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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 1, 2017 23:23:20 GMT -5
here's more or less what i was thinking
the river mostly dumps into the bayou...those spindly things are my horrible attempt to show an estuary as the river splits into a bunch of little streams/creeks/etc that create the swamp canals, threading throughout the territory. the northeast corner is the highest ground, the rest kinda sunken into the land like a basin. when there's a lot of rain or snowmelt, the gorge floods. but in my mind's eye i always imaged it as dry most of the time (except maybe a little trickle at the bottom of a misery creek). then there was a stream that curved down from the mountain on the very edge/maybe just outside calderaclan's territory that snaked down and into twolegplace, and when the gorge floods, the water runs off into there.
the story is that about two hundred years ago, there was a volcanic earthquake that caused the land around the plantation to shift lower than the surrounding area. it changed the course of the river so that it dumped into this depression, which gradually turned the forest into a swamp. over time the combination of erosion and the creeping edge of the bayou finally swallowed the old house itself, as the townspeople looked on over the generations. now the entire plantation is swampland. hence the shack, the manor, the mire pond (which used to be their man-made pleasure pond). the raisedway was constructed about fifty years ago by humans when they still tried to fish. but after awhile they found the vegetation too thick and water too shallow, so they sought the deeper mangroves further south, leaving behind the boardwalk.
the moss glen is a U-shaped depression in the landscape that is thickly grown with cushion and rock cap moss.
the sanctuary i've decided will be one of those well-like hollows in the landscape, where it's like someone just stuck a cylindrical cookie-cutter into the earth and pulled out a chunk. like this but about half as deep. and it's a hot spring warmed by volcanic vents.
shredding rocks is a karst, which looks like this, but smaller scale/not as tall
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 1, 2017 23:35:14 GMT -5
I like it! The stream to the west could also form the western border for CalderaClan to an extent, if only for a short bit. Gives them two main, reliable water sources.
also the shredding rocks looks AWESOME. A karst is an amazing idea.
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 1, 2017 23:38:06 GMT -5
Perhaps a very small trickle of water, a stream or something feeds off the river into the gorge. It's mostly dry with a very small stream going through that floods insanely during rainstorms.
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 1, 2017 23:43:54 GMT -5
interesting comparison. so in CalderaClan, your reputation and skills came through your family. If your family was X, you are expected to be X unless you prove yourself to be better at Y. But X is most likely what you'll be cultivated in. In BayouClan, reputation and skills came through whatever "guild" (per se) you trained under. It all depended on your mentor. Most mentors are happy with just about any apprentices, but there are some--like Fogwalker--whose chosen trades require a certain intrinsic proclivity in order to truly succeed in it. All swampcats are trained in stealth, but Fog is extraordinarily good. He has a reputation because of it. Web will inherit that same reputation, because Fog chose him as his apprentice.
So I guess a good way to think of the differences is that ashcats inherit like nobility: the title is passed down through kin unless a family member makes a different name for themselves by gaining a new title. Miremalk are more like artisan craftsmen, where family history has some influence but it all depends on what trademaster chooses to take you on. Miremalk families generally have diverse skills, although they tend to run in the same veins. As long as the kits are smart and strong, the parents don't care what they specialize in.
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 1, 2017 23:48:08 GMT -5
yeah that works!! just a small creek at the bottom.
and thanks! i actually had a landmark called shredded rocks on my very first clan, and my second as well. i was thinking nostalgically the other day and brought it to my third clan on a whim. only this time i knew about karsts and decided to give the formation a rational explanation. speaking of it, i think i mentioned this but i plan on having tunnels that run from the shredding rocks hollow throughout the territory that flood easily, but will play a part later on in the plot. especially with the basilisk.
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 1, 2017 23:48:29 GMT -5
yup that is the way I was looking at it. Noblity ish (is my game of thrones showing?)
