Prompt Chomp: Metamorphosis | SC25
It's involuntary at this point. The transformation, that is. That first summer breeze rolls through each year, and suddenly I'm on all fours chomping through all of my notebooks again. They're getting expensive to replace.It's been pretty nourishing to get back to our roots, but a transformation is on its way. No — a metamorphosis is underway. If you're in the final stretch and you're in need of some final inspiration to chew through the third wave of prompts, have no fear, for we've chewed on these ideas pretty thoroughly. I hope they help your badge undergo a very shiny metamorphosis!
A settlement that has been rebuilt several times
It took me a while to set up the campgrounds because I needed to rearrange the cabin layout a few times. I might do it again.Some streets just can't catch a break, and things keep changing all the time.
We keep rebuilding because...
natural disasters strike
When the world around a settlement provides hostile conditions, man-made structures often buckle under the brunt of it all. Floods, quakes, and fires might bring ruin to a settlement over time, perhaps even repeatedly, but the folks around here choose to rebuild, rather than make their homes elsewhere. Thinking about why they might choose to live this way could be a great foundation for tackling this prompt!These natural disasters could be weather conditions, or they could be rampaging beasts, strange growths, and other curious natural events that encroach on the settlement's structures over time.
our lifestyle demands it
Some folks can't stay still for too long, and that can mean that their settlements are destined to be temporary in nature. Building up, tearing down, then rebuilding again in the right place and time, all to do it again some time in the near future. Alternatively, frontier settlements and outposts might be hastily built, requiring frequent maintenance and reconstruction for an extended stay. Does your world have settlements that travel? Ones that are purely seasonal? It can be interesting to consider what impermanent settlements can look like, and the different ways they can be interpreted.the political stage is unstable
Much like natural disasters, bloodthirst and conquest can likewise cause cities to crumble and be rebuilt. Settlements under attack, locations being sabotaged or dismantled by opposing agents, and more can force rebuilding efforts to pick up frequently, just to ensure the areas remain habitable. Consider settlements caught in the middle of great wars, the unfortunate casualties of battles they may not even be involved in. They continue to rebuild, because they simply must.We were quite lucky that the roof held for as long as it did, but eventually it did have to come down.
standards keep changing
Over time, new codes and standards for city planning are researched and developed, and that can affect the way entire districts are handled. Infrastructure might have to be shifted and rebuilt entirely to accommodate new forms of transportation, outdated or unsafe buildings may need to be demolished and new plans put into place, and obsolete structural tech can halt a project in its tracks entirely.We just built this house last year, what do you mean it's out of code?
An ever-changing location that requires its inhabitants to adapt
Every day at the campsite, you never know what to expect. Ghost stories? Wholesome tales of adventure? Eldritch horrors? TEETH??The more things change, the more they stay the same, they always say. Well, some more changes might be needed.
Things keep changing due to...
an ever-shifting climate
The seasons never quite look the same in these parts. At least, that's how it might feel as of late. Consider locations in your world where folks may have to routinely adjust to changes in climate and weather that they may not typically expect. Winters are colder some years than they are others, heat waves grow more common in the passing years, and flash floods no longer follow the usual patterns. Monsoon seasons are longer, avalanches are more frequent, and landslides just keep destroying things. These issues may have been routine or regular in the past, but something has them in disarray, and it's leaving your people fighting to stay on top of their preparations.a tumultuous sociopolitical climate
When regions and governments change hands, the effect can often be widespread. Consider locations where changes in governance has forced folks to adapt to new cultural norms and standards, new border lines, and new variations on the legal code. A growing tourism industry might influence numerous changes to the way certain cities operate as they attempt to lure and accommodate them. Your people may need to adapt to many different changes over time, especially if they're dealing with new governments with vastly different leadership and governing styles.I don't think I can ever get used to memorizing all of these prayers each day just to maintain citizenship.
new schools of thought
New influences can bring great changes to regions over time. Think of missionaries, diplomatic missions, cultural marches, and more that could impart a piece of a new culture onto the one which already resides in a location. Cultural shifts can place new religions in dominant positions in society, which can likewise shift public perspectives on different behaviors and practices, like social rituals and recreational substance usage.constant shifts in the landscape
Climate is one thing, but the ground beneath one's feet is another. Greater disasters can fundamentally change the region around a population, whether it be volcanic activity, long-term flooding, or world-shattering earthquakes. Gravitational cycles might be affected by certain celestial bodies, black holes may pose galactic threats, and a rogue leyline might cause the occasional plane shift — nothing folks can't handle, surely. Perhaps metaphysical forces of your world prompt changes to the world over time, like seasonal hazards and dungeons which bear threats that need to be routinely taken care of or else things get dicey real quick.Man, the internet just keeps on changing too — so many new sites, and platforms, and ADVERTISEMENTS!
