larkers | PLOT ENGAGEMENT (ARCHIVED)

PLOT ENGAGEMENT (ARCHIVED)

> PLOT ENGAGEMENT (ARCHIVED)

What is Plot Engagement and how does it work within Meadowlark? This is the page where players can come discuss with us how to facilitate plots within the setting. However, there will be occasions where a plot doesn't work within Meadowlark's world, and we'll suggest alternative routes. For small worldbuilding or gameplay details, please direct your question to the FAQ. If you're ever not sure if you're at the right page, don't worry—we'll help you get it sorted out. We know we have a load of info!

WHEN WILL YOU HEAR BACK?

◉ All Plot Engagement answers go out on Sunday, except during events.
◉ The deadline to submit a question and ensure you'll hear back from us on Sunday is 11:59 PM UTC on Saturday.

PLOT ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES

◉ Player plots! If you'd like your character to become a mafia boss, this is your place to start. Typically, this involves anything that could impact the setting or other player characters.
◉ Character career advancement that gives the character additional power or status within the setting.
◉ Metaplot exploration and information! We plan all events to give characters something to explore after the event ends. This is the place to do it!

SUBMISSION TIPS

◉ Specify what your character is looking for when they're investigating. What questions are they asking and what angle are they trying to explore?
◉ If you have a specific goal in mind but don't know how to reach it, please let us know.
◉ If you link a thread to us, please summarize it! That helps us process the plot in question.
◉ Don't worry about not knowing the setting like the back of your hand before you submit the plot—that's up to us! We're here to help you with any adjustments to get you on the right track.

NOTES & THINGS THAT YOU CAN HANDWAVE

◉ Characters always start out in entry level positions. Characters can update their skill sets to the 2512 standard through paid apprenticeships or internships.

◈ If a character is advancing within a major corporation (as noted on the Setting or Locations page) or one of its subsidiaries, we will need to approve this advancement.
◈ If a character becomes a supervisor at a local bar or other small business, we do not need to approve this advancement.

◉ Joining the police force within a city requires three months of IC training (six months OOC).
◉ We'll approve whether someone has social media fame, but we will not be providing social media follower counts. Once you have a plot for how to use those followers, that's where we step in!
◉ All Morningstar business goes on our Morningstar page. Please feel free to discuss specific plots here (including joining), and go there for signups and anything else.
◉ Characters getting jobs, finding apartments, participating in the fighting rings, getting married, making workplace friends, the creation of minor NPCs, etc. do not need to be run by us. Please let us know if these expand into player plots or other plot bits!

QUICK LINKS

◉ FAQ: For small worldbuilding or gameplay details.
◉ Setting: Our setting page! We'll update as needed.
◉ Jobs: A reference for who's working where!
◉ Locations: Both major and minor locations within New Amsterdam, as well as outlines for other megacities.
◉ Mod Contact: For wider game concerns.
◉ The Story So Far: Gamewide plot events up to current (your CTRL+F best friend!).
◉ NPC page: Includes NPC blurbs and inboxes.
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> NAVIGATION

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Hi Ellie! Thanks for the questions.

In order:

1. New Beijing, as the capital of the United Nations, mandates all regulations related to environmental concerns, travel within megacities, and universal standards and laws that each city must abide by. Think of it as a major governing body, with the different megacities acting as independent hubs of activity (provinces, states, or similar entities). For instance, it's New Beijing that set up mandatory education until the age of eighteen, as well as universal health care. All UNA orders are approved from New Beijing and move down the ladder.

The UN Embassy acts as the agent to carry out a lot of the regulations, as well as granting and regulating travel between the megacities. It works to ensure that all megacity laws adhere to UN sanctions, as well as not breaking any major human rights violations.

City Hall, and therefore the governor's head of operations, is essentially an independent operating group from the UN, trying to handle and mandate laws and customs according to the needs of that megacity.

