#starmap

Starmap Saturday Issue #7: Cherry and Willow

Born to the last of an ancient order, Cherry Pupula is one of the greatest minds in the Starmap Galaxy. An exceptional surgeon and biologist with growing proficiency in flesh magic, Cherry lives in a cave on the dead planet of Idnight, her species’ home world. There, she performs endless experiments with her bodily skill sets in search of biological breakthroughs. Though largely a woman of science, she also worships an eldritch watcher deity known as Pnmyga, which she claims acts as something of a father figure (which does make some sense considering her bio dad is out of the picture). Cherry has nothing but good intentions, and genuinely wants little more than to make the galaxy a better place… but she does enjoy leaning into the mad scientist shtick.

Cherry is clever, calculating, and kind. Cherry doesn’t struggle with money thanks to the gifts of her master, so she’ll gladly provide medical care to whoever asks. She’ll do a good job too: if the solution isn’t pills or prosthetics, Cherry can fix what ails you 9 times out of 10. Give her the right tools and information, and Cherry will always find a solution to whatever problem she’s faced with. For a good while, her rigid by-the-books thinking hindered her adaptability, but Cherry has learned to go with the flow when necessary. She still much prefers to do things by the books and tries to keep things organized, but she’s learned to be comfortable with chaos. Which is good, considering how much of it her new girlfriend packs.

Willow Fufrang is a stray vampider, and a teenhood friend of Allister Copperseed’s. Willow was homeless for a good while until going on a date with Cherry, which ended with them going to Cherry’s place and with her being teleported to a pocket dimension. Willow made herself comfortable, and Cherry allowed Willow to stay once she learned the vampider had no place to go. No one is entirely sure what Willow’s home situation was prior to her homelessness, and she prefers to keep it that way. Willow now acts as Cherry’s lab assistant, helping to gather materials and conduct experiments for her hot octopus gf. And she couldn’t be happier.

Willow is jovial, sadistic, and deceptively smart. She acts childish, always crawling with energy and speaking in an overly cutesy/friendly tone. She’s a playful girl who never shies away from anything, dangerous or otherwise. While this is a genuine part of her personality, it also masks a more mature side. Despite appearances, Willow is even more clever than Cherry, and far more conniving. She can effortlessly manipulate her circumstances and devise immaculate plans, all while acting like a kitten in a woman’s body. Vampiders are natural hunters, and Willow is the kind who likes to toy with her prey. Luckily, Willow is a kind soul, so only the wicked are unlucky enough to be terrorized by her.

…It is Valentines Day, right? I thought it was Halloween for a second. Here, let’s lighten the mood with some fun facts!

-Cherry is German. Her entire species is German. The German language and accent comes from Idnightians who briefly settled in proto-Germany

-Cherry’s mother, Melon, is a fashion designer. She passed her love of fashion down to her daughter, who then passed it on to Willow

-Cherry is Allister’s doctor, and did Carba’s top surgery

-Willow eats organs. Cherry is working on developing organ cloning to appease her

-Willow meows frequently. She once considered asking Cherry to turn her into a catgirl, but decided it wasn’t worth losing the extra limbs

-Addendum to the previous fun fact, Willow and Doodle sometimes have full conversations by meowing at each other. No one is brave enough to question it

And, of course, we have some fanart of these gals. Happy Valentines, and see you next Saturday!

Starmap Saturday Issue #6: Boombox, Chloe, and Greeble

First up, we have Boombox! They say first is the worst, and that is most certainly true today. Boombox is the last explorer in the Mystery Museum’s lineup, as well as the last. Whereas his fellow employees have a genuine love of history and the work they do surrounding it, Boombox just wants to get paid. He’s got lofty ambitions, dreams of universal fame and fatter stacks of solars (that means money) than this dingy sham museum could ever pay! He’s doesn’t care about the artifacts he’s recovering, but he’ll do anything to get a leg up over his competition; that competition usually being Allister & Doodle, the former of which he has a bitter rivalry with. Armed with extensive knowledge on all things explosive, the license to use them, and a rubbery elastic body that renders him nigh unkillable (aside from sharp objects), Boombox is a constant annoyance.