A subculture that appeared due to social changes
There was a vote on which freezy-pops the campers wanted, but all it did was create two new factions.The public eye is ever darting from place to place, and it makes its preferences known!
This subculture formed because of...
a shared trauma
Tough times can make or break a population, but it often results in fragmentation of people over time. Where some folks will stick together through thick and thin, some folks will inevitably be pushed out into their own subcultures as they live in the aftermath of events ranging from warfare to acts of terror. There are those who fight back against tragedy, and those who fight solely to survive. Cultures of sympathizers vs rebels, doomsday-preppers vs the aloof — consider the clear separation between those who have been affected by the major events in your world, and how each side might push against the other.political missteps and wrongs
Sometimes the government makes choices that people simply can't get behind. This can spawn resistance movements, punk subcultures, and many more countercultures that exist purely to "stick it to the man," as they often say. A favorite example is the Flapper movement in the West through the 1920's — icons of the Roaring Twenties! Alternatively, groups can form in radical support of government activity, like political parties, nationalist subcultures, and more.We didn't think the leopards were going to eat OUR faces!
trouble in the melting pot
Magic can happen when cultures blend together, but it can also form pockets of fear or hatred. Consider the subcultures that may have formed in response to a growing diversity in their homeland. Are they a positive presence, perhaps a meld of two cultures coming together? Or, are they an oppositional force, pushing outsiders away and seeking to drive them out with hostility? If two faiths battle for dominance in a region, consider what subcultures might form around keeping each individual faith alive, or how people may come together in the name of a hybrid, unified faith.a need to get away together
Hobbies and interests can be oddly polarizing, and many folks find a need to escape from the rest of the world from time to time so they can enjoy them fully. Consider subcultures related to media and hobbies, like skater or rave culture, fandoms, hobby collectives, and more. Maybe the public perception of particular activities has shifted for better or for worse, and these subcultures are either growing rapidly, or are being tucked away and made more exclusive by the day. On the subject of getting away, certain subcultures might need to break free from their larger culture of origin to truly thrive, whether it be to seek new freedoms, develop their own cultural identity independently, or to begin fresh somewhere else.He was a skater boy, she said, "see you later, boy"
A transformation caused by a celestial body
Don't ask me about the howling in the woods. I do not hear it. You do not hear it.Long have celestial bodies been the true or believed cause of all manner of earthly effects.
This transformation is influenced by...
gleaming moonlight and rays of sun
From the scientific to the superstitious, the light of the cosmos can impact the world in many ways. It can be observed from the nourishment found in sunlight, to the blooms that open only in the dead of night when the light of the moon is at its peak, all the way to the burning of vampires in the light of dawn, and the bestial transformations which take place under the full moon. Many witches bless their reagents and rituals in moonlight, and celestial bodies have long been believed to contribute their energies to spiritual workOH NAUURR, CLEOURR!
regular movements and patterns
Some celestial bodies move in ways which are predictable and routine, such as the passage from day to night as the moon orbits the planet and as we follow our orbit around the sun. As planets, moons, and other bodies move in your world, consider what effects they may have on everyday life. Are your day-night cycles different from the Earth we know? What color is the sky at each time of day, and throughout the year? Do the tides react differently to your world's moon — or moons, plural? Consider also the celestial spectacles that reoccur on fixed routes and schedules, like certain comets, constellations, and more, and how these might affect the natural order of your world whenever they occur, and how long their effects last. Phases of the moon can impact lycanthropes and magical aptitudes in more fantastical settings, and features like the aurora borealis might have deeper implications and effects in other worlds.Only once every hundred years can a firebender experience this kind of power.
impact and collision
Celestial bodies sometimes can't help but become terrestrial bodies every now and then. Meteor impacts, fragments of floating rock that entered a planet's atmosphere, or strange organic material which may as well have come from another world — consider what might happen if something from outer space fell to your world's surface. These impacts can cause great destruction, shifting the landscape around the impact site, or might introduce new raw materials with their presence, such as metals, stones, and powders that revolutionize surrounding industry. They might also introduce organic material, which could bring new growth, introduce new environmental factors, or result in new diseases.a sudden change in orbit
Many celestial events are, as previously described, routine and predictable — what about the ones that aren't? Consider what might happen if your world suffered from a sudden shift in orbit, either itself or its moon(s), or a neighbor in its solar system. What if a comet that regularly passes every 50 years suddenly stops appearing? What if the common meteor showers watched by your world's inhabitants suddenly fall too close to home, and now presents as a rain of fireballs in what was once a pristine landscape?The Dead & the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer told us the story of what life gets to be like when the moon gets pushed closer to Earth!
