Prompt Chomp: Nourishment | SC25
There is nourishment to be found in every corner of the campsite; lunchboxes left unattended, skewered marshmallows not watched closely enough... a true feast, I tell you.While we're already getting back to our roots with Summer Camp week two, some folks might still be chewing on the prompts from week one. If you're in that boat, have no fear — we sharpened our teeth and chewed on these prompts to get every juicy idea out of them, so we could share those ideas with you! They were pretty dang tasty, so I hope you enjoy taking a bite, yourself.
A myth about a legendary food or drink
Not only is the food legendary, it's also got a tale behind it. You won't believe how wild this gets!What makes a food or drink legendary? Who gets to decide what that even means?
It's legendary because...
It has magical, divine, or mythical origins
This item isn't just legendary on its own, it IS the legend. Nectar of the gods, waters of immortality, the enchanted golden apple — this item's existence is, in itself, mythological in nature. It might exist, it might not; it might exist purely in tales and fables, until the fateful day when an adventurer uncovers the unlikely truth.It's popular, sensational, or earned some notoriety
Whether the food is great or not, it's gone global. Brand names, well-known products, and more — your yogurt might not be particularly legendary, but when your yogurt brand is notorious for its link to a cruise sweepstakes that many folks still wonder about the legitimacy of decades later, that makes for a pretty legendary tale. And what about legendary food combinations? Surely everyone knows at least one person who didn't believe the tales of combining mentos and coke and paid the price for their hubris. Likewise, consider the existence of a food combination so vile that folks' stories cascaded over time into myth."Oh no!" "Oh no!" "Oh no!"
"OH YEAH!!!"
It's simply the best around
If you've ever heard someone say, "no one makes"No one out-pizzas the Hut!"
Actually, it's not quite legendary, itself...
But it helped someone or something achieve quite the legendary end! Perhaps it's the pomegranate that bound our lady of the underground to Hades, or it's a funny little apple that invented the concept of sin. No, the food isn't particularly exciting on its own, but boy did it play a wild part in someone's history or mythology!A substance known for its unique smell
I'd know that smell anywhere! Well, I don't really know what it is, but I know it's bad news.I'm sure you can name a bunch of smelly substances — good or bad — from your day-to-day life, but just how many ways can we think about this?
Whoa, that smells...
absolutely delicious! Well... maybe not always?
The culinary arts are filled to the brim with delicious and questionable smells both. Consider the intoxicating scent of bacon frying, or the rich scent of coffee in the morning. Entire empires are built on the stinkiest of cheeses, and fruit juices range from delightfully sweet to downright pukey in nature. Cooking ingredients are often chosen for their aromatic qualities, so you could find yourself writing about unique herbs, extracts, or fungi that might add their personality to whatever you're cooking.medicinal! Or is it toxic?
Well, they do often say that the dose makes the poison! I know I'm not the only person who's cracked open a bottle of antibiotics and had a visceral reaction to the smell. Chemicals of all kinds come with smells of their own. Are there toxins in your world that are identifiable just by their scent? Are they eerily similar to other harmless substances? Maybe there are medicinal plants one can break and smell as a method of identification!Do these apple seeds taste like cyanide to you?
incredibly atmospheric! Don't eat that.
If there's anything we humans love, it's things we can put in our spaces that smell wonderful and make daily life less boring. Scented candles, wax melts, incense — the list goes on and on! On the topic of smelling pleasant, soaps, perfumes, and fragrances just add more to the atmosphere around you. How important are aromatic substances like these to the cultures of your world? Do the preferred scents change drastically between them?You ever just want to take a bite out of a decorative soap because it smells like a cinnamon cookie? Looks like one, too?
awfully industrial. DEFINITELY don't eat that.