2/3. We're going to put the second and third points together! It would take her a while, but she can definitely use an absence or two to her advantage to stand out. If you have any ideas about how she might do this - let us know! We'll leave it up to you for how she tries to use this situation to her advantage. Some will know the cause for the absences and others will suspect, so they won't be quick to fill these positions. How long it takes will be up to you, ultimately: since it's politics and government work, she would have to prove herself. We would be happy to work with you, and encourage you to bring us any plots or ideas she has to advance herself.

That said, Peggy has only been at her job for a short while, so she would need to start using the absence to her advantage as soon as possible. It would be this job that would potentially set her on the track for her new one.

4. There are parties, but Peggy's position largely means that she'll be very new to it, and won't be invited. We'll say this - getting an invite to one of those parties should be a goal for her in making networking connections, especially in getting brought on to a job with the UN Embassy. She should be doing what she can to catch the eye of someone who wants her to have that opportunity.

Hi Jessi! Thanks for the question.

The biggest barrier here would be "a few weeks." They would be towed by that time. If he decided to angle toward it sooner - we're talking days, not weeks - he'd have to figure out a way to pinpoint which car would belong to a Morningstar agent. Since everyone is living in an apartment building of some kind, cars are kept in parking garages and are indistinguishable between owners by first glance. We'd have to know how he got the information that it was an agent's car (Gaby and El wouldn't give this information out freely, especially not to Jason) - especially since that would be not one, but two agents' cars he managed to commandeer.

That's not to say that we're opposed to this, but we need some more steps from the process to help you know how it would go!

Hi Shikki!

Billy and Tommy, as twins, would definitely be able to draw a great deal of attention as instagram-esque celebrities, especially if they do exciting things. It would take time to develop a following, but not as long as one might expect. Presumably, they're both good looking lads with a lot of personality, and would bank on that.

We would have to know if they would show off their powers, and if they intend to do anything that a normal, natural human couldn't pull off. Will they show the world that they can glow? All of these things are factors - and obviously, as the twins just got in game, you don't have to worry about that just yet. This is something that you can look into down the line.

Beyond that, being a celebrity in a highly digitized world means that they would have very little privacy. People would wonder where they come from, and their backstories that they set up with El would need to be bulletproof. For instance, their mother would have had to have had a natural conception that was approved after she found out that she was pregnant, and they would need to build the backstory off of that point. Having holes in their story could prove problematic, as those things often tend to be.

That's all to say: go for it!

Hi again!

1. Most of the "hot gossip" is frustration. Dick's training would largely revolve around a lot of the cases that got shoved aside, and he would get an inside view of how they determine if a case is or isn't related to the UNA. They would need to identify characteristics and information related to typical UNA presence, and if unable to find them, they can proceed with the cases. A lot of it would be busy work and training Dick and his follow trainees in busy work. But he would be aware of how tedious this all is, and how some of this is almost … typical, albeit never on this scale.

3. Just a bit of distance and frustration. She'll seem stressed. She'll seem happy and cheerful, especially if she comes across any recruits, but she'll be working long hours and almost seeming as if she's avoiding going home.

4. We're happy to let you NPC anyone in the precinct, as long as they don't have too much information or weight. We'll let you determine what kind of networking that Dick does while he works his way through training - if you're ever unsure, feel free to ask, and these connections can be the basis for how you pursue plot in the future.

He'd definitely go after them as soon as he was healed enough to access them! I was basing my time off injuries but given technological advances--he could heal up enough to wander after a few days.

As they were given the agents' addresses during the attack, Jason would scope out apartments first. Look for any clues to what vehicle they may have owned: digital photo frames, any other notable objects that could point to what car they owned. As media is all stored digitally and there aren't much regarding paper frames, he'd check computers if he could get access into them. If they're fingerprint locked (for shared computers), Jason can dust for fingerprints in order to get a good read. If that wouldn't work--anything else he can get his hands on. Jason's a good investigator, and anything he could get his hands on, he would! Given that I'm not sure how notes would work in the setting, and cars don't need keys as they're implant controlled (I think?), anything within the apartment he could get his hands on, he would.

