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

song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Come On)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-13 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
[It's hard to say how long that is without knowing the number of islands, but she gathers it's been some time. Things that she really didn't want to hear but could have guessed.]

What are we supposed to do on these islands? Learn our lesson?

[She doesn't like the sound of the dangers they face. Without dragons, weapon or armies, she was more vulnerable than she cared for. She offers a sympathetic look. At least he was still alive.]

You've recovered, I hope?

[She smiles brighter at his gesture of chivalry, amused but pleased.]

Did they say anything about where we are exactly? The island, I mean?
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-13 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
There's a couple of different theories floating around about that, some people think we are here to learn our lesson...to grow and face certain fears. Other people think we are being used as some sort of game or entertainment for some supreme being. Details are sketchy.

[He holds up his the Scrywatch that is on his wrist, motioning at the one that she also wears.]

The colors on these things change and I think it has something to do with what you do and learn on the islands. Mine started out Yellow when I got here but it changed to Orange for a bit when....I wasn't doing too good.

[The sympathetic look she gives him makes him blush a tiny bit and he nods.]

Yeah all healed up, going to have a nasty scar from it but that's okay.

[His blush increases when her smile brightens and he runs a hand through his hair.]

Uh no, but from what I can tell it looks to be similar to a time on my world that was known as Victorian times.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Listen To Me)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-13 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Lessons. I dislike some outside entity telling me that my choices are wrong. Sometimes we must make difficult choices and they don't always fit into someone's morality.

[But she's philosophizing.

She glanced at her wrist, remembering it when she was changing. She hadn't toyed with it, remembering that it was necessary in some regard.]


Not doing so well? You don't seem like the sort of person to make poor decisions.

[He's managed to keep her smiling, something unexpected but entirely welcomed.]

A scar isn't so terrible, as long as the wound never got infected. You're lucky to still have your life. Be cautious from now on.

[She'd make a point of seeing that he came through this without another scar.

There's relief on her face when he seems to recognize the atmosphere and surroundings. It may not be from his world, but it was something at least.]


All of this is very unfamiliar to me. We don't have poles with flames in them to light the streets. [Though that's not a bad idea.] The wheel houses are different as well. I'm a bit lost in this place. Would you be willing to help me?
extrasensory_problems: (sunshine)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-13 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
[He nods a little when she begins to philosophize about the islands set up, he agrees and can't really offer any more information as no one on the island seems to be any closer to figuring things out now then they did on their first day. When she comments about him not making poor decisions he laughs and gives her a guilty little smile.]

I uh...thank you and I hate to ruin such a nice assumption but I've made plenty of poor decisions in my life.

[Her comment on being careful has him smiling again though and when she asks if he would be willing to help her he can't help himself and the smile grows even wider.]

Uh yeah! Sure!

[His cheeks go a bit more red when he realizes how eager he sounds.]

I'd be happy to help you.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Grins (Amused))

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-13 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
I imagine everyone has. [She just prefers not to think about her own.] Otherwise why would this Ancient think that we need redemption. [It was likely a game, but it was one based on the basic conclusion that everyone had secrets.] I won't pry.

[His eagerness is endearing and very comforting. She needed a friend, an ally here and he seemed kind. She would take the chance to trust him, as he seemed eager to trust her.]

We could tour the city?
extrasensory_problems: (laugh_yellow)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-13 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Tour the city, with a lady like her on his arm? It might not be possible but his smile does grow another notch and he nods.]

Sure, I might not be able to answer every question you have but I'll do my best to be a good tour guide.

[He offers her his arm as they head out of the Temple, looking at her curiously as he didn't realize she was so petite physically. Something about her makes her seem larger, more powerful.]
song_of_fire: (Default)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-13 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[It took her a second to realize that women took the arm of men in this world. She was more of a woman to walk on her own, but the gesture is sweet. Why not follow the custom?]

We will at least get a sense of this place.

[The outside is more menacing from the temple. Between the fog, the darkness and gas lights, it raised her unease once again. Carter was good company, but the sense of danger was a little overwhelming.

Perhaps she was being paranoid, but she didn't want to risk it.]


The attack you experienced? Is that common on these islands?
extrasensory_problems: (mmmaaaaaybe)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-13 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
[He can't help but feel a little tingle go down his spine when she takes his arm, but as they step outside he feels her stiffen suddenly with unease and he tries to give her a reassuring smile.]

It's not uncommon but doesn't tend to happen without some kind of pretense or reason. I was attacked by a giant mantis because I was foolish enough to go running off into the forest at night to save someone who was being attacked.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] I Have An Idea)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-13 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
So you were foolish, but only to rescue someone when the expense could be your life? I wouldn't call that 'foolish'. It's noble and true friendship.

[No matter the cost. She understood that sort of action very well and what could be lost in the process.

It sounded almost as if this place was a treacherous maze. Some places could be wandered into, others couldn't. She relaxes a little, but still kept her eyes open and searching for possible signs of trouble.]


Was your friend safe?
extrasensory_problems: (bw_laugh)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-13 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Carter chuckles and begins to lead them away from the Temple and towards some of the shops, thinking that Daenerys might find some of the things being sold interesting or possibly familiar.]

Ah here's where I prove that I was foolish, it wasn't even a friend. It was just some kid from the local town. I was up because I couldn't sleep and heard him scream and just kind of....ran towards trouble to see if he was okay.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Lost In Her Thoughts)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-13 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
That doesn't make it any less good. If it was someone who was in danger, their life being threatened that way, you can't simply ignore it.

[She paused at the various shops, intrigued by the different trinkets, clothes and food on display. There were some things she recognized or understood. The gowns were different and slightly more uncomfortable than she was used to, but they were elaborate in ways she'd seen before.

