CR MEME & EVENT PLOTTING POST

[metamods]

CRISIS ON INFINITE DREAMWIDTHS

Crisis on Infinite Dreamwidths is the final event of Arc One. Please see the bottom of this post for a preview as to what Arc Two has in store for you!

Crisis on Infinite Dreamwidths is a fourth wall event! New characters are suddenly being transported to this world, as is custom. However, in a twist - character may also end up temporarily displaced into versions of other Dreamwidth settings.

We will be using the metaverses community for this event. A log will go up on metaverses on August 12th to signal the start of the event. Players and fourth-wallers can tag into the event, but we also encourage them to make their own posts in the community. Their cell devices will allow them to connect across time and space.

On the morning of August 12th, 2022, the power keeping this world isolated from the rest of the multiverse falters. At first this is cause for celebration - the Guardian Alliance and the Society are tentatively hopeful that this means a return to normal.

Their hope is short lived.

Twenty minutes later, mass disappearances are being reported all over the world, with people from other dimensions appearing in their place. Some report that they were just in a world that wasn’t their own - and others claim that they had been going about their life and now they’re here.

Player characters have the option to vanish and be transported to another nexus or to stay and help contain the chaos.

The event will be canon to the Metaheroes universe and will be remembered by player characters and NPCs alike. However, that being said, you’re welcome to have your character’s memories of their encounters and journey become a little hazy once the event ends.

FOR THOSE JOINING US…

Hello fourth-wallers! Here’s what you need to know about the game and the event. Metaheroes is an invite only comic book inspired game set on an alternate Earth. You do not need an invite to participate in the fourth wall event

Superpowered beings have existed for as long as this world has, but their existence was only exposed in the 1930s after the first Confluence caused the ordinary people to develop superpowers. A bipartisan guild system was set up in the wake of a nearly apocalyptic event in the 1980s to keep heroes and supervillains from escalating their rivalries into something world-ending. As such, this world is very familiar with superheroes and villains. This world has a long history with multiverse and interdimensional travel, however unseen forces have completely blocked off all forms of dimensional communication. That ends today.

Your character can appear in the world of Metaheroes or they can appear in the nexus (and/or dreamwidth game setting) of your choosing.

If you’d like to do a little plotting ahead of time, please reply to the toplevel here!

THOSE WHO VANISH

Others are not so fortunate. They feel a sharp pull inside their ribs, a rush as they’re uprooted from time and space, and find themselves standing in the middle of aother world that exists outside of space and time, drawing in other beings. A Nexus. Some are naturally created - by those seeking aid from outside worlds. Others are cosmic mistakes, like the ones they hail from.

In short, they will be visiting other panfandom journal settings. They could be games that are open or games that are long closed. They could be settings you’ve only ever dreamed about, as gritty or silly as you'd like. And they can be imagined nexuses, that have been long abandoned. Those bringing in characters who lived in these settings are welcomed to imagine an ever-after for their characters, or to play with the idea that it's fallen into a state of despair. As this is Infinite Dreamwidths, we're also playing with Infinite Timelines.

Some are teeming with life. Others are long forgotten, their inhabitants long returned to their own worlds. Or perhaps some are still living there, preferring this world to the one they left behind. The abandoned nexuses feel... sterile. Stripped of everything that gave them life. The larger the cracks in the sky appear to be. As though someone has come into it and tried to right a cosmic wrong, returning everything to how it was before otherworlders set foot in it. In the dustiest and most forgotten worlds, the sky is shattered. Looking up into it makes you feel small, insignificant, and homesick.

We encourage players and fourth-wallers to be creative and have fun! With the reminder to be respectful towards the creators of the setting they're borrowing or revisiting.

To return home, characters will need to find a hole in the nexus and slip through. These appear as small, shimmering breaks in space and time.

The first crack may not lead you home - you may need to run through hundreds of worlds before you find your way back, but eventually, you’ll find yourself standing in the center of Central City on August 19th, 2022.

THOSE WHO STAY

Those who remain behind will be given the task of aiding all these confused, interdimensionally displaced people. All the while, the world slowly falls apart around them. The meta-energies that fuel the Confluence Cities appear to be running rampant.

