polymods: (Default)
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

kyley_b: (RL outside thinkin)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-08-06 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
"It's okay." He resists the urge to rub his wrist.

"Do you want some water, or something? That, uh. Looked pretty intense."
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-06 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
"No, not at all." He replies, still hiding in hair. "I mean, I'm pretty sure she doesn't know. I try not to be like...obvious."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
I thought we made it clear that I don't, not yet. Which doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to.

[Which is presumptive, and he knows that.]
dothelokimotion: (He had lived for the future)

[personal profile] dothelokimotion 2021-08-06 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ hmm. ]

Is there a reason for that?
dothelokimotion: (It is beautiful and on fire and awful)

dw send me my notifs plz

[personal profile] dothelokimotion 2021-08-06 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ loki sighs. ]

Yes. I noticed that too.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
"I won't say a word," David assured him as he settled once more into a meditative position. "I know how to keep secrets."

He had a wealth of them.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
You're a familiar face.

[It's a completely blunt answer. He misses having familiar faces. He hates it. When he'd come here to find so few he'd felt alone.]

And you're interseting.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm trying not to be too angry about all of this, because clearly there's a magical element. Some of these plants need very different soils. The only logical explanation is magic. Especially if the place is reacting to us."

Though he had to wonder about that. For him, a place of nature covered paradise and peace would be a very different island than this.
what_fourth_wall: (Grin)

Pfff He deserves it!

[personal profile] what_fourth_wall 2021-08-06 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
HEY NOW, tiny narrative words! First of all, we'd totally do that here too BUT we are lazy and that requires some html and extra pinky motions for the brackets. Don't judge us. And SECOND, newbie whaaaaaat. We were totally a day one app!! Or Day two. Or something. Look, we were an early adopter alright. RESPECT.

(Her player is a mod lady. I think the respect should be flowing from us to her.)

Well. Whatever. FINE. We can still grumble about being called a newbie. JEAN wouldn't call us a newbie!

(Low blow? Maybe? idek)

Anyways, Deadpool watches the lady of class move on. For a few moments, his expression is unreadable. Of course, you'd think most expressions would be unreadable through a mask, but he was a comic book character. Their mask eyes always did improbable things. Selina knew. She was boinking Batman. Those white sharp triangle eye slits had to turn into big old white circles when he was-

"WHOA! Let's keep it PG or something. No smut in our thread with the pu-"

Oh. Ahem. Right. Yes. That was about to get steamy. And you were about to get vulgar. Anyways. A slow grin starts to light up his features as she saunters away, and when she's sufficiently out of sight behind a few wandering bodies, he pulls her wallet out of a pocket and starts counting what he's scored. There was more than one way to be a master thief, and just because Deadpool's wasn't as classy as Selina's didn't mean it wasn't effective. Stimulate the local economy? How about stimulate Deadpool.

"Didn't we say no smut?"

Oh yes. Phrasing.

Also, this isn't godmoding or anything. It's highly likely the best thief in the entire DC universe will notice she's one wallet lighter in 3, 2...
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-06 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
Carter sighs and peeks out from under the curtain of hair, "Thank you. You're better than my friend Kyle who all but broadcasted it on these dumb watches. He was all 'unnnh bro, you're so thirsty.'"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no. David giggles at that. Actually giggles.

"Yeah, that sounds about right for Kyle. Geez, he has no reserve, does he? He's fit right in back home, except for the whole 'no powers' thing."
what_fourth_wall: (???)

[personal profile] what_fourth_wall 2021-08-06 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, but he executed himself by taking the hemlock. Because hew as metal like that. Also he probably preferred it to whatever alternatives there were."

When she says his name, he glances at her fully for the first time since popping awake in her presence. However, his perception of her shimmers as he's still hallucinating from his hardcore poisoning. First she was all Mean Girls. Then she was all Game of Thrones.

"....Nore? You're here?" He grips her by the shoulders. "I thought you'd gone to the great retired character heaven in the sky!"
dothelokimotion: (Illegal to consider their existence)

[personal profile] dothelokimotion 2021-08-06 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ dryly. ]

How flattering.
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, enjoy the eye roll made all the clearer by the fact that of course David has no glasses to obscure it.]

Do as you will with the statement. But I do stand by it. And the sunflower oil with chamomile.
extrasensory_problems: (up_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-06 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
Carter smiles but mock rolls his eyes, "Oh suuuuuuuuure. Go ahead and laugh at my humiliation."

