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

[queenking]

I'm impossible to argue with, I'm always right. [Saxsice says this cheerfully, blowing another tuft of fur his way.] Plus bein' risky means you don't got time to sit and think about all the ways life can suck.

[kyley_b]

Ohhh, don't tempt me with a challenge.

[He shakes his head.] I hate how right you are. I feel like I've spent the past four years standing still and doing nothing BUT think about how bad things suck. So even though I've nearly died on like, ever island we've been on? It's sort of less stressful.

[queenking]

I'll out-argue you any day, any time Jersey boy.

[Saxsice nods, flopping back into the flowers and sending up a cloud of pollen.] Yeah, all that adrenaline and stuff in your veins has a way of makin' everythin' else not seem so important. S'why I try and get as much of it as possible.

[kyley_b]

I'm pre-law and the son of a lawyer. I can argue you down in my fucking sleep.

[Kyle absently waves the pollen away.] Is that how you are back home, too?

[queenking]

Is that a challenge? [She grabs one of the flowers, an iris, and waves it threateningly at him.]

Oh yeah. I'm always doin' somethin' or someone. I can't handle just sittin' still and lettin' my mind go, so I make everythin' else go instead.

[kyley_b]

Bring it. Preferably when you're not nude.

[He chokes on air at 'someone' both because it's funny and because it's shameless.] That's probably super unhealthy, huh?

[queenking]

I'm not nude I've got fur on. [She gestures at the fluff that still partially coats her body.] Basically like wearin' a jacket.

Oh yeah, deeply unhealthy, accordin' to my friends. [She shrugs, lying back in the grass.] Cheaper than therapy, though.

[kyley_b]

Pfffft, barely!

Maybe that's why you're now stuck on a magic chain of islands where we keep getting forced into weird self improvement classes from hell.

[queenking]

Whateverrrrr, clothes are a...whatsit called. Social construct. [No, they're a literal thing, Saxsice, what the hell.

She snorts, rolling her eyes.] Hmmmmm, might have somethin' to do with that, yeah. You might be onto somethin'.

[kyley_b]

I mean, I guess the concept of clothing as a way to cover sinfulness is...

I am pretty fucking smart.

[queenking]

Yeah, it's for uhhhh Adam and Eve. Those guys. Garden of Eton. [Saxsice, no.]

Yeah, yeah, don't gotta gloat, I'll push you in the daisies.

[kyley_b]

[Kyle cracks up.] Eton, right, sure. Jesus.

With my luck it'll be poison sumac or something. Although I do think all of that was confined to that one garden. You gotta wonder why, right? Like they must keep it for a reason..

[queenking]

What? What'd I say?

[That gets a delighted cackle, then Saxsice sits up, thinking.] Probably for...murder and stuff. This place definitely has a murder cult vibe, yaknow?

[kyley_b]

It's Eden.

Yeah. Or like... my buddy says it's a fuck island, because everything is sexually mature. Like the plants, the animals, the people. But he might just be dirty minded.

[queenking]

That's what I said.

[Saxsice leans back on her elbows for a moment, frowning as she considers this. Then:] If it's a fuck island, I'm doing it all wrong.

[kyley_b]

You said Eton!

[Kyle goes pink, but he is also cackling.] Yeah, I don't think most people are actually getting any action. Although who knows, I'm not conducting a survey, that's their business.

There's a lot of really pretty people around, though. It's mildly disconcerting for us mere mortals.

[queenking]

What is the difference, Kyle? [She says this with SO much indignation.

Then she huffs out a laugh, tossing another daisy his way.] More's the pity if they ain't. You got someone back home you're stayin' loyal to?

[kyley_b]

EDen. ETon. Totally sound different!

Me? No. No, never. [He blushes bright red.] I don't mean I never... you know. Just. Uh.

What about you?

[queenking]

You're just sayin' the same word over and over again, buddy.

[That gets a bemused grin, and more daisy petals scattered his way.] Not your thing? That's cool, to each their own.

...do I act like someone who's into monogamy?

[kyley_b]

Oh my god, I am not.

No, I just... never got second dates. I'm bad at it. But I, uh. Maybe did here? Sorta? I dunno.

Well, I don't know! I don't like to assume. Not jusging, either.

[queenking]

[Saxsice would respond to this entire comment, but she is FIXATED on that "sorta I dunno". She sits upright, eyes bright.]

Wait, wait, wait, go back to that and rewind and FREEZE what happened??

[kyley_b]

[Fuck. Is it too late to find a hole in the earth to throw himself into? Probably. Maybe he can just tuck and roll until he hits the ocean. Kyle actually looks around for an escape route before he gives up with a sigh.]

What? It's nothing! I just, you know. Hooked up with someone, it's no big deal.

[queenking]

Kyle. Kyle. [Saxsice sits up, reaches out to smush his face between her hands, looking deathly serious.] It is the biggest deal.

[kyley_b]

Why? Why is that a big deal, it doesn't have to be a big deal! [Which comes out sounding kinda funny because of the face smushing.]

[queenking]

Becaaaause, you're gettin' some on the gettin' some island! [She beams delightedly, then suddenly frowns.] It wasn't Sephie, right? Pretty sure he's got a boyfriend. Or three.