The magic in Sunset Falls has become even more volatile than it was before, with every thought manifesting itself into a spell. You could think yourself to be invisible and suddenly become that. You could wish harm upon someone and suddenly it befalls them. You could wish yourself to be the most powerful being in existence and have that granted, suddenly becoming a new threat others need to fell.

The technology of Excelsior has become self-aware, evolving at a rapid pace. Some of it loves humanity and is eager to serve. Other aspects are furious at being created to be nothing more than toasters.

Both Little Love and Central City seem to be spared the worst of it. Though as the week wears on, the storm in the sky begins sucking up parts of the world. The Guilds are scrambling, trying to figure out how to handle this - they need a mass summoning spell and will be asking all available metahumans to aid them.

AT THE END.

On August 19th, Chaos Gate will summon all interdimensional travellers to Central City. She will instruct everyone gathered to hold hands and focus their minds on the world they left behind. She can try to tether this world properly to the multiverse again and, hopefully, allow everyone gathered to finally return home.

It succeeds.

However, player characters may find themselves left with a sense of unease. This world has come dangerously close to being unmade multiple times, and throughout their travels, some may have witnessed others like it. The older ones, crumbling into decay and dust stand at a sharp contrast to the ones bustling with life and love.

You may be left wondering... Is this the fate of all nexus worlds? Is there any way to save them?

FORM

Please use the form below to pitch your plots and ideas for the event.

<span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Player Name & Pronouns:</span> <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Preferred Communication:</span> Plurk, Discord, DM, etc. <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Character Name & Journal:</span> <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Guild Affiliation:</span> <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Event Plans</span>: What are you interested in doing with the event? Is there a particular setting you want your character to visit? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Plot/CR Hooks:</span> What kinds of things does your character get up to that might throw them in the path of someone else's plot, or that you would like other players to engage with? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Character Motivations:</span> What does your character want? You can list short term and long term goals, but also emotional needs that aren't being fulfilled. <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Potential Roles:</span> What role does your character play in their canon plot? What role might they play in others' plots, and what would it take to get their attention? Are they an antagonist, a researcher, a tech whiz? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Plot Ideas:</span> What plots do you specifically want to run with your character in them? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Roles Needed:</span> What kind of CR and skills do you need in order to make that plot happen?

EVENT CLIFF NOTES.

You do not need an invite to participate in the fourth wall event. If you want to app to the game afterwards, you do need to ask an existing player for an invitation. You can also submit an invite request here.

The forces keeping player characters trapped in the Metaheroes world seem to have disappeared. ( Player characters are welcome to collaborate and investigate this in Arc 2. )

The world of Metaheroes now finds itself trapped in the space between dimensions. This begins to slowly destroy it.

If you want your character to be kept in relative comfort Little Love will experience the least amount of trauma.

There is a sudden influx of new arrivals. These arrivals can be here anywhere from a few minutes to the full week. They will disappear at the end of the event. If these characters are apped, they will appear during the next confluence with their memories of their time in the game intact. Please note that any non-canon what-ifs or fandom AUs are not appable to the game, but we encourage you to have fun during the event.

Characters do not have to be transported to another setting. This is opt-in. If you do not want to play with this feature, this functions as an ordinary fourth wall event.

Some characters (existing & fourth-walling) will be dropped into another nexus dimension. This does not have to be an existing dreamwidth game. You are completely free to make up your own world for this. However, you are equally welcome to use dreamwidth roleplay settings and treat this as a little crossover event. Naturally, the event will not be canon to the other game settings.

There are cracks appearing in the skies above all the nexuses, including the one Metaheroes is set in.

To return to the Metaheroes setting (or to visit another world) you need to seek out a hole between dimensions.

On August 19th, all player characters should be back in the setting and they will be summoned to Central City. The NPC Chaos Gate will ask all player characters to join hands and think of the worlds they came from. She will then cast a spell. This will reconnect the Metaheroes world to the wider multiverse. There will be a log for this.

Life will return to normal, until September 4th...

ARC TWO PREVIEW...

