Native NFTs on Kusama: What is RMRK?

!!! Hey devs and designers! RMRK is running a $50000 hackathon: https://rmrk.devpost.com/ !!!

What is the RMRK protocol, who made it, and why? How does it work and what does it do? How exactly does it innovate atop the other NFT efforts in the ecosystem and why should you use it?