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

extrasensory_problems: (puppy eyes)

you get the puppy eyes icon

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-03 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooooh boy, here it is.

One of the things he had hoped for but also dreaded the most... Before these islands he had been able to create a normal life for himself, something that was his, something that allowed him to ignore the most painful parts of his past in order to move forward into his future.
But now, standing in front of him, is one hell of a big part of that past.

Carter takes a deep breath, his heart still racing and his throat feeling suddenly very tight. "Yeah." He croaks, "Urm...we met when I was little. You were friends with my mom, Annie. Annie Ghazikhanian."
speed_of_snark: (wut)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-03 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
At first, there's absolutely no change in Jean-Paul's expression: he looks coldly haughty and vaguely annoyed. But then his eyes thaw, widen, and he opens his mouth to speak. Closes it. Opens it again.

"Carter?!" he asks. "But you're so... big!"
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-03 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Well whatever response he was expecting it wasn't that, mostly he's just happy that Jean-Paul remembers Annie because for one horrible heart stopping moment he thought JP was going to just continue to stare at him and then dismiss him with a wave of his hand and a casual "I have no idea who that pathetic woman is or who you are little boy, now be on way."

It's such a relief that a choked sort of laugh forces it's way out of his throat and he runs a hand through his hair awkwardly, "Uh...yeah. That's what happens when you grow up usually."
speed_of_snark: (welp)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-04 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Ouais, but it hasn't been that long," Jean-Paul insists. Or has it? It seems impossible, but then time skips or parallel dimensions are the least of a superhero's worries. He takes a step closer and puts his hands on Carter's upper arms, holding him at length and studying him critically.

"You still have her eyes," he says finally. "So I believe you."
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-04 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter stands still as Jean-Paul studies him, fully expecting this, it's just in Jean-Paul's nature to harshly judge things so he isn't offended by the way he's inspecting him. He nods when he's told that he has his mothers eyes, he sees it as well and should Jean-Paul manage to make him really smile, not just his usual slanted smile, he will see another resemblance.

"You look practically the same." He says, "Is that just because of good genetics or do you use a ton of moisturizer?"
speed_of_snark: (actual smile)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-04 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Both," Jean-Paul says, smiling. He pulls Carter in for a brief hug, something he isn't normally a fan of.

"I can't believe you're here. How's your mother?"
extrasensory_problems: (hurt)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-05 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Carter accepts the hug with a smile but it falters when Jean-Paul asks about his mother, he suddenly feels sick again and on the verge of tears.

"She...she died." He says and swallows thickly, "She died from complications from multiple stab wounds."
speed_of_snark: (wut)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-05 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul's eyes go huge. "Oh, no," he says, sounding winded. "Câlice. Oh, Carter, I'm so very sorry." He looks as if he's been gutpunched.

"I didn't know. Oh, Chrisse, if I'd known..."
extrasensory_problems: (hurt)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-05 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
"You couldn't have known, it happened so quickly and when she died I...." He starts to explain but then stops, not wanting to expand on what really happened when he was thirteen.

"...I went away."

He says simply and lets out a trembling sigh, "I got bounced around in foster homes for a while and I kept thinking about emailing you to tell you about what had happened but...I would get scared."
speed_of_snark: (wtf)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-05 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, Carter." Not a hugger, he nonetheless pulls Carter into another embrace.

"I'm so sorry. I cared about your mother very much. You as well." He lets go an looks him over again. "I may not have even bene around," he admits. "I spent a period of time, well. Dead, a little. And then not myself.

"Chrisse but you look so OLD! How old are you now?"
extrasensory_problems: (mom)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-05 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
Tears well up in his eyes and he embraces Jean-Paul back tightly, unable to speak any of the gratitude he feels for finally finding someone who genuinely cared about his mother.
About him.

He sniffles a bit when Jean-Paul releases him and tries for a small smile, "So you were only mostly dead or something?"

"I'm twenty four now."
speed_of_snark: (okaaaaaaaaay)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-05 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
"That's impossible, that would mena sixteen years has passed, and I know I'm not that old," Jean-Paul insists. "Hn. Probably some fucking time skip. Whatever, I'm not going to worry about it. You're Annie's kid, that's enough for me.

