Entry tags:
March 2023 Trial Event Plotting
Trial 11 Plotting Post
Welcome to our plotting post for this month's event! This plotting page doubles as our monthly CR meme. If you have questions about the trial, ask them below.
Mid-March, everyone is already expecting a trial to begin soon. The Spirits around Folkmore keep their yard sales going, but Willow is surprisingly quiet; there are no yard sales there, and the Spirits seem to be preparing for something else by filling their houses with provisions. If asked why they say "It's starting!" as if that will make everything clear... they are going to be vague since they know the trials are important to Thirteen and to the Star Children.
Birds start flocking around Folkmore, even in places where most would not see them such as Cruel Summer or Wintermute. Exile is the only place that doesn't welcome the new avian friends. The Catbus, who would probably enjoy the idea of chasing after birds, is nowhere to be seen now. Hm, wonder what that is about. Star Children and Spirirts can still travel around Folkmore with their own transportation, bikes, or by train.
Meanwhile in Willow, especially by the lakes, shadowed creatures have been trashing through camps, picnics, putting out fires, or spoiling any food you might leave outside. They were there before, but never with this intensity. It's not possible to capture one of these creatures, and if someone wants to follow after one, you will see them jumping into the Lakes and disappearing there. The howling shrieks some might hear in Willow from time to time, have become a lot more intense too... and so very loud. These howls seem to come from the Lakes, but if one tries to explore them, all they will find is mud.
Amrita whispers to anyone who approaches her: "It's time to heal the land."
Reminders:
π¦ March is a high intensity month.
Content Warnings: bird violence
when I'm above the trees
The sound enters your dreams first: chirping, trilling songs made up of a thousand different voices.
When you wake up, you will find massive flocks of starlings everywhere. When startled these lift off and start flying together, physically coordinating themselves into huge flocks that blot out parts of the sky. As the flock swoops and soars you will find that it changes shape; it most often forms an unearthly fox in the sky, but it can be anything.
The starlings may be destructive: they lack respect towards othersβ property and feelings. They are drawn to peopleβs crops and gardens, and they will eat anything they can. They tend to poop everywhere, too. If they manage to get inside a house they will attack Star Children and try to evict them from their own homes! Star Children who try to fight, hurt or kill the birds, will be viciously attacked in return and can be grievously injured or even killed. (The birds, they weren't raised right.)
In spite of this, Star Children will find themselves drawn to the starlings and will eventually want to join them in their murmurations.
Familiars can use one of their existing Familiar forms, or gain a new one that allows them to fly. Myths and Legends, if they do not already have wings, will develop them. Star Children all become able to fly (temporarily or not at the playerβs discretion) and will join in the murmurations of the starling as if possessed by something.
Star Children that joined murmurations will also be drawn to each other, as if they were old friends even if they have never met. It feels as if the person flying next to you is a long lost sibling or parent, or perhaps even a lover from long ago. You will both feel a sense of nostalgia - both happy and melancholy - as you fly even closer together.
While swooping in formation with the starlings and your newfound partner, you will experience one of two things:
Star Children may have a vague, mystical vision of the future. (Players can choose if it's canon, or if it's a future in game plan, etc).
Or, you and your partner may share a meaningful past memory with each other: a memory of how they overcame their hurt and actually saw happiness past it.
Once one of these options has been explored, you finally leave the flock and return to the ground. You may return to the murmuration at another time, or be satisfied with just the once.
when I'm above the trees
The sound enters your dreams first: chirping, trilling songs made up of a thousand different voices.
When you wake up, you will find massive flocks of starlings everywhere. When startled these lift off and start flying together, physically coordinating themselves into huge flocks that blot out parts of the sky. As the flock swoops and soars you will find that it changes shape; it most often forms an unearthly fox in the sky, but it can be anything.
The starlings may be destructive: they lack respect towards othersβ property and feelings. They are drawn to peopleβs crops and gardens, and they will eat anything they can. They tend to poop everywhere, too. If they manage to get inside a house they will attack Star Children and try to evict them from their own homes! Star Children who try to fight, hurt or kill the birds, will be viciously attacked in return and can be grievously injured or even killed. (The birds, they weren't raised right.)
In spite of this, Star Children will find themselves drawn to the starlings and will eventually want to join them in their murmurations.
