polylogs | 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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have my men, back home.

Unequal though it may be.

Are those really allies then?

Or just subordinates?

I know I can trust them in battle. That's enough.

This place is more than a battle though.

I'm aware.

But I am also more likely here to find equals.

[Implying a god is more his level? Yes.]

Is that what you're looking for?

[Sephiroth blinks.]

It would be more beneficial.

[Obviously?? They'll have more to offer.]

[ loki shakes his head, bemused. ]

Of course.

...you disagree in some way?

I think you want to keep it simple.

But relationships rarely, if ever, stay that way.

Hm.

Is there something appealing in complexity?

I think so.

But it's not something expressed through an opinion. It has to be experienced.

...I suppose I may find out.

I hope you do.

[ he does mean that. sentiment is dangerous. difficult to grasp. but loki knows, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't carve it out of himself. ]

[Sephiroth shakes his head.]

You really are strange at times.

[ he blinks. ]

How so?

I don't see what difference it should make to you.

[ the tips of his ears go a little pink. ]

I didn't say it makes a difference to me, just that it . . . makes a difference. Call it experience, I suppose.

[Oh, that made him uncomfortable?]

I see. Merely a social nicety, then, to say you hope for it.

[ ah. hm. loki shakes his head, pursing his lips. the sun will shine on us again. it would be easy to lie and protest it but loki didn't want to go back to who he was before. what would be the point of his sacrifice then? ]

No. Just . . . sentiment.

[And that's what's strange. That there seems to be something... genuine, to this. People don't want things for him that don't benefit them.]

It's entirely unnecessary.

But I suppose it's... fine.

What a relief.

[Sephiroth's expression eases into a faint smile, because of course-- what sort of consequence could he mete out for that? It's silly.]

I mean to say...

[What does he mean to say?]

......thank you.

[ loki clears his throat, looking askance. ]

You're welcome.

[Good, awkward is the appropriate mood.

Sephiroth lets out a short breath.]

...I'm not convinced your "curse" is lasting, but I suppose you'll be wanting to find your cure.

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