[UA] The Duelist and The Gardener

[John C]

>2. The Gardener
>
>I was reading about Johnny Appleseed and his description as the
>American Dionysus. I was also reading old Batman comics with
>Poison Ivy. I was also watching Being There again, with Chauncy
>Gardener's "garden" metaphors for society. I was also thinking
>about Rastafarianism and marijuana horticultural techniques. That
>is the secret origin of The Gardener.
>
>This has to be one of the oldest archetypes, being born when
>humans first turned to agriculture. Every culture has a fertility
>god, a man who is one with the plants, although this archetpye
>was probably female when it began. The "flower power" movement in
>the '60's and the accompanying surge in marijuana use signalled a
>return of this archetype, possibly a new ascension.
>
>Taboo: Never let plants go uncared-for. (Lame, I know. Something
>better?)
>
>Symbols: seeds, spade, scythe, shears, soil, watering can,
>leaves, flowers
>
>Possible historical/fictional avatars: Johnny "Appleseed"
>Chapman, Ceres, Dionysos, Chance the Gardener (from "Being
>There"), Father Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Ingo Potrykus (the
>inventor of genetically-modified vitamin A-rich "golden rice").
>
>1-50: By rolling under avatar skill, the gardener can grow plants
>of unusual quality and potency: marijuana, curare, wine grapes,
>super-string wood, and giant squash are all possible. These
>plants take the normal time and care to grow, and they are from 2
>to 10 times more potent dedending on degree of success.
>
>51-70: ???
>
>71-90: The gardener can control all plants in the area. Vines can
>entangle enemies, hedges can rearrange themselves, branches can
>lower themselves to allow climbing. Usable once per day per 10s
>digit of skill.
>
>91-99: ???

This reminds me of Alan Moore's "Swamp Thing", which reminds me of the Green 
Man, which in turn reminds me of Robert Holdstock's _Mythago Wood_...which 
does a bit with that particular archetype.  I need to re-read the book; it's 
been a while.

(In fact, I'd recommend that anyone who find the Archetpypes concept 
compelling check out Holdstock's books...he does a damn good job with 'em.  
Hmmm...maybe I should write up the Huntress archtype at some point, as 
distinct from the Hunter.)

Possible Godwalker channel is actually becoming part of "the Green", 
transforming in whole or in part to some kind of plant creature.  For the 
51% to 70% channel, perhaps he could exert some kind of control over 
fertility?

Taboo?  Violations of the natural order, like chopping down a living tree, 
or even something as small as using contraception.  A female Gardener 
couldn't go on the pill, for example.  And if each Gardener has to choose a 
given stretch of land to protect (growing as his Avatar skills grows) that 
could make it managable *and* lead to all kinds of opportunities for 
conflict.

Definitely check out Moore's "Swamp Thing", it has all kinds of UA 
applications (the Brujeria would make great UA adversaries).  And most of 
his run is available in TPB form now.

John Crimmins
john1x at hotmail.com
http://www.voicenet.com/~johncrim

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