Archipelego 2094 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Boggarts Troublesome Houseguests ✯ The Boggart The Boggart is a strange creature, a spectral being with no discernable origin. They can be considered pseudo-phantoms, yet are creatures that have suffered no death. They originated in their current state, as a result of stagnant lifeforce and collected remnants of souls throughout the realm. The Boggarts are born from the inevitable soul refuse of the realm, reforming and creating a spectral creature with no discernable mortal past. This results in strange and alien behavior, without any of the familiar life-mimicking behavior of traditional phantoms. In many ways, they more resemble animals in their behavior, with a strong fight or flight instinct and a tendency towards spaces that are largely unoccupied. A Boggart is an invisible and barely perceptible presence in the wild, flitting between trees with the wind and imperceptible to even those who can witness invisible spectral creatures. The Boggart is a soul without a body or other method to keep its structure, so it floats and wanders through the mortal realm. During this time, the Boggart is searching for a location or structure to settle. ✯ Hauntings Boggarts are nothing without a location to haunt. The location they eventually settle into becomes the structure for their soul, their ‘body’ in a certain sense. Upon settling into a location, the power and visibility of a Boggart increases significantly. It allows them order and control over their movements and actions, which can sometimes bring the creatures into conflict with the descendants of the realm. Boggarts prefer to haunt empty or abandoned spaces, and you'll never find two Boggarts inhabiting the same structure, no matter the size. The life and sounds of descendant life disturbs them greatly, so you won’t find a Boggart inhabiting any tavern or other building full of bustling life. This is not to say however, that Boggarts avoid inhabited spaces altogether. Quieter locations, such as libraries, offices, and even some homes can be excellent locations for a Boggart. This can include places such as caves, but is usually some abandoned or scarcely populated Descendant structure. This is where certain urban reputations for Boggarts come from, labelling them as pests or threats to a home. This can be true enough however, the intention of a Boggart is not to antagonize, but to simply live quietly in its space. The trouble arises when loud noises, fights, or other large disturbances rock a location that a Boggart is haunting. It is only in these situations that a Boggart will usually make itself known, and will often try to dissuade further noises or disturbances. From flinging a teacup against a wall, to banging cabinets and turning door handles, Boggarts can cause many petty household disturbances. Otherwise they seem incapable of outright hurting any individual in a significant way, only influencing the space around them. This is not to say that a Boggart will always bring negative things onto the space that they haunt. It is entirely reflective of the nature of the environment and how fond they are of it. For example, take a Boggart haunting a library. The library, being a quiet and dark space with little in the way of disturbances even with the descendants in the area, is an excellent space for a Boggart. A Boggart, when in this pacified state, seems capable of unsolicited acts of kindness. A Boggart can as easily light a candle for someone as blow the candle out, keep a cup of tea warm or make it cold instantly, or make a seat more or less comfortable. Traditionally speaking, the longer a Boggart has been in a location and the more comfortable it is, the more accommodating it is for the people around it. ✯ Interactions The influence of a Boggart is, however, limited to the structure it inhabits. The creature has some degree of control over small objects and other intractable items within the space, but as soon as those items exit the confines of the building, the Boggart loses any and all control or ability to observe them. Its entire world becomes consumed by the space it’s haunting, the domain it has chosen. The haunting of a Boggart can be self-roleplayed, but the actual actions of the Boggart are intended to be roleplayed by the owner or proprietor of the building. The owner of a house would emote the actions of the Boggart using environmental emotes, for example. The individual roleplaying the Boggart is intended to follow all guidelines above for how a Boggart behaves, and normal LotC roleplay standards apply. Boggarts can also be roleplayed by Story Team members for event purposes, given that they are world lore. A Boggart can fling cups, smash ceramic, and cause other disturbances when agitated; however, a Boggart cannot be used in combat. Even a particularly friendly Boggart is a skittish creature, and you could never ‘tame’ the creature to such an extent to attack another individual. Additionally no damage caused by a Boggart can seriously injure an individual beyond small scrapes and other surface wounds. They cannot be used, in any situation, as a weapon or advantage. They are as likely to mildly bruise an attacker as to scrape the owner of an establishment they are familiar with. Should any true combat begin within a space, the Boggart will immediately flee, and demanifest should it be manifested at the time. The structure will lose all hints that a Boggart presides there (besides the orange tint visible to those who can see spectres) as the creature hides through the conflict, only slinking back out and returning to open behavior long after the conflict is over. A Boggart cannot be self-roleplayed or roleplayed at all during a combative encounter, with the only exception of this being for Story Team purposes. ✯ Manifestation A Boggart is usually invisible to the naked eye. Those who can see spectral creatures can see a structure inhabited by a Boggart by a faint orange tint that seems to emanate from the location. The actual Boggart can be seen as a hazy orange presence that slinks through the structure, moving between the items the creature interacts with. However, unlike other phantoms, the Boggart cannot choose to manifest in this form to be visible to normal Descendants. There is a secondary form of manifestation however, which seems to be unique to Boggarts. Within their space, a particularly comfortable Boggart can manifest as a large house cat, roughly the size of a large Maine Coon. The coloration, species, and sex of the cat varies, though each Boggart can only manifest in one of these forms, seemingly only having one form it can manifest in. The normal Boggart has a tendency towards fat, orange tabby cats, however. This cat will emanate the orange haze of a Boggart to those who are capable of perceiving invisible phantoms, but otherwise seems completely mundane to a normal Descendant. This cat can and will still cause strange happenings around it, much in the same way a Boggart that is not manifested will. Given that a Boggart can only manifest like this when quite comfortable however, the effects they cause will probably be pleasant. Making a fire warmer on a cold night, et cetera. Otherwise, the Boggart will act as a normal house cat would. Slightly aloof, though sometimes craving affection from