Crafters know it best: some building materials can be straight-up NOXIOUS. Fumes from glues, solvents, paints, and more... they're strong! They're distinct! But crafting sure nourishes the soul, so we press on. Many of us know the smell of aggressively chlorinated swimming pools, the sharp scent of permanent markers, or the penetrating smell of freshly-painted wood varnish. These are the smells of building, crafting, and industrial activity. What smells show people in your world that something new is being made or renovated?A profession related to spirituality or philosophy
Being a feral camp counselor is more than just a job — I know I'm not being paid for it, that's not important — it's a spiritual matter.When is a job more than just a job? What if it could all mean something more than the daily grind?
My work deals in...
religion and faith
The most obvious approach: taking "spirituality" at face value, pondering professions directly tied to the spiritual journey of oneself and others. These might be priests and bishops, those who take up positions within churches and religious institutions — you may even consider the humble street preacher, who finds his calling shouting gospel in the streets. Cult leaders might creep their way into your thoughts, as they often do; the life of a cultist may be a subject to explore, if you're looking to dig into the darker side of faith. What if we take this a step further, and consider those who live in service to their gods? What of those who ascend to godhood themselves and take on celestial roles in their universe? What if, rather than being the priest who devotes their life to worship, their role is to embody the very concept worshiped by the priesthood?guidance and mentorship
Learning is a spiritual journey, and there are many who devote their lives to helping others follow that path. Think of teachers who fight against administration to make a true impact on their children, mentors who pave the way for the next generation, and guides who lead the curious to their next dose of knowledge. Understanding is a blessing that enriches the spirit, so maybe you can think about what sorts of people are working towards bestowing it on as many folks as they can manage.Another way to think of guidance could be those who guide the dead to their rest. Think of the caretakers of graveyards and burial sites, priests of the dead, and morticians who send the dead to their final resting places. The Ferryman who transports the souls of the dead takes his job quite seriously, I imagine. Deathly serious. not sorry.
passion and creation
The act of creating something is viewed by some as putting a piece of your own soul into the world. Think about the artists, musicians, and makers of your world who devote themselves to their craft, working every day to share their hearts, minds, spirits, and dreams with the world around them — or keep their creations to themselves as they explore who they are and who they might become as they hone their craft.I drew, and I wrote, and I bled, and sweat, all over the pages, over and over until I my vision came to life...
challenging the status quo
Revolutions are fought in global wars and in quiet contemplations. Consider the folks to devote their lives to changing the world — those who fight to change the minds and hearts of millions, activists working to improve the world, agents of change seeking to set their people on a new path forward. Every leader brings with them a new philosophy on how the world ought to function, every war fought to spread these ideals in one direction or the other. What are people in your world fighting for, and what roles do they take in that fight?I'm fighting against the institution that says I have to have a job and pay bills instead of stay home and worldbuild all day!
A charity dedicated to helping those in need
We've got you! Don't you dare give up just yet!No matter how dark the times get, there's always someone out there trying to help in their own way.
We're here to help...
those affected by disaster and strife
Whether there's a war on, or a hurricane blowing cities away, folks are always waiting in the wings to lend a helping hand to help their neighbor. They may not be many, but they're out there. What charitable groups can we expect to see in your world, organizing wartime aid for nations under attack, or supporting their refugees? Who is on the front lines of natural disaster relief?bring light to important causes
Charities of all kinds exist in our own world, built to shine a light on an impossibly wide assortment of causes, ranging from environmental conservation, support or protection of marginalized groups of people, and bringing awareness to obscure diseases and disorders. What causes are most pressing in your nations and settlements? Who stands at the forefront of protests, leads marches, or holds conferences and fundraisers to make sure important causes never go unheard?empower our local community
Not everyone can afford to pursue new hobbies, trades, or skills to better their lives, but some organizations are built to sponsor these efforts and make sure no one is forced to go without. Whether it's funding schooling, arranging apprenticeships, or hosting free classes for any who might need them, these organizations are out to breach the gaps in the quality of education and available resources many places find themselves developing over time.We make sure no one falls through the cracks, just because they can't afford to take a night class.
save people from themselves
Those poor souls don't know what's coming for them, if they don't follow the one true path. This is something a cultist might say, before setting out on a mission to convert others to their faith — and they're doing it in full confidence that their actions are a great service to those they succeed in converting. Consider the idea that organizations can believe their actions are a help to the world, while causing great harm, in truth.They resisted our aid, and we could not abide those who stand in the way of eternity's gift.
