polylogs | SPECIAL EVENT: The Flower Oracle

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SPECIAL EVENT: The Flower Oracle

✖ 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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Uhm. Excuse me, miss? Are you alright?

[Have an extremely concerned ginger checking in on you. People leaving the Oracle seem to be in a variety of states, many of them distressed, and he's beginning to worry.]

( Oh. Yes. She's not alone. Someone's talking to her. And they do look fretful. That's not good. She finds a little smile for him, though the somewhat glazed look of being awestruck doesn't fade completely. )

Yes. Yes, I'm alright. Thank you for asking. It was... It's just... Have you visited with the Oracle yourself?

No, not yet. I'm, uhm. Not sure if I will.

[Well, at least she doesn't appear to be hurt.] Did she answer your question?

It's a lot, isn't it? Just the concept...

( She isn't operating on the finest level of eloquence right now. The first response to his question is a little nod and a tiny, but pleased, smile. )

Yes. She did. I didn't think... But she did.

Yeah. Honestly it kind of freaks me out.

[He relaxes a bit.] Good answer, huh?

I can understand that. Surreal. It's rather surreal.

( The smile grows slightly. ) Yes. Unexpectedly so.

( Chloe blinks a couple of times. Seeming more present, she's now the one looking concerned. ) I'm sorry if I startled you. It was very sweet of you to check on me.

[Okay, she looks honestly happy. So far everyone he's heard of going to the Oracle has more or less had a negative experience.]

Oh, no, it's cool. I'm just glad you actually got something good out of it. Something personal, I'm guessing.

That's a very good guess. ( After a moment of consideration, she frowns. ) Though a part of me feels I should have asked something about the journey or the Ancient, one of those things. Something that could have been more useful to everybody.

Aw, no, dude. [He shakes his head.] I don't think that's how it works. I mean... I think everything that's happening to us is so personal, so subjective? There's probably no universal answers anyway.

You don't think there might be? Say, for example, a moral standard by which we're judged and our colours change accordingly? Even if that moral standard might be different to our own or to where we're from.

I really don't think so. I'm not even convinced it's morality, entirely. I can't speak for everyone, but a lot of these situations seem more like therapy sessions from hell that moral dilemmas.

It’s certainly an intriguing line of thought. I’d shared a similar one about rather than being a puppet master, perhaps the Ancient merely sets the stage. Though admittedly I’d thought of the colour system as being judged on a universal scale but yes, it could perhaps make sense for it to be tied to our own self-perception as well.

( There’s a small, shy smile as she becomes aware she’s doing that thing where she rattles off her theories before actually introducing herself. )

I’m sorry, I always end up talking far too much. And neglecting basic politeness. I’m Chloe. And you?

Yes, exactly! This might all be weirdly self directed. Orrrr we could be dead wrong, heh.

[He grins.] Oh, shit, sorry, no, I'm the rude one. Kyle. From the earth with Netflix.

Then my question could possibly be more useful than I thought... Or you could be entirely right about us being dead wrong. Or maybe part of the process is just going with the process...?

( The smile grows more reassuring. ) It's lovely to meet you, Kyle, and you're not rude at all. I appreciate your insight. And I'm also from the Earth with Netflix. Or an Earth with Netflix, at the very least.

God, that sounds so therapy like, right? Trust the process or whatever.

That's how I'm differentiating Earths for now, although I suspect it won't be super helpful if people are from a near future to me.

I suppose in some ways, as much protest as there's been, it can be oddly comforting to think of strings being pulled. Following a script seems far less daunting than improv.

That might depend on the specific future and how relatively 'near' it might be for you. It's all getting very complicated, isn't it?

I agree. But then I was always kinda fond of rules.

Yeah. I keep meeting people where everything is the same except like, superpowers are common where they're from. I always thought I'd seen a lot of unusual stuff, but... you know. I met a werewolf here, that's pretty awesome.

Should I ask if you're magic or anything? Is that super rude?

Oh, me too. I like to try to find a structure to things.

Yes, me too. I wasn't familiar with superpowers either, outside of the fictional. And I met a werewolf too. ( Chloe frowns a little as she double checks her databanks as she was a little drunk at the time. ) Yes, werewolf. I think it's quite amazing, really, to discover all these different sorts of people.

( Okay, there's a definite pause from her. But one cannot move forward without embracing some degree of honesty. ) It isn't rude, don't worry. I'm not magic but I am... Well... I am an android, so... ( She finishes with a small shrug. )

It makes things seem more manageable.

Saxsice, right? She's kind of a riot, I like her.

[He looks at her, wide-eyed, for a moment.] Oh! Oh, I mean. Wow, really? That's cool. [He offers her a reassuring smile.] I, uh, once had a major crush on a sentient advertisement, so, I'm not gonna think you're weird or anything.

Yes, Saxsice, and I agree with you. She's delightful. I've found quite a few people here are, actually. Not that they shouldn't be, of course, but it's not as though any of us are meeting under the most usual of circumstances.

( This sort of reaction is one she could get used to. Funny how people outside of her time seem less weirded out and suspicious. Then again, none of them are dealing with the fallout of the creation of androids. )

It's alright if it's a little weird. But thank you. ( Her own smile is grateful. ) A sentient advertisement... It sounds as though you've seen some interesting things, Kyle.

It kinda makes me wonder like... why they're here, sometimes. Like they seem super nice and kind and not like they need to learn some sort of lesson. Most people, anyway. I've met a couple of dicks. This one guy I swear to god exists just to drive me crazy.

Yeah, her name was Leslie. [It does his heart good to see her relax - he's seen and read enough science fiction to guess that some humans would react terribly to an android.]

I guess I have. I never really thought about it. [More like he's deliberately tried to ignore most of it.]

I suppose that in itself could fit with the idea of this being therapeutic. Learning lessons about yourself or the world doesn't necessarily have to be some form of punishment or a negative. Maybe we need to shift our perspectives a little. Or perhaps the Ancient could use a better PR team. ( Jokes are not her strong point but attempts are made. ) Oh really? Who's the one driving you crazy, if you don't mind me asking?

( Ah. This might be a topic to dial back on. Best to be cautious and not upset a possible new friend. ) Well, for what it may be worth, it would seem like you're in good company here. The Island of Misfit Toys, as someone I met described it. Not that I mean that in a derogatory way, of course.

Probably both! [He laughs, but then he groans.] Oh, jeez. This guy named Quentin. Pink hair, super cute, totally an asshole?

Dude, that's a super good description, actually. I mean... I guess everybody has something to learn. The only difference here is we can all stare at each other's wrists and figure out how bad it is. [Kyle's watch is yellow - totally mediocre.]

( Getting a laugh bolsters her that little bit further. The Quentin comment gets a knowing nod as an alluring but challenging man? She can relate. ) I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him yet.

I can’t take any credit for that description - it belongs entirely to my friend Carter. And who knows, you could learn something wonderful about yourself. As you said, how ‘bad’ it is may be largely subjective, hmm? ( Her watch dubs her mediocre too. )

He's a dickhead.

No way, Carter? I know that guy! He nearly got me killed last month!

[He glances at his watch and sighs.] Okay, true. Both comforting and frightening, really.

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