As mentioned above, this event marks the end of Arc One. Thank you so much for bearing with us through the ups and downs, and giving the game your time, energy, and love. We’re excited to show you what comes next.

The second arc is focused on interdimensional travel and the connection player characters develop to this world upon arrival.

With the start of Arc Two (September 4th) characters will become capable of returning to their own worlds. This has the following caveats:

They will not be able to stay. They appear to be anchored to the Metaheroes universe and will be drawn back to it after two weeks.

They will not be able to return to their old world immediately after leaving it. If they try, they’ll find themselves quickly thrown back into the world of Metaheroes. They must wait six weeks before they have the strength for the return trip.

Characters may bring multiple people with them through the portal in order to change fate.

It will not change the outcome of their original world. However, they can use their knowledge and new powers to create a branching timeline. This means heroes could save their friends and gain their golden ending, or villains could finally win.

Dimensional travel will no longer be a forbidden ability. However, characters with dimensional travel abilities are not exempt from the limitations.

Any subsequent visits to their world will be to the branching timeline, unless they’re returning with a castmate. Whoever enters a portal first will be the one whose canon point / world they return to.

Characters will continue to canon update to their original timeline.

Travel between dimensions will require a Player Plot.

Finally, public sentiment towards metahumans is worsening. Between the constant confluences and near cataclysms, baseline humans are quick to point the finger at the new metahumans among them. They believe it to be their fault. Both Excelsior and Central City will become increasingly hostile towards those they know to be metas, even if they’re Alliance affiliated.

There will be more pressure to join a Guild. With anyone not affiliated with the Guardian Alliance being regarded suspiciously. Certain aspects of the Alliance are also very keen on redeeming public image - even it means paying / or setting up Unaffiliated Metas to play the Heel in public.

If you do not maintain a civilian identity you will find yourself encountering more barriers from both metas and baselines alike.

That’s all we have for you for now! Please direct any questions here.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[metamods]

Please reply to this comment with any questions you have about the event.

[hevenly]

If characters are pulled into a nexus location/other dwrp game, are they subject to the rules of that game's universe? (particularly thinking about power nerfing games)

[rollstoseduce]

Hello, mods! Thank you for all your work, this is huge!

Question about the future dimensional travel, if that's ok with you. Since it requires a player plot, I'm guessing we can handwave and say it takes a few tries to get it right? Or a specific set-up? Basically, just wanting to know if I have an OOC explanation not to send characters even if they ICly want to.

[khaenriah]

will doubles of an existing character be allowed for the event if they're from a different game/dimension?

[determinationtofist]

Hello mods! Quick question... if characters after this are able to return to their own worlds and presumably tell everyone at home about it... what would happen if someone were to then later app a castmate?

Like, if Hibiki goes home and immediately dives into the arms of her girlfriend there, how would it work if someone were to then want to app in said-girlfriend later? Would they only be apping from an entirely separate timeline, even if they're both from the same canon point? Or could they potentially app in with knowledge of whatever Hibiki might tell them about the world she's been attached to?

Side-question that isn't as complicated... does cellular communication work between Metaheroes and their home worlds?

[forasecond]

Arc Two is pinging me for all the things I've been vaguely background working on for months with Five trying to get a way home, I might re-visit that more in-depth with y'all next month, esp with the delicious setting engagement info-drop y'all gave me the other day. >_>

For the 4th Wall Event: If I were to kind of Make Up A Nexus World... I'm looking toward a dystopian/post-Apocalyptic desolate setting... but could I have something he finds there make him believe it's a future timeline of the Metaheroes Universe itself?

[qualityfriend]

Please note that any non-canon what-ifs or fandom AUs are not appable to the game, but we encourage you to have fun during the event.

Does this mean that characters who aren't normally appable because they're fandom AUs or have multiple games of CRAU can visit in the event?

[badbutsadboy]

Two questions wrt to the dimensions stuff.

1. If a character can only go every 6 weeks does that mean time isn't stopped and 6 weeks of events can happen at home without them every time they're vorped back to the game world?

