polymods: (Default)
polymods ([personal profile] polymods) wrote in [community profile] polylogs2022-01-02 12:44 pm

Got the morbs.

POLYMYTHOS: VICTORIA'S SECRET

VICTORIA'S SECRET


Ⅰ. ARRIVAL & THE TEMPLE
You can read all about your character's arrival in the game lore.
The ferry pulls into port in the evening, when shadows are long and gas lamps burn through a veil of mist. Dozens of other ships are docked as well, with men unloading crates and boxes from their holds. Beyond the wet wood and lapping sound of the ocean, a city looms like a charcoal smudge on a purple sky. The air is smoggy and thick, and the river that flows from the sea into the city smells foul. Walk the cobbled streets and you will find that the city is crowded and filthy, but full of merchants, pubs, and theatres. Vast wealth and extreme poverty exist side by side.

In the center of the sprawling city is a temple with towering gothic spires and huge stained glass windows depicting all manner of beings that might be gods or angels or monsters. You could look for hours and still be finding new figures plucked straight from books of myth and religion. Inside, the main chamber has a grand vaulted ceiling, and dozens of pews line the aisle up to the altar, which is oddly anticlimactic compared to the lavish surroundings: just a plain stone table with a lit oil lamp in the centre. Two hallways branch off on either side of the room: one leads to private baths and a communal kitchen, the other to monastic style chambers with thin beds. Not the most comfortable place to stay, but it’ll do in a pinch!

Alternatively you can venture into the city and find yourself some other lodging - every Traveler has been supplied with some pocket money. Just be careful that it isn’t stolen by some street urchin. Travelers can also find an era-appropriate outfit that will fit them perfectly laid in the first sleeping chamber they visit.

Notes:
1. Unless this is your character’s first island, the High Temple and anything you may have stored there is off-limits this month.

2. Please remember to mark threads appropriately with Content Warnings when necessary.

3. The city greatly resembles Victorian London, and the technology and general way of life is all of that era. Feel free to explore the city! These prompts are a jumping off point - how they affect your character and their development is up to you.

4. Most food is safe to eat, and is consumable by non-human entities. Most. Some of it’s going to be pretty gross or cooked improperly, so be careful.

5. The people in the city are normal humans unless otherwise indicated. Killing them is possible and will affect the colour grading of your Scrywatch depending on the situation.

6. Have fun!



Ⅱ. SEANCE
CW: grief, past trauma.
Perhaps you overhear talk of it at a pub, or maybe you’re handed a small card as you push your way through the crowded city streets. Maybe you just wander in by accident. However it happens, you find yourself being ushered into the parlour of one Miss Mary Price: Spiritualist.

You and several other people are instructed to sit at a round table in a very dark and musty room. The walls are covered in thick black curtains, and maybe you’re the type to suspect that there’s someone hiding behind them somewhere. Once everyone is seated, Mary Price herself enters the room. The lights are all extinguished save for a single candle.

Mary calls out to the spirits. They communicate through a series of knocks, or the movement of a Ouija board. Someone at the table is put in contact with a deceased aunt who reveals the location of a family heirloom. Someone else is able to say goodbye to a son.

Mary Price looks at you with eyes so dark they look black, and asks, “What haunts you?”

Maybe you answer honestly. Maybe you don’t answer at all, but that doesn’t matter because the spirit tapping around the room is more than happy to narc on you and tell the whole room what or who it is that you cannot forget.

You can deny it all you like, but the spirits don’t have a reason to lie. And if you try to mess up the seance, you will spend a month being hounded by an angry poltergeist.

Notes:
1. The spirit can communicate through knocks, the Ouija, actually vocalising through the medium, or via ectoplasm.

2. What haunts your character does not have to be the memory of a dead person. It can be an event - maybe they’ve never gotten over losing that science fair in grade three. It is the feeling of being haunted that is important.

3. If you choose to trash the seance, the spirit will follow you for the rest of the month. It can range from annoying to actually dangerous.



Ⅲ. THE RIPPER
CW: murder, gore, violence.
You’re lost at night. Maybe you were in the pub too late, or maybe you were searching for more illicit fun - weren’t there opium dens around this time? - or maybe you just weren’t keeping an eye on the time. However it happened, you’re on the streets in the dark.

It’s very foggy; you can barely see a foot in front of you. The streetlamps look like dimly burning ghosts and when the odd person passes you they are felt more than seen, just a darker shadow in a world of shifting shades.

