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

helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-03 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Hawks. What an on the nose name.

"I think it's entirely possible, and likely, to cook with flowers, without even considering the aspect of garnish or dessert," he offered as he moved to the flowers themselves. He laid his hand on one and closed his eyes, feeling the history of the flower. Gathered in with a big basket of others, huh? Deliberately gathered and brought here. Well, he has to assume it's food then.

Opening his eyes he took the flower and popped it into his mouth. The little pink bloom exploded with flavor as he chewed it, leaving him humming thoughtfully.

"It tastes peppery. It would be good, worked in a marinade I think. YOu just have to figure out what to put with it."

Only then did he turn to offer his hand to the other. "I'm David. Nice to meet you Hawks."
Edited 2021-07-03 17:07 (UTC)
nanban: (mild)

[personal profile] nanban 2021-07-04 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Hawks watches David just eat a flower, which really isn't that weird. There's plenty of edible flowers, and obviously these ones are, he's just not sure how they go with fish or even in a savoury dish and not a dessert.

The weird thing is whatever he did before that.

"Huh. Flower marinade. That's a thought! Too bad I didn't see any soy sauce."

He accepts the handshake with a half smile.

"Nice to meet you, too, David. So...what's your quirk?"

Ah, right, he might not use that word.

"I mean...what was the thing you did with the flowers? I get the feeling you weren't just daydreaming." Hawks has been around people with powers all his life, after all. He imagines David's isn't a huge secret if he used it right there like it was no big deal, either.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-04 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"There could well be a substitute here, in the flowers, for soy," David offered with a nod.

But the word made him pause. Quirk? The explanation doesn't really help much, but he supposes he can get the gist of what the guy was saying.

"Psychometry. The psychic knowledge of a thing. It's one of my abilities. Sort of got used to using them in the last world that took me. Granted it's not as much use in a kitchen like this. But it does from time to time."
nanban: (bright)

[personal profile] nanban 2021-07-04 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm, maybe. Or maybe enough salt would make up for it a bit. I'm not much of a chef or anything, but a guy's gotta eat." He'd prefer familiar food that someone else cooks, but it's not as if he's a picky eater, and it's not as if he can't cook at all. He can manage for himself. These ingredients are just a little strange.

"So you touch a thing and you learn about it? I bet you were a whiz in school," he answers. It is an impressive power, actually, and one that might come in handy when trying to learn about these damned islands.

He ruffles his feathers a bit.

"My quirk's pretty obvious, I guess," he says. That's half-true; his wings are impossible to miss. But all the things he can do with his feathers, his speed, his sharp eyesight...those are less obvious. He likes to keep some of it under wraps just in case. Having to be a spy at home, though he hates that whole thing, has made him good at secrets.

"You mean you used them on the last island?" he prods. But that isn't what David said. He said last world that took me, and that's something Hawks definitely wants to know more about.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne / Prodigy - From Marvel Comics (Awkward Questions (Uncertain))

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-04 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can learn the history of something," David confirmed. "And I was, but I wasn't born with this skill. My mutant ability was psychomimetry, which is a whole other thing that made school too easy and too hard all at once."

Which requires another explanation he isn't ready for. Instead he reaches for another flower and takes a little nibble. This he knows. Sage flowers. They'll work.

"I can roast some fish I think. If you're hungry."

He looked up after that and looked over the wings, but didn't seem that bothered by them at all. In fact, he looked at them with a familiar eye, just a quick check to make sure the wings didn't need tending and the feathers were all healthy. They seemed to have that gleam to them.

"Not the last island. I'm new. I mean this isn't the first power to kidnap me from home. The last world, it granted me more power than I was born with."
nanban: (good side)

[personal profile] nanban 2021-07-07 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"Does that work on people, that history thing?" Hawks asks. He sure as hell hopes not, since he has too many secrets. David didn't seem weird when they touched, so...well, here's hoping. Hawks presents himself as a much more open book than he really is. Spy training does that to a guy.

"Psychomimetry is a new one on me, too. I mean, there's probably folks back home who have quirks like that. I wanna think they'd be heroes, but the way things are in my world, we wouldn't be so lucky." Hawks doesn't like having to get buddy buddy with villains, though he has to at home, but he knows what types of people often end up on the villain side.

Life isn't that black and white, either, but their society is what it is.

"More power? Sounds way more useful than here. From what I know, a lotta people stuck on the universe's worst cruise have trouble with their powers." Hawks is lucky; his wings are literally part of him, and his control over his feathers remains in tact, as far as he knows. He can't leave, of course, but that seems to be another issue entirely.

