polymods: (Default)
polymods ([personal profile] polymods) wrote in [community profile] polylogs2021-07-02 03:00 pm

Something in the air...

POLYMYTHOS: THE ISLE THAT BLOOMS

The Isle That Blooms


Ⅰ. ARRIVAL
You can read all about your character's arrival in the game lore.
This is the first isle you can smell before you see it rising on the island. It starts with the faint hint of growing things that blossoms into a floral scent that teases you with the combination of familiarity and the unknown. The next breeze seems to carry you closer even as it coats everything in a delicate wash of golden pollen that only the Ferryman seems to be able to avoid.

Do you like your lips to taste the gritty sweetness? Or are you already starting to sniffle? Either way, the island starts as a smudge then turns into a riot of color as it reveals itself.

The Isle that Blooms lives up to its name as flowers vie in a silent war of roots and strangling vines to cover every viable surface with sprays of color and vibrant pulsing life. There are signs of human life in the form of a village built on stilts and full of little anachronisms like a glowing neon sign that hint that the island sees a large number of Travelers come through this place.

And who wouldn’t be drawn to the abundant flora, brightly painted houses, and lively locals?

Everyone seems to be glowing with health as the locals gather near the dock to welcome the latest set of tourists. They come with arms full of flower wreaths and friendly smiles, clearly in control of their faculties and interested in trade. Their clothing is as bright as the paintings on their buildings, as the flowers that surround them, and perfect for the warmth of the day.

Do you notice, though, the absence of any babies or prepubescent children? Or that while there are old people, no one shows signs of the infirmities that come with age? It might be easy to miss, especially as the Isle starts to affect you, too.

The ache in your back from that terrible fall, the craving for that next drink, the trauma that’s too close to the surface, all the petty hurts the build up in a lifetime start to fade as you, too, start to bloom.

Notes:
1. NO GUNS are allowed on this island. The Ferryman will keep them safe for you.

2. These residents of the island are normal humans. Killing them is possible and may affect the color of your Scrywatch.

3. Any type of flower could exist on the island, blooming somewhere, regardless of its real world requirements. Rare ones are difficult to find and magical ones need a check in with the mods.

4. There is nothing preadolescent of any animal species on the entire island, including insects.

5. The island’s ability leaves people as the healthiest, most energetic version of their current selves. Examples: A blind person in otherwise good mental and emotional health would notice minimal changes. A person with a disorder would find themselves having a string of good days. A 50 year old probably hasn’t felt this good since their thirties.



Ⅱ. THE TEMPLE
Orchids in shades of yellow and pink so bright they glow have been trained to grow along the walkways and bridges of the elevated village to guide Travelers to this island’s Temple. The building stands alone at the edge of the Village, extending out in the ocean of flowers that fill most of the isle.


The temple is made of simple stout wood that has been carved and painted in patterns ornate and lovely in a way that speaks of hundreds of hours of creation and maintenance. The same orchids that guided you here gild building and act as camouflage the sleeping porches ring the outside. They are kept private and safe from insects by fine netting, and you will find the bedding soft and fine.

This Temple’s Guardians are a pair of lazing cats with strange spots and scaly wings that regard you with affectionate disinterest as you explore the facilities. There are toilets and sinks, but no baths or showers. The pantries are stocked with edible flowers and fresh fish and the space and tools to cook. If you are brave enough, the Guardians will probably give you practical advice on how to use those supplies. There are new clothes and sandals better suited to the heat, and even practical machetes.

Notes:
1. The Main Temple is still open to those who are brand new to PM.

2. There are paints and carving tools if you want to add to the temple decorations. (Maybe mention it during the Oracle Event if you do.)

3. All fabric items are ridiculously bright and vaguely tie dyed.

4. The marker orchids have a distinctly strong smell of vanilla with a hint of lime.



Ⅲ. THE LOTUS BATHS
CW: fantasy setting drugs.
There’s only so long a person can stand to be covered in pollen, and when you ask the locals, they grin. Oh, you want a bath? There’s a path back to the ground and through the tall flowers to a natural spring. Make sure to head out early, they warn.

It’s always better to be in the village before nightfall, and you are clearly going to take a while.

As you walk the winding path to the baths, the everpresent flowers seem to thin out and even disappear as ground warms and rock rises from rich soil. You can smell the mineral richness of the bright blue pools that form waterfalls over a series of rising ledges. There is life, though, even here, in the form of delicate lily pads that float in rafts around vivid lotus flowers.