Familiars can use one of their existing Familiar forms, or gain a new one that allows them to fly. Myths and Legends, if they do not already have wings, will develop them. Star Children all become able to fly (temporarily or not at the playerβs discretion) and will join in the murmurations of the starling as if possessed by something.
Star Children that joined murmurations will also be drawn to each other, as if they were old friends even if they have never met. It feels as if the person flying next to you is a long lost sibling or parent, or perhaps even a lover from long ago. You will both feel a sense of nostalgia - both happy and melancholy - as you fly even closer together.
While swooping in formation with the starlings and your newfound partner, you will experience one of two things:
Star Children may have a vague, mystical vision of the future. (Players can choose if it's canon, or if it's a future in game plan, etc).
Or, you and your partner may share a meaningful past memory with each other: a memory of how they overcame their hurt and actually saw happiness past it.
Once one of these options has been explored, you finally leave the flock and return to the ground. You may return to the murmuration at another time, or be satisfied with just the once.
Content Warnings: Potential (optional) death, insects, physical mutation, body horror, environmental crisis.
past the curses and cries
Perhaps you live in Willow, or perhaps youβre there to visit the farmerβs market or have a drink at the Prancing Pony. Maybe you actually werenβt anywhere near Willow... but suddenly you see a fox and the next thing you know youβre there.
Turns out, this is not where you want to be right now.
Made out of mud, pollution and toxins, something gargantuan rises from the Lakes with a howling shriek. This Giant Warrior is an accumulation of all the pollution and toxins created by those who live in Folkmore, and of course, lore.
Its mud starts spreading through Willow and it will mutate everything it comes in contact with, changing the environment. trees will grow tall and barely let light in, fields will become overrun with slimy mosses and massive fungi, and the waters overtake some areas. In the darkest areas of Willow, strange bioluminescent plants may be the only source of light. Over everything hangs a strange, oppressive miasma.
Animals too will be mutated. Insects grow massive and strange, possessed of deadly mandibles and stingers. Other animals are stranger still: some marine animals can be seen floating through the heavy air, and there are some creatures that look like a mix of several animals or even a mix of animal and plants.
All of these animals can attack and kill, so be careful!
The only animals immune to mutation are the Fox Squirrels. These adorable critters want only to lead Star Children away from danger. They can be a bit skittish and bite, but they will apologize afterwards. Characters are welcome to keep these fox squirrels as pets.
The Giant Warrior itself cannot be fought and bested. Attempts to get close to it will result in death - you will choke to death on the air that surrounds it, or be blasted by poisonous light.
The toxic mud from the Giant Warrior seeps all over Willow. If any of it touches Star Children, they will find that they have changed roles.
Myths can become legends, legends can become familiars, familiars can become myths, and so on. You may suffer mutations to reflect your new role. New familiars, for example, can be a mix of several different animals at once. Any powers you have may go haywire during this period, whether that be your canon abilities or those gifted by your Folkmore role.
To stop the effects of the toxins and to revert the land back to normal, you must help each other to survive! Doing this creates Lore that will spread around Star Children - this combats the miasma and sludge of the Great Warrior, reverting mutations within the sphere of its influence. This includes the Star Children themselves, and they will return to their usual roles.
Itβs clear what must be done from there: Star Children must help each other and explore Willow in order to change everything back to normal with the Lore they've created.
past the curses and cries
Perhaps you live in Willow, or perhaps youβre there to visit the farmerβs market or have a drink at the Prancing Pony. Maybe you actually werenβt anywhere near Willow... but suddenly you see a fox and the next thing you know youβre there.
Turns out, this is not where you want to be right now.
Made out of mud, pollution and toxins, something gargantuan rises from the Lakes with a howling shriek. This Giant Warrior is an accumulation of all the pollution and toxins created by those who live in Folkmore, and of course, lore.
Its mud starts spreading through Willow and it will mutate everything it comes in contact with, changing the environment. trees will grow tall and barely let light in, fields will become overrun with slimy mosses and massive fungi, and the waters overtake some areas. In the darkest areas of Willow, strange bioluminescent plants may be the only source of light. Over everything hangs a strange, oppressive miasma.
Animals too will be mutated. Insects grow massive and strange, possessed of deadly mandibles and stingers. Other animals are stranger still: some marine animals can be seen floating through the heavy air, and there are some creatures that look like a mix of several animals or even a mix of animal and plants.
All of these animals can attack and kill, so be careful!