His feathers are definitely well kept. He takes pride in his appearance, and big red wings are part of it. Though with all this pollen here, keeping them dusted might prove difficult. Ah, well.

"You missed the roaring 20s on the last island. I'm not sure if we did what we were supposed to over there or what. But we're here now. And roasted fish sounds great, man, if you're sure. I'm only passable in the kitchen."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-07 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Psychometry works on objects, not people," David promises. "And I'm not a full telepath, so what psychomimetry gives me is limited. But more than that, I try not to copy knowledge from people whenever I can avoid it. Back home it's not under my control, but it's also less of an overload there because my brain just brushes past the things it already knows. Which it won't be able to do about another world."

Still, the very idea that someone with David's power might make one prone to going evil makes him more than a touch upset. David himself had always had concerns about how his powers might play out. Having someone from the outside suggest the same was not the greatest to hear.

"I wouldn't be surprised if I find issues with my powers over time. I haven't tried to exert most of them here. Sometimes I don't want to. Like..."

He gestures to the fish.

"I wouldn't want to know it's history. Deaths are traumatic to experience. So I'd rather be able to cook it with no problems. That the one you want?"
nanban: (enhhhh)

[personal profile] nanban 2021-07-11 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
"Sounds like a pretty startling thing to not have under control. One second you're just chilling, the next, bam, shooting lightning outta your fingers or something. Rough." They certainly do sound like interesting powers, and not quite like anything Hawks has encountered close up. At some point he'll have a reason to use some of his own other powers, but they're nothing like David's.

Though he hopes he never has to try to listen in on others, to spy on them. He prefers honesty to subterfuge, no matter how good he is at it.

He looks at the fish and makes a face.

"Yeah, when you put it like that, that...is pretty grim. But sure, let's have that one and try not to think about its gruesome sacrifice so that we might not starve." He's being melodramatic entirely on purpose, of course.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-11 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Usually mutant power manifestation is a bit more... traumatic than even that," David admits. He hadn't known many people that hadn't come out of their manifestation emotionally scarred. He was one of the few, so far as he knew.

"There are prayers that can be offered to thank animals for their sacrifice. More than one. I know a few, if you're interested."

Meanwhile he's immediately scrounging around for the tools he'll need to prepare the fish.

"Also, did you see any cheese? I know it's a long shot, but I love fish stuffed with chees."
nanban: (enhhhh)

[personal profile] nanban 2021-07-20 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Hawks is surprised at that. Traumatic? Yikes. Some quirk manifestation is surprising or probably terrible, he knows. It depends on the quirk. Some people don’t have control over theirs, especially the volatile ones. They’re not all massively powerful right away, thankfully. He wonders what Endeavor’s was like back at the beginning, but he knows the big guy would never talk about it. Hawks, again, just has wings. The things he can do with his feathers, the telekinesis and all, that took learning, experimentation. All his trauma was from abuse, not from his inherent abilities.

“Well shit, man, that’s a lot to deal with,” he says.

He shrugs a shoulder. “I’m not much for praying, but considering the whole redemption thing, a word or two of thanks can’t hurt.” He’s not sure he buys any of it, but whatever gets them all home and safe faster? Yeah, he’s a fan of that.

He turns to look for other ingredients, but so far it’s a no go on cheese.

“Cheese sounds amazing, but I haven’t found any yet. Let’s keep looking.”
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-21 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
"How about you do that while I work on cleaning the fish and starting the fire to cook over?" David suggests as he tries to dodge the question of how much it was to deal with. Which was insanely too much.


"Honestly, I've given up on the idea of praying to goes. The number of them I know and who I know couldn't save me from things I've been through. It just won't happen."
nanban: (enhhhh)

[personal profile] nanban 2021-08-01 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Hawks doesn’t push that button for now. They just met; he loves to push buttons, but some things are delicate. He knows enough to save delicate for later, okay! He’s good at what he does, after all, and a lot of what he does is play people. That’s not his quirk, but it’s a learned skill. What kind of spy guy would he be if he had never learned that much?

“You know gods? Is that, like, a metaphor or something more literal?”

For his part, Hawks isn’t sure he believes in gods in a real sense, but this whole multiverse thing? Well, he’s trying to get his head around it. It’s a lot to try to understand.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-02 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
"I wish it was a metaphor. Spent some time traveling with Loki."

Which was not a full burst of honesty. The god of mischief and magic, and now stories in his world, had hit on him, and David had thought he was joking until he looked back on it later. Not that he thought turning the guy down had been a mistake.

"I've been in a room with Thor, not that I know him well. And I've met the Demiurge."

That's the understatement of a lifetime there.