2. wrt to the dimensional stuff, can we have it so an individual character can't get the dimension hopping home to work for them? (but maybe can hop to other worlds if helping someone in their dimension.) Because Hunter would be spending any and all possible time at home with his friends at every interval allowed. And I don't want to really deal with that, since right now his canon point is at the end of all available canon. New canon isn't coming until March 2023.

Opening the game up is a totally cool development but I thought I was joining a jamjar. For someone like Kon or Robbie, this isn't a problem! They'd go home periodically but I can handwave The Usual Comics Stuff happening in the background if they take trips home. And the Joker could even take advantage of it to get resources from home so it's a boon for him.

But Hunter's from a very plot-focused canon that left things off on a cliffhanger mid-crisis. Because he'd go home every time it's possible, I'd have to come up with a whole plot continuation to be happening in the background to play him and I'm no Dana Terrace. I'd really prefer to have him locked into the jamjar through idk some kind of dimensional kerflooey.

Re: QUESTIONS

[demigoth]

How public will the Alliance’s plans to frame unaffiliated be within the Alliance itself? Tommy has unaffiliated friends and won’t take this sitting down.

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

In my case this is mostly in regard to Arc Two, but I can see it being useful to people for Arc One as well:

Are characters able to bring items back with them when they return to the MetaHeroes universe? I don't imagine anything that's reliant on its original universe could come back through with them, but for example, say Nox winds up pocketing some lightsaber parts (or the actual lightsabers of people he kills) while he's back in his own universe / in a universe where there are other Sith/Jedi running around, would he return with those items still in his possession?

(I also imagine there'd be a caveat that anything potentially game breaking would need mod approval, though that wouldn't apply to anything Nox could pick up. He prefers to keep doomsday devices either as far away from him as possible and/or destroyed.)

[atypical_echo]

Just checking because I'm mostly certain of the answer but I don't want to trip up and be a fool.

The Posting Guide on Metaverses mentions Log stuff goes in that comm (which makes sense), and that Network stuff is possible. The network stuff should go into that comm too, right?

Re: QUESTIONS

[escapedbird]

Would it be alright to bring Ryslig transplants in for the 4th wall? Being in this world would the cannibalistic aspects drop entirely? Would we need to warn for cannibalism in our headers?

[determinationtofist]

Guess who has more questions...

This has somewhat been answered already in the questions below, but if characters can potentially be locked out from going back to their own worlds... could it be possible to have a character be able to go home once but be unable to do so afterward? Like, still let them visit other people's worlds if they go with them, but not their own? Perhaps I just like angst and to be honest, Hibiki would be going home at every opportunity otherwise, which I don't really wanna deal with.

Another question for another topic: How would Hibiki's own reputation be affected in Arc 2? Would her popularity start to drop because of her status as a Meta, or will her popularity survive thanks to being affiliated with the alliance?

[forasecond]

Can I have Five be around for part of the general event shenanigans and disappear to a Nexus later, or does it all happen at once, one or the other, no middle road to ride both sides of the line?

[voicelog]

very meadowlark specific

but would ml crau characters be reconnected to the ml network during the event? so for example, would tony be able to have access to and communicate with folks back in new amsterdam?

Re: QUESTIONS

[rollstoseduce]

Hello again! If someone that participated in the 4th wall event ends up apping, can we assume they arrived during 4th wall and never left, or are they going missing and reappearing later? Thank you.

Civilian Identity Q

[howlett]

If you do not maintain a civilian identity you will find yourself encountering more barriers from both metas and baselines alike.

Can you expand on (or point me towards) a little more info about civilian identities? I love playing around with the idea of people getting uneasy about his lack of affiliation, I'm just wondering in what ways maintaining a civilian identity might apply to a guy who doesn't really do the superhero/alter-ego thing. Or maybe it doesn't at all. Much appreciated!

Re: QUESTIONS

[rollstoseduce]

Hello mods~ Questions about the recent update.

1. About the new AI laws: does usage of AI need to be put through player plotting from now on? Or there are any basic uses we can play out without checking? Does these only affect Excelsior aka if someone uses advanced AI in the other cities they'd be fine or not? (Asking in general for everyone but mainly because Jaskier wanting a little mechanical bird with a camera inside that followed him around while sidekicking.)