The only animals immune to mutation are the Fox Squirrels. These adorable critters want only to lead Star Children away from danger. They can be a bit skittish and bite, but they will apologize afterwards. Characters are welcome to keep these fox squirrels as pets.
The Giant Warrior itself cannot be fought and bested. Attempts to get close to it will result in death - you will choke to death on the air that surrounds it, or be blasted by poisonous light.
The toxic mud from the Giant Warrior seeps all over Willow. If any of it touches Star Children, they will find that they have changed roles.
Myths can become legends, legends can become familiars, familiars can become myths, and so on. You may suffer mutations to reflect your new role. New familiars, for example, can be a mix of several different animals at once. Any powers you have may go haywire during this period, whether that be your canon abilities or those gifted by your Folkmore role.
To stop the effects of the toxins and to revert the land back to normal, you must help each other to survive! Doing this creates Lore that will spread around Star Children - this combats the miasma and sludge of the Great Warrior, reverting mutations within the sphere of its influence. This includes the Star Children themselves, and they will return to their usual roles.
Itβs clear what must be done from there: Star Children must help each other and explore Willow in order to change everything back to normal with the Lore they've created.
Content Warnings: Insects, forced physical conflict.
your mind that stirs to the moonlight
At night, the Giant Warrior becomes the Night Walker. The mud and pollution from the Giant Warrior is filtered and cleared by the Night Walker, causing it to fade away. The Night Walker exists to heal the land from all the toxins created by those who live in it. Sadly, it will not revert back all the mutations caused by its daily counterpart: that's something for Star Children to do through the use of Lore.
As self-defense against the Star Children (the "culprits" for all the pollution), the Night Walker spreads vines as it walks through the forest. These vines will take over the Star Children bodies as if they were puppets on strings and start controlling them. The objective is to push the Star Children out of Willow, so if you are being controlled by the Night Walker you will begin fighting other Star Children! In order to escape, the vines must be cut, thus releasing the victims.
There will be other dangers, too: plants that have mutated through the day come to life at night and they are ready to attack Star Children as well. There are all manner of plant monsters just spoiling for a fight, and you will have to find your own way to defeat them!
Large insects called Ohms will be around to help characters move around as they are immune to the mutations. Despite the way they look, they are extremely friendly and curious and can be ridden like horses. Their yellow tentacles can heal any effects of mutation and toxicity in Star Children, so keep them close. Characters are welcome to keep these Ohms as pets (and as transportation) but their healing powers will no longer work after this event.
The Night Walker eventually will purify the land. Star Children, through Lore, will eventually revert all of the mutations.
Lore will spread around Folkmore and flowers will begin sprouting. Spring is finally here!
All of those who helped to revert the mutations and heal the land will receive gifts: bonsai-sized topiaries in the shape of something representative of themselves! They have, of course, their own magical powers: they are bioluminescent and they glow stronger the healthier the character they are connected to is; on the other hand, if the character isn't healthy (emotionally, mentally, physically), the glowing seems to fade.
These topiaries can be gifted to friends and family, allowing others to know how the character's health is. Characters can have as many as the players would like.
your mind that stirs to the moonlight
At night, the Giant Warrior becomes the Night Walker. The mud and pollution from the Giant Warrior is filtered and cleared by the Night Walker, causing it to fade away. The Night Walker exists to heal the land from all the toxins created by those who live in it. Sadly, it will not revert back all the mutations caused by its daily counterpart: that's something for Star Children to do through the use of Lore.
As self-defense against the Star Children (the "culprits" for all the pollution), the Night Walker spreads vines as it walks through the forest. These vines will take over the Star Children bodies as if they were puppets on strings and start controlling them. The objective is to push the Star Children out of Willow, so if you are being controlled by the Night Walker you will begin fighting other Star Children! In order to escape, the vines must be cut, thus releasing the victims.
There will be other dangers, too: plants that have mutated through the day come to life at night and they are ready to attack Star Children as well. There are all manner of plant monsters just spoiling for a fight, and you will have to find your own way to defeat them!
Large insects called Ohms will be around to help characters move around as they are immune to the mutations. Despite the way they look, they are extremely friendly and curious and can be ridden like horses. Their yellow tentacles can heal any effects of mutation and toxicity in Star Children, so keep them close. Characters are welcome to keep these Ohms as pets (and as transportation) but their healing powers will no longer work after this event.
