SPECIAL EVENT: The Flower Oracle

[polymods]

✖ 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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Comments

[assemble_the_lovbacken]

[Thor studies his brother's face, searching for any clue as to what it is he's talking about. What more could there be? Knowing his brother meets his demise is punishment enough, he thinks. How much more could there be?

He gestures for Loki to continue.]

All right. Go on.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki takes in a shuddering breath. ]

Long ago, you asked who controlled the would-be king. It was a Titan, a creature named Thanos. For my failure, he promised me pain. Death.

[ he had to do this. it'll end poorly. thor will hate him but he had to. ]

From Asgard, I took the Tessaract. I thought it could be . . . an escape. In case I needed it. But he came and I gave it up for your life.

And he took mine instead.

[assemble_the_lovbacken]

[Thor's entire demeanor changes, and as a cloud comes to cover the sun, so it does to his eyes. They go dark and grey, the rumbling of thunder beginning to roar again in the distance.

The adoration in his gaze evaporates and is instead replaced with anger. Frustration. Disbelief. A flurry of emotions run through him all at once, and in the confusion and haze, there is the snapping of lightning striking a nearby tree.]

You took the Tesseract? Loki .. [Why is he surprised?, he thinks. The allure of it was always too much for his brother to ignore, and it was only a matter of time before it was in his hands again. But to have taken it?] I assume you took it before our home was destroyed.

Did you not learn your lesson the first time?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki immediately takes a couple of steps back, his eyes darting for a potential escape. thor's last words are ringing in his head and it chases away all rational thought. this is the end, he thinks, panic rising in his throat, it's over.

a part of him wants to defend himself. but loki knows it is indefensible. so he keeps his head upright. for as long as he can. ]

I said all I can say.

[assemble_the_lovbacken]

[Thor's mind scrambles to try to untangle the slew of information he'd just had thrown at him, abruptly stepping away a few paces to allow him the space to do so. A hand comes up to rub at his bearded face, an ache appearing in his neck, heavy with the weight of all that had happened in the past few years. How much loss could there be?

Loki's taking the Tesseract was more than likely what brought this Thanos being to them in the first place, ultimately causing him to lose his life. It's enough to make Thor want to rip trees apart by their trunks, slicing them down the middle with a choice bolt of lightning.

But something in his softens.

Loki gave up his life for you, he's quick to remind himself. No, he shouldn't have taken the Tesseract, but he saved your life and lost his own. He gave up the one thing he'd consistently loved more than anything in order to save you.

Thor turns to face Loki again, eyes still clouded but kinder than before.]

You ought to know that I don't know if your stealing the Tesseract from Odin's vault will ever be forgiven, Brother. And I have no memory of it, but if this is the pain that awaits me, then it would be foolish of me to waste this time we have together, knowing the end is far sooner than I thought. [The idea of it latches onto his throat like a vice grip.]

What does he do with it? This Titan, Thanos? What does he do with the Tesseract?

[dothelokimotion]

[ the storm prickles at the edge of his consciousness. having said as much as he could, giving up so much truth with very little idea of how this will play out, loki felt his mind clamping shut. what little colour he had on his face had slipped away and all loki wanted to do was retreat. no more truth, no more thor, no more anything. he wanted to nurse his wounds. he knew he wouldn't be forgiven for it, but he can't shake off the fear.

he steps back further. ]

No more.

[assemble_the_lovbacken]

[Thor can see the wounded animal in Loki, and he's learned not to poke and prod when he's in such a state.

Though his expression is more affectionate than it had been moments ago, there is still a resigned coolness to it, and he lets his gaze linger on the other man's face for a few moments before gesturing for Loki to leave, should he want to.]

No more, then.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki turns his gaze away, wrapping his arms around himself and walking away. it's done. he did it.

the right thing.

it just feels hollow now. ]