Something in the air...

[polymods]

✖ 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

Comments

the temple

[queenking]

Oh hell yeah, meat. Saxsice had been snoozing when she smelled the familiar, beloved odor of cooking meat and roused herself enough to go poking around. All she's been able to get for some reason has been the coarse bread, and she's had to hunt for herself to get meat.

Of course, she doesn't really register that she's been napping in wolf form, so what Gideon gets is a bigass fluffy white wolf trotting out of the shadows and plunking itself down on the other side of the fire, orange eyes wide and pleading. Just like a family pet, begging for a handout.

the temple

[necrosavior]

Gideon in all her life has never seen anything like the large cords of muscle on four legs plastered over with white fur (as though that would hide the power those muscles promise). It's not threatening her. No, Gideon eyes the pot of salty water and water protein and eyes the animal. Yeah, it wants some. She reaches out to scratch its head and behind its ears. "Are you a good little temple guardian?" Gideon asks. Because she assumes that's what it is. Being cooked for is a good reason to welcome others into their home.

She spoons one out and nearly drops it when the hot meat touches her hands. She tosses it back and forth between hands until she gets it on the plate. Eyeing her soon to be new friend, Gideon ignores the heat and pulls it in half. One of them she tosses toward the animal, and the other she picks at herself. "Be warned, I've never cooked this before," she says. The flesh flakes away in pieces, hiding tiny bones that could be used to kill someone.

[queenking]

The head-scritches get a low, rumbling sound, but judging by the way the wolf eagerly headbutts into Gideon's hand, it's a pleased noise. The long, fluffy tail thumps against the ground a couple times, then there's a huff of noise that's almost like a canine laugh. Temple guardian isn't the worst thing Saxsice has ever been called, after all, and she'll let it be assumed for the moment. Especially if it gets her food.

The meat is saltier than she usually prefers -- but it's also cooked, and like this she tends towards raw and freshly-killed. Still, food is food, and the big wolf snuffles at the meat once, licks it, then scarfs it down without even chewing. Her tail swishes against the ground again, and she inches closer on her stomach, golden eyes big and pleading. More?

[necrosavior]

Gideon's no fancy diner. She's pulling off bits of fish and stuffing it in her mouth. That still takes more time than the living protein recycler, extraneous bits and all, before her. It's impressive. Not so much she'll forgo her own food altogether, but the temple has been generous enough to let them take what they need.

She reaches for the bin of uncooked protein, and with one hand she holds a couple up. Is that enough? Gideon pulls them toward the pot of boiling water.

[queenking]

Oh wait, there's a whole bin? Saxsice had been distracted by the spirit of fellowship and sharing of food, but now that they're besties, she can go right to being an absolute meat-hog. She creeps over, still on her stomach, and starts snuffling at the bin, sticking her long nose in and even reaching one paw up to tip it over.

No, go ahead, carry on with your salty soup, she's good here.

[necrosavior]

Gideon recognizes a common spirit when she sees one. Whether this four-legged creature is starvingly hungry, has never eaten protein this good, or simply has a never ending stomach, Gideon relates. She drops the two raw proteins into the water and reaches past the long nose and paw to grab one more. Laughing, Gideon pushes the bin over for her fellow spirit and drops her last protein into the pot. "All yours," she says.

The pot continues to boil, contained within. "I don't know if you can," Gideon says after a moment, "but if you can save any of the little bones, I know someone who could use them."

[queenking]

The wolf rumbles pleasantly, flopping back onto her stomach and sticking her entire head into the bin, tail now wagging wildly and sending up puffs of pollen that coat every surface. It gives her pale fur a golden sheen, even as she wiggles free to give Gideon a long, thoughtful look. Her mouth is full, and she chews a couple times, meditatively.

And then, lowering her head, she spits out all the tiny bones, carefully stripped clean of any flesh, albeit extremely slobbery. Her tongue lolls out as she looks up, awaiting praise. See? Bones!

[necrosavior]

The protein greases her fingers. Gideon licks them clean-ish while she waits for more. The instant meal-ness her new friend gets is something she wishes she got. Cooking and food isn't anything she's great at, but she does know she needs food cooked. Unless she doesn't because some stuff just doesn't kill her. Not exploring that at the moment. She claps at the pile of bones. "Damn, that's some nice work," she says, "Thanks." She scoops them up and places them in a bowl with the others.

"Those are going to become itty bitty skeletons or real size ones," Gideon shares, "Depends on what's needed." The little ones would be cute, especially if they played little bone instruments. There's a valid reason for a little skeleton band right? "Got any need for little skeleton friends?"

[queenking]

Pleased with herself, the wolf wags her tail, then goes back to the bin of meat cubes. Now that her hunger is slaked somewhat, she's more methodical about getting the little bones out, holding a chunk between her big paws and meticulously nibbling at the shreds of meat. Periodically she pauses to look up at Gideon, watching her cook.