The Night Walker eventually will purify the land. Star Children, through Lore, will eventually revert all of the mutations.
Lore will spread around Folkmore and flowers will begin sprouting. Spring is finally here!
All of those who helped to revert the mutations and heal the land will receive gifts: bonsai-sized topiaries in the shape of something representative of themselves! They have, of course, their own magical powers: they are bioluminescent and they glow stronger the healthier the character they are connected to is; on the other hand, if the character isn't healthy (emotionally, mentally, physically), the glowing seems to fade.
These topiaries can be gifted to friends and family, allowing others to know how the character's health is. Characters can have as many as the players would like.

Angel | Viktor
Player Name: Angel
Player Pronouns: she/her
Player Contact:
Preferred Tag Style: Prose
Monthly Pacing: Always variable I'm sorry. I try my best not to leave a tag for more than a few days. If you need me to respond to a thing poke me on plurk?
OOC Limitations/Disinterests: Rivals is a no go
General character information
Character Name: Viktor
Permissions: π¦ Permissions Because he has no powers to speak of not including an opt-out
OOC Intro? Because this character has changed pretty significantly physically I'm gonna have to skip this one too.
Character Role: Myth
π¦ Manifested Traits β Antlers (which he has learned to keep hidden) and the ability to see in the dark
Public Knowledge: What can other characters readily know about yours? What can people reference without checking in with you? Examples include job, school, where they live, etc.
π¦ Physical β Just by looking at him you can see he has ghost-white skin with purplish shadows. Right now he wears long sleeves and a single black glove. Also, his brown hair is super messy. Seriously if it was white he'd have Doc Brown vibes
π¦ Location β He can most often be found at the Lab. Seriously, unless otherwise stated he's there even in the dead of night
General CR information
Wanted CR: Friends. Seriously this guy is in dire need of them. Especially friends that make him have fun
Unwanted CR: No rivals please. Also no negative CR that is there purely for negative CR
Goals For Your Character: What are things you as a player want to accomplish for your character? What arcs are you developing?
π¦ Self-worth β This has been a long-running goal and I'd really like for him to gain some? Right now he has shockingly little, but thanks to others he's at least aware he has shockingly little?
Trial information
Trial Reactions & Goals: The lab is in Willow already, so most of the trials Viktor would already be aware. Viktor has already had his doubts about Thirteen's real motives but this month is just confirming them.
π¦ Murmurations β Because I dig the idea of letting Viktor have temporary moth's wings but other than that no particular plans
π¦ Giant Warrior β PLOT TWIST! Because the HexCore already has mutated him pretty significantly it has a prior claim on Viktor so the toxin-mud won't seem to affect him. It will still change the environment and stuff around him though. Because it seems not to affect him, he would be ideal for helping other folks escape mutated plants **His role however will shift since that's not something the Hexcore will have control over so this one he will be a Legend for.
π¦ Nightwalker β He has magic but every time he uses it has a bad cost to him. It would be cool if that lack of self-worth and his natural selflessness combine so that he uses his magic to hold back the toxin-mud to save people long enough for them to get onto an Ohm?
Trial Accomplishments: The only one I have is for him to help as many people as possible c:
Trial Failures: The only one I have for this one is the cost that using his magic will have on him X3
Timeline of Trials: Time is fake, free play all the way! I am assuming that it will be in sequential order though so Murmurations -> Giant Warrior -> Nightwalker
Re: Angel
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Re: Angel | Viktor
Since Viktor is using magic for the trials, would that make the purple in his skin spread? O:
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Also yes, the purple will spread.
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Oh boy.
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Viktor is gonna have to start being careful about using magic :x
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Yes please, Viktor. That thing is very dangerous.
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Re: Angel | Viktor
If he's going to have moth wings during murmurations, maybe they can fly together and Rhys will have butterfly wings!
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Maybe seeing one of Rhys's memories could be a thing?
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Hythlodaeus could, in theory, give some of his aether to Viktor to 'top him off' if he had too much of his own drained, but not without (temporary) cost to himself. His resources in that way aren't infinite in any respect.
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Suffice to say it is bad and not something you want happening to you. Hythlodaeus is just kind of assuming death, honestly... but becoming totally emotionless might actually be worse.
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He'd probably be very ??? and curious about Viktor not being affected- or at least, not being fully affected- by the toxin-mud, if you're willing to go that route.
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