Additionally, he'd watch the parking garages themselves for a bit. See which cars moved, which didn't. Which have sat for a few days. As these vehicles are mostly digital controlled--if there's an internal way of checking the last time the engine was turned on, he'd most likely be able to do that given a few days of tinkering around. If those cars would be towed or watched for towing and he wasn't able to get hold of it before that happened, Jason would grab for one as it was being picked up to be towed!

Sorry that a lot of this is "if"s, but I hope this helps?

Hey mods!

I can safely say that for right now, they'd keep their powers hidden for their safety and the safety of everyone else. I imagine it'd be a lot of dumb skits like the dolan twins and thomas sanders along with some vlogs and mukbangs featuring tommy eating a horrendous amount of food, and then your regular flavor of extremely stupid but still humanly possible stunts. Then there'd be your standard instagram selfies and such.

So far what they're developing is that their mother got pregnant and got retroactive approval, and perhaps they were raised separately by their parents split up and each took one of them, to explain why they don't know everything about each other and have slightly different accents. Does that sound feasible for the setting?

Hi again!

That sounds great.

Hello mods! Sorry for the delay on this follow-up. Hopefully it’s all right for me to continue this thread here, ages later!

After some chatting with fellow PCs and taking some time to recover from the previous event, Markus is set to continue investigating the mysteries surrounding the shrines and the mysterious street artist! Here are some questions I have regarding that:

1. Would there be a way to trace the metallic, iridescent paint used in the shrines (and also at the ball, iirc) to a specific manufacturer? And from there narrow down the list to artists who utilize this paint prominently in their own work? Obviously this will only aid Markus in helping him find out who the artist is if they also are keen on displaying their artwork through more traditional means (galleries, shows, etc), but he wants to be thorough. Just in case.

2. If he checks online conspiracy boards, focusing on the subjects of these shrines and where they come from, will he find any useful nuggets of information that could act as a lead? Anything that would be viable for him to follow up on? This would include things he’s inquired about before, including the artist’s identity, their methods of working under the radar, their connection to the Insomniac’s Ball, the paint they use (in reference to my first question), and various theories regarding how to get in touch with them, or to get their attention?

3. Would Markus be able to find out (from either his artist connections or online) just who is absconding pieces of the shrines to be sold at auction? Would he also be able to find out who’s attending said auctions, and who the buyers are? Any big names (government, political, movers and shakers, basically) that would stand out to him? Better yet, would he actually be able to attend one of these silent auctions and see exactly where money is changing hands?

4. Finally, Markus will be attempting to get the attention of the artist in question, in hopes that if he can’t track them down, maybe they’ll be the one to initiate contact. He would work to put up his own street art in tandem with those mentioned in the last comment to do his own version of a “shrine”, mixing his own style with the graffiti art he’s seen in Detroit countless times before — but incorporating the same geometric shapes that are on his new invite to the next Insomniac’s Ball. ~~notice him, senpai~~

Hi! Clarke would be giving over samples to Morningstar for additional monster things. Technically this should have happened prior to the event, so I'm not sure if she'd be able to get a response or if it would be put on hold. Essentially she wants to see if the information matches up with what Kylo Ren found out some time ago. Would they look the same genetically as the crabs, or would there be something different?

Thanks mods!!

EXCELLENT.

One last quick question - what's the name of ML's Instagram/Twitter hybrid?

Hello Jes! We're happy to help you out.

The academy takes three months in game, mostly to make things easier for RP purposes. As for Morningstar, while there might be some increased chatter due to the recent raid, in general Morningstar is a fairly taboo subject and won't come up much in casual conversation. All mentions will definitely be negative, but Morningstar is more the UNA's problem than the police force's.

Hi Veronica!

There will be a couple cases where negative articles about the UN have been shot down, but in general nobody is going to cite the reason directly. There will be a lot of hemming and hawing about lack of sources, bad timing for release, etc. The recent events like the monster attack may have emboldened a couple of people, but in general everyone knows the drill, so most reporters don't bother rocking the boat. Most of them entered the industry while being well aware of the heavy censorship that provides the status quo of the world, and a publication like Jughead's would be eager to put out hard-hitting stories while not messing with the powers that be.

