#StarboundPrompts22

[dru-plays-starbound]

Arctic Research Vessel Wavebird

I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when, while peacefully fishing in these icy, arctic waters, my poor little green boat was jostled by the bow-wave of this monster.

The researchers apologised as they welcomed me on board with a steaming cup of coffee - they hadn't been expecting to see anyone for days, let alone a small lonely boat like mine.

As they (a mix of humans and floran) gave me a tour, they explained they were on a special expedition from a wooded planet in the same system. They were collecting a whole range of samples to take back home for analysis - water, mineral, botanical. I asked if they had any special reason, but they told me, no, they were just curious.

They were delighted when I shared samples of the fish I'd caught and, as we said farewell, they promised to send me a copy of the full report of their analysis.

I look forward to hearing from them again and being able to add their report to the growing library in the Galactic Protectorate.

Built for the 2022 Summer prompt "Wavebird" & 2023 November monthly prompt "A Voyage".

Mods used: Immersive Props, Prop Pack, More Outpost Objects, Elithian Races, nuggubs' Mega Mod, Maple32, WW Furnishing, Letheia Expanded

[bubblewonderabyss]

Done for @dru-plays-starbound ‘s Summer of Starbound event. Prompt: Pineapple

[dru-plays-starbound]

There's nothing quite like hanging out on the beach with your buddies. Getting drunk on strange cocktails, eating your weight in barbequed food. Swimming and playing until all you can do is laze on the sand around the campfire and watch the sun go down.

Lex belongs to @star-fi, Marion belongs to @marionandinteriordesign, Phzi belongs to @awful-roffle. Mio, Caseswing, Oganesson & Yasahama are mine.

Built for the 2022 Summer prompt "Party", and the 2023 Spring & Summer prompts "Flowery clothes" & "Squirt Gun".

Mods used: Immersive Props, Foodie's Furniture, WW Furnishing, City Co. Street Props, NpcSpawner+

[dru-plays-starbound]

The Diner

While out in the woods, it starts to rain. Through the trees, you see neon flickering. Desperate to get out of the downpour, and with the promise of a cup of coffee, you run towards the light.

The bell jingles, off-key, into the silence. You approach the counter to see the menu board has been scratched through. How strange, you think, they only seem to sell Spooky Pie...

Built for the Autumn '22 prompt, "Spooky pie". Inspired by this diner post, this x-files post, and a story I now ofc can't find.

Mods used: Foodie's Furniture, General Store, WW Furnishing.

[dru-plays-starbound]

The Quagmutt

"Its unhygienic lifestyle leaves much to be desired."

Made for the Autumn '22 prompt, "Quagmutt". Since the Capticoat moodboard went down so well, I figured I'd be lazy make one for the Quagmutt too.

Photo credits:

Leaf swamp by @/melodytemple from unsplash.com

Iguana by @/pradipdalai02 from unsplash.com

Frog by @/jacc from unsplash.com

Tree swamp by @/cumaesibyl from unsplash.com

[dru-plays-starbound]

Probably an unnecessary ask but do you care if people do older prompts as well? Some of the older ones look neat.

Hi Mous,

Not at all - crack on with whichever you fancy!

When I started doing the seasonal prompts, I did have in mind that they'd make a fun mini-event for each quarter, because that was something I'd seen work in other fandoms. But now I'm a bit more wise to how smol and time-poor we are as a community I know that won't work.

So yeah, have at, go do whichever past prompts you fancy. As always, I'm looking forward to anything created 😁️

[dru-plays-starbound]

Aurorabee

"Here, deeku. What do you think of this one?"

Mio tried her best not to grimace as Masayu pulled another kimono from the rack, and held it out, closing her lower two eyes as if to get a better look at Mio. "Mother," Mio said, attempting firmness. "This is completely unnecessary. I'll be graduating in my uniform." "As well you should, deeku," Masayu said, examining another outfit. "But you'll want to change for the party afterwards. It does not sit well to disrespect one's uniform in such a manner."

Mio took a breath, allowing the conditioned air to pass slowly through her gills. They'd been browsing for hours and the bright lights of the clothier's shop were giving her a headache. It didn't help Masayu was correct – as usual. "Yes, Mother." "See, that wasn't such a difficult concept. How about this one?" "No, Mother. Cerise does not do me any favours."

"Oh?" Masayu stopped rummaging in the racks of clothing and looked directly at her daughter for what felt like the first time since they'd started the day with tea and sweet reefpod cakes. Mio tightened her spine. "Where did you hear that?" "I have a... friend. Her name is Whip. She's studying to become a tailor. She asked me to model for her dissertation. It was she who told me so." "A 'friend'?" Masayu raised an eyebrow ridge. Mio swallowed. "Yes, Mother," she said stiffly. "I do have them, you know." Masayu dipped her head. "I didn't mean it as a point of contention, deeku."

Mio closed her center eye. "I apologise, Mother. There've been rumours... horror stories... about Graduation day. The Seniors say that sometimes they pick a graduate to demonstrate the Matter Manipulator." Mio flared her gills. "It's not that I don't know how-" "Ah, my beautiful blossom." Masayu slid back the offending shirt and stepped around the rack. She placed a hand on Mio's cheek, offering a gentle smile. "You are still so young. One's nerves are not insurmountable. Serenity will come in time, with experience." Mio leaned into her mother's touch, all three eyes closing briefly. 