A formation known for its adaptability
Gather 'round! You know the drill. Red team, left. Blue team, right. This is what you've trained for!As long as humans have had the capacity to form ideas, we have formed teams and parties to get things done.
These formations are assembled to...
protect or conquer
Military formations are what this template was originally designed for, and we can think of plenty of ideas for what this can look like in that context. Specialized combat formations, infantry, legionnaires, aircraft formations, and more can fit this prompt quite easily! Consider armies and other combat-oriented organizations in your world that have uniquely specialized formations that they employ in response to specific needs and threats. On a less militaristic scale, support units can fall under formations just as well! Medic teams, trauma response crews, search & rescue, and other specialized response teams each have unique ways of operating that can make a great article.The difference between a "formation" and an "organization" in the World Anvil templates is that an organization is a specific group, often named, with its own history, purpose, and activity. A formation is the structure they fall into and operate within. A world could have hundreds of "bomb squads" but only one Nitro Fusecutters Guild (best bomb squad in the land I just made up!).
compete and win
Who loves formations more than sports teams? From the very concept of a team, to the individual formations they can take once they finally hit the field, there are so many formations one can cook up when the competition starts to heat up! Consider the offense vs. the defense, the strategies each side might use to claw their way to victory in a heated match! A lot of professional endeavors take up formations, whether they be dancers, musical groups, theatre troupes, and more! Even the thrill-seekers of the world can team up in formations for skydiving, caving, diving, and chasing storms.Marching band, anyone?
explore and connect
We form groups with the aim to get to know our world better all the time! Research groups, expedition parties, academic clubs, and student councils — consider the types of formations which pop up throughout your world that serve the purpose of exploring and learning! These formations help connect people as well, many having a social aspect to them. Protest formations, including political groups and rallies also connect people under shared banners, and they pop up in many different places in different ways. Consider what might be a formation built to protest AND explore, like pirate crews!expand and alter the natural world
Formations are typically made up of people, at least in the context of the template this prompt was designed for, but what about natural formations? Formations of the land and the world around us? River banks and water formations adapt and change with the flow of water, crystalline formations adapt and grow based on the minerals and materials present, and grand canyons and other landscape formations develop as the world erodes them into the shape they need to take. Magical formations, like the makeup of spells and spellcasting practices may also be deeply adaptable, depending on your world's magic system. Explore it to your heart's content!Listen, if it works for you, it just works! Don't let a template bully you into a corner if you don't want to be put in one!
A technology invented to prevent or delay a transformation
This fan is the only thing standing between me, and becoming a horrible sweaty slime monster.Humans don't always like change very much. Makes sense we'd build ways to stop it.
This technology was crafted to...
preserve health and wellness
Keeping death at bay is humanity's favorite passtime! Consider the ways technology has evolved in your world with the aim of tackling health issues and concerns. Anti-aging products come and go through the years as new research boots out old solutions, whether they were ineffective or straight-up worse for you than aging itself could ever be. Medicines get upgrades through new research developments, where newer versions might bear fewer side effects or be stronger, and new antibiotics need to be developed as bacteria get more resistant over time. Monitoring and testing technology could make diagnosis of certain life-changing conditions far less of a headache, and supplements of all kinds can keep malnutrition at bay as diets shift and change through fad or necessity.I was pretty sad that I had to throw my whole shelf of face creams in the trash, but I guess it's for the best.
stave off decay
Refrigeration was quite the invention, I would say! Consider the ways folks in your world have revolutionized things as simple as food storage, and the storage of other materials prone to decay! Preserving foods with methods like drying, salting, fermenting, and pickling all serve to keep foods edible long past their typical shelf life. Building materials need care as well, and so do hides, textiles, and everything else utilized in the crafts. The preservation of books and documents is essential as well, because what good is an ancient document if it crumbles to dust when you try to read it? Routine maintenance keeps things from breaking down and malfunctioning, as well!halt growth or development
Growth isn't always a good thing! Pesticides and herbicides are technologies developed to keep unwanted growth at bay, as much more efficient means than going out and grabbing the invasive species with your own two hands. For a modern example, hormone blockers might be used to prevent development of secondary sexual characteristics in younger individuals who hope to transition to another sex in the future — consider what other uses something like this could have in your world.It's a little bit weird that this Haunter didn't evolve during that trade...