"Kyle's a great guy though, impulsive and sometimes maddingly stubborn but I like him a lot."
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
"It's not humiliation, Carter. It's... God, this sounds stupid but do you know how refreshing it is for there to be people interested in others where it doesn't have to be drama or mine."

He grins. Was it silly.

"It's just refreshing."
extrasensory_problems: (lean)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-06 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
He tilts his head to one side, "What do you mean? Are you always stuck in like complicated love triangles or something?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Default)

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh god yes," David answered, folding his hands in his lap and looking out around him. "In a way, this place is giving me a chance to try and find my internal peace and balance once more."

Because he had played his own hard pretty bad. Space wasn't a bad idea. Space and peace.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-06 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh. I mean I was kind of joking but ....oh. Wow." He says, running a hand through his hair as he tries to wrap his head around the idea of being in a love triangle.
He could barely handle one person so the idea of more than that is a bit staggering.

"Peace and balance are good." He agrees and looks around at the little patch of solitude they are sitting in with a smile.

"So....uh.... Can I ask? What was the last situation you were in? Was it like full soap opera with people being pregnant and coming in and out of comas? Evil twin brothers?"
helpdesk_hero: David Alleyne  / Prodigy - From Young Avengers (Yeah That's Me (Attention))

[personal profile] helpdesk_hero 2021-08-06 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
Oh Carter, what a dangerous question to ask. David hesitates for a moment before looking to him.

"It gets dark, Carter. The world I was in where this happened, people got hurt. Badly. Me included. If you really want to know, you're opening up the door to actual drama stories and things that might make you sad. Like, on the scale of 'Welcome to the X-Men, hope you survive the experience' vibes."

And he didn't want to talk to Carter about the way that all went down without, you know, being sure the guy was okay with it.
dothelokimotion: (And consumes)

[personal profile] dothelokimotion 2021-08-06 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
We shall see.
neverwither: (100% interest 100% of the time)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-08-06 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
( She probably should have picked up on the fact he's been observing her but such is the appeal of the market. She turns towards the voice with a bashful sort of smile. )

Thank you. Have you been doing the same? Treating yourself, that is.
neverwither: (All smiles all the time)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-08-06 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
( She's just as pleased to see Anders, as evidenced by her smile. ) You are very pretty, but never too much.

( Not as far as she's concerned anyway. She studies him keenly for a couple of moments then glances back to the myriad of flower crowns. ) Shall we get one for you too?

( From the way she continues to eye up the headpieces, she's clearly debating what colour story could suit him best. )
quire: (omg wut even)

Quentin Quire | Marvel 616

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-06 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
flower market - ota
"You know what would be great? A RedBull. Do any of these things contain guarana? Caffeine? Any stimulants? Downers are fine but I like to go the other way."

The vendors at this little market don't seem to be paying him a whole lot of attention. "Not much of a salesman huh? Here's a tip, these tourists come from a lot of places with commodity cultures. Do you know what that means? Goods and services. No one wants to brew their own coffee but they want they coffee. You get me?"

poison garden - ota
If there's somewhere one is not supposed to go, rest assured you can probably find Quentin there. The ominous little placard outside this grim garden makes him smile and if you've stumbled on this place along side him he's going to be a bad influence.

"Oh hell yes. This is more my speed. Do you think a grave yard? Maybe they bury their oracle here. C'mon, you're not afraid are you? It's plants! Maybe don't like eat any unknowns and you'll be fine."

flowery fields - ota
While he doesn't know a damn thing about plants really, he is observant and does have a mind for spotting patterns. When he plucks something for the sake of a little meaningless destruction and something of another colour grows blooms almost instantly in its place, he's tipped off to the communicative nature of this place.

"The fuck... That's not what this was?" he holds the the little sprig of sweet woodruff in hand as he looks scornfully at the bright magenta geranium that replaced it. He plucks another. Same thing. Turning to look at the path he's been walking its wildly pink too. He cocks an eyebrow. "What the hell. You're FLOWERS you don't HAVE a collective consciousness and I don't give enough fucks about botany to know whatever the fuck this means ok? I can't even imagine I care!"

Because yelling at plants is a cool look.
Edited 2021-08-06 14:55 (UTC)
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-08-06 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
She's definitely asking the wrong person. He watches her actions with a detached curiosity, but he doesn't know the first thing about botany. "...food, medicine. Nothing so different from Earth, I expect.

"But I live in the city. Plants are a rarity." Moreso than they ought to be, but even if he realizes that, the notion of greenery in a city is strange to him. Midgar exists in a literal wasteland created by its own pollution.