songerein | { a bit leafy }

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{ a bit leafy }

A BIT LEAFY

More details on everything can be found here.

I. LEAF STORM

II. INFESTATIONS

COMMENTS

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

[ His cheer is infectious as the grin on her face widens. It's like a proper adventure! She's seen many adventures in dreams—hers and in the children of Sumeru's, but she didn't think she'd get to experience one so quickly.

She takes her net back and waits for him to lead the way as she thinks about their next plan of attack. ]

Insects that dwell within caves usually don't have eyes, but they are much more sensitive to vibrations in the air and the ground. They will be hard to spot, but once seen, they should be easy to capture. If these insects have jeweled carapaces, they may even try to disguise themselves with their surroundings.

[ Speaking of eyes though... she looks at Yato, curious to know if he's prepared for cave hunting. ]

[And off they go~! Thankfully he has a good idea of where that is thanks to asking around first. He sets off at a brisk pace, checking periodically to make sure Nahida can keep up. And marveling at her own knowledge of cave bugs. That's one detail he failed to ask about.]

Wow, you really know your stuff! So we'll have to go slowly until we can spot them from among the landscape itself, huh? Makes sense to me - otherwise they'd likely get eaten pretty damn quick. I think we can handle that.

[He gives his net a quick twirl, grinning. The hardest part will probably be trying to go stealthily enough to not disturb them.]

[ Her legs may be short, but she jogs to keep up with the taller man. She doesn't mind having to do so—it's also a novel experience, being forced to keep up with another. No one in Sumeru would think to outpace the Dendro Archon, which is almost a shame.

Still, he hasn't answered the question Nahida has in mind, so she decides to voice it: ]

Do you have good vision in the darkness?

[If it starts to look like she's getting too winded, he'll slow down for her. Last thing he wants to do is wear the poor kid out before they even get there. As for her question, it gets a thoughtful hum out of him.]

Mine's not bad, although there's nothing particularly special about it. I guess maybe we should've brought a flashlight of some kind. Hmm...

Push come to shove I may be able to conjure up some light with dreamotion energy. I've had some success with that before. How about you?

[ Luckily, she doesn't get winded easily, so she keeps apace with Yato without difficulty. She does notice that he's watching their pace though, and she appreciates the gesture. ]

It hadn't occurred to me to use dreamotion for any other purpose than as a method to reproduce my own capabilities.

[ She'd been far too concerned with the nature of the dream world that she'd forgotten the endless possibilities she could explore here.

Light, hm? That was typically the domain of Pyro or Electro—they were the two elements that produced light as a byproduct. But there were plenty of flora that could produce light without those two elements, and she's certain she can reproduce it. ]

Perhaps we can experiment, once we reach the entrance to the cave.

Yeah, that was my first thought too, to use it to replicate my weapons from home, but a friend of mine gave me the suggestion to try using that same ability to create light. It worked fairly well.

[If a bit unreliable. He is still new to all this, after all. And creating things is a far cry from what his usual capabilities are, that's for sure.]

Sounds like a plan to me. Between the two of us, I'm sure we'll come up with something.

[He flashes her a reassuring smile as they hurry along. Thankfully the cave isn't too far away and they end up there in short order, where Yato stops with a hand on the wall as he peers into the darkness.]

Alright then! Let's see what we can do about some light!

[ She examines the inside of the cave curiously. It's dark. Scary, perhaps, to the average person.

But to her? It's inviting.

Whispers of mysteries, adventure, and experiences that she's never had before whistle past her ears, beckoning her to enter. And she wants to, curious to know what lay within. But caves could be dangerous—monsters, poisonous air, venomous creatures, and sprawling labyrinths could be what awaited them. They could enter, never again to leave alive.

It would be chilling, were this not a dream. And a dream could not harm a dreamer, especially if it is a pleasant dream to be remembered.

So she closes her eyes and dreams—of a pathway lit by the beautiful blue of luminescent mushrooms. She dreams of Mawtiyima Forest, of the fungi that tower far above her, bathing the ground below with its soft glow. She dreams of fireflies dancing about in the dulcet hues of twilight. She dreams of the elegant arc of a Dendro Crystalfly's wings, bright and true, like a beacon in the darkness.

She dreams and dreams, letting the energy around her bend and morph into the shape of her wish, her delight, her joy and her wonder.

What Yato will see, at first, is the sprouting of tiny, bioluminescent mushrooms around Nahida's feet, far smaller than the average mushroom. They continue to sprout, rushing forward, until they enter the cave and cluster against the walls, providing a dim trail with which they could return.

Then, he might notice the fireflies that surround them—where had they come from? But they disappear as fast as they'd come, as if they'd never been there.

But the finale of Nahida's performance is the emerald hued butterfly that blooms in her outstretched hand—which is not actually a butterfly, upon closer inspection, but a crystal with four wings attached. The crystalfly flutters aloft, glowing softly. A little dim as a light source, but it could be enough.

