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

extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-12 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
Carter snort laughs at the comparison between Xavier and a proctologist. He thinks it's a pretty accurate one, seeing how Xavier is full of bullshit.

"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to imply that your brain was broken. I just assume that dying multiple times would cause some PTSD and trauma."
quire: (hangin chillin little bit'o illin)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-12 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"You didn't, I did," he says in Carter's defense. "And I wouldn't care if it was. Even broken my brain works better than most peoples."

extrasensory_problems: (yellow)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-12 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah probably." He says and takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with the ocean air which is a welcome change from all the floral scents they were just surrounded by.

"Damn, that's better." He says and starts to walk down towards the water. "So apparently we're going to be on a D&D campaign together, are you aware of this?"
quire: (alone)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-13 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
Quentin frowns a little at the scenery. It'll do. But it's not quite the palm island vibe he got on the beaches of Carcosa. He plunks into the sand and cuffs his pants before following after Carter.

"Oh yeah, are you in that? Can't wait to see how that goes," he chuckles. Sounding like he half expects it to be a bit of a nightmare. "Have you played before?"
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-13 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah Kyle kind of drafted me and didn't give me an option to say no." He says, with mock exasperation.

"I've never played it but I understand the idea and game mechanics." He admits, walking into the water. "I have some friends back home who used to play but they never invited me to join their campaigns."
quire: (hangin chillin little bit'o illin)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-13 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
Quentin chuckles at that. It's an easy thing to make fun of but he's got Kyle's shameless folksiness to thank for not being completely alone here. So maybe it's not all bad.

"Maybe they didn't peg you for being nerdy enough? You've kind of got this Tiger Beat hair that could scare nerds off."
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-13 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
Carter laughs and runs a hand through said 90's heart-throb hair, "Yeah I've heard that before."

"Have you ever played before?"
quire: (dafuq)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-13 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
"How devastating that must be for you," he says, dripping with sarcasm.

He looks at Carter over the brim of his glasses. "I'm a recovering nerd. I've spent more time playing D&D than most guys my age spend jerking off."
extrasensory_problems: (color_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-13 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Carter bursts out into laughter, "Wow. That's a....charming image. Thanks."

"Well if you're the master at it then I'm going to warn you now that I'll probably ask a lot of dumb questions when we play."
quire: (smug af)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-13 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
While he likes to appear aloof as much as possible, having such a receptive audience for all the shit he talks is bound to go right to his head.

"Go for it. It might be tricky to play without the books anyhow. There are a lot of specific rules that I suspect only David has committed entirely to memory. He'll be the human-players-handbook. We'll see how long he can stand it."
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-13 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
Carter smiles and wades a bit deeper into the water, not really caring if his clothes get wet. "I'm sure David won't mind so long as we make it fun for him."

"He's a nice guy, did you two know each other before you came here?"
quire: (uh ok)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-13 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, he might just be glad for venue in which to show off some incredibly specific powers."

He throws Carter a suspicious look, "why do people keep saying that to me!" Frustration aside he nods, "Yeah. I mean I think so. He could be from a different Earth than me but I don't think he is."
extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-13 07:08 am (UTC)(link)
"His powers are pretty interesting, he was telling me that he can kind of talk telepathically to tech? I've never heard of something like that."

Carter pauses and raises an eyebrow, "Keep saying what? That he's nice? That might be because he is."

He doesn't understand Quentin's frustration, unless maybe the two of them have a rivalry back home?

"You're nice too."
quire: (nerrrrrrrd)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-13 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, he's sort of a human info sponge," he shrugs.

"Maybe he likes you," Quentin suggests.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-13 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's a good way to describe it."

Carter smiles, oblivious to what Quentin is trying to imply because even though he's psychic he's a bit dumb when it comes to thinking that people like him sexually or romantically. "I hope so, I like him too."
quire: (calm)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-14 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure he'd be all like; welllll techniiiically..." he says pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

And of course, Quentin assumes he gets it. "Oh yeah? Well that explains a thing or two doesn't it? Doesn't explain Kyle or anyone really, but. I dunno, he's just not on board with the whole Kid Omega brand I guess."
extrasensory_problems: (up_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-14 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor Carter, the result of this will probably be an awkward conversation with David at some point...

"Kid Omega brand hrm? It sounds like you're trying to capitalize and get a sneaker brand or something."
quire: (hangin chillin little bit'o illin)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-15 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
If Quentin lacks remorse it's because most of his conversations are awkward ones for someone.

"Yeah, you know, my whole thing. I'm not above some streetwear merchandising though," he assures.
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-15 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
"If they made a designer sneaker inspired by you what do you think it would look like?"
quire: (chill af)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-15 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
"They who? There are only a handful of creative directors I would trust with that. Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga. Ari Hoffman and Michael Bastian did that Ted Baker Converse collab that was just..." he pinches his fingers together in a little chef's kiss.

"Either way it would either be something clean and and modern. Maybe a little cyberpunk. Very Hong Kong streetwear inspired, or some kind of high-low culture clash thing. Like chunky sole schoolboy brogues but made out of kevlar or something." He has opinions.
extrasensory_problems: (baseball_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-15 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Carter grins and nods, "Aw man Hong Kong streetwear inspired would be awesome. I love some of that stuff."

He stumbles a little bit in the water as a wave hits his waist, but recovers. "But the chunky schoolboy could be really slick too."
quire: (sob)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-15 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
"It would, huh..." he sighs. Looking out at the water he stuffs his hands in the pockets of these linen pants. The most this place has to offer in terms of fashion.

"Fuck. What I would give for a Redbull and an afterparty."
extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-15 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Carter looks back at Quentin, eyebrows raised. "Missing the excitement of back home?"
quire: (sulk)

[personal profile] quire 2021-08-15 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess that's one way to put it," he huffs. "Earth is whatever but at least there's shit to do that isn't gardening."
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-08-15 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
"That's true. I wish these islands had like....a movie theater or something. I miss watching films."

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