Bloom (test run thing)

Author's NoteShow

This is a test run for something potentially bigger. Random events/luck plays a large part, so I want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head before anyone gets too invested.

The test ends after one in-game week. If all goes well, the events of this adventure become background canon to a more involved thing; if it doesn't, I overestimated my ability to run an adventure by RNG but we all had fun regardless.

Onward!

DAY 0.

Your name is MAGNOLIA. Your title is ORACLE. You are 21 YEARS OLD, and you have never left the temple grounds.

In a few hours, you and your retinue will board an airship—an airship!—for the fishing town 'Orona'. There, you'll relieve the elderly Oracle Genevieve of her duties, introduce yourself to the town's guardian deity, and begin acclimating yourself to your new life.

First, though, some self-reflection is in order.

List these attributes in order from your best to your worst:
Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Spiritual

>_

Physical>Intellectual>Spiritual>Emotional

Intellectual, Spiritual, Emotional, Physical.

Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual

Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual

This sounds like fun

Intellectual, Spiritual, Emotional, Physical.

I second this one.

Physical>Intellectual>Spiritual>Emotional

Seconding this

>Intellectual, Spiritual, Physical, Emotional

>Emotion is your dump stat.

SpoilerShow

Google broke the 3-way tie for me

You have selected:
Intellectual > Spiritual > Emotional > Physical

During your formative years, your mentors considered you quicker-minded than most other acolytes. You spent more time pursuing your interests in solitude than playing with fellow children. (+2 to INT rolls)

Your aptitude for metaphysics—the most important quality for an Oracle—proved impressive as well. Everyone at the temple has some natural inclination, but even the toughest training exercises rarely posed problems for you. (+1 to SPR rolls)

Emotional matters are another beast. You struggle with handling emotionally-charged situations, reading others' moods, and corralling your feelings. People look to you for advice—not comfort. You suspect this will apply in Orona. (+0 to EMT rolls)

Physically, you're unremarkable. Although the temple enforces a balanced diet and exercise routine, by Oracle standards, you're out of shape. One of your retainers can punch a rot-bear in the throat. She terrifies you. (-1 to PHY rolls)


Throughout the course of an Oracle's training, her aesthetic is strictly controlled. You wear your hair partway down your back, untouched by dyes or irons, and you're forbidden from using cosmetics.

Now that you're free of the temple's clutches, these rules no longer apply.

Did you cut your hair?
Do you wear makeup?

>_

>No to the hair, but yes to the make up. Not very well applied, though.

hair's fine, you need a makeover though

For now, you ought to keep it mostly as-is. You're still technically on official Oracular Business, after all! And heck, you've never left the temple, and have no clue what's even fashionable. Still, you're more than a little tempted to experiment. Maybe you could quietly pester one of the folks in your retinue for help? Someone who looks to have a bit of a rebellious streak... or at least someone who looks like they'd be sympathetic to your situation.

For now, you ought to keep it mostly as-is. You're still technically on official Oracular Business, after all! And heck, you've never left the temple, and have no clue what's even fashionable. Still, you're more than a little tempted to experiment. Maybe you could quietly pester one of the folks in your retinue for help? Someone who looks to have a bit of a rebellious streak... or at least someone who looks like they'd be sympathetic to your situation.

Seconding!

Cut aLL your hair off confuse people

You keep your hair untouched. With so little exposure to mainstream culture, you don't think you're ready to commit to a new style. After all, the residents of Orona will judge you at first glance—that's how people are in the wider world, you're told.

Cosmetics are another matter. Drawn to the playful impermanence of makeup, you consider asking someone in your entourage to help you experiment. You've only seen two of them wearing makeup:

Marta is your new assistant. She was an acolyte too, before some adolescent crisis misaligned her life trajectory. She's soft-spoken and eager to please. Although she lives on temple grounds, Marta's technically a civilian now, and it shows through her familiarity with cosmetics and fashion.

Allyn, for now, is just an acquaintance. She's Oracle Genevieve's niece, come from Orona to meet her aunt's replacement. Her aesthetic isn't quite so delicate as Marta's, but you imagine she knows her way around a makeup kit.

You leave for the skyport in an hour. Who will you ask for assistance?

>_

>Have Allyn assist you. She seems to be brash and you will need a BOLD makeup job to make a BOLD statement. That's the only thing people respect nowadays.

> Marta! You're going to be(? Forgive me if i misunderstood) with her anyways, you might as well ask her! She can assist you on the way.

> Allyn. You want to get to know her better.

> Marta. You don't want to take things too far, at least for now.

Marta. As much as getting to know Allyn could help you learn more about Orona, and her aunt/the soon-to-be-former Oracle... it's probably best to get to know your Assistant first. Besides, she seems nice. You can trust her, right?

>martaaa

>Marta

You've chosen to spend time with Marta.

You take advantage of your newly-mastered telepathy to summon her from... wherever. You're not sure what Marta does when she isn't occupied with temple business.

Minutes later, you hear a knock on the door frame. "Come in," you reply, and turn towards it in your seat.

What will you say?

>_

>Magnolia: "The awkward, flailing pincers I have instead of functioning hands are making life difficult again. Please assist me with looking like anything other than an unrefined hobo."

>Marta: ". . . Eloquent as always. I'll fetch the makeup kit."

>"Make me beautiful or you're fired"