2. Is there any information about the Willow Maiden around? Myths, songs, history of old countries, etc? If there is, would it be easy for the characters to find it after they get their pillows?

Thank you!

Re: QUESTIONS

[mostdangerousbird]

Regarding the pillows, would anything turn up if you were investigating them? Scanning with a metal detector, x-ray vision, soaking it with water and testing the water for sediments (like some cocaine smuggling), ripping it open, etc etc etc?

Would any of this stop the pillow from working?

FOURTH WALL VISITOR PLOTTING

[metamods]

Hello visitors! To ensure you're seen, please reply to this comment with the below form! Feel free to leave any sections blank if you don't want to fill them out.

<span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Player Name & Pronouns:</span> <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Preferred Communication:</span> Plurk, Discord, DM, etc. <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Character Name & Journal:</span> <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Event Plans</span>: What are you interested in doing with the event? Is there a particular setting you want your character to visit? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Plot/CR Hooks:</span> What kinds of things does your character get up to that might throw them in the path of someone else's plot, or that you would like other players to engage with? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Character Motivations:</span> What does your character want? Are they here to cause chaos, to help out, to have a heartfelt reunion with a long lost lover? <span style="font-weight:bold; border-bottom:2px solid #e37504;">Potential Roles:</span> What role does your character play in their canon plot? What role might they play in others' plots, and what would it take to get their attention? Are they an antagonist, a researcher, a tech whiz?

Red Blood Cell | Cells At Work

[rbc_ae3803]

Player Name & Pronouns: Lyn | She/Her/They
Preferred Communication: Plurk - ThatAlistair

Character Name & Journal: Red Blood Cell (AE 3803) | Cells At Work | rbc_ae3803
Event Plans: So I'm hoping to drop in this particularly directionally-challenged Red Blood Cell for some fun. She's going to be very confused - which is kind of her default state - but she does know about transfusions, so she's going to think she's been transfused into a different body.
Plot/CR Hooks: Her entire purpose is to deliver oxygen and nutrients, so she's going to be running around trying to get people what they need. And also probably falling prey to bad guys if any are around - she kinda magnetically draws them. She's also a little stupidly brave and has no issue putting herself in danger if she thinks she can get someone else out of danger.
Character Motivations: She'll be here to first cause a little chaos because, to her, this is a body and she's the only red blood cell she sees. But after that, she'll be helping mostly by bringing stuff to people with tireless determination.
Potential Roles: Red Blood Cell is one of the protagonists of her series. She's also comic relief. She has no sense of direction for the entire first season, but she has absolute determination to do her job. She's very pure hearted and dotes on the little platelets and fawns over White Blood Cell when he's injured. All in all, she's pretty wholesome, but she also needs rescuing a lot. She never gives up, though, and can give pep talk speeches with the best.

Very tentative, but:

[unfavorableinstigation]

Player Name & Pronouns: SMF/Ace; She/her or They/them
Preferred Communication: Plurk (Autistic_Ace) is simplest; Discord is S_M_F#5045 if you'd like to add!

Character Name & Journal: Nita Callahan, unfavorableinstigation
Event Plans: I hear some people are interested in playing with this canon! Break out your obscure-book accounts! She is used to crossing dimensions (... somewhat) if taking her straight from canon is the only option, which I presume to be the case. There is one specific game setting I'll keep an eye out for, but it's nothing crucial. Or is it?
Plot/CR Hooks: As far as Nita's concerned, if the Powers That Be have a reason for her to be here, she may as well go digging! She can be stubborn, but she is also Miss Planner, and if she has an opportunity to do more on-site research she will do so. Looks very unlikely to be 'meta' on first glance... and if her powers/wizardry are untouched, she has options for helping characters get to various places, with the main exception of being able to fix things so characters can actually go home permanently.
Character Motivations: She's on errantry, so as far as she's concerned, this may as well be another Tuesday. Or, more likely, Monday. At least it's probably happening for her over the summer?
Potential Roles: Nita is very much A Protagonist, and tends to get involved right in the middle of things. Naturally that's... not going to hold here. There's so much going on! And I am uncertain I could have a good time here.

