PLOT ENGAGEMENT (ARCHIVED)

[larkers]

> 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

Comments

[selfimage]

Hey mods! This relates to Jen's shrine questions:

Loki and Markus are going to start making associations between the sacred geometry that's shown on the shrines (the triangles), as well as the tree of life (on the wine), and the seed of life (from the Insomniac's Ball) with the flower of life. These elements will be reflected in Markus' new shrine work. The shrine will also reflect the wine bottle they received with the associated tree of life looped into the bigger flower of life. To ensure that Markus isn't caught for his graffiti, Loki will help him as a look-out. Totally art wingmanning!!!!

Would there be any movement around these new shrines? They'll ask El to keep an eye out for any movement close to them, as well. We do have a progression in mind here, so Markus and Loki will be tenacious, with or without a response.

[kgbs]

hey, what's up mods! i've never done this before so forgive me if this is a little rough, please and thank.

established here (thanks, fitz), illya's been doing a lot of fighting in the rings in the hopes of catching the eye of the petrovs (because russians stick together and all). since this post, he's been there almost every night, doing his best to catch their eye.

it's been a few months now and i'm here to ask would he have managed to catch their eye and if so, would he have to do any sort of thing to wiggle himself into their ranks at the lower levels to start with? as in some sort of hazing ritual or something to get himself initiated?

thank you!

[isherarmor]

Once she feels Jon is more settled, Sansa is going to put some serious effort into documenting her embroidery and self made clothing on her cool talk account, starting with the dirndl dresses inspired by Oktoberfest, as well as one or two adjustable halter styled tops for the warmer weather - she'll branch out in the coming month, and will be using models (and probably engaging someone to take better photographs than she is able to) show off said fashions in hopes to gain more business. (She will also be directing people to the place where she works for any shoe repair or droid-based clothing needs.) She is 100% on board taking commissions and excited to try new things as well as work within people's expectations!

As far as blades go, what she's looking for are two things:
1. A small set of thin, decorative blades that she can wear in ...well, what used to be her hair. (She's nostalgic, used to them, and she'll find somewhere else to hide them if she can.)
2. A slim blade along the lines of a rapier. She's interested in what's available and what's able to be made custom. She certainly CANNOT afford either thing (especially custom work), but she'll act as if she can, as if she needs time to think about it.

Another slightly related question:

With regards to hairstyling in New Amsterdam, are hair extensions a thing? Also, are wigs something people still wear, and are they different in any super future-y way?

[reneger]

hey, mods!

jason has been part of the warlocks since late january--roughly a few weeks in game.

what information could be pick up regarding the leaders of the gang? are there even leaders, or are they set up more like the modern day bloods (an older member runs each set in an area, there isn't one particular Leader, etc) would there be information regarding what they're into, their families, notable other members? how difficult would it be to get in close to the head of their area? is there a particular hierarchy they play, or is it more run by whoever asserts themselves to be the baddest of them all kind of play?

additionally--the new drug that hit the streets of new amsterdam, the performance enhancer. is that traceable back to the warlocks?

[laozu]

coming here from here finally, what's up mods!! thanks for the content!

( i'm not watching sansa's question about hair no not me )

he's definitely going to pursue the life and times of an up-and-coming idol, one he's free to roam the streets and has an identity in that. if he uses the youtube-esque services ( i think i can bully kira/prompto into shooting vid for him.... ) to announce himself on the scene ft. contact information ie. his cooltalk and all that. he doesn't think very far about things, whoops, but understands enough to know that this could help the fellow displaced out. we're all about helping! to that end, i've got a few questions:

is there a pre-existing agency ( morningstar-affiliated or not! ) for someone looking into the idol business? were there any talent-spotters or reps at the oktoberfest that couldn't sign him or contact him since, ahem, he didn't technically exist just yet... i'll probably have more questions once i kick start things. THANKS SO MUCH

[windowsills]

Hi mods!

Thanks for the response. This is what I came up with (it’s a bit tl;dr, sorry about that!)

The game I was thinking of creating is a thing called 7R1X (gotta keep the spelling hip and relatable to the youths) and is a virtual game played with the neural implants. There’s seven columns of numbers with 12 spots for each number, maybe more depending on the experience of the player. The columns are controlled by six AI players and a single opponent human player (the dealer). Essentially it’s like those logical progression math puzzles, but the numbers in the columns change each round with a single blank spot that the player needs to try and quickly find the answer before the dealer does. The dealer creates their own number sequence to try and blend in with the AI. Every time the player gets the correct number before the dealer, they gain points which they can use to eliminate one of the opponent columns. The way to win the game is the player has to figure out which column the dealer is controlling and give them the boot. If they choose incorrectly and eliminate more than 4 AIs before the dealer they will lose.

