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polymods ([personal profile] polymods) wrote in [community profile] polylogs2021-08-02 02:05 pm

Eternal Summer

POLYMYTHOS: THE ISLE THAT BLOOMS

The Isle That Blooms


Ⅰ. ALWAYS BLOOMING, NEVER HARVEST
July flowers bring, well, August flowers.

Another month has come and gone, and you may have noticed things haven’t changed much. Everything is still beautiful. There are still no signs of babies or prepubescent children or young animals.

In fact, if you’re paying close enough attention, you may have noticed there are no fruits or grains or vegetables that have come from the constant riot of color and pollen. Only flowers, always flowers.

You still have access to the city’s temple and the baths. The High Temple’s doors are open to everyone.

Some of you may still be dealing with the unpleasant side effects of the Ancient’s now dead and gone Flower Oracle, but it should wind down before the end of the month. Or maybe you already faced your demons.

Hiding out in the Temples for the rest of the month is always an option, but be careful not to get too stagnant. It would be a shame if your ScryWatch stays stuck on the same color forever because you, too, decided to stop growing.



Ⅱ. FLOWER MARKET FESTIVAL
CW: Optional Alcohol/Drug Consumption.
You didn’t think the celebrations would be over just because the Flower Oracle came and went, did you? There’s always a new event, a new thing to do, a new way to make some benefit off the Travelers who pass in and out of the Isle looking to take something away from this place.

This month it’s the Flower Market!

During the days, stalls bloom beneath the elevated buildings and in the empty center where the Flower Oracle once stood. There are flowers, of course, in buckets, arrangements, wreaths, crowns, growing in tiny little pots, made into cakes, salsas, and snacks! Artists will find pigments, paints, inks, dyes, and papers. There are perfumes, lotions, oils, soaps, and more. Spices and herbs are abundant; you’ve certainly never seen saffron this cheap. If you haven’t gotten enough tie-dye from the temple, you’ll find beautiful batik clothing, purses, and even jewelry. Everything is bright, everything is for sale.

At night, the stalls are all folded away and instruments come out. Little stalls sell flowery alcoholic drinks and did you know or remember that cannabis is a flowering plant? The locals certainly remembered to make the edibles. Careful, though, drink or imbibe and you’ll find yourself talking about the things you need that you cannot buy. The things you are aching for.

And you won’t stop until someone acknowledges it.

Notes:
1. If you want it and it’s made of flowers, it’s here. No drugs or alcohol during daylight hours.

2. The Temple gives a small amount of spending money daily. Save up and get fancy, or buy a little bit of everything.

3. There is a tiny group of unknown Travelers that show up for the market. They don’t seem to have access to the same network as PCs, but their watches flash green, blue, or purple. They seem to be avoiding PC Travelers and disappear into parts of the Temples that don’t seem to be open to our group yet whenever they get too close.



Ⅲ. POISON GARDEN
CW: Poisons, narcotics, ect.
As you wander the now familiar village, you will notice a new pathway has opened at the edge of the village. It leads to an area with a high stone fence and a heavy gate. A skull and crossbones are painted on the gate in bright white paint, but there’s nothing actually stopping you from opening the gate and walking in.

The garden is beautiful, but surprisingly formal after the chaotic abundance of the rest of the Isle. The paths are wide and there’s space between the plants. Each one is meticulously labeled with a stake in the ground.

Do you read the labels? How long does it take you to realize everything in the garden is toxic or poisonous? There are so many options from hemlock and oleander to aconitum and angel’s trumpet and beyond.

Welcome to a study on how not everything that's natural is good for you as you continue to wander the fractal paths. Of course, not everything that's poisonous has no purpose. By the opium poppies there’s a sign that tells you that you can choose to wander the deadly garden until it kills you or you can own up to a toxic habit or behavior that you need to deal with.

Notes:
1. In theory, a character could wander forever without touching or consuming any of the poisons. For plot/fun reasons, feel free to make it a little more difficult. And remember, some of your characters can be poisoned to death.