It should come as no surprise that Boombox is universally disliked by his peers. He’s greedy, power hungry, and totally egomaniacal. His “superhero” persona isn’t his real self, but he wears the costume so often he’s essentially become the character he’s playing. He dreams of making Boombox a movie legend, planning to make a major discovery working at the museum to use as a springboard into the film industry-he’s already got a whole trilogy of Boombox movies planned out! Boombox is packed full of energy, constantly bouncing around whilst putting down his coworkers and attempting propping himself up. Thing is, Boombox is impatient, always looking for shortcuts. Combined with his cartoonish movement, and Boombox’s schemes to get ahead usually go down in flames-oftentimes literally.

There’s more to Boombox than this heel persona, of course, but I’m going to leave that for you to discover; his story is told in Allister & Doodle: Head Hunters, which I’ll leave a link to at the end of this post. For now, let’s go from the most bombastic employee in the museum to its most reserved.

Chloe Waxstaff is a new hire at the Umbrondon Museum of Natural Mystery, yet to make her official debut in the Starmap Saga. She’s an archaeologist, working at the museum for her final year of college. Coming from a home that was less than supportive of her, Chloe is very shy and easily spooked. She’s always scared of not being accepted, so tends not to try making connections. The poor girl is always shivering, and sometimes dizzies herself. Chloe is a lot more capable than she thinks though; the girl is a straight A student, and would likely be A+ if she didn’t second guess herself so much. She’s crafty, too, able to think up solutions for problems most people would take hours to figure out. If her plans ever go awry, it’s usually because she over prepared or second guessed herself too hard. Lastly, while she hesitates to talk a lot, Chloe will absolutely talk your ear off about her interests if she gets the chance. And it will be adorable.

Last but not least is Greeble! She’s the janitor. A tiny blue hairball on legs, Greeble diligently tends to the floors of the museum. When she spots a stain or a spill, she’ll lie down directly on it, then vibrate for a few seconds before getting back up. This removes the stain without fail. Greeble’s exact personality is hard to ascertain, as she speaks entirely in beeps and chirps that only the others at the museum can understand. Curiously, though, she always seems to know what’s going on, and usually has the answers for difficult problems. She’s generally pretty friendly, but mostly does her own thing. Nobody knows where she comes from or what her deal is, but she’s well liked by her peers.

Fun Facts!

-Boombox is directly inspired by The Noise from Pizza Tower

-Boombox’s species has the same origin as Amoelia

-Chloe is a trans woman! #TransRights

-Chloe would be really good at bowling if she wasn’t so shaky

-Greeble

-Deebly is Greeble’s favorite coworker. She’ll sometimes nap in his lap or follow him around the museum

I only have one piece for this week’s art section. And it’s this.

That’s all for this week’s installment! Below are links to my toyhouse for more Trickster OC Goodness, and a link to my Starmap Writing so you can see these goobers in action! Thank you for reading, see you next Saturday.

Starmap Saturday Issue #5: Amoelia and Archie

Amoelia is the archivist at the Museum! She handles all the files and much of the paperwork, making sure all the documents and records are safely organized. She’s good at her job for the most part, but there’s one problem: she has a brain injury. Her exact condition is undefined, but she tends to have a wonky memory. She often forgets things that should be easy to remember, and yet manages to recall very specific details long after she’s noticed them. She sometimes gets words and their meanings mixed up, and some days she can’t keep her train of thought on one track.