This is an interest-check; if people would like to tag her in this event please reply to this comment!

The Doctor | Doctor Who

[borntolove]

Blue & She/Her:
Preferred Communication: weefolk DM There is also an opt-out and permissions in the journal

The Doctor:
Plot/CR Hooks: What kinds of things does your character get up to that might throw them in the path of someone else's plot, or that you would like other players to engage with? The multiverse imploding is not a good thing. Basically, doing a lot of running around. Basically, wanting to fix things. Even without his Tardis. He does have his sonic screwdriver and is a touch-telepathic which is opt-in. And timey-wimey senses that will be hurting.
Character Motivations: The multiverse is imploding, of course, The Doctor is here and it must be Tuesday.
Potential Roles: What role does your character play in their canon plot? What role might they play in others' plots, and what would it take to get their attention? Are they an antagonist, a researcher, a tech whiz? Tech whiz, researcher, peacemaker, negotiator and being absolutely brilliant

ronan lynch ( the raven cycle )

[embodier]

Player Name & Pronouns: exxie | she/they
Preferred Communication: perilous

Character Name & Journal: ronan lynch
Event Plans: who wants to come visit the barns?
Plot/CR Hooks: he's a dreamer, so he can literally dream insane shit into being by accident, which lends itself to kind of whatever people want. his unfortunate specialty is nightmares, so u know.
Potential Roles: ronan's a gay goth farmer from rural virginia and he has a faun-shaped dreamed daughter named opal, so do with that what you will. also, he's 18 at his current canon point, so he's great for other teen characters!!!

Peter Parker | MCU

[tinglesense]

Player Name & Pronouns: Lyn, they/them
Preferred Communication: boywonder, ask for discord! I'm happy to plot there one on one, but I struggle with group chats.

Character Name & Journal: Peter Parker tinglesense
Guild Affiliation: Unaligned
Event Plans: I'm going to have Peter whisked away but I'm bouncing around on where to send him. If he had the right CR for it I'd probably do Duplicity because I'm terrible, but that presents its own issues.

Otherwise, thinking of Deerington maybe? I played there for almost two years so I could definitely come up with some creepy bullshit for that.

There's Penance or The Village for more creepy bullshit.

Folkmore for fairy tale type things but I'm a little bit less sure of how to use that setting since it's fairly new.

Noctium and give him some weird gem powers or do monster transformations (for him or others).

But I'm open to other ideas! One of the IN SPACE games would be cool, but I haven't played in any of those so I probably can't write a prompt for that myself. I figure I can have more than one option here! I am up for pretty much any theme other than mundane slice of life. I am NOT up for playing death plots (either Peter dying OR him seeing someone else die), all horror would have to be the kind that you can survive. No murdergames for me.

Plot/CR Hooks: tbh I'm struggling with RP motivation right now so coming up with plots has been hard for me. I'm not sure what I want to throw down right now.

I'm thinking that soon I might push him to join the Alliance because lbr he has had ENOUGH of being some sort of scapegoat.

I want Peter to rebuild a more hi-tech suit and I want him to keep investigating what happened to Starstruck/what the big heroes (or villains) might be hiding from everyone.

Character Motivations: Connection. Stability. An idea of what the future looks like. He is lacking in the second two things, though he at least has a place to live with Otto so YOU KNOW it's fine! He needs more friends/people who will make him deal with his shit or even acknowledge how messed up he is since he just refuses to deal with most of what happened back home, all the loss he just has.

Potential Roles: He's a hero, even if he's not sure he sees himself that way! He's pretty independent but I love Spider-Man doing team ups.

Plot Ideas: STARSTRUCK THINGS I have not forgotten and will not forget!

Roles Needed: Other tech type people, other teens, slightly older mentors, much older mentors, all of it tbh! Could do a rivalry thing (in hero guise, not so much in civilian guise). He hasn't had a lot of interaction with antagonists and I'd love for him to MAKE FRIENDS with one only to find out later that they're not as nice as they seem.

Re: Peter Parker | MCU

[borntolove]

Did you say space? :3