2. Acknowledging bad habits or a need for change in an honest way is very likely to result in a shift in a ScryWatch color. Remember, the Ancient is looking for growth and improvement, not moral perfection.

3. Characters can collect poisonous or medicinal plants but will be at risk while doing so.



Ⅳ. FLOWERY FIELDS FOREVER
Maybe you need to get away from the fuss at the market or just want to stretch your legs, but it’s time to explore the flowering landscape around the village. The villagers have baskets waiting at each of the outbound trails with the request that you come back with the basket full in trade for the picnic lunch they provide.

Wander the rolling hills and you’ll find a surprising amount of wildlife for an island without offspring. There are hummingbirds the size of chihuahuas, tiny pollinating bats, nectar eating possums, giant stingless bees, and more butterflies than you can shake a stick at. All of them seem entirely unafraid of humans despite being wild animals. If you get bitten or pecked, it’s your own fault.

As you fill your basket, you’ll notice patterns in what blooms. All kinds of plants bloom outside of reason and season and traditional need because the land is trying to talk to you through flowers. What did you need to hear? The villagers can help you translate when you come back from your adventure.

Notes:
1. The giant orchid mantises are still there! Thank Gideon and Harrow for negotiating a truce, so they probably won’t eat you. A mantis might even have a conversation with you if you ask nicely, (Quentin managed somehow,) and they have their own knowledge and worship of the Ancient.

2. Feel free to use any reference for plant/flower meaning. Here’s one to get started!

3. Don’t get too attached to any of the critters, they will stay here at the end of the month.

Bonus: music to watch the flowers bloom to.


Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

quire: (nerrrrrrrd)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-07 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
Quentin taps on his ScryWatch like he's been wearing it a lot longer than he has. Something about millennials and technology probably. "Ope. No. Never mind. They burned her. Remember that big ass bon-fire? Yeah. Poof. Like yard waste."

Not only does he seem unbothered by that, he's not the least bit deterred from exploring this gated space either. Put up a fence and Quentin Quire will demand to pass through it. "I don't think I've seen you here before, right? Are you new? Is this your first island?"
hostile_encounter: (53)

[personal profile] hostile_encounter 2021-08-07 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
Elenore is enough of a biologist to know not everyone goes into fight or flight. Fawning or freezing are legitimate and frequently successful mechanisms. She still fucking hates it when her body refuses to move the moment Deadpool's hands clamp on her shoulders just like she hates being called that particular nickname.

"I'm not Nore." It's difficult to describe the struggle to say those words if you haven't experienced the betrayal of limbs and body that doesn't mean you're not angry, furious even. But she gets them out.
hostile_encounter: (62)

[personal profile] hostile_encounter 2021-08-07 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Cities do such a good job of disconnecting people from their awareness of the living world." This is clearly said as an observation as opposed to a value judgment. Elenore is a city dweller herself, for all that she's currently going about digging up this weird little herb by the roots.

"We use plants for medicine, food, pigments and dyes, thermoregulation, environmental modification, cosmetics, production of building materials, bioremediation, production of oxygen, heck, decorative purposes! Plants are endlessly complicated in the ways they fight and support each other and what they are capable of doing for themselves and for us. There have even been evolutionary arguments made that some of humanity's food crops domesticated us as opposed to the other way around-"

She stops suddenly, realizing that she's been lecturing/ranting about plants and their value and she goes a little red. "Sorry about that. I just like plants."
hostile_encounter: hollow-art.com (5)

[personal profile] hostile_encounter 2021-08-07 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
"You're angry about it? Really?" She tilts her head, looking somewhere between genuinely confused and willing to consider a different point of view.