preserve the status quo
Some tech is created to preserve the systems and lifestyles that are set in place. Propaganda can go a long way in swaying the minds of people contemplating a jump in any particular direction, and some argue that religions can be a vessel for this same style of messaging. Written language was crafted as a way to add permanence to oral history and communications, and computers came along with their storage capabilities fighting data and information loss with their endless archives. Consider some of the darker ways societies may develop technologies to prevent unwanted change, like thought-control tech ranging from chips to truth serums, or surveillance devices and more.A ritual that's changed meaning throughout the years
Camping in the woods wasn't always this feral. I used to be a normal kid who came out here and grabbed bugs.Just like how time can heal many wounds, it can also change a number of things around. Scar tissue, and all that.
This ritual used to be...
a religious holiday
From pagan holiday to beloved gift-giving season — this story just keeps repeating throughout history! Consider the rituals and traditions that originally started as a time of significance for a particular belief system or culture in your world, and how they might have been adapted by new populations or new generations who hold onto them.I put on the costume so the spirits don't think I'm human and take me away tonight!
a sacred or rare honor
Ceremonies of all kinds may have seen their origins in a tradition that is held tightly and seldom shared, or may have been so impactful that most folks took heavy consideration before taking the leap themselves. Courtship rituals and marriage ceremonies may have been deeply serious commitments, especially in places where relationships and unions are viewed through a deeply religious lens. Consider the traditions that have had their gravity lightened by shifts in the public perception and culture around them, or the ones that have only grown more serious over time.genuine and passionate
Rituals and traditions can start out as expressions of passion, performed by people who have their hearts fully invested in what they're doing, but that can change as traditions get drawn out and forced to remain relevant. Those who succeed the original founders carry on traditions out of obligation instead of passion, and the whole endeavor loses its shine. Performances that once bled passion in every act might now feel less passionate and more performative, for the sake of performance, as musicians feel themselves growing trapped in their commercialized lifestyles — the stage just isn't what it used to be. Personal habits and routines can be rituals that begin with fervor and slowly trickle down to obligations as well, like new year's resolutions that make it a few weeks into the year before losing steam, or a fun new morning routine that starts taking more effort than it's worth once the novelty dies down.really meaningful
We've all seen it, to some degree, either in ourselves or those near us: Some rituals and celebrations lose their sparkle over time. Folks fall out of love with their birthdays, anniversaries sour in the wake of one party's hurtful actions, and prayer hits a little different when one's faith has been shaken. Consider the every-day rituals that might get disrupted by a personal event that casts a dark cloud over them — or, ones that had the dark cloud lifted by something positive!Just another day on the calendar. I don't see what all the hype is about.
A species that undergoes a metamorphosis
The process was pretty gnarly to watch, as I made my transformation. Well, I guess all that really happened was I rolled out of bed a lot weirder one day...Many species feature metamorphosis as part of their life cycles! But, what else can it mean?
This metamorphosis is...
part of the typical life cycle
Caterpillars to butterflies, tadpoles to frogs, weird goopy buggy worms to swamp flies, there's plenty out there you can take inspiration from if you're looking to craft a species with metamorphosis as a primary feature in its typical life cycle!Float like a butterfly, st— ooooh.
triggered by environmental factors
Maybe your species don't typically undergo a metamorphosis, but one can be drawn out by the conditions they find themselves in. The simplest example I can pull from the aether is of animals in the wild shifting their sex to fill a niche, when either males or females are in short supply. Something prompts these creatures to make a full, physical change to their anatomy — consider which species in your world might see similar changes when they're exposed to things ranging from simple biological imperatives, like the example above, or magical and metaphysical forces that craft unnatural metamorphosis in species which otherwise would not transform.I leveled up my eevee next to this mossy rock and now it's a leafeon!
forced by external agents or powers
People might undergo a metamorphosis of sorts should they find themselves bitten by a vampire, or even a zombie — lycanthropes, as well! Whether these transformations are permanent or temporary, the changes are undeniable. Lots of fun examples in the media exist in the form of hivemind transformations and controlled evolutions like we see among the Tyranid and their evolution tree, the brutal Phyrexians in Magic: the Gathering, and the classic ceremorphosis brought to popular awareness by Baldur's Gate III.The Eldrazi do some incredibly cursed and incomphrehensibly awful stuff to whatever they touch.
conceptual more than it is physical
When this species metamorphoses, perhaps the shift isn't particularly transformative in a physical way, but rather in what role the species now plays in its environment. Though we loathe to think of this subject too long, consider parasites and other nasty beasts that might take the place of another creature's core functions as part of its life cycle. These parasites may take the place of a fish tongue, or might eat away at the brain until it can take over its cavity and act as the new nervous system. The creatures don't change very much themselves, they simply find a new way to live.An animal celebrity
There's a chipmunk roaming around here. We named him Nathan, like a little hot dog. Every camper cheers when we see him.There's nothing the internet loves more than a silly animal to follow.