Very suddenly you hear a scream - short, and swallowed up quickly by the fog. Still, it’s enough to get you to turn and hurry down a narrow alleyway.

Sprawled on the ground amid a lake of blood is a body. It’s immediately apparent that this person is probably beyond help - their throat has been slashed ear to ear. Your appearance was not expected, however, and you can see that you’ve startled the killer: they’re running down the alley in the opposite direction.

You have a few choices: you can chase the killer and attempt to catch them, you can try to help the victim, you can get the authorities, or you can just walk away.

What will you do?

Notes:
1. The inspiration for this prompt is Jack the Ripper but you do not have to use that case as a basis for your killer.

2. You can get as involved with this as you would like. You can have your character catch the killer in a chase, or form your very own detective squad and hunt them down that way.

3. Naturally, walking away from a potential serial killer might not be great for your Scrywatch grading!



Ⅳ. RESURRECTION MEN
CW: dead bodies, grave robbing.
You’re not entirely clear on how you agreed to this. Maybe it was a barroom bet gone wrong. Maybe you’re broke enough that you need money fast. Or maybe you want to help some wannabe medical students. However it happened, you’re in the cemetery.

And you’ve got a shovel.

Time to rob some graves! You’ve convinced yourself somehow that this isn’t morally reprehensible, and so you and your partner are just going to get down to business! What corpse should you unearth? You feel like a kid in a candy store!

The problem comes once you’ve unearthed the body because it seems terribly familiar. Which is… creepy. Creepier still when it starts talking.

Maybe it’s a family member, or an old friend. Maybe an ex partner. Whoever it is, they immediately start telling your fellow grave robber about some incident from your past that you just. Can’t. Let. Go. Of. And even if you whack it with a shovel it won’t stop. Bad corpse! BAD Corpse!

Which of course is exactly what you have to try and do if you want this chatty Cathy of a corpse to shut the hell up.

Notes:
1. If you do NOT let go of this past event, the corpse will follow you the rest of the night singing Henry the Eighth I am, I am.

Sometimes I can still hear his voice...


Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

speed_of_snark: (give me strength)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-05 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"NON!" Somehow even more emphatic than before.

"He liiiiikes me," the ghost sing-songed. "He wants to kiiiiiiiiiiiss me."

"That is NOT strictly true," Jean-Paul expanded.
Edited 2022-01-05 23:03 (UTC)
extrasensory_problems: (hat_sidegrin)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-06 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
Carter's lips curve up into a small slanted smile and he raises an eyebrow at Jean-Paul, "Heeeeey yeah! You had a crush on him didn't you? I remember you and my Mom talking about it I think...."

He pretends to look thoughtful for a moment, "I seem to remember the phrase 'gorgeous ice blue eyes' being uttered after a few bottles of wine."
speed_of_snark: (give me strength)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-06 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul rolls his eyes. "YOU should have been in bed, young man," he says.

He stares at the medium. Her eyes are blank but she's grinning in a familiar way.

He throws his hands up in disgust. "Fine! I had a crush on Bobby Drake! All I can say in my defense is that he has great dimples."
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-06 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Carter laughs, which might be rude during a séance but he can't help it.

"Hard to be asleep when my mom and you were getting drunk on red wine and discussing guys loudly..." He says and then follows Jean-Paul's eyes to the medium, noticing the familiar smile. When Jean-Paul finally admits his crush Carter grins and he swears the medium, or whoever is in the medium, tips him a wink.
speed_of_snark: (qu'est-ce que c'est?)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-06 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul stands up, looking like he is seriously considering decking the medium. Instead he jabs a finger at her.

"And I'll have you know that, fine, maybe I have considered that my timing was off considering that he is gay as hell and I probably could have one regrettable evening, but I am FAR happier wit' how things turned out. He couldn't have handled a relationship then."

He tosses his head imperiously. "And I deserved better."
extrasensory_problems: (hurt)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-06 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
Carter raises both his eyebrows, "Bobby is gay? Huhn....well what do you know..."

He pauses and then looks at the medium, his brows furrowing.

"Hey! If you were gay then why did you kiss my mom?"
speed_of_snark: (okaaaaaaaaay)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-06 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
"He is," Jean-Paul confirms.

The medium shrugs, eyes beginning to clear.

"He was very deeply closeted, Carter," Jean-Paul explains. His voice is actually a little kinder. "I know that's not as common in your generation."
extrasensory_problems: (lock_hair)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-06 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh well, I'm glad he came out eventually then." Carter says, his brows smoothing and he gives a little wave at the medium.

