Shifter/The Juniper Cross Community
- ST'd by Meridian, Shadowheart, Ori
Note: This plot is intended for the shifter sphere. If you have a Gaian character outside of the shifter sphere and would like to contribute, please reach out to Ori, preferably through messages or discord to find out how you can contribute. This Plot is a Key Plot in the City of H(ope)-Town Plot (page coming soon).
Summary
The Juniper Cross Community School was Founded in the 1920's, originally built by Black educators and community leaders determined to create a safe and empowering place for learning amidst segregation. Named after the resilient juniper tree, the school became more than an academic institution—it was a hub for activism, church meetings, and civil rights gatherings. Over the years, it weathered systemic neglect, while remaining a sanctuary diverse and underserved students to gain an education, befor ultimately closing in the late 1980s, it was partially shuttered, with many wings boarded up. However, the heart of the school remained, figuratively, alive through a host of community programs, such as providing free tutoring, meals on wheels to seniors, free breakfast and after school programs.
But there is a power here, fed through the Juniper Cross community that surrounds the school. The community that built the school with their own hands. The community that filled the school with educators. The community that nurtured their children's education and dreamms in that school.
The Juniper Community has fought a great many battles against much larger enemies, the loss of the school is a mighty blow, but don't count them out yet. For they have many allies both seen and unseen.
- ST NOTE: Juniper Cross Community is a fictional community we have created for our game, but they represent underserved communities across the world that deal with the same very real issues. As such I want to make sure we are respectful of the material we will be using to tell this story of community and resilience. The rules are simple: We do not cause significant harm to the mortals of this community without an ST on board with the idea.
Plot Details So Far
- 1/19/1995 - Ryoko reports on the potential of Juniper Cross as a possible site for a City Caern, highlighting its defensibility, spiritual strength in the Umbra, and the presence of Kinfolk in the Third Ward. Archimedes adds that Juniper Cross could serve as a good staging ground and suggesting the possibility of multiple strategic strongholds. Father Abe supports the idea, highlighting the Ratkin's resourcefulness and their ability to use the school as a base for hiding and sustaining themselves. Lunafreya concludes the discussion by officially designating Juniper Cross as the first foothold in the city, setting guidelines for its use as a duty rather than a permanent home and outlining plans for its protection and development.
IC Rumors
- ...
Featured NPCs
- The Juniper Tree (Totem) - A guardian spirit of endurance and wisdom, offering sanctuary and renewal to those under its boughs.
- The People (Totem) -A totem of community and resilience, embodying the collective strength and unity of its followers.
- Ms. Hattie (Bagheera Kinfolk) - A sharp-witted and enigmatic elder and defacto Matriach of the Juniper Cross Community. A member of two communities fighting a war where the odds are ever against them, she's learned a thing or two about tactics. Rumors are her jaguar headed cane is a fetish.
- Clara (Ratkin kinfolk) - A resourceful and shy girl, with a knack for uncovering hidden truths, and figuring out what people need most. (But hilaaarious if she warms up to you, a riot! She is the mastermind behind the Juniper Cross Community Theater Camp that happens once a year.)
Community Relationships
100% | ....................... |
80% | ......................... |
60% | ........................ |
40% | .......................... |
20% | ............................................................... |
Action | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | C | K | R | |
Community Tasks | - | - | - | 8 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Allies | - | - | - | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contacts | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kinfolk | - | - | - | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mentor | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Retainer | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Misc. | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Action | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | - | - | - | 14 | 12 | 11 |
Notes:
- Investing in the Juniper community happens at a spiritual and physical level and will impact Caern/community mechanics. (mechanics in process)
- Community Tasks are things the community has specifically asked for. These will have higher rewards. (mechanic in process)
- If for any reason there are no community tasks available, you may substitute donations of time in 10hr increments (We love short stories with the tickets)
- Because of the nature of the community, and it's relationship with The People, money is not especially good at investing spiritually, though it still has all of it's mundane applications and powers. Resources work in a 2:1 ratio when invested directly.
- Investments in the community that don't fit nicely in other buckets will go into the Misc group and be weighed case by case.
- All other investments are a 1:1 ratio
- Investing backgrounds takes them out of play for the month.
- SPECIAL NOTE: The community and spirits are watching, undermining other characters will add negatives to our relationships with this community.
Juniper Cross March Investment Categories

Time to start looking at Juniper Cross's March Investments! You guys blew me away last month, and I hope you enjoyed the March Newsletter.