A ritual related to agriculture
Don't look at me like that. I'm telling you, if we don't light these candles in the right order, it's never raining again.Traditions form and fall away in every civilization, but we always manage to build them around food in some way.
We perform this to...
bless our harvest
Rituals, as we think of them in faithful or magical terms, have been employed by humans to bring blessings to their lands and harvests for millennia — how do populations in your worlds beseech their higher powers for these blessings? Do the rituals have tangible effect, or are they simply a cultural custom that brings comfort to the people? If your world is magical in nature, what rituals might one employ in order to enhance or alter that which grows in their fields and in their planters?We took our tools to the church to have them blessed, and now I feel unstoppable in the field!
enrich the land
Getting down to the more mundane, daily rituals of the land and hand are all but crucial to ensuring agricultural activities don't go wrong. Think about the daily rituals of your farmers and of those who otherwise cultivate plant life. Perhaps you're dealing with a particularly finicky plant that requires around-the-clock care. How do those daily rituals compare to an easygoing crop that can go largely ignored until harvest comes? You may encounter traditions in the real world, encouraging others to spread wildflower seeds in barren plots to support local pollinators, to seek out invasive species to prevent them from smothering native plant life, or leaving out materials that make the perfect substrate for fungi to thrive.celebrate what we have
Come one, come all, to the annual harvest festival! Timeless is the desire to celebrate, revel, and feast at the success of a great harvest. How do people in your world celebrate plenty, and what do these celebrations — or their absence — look like when the lands aren't so generous? If plenty isn't the focus here, maybe they're celebrating the individual things they have and love: a favorite vegetable found in just about every cultural dish, a plant whose fibers make the prettiest colors for clothing, or delicious fruits that bring joy to a land that's flavorless at every other point in the year.raze the fields
Not every act of agriculture is one of growth and creation, though sometimes growth can sprout from it. Slash and burn agriculture is a common tradition that brings new life from ashes, but the more spiteful actors might take a few more steps to ensure that little sprout never makes it. Taking fire or salt to the earth, dripping poisons into the food supply of the enemy, and more can all be rituals some might observe in your world.No one said these rituals had to be helpful or humane.
A species that feeds through a symbiotic relationship
Now, if a feral camper bites you, don't you worry. They won't usually do it hard enough to latch on. The leeches, however...Every living thing shares its environment with something else, but some like to get just a bit closer than that.
This species feeds in a way that...
has mutual benefit
When thinking of symbiosis, the immediate pull is mutualistic symbiosis — where one species benefits, the other does as well. Think of the relationship between plants and their pollinators, like bees making golden honey from the pollen they collect and spread around, helping flowers reproduce. What about cleaner species that help keep larger animals parasite-free while earning a tasty little treat for themselves in the process? Your little creature might be one that gets its snacks from other species in a way that supports more than just its own life!You scratch my back, I pick some bugs off yours. Everybody wins!
only benefits itself
Better known as commensalism, some species will get their nourishment through activities that don't particularly affect the other creatures around them. Think of plants that get their nourishment from the heat or friction of other species moving about, or opportunistic species that prey on the scraps they can scavenge once a larger predator abandons their kill. Some birds like to follow larger animals to snatch up the bugs that skitter away as they pass by, and some plants might grow harmlessly upon others, just to get a little bit closer to that delicious sunlight.I'm just along for the ride, man
harms the other
That's right, friend — parasitism is in! Well, what I mean is that it's technically a form of symbiosis, so get on in here and bring out your weirdest creepiest creatures. We all know our favorite bloodsucking creatures, like mosquitos, ticks, leeches, and more, but we can also consider fun options like zombifying fungi that take over their infected hosts' bodies like something straight out of a horror movie! Whether the parasites live out their lives inside a host, hang on for a wild ride outside, or simply take advantage of other species' existence and activities, those pesky parasites always find a way to thrive.just makes things really weird
We need to think about some wildcards here. Weird fungi that grow on the skin, feeding on sweat, that give magical powers to their host. Animals that instigate fights between other species so it can swoop into the aftermath and feed from their wounds. Magical creatures that meld together for brief moments in time to share their nutrients after a hunt. The possibilities are endless.A condition you can get from eating specific foods
I don't think that went down right... it keeps trying to come back up.Sometimes food just doesn't work exactly the way we intend it to. But sometimes it does that and more!