"Bye Bobby, Mom always said you were a dingus but still pretty cool. Get it?"
speed_of_snark: (okaaaaaaaaay)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-06 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"SUPER cool."

Jean-Paul rolls his eyes so hard it almost hurts. "Can we get out of here, please? I require a drink. Or an opium den."
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-06 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter grins and nods at Jean-Paul, "Yes please to drinks. No to opium."
speed_of_snark: (qu'est-ce que c'est?)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-09 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Just say no," Jean-Paul says, smiling a little.

Outside he almost takes a deep breath before he smells the air. Ew.

"He's happier now, you know. I know he was a dick to your mom, but he was having a bad time. Not that it excuses it. But I thought you might appreciate the knowledge."
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-09 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter nods and motions for Jean-Paul to lead the way towards his choice of bar.

"A lot of people were dicks to my Mom at that time, Bobby at least apologized so I've got no real beef with him." He says and then looks up at Jean-Paul. "Thanks for coming with me to that by the way, I know it was a dumb idea but you know....."
speed_of_snark: (qu'est-ce que c'est?)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-11 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Jean-Paul waves it off. "But you want to talk to the dead. Ouais. I understand. It's hard to let go, Carter."

He frowns minutely. "Has David told you much about where we're from?"
extrasensory_problems: (huhn?)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-11 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. I just miss her and wanted to tell her I love her."

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, which is getting pretty long at this point. "No not really, David tends to be kind of selective about what he talks about when it comes to home."
speed_of_snark: (warehouse)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-11 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know."

Jean-Paul clucks his tongue lightly. "Mm, David is selective about a lot of things. Well. How to put this... we don't die for long, back home. Mutants, I mean. They bring us back." He looks around, reading shop signs. "David and I work specifically on mutant murder cases together, actually."

He walks a bit, thinking how to phrase things. "It fills me with a special sort of dread, some night. Because I can be brought back, if something happens to me. My husband can't."
extrasensory_problems: (cute curious)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-11 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right yeah he mentioned that you two were kind of like detectives, but he didn't tell me about the whole death thing. That's........fucked up."

He says and then looks at Jean-Paul for a moment, "Can you tell me about him? Your husband I mean."
speed_of_snark: (cautious optimism)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-11 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's unusual," he says.

Jean-Paul smiles, and it's a more natural expression than usual. "If you really want me to bore you with tales of the most wonderful man alive, sure. His name is Kyle Jinadu, and he was a friend of my sister's. She hired him to be my PR guy. He's gorgeous."
extrasensory_problems: (suit smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-11 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's not really fair...is it? To do that?"

Carter smiles when he sees the change in expression, "Of course I want you to bore me. I like hearing that you're happy and with someone who is as great as you."

"What's your favorite thing about him?"
speed_of_snark: (private)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-13 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know about fair. Death and birth are never inherently fair. It is a complicated issue. We were able to bring back many who were murdered by humams over the years. Children." He sighs. "I've died, Carter. So I may not be the one to judge."

He looks so pleased by that. "He keeps me grounded. Very few people can do that."
extrasensory_problems: (hat_sidegrin)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-14 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah it sounds...complicated."

Carter likes the look that Jean-Paul gets when he talks about his husband a lot more than the haunted look he gets when talking about dying so he decides to concentrate on that instead. "Grounded is good, especially for you. What color eyes does he have?"
speed_of_snark: (private)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-15 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"It can be. But considering how few of us remained, it feels a bit like self preservation."

Jean-Paul sighs. "Brown. If I had a photo I'd show you. He's stupid hot."
extrasensory_problems: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-15 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah but what if you bring back someone who didn't want to be?"

Carter chuckles, "Stupid hot. Right. I think I remember David saying something about that. Which uh reminds me.....are you two talking yet?"
speed_of_snark: (welp)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-18 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Hasn't really happened yet. It's not as if we could prevent them from fixing the problem."

Jean-Paul waves a hand. "Of course. I'm a mature adult, Carter." Which is code for 'Logan talked me into it.' "Everything is fine. Is HE okay? He's so... cagey."
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-18 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Carter shrugs again, "I dunno. I mean I think so? The last time we talked about you two...uh...y'know...we were all high on cotton candy and any other time I've tried to talk to him about that incident or one of the other ones he insists that it's no big deal."
speed_of_snark: https://sissybars.dreamwidth.org (wellllll)

[personal profile] speed_of_snark 2022-01-19 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
His eyebrows lift. "...one of the OTHER ones?"

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