The Curse of the Man-Thing!

PHASE 2

The Curse of the Man-Thing!
Dates run:	March 28-April 14, 2025
Run By:	Ben
Read the logs:	Curse of the Man-Thing

“At least if I die, I fought back against you, demon. I’ll see you in Xibalba.”

Rictor brings home a cutting... and a whole lot of trouble!

Cast

Amanda Sefton, Clea Lake, Julio Richter, Topaz

Through text exchanges: Hope Summers, Liam Nelson, Sharon Smith, Shatterstar

Augusta Bromes, Harriet Bromes, Opal Vetiver

Ted, the Man-Thing

Timing

March 28-April 14, 2025

Plot Summary

Rictor brings home a rare lily bulb, a gift from his boss’s granddaughter Harriet, and enlists Clea’s help to plant it in their growing greenhouse. As they prepare soil rich in sulfur and phosphate — hinting at the bulb’s Everglades origin — Clea detects a trace of magic. The two bond over their shared love of horticulture and Clea quietly offers backup should Rictor face consequences for revealing he's a mutant at work. Rictor brushes off the subtle bigotry, more focused on proving his skill than confronting bias.

He soon begins missing commitments: dinner with Shatterstar, a magical lesson with Amanda, earthquake training with Hope. When Hope presses him about his evasiveness—and his feelings for Shatterstar — Rictor spirals into denial, refusing to name what’s painfully obvious to everyone but him.

Things come to a head when Rictor meets Harriet for crepes and accidentally confirms what she already feared: he never saw their relationship as romantic. Humiliated, Harriet flips the plate onto him and storms out, leaving Rictor alone and publicly shamed.

Meanwhile, Clea, Amanda, and Topaz investigate the lily, uncovering not just faint magic but fear pulsing from within the plant. Alarmed, they quarantine it and erect magical wards, uncertain whether they’re tending a mystical bloom or a latent threat.

Harriet, heartbroken and seeking catharsis, awakens a vengeful spirit within the lily bulb. The creature attacks Rictor, forcing him to relive his deepest insecurities—visions of loved ones rejecting him, of being cowardly and unwanted. Shattered but defiant, Rictor sees through the lies and defeats the creature with seismic force.

In the aftermath, he’s transported to a shadowy swamp where he meets Ted, the spirit’s true form. Instead of finishing the fight, Rictor offers him compassion. The two strike a fragile alliance, seeking understanding over destruction.

Back in reality, Rictor convinces Amanda and Topaz to spare Ted, arguing he’s not evil. Just scared. With strict boundaries (including Clea’s sole rule: no eating people), Ted is given sanctuary. Rictor promises to help him heal.

Later, Augusta confronts Rictor over Harriet, only to learn he’s in love — with Shatterstar. She grumbles but accepts it, concealing her deeper interest in the flower. In private, she and Opal analyze another bulb from Harriet’s collection. The plant reveals hybrid characteristics — part flora, part fauna — and the two old woman realize it may be the rare specimen they’ve long been searching for.

In the end, Rictor musters his courage and goes to Shatterstar to apologize—for neglect, for avoidance, for fear. He confesses what the swamp vision made clear: it’s always been Star. “Te quiero,” he says. Shatterstar, stunned but hopeful, asks to kiss him. Rictor, this time unafraid, says yes.

Related Links

Not applicable.

External Links

Curse of the Man-Thing

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Trivia and Meta

Trivia

IC notes stemming from the plot. Eg: "As a result of this Character A developed a crippling fear of ottomans".

Meta

Plotrunner: Ben

Links to comic/movie/etc influences on the plot (if any), or other OOC notes that are important to the plot. Eg: With Malice Aforethought is a reworking of two Marvel plotlines - Malice and Forge's Neutraliser.