A lot of the food was recognizable, which might be a small thing, but meant she didn't have to worry about what she was eating. She paused the longest at a jewelry store, admiring the broaches and rings. This place seemed to enjoy finery.]


What happened to the child?
extrasensory_problems: (lock_hair)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-13 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
[He watches her as she looks in the different shops, noting the way she seems to find certain things interesting and others strange. When she asks about what happened to the boy he saved on the flower island he shrugs, as if what he did wasn't really all that important.]

He made it back home safely, his mother was really relieved.

[As they walk they happen to go by a sweets shop and Carter points at one of the displays in the window which is piled high with many different types of sugary treats.]

Do you want to try anything? I've got some money and can buy us some, if you'd like.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Okay Sure)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-15 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Her hand went to the purse tied at her side. She had a bit as well, but it seemed wiser to save it for something she might truly need. That offered was kind, but it was someone else's money and she had no wish to be in debt to him.]

There might be some place that serves wine nearby. [That she could pay for and that was far more needed than sweets. After arrival and settling, she was very much in need of something to relieve her stress.] Thank you.

[It was kind of him to offer though and she was grateful, enough she flashed him a smile.]
extrasensory_problems: (mmmaaaaaybe)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-15 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Carter lifts an eyebrow, smiling.]

Wine....yeah sure. I can probably find us a nice tavern to stop in at if you'd like a glass of wine. If I remember my history correctly I think gin was pretty popular during this time as well if you'd like to try that.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Soft Laugh)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-18 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
Gin? I don't know what that is? Is it strong?

[She probably shouldn't be seeking something strong. It wasn't that she couldn't handle such things, but she recognized that it was merely a comfort and an escape from everything that happened. Still, it would at least make this easier to bear.

And if that meant trying gin, she was willing.]


I would. Maybe we can find where many of the natives go? There must be a popular place.
extrasensory_problems: (suit smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-18 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
It is, it's a grain spirit that is distilled with botanicals. The most predominant flavor being juniper berries.

[He explains as he leads them further down the street, which conveniently has a tavern on the corner. He motions towards it with a smile.]

We're in luck, seems like this place is pretty popular. Shall we?
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] I Can't Believe It)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-18 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
You might be speaking a foreign language to me.

[She laughed, shaking her head. This would likely be a common thing for her. Something would be explained and she would still be lost. This island would take time to settle in her mind.]

You don't mind the crowds?

[She should have asked that right away, but it slipped her mind.]
extrasensory_problems: (hair in face)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-18 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
Oh I'm sorry....I didn't....uh it's a strong alcoholic drink that has a slightly floral taste.

[He says blushing a little bit.]

Oh? Uh I should be fine, crowds only really effect me if I'm in them for long periods of time.
Will you be okay? We can find somewhere quieter.
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Affectionate)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-18 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
[She squeezes his arm reassuringly. It wasn't his fault that she was out of place here.]

Crowds don't trouble me. I enjoy my privacy, but it would be nice to see the natives and to explore what they love. I'll try my best to not take long for your sake.
extrasensory_problems: (lock_hair)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-18 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
[He tries not to blush even more when she squeezes his arm and instead offers her a smile.]

No worries, I should be fine for a few rounds of drinks.

[He opens the tavern door for her and motions for her to enter, the inside is full of dark wood tables and there's a large stone fireplace at one end of the room, oil lamps are strung up above their heads giving the whole room a warm glow. Carter leads them over to the bar where he orders two glasses of wine and one glass of gin for her to try, once they have their drinks he manages to find them a little table to sit at in one of the corners.]
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Admiration)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-18 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
[A few rounds was all she needed really. Once that was done, they could easily go back to exploring.

It's a comfortable place, far better than some of the inns she had seen. The oil lamps fascinate her. There had been such things in Essos, but Westeros seemed more interested in simply using candles. This was warmer, brighter and likely more efficient.

There is a fire in the fireplace. Seeing something so comforting, it helped ease her even more. This was the sort of place she could imagine others coming to here after a long day of work. Or with a sweetling to get to know them better.]


This is lovely. We were lucky to find it. Should we sit near the fire?
extrasensory_problems: (flower)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-18 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Sure.

[Once they are situated at their little table near the fire he passes her one of the wine glasses, keeping one for himself and then puts the glass of gin between them.]

I got us wine to start and in this glass is the gin, feel free to try it and if you hate it I'll just drink it.

[He pauses before taking his first sip.]

Uh, is it customary where you're from to do a toast? Or cheers before you drink?
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Soft Eyes)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-18 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[She will try the gin before her pallet is sweetened by the wine. She takes a swig, quickly downing it. A shiver ran up her spine, quickly reacting to the strong taste and alcohol. It was more potent than wine might be, but already she was softening a bit, slowly quieting her mind.

She might return to it, but two glasses of gin would risk becoming more than relaxed. So for now, she poured both of them a glass of wine.]


Sometimes, it would depend on the occasion. Unless you feel there is something you wish to toast?
extrasensory_problems: (suit smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2022-01-18 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Carter smiles and after a moment he raises his glass up to hers.]

How about we toast to meeting new people?
song_of_fire: ([Daenerys] Wine And Glam)

[personal profile] song_of_fire 2022-01-18 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that is a good toast for the occasion.

[She raised hers as well, tapping it against the side of his glass.]

To new friends?

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-01-18 23:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-01-18 23:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-01-18 23:48 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-01-18 23:57 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-01-19 00:32 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-01-23 06:08 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-01-24 05:43 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-02-06 08:50 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-02-07 02:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-02-07 07:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-02-07 19:23 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-02-14 18:13 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-02-15 04:57 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-02-20 01:00 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-02-21 20:57 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] song_of_fire - 2022-02-26 21:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems - 2022-02-27 02:35 (UTC) - Expand