Amoelia doesn’t let her disability define her, though, and her coworkers love her despite her inefficiencies. This is because Amoelia is an absolute sweetheart, always smiling and always ready to lend a hand, even if she struggles to be of much help every now and then. This slime gal is as friendly as they come, sometimes defusing hostility by complete accident. Amoelia isn’t too perceptive, so she tends to stumble into things. Staff only areas, men’s restrooms, etc. Social cues are completely alien to her, so she tends to either not notice or completely ignore them. Amoelia is as ditzy and naive as they come, but her jolly attitude and persistent kindness have made her universally beloved among her colleagues (aside from a couple of former faculty who no one liked). But of all the coworkers who love Amoelia, none adore her quite as much as…

Archie Sapfoot! Is a bow-slinging, flute-playing Aussie-accented alien who dresses and sometimes sounds like a pirate. Despite his lack of fingers, Archie is undoubtedly the best spaceship pilot ever to work at the Museum of Natural Mystery. If the Museum ever needs something delivered or retrieved off world through dangerous space (or really fast), Archie is the guy to get it done. While this talent is undeniably a gift, it also led Archie down a miserable path. Some three years ago, Archie grew tired of him and his fellow employees getting too little pay, and took matters into his own hands(?). Archie flew off in search of the Treasure of Troparus Island, which was said to claim all who flew too close. Archie was confident that if anyone could navigate the island’s dangers it was him, but the storms of Troparus proved too much even for him. Archie was marooned on the island for 3 years, until Allister & Doodle came to his rescue.

Though he dresses like a pirate, Archie is a selfless starfish. If faced between helping himself and helping others, Archie will always opt for the latter. This, combined with his funny way of talking has made him a favorite among his peers. Beneath this selflessness however lies an undercurrent of self-doubt, tracing back to his family’s less than stellar lineage and amplified tenfold by his three-year stay at Troparus Island. Archie fears being a failure, his anxieties inadvertently made worse by his friends’ high opinions of him. Archie is a brave fellow at the end of the day though, and has been steadily working to gain back his courage now that he’s off the island.

When Archie was claimed by Troparus Island, Amoelia was by far the most hurt by the loss. No one knows when it started or why it’s still going, but Amoelia and Archie are total sweethearts for each other. All anybody knows is Amoelia initiated (rather aggressively for someone as soft as her) and Archie fell head over heels in response. They enjoy playing instruments together, with Archie always sticking to the flute and Amoelia usually having a quirky new instrument every time. Archie helps Amoelia with file management, and Amoelia keeps Archie composed when he’s having a crisis of confidence. They’re an odd couple, sure, but they go together like salt and ocean water.

And now for some fun facts!

-Archie’s voiceclaim is Reggie from Monsters At Work

-Archie’s dad went to prison and was stabbed to death on his first night. Members of Archie’s species don’t meet their mothers, so he was orphaned in his teen years

-Amoelia’s personality and manner of speech was inspired by Dr. Coomer from HLVRAI. She didn’t have a concrete personality until I rewatched the series

-Amoelia has a catchphrase. “I’m an Amoelia!” She says, Amoelialy.

-Amoelia is based on the design of one of my friend’s scrapped OCs. Said OC is from a scrapped project of theirs, so I like to think that it lives on through her

And as for fanart… there’s just this. See you next saturday.

Starmap Saturday Issue #4: Carba and Pepper

Carba is the resident paleontologist at the Museum of Natural Mystery, and studies the weirdest and most nonsensical extinct species the galaxy has to offer. Transmasc and proud of it, Carba strives every day to be what he considers the peak of masculinity. The man refuses to wear anything on his torso that doesn’t show his sculpted chest, and takes every chance he can get to show off his muscles. Some would call it obnoxious, others say it’s fair enough given how hard it is for someone of his species to get that buff (Auruli like him have famously terrible immune systems). On top of that, Carba enjoys rushing head first into danger, both for the thrill of it and for the feeling of manliness. This habit is exactly why he has a prosthetic arm and leg, having lost both to fistfights with dangerous monsters. Carba loves dangerous monsters, so he has no regrets.

