Eternal Summer

[polymods]

✖ 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

Comments

Sephiroth | OTA

[unkindled_madness]

I. Unknown Travellers / High Temple

[Sephiroth has little interest in the market, but the unknown Travellers are a different matter. He may not have been properly introduced to every Traveller in his cohort, but he knows he's never seen these individuals before, nor has he observed anyone sporting a blue or purple Scrywatch. Did the Ferryman bring them, midway through their time here? Is there any real meaning to be derived from their colors?

He's content to observe them at a distance, at first. But his questions really can't be answered without speaking to them, so he'll attempt to approach. Maybe it's the crowd, but that seems... strangely difficult.

When his pursuit eventually takes him to the High Temple, that in itself is also strange. All the previous month, it was hidden to him, and he thought it was something they left behind on Carcosa. Now, here it is again, as seamlessly as though it's always been here. He finds himself walking the hallways again in search of some change, but it even feels the same, like a place better left forgotten. The Isle that Blooms has slowly eased his usual tension, but he feels it coming back again, a tightness between his shoulderblades. Even so, he won't leave until he's checked every corridor.]


II. Poison Garden

[The High Temple isn't the only new area of the village. To someone who enjoys a potential challenge, the skull painted on the gate is as much of an invitation as the screams in the night when the boy went missing. Perhaps within is something more dangerous than child-eating insects.

Sephiroth is no botanist. Plants of any kind are rare enough in Midgar, and the fact that not all of these flora even exist on his Planet compounds the issue. He reads the labels per force of habit, but it takes him some time to realize what they all have in common. Well... they're only passive flowers and not malboros, so even if he's brushed past a few, it's probably fine, right?

A part of him wonders if there are any monstrous plants, somewhere, in the deeper parts of the garden? Maybe he'll keep on a little while longer, out of curiosity.]


III. In the Fields

[On the average day, Sephiroth does go out into the fields, though he ignores the offered picnic baskets; he has gathered flowers exactly once in his life, and after the completely useless answer the Oracle gave him, he isn't inclined to do it again. He would get away from the flowers entirely if he could, but failing that, he can at least get away from the crowded market and the friendly villagers.

What is he doing if not picnicking? Most of the time, training. The machete is a far cry from his beloved Masamune, but he adapts to the lighter weight in his hand as he moves through the familiar forms. By now he's procured a pair of black-dyed pants thanks to Elenore, and he's shirtless as he trains, braided hair swinging behind him. In the pauses, he might cast a contemplative glance in the direction of any visible mantises. It might be a threat, or an invitation. He wouldn't need much provocation.

On rarer occasions, you might find him sprawled out reading one of the handful of books from the pitifully small lending library. Most of them are extremely mediocre. A few of them are definitely trashy romance novels. He's getting desperate here.]


((Hoping for something else? Feel free to hit me up at yinza for plotting!))

III

[speed_of_snark]

[One man's trash...

Jean-Paul appears quite suddenly - as he usually does - and stands over Sephiroth, blocking the light as peers down at his book.]

'Recipe for Temptation'? Don't think I've read that one.

[unkindled_madness]

[One corner of Sephiroth's mouth twists in irritation- partly because he isn't enjoying the book and partly because he doesn't know how this man managed to sneak up on him. Even with a genre he likes, he isn't one to get so caught up in reading that he loses track of his surroundings.

He doesn't move just yet, or even glance at him.]

...you aren't missing much.

[speed_of_snark]

Is it the sort with lots of pining, or maybe the sort where they start off hating each other and then fall madly in love?

[Deftly, he steps aside so he can instead look over the other man's shoulder.]

Hn. The 'I've been burned by love too man times before' trope, looks like? Not bad, I suppose.

You're not enjoying it, I take it.

[unkindled_madness]

[Oh, he does not like the reading over his shoulder. Sephiroth sits up, closing the book, and runs a hand over his braid to make sure it didn't pick up any plant matter. He finally looks up at the other man.]

If you're interested in reading this trash for yourself, I'll be finished with it soon enough.

[speed_of_snark]

[Politeness and Jean-Paul are on a nodding acquaintance at best.

He looks amused at the offer.]

Merci, I will. It looks delightfully awful.

I'm Jean-Paul.

[unkindled_madness]

...Sephiroth.

[Well, at least he agrees on it being awful, but Sephiroth is still regarding him with some skepticism.]

To each their own, I suppose, but what is "merci"?

[speed_of_snark]

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.

[unkindled_madness]

[Put it like that and he can almost understand it. Almost. But no, he is kind of pretentious.]

I expect this book only has a "happy ending" if you define it the same way as a massage parlor.

[He eyes Jean-Paul, assessing him. An exceptionally violent life, is it?]

Are you a soldier?

[speed_of_snark]

Even better.

[Jean-Paul smirks.] Not quite. Currently, I suppose I'm a sort of detective.

[unkindled_madness]

[Somehow he suspected that might be a positive for Jean-Paul.]