This condition is rather...
temporary in nature, it seems
From spicy foods that burn the tongue, to cold treats that give you brain freeze, to fruity drinks that have you feeling a little silly for an evening, there are all kinds of temporary effects we see from consumable items all the time! Intoxication comes in many forms, bringing all sorts of sensory effects, impairments, or even sickness if the trip went south. Avoid dairy if you're lactose intolerant, or your condition will turn around REAL quick. Particular foods might have you seeing things that aren't actually there — or they are real, and can they only be seen by someone in that state? Others might have you in a fit of giggles, want to dance, or go take a nap. Satiation is also rather temporary, as hunger always comes back again eventually. Think of foods that might inhibit hunger for longer than usual, filling a stomach faster and keeping it that way longer — or ones that make the hunger stronger!Nothing hits quite as hard as the food coma after ripping through a Thanksgiving turkey.
permanent, I'm afraid
Oh dear. It seems you've died. Well, that's just one of many conditions one could find permanent if you get your teeth into the wrong thing out there. Certain illnesses or afflictions could lead to permanent or overwhelmingly long-lasting effects. Think of amateur moonshiners going blind from drinking their heinously concentrated alcohol supply, neurotoxins causing irreparable harm to the nerves and senses, or the great horror that is prion diseases ripping the function from you slowly, but surely. Perhaps certain substances cause people or other creatures to transform in different ways, which very well could be permanent.Hey, it doesn't have to be all bad! Maybe the permanent effect is a cure, like a medicine, or a permanent boost to the mind or metabolism.
perfect for questing
If you're building a setting geared towards gaming experiences, consider the many types of buffs (or debuffs!) your characters can pick up from food and drink! It can be a precious stat boost you need to give yourself the cutting edge needed to snag a tough mark, a potion that adds some feathers to the feet and a bounce to the step, or a crucial refill to the mana bar right after you drop a huge spell.This can go the opposite way, of course. Be wary of cursed snacks that drain health and energy, or leave your stats in the negatives — but you can also play with mixed positive and negative stat effects and the way folks balance them to achieve the end results they desire!
All I'm saying is, if Dax didn't forget his food buff before that pull, we would have had the boss down!
sentimental, somehow
Sometimes you have a meal and it just leaves you feeling downright homesick. Perhaps even nostalgic? We spent plenty of time thinking about physical conditions, metaphysical conditions, and all those good tangible effects, but what about the more subtle ones? Maybe you tried a new restaurant for the first time, of a cuisine you've never heard of before, and now you're left with the most incredible feeling of wanderlust. Cultures all around the world have conditions of the mind that they have acknowledged and given obscure and unique names... why not do the same in your world?Well, it doesn't have a direct translation in English, but it means something like "being so feral for worldbuilding that you're frothing at the mouth"
A delicious staple found on every dinner table
They did WHAT to my table? With a stapler?There are just some things that live on our tables forever, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
It's not dinner without...