Masayu let her hand drop away. "Well now," she said, turning back to the racks of clothing, "if it's not to be cerise, then what would you choose?" Mio looked around the holo-quins, elegantly draped with silks and nanofibers. She pointed to a snow-white kimono, embroidered with azure piping and small blue and green winged insects. "May I try that one on?"

Written for the Winter '22 Prompt, "Aurorabee"

[dru-plays-starbound]

The Capricoat

Made for the Winter '22 Starbound Prompt "Capricoat"

Photo credits (all from Unsplash.com):

Mountain: @/markusspiske

Ibex goat: @/robingaillotdrevon

Changthangi(?) goat: @/biancablah

Tree: @/christinem

[dru-plays-starbound]

The Researcher

Night comes early in these high climes, but you don't mind. When the wind isn't howling, it's a fine excuse to finish work early, climb to the observation dome and watch the spectacular sunset.

It gets nippy up here as the wane sunlight fades, but you've a teacup in your hand and fragrant wattage pottage bubbling on the stove below. The tip-tap of Hollow and Snore playing and the soft patter of snow on the window eases your mind. The day's work was satisfying - part of your theorem proven correct - and as night falls, you feel safe and content.

Built for the Winter 2022 prompt, "Wattage Pottage".

Mods used: Racial Kitchen Counters, nuggubs' Mega Mod: Refixelizer, More Teleportz, More Outpost Objects, Foodie's Furniture, Prop Pack, WW Furnishing.

[dru-plays-starbound]

Scorched Air

You ever have one of those moods where you want to build *something*, you're just not sure what? ...Hmmm. Yeah...

I'm not sure what this is trying to be. Maybe an air purification plant? Simply a remnant of what came before, that these two have been dutifully maintaining? Answers on a postcard... 😆

Built for the Winter 2022 prompt "Steamspring"

Mods used: Nostalgic Greenery, Immersive Props, General Store by Wheatley, WW Furnishing, nuggubs' Mega Mod: Refixalizer, More Teleportz, Unwrecked. One of my mods added human villages and I don't know which one, but the Mona Lisa is from that 😅

[dru-plays-starbound]

Snow man hylotl

I forgot I made this for the 2022 Winter prompt "Snowman/ Ball". Just a small, silly build :)

[dru-plays-starbound]

Starbound Winter Prompt List 2022

Steamspring

Snow (ball/ Man)

Festival

Capricoat

Wattage Potage

Igloo

Fireplace

Diodia

Cosy outerwear

Aurorabee (a bug)

This isn't an event as such, as there's no time limit, just a list of Winter-themed prompts you can use to build, create, draw, or write something Starbound-related as you fancy.

If you do make something and post it, you can use the tags #sbw22 and #starboundprompts22 to show it off - or tag me directly so I can rb your lovely creations.

Happy Starbounding 🌠

[dru-plays-starbound]

Starbound Autumn Prompt List 2022

Agaran

Hot drink

Harvest festival

Boneboo

Falling leaves

Quagmutt

Candle

Fading light

(Giant) Mushroom

Spooky pie

This isn't an event as such, as there's no time limit, just a list of Autumn/Fall-themed prompts you can use to build, draw, write, or create something Starbound-related as you fancy.

If you make something and post it, you can use the tag #sba22 or #StarboundPrompts22.

Or feel free to tag me directly because I love seeing what y'all come up with.

Happy Starbounding 🌠

Edit 02 Sep 2022: Updated post and image alt text. "Agran" should be "Agaran". Edit 05 Sep 2022: Updated image, replaced "Agran" with "Agaran". Apologies for the typo.

[dru-plays-starbound]

The 'Shroom Witch

CW: Implied drug taking Words: 785

"They tell me you're the only one who might help," I say as the door is opened. I've slogged through mud and jumped tussocks, braved rotting jetties, to see this person. The agaran witch stares at me impassively as I huddle on the doorstep, coat pulled against the driving rain. I feel like I've entered a test of wills. Stubbornly, I stand, ignoring the drop of murky swamp rain trailing down my face. It plops off my chin, splatting on the jetty. The witch grunts and steps back to let me in.

I stand, soaking the creaking planks of the vestibule, and a hand is waved at the table. Two steaming cups already sit on the blackened surface. "Nab, nab!" the witch says. I take that to mean I should sit. The chair settles with an alarming noise as I ease my weight onto it. The witch sits opposite and lifts their cup but doesn't yet drink. "Hoom, squishfish," they say. I take up my cup. The liquor in it is a peculiar shade of purple, like coral too far from the surface. The witch gestures I should drink. I raise it to my lips and sniff; it smells of over-ripe berries and old blood. Sensing my reluctance, the witch reaches across and tilts my hand so I'm forced to drink or spill the liquid over myself. Bitter warmth flushes through me. Fermented boneboo must be an acquired taste…