"Chrisse, you grew up ripped, though, that's pretty disconcerting."
extrasensory_problems: (bw_shirtless)

pffft yeah not ripped at all....

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-05 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not ripped," He says, a little embarrassed at the phrase. "I just work out regularly, I've been doing martial arts since I was about sixteen as a way to help balance my powers so I guess being in shape is bonus."
speed_of_snark: (okaaaaaaaaay)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-05 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"How are you doing with those?" As a now long-time teacher of mutant kids, Jean-Paul is always concerned by questions of training. Especially with anybody whose powers have the potential for great harm.
extrasensory_problems: (brow furrow)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-05 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter shrugs non committedly, "Fine I guess. Don't really use them much but I meditate every morning to help keep things in check."
speed_of_snark: (qu'est-ce que c'est?)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-06 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul frowns. "That hardly seems sufficient, Carter, considering what you were able to do BEFORE puberty."
extrasensory_problems: (over shoulder)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-06 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's better if I don't use it." He says firmly and then gives another shrug, "Besides most days I'm too exhausted from school and working at the hospital to even try using my powers."
speed_of_snark: (han)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-07 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul's entire being telegraphs displeasure. "That's incredibly dangerous," he says, but rather than pursue that line of discussion he instead asks, "You work at the hospital? Do tell, young man."
extrasensory_problems: (up_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-07 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
He heaves a mental sigh of relief when Jean-Paul doesn't further pursue the topic of his powers, he likes Jean-Paul and is very happy to see him but the last thing he wants right now is to get into an argument about what he should be doing with his powers.

"Yeah before I got a one way ticket here I was in nursing school." He explains, "I was working at the hospital to pay rent but also gain experience."
speed_of_snark: (this haircut)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-07 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
That argument will come, in time.

That makes Jean-Paul smile. An actual smile, not one of his 'I have to do this because my PR guy made me' ones. "Ah, ouais. Your mother would be so very proud of you. I think you know that, though."

His eyes slide away for a moment, looking at some of the flowers that grow absolutely everywhere. It's still hard to believe that the lovely woman who's nursed him out of some pretty serious injuries was really dead. He looks back, eyes dry.

"This is where you fill me in on all the excitement, like... girlfriends, wild parties, whatever. Twenty-something stuff."
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-07 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"It seemed like the most natural and fitting profession to pick." Carter says, blushing a little at the mention of his mother being proud, this blush only gets darker though when Jean-Paul asks about girlfriends.

"Uh I'm kind of a disappointment in that regard. I'm usually too busy with school, work or martial arts to go to parties and uh....I seem to have perpetual bad luck with girls."
speed_of_snark: (ohoho)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-07 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul's perfect eyebrows arch up. "A handsome young man like you? Hn. Well. I can understand being too busy, I spent much of my life too busy to date, myself."

He inspects his nails and buffs them quickly on his shirt. "I'd say apps exist, except now we're on fucking magic islands so it's not like it matters."
extrasensory_problems: (up_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-07 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've had a few girlfriends in the past but not for a while." He says, smiling at how den motherly Jean-Paul sounds when he says 'a handsome young man like you', a thing that he's sure not to point out.

"But yeah somehow I don't think Tinder works on these islands, which...whatever, it sucks anyways." He pauses and raises his own eyebrow up in an echo of Jean-Paul's, maybe that's where he gets it from?

"What about you? Did you ever get to go on a date with the frosty the dweeb?"
Edited 2021-07-07 23:15 (UTC)
speed_of_snark: (actual smile)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-07-07 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul has become a lot more dad like over the years. It's the time spent teaching, really.

Jean-Paul blinks, then laughs. "Non, non. Although he DID come out a few years ago, so at least I wasn't completely off. Non, actually, I'm married."
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-07-07 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"He came out? Wow, way to go ice dink." He says with just a hint of sarcasm but then his faces lights up with genuine joy.

"You got married?! Woaaah, whoever they are they must be pretty awesome to be able to tie down the great Jean-Paul."

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