With a soft sigh, Nahida opens her eyes—they're glowing brightly, as is the green of her locks and the leaf woven into her hair. She blinks as she examines the effects of her manipulation of dreamotion. ]

For a first attempt, this is a decent result.

Edited 2023-11-14 12:00 (UTC)

[For Yato the cave is just a cave, if an unfortunate reminder of his last excursion into one - one that lead into the underworld. So he's not the most keen to go traipsing right in without a light. Not scared, per se, but definitely cautious. He at least wants to be able to see if things are moving in there with them.

So he's about to try summoning his own puny light when Nahida gets to it first, working her imagination ten times as hard as he ever could. The sudden arrival of mushrooms is surprising, but not half as much as how they flow forward in a rush like a river. His attempts at dreamotion had been static, only conveying in his hands. To see what someone much more skilled is capable of puts him in his place, silencing him with awe.

Though not for too long. He's a motormouth, after all. After gaping at the butterfly, Yato cheers, holding a hand out for Nahida to high-five.]

Alright! Nice going! That beats 'decent' any day of the week! Nahida, you're amazing!

[ The glow in her eyes and hair fade as she smiles shyly, looking pleased while Yato showers her with compliments. She had wanted the mushrooms to be bigger—wanted the fireflies to stay, and the crystalfly to be brighter. This is an issue that can be rectified with practice, she thinks. ]

Thank you. I tried my best.

[ High-fives are a concept she's not familiar with, so she stares at Yato's outstretched hand for a moment, puzzled. Then she raises her own hand and gently places hers against his. Is this what he wants? ]

[Yep, definitely not your average kid, that's for sure. Not with Glowing Hair and Eyes of Power™. And that's besides her being super good at this dreamotion magic thing.

On top of that is the way she reacts to his offer of a high-five. S-So cute... He grins at her, reaching out to pat her head.]

You did great. Although... You're not anything close to a human or elf, are you? I've been meaning to ask that for a while.

[ Pat on the head! This is yet another novel experience... and it's a lovely one. She is rarely touched, for who would dare to touch a god? But she has desires like any other, and experiencing loving gestures such as hugs and the like are on the list. ]

That's a good deduction. You're correct.

[ But she doesn't elaborate any further, opting to smile in amusement and a slight splash of mischievousness. He would have to keep asking questions or putting together clues on his own to figure it out. ]

[Perhaps because he too is a god, he doesn't have any qualms about possibly offending another higher being. He's pretty good at that sort of thing anyway. Besides, it seems like she doesn't mind too terribly.]

Heh, do I get a hint or should I just guess?

[He catches that trace of mischievousness and raises an eyebrow. Somebody's either beholden to keeping her secret or just enjoys a good game of twenty questions.]

[ She has no intention of hiding her status as a god, so she's more than willing to give a hint. But to give a hint to someone who has no familiarity with Teyvat's history or culture is far more difficult than it initially seems. ]

I'm more than happy to give a hint, but it will take me a moment to think of one that will make sense to you.

In the mean time, let's continue our mission here.

[ She gestures at the cave with a smile. ]

[For his part Yato seems understanding and merely nods, starting off down the now lit path into the cave.]

No problem! Take your time. It might be a little while until we locate the bugs we're after anyway, so that'll give us something to do during the hunt.

[Inside the cavern he stops here and there to peer around rocks and under overhanging ledges in search of their prey. There's plenty of regular insects, just none of the elusive jeweled varieties they're hunting.]

[ The Dendro crystalfly flutters to and fro, following Yato's line of sight in an attempt to help him see into the darkness. Nahida is looking too—though her mind is partially occupied by the hint she's creating for Yato.

Still, it's fascinating, the amount of life that can exist in a cave like this. Sumeru had plenty of caves in which life, both flora and fauna, made its home, but this cave was more barren. Yet, life still thrived here, and she found herself admiring the hardiness of the creatures within. Such was the potential of life. ]

What would you say sustains the life within this cave?

[The way the butterfly tracks his eye movements makes him even more impressed by the moment; he can hardly imagine being able to get dreamotion to work that complexly for him.

In fact, if his attention wasn't being taken up by by their search for insects, he'd question her on how it is she managed such a feat. But he's pretty darn eager to locate the next bug on their list, whichever it is. He kinda forgot to ask about that part when he was questioning people about where to find them.]

Hmm... I'd guess it's smaller insects? Or maybe moisture seeping out from the walls. It's hard to say.

But then where to those bugs find their sustenance? All creatures must live off of the consumption of another—insects are no exception.

[ Stay with her Yato—this is the hint that she's cooked up.