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 1, 2017 23:49:47 GMT -5
Oooooh tunnels! With a basilisk? How very Harry Potter of you
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 0:42:10 GMT -5
your GOT is throwing, and so is my HP. I can't help it, we just watched CoS on saturday during our marathon T_t it's still fresh in my mind
also, strictly speaking, the "swamp" isn't technically an actual swamp. or bayou. both IRL are actually much more submerged, mostly water and trees rooted beneath the surface. the problem is that there's not really a word to describe what i think of for their territory, and swamp/bayou is as close as i can get. visually speaking, their territory looks a lot like the bialowieza forest according to google images. except not that ancient. and more understory trees.
envision in your mind's eye a flat piece of land. now make it irregularly elevated: hundreds of little scoops, tiny hillocks, mounds, depressions, etc. Dips and slopes. Like if you tried to lay a blanket over river rocks. Now add water. It fills those dips, scoops, and depressions, hundreds of little canals, streams, etc between the lumpy rises. Now put trees on top of it. The higher slopes have hardwoods like oaks and cottonwoods, whereas closer to the water has willows and cypresses. old trees that spread wide rather than tall. Now liberally paint it all with thick understory trees and shrubs. cover half of it in moss. that's basically what i think of.
here's a visual reference that is basically how i imagined it: (x) (x) (x) except imagine more understory plants in the last two. several old, thick trees with heavy boughs rather than a lot of thin, young trees
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 8:47:58 GMT -5
That is delightfully elaborate and we can stretch the truth a bit- ain't no one but us will be THAT nitpicky for details.. I hope XD
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 10:04:16 GMT -5
um have you realized that we've basically created slytherin and gryffindor but as clans
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 11:10:32 GMT -5
shhhhhhhh tell no one
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 11:28:16 GMT -5
Okay I finally did my intro! I think that was the last thing that needed to be done for me. Except write out Moss's description, which will take like 5 minutes.
Also, I added a nav bar right under the directory, and wrote this in the "plot" box since we only had copy-paste there:
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 11:34:54 GMT -5
I figured a good way to get roleplayers involved with the main story is to offer cast positions for anyone who wants to take them up. Maybe we say you can't apply unless you've been a member for like a month or something, as a way to prevent newbs from stealing the spots when they have no idea what they're doing.
Like, Moss needs a mate (or someone who will become her mate). But I feel like we should give others an opportunity to fulfill the position, you know? So maybe in the future under "plot" I'll post a notice about how I'm looking for a character to fulfill that role. If people are interested, they can then PM me, and we can discuss what I had in mind/what I wanted to have happen.
And if other members wanted similar stuff for their own characters (maybe they want a brother, or mate, or rival for their character) they can ask me to put up a casting call for them, too. E.g: "SEEKING: Brother. Tom, ~2 years. Preferably some form of dark or tabby coloring. PM (user)."
but anyways the main point would be for key plot positions so members can be more involved, and not just stuck in the sidelines. like we talked about for rogues later on.
EDIT: Actually a few days ago I did something kinda like this. I made a note in the news section (under member activity) about how I'm willing to make Nettlerose the graduated apprentince if someone wanted to make an older medicat.
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 11:37:36 GMT -5
Added the nav box ;; adding the plot blurb
Also good idea, give people a chance to join the main plot and what not. Should we write that in the "Members Activity" area?
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 11:49:33 GMT -5
Good question. Maybe so.
O you might want to add the nav bar to the joining/border pages too
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 11:49:42 GMT -5
I'm putting a little blurb in the Plot Activity section for that:
or something like that.
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 11:52:13 GMT -5
Oh geez yeah let me do that.
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 11:59:06 GMT -5
I'll add that!
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 12:12:26 GMT -5
So.. should we open? Like– we're ready? This feels weird. We've been working on this so long– are, are we ready for this?
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 12:19:27 GMT -5
Sup, Lem! Well I've got Aspenleaf, Tumblecloud and Berrysnout available for family relationships ;; Aspen and Tumble can also have a romance/rivalry/friendship sort of thing open too. Berry is open for friendships. Thunderfall is definitely open for rivalries and groupies. He doesn't have friends ^_^'
In BayouClan, Jagged can for sure have (a) little sibling(s) or vaguely absentee parents. He's also very open to rivalries. Stormtrail is open for a potential friendships and rivalries too, but less so romance. Tawnytail is definitely open for rivalry and friendships.