I think logically for it to be popular the appeal of it is the thrill of playing and winning against another human as the human dealer’s manual number sequence will be imperfect or more simplistic compared to their computer counterparts. A little testing your brain smarts combined with the fun of competition. I can see there being professional math wizard level games and off the street casual players (which is the group Alex would deal for).

Based on the hierarchy of the mob situation maybe I will have Alex start off making drinks at a casino and then gradually have her get into dealing this game if it’s an acceptable concept!

Awesome! I’m excited for this and will keep an eye out for potential mob related questions. I’m going to make a location page for the casino, would it be okay to cite the Petrovs being involved in this particular one?

[revlon]

Hello, mods! Me again. 👀

As per this log with Gaby, Peggy will now be using her position in City Hall to subtly orchestrate/facilitate travel to New Tokyo for the PCs in the wake of the latest kaiju attack.

The general plan, as outlined with Gaby, would be to suggest the idea of New Amsterdam sending out a disaster response team to New Tokyo as a show of commiseration and good faith, as a city that survived a similar attack not too long ago. (If relevant, she would also lean into it being a good PR move, too, rather than closing up borders and letting every man fend for himself.) This would be said to a supervisor (or several) who trusts and appreciates her input and they, in turn, would pass it up the chain. Whether or not people hear that the idea came from Peggy is up to you (if only to further solidify her good standing in local gov't) but for her part, she will also suggest City Hall do a relief goods drive for the victims of New Tokyo and she'd offer to spearhead that project. (She would have done this almost immediately after the news broke.) The idea is that PCs can volunteer there, as well as through Morningstar's other contact organisations as mentioned by Gaby, to be shortlisted as people willing to be part of the team heading to New Tokyo. Gotta have that clean backstory, etc.

Peggy will also look into ensuring the PCs who volunteer have the proper documents and strong applications in order to gain travel clearance, since her work as a city clerk touches on passport agent duties. She will reach out to coordinate with El to be absolutely certain their IDs and backstories will all hold up under what is sure to be close, strict scrutiny. The overall goal is not for her to go on the team — she will only if absolutely necessary but prefers to mind the wheel at home — but to ensure 1) the PCs have a way in, 2) the PCs have a way out aka a guarantee NA gov't will bring them home, and 3) that none of this points to Morningstar and that it's all as legal as possible. She will be extremely discreet and careful and while this doesn't have to happen immediately, since disaster relief does span months realistically, it will be something she's meticulous about pulling off.

Please let me know if you need any clarification and if this works! Thank you!

[cheffeur]

Hello moddies! I've got a few questions!

1. Peggy and Fitz have asked Ignis some questions about the governor that he might (or might not) know!

1a. What is she "like"- in this context, would she have expressed anything in the quasi-privacy of meetings that he'd be scribing in or just in basic interactions that the system has been unbalanced after the raid on the UNA.
1b. Her schedule, any rallies or fundraising affairs? They want to know who donates and funds her campaigns, where the money is coming from and who may have a vested interest in keeping her in power.

SEPARATELY, Fitz and Ignis have been discussing ways to force contact from whatever "Other Party" brought them here, since it seems like they just dump off the displaced and scrub all record of them having done so. Going off the assumption that secrecy is the Most Important to them, they're brainstorming ways to try and lure them out and force contact- perhaps getting people asking questions.

I'd like to eventually make an OOC post and get PCs involved in deciding who would go forth and with what information. (aka, who gonna take the heat). The IC thread in question is here but it's also RIDICULOUSLY TL;DR- the last thread of conversation is the most relevant.

Any suggestions for this would be welcome, since I'd like to be able to have ducks in a row when it comes to throwing this up! No rush, though, since as always there's a lot going on in New Amsterdam!

[selfimage]

Hi mods! Me again!!! Quick question! If Loki were to, say, write an erotic novel series ...

1. Is it difficult to get published and shared through online stores? And after publishing, possibly gain some notoriety for it?
2. Can Loki go under a pen name, or is this not an option anymore?

Thanks!

[larkers]

Hi Tona! Thanks for the question!

No one's likely to look too hard unless he deliberately makes note of them. While body mods like Kaldur's appearance aren't in vogue, people have all sorts of individual preferences. He'd get a little judgement for his taste, but no one would think much of it beyond that from a brief glance.

That said, the fact that his gills actually function would ping as very strange to a trained medical professional examining them and we would recommend that he go to his fellow displaced for any and all medical care.