As he thinks, she'll look around carefully using the Crystalfly's light. It really is much dimmer than she'd like, but it glints off the shinier parts of the cavern wall just fine. The only question was what exactly they were searching for... ]

....tiny microorganisms? Algae?

[He's trying! But this seems to be getting all science-y and that's so not his bag.

Seeing how dark it still is, he tries focusing some of his enthusiasm into the palms of his hands, turning it into a small orb of light that helps show off the shimmering walls. Higher up along them there seems to be a flicker of movement - a stone that shifts almost imperceptibly.]

[ It's okay! The ecosystem of a cave is fairly complex, so she doesn't blame him for not knowing the answer. ]

To which I would ask where those find sustenance. The answer is simple, however. Life is brought into the caves from outside of it, and it becomes a food source for the creatures and plants that live within.

The next question, then, is where life outside finds its sustenance. There are a number of answers to this question, depending on which organism you consider, but this food chain must begin somewhere.

[ Here is where her height does her no credit. Small as she is, it's easier for the walls higher up to slip her notice, so she doesn't spot the moving stone. ]

[It really is a complicated network of organisms that tends to be beyond his understanding, as it's something he's never really put much thought into before.]

Oh, yeah, that would make sense. So either plants of some kind, or the sun itself which provides energy for said plants? Is that what you're getting at?

[Setting aside his pack, he readies his net and sneaks over to get beneath one of the slightly shifting rocks. Gauging the distance for several moments, his tongue sticks out just a bit as he slaps it over the thing with a yell of satisfaction. Hah~! Got one!]

Yes. The hierarchy of a food chain may be complex, but they all begin with a source.

You may perhaps equate me to something equivalent, in the hierarchy of sapient beings.

[ Yes, this was just an incredibly long metaphor for what she is. Hopefully, though, Yato understands what she's trying to get at.

But she notices he's suddenly distracted and follows his line of sight to the shifting rock, which she then observes Yato capture capture successfully. She claps with delight. ]

You have a keen eye. I didn't see that at all.

[Now that gets his attention. Still holding the net over his newly acquired insect, he twists around to stare at her with slightly wide eyes.]

So... that would make you the source of all sentient life...?

[Holy shit. That's almost if not more impressive than dealing with Amaterasu, and she's the pinnacle of heaven! Yato doesn't shake in his boots or anything, but there's a definite note of awe and newly found respect in his voice.]

I mean, is it okay for us to be talking like this? Should I be bowing my head a little more, because I really don't want to lose it due to disrespecting you!

[Not that he thinks she'd do such a thing, so it's (mostly) a joke. Twisting the net, he collects the bug and shoves it in the bag so he can fully turn towards her and offer a proper bow.]

I had no idea you were someone so high, Nahida.

[ Oh dear, the metaphor didn't quite go the way she wanted. She often liked to compare herself to the sun and moon, but perhaps she went about it the wrong way. ]

Not quite. It seems my hint wasn't crafted properly. I apologize for that. It's not as grand as you imagine.

[ She's going to do her best to work with the metaphor she was going for, but... hmmm. ]

The sun is a source of comfort and warmth for all beings on the planet. It is a foundation for one's life—you never question if the sun will rise again tomorrow, yes? My role is similar. I am merely that which spreads the roots of a sturdy foundation upon which people can establish a comfortable, fulfilling life. I am the tree that provides shade for those seeking protection.

[ ...she might be making this far too complicated now. It's a shame. Her analogies never seem to land right. ]

Simply put, I am one who is worshipped and looked to for protection, and in turn I offer my wisdom and kindness.

[ She doesn't like to put it this way, but that would be easiest to understand, wouldn't it? ]

[It's probably a difference in their perspectives that has him misinterpreting her words. He's used to dealing more with a structured hierarchy, where there sits one ruler at the very top who metes out divine punishment and the like.]

Ah, don't worry about it. It's more likely I just misunderstood you. Still, I have to admit that even as a force of nature instead of being the ruler of all is pretty impressive. Either way, that you're loved and respected to such a degree... It makes me a little jealous, I have to admit.

[Because one day he wants to be a god whose reach can grant the wishes of millions of people, making them all happy. That's his dream.]

I'm sure you have much to offer your people as well, just by going off of what wisdom you've shared with me. If you can teach a thousand-year-old idiot things, there must be plenty you can impart to humanity.

[Even if he doesn't exactly understand her nature, it doesn't change the fact she's a good person and good friend to have.]

[ It's—well, she established the nation, so of course it was her responsibility to guide and protect her people. But they lost faith in her once, so she isn't sure he has much to envy. She has to work hard to be worthy of her position once more.

A thousand years old? He's far longer lived than she expected. If one considers the start of her memories to be the main factor for her age, then he's actually older than her. She smiles mischievously. ]

And I am certain you have your own trove of wisdom to share. You have far more experience than I, after all. I am but a mere five hundred years old.

{ a bit leafy }

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