The question gets an exaggerated headtilt, first to the left, then the right. That's...very strange. No, she doesn't, but where are the little skeletons gonna come from? They're just bones.

[necrosavior]

She laughs. It's impossible to hold back, and Gideon hasn't laughed this hard in some time. Her skills are not in making skeletons, so she cannot make the little bones spring apart into full skeletons or even bind them together into roughly the right shape. "If you want, I'll see if she'll make them for us after we eat," Gideon offers. She supposes, also, that she should save Harrow some food.

[queenking]

She's still bewildered, but the laughter gets another swish of her tail, and she nudges a few more bones towards Gideon, pleased to be contributing to the cause of the laughter. Still, her curiosity is irrepressible, so after another couple bites, she curls in on herself, shuddering and stretching with many alarming sounds of bones cracking into place, before --

"See if who will?" As she always is post-transformation, Saxsice is mostly covered in white fur, shaking her head to get it out of her face. It's more or less, uh...modesty fur, clinging to her skin in clumps. But it sheds off in great handfuls as she sits up and reaches for the bin to count the remaining food.

[necrosavior]

Bone cracking body horror is fine, downright normal even. A living, breathing, talking and healthy human being coming out the other side however? Gideon cannot help but notice that it's an attractive naked-ish woman either. She's simply so confused by this turn of events, that's more important than anything else. "Woah woah woah," Gideon says once she picks her jaw off the floor. "Back up a moment."

Her eyes close, and Gideon squeezes them tight before reopening them. Nope, still hot lady who was an animal. "How are you surviving that? What is that? What the fuck, lady?" She doubts even the best flesh magicians can do that.

[queenking]

There's fur in her mouth, gross, that part never gets easier. Saxsice stands up, spitting a couple times, then grabs for a folded-up blanket stacked on a nearby bench, holding it up as she shakes the loose fur off, then wrapping it around herself. "Blech, ew, sorry if I got fluff in your, uhhhhh...soup?"

She plops back down, cross-legged, reaching for more raw meat. "Lots and lots of practice. Don't try that at home, you might get stuck halfway through." She's clearly joking, grinning toothily and popping a chunk of meat in her mouth. Chewing and talking simultaneously, she adds: "I'm a shape-shifter, it's totally normal. Well, not normal, but it's part'a me. Don't freak out."

[necrosavior]

It is possible Blood of Eden is even weirder than anything in the comics Gideon read. Or a third party? She's not sure if third parties exist, something outside of the two civilizations throwing themselves at each other. "It's just fur. Not that bad," Gideon shrugs. She lays 50/50 odds she drinks the broth at the end.

Mind stuck on the woman, Gideon reaches for one of the proteins in the pot and drops it. She catches it with the other hand, but it's still hot, so the thing flops back and forth between her hands until it cools down. "I got no right to judge given how weird a place I'm from," Gideon says. All the other Houses agree, and that's the rest of necromantic civilization. "Hey, I'm Gideon. I forgot what you asked."

[queenking]

"Extra protein, maybe?" Saxsice snorts a little, spitting out the little bones and continuing to add them to the store. "Or, uh, fiber? I dunno what fur's made of, despite havin' it a good amount of the time." Another cube of meat goes in her mouth and she mumbles around it. "Thank for not tryin' to stab me or somethin'."

Swallowing, she tilts her head to one side. "What kinda place are you from? Not somewhere people can shape-shift like that and live, I suppose." Then she grins, toothily. "Saxsice. Nice to meetcha. I don't remember either."

[necrosavior]

"Do you want to know about bones? I've learned about those whether I wanted to or not," Gideon offers. Except for the whole animals on this planet's islands thing, this would have been Gideon's first experience with furred anything. Much less ones that turn into hot women. She scratches the side of her head. "You weren't wielding a sword."

This new person, Saxsice, is definitely not from the Nine Houses. Outside of that, she doesn't know. In defense of the other Houses, they probably have animals. "Imagine a tiny nunnery or monk house, monastery?, except smush them together, full of a bunch of old religious people. Now stuff that down a hole in a small space rock. Oh, and the skeletons outnumber the people. They help grow the horrible tasting food. Though it is blessedly not so fucking bright," Gideon describes it. She taps her sunglasses that weren't necessary on the Ninth House.

[queenking]

"Oh, hell yeah, tell me all about bones. Why do you need all these little guys?" Saxsice holds up one of the teensy bones, scrunching her nose at it. "They're just kinda...poky little things." Then she lets out a snort, setting the bone back on the pile. "Yeah, kinda hard to hold a sword with no thumbs."