[998]

Hey sorry I just want to be super clear, he would be using his real id with the management but performing and being advertised under a stage name, like a wrestling persona. so management would have his real name and id, but the fans wouldn't. is that possible or a thing that happens? or would fans also need to access his id as part of the game?

[larkers]

Hi Shikki! Thanks for following up with this!

Maeda would reply via one of her house creditors: Why send winners after him if he's useful where he is?

The implication being that he hasn't shown any promise beyond being a pawn. Maeda is intent on showing him his place, while mocking him in the meantime. Please let us know how Damian would respond - the middleman would be well aware that Damian would be likely to send along something in response.

[larkers]

Hi Veronica!

Before we follow up, we want to be clear on one point: is there any color symbolism in this art? Are there any figures depicted in addition to the symbols?

Thanks!

[larkers]

Hi Trace! Thanks for the question, and your interest in involvement here.

He's not likely to gain notice from just fighting, as the Petrovs wouldn't be looking to pick up anyone just because of their connections to Russian ancestry. Russia itself is dead, and all of the nation-based loyalties died with it. While the Petrovs do run a (largely above-board) business producing vodka that dates back several centuries, they're otherwise a widely diverse organization built by the unique status of a world governed by the United Nations and many megacities.

That said, we do have some follow up questions! He can hear about fighters, bartenders and even mechanics for the Petrovs from within the arena. What would he be doing to catch the eye of the Petrovs? They value ruthlessness – as well as loyalty – and would want someone who would ultimately be able to enforce their long-lasting history. The fact that he would be drawn to them would catch their attention, but we'd need to know what he'd do to prove these things to them along the way. Above all other things, they do value honor.

We're happy to assume that Illya did the legwork to find out this information – the next step is just knowing what he's doing with it! Please let us know and we'll get back to you about how the Petrov family responds!

[larkers]

Hi Lindsey!

They would not be able to access his ID! We have some information regarding this here, albeit in a slightly different context. It's more that it would be puzzling that he would avoid sharing his public identity in a world where almost no one tries to do that.

[larkers]

Hi Aeri!

Sansa will start to gain a steady following on Cooltalk, especially if she continues to promote her brand. Eventually, she'd start to gain a steady following of interest, as well as customers, though most would be mid-level workers who want to add flair to their own clothing. Let us know if she pushes the envelope, or extends her brand in any other way. Keep in mind that she will need time and resources to do so. The main thing here is time, as it will take a lot of it for her to build up her reputation.

As far as the swords go:

Sansa would be able to find someone who can make her these blades, but the make would be unique given what she's requesting, and therefore massively expensive. They would be puzzled about her desire for such a long blade in the rapier, and may offer to make a more advanced weapon that can extend and collapse. The "hair blades," so to speak, would be easier to do for less cost. They would be concerned about the effectiveness of them since they would all be difficult to move around with. They could work with her to make hair things that double as weapons - thus upping the cost - but it would be difficult considering the current status of Sansa's hair.

They would have payment plans in place (with high interest) if she should decide to buy. If she doesn't, she'll be watched carefully after that, as they'd be suspicious of her intentions to possibly reveal their business.

That said: these weapons would be extremely illegal. Carrying around a weapon in this world on the regular would be dangerous and could lead to jail time.

As for hairstyling:

Wigs would be a thing, both in them 3D printing high-quality synthetic wigs and using real hair - albeit the latter being far less common in this time, and therefore more expensive. The synthetic wigs are very nice, but on the cheaper end since they can be mass produced. Extensions, however, are extremely expensive. For most people, it would take two or three weeks of wages.

[larkers]

Hi Jessi! Thanks for the questions.

We're happy to let you flesh out the layout of the Warlocks, and we're more than happy to work with you on this! They are one of the most well-known gangs around the city without being a crime family, so they have a unique organizational system to succeed in a world with heavy surveillance.

The performance enhancer is traceable back to the Warlocks, as the drug is the end result of the various gangs and Black Market vendors trying to monetize the monster parts. Jason would be able to tell by tracing a few lower level dealers, as well as from some experience in the fighting rings. The interesting part is that the intensity of the drug varies by each of the major gangs, and the more experimental ones tend to run through less established ones.

[larkers]

Hi Ellie!

This sounds fantastic. Thanks for putting this together!

A few quick notes!

1. You can feel free to name the NPC that she spoke to - please let us know who they are! She won't get credit for her work, but neither will that NPC. Someone will claim it higher up the chain. When that happens, Peggy will find a close ally in the NPC she reached out to in the first place.

2. The rest of this sounds great. Since our upcoming plot involves dreams, you can assuage any concerns that players won't be able to be involved in relief efforts. They'll still be involved and connected to the event plot!