"I mean, you're not wrong about the different needs, and soil is like one of a dozen different variables that should make it impossible, but I don't think I've ever seen a better opportunity for collection and experimentation." Another pause. "Is it that fact that it's probably magic?"
wwrench: <lj user=proverbially> (pic#13703914)

[personal profile] wwrench 2021-08-07 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
They burned her in a bonfire? The words are right there on the face of his ScryWatch. It's impossible to think that he's mistaken what he's been told, but it hardly seems in keeping with the spirit of the island he's come to know thus far. Despite its mantises and strange pools of water, the inhabitants have seemed mostly placid. Immolation of a God hardly fits the bill.

The sprawling garden looks remarkably well-tended. The rows are neat and labeled and stand in stark contrast to the rest of the island's vegetation, which appears scattered and incidental. Someone has clearly taken care with this space, and Wrench bends down to examine the signage on a particularly unfamiliar variety of bush.

Yes, he ticks his fist. I was told the last one was a lot more like Earth. Are you from Earth?
hostile_encounter: hollow-art.com (23)

[personal profile] hostile_encounter 2021-08-07 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
She offers the extra machete she'd brought down as bait for anyone she can rope into traveling with her.

"I don't really have many pollen allergies, but I'm not a big fan of dealing with photodermatitis, and I definitely spotted some giant hogsweed yesterday. My guess is that's not the only really nasty plant around."
hostile_encounter: (11)

[personal profile] hostile_encounter 2021-08-07 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
It's pretty easy to recognize Wrench as one of the Travelers from her group even if she doesn't know him specifically. If he goes for the pants, she'll give them for free. Goodwill is more important than money at this point.

The shift to the vials changes her attention. Does he have a specific need or is he just curious? She's already set to pay attention when he bats his hand. Learning that the ScryWatch translates is interesting, but not so distracting that she doesn't make a face with his question.

"Not in a legal medical sense?" How much does a person want to say in their setting? Well, the chances of it coming back to bite her are small. "I've got a background in biology, chemistry, and helping vigilantes piece themselves back together."

He can decide if that counts for himself.
speed_of_snark: (bitch)

CW: Discussions of violent murders, strangulation

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
"And you died," Jean-Paul repeated softly. He looked away, wanting to allow David some privacy if he needed a moment to collect himself.

Should he collect himself? He's still so young. Maybe he needs to break down, process it.

He sighed and looked back. "I know it is not the same, but I remember how much dying sucks. And I remember how stupid I felt, thinking back on it."
speed_of_snark: (reading)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
That's rather pretty, in a pretentious sort of way.

Ah, it's French. It means 'thank you.' [He waves a hand dismissively.] I should probably be embarrassed by my taste in literature, but I can't be bothered to. I live an exceptionally violent life, and in my down time I like happy endings. We almost never get them in real life.
speed_of_snark: (welp)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, Chrisse, who told you THAT lie?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

CW: Discussions of violent murders, strangulation

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-07 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
Trevor had said something similar. About how he needed to cry.

"What happened to you wasn't your fault!" David processed, getting to his feet. "No one is responsible for happened to Logan or you except for the people that used him. That used you!"

Don't tell him he's a hypocrite. He is, and he isn't ready to hear it.
speed_of_snark: (look up)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul reacts the best possible way you can when Deadpool is involved: not at all. He arches one perfect eyebrow, turns, and gets another drink.

"David is not in charge. I am. You're not allowed on Krakoa because you're an unpredictable lunatic who cannot be controlled. It's that last part, really - they let all sorts of insane or annoying fucks on that island, but you can generally keep a reign on them."

He sips his drink and looks at Deadpool calmly over the rim of his glass.

"Did you perhaps mistake me for your therapist? I have my own problems, Wade."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-07 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
"When plants that are from my past and technorganic creations from Krakoa are tangled together on a strange island like this, I get angry and frustrated."

He considers the situation carefully, thoughtfully.

"I don't think it's magic. It's supernatural. They're actually a bit different."
speed_of_snark: (welp)

it has been wonky!