We are looking at getting a programmed 'Community Task' Board for Juniper missions, but until that's up I thought we'd try it this way for March.
I've identified some main areas you guys have been investing in, and some missions in those areas along with people who might be interested in your efforts due to their own in the same areas.
How do group tickets differ from individual tickets? WELL with individual tickets you cap at 5pts of investments in any combination total, and can only have one ticket total.
- You may participate in 2 group tickets.
- You are still limited to 5 points of backgrounds between both tickets.
- BUT your presence adds a +1 to each ticket.
- Some Characters will be identified as 'High Contributers', these represent people with skills uniquely suited to the tasks.
- High Priority Contributers add +2 instead of the usual +1.
This means 5 individual tickets max at 25 points invested. Where those five same people contributing to a single group ticket would be 30 points. Contributing to 2 group tickets would be 35 points. And that is without High Priority Contributors, who can and a handful of more points.
Yes I am incentivizing group activity for all the obvious IC and OOC reasons. Did I mention I start the last semester of My Master's degree on 4/1?
Feel free to connect with each other, and see about your March efforts. If you already have an individual ticket in, but want to shift gears you are welcome to close it out and work with others in group efforts.
Infrastructure & Maintenance
Description | Repairs, security systems, structural reinforcements, energy upgrades |
---|---|
People Previously Involved | Archimedes, Ryen |
High Priority Contributors | None listed yet |
Scenes Counting for 10 Hours | None listed yet |
Skills/Traits Helpful | High Physicals, Crafts, Engineering, Kinfolk support |
Current/Future Initiatives |
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Past Initiatives |
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Gardening, Food Security and Sustainability
Description | Community gardening, food programs, sustainability projects |
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People Previously Involved | Dusk, Meridian, Lila, Kira, Tori |
High Priority Contributors | Tori, Tiffany |
Scenes Counting for 10 Hours | Juniper Garden Meeting (Meridian, Dusk, Kira, Lila, Tori) |
Skills/Traits Helpful | High Physicals, Survival, Herbalism, Crafts, Animal Ken (everyone's farm needs chickens, right?), Kinfolk horde! |
Current/Future Initiatives |
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Past Initiatives |
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Community Support and Outreach
Description | Social services, clinics, housing, mentorships, legal aid |
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People Previously Involved | Archimedes, Buddy, Benoit, Lila, Ryen, Tori, Dade |
High Priority Contributors | Lila, Samson, Njal, Kira |
Scenes Counting for 10 Hours | Pirating with Pals (Bloodfin, Rue, Lucien, Ryen) |
Skills/Traits Helpful | Empathy, Medicine, Leadership, Resources, Kinfolk networks |
Current/Future Initiatives |
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Past Initiatives |
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History & Cultural Preservation
Description | Oral history, cultural revival, arts, newsletter project, theater |
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People Previously Involved | Lucien, Dusk, Hattie, (Future: Journalism Project) |
High Priority Contributors | Lucien, Redacted, Juniper Residents |
Scenes Counting for 10 Hours | TBD |
Skills/Traits Helpful | Academics, Expression, Crafts, Rituals, Storytelling, Kinfolk assistance |
Current/Future Initiatives |
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Past Initiatives |
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Those Currently Involved
Past Scenes / RP Logs
How to Get Involved!
How to Utilize this Plot Page
- I know things I want everyone to know. How do I get that out there?: Add an entry below, under IC Rumors. Feel free to specify a context under which you did or would tell people. You don't have to post anything you don't want to, but this an easy way to consolidate and disperse IC information that should be publicly known.
- I was just in a plot scene! Now what?' If you have a follow-up, and it seems appropriate, submit a ticket! Even if you don't, it would be great if you could add to the Plot Details and Summary sections above to help keep everyone on the same page with what's being shared IC.
- How do I connect with others related to this plot: Please review if the plot is open, and how to get involved. If you are already involved, please reference the list of other characters involved in the plot.
- Don't assume everyone knows what you know, even if it was in a public scene. If you have plot detail that isn't listed below, add it.
- This is the documentation of your IC information sharing. Take ownership of it. Include important information that took place in scenes, even if there is a log.
- Do I have to share what I know? Of course not. You're free to operate at any level of shady and secretive that you like, but generally the most people have fun when information-sharing is collaborative, and plot resolution tends to progress a little more quickly. The choice, of course, is yours.