3. Would you be willing to post this plot on the OOC community to get the word out? A lot of this planning happened on the fly in a series of NPC threads, so we don't expect anyone else to be tracking those!

Thanks again for putting this together! Let us know if you need anything further cleared up that we missed.

[larkers]

Hi Laura!

All of this sounds fantastic! Please feel free to come to us in the future, and if you have any mob-related ideas or plots, we'll be more than happy to see how we can facilitate them in the meantime.

[revlon]

Hi, mods! Thanks for such a quick reply!

1. This is awesome, thank you. I'll think up a name for them and see what else can happen moving forward. 👀

2/3. I'll absolutely pass on the word in the OOC comm and the game server to be sure everyone knows about it! Is it safe to say that a team being sent to New Tokyo and the relief goods drive were both approved, then? In which case, Peggy will also let Markus know so he can start actively reaching out to PCs about getting involved via the volunteer efforts in NA first (which I think could be largely handwaved or background for logs as people work the donation centre with Peggy, etc?).

edit: Oh! And would those other orgs/Morningstar contacts mentioned by Gaby be similar humanitarian efforts? Can you tell me more about those?

Also, I'm assuming this travel plot would take place after our dream event and that the overall planning with El and her work in City Hall goes smoothly? I'll still post about it prior to be sure everyone is caught up, but just wanted to get the timeline straight!

Thank you again!

[larkers]

Hi!

2/3. They're absolutely approved!

As for the edits:

The main group is called PRESERVE - a group that is largely centered around trying to help the environment and preparing for various natural disasters around the world. There are members of PRESERVE who are Morningstar, but they are a completely separate (and only pacifistic) organization. They tend to go in for relief efforts when major earthquakes happen and are officially sanctioned by the UN, albeit not directly associated with them. There are a lot of smaller groups with similar names, but they don't have the reach or ability to help out on the same scale (and many peter out before long or are absorbed into PRESERVE). The PCs would want to sign up with PRESERVE since El and Peggy's work would be more effective if it's aligned with them. They have a "brand" that's seen as more socially acceptable.

We are assuming it would take place alongside it - realistically, they would likely be in transit on a train to New Tokyo when the event starts. Our primary goal is to help some of the PCs get out of New Amsterdam and see the world! Either way, the turn around on relief efforts would be very quick due to the nature of it (the scale and the hope that they can save some lives who may be lost in the wreckage) and because Governor Gill-Jade dragged her feet during the monster relief efforts. That's part of why Peggy's efforts would get so much traction: someone would know that Gill-Jade would want to spearhead efforts to help another city that experienced a similar tragedy.

[revlon]

Omg this is so wonderful, thank you.

Would the OOC post serve as a sign-up post as well? Is there anything you would like me and/or Jen to include in it? Or would we simply gather names and pass them on to you for the details of the trip moving forward?

I am so excited to see the world expand and to see how this all pans out!

[larkers]

Hi there!

Yes, that's absolutely fine! Another suggestion is that you draw attention to it on the event post so that it's advertised there, since many players won't track the general OOC community and we know the entire playerbase hasn't joined the game discord.

Do you think you have enough information regarding New Tokyo from the thread with Gaby to describe it? IE that it's man-made, out on the ocean, and walled? It's fairly destroyed at the moment, but like with New Amsterdam, we're very open to player additions to the setting (though we'd like to keep our locations centralized around New Amsterdam for the time being). Any and all food and board would be handled by PRESERVE, but no one should expect much by way of quality. Everyone will have to sleep outside in tents, and there won't be many opportunities for washing up.

[revlon]

Gotcha!

So as a rough outline, the OOC post will describe the situation, the conversation(s) that led to the push for travel out to New Tokyo (working with the idea that PCs did express wanting to head out), and that people would have been told by Markus and/or Peggy to sign up with PRESERVE to get their names on the list for approval (aka sign up in the comments of the post). A description of what they're doing in New Tokyo will be included as well as a description of the city (pulled from the Gaby log) — most importantly, the addendum that you can participate in both this and the dream event without a problem!

Will there be a mod-posted log for this simultaneous to the dream event or under a header within that event log? Will characters interested in connecting with New Tokyo's Morningstar branch be able to do so? And what are the travel dates / how long will they be away from New Amsterdam?

[larkers]

Hi again - that all sounds great.

Right now, we'll say that the characters can be on the train in the event log (which means they won't be providing relief yet - we'll firmly set that in contrast to what we said before after working out the logistics), but there won't be a separate log for it. Beyond that, a lot will depend on the event itself, so we don't want to set anything in stone at this time! We promise that this will make more sense when you see the event post! That means that it may take some time for follow up, but we feel things will be more malleable that way.