Jughead's behavior will make some people nervous. There will be a lot of thinly-veiled warnings to stick to the work he's assigned, and leave the big reporting to the experts.

Hi Laura! Thanks for the questions.

1. Ishani would tell Fitz, with tight lips, that the data is sent along encrypted Morningstar lines and handled by their tech agents, but that's about it. She'd mention that she's a little surprised to see him so soon after the attempted kidnapping. While she's grateful for how he helped her, she can't help but feel that she's a means to an end. Her opinion on the samples don't go beyond what she's already reported, but she will mention that the type of genetic engineering in the monster samples is not common.

2. Pulsar/UN: In an entry-level position, Fitz wouldn't really have access to any information about UN projects or who might be involved in those. He might have better luck partnering with Loki, who is higher up the corporate ladder. That said, corporations and government are very entangled - which is an everyday fact of life all citizens are aware of - so it would be reasonable to assume Pulsar has projects going for the UN.

Weapons/Defense tech: The UNA works with several contractors but no specific companies. Pulsar, like most other big name companies, would keep their flagship brand out of anything to do with weapons or the like, and instead work through one of their many subsidiaries. The network of subsidiaries is intentionally opaque, and this is another thing Fitz would have difficulty unraveling from his current entry-level position. That's not to say that he can't try and look at where the rabbit hole leads, but we'd like to explore how he'd approach that.

Locations: There are locations in nearly every megacity, but Pulsar is headquartered in New Amsterdam. None of the other locations would be their primary sites. For the most part, it's just a good idea for them to have feelers elsewhere, though some of those other offices (which are primarily their subsidiaries) are for their smaller projects. If there's anything else you wanted to know, let us know!

3. A second-hand hoverbike would not be hard to find or particularly expensive! Ride like the wind, Fitz.

Hi Jessi! Thanks for bringing this to us.

There aren't any PCs in the world, since all computing is done via implant, so Jason would get the best results staking out the garages and doing some fingerprint analysis. Waiting to see what gets towed would work, too, so choose whichever you like! Jason would be followed by the NAPD, but it would be lackadaisical in nature. Since the tip regarding the car would not come from any the car's owner, they wouldn't book Jason once the vehicle was called in and the police discovered who actually sent in the call.

This wouldn't be apparent to Jason right away, but it is a lead he could potentially follow if he so chooses!

Hi Shikki!

We're happy to let you name this yourself! Please drop the name here once you decide. If you'd rather us provide a surprise name for you, just let us know.

Hi Alison! Thanks for bringing this to us.

You're right that the genetic structure would be identical, regardless of the type of creature sample submitted. There wouldn't be any evidence of the crab's venom, however - that was unique to the crabs themselves.

Hi Jen! Questions always age like good wine.

1. The paint can be traced, but unfortunately it can be traced to just about everywhere. The brand isn't very unique, and is common in most art and craft stores around the city. It's used in everything from street art to decorative flourishes on building exteriors, and will hold up against almost any weather. It's a good quality paint. While it isn't that special, it is readily available for Markus to purchase himself some.

2. The conspiracy boards are just a mix of speculation. There isn't anything on the connection between the proprietor of the Insomniac's Ball and the shrines, themselves. Most of the theories surround government and corporate lines, the Insomniac's Ball being a method of public complacency, and the shrines being a government tactic used as a diversion.

3. The shrines are being commandeered by privately owned construction contractors who specialize in not leaving a paper trail. There's a lot of red tape that goes into the removal of the shrines, and most involved want to keep their heads down.

Finding the buyers is simple, but may take some legwork. It's a matter of public tax record, and he'll have to use the servers at city hall to access them. The auctions themselves are a mixed bag, so it's difficult to tell who's there for what. The governor herself has attended some, but generally for reasons of political mingling. While names are listed, they are difficult to pin down in how that person may be important, as companies and the government are hush-hush about their higher ups. There is one family name that sticks out: "Maeda" has purchased one of the shrines recently. He may find more information if he asks Damian, Dick or Jason.

