{ a bit leafy }

[dreamposts]

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

Comments

Helga Pataki | Hey Arnold!

[heartatsunder]

Leaf Monsters

[It's fine. This is fine. She knows this is a dream world, the tapir told her so... that still sounds really freaking weird in her head... but whatever, she'll play along and act like this is normal, and soon enough she'll wake up back in class! Right?

That's what Helga tells herself until she walks through a pile of leaves and her foot doesn't come out. So she does what any normal person would do: Kick it out. Except, of course, the leaves don't move away and instead pull her back into the mound and she lets out a shriek.

A few minutes later, there's a five-foot mass of autumn colours bounding through the streets and flailing from side to side like it's trying to dance the mambo. Underneath the rustle, passersby can hear the rampant groaning and cursing of a very distressed child.]

I said get off, you filthy yard mulch! Go swallow some dope who likes jumping into you!

Bugged Trees

[Once free of the leaves, she relents and finally picks an abode, naturally going for a treehouse at the edge of town. Maybe this will give her a chance to wind down and figure out what she'll do, or at least allow some place to relax alone...

Which would have been the case if not for the seclusion also attracting a swarm of insects. Some beetles knocked out her door, drawing in a group of ladybugs critiquing the poor entranceway before she was able to shoo them off. But the last straw happens at night as she tries to set up her sleeping space. In the midst of anxiety, she is compelled to write a verse about how lonely it is, far away from her beloved, lost in the recesses of her own subconscious dreamscape until he either comes to find her or she manages to return to the new bliss that is reality where they are finally together in sweet union...

And a bunch of crickets decide this warrants a screechy string quartet right on her roof, prompting Helga to climb outside her house in the middle of the night caring little about anyone nearby who might be sleeping.]

I DON'T need your company, I DON'T need your sympathy, so TAKE your little bug concert and LEAVE! ME! ALONE!

Migrainetions

No really, I'm fine.

[This is what Helga will insist if anyone asks, but her demeanour says otherwise: Her eye's twitching, her pigtails are sticking out at bizarre angles, and her voice sounds like she swallowed cement.

But the most telling sign she's not too alert is probably the fact that she's about to wander dangerously close to some baby winged giraffes, and the nearby parents look ready to nail her ass for it.]

Oversized Veggies

[She eventually wanders to the fields, finding somewhere secluded enough to rant out loud to herself.]

Great! I save the day and finally win the affections of my one true love, and then right on our first day of sixth-grade coupling, I daydream so hard about our beautiful future that I wind up in this dump! It's so archaic here, it's better suited for Stinky or something.

[As if responding to her insult, a giant pumpkin suddenly comes barrelling in her direction. She yelps and runs as it follows her and bores a groove into the hillside.]

All right, I know he had a prize-winning pumpkin! You don't have to rub it in by running me over!

Leaf Monsters

[senorita_perfecta]

(There is no way that Isabela is going to let some leaf monster to swallow innocent civilians and dreamwalkers like they’re lunch so have a rampaging unhinged plant lady running in with a lit torch, a rapier, and a brooch set to the power of the sun to channel some serious dreamotion fire power. Which explains why she is wearing a golden silk ball gown today. As she has learned from her first attempt of shooing the monsters, wind is not the best choice as they can grow and multiply like rabbits. So she is avoiding to use wind at all costs unless she has to free people trapped inside first.

While the monster is trying to get Helga, Isabela throws some stones at the creature to get its attention and begins to yell at it.)

Hey, you oversized pile of leaves! Just leave that poor lady alone and bother someone else instead. Or I’ll have to set you on fire faster than fireworks.

[heartatsunder]

[The leaves pause their torment once the stones and yells start flying, giving just enough time for Helga to tug her foot out and run over to her saviour...

Oh, it's the pretty flower lady again. She gives a quick glance at the gown.] Hey, Cinderella, where's the ball?

[Despite the threat, the leaves still follow like an autumnal snake towards the girl, prompting her to hop to Isabela's other side.] Uh, you weren't bluffing about the fire, right?

[senorita_perfecta]

There is no time for me to explain why I am trying to fight a monster in a ball gown right now. I have to deal with this leaf monster before it could attack more folks today.

(Actually she is supposed to have an All Kinds of Furs Essence thanks to her participation in the Story Eater battle but she does get the Cinderella vibes that Helga just mentioned. But she doesn’t have the time to point out the differences between the two tales at the moment when there are leaf monsters rampaging all over town.)

And yes, I really do mean it when I did say I was going to attack with fire if they don’t stop trying to attack you. I tried attacking with wind magic earlier and it resulted in more monsters multiplying as the result. Hence why we need to fight leaf with fire with these creatures.

[heartatsunder]

[Really, she figured it's because Isabela's heading to a ball and ran into these freaks en route. But that's less important than other things right now.]

You say that like you have fire, but I don't see a flamethrower or even a lighter.

[senorita_perfecta]

That is probably because the fire magic I have is connected to the brooch I have pinned onto my clothes. With the brooch, I could switch between powers relating to the sun, moon and stars and that does reflect on the dress styles. For example this golden gown can let me use fire magic at will.

(She conjures up a fire ball to throw at an incoming leaf monster (not the one they were dealing with earlier) who is shambling right behind her back. It then bursts into flames, screaming in horror as it flails around.)

[heartatsunder]

[She is about to make a snide comment on how that just makes her like an interchangeable Barbie, but then she's too busy jumping at the SUDDEN FIRE that incinerates the leaves she didn't even know were there. It is actually kind of terrifying to watch the monster flail and turn to ash.]

Huh. Okay, you got me, that's kinda cool. Didn't know princess fashion comes with Captain Planet accessories.

