acting as a full replacement for a Zona Bovinae. IPC and Synthetics are incapable of entering the dream even with a receiver due to their incompatibility with psionics.

OOC Note

SROM PULLING NON-SKRELL IS DIFFICULT AND STRAINING FOR THE AVERAGE SKRELL. IT WILL TAKE EFFORT UNLESS YOU HAVE PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE.

You can pull a human, tajara, or unathi into Srom following these steps (these also work on other organic species with a psionic receiver):

1. Yellow grab them

2. Buckle yourself to a chair

3. They sleep

4. You sleep

Srom-Aligned Ailments

• Non-Skrell without a receiver who are repeatedly subjected to The Srom run a very small risk of receiving Psionic Echoes. Psionic Echoes are an ailment that only affects very weak psionic users or non-Skrell. If an individual is pulled into The Srom repeatedly then certain words or images may be "imprinted" into their mind; ringing throughout their head like an echo once they awake from the Shared Dream. This can range from a very mild case, where an individual may only hear one echo a day, or to something more extreme, where an individual will hear multiple echoes repeatedly throughout the day.

• Non-Skrell without a receiver may also have a lasting sense of confusion or paranoia after repeated visits to The Srom. This is thought to be due to how hard it is to keep secrets within the Dream and may even manifest as the individual being unable to tell the waking world from the Dream; albeit only for a short period after their visit. Due to such, it is common for Srom Pulls to be performed in a controlled environment with minimal background noise to ensure that the individual has an easy transition from the waking world to the Dream and vice versa.

• Skrell without Psionic Guidance training who repeatedly perform Srom Pulls will need to cool down for a short while before they are able to do so again. Psionic fatigue is the most common symptom in novice Skrell who attempt this advanced technique but it can be mitigated with further training. This common ailment can hinder general psionic capability and also cause fatigue in the body itself; leaving the Skrell winded and in need of rest before they would be able to perform the maneuver again.

• Nralakk Federation researchers are looking into the connection between Skrell without Psionic Guidance training and Brenaii Syndrome; while there is no official connection, the Federation has warned Skrell that only trained Psionic Guides should be performing Srom Pulls regularly. Brenaii Syndrome is a neural disease that results in the degradation of synaptic pathways of a Skrell. It has also been known to result in immunodeficiencies and endocrine atrophy. It is caused by the disruption of neuroelectric impulses within the Zona Bovinae and is spread through psionic interaction. Brenaii Syndrome is heavily stigmatized within skrellian society.