He's welcome to attend one, himself, but he'll need to find a way to secure an invitation. If you have any ideas on how he'd go about this, please let us know!

4. It'll take at least a week, and it would be overlooked by anyone normally passing by, but there will be a small bottle of wine left near Markus' street art mock shrine. The bottle's label will have a little paint on it with a hand-applied series of dots that, when researched, will turn out to be "the tree of life."

Hi Veronica! Thanks for continuing with this.

Mostly what Loki will get will be related to the sacred geometry behind the symbols. Since this imagery has been co-opted by a lot of different cultures throughout the years, there won't be a definitive answer through any searches. The primary symbols will be the Seed of Life - which was pictured a lot at the ball - and triangles, which are typically featured through the shrines. What's at the ball would seem to be more artistic in nature, as well as what's found on the invitations, giving off the indication that there's no real meaning to it.

Overall, sacred geometry wouldn't turn up anything similar to what you can find today. While now it's typically referred to as proof of god in society, a lot of that meaning has been lost by 2511. There will be the occasional blog that points toward it while speaking about how humanity needs to commune with nature and its gods, but many of these blogs are hundreds of years old and would only come up after a few pages and archive searches.

The modern understanding of this imagery is largely linked to a desire for that kind of holistic thinking, while acknowledging that the world has been burdened by technology and the end result of human ingenuity. Humans have accomplished a lot - but also haven't at the same time. If people believed sacred geometry was proof of god before, they now use it to indicate that there was never any god in the first place to keep humanity in line.

Okay, thank you so much for working with me!

If he could pull fingerprints and match them to cars, Jason will go that route first. He'd pick up a vehicle, drive it around, and if they're not that determined to pick him up--that's telling enough as it is and would answer one of the questions he was looking to answer!

If they're only following him and not turning on sirens and chasing him down, he'd wait for them to give up, and scrap the car with Loki's assistance. Since they're going for blackmarket car parts now, like the rascals they are.

Thank you!

hello! i've been coming up with a few options for nill's backstory/employment, and i have a few questions:

1. i've planned for her wings to be passed off as a body mod. is there an age restriction on recieving body mods, and if so, would it be safe to assume part of her backstory is that she got parental consent for the mod?

2. nill was between 16 and 17 before leaving thisavrou, and since characters are with morningstar for several months before waking up, she would be closer to 17. would morningstar be willing to fudge her credentials and set her ID as being 18, or would they use her real age as best as she knows it? given the option, she would prefer the fudged credentials in the interest of independence.

3. do daycares and bakeries exist in new amsterdam? if so, would they cater only to the top percentage of residents (i.e. celebrities, moguls, mob bosses), or would they exist all over? additionally, will her wings/body mod make it difficult for her to find employment?

Edited 2019-02-16 23:12 (UTC)

Hi Iola! Thanks for the questions.

1. Body mods are 18 and up with no exceptions. We wouldn't mind if you used your answer for the second point to reason why she has her wings.

2. Yes! Absolutely. Putting her as 18 will also bypass the mandatory education age, and the age for body mods. It will also make it easier for her to secure a job.

3. Yes to both. Daycares are few due to the strict regulations on population control, but cater to working class families that meet the allowances to have a child, since both parents are usually working to meet financial demands. Some of the larger businesses in the financial district have daycare within the building. The top tier of New Amsterdam residents have personal nannies and caretakers, which will require a portfolio of references and extra training.

Bakeries do exist, yes! Many local restaurants even have their own offshoots to create their specialty baked goods.

thank you!

hi mods! i hope you won't mind if i make this top level and then submit any and all blood analysis stuff that may or may not happen in the future under this header

request #1:

prompto has some dried, 10 day old blood from an UNA soldier. what, if anything at all, could bobbi find upon analysing it?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

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PLOT ENGAGEMENT (ARCHIVED)

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