If you test the water, you’ll find it’s warm enough to melt the knots out of muscles and make it easy to understand why the few bathers seem to be so languid and relaxed. If you sink all the way in, well, not only will you manage to get clean, but you might find yourself mellowing out even more. So mellow you’ll hardly notice when the pleasant hallucinations start.

You’ll find yourself drawn into visions of your most private joys and of the pleasures you keep to yourself. Maybe it’s a matter of shame or maybe it’s because they’re too precious. There’s one small problem, though. If someone else gets in the same pool, not only will they start to share the same vision, but you’ll start to see theirs too.

Will the fantasies become a nightmare or will you manage to navigate them together? Will you ever be able to look at each other the same way again?
Notes:
1. The hallucinations will end when you leave the water, but only once you and your bathing partner are both out.

2. The flowers are magical and will affect everyone, even robots or super powered people.



Ⅳ. NIGHTBLOOMING
CW: abduction, violence.
You are warned to stay in the elevated village at night. The flower fields are safe enough during the day, but things happen at night. It’s hard to imagine during the day when stingless bees that glitter in jewel colors bumble along and hummingbirds the size of chihuahuas feed from the abundant flowers while squeaking their strong opinions at each other.

But as the moon rises, and most of the flowers close, there’s rustling sounds that make it clear that there are big things moving through that growth. Things that make the hair rise up on the back of a person’s neck. It would take a big prize to make it worth finding out what makes those sounds. A big prize or a reason to face your fears.

There’s a scream in the night. You can ignore it, of course. Not everyone is meant to run towards the scream. It might not even change the color of your ScryWatch.

But if you go to the source of the sound you’ll find a mother weeping openly while other locals gather around to comfort her. It seems her teenager decided that the best way to woo their lover was with glowing flowers that only open under a full moon. The teen has been gone for hours, and the grim expressions on the people around you say his chances aren’t good.

You have a choice to make. Will you go into the dark to face the unknown dangers? Will you offer some other form of comfort? Or will you go back to hide in the safety of the Temple?

Notes:
1. The danger in the flowers consists of six foot tall nocturnal orchid mantises who have the teen pinned in a tree. They are currently singing a human language lullaby to the kid to get them to go to sleep and fall out of the tree.

2. The mantises have a hive mind and will retreat if one of their number is killed, but can also be talked to and negotiated with. They will be willing to trade a regular supply of fish for no longer hunting people.



Ⅴ. SPECIAL EVENT: THE FLOWER ORACLE
In the center of the village, there is a giant flower bud that is bigger than a man is tall. The villagers tell you that you are lucky. You will be here when the Flower Oracle blooms. You will have a chance to speak directly to the Ancient One through the Oracle, and She even answers. All it takes is a little sacrifice.

Notes:
1. During the week of July 12-18, there will be a special event post where characters can choose to interact with the Flower Oracle for a chance to be rewarded, get an answer, get silence, or get punished by the Ancient.

2. Any starter posted during this window will be honored, specifics to come.

3. This event is optional!

Bonus: music to watch the flowers bloom to.


Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

I. arrival

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-08 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Sephiroth can tell that she's behaving a bit off, but he doesn't recognize the extent of her discomfort, nor is he interested in prying. Maybe she's allergic to flowers. It's none of his concern.

However, when he sees her talking to the locals, that piques his interest. There are questions he ought to be asking them, he knows, but they're so... friendly. He hasn't been eager to start that process, focusing instead on exploration. But if Harrowhark has already spoken to them... She's been quite forthcoming with information. He approaches after she seems to have finished her conversation.

"Did you learn anything useful?"
necrosaint: (006)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-09 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Define useful," she says, and then shakes her head, dismissing her own comment. "I learned something useful for me, regarding my face paint. I am not certain how well that may help you, though I would certainly be able to paint yours as well should you like."

The comment is teasing, but it's Harrow and she does it all wrong; she sounds flatly serious.

"However, I did also learn they do not sell two-hander swords anywhere here. If that suits your interests. And that I cannot replace this monstrosity," right, because the narrative forgot to mention she's wearing a pink tie-dye dress, "With something black."
unkindled_madness: (confused)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-09 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
Sephiroth should probably be better equipped to recognize a deadpan delivery considering that's how he tells most of his jokes, but he's momentarily taken aback. Facepaint...? Hell, maybe she considers that a normal thing to offer.

"No, thank you," he says, the response dry.