the common fare
Everywhere you go in the world, you'll find that folks have some clear favorite staple foods — because they just keep showing up at every meal! Think of staple foods like rice and grains, comfort carbs like bread, noodles, and pastas, or common in-season vegetables that are so plentiful they act as common fillers for any meal. Maybe folks in your world can't go a single day without a side of mac and cheese at the table (that's fair, I can't either), or they think a meal is incomplete without certain pickled or fermented foods. Don't forget drinks, either! Think of adventurers hitting the tavern for a warm meal and a cold pint — alcohol is a timeless classic in this regard! A sophisticated meal might be paired with a glass of wine, or one might indulge in a delicious hot cup of tea that melts the world away.How am I supposed to eat this pizza WITHOUT MY DRINK?!
our favorite flavors
No matter how good your world's home chefs may be, folks do tend to have their own flavor preferences. After all, I think it's safe to say that many of us consider things like salt and pepper shakers to be among the most common table decorations for both form and function! Do folks in your setting have favorite sauces or spices that they keep forever at the ready? Do your tea drinkers keep honey or sugar at the table, and do they pair their tea treats with the tastiest jams and jellies? Prepare the butter and sour cream for when the baked potatoes hit the table, and keep your favorite salsa ready, because Taco Tuesday is always around the corner!I always knew my hoard of Taco Bell sauce packets would come in handy one day
tasty little munchies
How many tables have you come across in your life that have a permanent centerpiece filled with candy, trail mix, or any other treat that you can quickly grab a fistful of, before scampering off into the next room? These things would never constitute a meal of any kind, but somehow the table just feels so empty without them, like someone sucked all of the joy out of day-to-day life. Maybe folks in your world have a staunch belief in "dessert before dinner," or they simply appreciate a quick treat any time of day.I could tell I was in a rich person's house by the fact that they had a jar stuffed with beef jerky as a centerpiece
a little excitement
Not everything at the dinner table might be a food, but it can sure still be delicious. First case: what could possibly taste better than victory? Do folks play games at dinner? Alternatively, folks might enjoy some accompaniment with their mealtime, like a device playing some videos while they enjoy their meal for that sweet, delicious dopamine. Sometimes you just need to spice things up at the dinner table. How does some poison sound? Oh, too exciting? Okay, a poison antidote, for when others try to make it too exciting. Maybe we are bringing the party after all, and — oh dear — it seems there are some illicit substances at the dinner table.We really need to find another venue for this kind of stuff...
A city many people want to visit
The big city shines like the place of dreams to some, and a cheap neon sign to others.From destinations to obligations, we all have plenty of places we're trying to go visit.
The city calls to me with...
the promise of adventure
Discovery! Wanderlust! There are so many places in the world people may want to visit, purely for the adventure to be had. Think of your tourist destinations, points of interest, and local attractions! Certain cities might be hubs for trade, boast incredible food culture, be pinnacles of fashion, or might just throw a mean party. People love to explore, and they're all the more eager to do so when they know they can connect with their passions and interests in the process.If you're running a campaign in your setting, consider which cities might be prime quest locations and hubs for adventurers to gather, share their tales, stock up for their big expeditions, and pick up odd jobs.
You meet at the local tavern...
