polylogs | Something in the air...

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Something in the air...

✖ 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.

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Ⅱ. THE TEMPLE
The Temple means separating from Harrow, which Gideon's not super enthusiastic about and honestly Harrow's vibe is something like moss growing on the boulder (if a living person counts as a boulder). The promise of supplies and food (especially food) makes it worthwhile, at least to get all that she wants to get. The flowers in the pantry are underwhelming, but she recognizes the meat as the sort that the skeletons at Canaan House pulled out of the water on lines.

The trouble is the Ninth House didn't have much by the way of meat, so Gideon doesn't know what to do with it. Does it have to be cooked? Gideon eyes the supplies at the temple with a frown. Fresh doesn't last long. She knows that much. Well, anything cooks in boiling water. So she heats a pot and pours salt over the fresh meat. Everything tastes better with salt.

Ⅲ. THE LOTUS BATHS
Gideon hasn't had a bath in months, so even if they are supposed to be doing other things (she's not sure what all is entailed in that), she figures she can do it clean. She can also count the number of water baths she's had on one hand, and this one is even larger and better than the one at Canaan House. She never wants to leave, she decides. Harrow can reanimate her clean clean corpse. Clean corpses of hot women surrounded by water is Harrow's type after all.

The sounds of the island are relaxing, grounding, a sign that shit is all right if just for the length of a bath. She hears someone approach and doesn't immediately open her eyes. There's enough room for everyone, and Gideon isn't going to run away screaming because someone sees her buff muscles. They come closer, casting a shadow on her face. "I didn't know what to do without you," they say. Gideon recognizes the voice but opens her eyes to peer up at the fully clothed in black nunlet robes, the bone armor providing more support than any undergarment, and the shockingly beaming painted face of approval. The water hasn't touched Harrow's face because the paint isn't melting.

"Generally, when people bathe, they take off their outer layers," Gideon offers. "I'm good to keep around to tell you these things."

"And to fight the large scary monsters that could snap me in half like a twig. I'd have died a few times over without you."

Gideon blinks, but she looks more closely at Harrow. It's Harrow down to the exact robes, the application of the paint. It couldn't be more Harrow. Even with the compliment, she stands there proud and sure of herself. The best necromancer of her age. She leans across closer to Harrow, who reaches out and brushes the hair on her head. Gideon forgets language with that and can only lean into it.

"I'm sorry I never took sword fighting seriously, and I'm sorry I didn't work out the way you wanted me too after..." Harrow waves a hand to signify the complicated matter that is 'eating Gideon's soul'.* "You're really the best swordsman ever. Better than Augustine or Mercymorn. Their rapiers couldn't hold water to your two hander, not in your hands." Gideon feels like she should be doing her morning workout if Harrow continues to be this pleasant and complementary.

"You don't have to stop talking on my account, not about this," Gideon grins. She lazily motions toward Harrow. "You can sit next to me if you want." Because this is the best day ever, Harrow does. It's weird, a little, but Gideon feels Harrow sitting next to her. She's never moving again.

* Kind of. More like chewed it around a fair bit.

VⅠ. WILDCARD
Gideon wanders around the trees of the island until she finds a branch of a size and straightness (ha) that she likes. The machete helps her cut it off and warm up her muscles. She's sweaty some in a good way. Her body's limber and ready for the exercises holding a sword.

The branch is only a makeshift sword. It's thick enough and long enough it has weight to it. Her muscles tense and move together to take it through it's paces. Gideon falls into the rhythm of practice she's done since Aiglamene first handed her a training sword. It slices through air, and Gideon feels giddy.

(Open to other wildcard situations. Plot it with me over at user name="inoctavo" site="plurk.com/inoctavo">)

Sephiroth is only looking for some space where he can train well away from other people. He has no concerns about using the machete in battle--he already has, and the insects were not formidable--but it's a part of his usual routine that he actually likes. A way to feel at ease with himself.

On the other hand... catching sight of the woman running through her own practice isn't entirely unwelcome. He hasn't had a worthy sparring partner in... well, since he was a child, still learning, but he hasn't fought a match at all since coming to the islands. He stops to watch ~~like a creeper~~, assessing her.

Gideon's not out of shape. Through necromancy or Blood of Eden whatever they do or the Ancient, her body's in better shape than when she left it. Her knee is just fine (and the distinct lack of other outstanding issues is greatly appreciated). She's out of practice. She takes to it like a skeleton to necromancy. Her body complains (less than Harrow's had), and Gideon carries on. She lungs and blocks and swings. When she makes a mistake, she hears Aiglamene's voice. In Drearburgh, it would have meant a heavy blow. Now, she corrects herself and does it right again and again and again.