"Why are you looking for swords?" She did indicate she was poor at combat herself. "And... why are you wearing that?"
necrosaint: (076)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-09 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
"It's ... what I ended up wearing." Scowl. Very, very unhappy Harrow. "And it looks atrocious, I know. I would like my blacks back, and my proper robe. Even a First House robe, which is white, would be fine—"

Ah, right.

Why she's asking about swords.

Awkward. Harrow chews at her lip a little and says quietly, "For my cavalier."
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-09 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
"What was wrong with your clothes from Carcosa?"

Sephiroth, not everyone can wear a black leather outfit in hot weather and be fine, apparently.

"...your cavalier. They arrived with the new Travellers?"
necrosaint: (019)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-09 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
Pretty much: "I was getting lightheaded from being too hot, and could not manage to fix my body temperature while not being affected by my body temperature."

It's rude how despite being a Lyctor, her body does not do every single little thing she wants whenever she wants it. How dare.

"Yes," Harrow adds, as regards Gideon,and tries very hard not to smile. Because the Reverend Daughter of Drearburh does not smile over a person. "She did. Swordless, though."
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-09 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
"...I see." Heat can make a person lightheaded. Noted. Perhaps that was what was bothering her.

The idea of a fellow swordsman (swordsperson?) intrigues him, though, enough that he will actually attempt to be helpful. "There are machetes at the temple; they're a poor substitute for one's own weapon, but a better approximation than those knives from before."
necrosaint: (026)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-11 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"I hope that will at least begin to satisfy her."

The skeletons use machetes, in the fields, so Harrow is able to assume Gideon knows how to use one for fighting, because why wouldn't she.

"Farming equipment used as weapons is not that unusual, at least. What I do not remember is if they began as farming equipment or if machetes began as weapons and turned into farming equipment. Old history." Old history deemed irrelevant by a necromancer whose brain needs room for necromancy.
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-11 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Old history that may be entirely different between their worlds... or ought to be.

"I suppose the remarkable thing is that we are both familiar with them. The disparities between our universes are many, and yet, some things about humans don't really change, do they?"
necrosaint: (020)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-14 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Everyone needs ... food and swordplay, apparently."

Actually, that sentence could define Gideon, and is practically the opposite of Harrow. It's a gift of her Lyctorhood that technically she doesn't even have to eat, but she keeps not using said gift.
unkindled_madness: (what does it matter...?)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-14 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Food and some means of defense, perhaps. Most don't have much talent for swordplay."

He may judge a little harshly on that. Maybe it would be better to say most don't have the training.
necrosaint: (076)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-15 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's true."

Oh, Harrow knows it's true. The Ninth House has seen ... two good cavaliers in its entire ten thousand years. She will begrudgingly admit that Gideon is the second one. Plus Aiglamene, who was not a cavalier, but was a very good swordsman.

"I think that is half training and half innate ability. My current cavalier has the innate ability and - some of the training. Her time was abbreviated."
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-15 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hmm. Needed in battle before she could complete her training?"

He's certainly seen that kind of rush before, back during the war. Younger and greener men sent to the front every year.
necrosaint: (069)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-19 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes." Harrow sounds a little regretful about it; this was all on her, really. She could have provided more time, had she been thinking about--but there was no way she could have predicted the Emperor's summons.

Or anything that would come after.

"She had only a matter of weeks before we had to depart. It was an admirable showing considering the limitations."
unkindled_madness: (skeptical)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-19 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
A matter of weeks? To someone who's been training his entire life, that's nothing. It's practically useless.

"You must have been quite desperate."
necrosaint: (061)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-07-21 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Extremely."

She would have had no chance with no cavalier, and Ortus --

Harrow can't even think about it, now. Not after everything.

"But like I said, she rose to the occasion. She made an absolutely fantastic extremely green or bad cavalier--far better than no cavalier."
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-07-21 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm."

Sephiroth doesn't know quite what to make of that. It's an unfamiliar situation. He would prefer to take on an adversary alone than to be burdened with anyone not up to the task.

"Well, whatever else might be said for this place, it seems to be providing us with ample time. She may resume her training."
necrosaint: (023)

[personal profile] necrosaint 2021-08-02 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"She will. She never stops training."

Actually, she had once they got to the challenge in question, sort of—but that wasn't the point. Harrow hadn't quite given her the option.

"I have my own studies to do, but it is—harder to find places to study necromancy than it is to find opportunities to fight."
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-08-02 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Is it? I wonder what would make an ideal environment for studying necromancy."

He's honestly curious. She didn't seem wild about other necromancers, so-- Is there not enough death here?