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
Do you not get along? The Thor where I'm from is sort of a big dipshit who talks funny. Nice pecs, though.
extrasensory_problems: (concern)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-07 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't mind being sad." He says after a long pause where he considers David's warning. "I'm open to listening so long as you don't mind sharing."

And he means it, he hasn't known David for very long but there's a sort of energy that he projects that Carter enjoys being around. Maybe it's because they both sit under the telepath umbrella, or maybe it's because this whole ripped from your reality situation makes people more willing to connect with others. Whatever it is he finds himself curious about the man sitting next to him, curious and concerned about some of the obvious trauma he's been through.
extrasensory_problems: (smirk)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-07 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
He smirks at Jean-Paul, "My mother."
speed_of_snark: (waiting)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Considering that the English are so repressed they need a Valium and a set of long underwear just to take a bath, I think you're right," Jean-Paul remarks. "They can't fuck so they dream of reproduction with bees or whatever."

He leans over to inhale the scent of something besides honeysuckle.

"I don't know what any of the flowers supposedly mean," he says. "I don't suppose your massive brain does either. Well, except roses and calla lilies. One for love, one for death."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Know Lots of Stuff (Explanation))

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-07 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
There goes meditation.

"Back home I had a team once. When I was at the school. After M-Day not all of them survived for a variety of reasons. One of them, Laurie, was dating my best friend Josh. Laurie passed away at home. But in the world that I arrived in, she was there. She was alive. She was beautiful and good and she'd grown up into the woman we'd always hoped her to be. I was glad to have my friend back. And Josh, my best friend. I hadn't seen him in so long. He was there too. The two of them were dancing around each other again."

It was all so simple at first. Except things had gotten past that, hadn't they?

"I don't know when exactly I fell in love with them. But it was definitely after they started dating. I gave Josh so much grief when we were young for him cheating on Laurie, and I still made the mistake of falling for them."
speed_of_snark: (okaaaaaaaaay)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul smiles dazzlingly. "It's a natural talent."

His smile fades and he steps a bit closer, staring at Wrench's hand. "That looks awful, Chrisse, have you had anybody look at that?!"

Not that he hasn't seen worse injuries, but the gash still looks like the sort of thing just waited to get infected. Which would be a pity - the big man intrigues him.
extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

awwww finally these two meet <3 yay

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-07 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
Carter blinks in surprise and turns to look at Quire, "Oh uh hi. No it's not for Jane Eyre, just...someone."

He turns the pendant over in his hand, "I guess it does kind of look old timey though doesn't it?"
speed_of_snark: (bitch)

CW: Discussions of violent murders, strangulation

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
A pity Jean-Paul was never terribly good at timing.

"David," he said, "how is that any different than what happened to you? You're a smart man. You know that you are not responsible. You were a victim, David. That's hard in its own way, but it is NOT your fault."
speed_of_snark: (give me strength)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2021-08-07 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul rolls his eyes.

"Your mother would want you to tell me who this young lady is."
hostile_encounter: (56)

[personal profile] hostile_encounter 2021-08-07 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Why, though?" Normally she's not into discussing people's emotions, but the joy she's found in this place is so intense and honest she can only be curious about someone having a strong opposite reaction.

She shrugs about the difference between magic and the supernatural. "You got what I was trying to communicate but didn't answer my question."
grayshulk: (pic#12883381)

[personal profile] grayshulk 2021-08-07 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
"That would be kind of you."

She doesn't want to explicitly confirm that she was reliving some of her worst experiences in the dream.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Rather Talk to Quentin (Sour))

CW: Discussions of violent murders, strangulation

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-07 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Oh damn you for hitting him with the truth. He didn't want it. And it hurt. It hurt so much. Because if it wasn't his fault (and he would argue it had to be in some level), then the world was still like it was when he was a teen and the bigots had come for the school.

Cold and painful and needlessly cruel.

"It was for nothing," he whispers, his voice starting to break. "Everything was for nothing."
Edited 2021-08-07 05:54 (UTC)