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 2021-07-05 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not on the regular. But there was the alternate world, after that, where our personalities were sort of overridden and I was the lover to both of them," David answered with a shrug. "Trust me, Flupper was not the weirdest shit I've dealt with."
kyley_b: https://mcnuggyy.tumblr.com/ (gah!)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-05 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay, so, and I say this really nicely dude, but... Your love life is sort of blursed."

Outside he inhales deeply. No matter what else, this place really is calming. "I've seen weirder than Flupper," he admits. "But he was after you. Maybe you just have weird cosmic sex vibes that screw you over."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-05 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Dude, it's a SERIOUS mess, you don't even know the half of it. Literally."

Oh god, no, there are no weird cosmic sex vibes. Please don't.

"I'm not a cosmic sex icon or more poeple would be jumping me regularly."
kyley_b: https://skiesandrainforest.tumblr.com/ (lunch)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-05 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Kyle stops and looks at David, eyebrows raised. "I mean. You only just got here," he points out. Then he frowns.

"Wait a second. You really DON'T know you're hot. Oh my fucking GOD!" This last is uttered as he tosses his hands up and buries them in his hair, tugging. "Uggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you're just like my friend Carter! 'Oh, I'm built like a brick shithouse but I'm not sexyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.'"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-05 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Wait, what? David frowns at Kyle's conclusion, which was really fucked up. Then he shook his head.

"Carter? The mutant telepath? You know him?"

David's already made friends with the guy, helped when they had a connection in a weird way.

"I'm aware that there are people who find me attractive. I'm also aware that except for creepy stalkers as previously noted, I don't get a lot of people sniffing around. THat's all I'm saying."
kyley_b: https://mcnuggyy.tumblr.com/ (hey)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-05 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Kyle nods. "Yeah, he got me shot at, the son of a bitch." He sounds affectionate as he insults him. "Just minding my own business and then the next thing I know there's gangsters trying to kill us and I took some lady's chihuahua hostage."

Look, Kyle had a rough time on Carcosa.

"You know him, too? That's cool, we can all hang out. You two can, I dunno, do pull-ups while I sit and read."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-05 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wait, you were part of that mafia adventure? He told me he got pistol whipped."

The affectionate is a cute touch. David has to chuckle.

"I met him on the beach there, int he waters. We sort of know some of the same people. He lived, for a little bit, at the school I went to, before things went really bad."

Do pull-ups? David snorts in amusement.

"I like reading too, Kyle."
kyley_b: https://mcnuggyy.tumblr.com/ (hey)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-05 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I was, and yeah, he did. I totally saved us, don't let him tell you different." This is debatable.

"Small world," Kyle says dryly. "That or this Ancient is deliberately targeting people with superpowers, in which case I really ought to be sent home because hanging out with you guys seems to result in my near death an awful lot."

Which should probably be more concerning than it is, but on the other hand... having friends usually meant some sort of trouble, didn't it?
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-05 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, he definitely hadn't been told that Carter had saved someone. Which made him proud of hte guy. NO need to brag. It was just what they did. But he winced at that.

"Hey, I haven't resulted in near death yet."
kyley_b: https://lafiska.tumblr.com/ (laugh)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-05 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yet!" Kyle agrees, but he's smiling. "And, okay, to be fair to Carter it's not always death, sometimes it's just... being chased by monsters and shit." He finds one of the many ladders that lead to the ground.

"Actually, maybe it's not you guys at all. Maybe it's me. We need further evidence, obviously."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-05 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Clearly just you," David agrees, even with no evidence. But he enjoyed the tease anyway. That was what friends did.

"But if you need more data, go out and get it. Lord knows I don't want the trouble that is clearly following you."
kyley_b: https://mcnuggyy.tumblr.com/ (hey)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-05 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Kyle can't manage anything as dignified as a chuckle - no, he giggles. Just a shrill xylophone of laughter. He swings around onto the ladder.

"What, you're not gonna come for a walk? C'mon, don't be a pussy, David."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, that's a laugh. It keeps happening. He is actually impressed by it.

"Yeah, I'm coming for a walk, just because I have to make sure you don't get yourself absolutely wasted or killed or kidnapped to be the bride of a giant wasp or something."
kyley_b: https://lafiska.tumblr.com/ (laugh)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-06 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
Kyle, does not possess David's dulcet tones.

"Maybe I'd get along with the Wasp King," Kyle says as he descends the ladder. "Maybe he'd be like... a really attentive husband who supports me and my goals."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Very few people tend to possess David's dulcet tones. Mostly it's just David and others David's. That's part of being David.

Still, he chuckles as he descends after Kyle.

"Then by all means, get you some Wasp King Thorax."
kyley_b: https://lafiska.tumblr.com/ (laugh)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-06 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Kyle sighs dramatically and faux swoons once he's on the ground. "Alas, it's not to be. I'm not the marrying type."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Wow, way to break a bride's heart," David chuckled when he reached the ground. "Maybe I should go back to Flupper. He probably knew how to treat a man."

The joking makes all the rest better, he knows. It makes everything they talked about easier. By a long stretch.
kyley_b: https://lafiska.tumblr.com/ (laugh)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-06 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
"You can have the Wasp King, if you want," Kyle offers. "I bet you'd make a totally cool couple, you have the same colour scheme going on."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll pass," David says, "if only because of the color scheme."

He heads off through the flowers, considering the area around htem very slowly and carefully.

"So I've seen the beach party island, I've heard of mafia island. And this is what? Odysseus and the Lotus eaters?"
kyley_b: https://mcnuggyy.tumblr.com/ (gah!)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-06 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
Kyle studies the plants, knowing many of them shouldn't be growing together. It's fascinating but unsettling, too.

"Hah! Maybe," Kyle says, but almost immediately looks more serious. "...no, really. Maybe? People are REALLY chill here..."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
David's unnerved too, mostly because he was overflowing with the knowledge Ororo had about plants. This was a problem.

"Careful what plants you eat?" David asks. "It's... I could try and reach into someone's mind, see if the plants are like that."
kyley_b: https://mcnuggyy.tumblr.com/ (hey)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-06 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Like one of the islanders? Yeah. Or I guess we could just ask them, first." He laughs a little. "Jeez, someone might call us paranoid."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
"YOu could, but would they answer if they really were lotus eaters?" David answered, shrugging. His power would give something more conclusive, but he would avoid using them unless someone said it was a good idea.

"I'm very paranoid. Sometimes it keeps me alive."
kyley_b: https://sleepyeule.tumblr.com/ (shook)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-07-06 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Another good point. Although if it's anything like the myth, I guess we'd just stop caring about getting home." He shivers. "Which is actually terrifying now that I've said it out loud."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-07-06 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Absolutely terrifying," David agrees. "I need to go home. I can't... I need to see my sister."

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