"Nab! Mesti hab carpa, squishfish," the witch says and stands. I follow through a close corridor, separated by two damp curtains, and into a darkened room at the back of the mycelium house. "Nab, nab!" The witch sits at a table, the dark wood unfinished and covered with a burgundy cloth. On its surface is a small metal dish, tarnished and dark. The witch watches me until I take the other seat. "Hoom, hoom. Halhoom!" A light springs forth in the darkness. Sickly green, like a ball of marsh gas, it spreads along the mycelium walls. The witch's mushroom cap turns a toxic yellow, and their face is a shadowed, spectral mask. Unease stirs in my gut. The walls seem to waver and spin. "Hoom! Toi lmose, squishfish," the witch says, drawing my attention to the green ball of light floating about its tarnished dish. "Toi lmose." Words tumble out of me at the witch's command. "I need insight. I am to fight a beast which destroyed a planet. A planet which contained my friends, my purpose of being. This being is ancient and terrible and has been locked away for millennia. A more powerful being than me put it there. If they couldn't destroy it-" My voice wavers and fails. "Hab." The witch nods. A dirty white glove pats my hand. "Lli yuca, squishfish. Hab?" The witch tilts their head back, hands placed around the bobbing light. "Halb! Halb! Vay toloclbo, rtori! Toi seemo, seemo!" A tremor runs through the house, the mycelium shivering as if a great wind has struck it. "Lmose, vay toloclbo. Rtori squishfish nab!" The witch's head snaps back. They stare at me, eyes burning with sickly green light. Their mouth moves. A voice, like a crashing wave, speaks. "Chop onrsi! Smashroom onrsi! Nab oaken smashroom cantaloupe!" I can hardly breathe. The presence of this being has chased the air from the room. I feel crushed beneath the weight of a million gallons of ocean. "Squishfish cantara?" The air comes rushing back, purest salt-breeze. I nod – I do understand. I am filled with clarity of vision; with vim, and purpose. "Halhoom!"

The witch crumples. Their hands fall away, and the bobbing light falls back into the tarnished dish and vanishes. I rush to their side. "Auert," they croak. I don't know the word, but yet understanding still lingers. I dash back through the curtain and up to the next level. The mycelium is soft and giving underfoot as I move to the apothecary table and snatch up a bottle.

Back downstairs, the witch takes a grateful glug. When they appear cognizant again, I take their hand. "Thank you for this gift. I understand now how to defeat the Ruin. How can I repay you?" The witch laughs. "Halb! Icub nheei. Smashroom onrsi nab cantaloupe." The witch pats my hand. With effort, they stand and shoo me towards another door at the back of the room.

Outside the rain has stopped and the sun is rising. Mist seeps from every cranny. I'm ushered out of the house. "Thank you again." The witch gives a satisfied nod. "Vay toloclbo mesti, squishfish." With the witch's blessing ringing in my ears, I teleport back to my ship, finally prepared to end the Ruin forever.

Build & written for the SB Autumn Prompts: Agaran, Giant Mushroom, and Boneboo.

Mods used: Prop Pack, Casa Obscura Furniture, WW Furnishing, Immersive Props, Galactic Dungeons, Foodie's Furniture.

[dru-plays-starbound]

The Bonfire

The light was fading fast as I searched for a suitable place to pitch my tent. Though I was in the warmer parts of this planet, it didn't stop the snow from falling; nor the temperature from dropping rapidly.

Wearily, I climbed another rise. As I paused at the top to catch my breath, I noted a peculiar sight. Between the trees, it seemed I could see a golden wall. My verve revied by curiosity, I hurried on through the trees.

There, in a hollow in the ground, I found a mighty bonfire. The heat was so tremendous that I felt as if the very sun was on my face. It was total dark now, though you'd never realise it with the glow from the licking flames. I pitched my tent and used some errant embers to reheat a can of Hot Hot Pot. The meal was boiling in no time, and I was soon warmed outside and in.

While I sat, gazing into the undulating blaze, I noted a new type of light. Twisting hues of yellow and green danced upon my cutlery. I turned my back on the fire and lifted my sight upwards. An Aurora, shimmying and shining across the crystal-black sky, like a wurm made of diaphanous yellow and green.

I relaxed back on the log, eyes still heavenward. I didn't know who had set the bonfire ablaze, but watching the spectacle above I sent out silent thanks from a weary traveller for allowing me this easy rest in spectacular company.

Built for the Starbound Winter prompt, "Fireplace". Just a small one to get me started with this list.

Mods used: Nostalgic Greenery

[dru-plays-starbound]

Starbound Summer Prompt List 2022

Pineapple

Resort

Kluex

Party

Boat

Ocean Surprise

Diving

Palm fronds

Wavebird (a bug)

Pink Sunbeam (a fish)

Welcome to Summer, Starbounders!*

For this list, I thought we'd try something different and see how it works out.

The Starbound Summer Prompt Event runs from 1 June to 31 August. You have 3 months to build, draw, write or otherwise create something Starbound-related based on the list above.

If you do make something from the list and post it, you can use the tags #sbsu22 or #StarboundPrompts22 to share it with everyone (or tag me directly, because I love seeing and RBing everyone's creations).

Happy Starbounding 🌠