[senorita_perfecta]

Why thanks. I didn’t expect to have them as well when I first got them months ago. They do come in handy for many fights against the many crazy things this world tends to witness and get all the time.

(There are some more leaf monsters chasing after a couple of people who are trying to find a place to hide at the moment as they passed the two of them by. Isabela flings more fireballs at the monsters without missing a beat, causing more of them to join their fallen brethren into piles of ashes.)

[heartatsunder]

You got them here? Well snap, I thought that was just a royal perk.

[She lets out a snicker as more monsters get burnt to a crisp.]

So, you mean anyone can learn to throw fireballs against these things?

Leaf Monsters

[holdshisown]

[If there's one thing he's never been able to abide it is seeing a child in distress, nothing quite enrages him as much as that. It sats a fire in his soul like nothing else can.

So it is that he jumps in front of the leafy fiend that has entrapped the child, eyes blazing like a raging forest fire and a snarl on his face. He probably strikes a pretty terrifying picture himself, towering over both the trapped girl and the monster that is keeping her so.]

Release the child, fiend! Or I'll scatter you to the winds in a way you'll never be able to put yourself together from!

[heartatsunder]

[The leaves push Helga back as soon as their pathway is blocked, forcing Helga herself to yelp and step backwards. Though she wouldn't admit it, this was also because there's a glowing red-haired man suddenly in front of her who in her obstructed sight looks like some crazy devil. Yes, she knows this is a dream world, but that doesn't mean she's used to it.

After a second, she tries brushing off the leaves now that they've stopped, which exposes her arms and legs briefly before she is engulfed again. Okay, she's taking her chance with the glowy guy, she can probably flee once the leaves are gone.]

Scattering sounds good!

[holdshisown]

[He narrows his eyes at the leaf monsters and raises his voice in a low, reverberating Song, pushing at them with all the Power he has to push them off of her. As soon as she is exposed enough he'll grab hold of her and push her behind him where she can be more protected.

A glare is leveled at what remain of them, a heat emanating from him.]

Now leave and you might avoid ending up piles of ash!

[heartatsunder]

[The leaves drop from her in seconds and she is about as dignified about the pushing as you'd expect.

Stunned from the whole thing, she only thinks to stare as the leaves scatter and fall back faster than Daylight Saving Time before sweeping around a corner. Then she remembers she was going to flee, so she tries creeping away while his back is still turned.]

[holdshisown]

[Even though he can hear her trying to sneak away he does not turn around until he's sure the leaf monsters wont be comming back.

When he does finaly turn to speak to her he does make an effort to look less frightening. There is still some tension left in his body but he has a gentle smile on his face as he turns the attention on the child, looking her over for any injury she might have sustained.]

Are you alright, child? Did they hurt you?

[heartatsunder]

[Oh criminy, he caught her. She doesn't look injured save for some dirt marks on her legs when she stumbled out of the leaves - though she's crouched down enough that it's hard to see completely.]

I'm fine. Sheesh, no need to pamper me, elf boy, they're just leaves.

[holdshisown]

[He gives the child a worried look as he crouches down, so that he won't tower over her so much.]

I'm afraid you'll just have to endure my pampering, child, it comes quite naturaly to me when it comes to those as young as you are.

[heartatsunder]

Please, I'm eleven. I've been walking to school since I was four. And do you know how old I was when I drove my first bus? Nine.

[...Okay, Gerald was at the steering wheel while her and Arnold controlled the pedals, but this doofus doesn't need to know that.]

Migrainetions

[chocobosnap]

[ Oh geeze, those giraffes sure look mad. Prompto hurries up to Helga's side and makes a move to grasp her arm gently. ]

Hey, hey, you might want to back up a bit.

[ Even if she'd rather get mad at him, that's okay. He's not going to kill her for approaching the babies. ]

[heartatsunder]

[The small touch seems to put her at full alert... of him anyway, as she pulls her arm out of his grasp. Apparently she would rather get mad.]

And why might I want to, bucko?

[Out of her line of sight, one of the parents is already preparing to give chase while the other makes a menacing... hum? Either way, probably not a good sign.]

[chocobosnap]

Those giraffe parents look pretty mad.

[ Prompto doesn't actually look too bothered or intimidated by her ire. ]

So just...come this way...

[ He steps back and beckons her. ]

[heartatsunder]

Oh, what, do you have candy in your truck or something? Please, I know better than to fall for that tri- giraffe what?

[And that's when she hears the steps of charging talons, presumably of said giraffe, and starts running and shrieking in the direction Prompto encouraged. The humming parent is much louder now while the charger is inches away from nicking its prey, despite her new speed.]

[chocobosnap]

[ He does not have candy, and the giraffe is charging. Prompto lets her go past and makes himself the target, pulling out his gun.

He fires it, not to harm the giraffe, or hurt it, but to startle it and scare it off. ]

Hey! Back off! [ Prompto stares the animal down. ]

[heartatsunder]

[Oh, he hasn't got candy, he's got a gun. But Helga's still less alarmed by that and more by the giraffe that's now humming and scampering away. She backs away farther until the creature's no longer a threat.]

What kind of Dali nightmare was that?

[chocobosnap]

[ He does indeed have a gun and with a spin, it's holstered back in its place. ]

Uhhh, I'm not sure. Sometimes weird animals show up and these ones seem to be particularly kind of hostile.

[heartatsunder]

Sometimes? Sometimes?!

[She is secretly impressed by the spinning NGL.]

"Weird" are leaves literally swallowing you up in a pile. "Weird" are scarecrows on protest like they're Wizard of Oz rejects. But those, those are freaks of nature!

[She emphatically points at the giraffe babies she nearly approached before, then shrinks back behind him and very quietly mutters:] This place bites.