This creature is famous for...
their heroic deeds
Animals are capable of being smart, compassionate creatures, and sometimes that means they get special jobs to do! Sometimes, they do it so well that they become local heroes. Search and rescue dogs work tirelessly to seek out survivors in horrific events, and service animals give every moment of their lives to making sure their owners and families stay safe. When they do a particularly stellar job, they might get special honors, news features, and certainly some extra treats. There may be animals who acted in heroic ways, without it being expected of them, like wild animals who help stranded folks survive, or aquatic creatures rescuing those who would have otherwise drowned without their assistance.What's that, Lassie? Little Timmy fell down the well?
being a star
Cute animals have been a viral sensation since the internet ever began internetting! Even if your world doesn't have a functional "internet," it's still very possible that other forms of media have skyrocketed certain animals to stardom, whether it's through film productions, sitcoms, theater productions, or even books and comics. Certain businesses might have animal mascots as well, real or human-in-costume. Either way, folks get very excited to see them! These animals could also simply be the pets of big stars in your world! Who could forget the tiny purse-dogs of Paris Hilton, for example?"Yo quiero Taco Bell!"
their impact on history
One word: Harambe. Some animals have such a crucial role in shifting the world's timelines for the better or for the worse, and we see it in the grand historical events that center specific notable animals. These animals might also be the faces of movements, ambassador animals in conservation programs, mascots of national holidays, or contributed actively to their own study, like Koko the gorilla! (It always comes back around to gorillas, doesn't it?) We could expand further on history to include notable animals from myth and legend! This includes best boys Fenrir and2016. We all know it as the year the timeline began to unravel.
being a public nuisance
Some animals just love a little spotlight, no matter the cost. We know these creatures well: they make themselves known in human spaces, in cities and towns beyond their natural habitats, and they do it so often that the locals know them by name. These are the animals that have to be constantly removed from stores they keep wandering into, animals who folks routinely call into work for because they're blocking cars in driveways, and animals who require attention from every individual who passes by or they become a raucous problem.Neil the Seal is the blueprint for how to truly live a life.
A job many people aspire to but few achieve
Thousands of applicants, only one chosen to take the plunge. That's not for me. I yearn for the bog.That's the thing with stuff that everyone wants — not everyone can have it, in the end.
Folks aspire to this job because...
it's exceptionally lucrative
There's MONEY to be made here! Everyone is rushing for the chance at the millionaire lifestyle. Doctors, lawyers, specialized engineers, and professional paper-pushers. Shady sales guy? Whatever the role is, you know you won't be left wanting a day in your life if you nail the role. Consider even politics — a career path that should serve the people, while often serving mostly to line pockets with money. It's all about how many morals you're willing to compromise to keep the paychecks and bribes coming in! Many jobs like this require an immense quantity of schooling and investment, and most folks who yearn for these roles simply don't have the initial capital to put forward. Not everyone is prepared to take a millennia worth of debt just for a shot at the chance to pay it all back one day.Now that I've completed my residency, I can start putting a dent in these loans!
it comes with fame and prestige
Many folks dream of Hollywood, or the big leagues, or even internet stardom (words I type while streaming from Twitch at this very moment). The allure of fame and recognition is enough to get many folks riled up and dreaming big. Famous streamers, big-time influencers, Olympians, and movie stars — millions of people compete to rise to the top in these industries every day! Not everyone can achieve fame, however, even if they do manage to find success in the industry! It's a game of luck and connections, but some do make it to the top, when they play their cards right!it aligns with their passions
It's not always about the money. Sometimes, what's truly important is the impact your work has on the world around you. Consider your professions in teaching, the arts, writing, and more. The dreams of owning a small book shop with a coffee counter are overpowering, but so is the potential for failure, when money finds itself scarce. Adventurers certainly operate within the realm of passion, if they're in it for the love of the game, but think of all the equipment they need to buy! The trouble with passion-based work is that it often pays poorly. It's a privilege to build a career in the thing you love, and the struggle to survive on a passion salary keeps many folks out of these particular jobs. They might achieve their dream role, but the challenge becomes keeping it and still thriving.It doesn't pay well, sure, but the work is life-changing. I couldn't trade it for any amount of money.
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