In addition to his love for bodybuilding and reckless adventuring, Carba is very much a pickup artist. The man will hook up with any consenting woman his age, and is very good at making that magic happen. This isn’t just for pleasure though, as Carba properly befriends plenty of these girls, making sure to treat them as people first and hookups second. Despite being a poster boy for obnoxious gym bros, Carba is a surprisingly pleasant person to be around. He’s kind and understanding, and is always friendly unless given a good reason not to be. Carba loves to make connections, and is always ready to help someone out when they need a hand from a buff dude, or just need to talk to someone with a deep, buttery smooth voice. Yes, Carba is reckless. Yes, he’s obnoxiously fit. Yes, he sleeps around. But his boundless kindness and respect is what makes Carba a real man, and he knows it. Well that, and the liters of testosterone injected over the years. Did I mention he voluntarily got his top surgery without painkillers or anesthesia?

Carba may be a pickup artist, but there’s one girl he loves more than all the rest. One he’s really in love with. Unfortunately for him, she works at a rival museum, is the only girl he struggles to flirt with, and is one of the few girls he knows who could kick his ass. Let’s meet her, shall we?

Pepper Sprae is an archeologist at the Umbrondon Galactic History Museum, the Museum of Natural Mystery’s greatest rival. She’s a rowdy girl with an Irish accent, who doesn’t take nonsense from anyone. Why would she? She’s crazy strong, crazy durable, and carries around a giant pickaxe sometimes. While not an outright bully, Pepper enjoys toying with people if she knows they won’t mind (so mostly Carba), and loves to get in fights. Getting on Pepper’s bad side, through unwanted flirting or everyday insults, is never a good idea. She won’t hesitate to break your arms and smash a beer bottle on your head, just because she can.

You’d probably think Pepper an unfriendly sort, given the traits I’ve listed off. And yeah, Pepper can be pretty rude. Still, this rudeness is just as much a personality trait as it is a defense mechanism. Pepper never felt like she belonged in the hive she came from, which is a problem given her species’ cooperative nature. Having failed to find any sort of meaning or connection on her homeworld, Pepper left her hive to drift aimlessly through the galaxy. She did just that for a while, working as a freelance miner for a while before learning about archeology and falling in love with it. Her work in mining got her access to further digging-related education, and she was able to get a job working to unearth artifacts for the Umbrondon Galactic History Museum. But while she’s certainly found her purpose, she still has that same longing feeling…

Although they work at rival museums, Pepper and Carba are good friends. The latter is madly in love with the former, and she knows it. Pepper loves to make a blushing mess out of her dino-digging desirer, getting a kick out of taking a professional charmer and making a fool out of him. She definitely reciprocates his feelings though, even if she isn’t ready to accept. The burrowers love getting in bar fights and yapping about whatever cool bones or rocks they dug up last week. Pepper literally needs beer to live (it’s a necessary chemical for her species’ digestion) while Carba refuses to drink anything besides water and protein shakes, but these two are destined to have their skeletons discovered next to each other some day.

Speaking of, let’s unearth some fun facts!

-Carba and Pepper were supposed to be the subjects of issue #3, but Deebly and Kara took precedence since Kara was fresh out the oven and I was in the middle of writing Deebly’s big holiday adventure

-Carba’s voiceclaim is Sal from Sam & Max The Devil’s Playhouse, while Pepper’s is Beatrix from Amphibia

-Carba paid his college tuition by working as a pro wrestler. He would’ve kept going, but he had to quit once he got the metal arm.

-Carba is cousins with one of @bradrolls’ OCs! His species, the auruli, is also her creation

-Pepper is the third member of Charlie and Kara’s bowling team, and flip flops being their best and worst player in random intervals

That’s it for this weekend! I hope you like these two as much as I do, they’re two of my favorites in my Starmap roster. I actually have a good few artworks of these two, so we’ll end this issue with a fairly strong art section this time! Thanks for reading, and see you next Saturday.

“With the invention of the Zero Point Drive, everything changed - with faster-than-light travel now at our fingertips, humankind rapidly spread out across the stars, establishing a vast network of colonies, outposts, and stations across a 65 light-year radius. While the inner systems were soon dominated by the powerful corporations who initially sponsored the initial push into space (forcing out any potential competitors along the way,) the outer systems remained too distant and untamed for the corporates to really bother with.