very common visitors or inhabitants to the structure. The Boggart will never manifest like this around strangers or during tense situations, disappearing in an instant should conflict or combat begin. ✯ Exorcisms A Boggart is an incredibly stubborn creature, and while originally seeking what they think is a quiet space, will tend to stay in a space even after it becomes active. This can be a problem, as this brings out aggressive behavior from the Boggart and can result in a desire to remove the Boggart from the location. While Boggarts are welcome in some structures, they are generally regarded as pests. As such, some people go to great lengths to remove them from a space. This can be done in a number of ways, mundane or arcane. A Mystic can use the Rite of Scrubbing to essentially instantly banish a Boggart, sending it speeding away. Alternatively a normal Descendant can accomplish this with a great deal of aurum, sunlight, and salt. Those three things are all uncomfortable for a Boggart, and a man sprinkling salt around in broad daylight while waving an aurum dagger around is enough to cause the Boggart to cut its losses and leave. The Boggart will always leave through the front door of the structure, or whatever the equivalent is. It will speed out like a very fast and sudden wind, forcing the door open and attempting to return to the open air. The Boggart may be captured in this brief moment as it forces its way out. A jar, lined with aurum, can be used to capture the presence of the Boggart. This must be done quickly, as the creature accidentally flies into the jar. It then must be forced shut, with an aurum lined lid to prevent the Boggart from tampering with it. The Boggart will be incredibly uncomfortable with this arrangement, intensely disliking those who caused it to be in this state. Because of the aurum lining however, the Boggart will be incapable of breaking out or opening the lid, forced to keep its presence controlled and in the center of the jar. From here, one of two things can be done: the Boggart can be kept in the jar as some sort of morally questionable prize, or let out at some other location. Should the Boggart be released in a structure, it will immediately begin inhabiting that space, assuming that the location is not too busy. This can be used to relocate the creature to another specific location, or to punish another individual by granting them what is now a rather irritable Boggart. Doing this process requires adequate roleplay, and an item should be made. However, this jar item can be player signed and does not require ST signing or intervention. ✯ Redlines - Boggarts are virtually imperceivable when not haunting a structure. However, when they do settle into a structure, those who can see spectral entities will see a faint orange glow emanating from that structure. Additionally, they will be able to see the Boggart itself as a hazy, orange presence that moves through the haunt. - Boggarts cannot be controlled or beguiled, and will simply do whatever it is they wish. This can help or hinder the individual, but in no way can be controlled by them. A relaxed Boggart that is at peace may make a cold house warmer, make a chair more comfortable, etc. However, this is never a conscious decision by a person in the house, and is always an unexpected and unasked gesture from the Boggart. Additionally, a Boggart is just as likely to do the negative, causing tea to go cold suddenly, or making sure you can never sit comfortably in a chair. - Boggart hauntings can be self roleplayed. - Mystics can exorcise Boggarts via the Rite of Scrubbing. - Roleplay should be done for capturing a Boggart, and an item should be made. However, this item does not require ST oversight or signage. - Boggarts can always choose to manifest as large, Maine Coon sized cats. However, they will only do this when particularly comfortable and settled into their chosen structure, and it must be quite quiet and peaceful. This cat form will also emanate an orange essence, visible to those who can see spectres. - Boggarts can in no way be used in CRP, as a tool or weapon or anything else. In case of CRP, PVP, or any other form of combat, the Boggart will immediately flee the scene and disappear until it is over.- While Boggarts are capable of causing minor surface wounds for the sake of noncombative roleplay, these wounds can never seriously wound, harm, or kill anyone. Additionally, these cannot be targeted attacks; an aggressive Boggarts is as likely to attack a long time guest as a new intruder when agitated. Purpose Boggarts are a cool part of fantasy, and I was surprised LotC didn’t have some iteration as it is. So I thought I’d write a cute little piece on them, and allow some people to roleplay some cute house stuff as world lore, as well as supply the event sect of the Story Team with more resources for events and storytelling. ✯ Citation Written by Archipelego. Vaguely influenced by the Boggarts of the ‘Spooks’ or ‘Seventh Son’ series. 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luciloo 2651 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Every time Archi starts a sentence with a connective in his writing, a Boggart lodges itself in his wardrobe. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archipelego 2094 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 Just now, Luciloo said: Every time Archi starts a sentence with a connective in his writing, a Boggart lodges itself in his wardrobe. :') Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DistantCryprid 265 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Really cute! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valannor 6345 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Archi, you've got more than a boggart in your closet... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Security_ 1074 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Ctrl f “boggart” nah it’s cool lore, glad to see you’re still a minecrack addict 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpodoKaiba 607 Share Posted July 4, 2021 poggarts 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archipelego 2094 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 3 minutes ago, SpodoKaiba said: poggarts boggers 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milenkhov 4512 Share Posted July 4, 2021 bog art 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archipelego 2094 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 1 minute ago, Milenkhov said: bog art 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xx_BloodStalk_xX 2120 Share Posted July 4, 2021 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Child Neglecter 2135 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Will Riddikulus work on it? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scourge 413 Share Posted July 5, 2021 The more lore creatures the better, I like it, now I can get paid for exorcising people's homes 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
King_Kunuk 888 Share Posted July 5, 2021 The moment I read the title I immediately though of the boggart form the Spider Wick Chronicles 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavyn 855 Share Posted July 6, 2021 Cute idea, I’d love to see it implemented 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts