songerein | { a bit leafy }

A BIT LEAFY

More details on everything can be found here.

I. LEAF STORM

During the first week of November, a storm of leaves will pass through town. It starts innocuous enough, with just a bluster of leaves carried in the wind that looks normal for the changing of the season. But as the days progress, there are large bursts even downpours of leaves that just fall all over town. And with this storm come strange things…

A. Leaf Monsters. As the leaves pile up and people attempt to rake and blow them away, there will be some strange movement...until it's revealed that oddly shifting pile of leaves suddenly rises up to try and attack, blasting sharp leaves and even trying to "engulf" the unexpecting, trapping them in piles of leaves. Time to deal with this sudden leaf invasion! (Note: the leaf monsters will be most active during the first week of the month and then taper off by the end of the second week. By mid-month, only a few will pop up here and there.)

🔥 Burn Burn Burn! Using any kind of wind will only disperse the leaf monster and make them split into more. They need to be destroyed completely, and the best way is through fire. Dreamotion fire especially.
🪤 Trapped. But be careful with that fire! There may be those trapped within the leaf monster itself, and burning it may hurt those inside. This is the one time using wind to disperse the leaves may be warranted, but maybe a "controlled blast" will help to keep the monster from spreading.
🐌 Animal Aid. While fire is the most effective, there are other methods—mainly through certain critters. The chickens around that statue from the Dream Board could probably help scratch and break them apart. Finding some special rainbow snails from the lake just south of town will also help as their glittery slime will not only trap the leaves, but also break them down quickly.

B. Leafever. The strange leaf storm and the leaf monsters are also bringing a strange cold-like disease, likely spread through the pollen or spores attached to the leaves. Those who get caught by the leaf monsters are most likely to catch it. Fortunately the effects are mild and only last a few days, week at most, but can be caught multiple times. There is also a cure, but it requires the same leaves that brought it.

🤧 Achoo! While having the leafever overall feels no different than a bad cold, some of the symptoms and side effects are a lot more…unusual with little consistency between individuals. Some may find themselves sneezing bubbles, others secreting slime as they sweat, and all dreamotion effects going haywire.
♨ Incense Burner. One way to help ease and lessen the effects of the leafever is to burn the leaves in a special incense burner infused with special dreamotion focused on healing and soothing emotions. A special stone must also be used, and it can only be found in the hot spring caves in Dragefjell, Dragon Island.
🍂 Leaf Sap. For the actual remedy, sap must be collected from the leaf monsters. How? Well—that's for everyone else to figure out, good luck. Maybe try squeezing the leaves? Or cook them?

C. Dryad. The most severe side effect of the leafever is the individual slowly turning more tree-like, some becoming similar to dryads. There are no serious side effects and will only last for about a day or two. In fact, those who "turn dryad" will feel healthier and livelier than usual. But it may be an interesting experience regardless.

🌲 A bit stiff. As the skin turns more bark-like and limbs become a bit more "wooden," those affected may find their movements a bit more limited at first. A bit of exercise and a gallon of water dumped on them will help loosen them up.
🌷 In tune to nature. While in this state, there will be an increased sense of awareness regarding all things plant. This includes the leaf monsters, allowing them to sense and pinpoint any that may be hiding or lurking around. There will also be a brief time where they can even control and call upon plants to do their bidding.
🍃 Big shed. When the symptom finally ends, all the leaves, branches, and bark will just fall completely off the individual and they will return completely normal without a single blemish. …And clothes. Hope this isn't happening out in public, ahem.

II. INFESTATIONS

With the changing of the seasons, all kinds of critters are either passing through on their migratory route…or burrowing in to start hibernation. Usually it's not a problem, but perhaps due to all the strange dreamotion energy flux over the past year, the creatures are behaving a little differently and getting in the way more than usual. The storm of leaves isn't helping matters, aiding in some of them to travel through. While some will appear during it, the majority will cause problems from around the second week onward.

A. Bugged Trees. Those living in treehouses are going to have a bit of a time as a number of insects will be looking to find a new place to chill during winter. Specifically, their home. Those who are under the dryad effect may want to be careful of any bugs that may be attracted to them.

🪲 Giant Beetles. Some may remember these fellows from previous years. The beetles are quite friendly, but they are quite large, large enough to ride on. They can also cause some rough damage on gardens and yards, their massive size creating large holes as they burrow into the ground. However, some are really useful with their pincers, capable of pruning unwanted branches. If not chasing them away, perhaps one could use them instead? (Especially against leaf monsters.)
🐞 Ladybugs. These ladybugs are average sized (thank goodness), but they have quite the attitude. Preferring colorful and well tended flowers, they will speak their mind should they find any that are wilting. They will also drop critiques on anyone with poor etiquette and living poorly. Those who have well kept homes will have an easier time with them…and also suffer large groups coming in hosting parties in the branches.
🦗 Crickets. The crickets are of the musical sort, ready to put on a performance to try and endear themselves to receive temporary lodging. Just for a few days! Their range of music is wide, from classical to punk rock to country to jazz to even rap. And while they try to be polite, well… Sometimes music jams happen whether they should or not. Like late at night. Crickets are nocturnal after all.

B. Migration Migraines. As if dealing with bugs wasn't enough, other critters are either migrating or looking to hibernate around town. One would think the Wildlands would have plenty to offer, but some may find the easy access to food in town a bit more enjoyable.

🦡 Honeycomb Badgers. These interesting looking badgers have a honeycomb for a back. While they will dig up gardens in search of tasty flowers, they need to "shed" their honeycomb and are deliberately going to people to offer it. They are not harmed and will just reveal normal fur beneath before a new honeycomb forms.
🦒 Flying Giraffes. A flock of large winged giraffes will be flying in and roosting on various tall buildings. They act a lot like Canadian geese, so…beware.
🐻 Cotton Bears. These cute little bears look like they could be living teddy bears with how small and plush they appear. And for winter, they are looking to sleep somewhere nice, soft, and warm. Like a bed. Now they don't really care if they are occupied or not, so maybe it would be better if some dens and beds could be made for them instead.

C. Field Foes. The farms situated around the outskirts of town are preparing to harvest their fields, but there's trouble. Unless it gets sorted quick, food might be harder to come by for the winter!

🌾 Scarecrow Rebellion. Something is wrong with the scarecrows, but no one is sure what. They're either sitting in the fields not trying to shoo away the numerous wildlife that have decided to come through, or actively waving their pitchforks at the very gardeners and farmers they're supposed to help. Perhaps they feel a bit underappreciated so some word of thanks could help them get back to work. In the meantime, some help clearing out the fields of unwanted visitors, especially the crows, will be needed.
🍄 Hopped Up Hares. Among the unwanted "vermin" are some hares that have somehow gotten into some…strange green mushrooms that have made them behave a bit erratic. They're digging up tunnels, wearing carrots on their heads, and stare blankly out into the distance. Catch them and drive them away! And maybe feed them some special pellets that will help cure them of their, uh, "ailment." It's not recommended to eat the mushrooms should they be found, but if one does…well, enjoy the same dizzying, heightened experience the hares did.
🍆 Oversized Veggies. Some young "genius" thought creating a special formula mixed with dreamotion would help the crops grow larger and faster. However, it only caused the vegetables to overgrow to as large as an adult person and are now rolling dangerously through the fields. Some even get into town! Pumpkins, carrots, lettuce, corn, potatoes, cabbages—all manner of vegetables are rolling around, so stop them before they cause too much destruction.

I. LEAF STORM

II. INFESTATIONS

COMMENTS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[. . .

she looks thoughtful as she looks the items over, more than she looks at Wanderer.]

Be careful what you disregard... for it may be a balance for you later on.

[would things have ended differently for those in her nation if she had kept her failed puppet around? emotion to balance out the rigidity of the Raiden Shogun. would that mean her people would've suffered less?

there's no way to tell if she would've listened to anyone else but the Traveler, so she figures she doesn't need to think about it too hard. but given her nature to analyze potential circumstances, she can't help but wonder.]

[He can't help it. Wanderer scoffs.]

That's rich, coming from someone like you, isn't it?

[She doesn't remember, but that means maybe he can get off one jab and be done with it.]

[she deserves that. even without having many thoughts of self-pity, she knows she deserves some anger from the boy in front of her.]

Yes... I've done many things I've regret in my long lifetime. However, that won't change the way that things happen now. I must live with my decisions, regardless of how I feel about them.

[Wanderer scoffs.]

As if people like you ever own up to their mistakes.

[And that is one thing Wanderer is glad he has over the archon. Yes, it took him erasing himself from Iriminsul, but he's trying now.

Ugh, he's done. He should leave before she starts asking questions because why the hell is this random boy talking to the archon like this?]

[she considers it for a moment.]

No... it takes a special sort of Traveler to realize that we've done more harm than good sometimes.

[a beat.]

I do hope you're able to find peace one day. I won't ask for your forgiveness in my lapse of judgment, but I will wish for your success now.

[Ei says that and Wanderer freezes.]

What did you say...?

[That. That sounded like she knows who he is. But that's impossible. Isn't it?]

I don't believe I'm incorrect in my assumption on who you are.

[she looks puzzled now, though. almost as if she's considering the idea that she was wrong.]

Especially since you seem to know me, too.

You shouldn't have any assumptions. I made sure of that! You--what am I to you?

[He isn't looking at Ei. He can't.]

[... ????]

You're my creation, of course. At the time, I deemed you a failure and cast you out.

[because there's no reason to beat around the bush here -- and Ei is too straightforward for that.]

Is there a reason why I wouldn't recognize you?

Because I erased all knowledge of my existence! Everyone--even history--forgot about me! Why do you remember me?!

[she shrugs.]

Your face is stamped in my memory like the photo the Traveler took of me. It may fade over time, but it will be sufficient to jog the memories that may be buried.

[clearly, she doesn't get that he erased Everything about himself.]

No, no, you shouldn't have any memories to jog!

[Nope, he can't handle this. Wanderer skyrockets into the air, Vision glowing, and he takes off in any direction that isn't here. She shouldn't remember. She can't. So why does she?!

That she might have come from a time before he did that is lost on him. He's too freaked out.]

[she moves a hand just briefly as if to stop him, if only to ask what he means. but she doesn't, because she doesn't feel like she has the right to stop him. her, who had created him and then abandoned him at her whims... like a mother casting out their child.

it's not that she had any certain fondness for him or an innate need to be near him like a human mother, the situation had just happened. she had spoken frankly. since she'd returned to the world, she'd thought about all of her actions and choices she'd made in the past five hundred years. while the feeling of regret will always feel strongest in that she wasn't there to help Makoto before she fell, there was a small bit of regret in regards to him as well.

knowing how humanesque he'd seemed on creation and her limited ideas of humans, she'd thought he would try to attack her. hurt her, possibly. not that she thought he could, but she's aware that hurt humans will also strike out at their fellows.

but they will also run away. and that's what he did, and she won't follow. instead, she'll tuck the honey away and continue in her wandering... hoping that maybe her words would give him peace some day.

not for her benefit. for his.]

{ a bit leafy }

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