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

neverwither: (It’ll be alright (or I could be sneaky))

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-15 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, Carter. And talking to you is a treat. I'm lucky to have been able to meet you. Though I may enlist your help when it comes to making those fish tacos. You know what they say - make a man a fish taco and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to make fish tacos and he'll impress at dinner parties.

( A bit of awkwardness remains but her smile comes easily. Overall, there's a palpable sense of relief. )
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-17 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
(He smiles at her joke and runs a hand through his hair.)

I wouldn't mind being able to impress at dinner parties so I'll totally help with that, maybe if I could impress at dinner parties I'd have better luck with dating....
neverwither: (Default)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-18 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
If it isn’t too forward of me to say, I’m surprised that you would need better luck in that arena. Though I appreciate that it can be difficult to find the right person, or persons.
extrasensory_problems: (mmmaaaaaybe)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-19 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
That's very kind of you but I've historically had...uh what might be considered horrible luck when it comes to dating.
neverwither: (It killed the cat)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-21 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
It is a little tempting to ask what the worst date you've been on is...

() The unspoken part is clearly that it would be rude to do so. )

Though I'm also happy to play agony aunt.
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-21 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh you don't even have to ask, I'll tell you. The worst in recent memory was when I took this girl to a nice fancy bar for drinks and she was rude to the servers, got super drunk and then proceeded to tell me all about her ex boyfriend and how awful he was but how much she still missed having sex with him.
And then she went and threw up in the bathroom for an hour.
neverwither: (Oh sh!t)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-21 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no, that's awful. I'm sorry you had that experience. How did you meet her? Was it on an app? I've heard that they can be... rather questionable at times.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah it was on an app, which I don't normally like, usually I like to meet people more organically, but a few friends of mine told me it was a good way to meet people.
I also had another date where she found out I was a nursing student and decided to list off all of her ailments and tried to get me to solve them right there at dinner....
neverwither: (It’ll be alright (or I could be sneaky))

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that sounds like positively splendid dinner conversation. How do you navigate these not so pleasant dates? Is it a case of escaping through a bathroom window?
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
(He chuckles and shakes his head.)

Usually I just suffer through it but every once in a while I've had friends pretend to call me with some sort of fake emergency that I have to run off to.
neverwither: (It’ll be alright (or I could be sneaky))

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
That seems a sound strategy. Though I do hope your luck changes for the better. There must be a quota of bad dates that means a good one is very much deserved.
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
That would be nice, maybe that's why we are all here. This is one big dating bootcamp put on by the Ancient One.

(He's kidding...well mostly.)

What about you? Do you have any bad dating stories?
neverwither: (Shy away)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose that would be less intimidating than the great journey of self-discovery. Or perhaps more intimidating. I'm not quite sure. ( But she laughs softly.

The blue blush rises in her cheeks again as she shakes her head. )


Me? No. I've never been on a date like that, actually. I mean, there is someone... My creator... But... Well... You can't really take your android out for dinner.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
(He watches as she blushes again and notes the way she pauses when talking about her creator, curious if they had felt the same way about her or if it was one sided. He hopes it was returned, android or not she's a sweet person and deserves to have that affection returned.)

Is it like, socially unacceptable where you are from to do so? Could two androids date one another?
Edited 2021-07-22 18:15 (UTC)
neverwither: (I think of things I wish I didn’t)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
( There are several long and complicated stories to it all. It makes her take pause again as she debates how, and exactly how much, to explain. )

To my knowledge, a human wouldn't publicly date an android. People have always thought of androids as just... things. There is some degree of truth to that, though... As for two androids dating, there isn't really anything to stop them doing so, as such.
extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
But you have emotions and your own thoughts right? That makes you more than just a thing. Did you ever meet another android you had a crush on?
neverwither: (When you stare into the abyss)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
That's... quite a complex question. ( One Chloe herself isn't entirely sure of the answer to. ) An android that feels emotion and follows their own thoughts, has their own opinions and wishes, is what's known as a 'deviant' - they've gone beyond or against their programming.

( That gets more head shaking. ) I'm Elijah's - my creator's - android. I don't think of things like that.
extrasensory_problems: (thinking)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
(Carter pauses to think on this information, he doesn't think the term 'deviant' is a very good one for someone who just wants to have their own emotions and will but he isn't about to argue it seeing how she didn't come up with the term.)

So....by being here and existing outside your creator and his wishes and your programming does that make you a deviant?
neverwither: (Not the happiest camper)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
( The LED at her temple begins to circle red; a sign of stress. It takes her a moment to answer. )

Yes. And no. It hasn’t… exactly been the same for me as it has for other androids. It’s a lot to explain. ( She smiles, but it’s hollow. ) Not to mention trade secrets.
extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
(Carter's brows furrow at the sudden change in her demeanor and at how her current smile looks so different than the ones he's seen from her till now.)

It's okay, you don't have to explain it all. I'm sorry about asking so many questions, I've been told that sometimes I'm too curious for my own good.
neverwither: (When you stare into the abyss)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-22 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
No, no, it isn’t you. It’s just… It’s me. You haven’t done anything wrong, Carter.

Just… Imagine that all your life you knew exactly what you were and that you were exactly what you were meant to be. And then… you’re not.
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-22 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
If that happened to me I think that would leave me feeling very confused and displaced and I would probably spend a lot of time either puzzling over it and my new place in life..... OR I would go on a huge three week drinking bender.
neverwither: (Default)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-27 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
( It's all gotten very serious and gloomy and while Carter is very understanding, it's an uncomfortable place to be. A place Chloe would rather get away from. The smile she finds isn't fake, but it is small. )

Well... I did find that I could drink on Carcosa so a three week bender might still be a possibility. I might nominate you as my drinking buddy, though.
extrasensory_problems: (mmmaaaaaybe)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-27 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
(He smiles and raises an eyebrow at her at the mention of being able to drink on Carcosa.)

Ohhhhh so you can drink and get tipsy? That's good to know. Now I know how to repay you for all the delicious treats, I may not be a great chef like you but I do know how to make pretty good cocktails.
neverwither: (Shy away)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-07-27 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Not usually. It was quite a surprise. I would assume that since it was possible on the previous island it would be possible here, although I haven't tested it yet. I may have to sample one of your cocktails. For scientific purposes, of course.

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