The description is...weird. She's stuck on whether the space rock or the skeleton bit is more bizarre. It's kind of an all-around tie, Saxsice finally decides. "That's...huh. Yeah, that's nothin' like where I'm from."

[necrosavior]

Gideon smiles at the narrow bone, remembering what Harrow could do with it before she even became a Lyctor. Nothing like dropping bits of bone through the lock to Gideon's cell. "For my necromancer," Gideon says. "Someone has to get those skeletons farmings. She's the one. Also she's so damn good she can take one of these and make a whole lot more out of it. Then you have poky big things. Size of a room if there's reason for it." Yeah, Gideon wants to claim a little credit for how good Harrow is. They pushed each other on their entire lives.

"Not being able to wield a sword is a big downside if you ask me," Gideon says. "You could maybe have a machete by gripping the handle in your teeth, but it's not the same." A funny image though. "What's it like where you are from?"

[queenking]

Saxsice listens, completely mystified, chin propped in both hands. "So...she can make...big skeletons out of little tiny bones?" It sounds ridiculous, but then again, she's the one that was a wolf ten minutes ago. "How d'you learn to do somethin' like that? I mean, it sure sounds useful and all, but...wow."

Please don't give this woman a sword, she will stab herself within five seconds. But she has to admit the mental image is a funny one, chuckling a bit. "Well, it's definitely sunnier. I live near the ocean, so it always smells like salt and fish. It's a lot like this island, actually, with fewer flowers and more belligerent people tweaked out on crack." Cue a heavy sigh. "I miss it."

[necrosavior]

"Yep. If you want to see, I can goad her into showing off," Gideon offers. She grins. Yes, Gideon knows how to push Harrows buttons (and vice versa). "Okay, there's a few steps:

1. Be born a powerful af necromancer
   
2. Obtain a rival to test your wits against
   
3. Study hard
   
4. Abuse the books in the library with your commentary
   
5. Profit"

Gideon is not sure what to make of Saxice's home. Only that belligerent people might mean she could fight more. That might be discouraged when living there long term. Unfortunately. "Are you expecting to go back?" Gideon motions around them. "From here?"

[queenking]

Saxsice listens intently, forehead creasing in thought. "Well, you had me at "rival", I love rivals, but then ya lost me with "study" and "library", then got me back with "profit", so that was a real roller coaster." She pauses, then adds, flatly: "Also the bein' born a necromancer thing. I already failed step one."

Their general surroundings get a scowly sort of look, and Saxsice props her chin in one hand. "I'm sure as hell gonna try my best to, yeah. I've got shit to do back home. Important shit."

[necrosavior]

"Almost everyone fails the being born a necromancer thing," Gideon waves a hand. That's the bigger board. Also the buffer stronger boat. Solid bones. She's not sure if shit will get serious, so she tosses in one last light comment. "If you only want a rival and profit, you should become the rival to a necromancer of your very own. Your steps 3 and 4 are whatever you need to do to hold your own with them. Turning into a wolf makes the cut, I'd say."

She's not sure if there is a getting home. For herself, she has no idea what it means, no idea where she would be (the awkward thing about misplacing your own body). "You don't have to confide that with a stranger, unless it's that it's important to shit. In which case, may your bowels love you."

[queenking]

"Well, good to know I'm in the majority for that. I'd probably be bad at it. I like chewin' bones, not makin' em move." Still, Saxsice looks pleased at the idea of being at least on a necromancer's level, being a shape-shifter and all. "Don't really wanna be a rival to anyone, but if it's what I gotta do..."

Then she blinks rapidly before laughing and covering her face. "No, no, I mean -- I've got important stuff to do. Not. There ain't no bowels involved. I appreciate the sentiment, though."

[necrosavior]

Gideon picks up a few of the narrow fragile bones. "I can make bones move," she says, making them dance across the floor. She laughs, not quite sure when she last laughed with someone so easily. This island is good. She's not sure about the Ancient and the whole conscription toward self-improvement program (sounds maybe????? like some Eighth House bullshit, if they got off their 'fuck up and die' high horse).

Her smile sticks around. That's what's so good about bad jokes. They make things better. "I haven't bothered making a to do list for if I go back..." Gideon shrugs. "It was all chaotic enough right then that wouldn't work. Even if I was a list maker/note writer." A small shrug. "Shame it's not bowels. You could work on that here."

[queenking]

That gets a delighted snort and, finally, Saxsice seems to have eaten enough food to satisfy herself (for the moment). "Dunno if that counts, but I'm still real impressed. I could probably getcha more, if you want? I catch rabbits and stuff all the time. Bigger bones."

Then she tilts her head to one side, giving Gideon a thoughtful once-over. "You don't sound too bothered 'bout the idea of not goin' back. Do you not really want to?"