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polymods ([personal profile] polymods) wrote in [community profile] polylogs2021-07-12 03:30 pm

SPECIAL EVENT: The Flower Oracle

POLYMYTHOS: THE ISLE THAT BLOOMS

Meet The Oracle


A low thrumming sound builds in the background noise of the raised village, starting so softly that it would be easy to mistake it for the ever present hummingbirds. It keeps building slowly, somehow managing to be both a sound and to bypass the ear as it hums in the bones. The local Temple Guardians bump heads and brush against each other, quietly affirming their bond as they divide their duties: one staying with the local Temple and the other winding through the paths of the village down to the bud of the Flower Oracle in its place of honor in the city center.

The villagers stop what they’re doing, not quite in a panic, but their speed is deliberate and definite. They gather things on their way, flower wreaths, fish, beautiful food, sharp knives, until everyone has something in their arms. There is an ecstatic tension in the air, after all, the time has come when these people will yet again see substantial proof of their god, and it seems they have forgotten all about the Travelers who might have joined them. There is plenty of room for everyone to gather in a circle around the green bud that has grown even larger.

The thrum rises until it is hard to breathe, until some of the structures around begin to groan in the onslaught, and then it stops, suddenly. In the vacuum of silence, there is a wet and meaty sound as the bud begins to open, a first hint of things that look like red lips and white teeth. A canny Traveler might be forgiven for running at that point. The visceral sound of the splitting, of this birthing, continues as the bud splits, then splits again as the four sepals fall open, exposing an inner surface that glistens red and is lined at the edges with white sharp growths that may be fangs. The villagers ignore the implicit threat. They have eyes only for the structure in the middle.

Who can blame them? Translucent petals form a breathing tower, curled tight and perfect as a seashell. A glow pulses like a heartbeat as the petals slowly unfurl, collapsing elegantly to reveal the Oracle and provide protection against the threat of the sepals. The Flower Oracle is beautiful, glowing, soft and round. She is initially surrounded by four guards, each masculine and clearly dangerous, but they move aside to leave a clear path. The villagers line up with their sacrifices, and there is ritual patience in the act. Everyone will have their time with the Oracle, and anyone must be allowed their time alone within the petals.

Notes:
Characters who wish to approach the oracle need to respond to the thread titled ‘Meet the Oracle’. After they get their response, they can post a separate reaction thread to play out some of the consequences of the event.

Responses to the Oracle Thread should include: a short description of their IC reaction/actions, a description of what they bring for a sacrifice, and their question for the ancient. Villagers will have let them know that traditional options include: fish, flowers, art, blood, secrets, or memories. Characters/players may come up with their own sacrifices. Please include a note if the character helped decorate the local temple this month.

WARNING: Contacting the Oracle may result in negative IC results for characters, and there is a degree of randomness in how the mods assign results.


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necrosavior: (Default)

Gideon Nav

[personal profile] necrosavior 2021-07-14 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
The island is bright and colorful, and the village getting ready for this highly religious moment feels similar to home. Only, the villagers are all alive. That creates more chitchat and excitement than most skeletons can muster. That doesn't really catch in Gideon's system. She believes the Oracle and the Ancient exist. It's simply not her religion.

The opening of the flower with fleshy magical growth (could even be necromancy, heck, if actually no the villagers are not alive same as everyone else; this place has very active and fleshy dead) is a magical act from a day that ends in y. Nothing to lose her breakfast over, nothing to nerd out over. It works. That's what matters.

She waits her turn, taking a couple days, fine letting the people who've been looking to this longer than Gideon's known it existed get their time in with their religious figure. Since food is always what has motivated her (and Gideon has been greatly enjoying the food here, even her simple boiled water protein), that's what she gathers, partially fasting to save more and more for the moment with the Oracle. She'll miss it. She misses it even more once she's handed it over. Gideon can survive (dead or alive) on less.

"I know we're all supposed to work to improve, and the answer to my question doesn't change that. I've died, nearly died, died and still been alive, in too many iterations for that," Gideon tries to be respectful. She appreciates not being related to this deity. "How many travelers are dead versus alive--all, some, none?" She's thought everyone is dead, but not everyone thinks they are dead. Shit, being dead if they're not expecting it sucks (sometimes sucks even when it's expected). Denial doesn't help anyone or anything, whether that's seeing people who live one lifetime as dead souls walking or convincing themselves they're still alive. Gideon just wants to know, to walk around without it hanging over her.