the pursuit of greatness
The quest for knowledge takes us to all kinds of places in our lives. That can include cities known for their exemplary academic institutions, ones that are known to be hotspots for those researching subjects such as anthropology, archaeology, or paleontology, or cities littered with ruins begging to have their secrets uncovered. This is more than an adventure; it's a calling to make a name for yourself. If the intellectual pursuits aren't exactly tickling the fancy, perhaps what you're after is business. Many folks might travel to big cities to kick off their careers, climb corporate ladders, and make it big in the professional world.The amount of times I've fought tooth and nail to get to the College of Winterhold should be studied
connection to a higher power
Holy cities and pilgrimage sites attract visitors from every corner of the world, transcending continental borders to bring folks together in gatherings of faithful. Consider which cities in your world may be sacred to various cultures, with deific monuments, ancient and historical holy places, and more. If faith isn't the flavor of your higher powers, think about which cities might allow visitors to connect with the arcane forces of the land, whether for research purposes, for honing their magical skills and aptitude, or simply to benefit from an improved quality of life brought on by the magical forces of the region. These powers could alter or diminish human needs, extending lifespans, granting otherworldly knowledge, or otherwise shifting the way one lives.I never felt closer to my gods than I did while feasting on their native shores
a heavy heart
Sometimes, desire to visit a place comes with a great emotional weight. Nostalgia can be heavy on the heart, especially when remembering old times, wanting to return to a city that may no longer exist — not the way you remembered it, anyway. We could go as small as a family wanting to revisit their old home town, driven by the memories they made there in the past. College grads gathering at their alma mater for a reunion, reminiscing about the times they shared in the old dorms and classrooms in their youth. There can likewise be cases where folks wish to visit places they've been displaced from, but find themselves unable. It may be unsafe, a hostile territory caught in war after war. As conquest sweeps regions in your world, consider who might be wishing they could come back home again and find peace somewhere they haven't been able to find it in for years.If we flip the coin on its head, perhaps there are many who would like to visit a city to be the ones doing the conquering. Warmongers might set their eyes on a prized settlement, and they'll have their entire army itching to pay it a visit before long.
A place people aren't supposed to go
I know I shouldn't, but... I think I'm going to go anyway.The nosier you are, the more you find out just how many places you're not actually supposed to be in.
This place is...
awfully dangerous
Some places are just a thinly veiled death sentence, if you don't know how to take care of yourself. Sketchy dirt paths in the woods, shaded crossroads in the dead of night, and cities plagued with crime and gang violence are all examples of places you may simply not want to be. Even if the danger isn't direct, plenty of places can pose a danger to those who aren't careful, some going the extra mile to bar entry from unauthorized folks. This can look like labs and factories which deal with harsh chemicals requiring high-level clearance, active construction sites locking up their perimeter, and major roadways barring pedestrian access. If people aren't enforcing this, environmental factors might be convincing enough deterrents on their own. Regions with especially aggressive or dangerous wildlife and flora make for a risky journey, and locations littered with obstructions and obstacles are just waiting for the opportunity to break some ankles as folks attempt to travel around them. Why do people want to risk so much to be there? Is the reward worth it?I remember fondly my early days as a gamer, taking my soft level 1 character to places I had no business going.
exclusive to a select few
Sometimes, you just have to be part of the in-crowd to get where you're looking to go, because they're not letting you in otherwise. Some spaces call for more serious security, the spaces built around confidentiality or exclusivity, for any number of reasons. Think about the classics, like gang hideouts, thieves' guilds, all manner of secret societies, and even the (probably) less illicit clubs: government buildings, corporate executive offices, bank vaults, and more. Places of worship also find themselves quite limited as far as who may be permitted behind the altar, who may approach certain shrines or ruins, and who may be welcome to join rituals and practice.All you have to do is walk in there with the confidence of someone who belongs there. They won't even notice!
beyond this realm
There are some places one can't simply walk into, unless you consider someone noclipping into the backrooms to be close enough. If your setting has alternate realms, dimensions, or realities, it might be worth exploring just why folks don't want to venture there, or should avoid stumbling in at all costs. These realms can be true, tangible spaces that are built into the metaphysical laws of the world, like elemental planes, magical realms, or deific domains, or they can be more conceptual or tied to mythology. If your world's religions have their own equivalents to places like heaven and hell, think about what views the faithful hold regarding who should or shouldn't go to either place.I tapped my spoon against my cereal bowl and it rang at just the right frequency to make me slip between dimensions. Man...
more of a concept
Not every place has to be physical — it could very well be the metaphorical "there," like the one folks refer to when they scold someone by saying, "don't go there!" This non-realm comes to be when one crosses the line into conversational taboos and touchy subjects. Is your setting one in which words have power to manifest realms from uncouth speech? That could be a fun subject to explore. In a similar vein, we often hear folks plea, "don't go towards the light!" when their companions find themselves mortally wounded — where does that light lead, if anywhere at all?Yeah, that's right. I went there.
This is so cool! <33