I don't know when this began, but one day I figured I might as well look into what BDSM is really all about, so I started doing research on Wikipedia, which had a whole bunch of articles on the subject.

Then I proceeded to take a step and try to learn beyond what Wikipedia could tell me. In either September or October I decided to create a character, Alpha Unit, who was a robot designed to provide BDSM services to submissives who wanted such a service, rather like a professional dominator you can find in a real life "dungeon." The intention was mostly to learn from various submissive perspectives why they would want to submit. However, I have also hinged the character on a little thing called the "safeword."

Now, BDSM types already know about the safeword (assuming of course that they are the types you want to have a session with), but for those who do not know, it's basically a code-word used by submissives to indicate when the dominant must stop immediately. At this point, it is straight to aftercare (any aid to help the submissive recover).

Alpha Unit was made for Furcadia, specifically the Furrabian Nights region which has a way of attracting all types. While Furcadia is traditionally fantasy, many folks including myself have come to treat it as a sort of furry multiverse (like RIFTS, with less firepower). You can even see places themed after modern day or futuristic settings. My explanation is that Alpha was created in another dimension where people got experimental with technology and sexuality. Well, actually, the whole business with his background can be found here: http://www.freewebs.com/alphaunt/index.htm (Note: Link is for mature readers)

This background all came when I started to put some serious thought into his design and whom he is. There's also a page for a secondary character based on a similar background that got created during a roleplaying session when he got to meet a couple of ex-slaves now turned masters (of a good kind).

Speaking of which, I hadn't really gotten to learn much more about BDSM, but I have run into some very interesting role-playing situations with him. So far, he is questioning whether or not he is actually capable of loving (rather than just being a sex-toy for submissives), has learned about non-consentual slavery (and is having hell's own time coping with the possibility that some partners who have claimed to want his services may not have really wanted them but rather they were just used to that sort of thing), has befriended a couple of ex-slaves who have become masters with the intention to spare their own partners the cruelty of others (of the sort they have sufferred) and has even managed to learn why he was out therw (basically, a scout to see if there would actually be a market for Alpha Units, which may explain why he doesn't have a real name.)

Artistically speaking, I think this is pretty good for the most part, though I can't draw whips to save my life. The design was inspired by a pic by one of the friends he has made.