A detective? You investigate particularly violent crimes then?

[speed_of_snark]

Murders.

[Said probably a bit too casually.] What do you do, besides haircare commercials?

[unkindled_madness]

[Why not say it casually? Murders are just regular crime. He could do a murder, easy.

He rolls his eyes at the haircare comment. It was just the one ad campaign and Shinra did it behind his back.]

I am a soldier, myself. Though it's effectively law enforcement, in peacetime. [He doesn't sound thrilled about that.]

Poison Garden

[epitaphs]

[ Clarke has enough experience with herbal medicine to know what she's looking at pretty darn quickly, so she's careful. She gives some thought to carefully gathering some of the less-toxic ones as she continues onward, picking her way through and occasionally pausing to stop and write something on a scrap of paper she's carrying. It won't do to lose her way -- anyone who gets close enough to peek over her shoulder could see that it's a very crude map, shorthand for a map, really. Just enough to tell her how to trace her way back.

She's almost to the sign up ahead when she sees a vaguely familiar figure getting precariously close to some leaves that look like the type capable of producing some nasty blisters if touched. ]

Hey, watch out!

[unkindled_madness]

[He never did get her name, but he recognizes the voice. The warning does get him to draw his hand back as he instead starts to reach for the machete at his side, but... A quick scan of his surroundings tells him there still aren't any monsters.

He relaxes (as much as he ever does), and throws the woman a quizzical look.]

They're only plants.

[epitaphs]

They're poisonous plants, just like everything else in this garden so far.

[ She makes her way over to him, taking care not to touch any of said leaves herself, but very much wishing she'd worn longer pants in spite of the warmth. The ones she's got on end several inches above her ankles, and are loose enough that they might catch on something if she's not careful. So much for a casual walk to enjoy the flora.

She eyes the plant in question, mentally flipping through some pages of a book in her head. ]

I think that one's called hogweed? It can cause burning and blistering if you touch it.

[unkindled_madness]

Hm. I didn't realize their poison could be harmful to the touch.

[Absolutely no expression of gratitude, but at least he can acknowledge not knowing something. He glances thoughtfully at his hand, because he definitely brushed against something earlier. It seems fine.]

Is that common?

[epitaphs]

It's not incredibly common to encounter ones that can burn you that severely, but plenty of things can cause rashes if touched.

[ She'd spotted some poison ivy a ways back, but that's the least of the concerns in here. She doesn't know every poisonous plant in existence -- certainly not in a place that isn't even Earth, as far as she can tell. ]

I'd be more worried about getting any in your mouth or eyes. Some of the things I've spotted can kill if eaten.

[unkindled_madness]

[Sephiroth snorts.]

I know better than to ingest poison. [Even if he's not entirely convinced it would hurt him.]

I doubt it's considered appropriate to eat things from a private garden anyway.

[epitaphs]

I didn't say you'd do it on purpose.

[ Clarke can barely conceal her disdain for this guy's attitude. She nods to the sign up ahead, making her way closer to it with as much care as she can. ]

Look, that's either a warning or possibly a guide to what else is in here. Let's check it out.

[unkindled_madness]

[How is he going to eat leaves by accident? But he shrugs and follows her to the sign. It's true, unlike the others it isn't just a label, but could you call it a guide?]

...own up to a toxic habit?

[By the tone of his voice, he's extremely skeptical, and also... doesn't actually know what that means.]

[epitaphs]

[ By getting some sap on your hands and then touching your mouth, or breathing in pollen, or being stuck in here so long that you decide to see if any of this stuff is edible... don't make her give you a whole medicinal plants lecture, dude.

She frowns at the sign dubiously. She knows a little psychology speak courtesy of her mom, but self-improvement of this sort hasn't ever been a priority. ]

It's like... confessing your sins, I think, but a little more abstract. Less "I killed someone" and more "I take my anger issues out on others."

[ Hopefully not by killing people? ]

[unkindled_madness]

So, the sort of nonsense that would require us to judge ourselves as the Ancient supposedly has?

[If killing someone doesn't qualify, he doesn't know what "sins" he has to confess. He shakes his head and turns away.]

I remember the way I came.

[Though he knows that, like with past traps, he'll likely run into some kind of magical barrier... he isn't going to assume it, and give up without even trying.]

[epitaphs]

I guess? They say that admitting you have a problem is the first step.

[ She isn't sure what the next step is, but she's never let that stop her before. She starts after him determinedly, though given that she's not especially tall next to this guy, she has to have a certain degree of determination just to keep up.]

Hey, wait up. Better stick together just in case.

[unkindled_madness]

[He glances back at her, and actually does slow his step a little. He may require her for something; there's no reason to leave her behind.]

And the second step?

[He continues along the path, tracing it back the way he came, except... They come to a point where he was quite certain the path formed a small loop around some sort of bush before continuing ahead, but instead it dead-ends into another path branching to the right and left. He slows now to a stop.]

...this was different before.