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 12:22:49 GMT -5
dang man it deels uber weird to be done Before we open, maybe we should decide where with the plot we want to start. I think we said already that in Caldera we'd begin between Sapphiresky's murder and before Echo is framed. How long should we wait before that becomes a thing? Also, I'm not sure exactly how to start Bayou. Maybe right as the apprentices are being taken out by their mentors. I don't really have a plan yet for exactly what Moss will do. Maybe the patrol spots a suspicious figure talking to a cat from twolegplace, and bolts before they can catch it. It'd lead to rumors in the clan. At least it's a start. What season/time is it?
and yeah Lem! let me draw up a list of options for you
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 12:28:56 GMT -5
Hmm, BayouClan could start with Coldpaw settling into BayouClan life? Is he a recent runaway/joiner or has he been there a while. Maybe we start with that and a walk about in the territory.
I was thinking Spring would be good to start– unless you'd prefer another season? As for time– morning work for you?
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 12:33:12 GMT -5
If you haven't been able to tell, miremalk are more likely to establish rivalries. must be that scheming part of them and the desire to constantly one-up everyone.
FAMILY: Shadowstalker and Fogwalker could do with any familial relations besides siblings. So cousins, aunts/uncles, parents, etc is fine. Nettlerose and Lilyroot could also use parents, or theoretically another siblings (either same or dif litter) Mirestar can have any familiar relations, including a mate/kits if you'd like
RIVALRY: Literally any of them. Especially Webpaw. Except maybe Frostpaw, she's too submissive, or Nettlerose.
FRIENDSHIPS: Frostpaw, Coldpaw, Nettlerose, or Shadowstalker
ROMANCE: Frostpaw, Coldpaw, Fogwalker are up for crushes Mirestar is up for a mate Mossdapple (who is the villain and a sociopath) needs a mate too, if you're up for the job. He has a specific role to play.
In Caldera, Raven/Sly need at least a father, and I want him to be kinda distant and not really involved in his kits' lives. An overbearing mother would work too. Or other familial relations except siblings. Patchedcloud is up for romantic interest and friends Icewillow is in desperate need of friends, and can be crushed on, but it probably won't be mutual
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 12:34:25 GMT -5
Hmm, BayouClan could start with Coldpaw settling into BayouClan life? Is he a recent runaway/joiner or has he been there a while. Maybe we start with that and a walk about in the territory.
I was thinking Spring would be good to start– unless you'd prefer another season? As for time– morning work for you? He ran off at 8 moons and he's 10 now, so he's been there for enough time to be somewhat settled in his routine. Hmm.
Whitesky works for me. Maybe dawn. That way it's still shady for them to see those cats.
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 12:38:56 GMT -5
If he's been there a while then a morning excursion/patrol is definitely a possibility.
So after the murder but before the framing. Perhaps it is the morning of the trial? The day or two after the murder?
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 12:38:59 GMT -5
okay opinion time:
should the title be: "Shroud in Shadows" "Shrouded in Shadows" "Masked in Shadows" "Veiled in Darkness" or "Masked by Darkness"
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Jun 2, 2017 12:39:52 GMT -5
If he's been there a while then a morning excursion/patrol is definitely a possibility.
Do we want to start with the morning of Redstar's decision in CalderaClan? Like, the night before there was the trial and then that morning Redstar emerges with the verdict? I think we should give it a little more time than that. Like maybe he'll give his final decision at midday. That way it gives a little time for people to join and be a part of that.
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Post by Featherwing on Jun 2, 2017 12:42:05 GMT -5
Shrouded in Shadows. Much darker, mysterious.
Mine was gonna be Forged in Fire or Forged in Light, but Fire made Flesh also sounds good
Sounds bueno. Trial will take place closer to sunset, or at least late in the day.
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