At some point, Gideon feels like she's being watched. It could be Harrow. Gideon doesn't know why she'd stay hidden. Either way, she moves faster, swings harder, and shows off. As much as she can with a tree branch.

Sephiroth notices the mistakes, and he also notices that shift, though it seems to him as though she may be imagining a battle against some detested adversary. She does seem to have some skill, and at length, he speaks up to ask,

"...could you use an opponent?"

The voice is unfamiliar, and Gideon turns toward it instinctively. The tree branch cannot do as much damage as her two hander, but blunt force damage can get the job done. Her grin grows. "Oh yes," Gideon says. She waves her tree branch toward the trees around them. "Pick your weapon."

He didn't anticipate such an eager acceptance, but it's one response that doesn't confuse him. It even gets a slight smile out of him.

"I suppose it's only fair to match yours," he says as he looks for a good branch, though it strikes him as a bit childish, fighting with tree branches.

Gideon bets he's a cavalier. Not that everyone here is from the Nine Houses (probably). She wishes they had actual swords. Though she considers rapiers toothpicks, they are metal toothpicks. It's still the closest thing to her normal schedule.

Before she fights like in Drearburgh, Gideon manages to stop and think. Peering at the stranger, Gideon does the 'honorable' thing. "What do you fight to?" Gideon asks. "What stops it. Declares a winner."

Sephiroth cuts himself a straight branch with his machete and deftly trims off the twigs. He glances up at her.

"Generally, it stops when my opponent decides they've had enough." The winner has never been in question, but some last longer against him than others.

Then again, everyone here is from some other planet. She might surprise him.

The terms, roughly, of the duel between the Second and Sixth Houses. Even more cocky. Gideon misses Camilla, misses Palamedes. At least one of them is probably still living. It also reminds her of Aiglamene. "Right back at you," Gideon says. She knows nothing about him, but good judgment's never been an accusation she's faced.

As soon as he's in a ready position, Gideon hurls herself and her makeshift sword at him. Aggressive, fast, powerful movements. The restraints are, mostly, off.

The confidence is refreshing; he doesn't intimidate her. But then, is there really anything intimidating about a roughly-shorn tree branch? It hardly threatens mortal danger.

Sephiroth is far less aggressive, to start; he wants to get a sense of her strength before he takes the offensive. He remains confident--smug, even, smirking as he parries her attacks. His movements are quick and efficient, undramatic. A quick sidestep if it will carry him out of the path of a strike.

He reminds Gideon of the Second House as they fight. The technique of someone who has practiced as long as he's walked. The experience of someone who's fought outside dueling tournaments. Aiglamene would approve of the parries. Not simply blocking. The branch vibrates up her arm each time they connect. The daylight gets hazy. Their movements seem to slow as Gideon observes, adjusts, and attacks again.

She doesn't slow down, doesn't get more labored breathing. Gideon continues as though the sword--the branch--is part of her own body. He looks Eighth. Could be Colum's height. He should have gotten to die fighting. She knows that one wasn't her fault. She still fights the nearly colorless man the way Colum the Eighth deserved.

She's good. Better than a fair number of men who call themselves SOLDIERs. Most of those men are simply... good enough. Strong enough to handle the average monster and keep the general populace in line. Not good enough to go toe-to-toe with him.

Accordingly, he shifts gears, not simply parrying but countering. Putting more of his strength into his strikes. People don't usually last long against this, but--

It's the branch that fails first, the wood snapping as his makeshift sword slams into hers.

Not that he seems inclined to stop for it.

Gideon growls at the branch for being made of wood, too weak to hold up against an onslaught of strikes and blocks. Her sword would never do her dirty like this. Parry! she hears Aiglamene command (again and again and again because Gideon blocked blows by instinct, the kind of move she can get away with with a two hander). A deep breath. Exhale. Her posture shifts toward that of a rapier.

Foul as it is, Gideon parries and sidesteps and sticks close to him to deny him the advantage of reach. She presses against him, refusing to stay purely defensive. It's easier than her last opponents. He has two arms, two legs, a normal shaped head, no stinger or giant mandibles or shooting poison. "Your sword's at half mast," Gideon jokes.

Gideon Nav | The Locked Tomb

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