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

[ Prompto has changed slightly, he's got pointed fluffy dog ears and a bushy tail that at the moment is completely still as he leans over the poor girl.

His brow furrows. ]

Are you okay? You don't look so good.

[she looks at Prompto after another sneeze, and then rubs at her nose for a moment, even though she knows she shouldn't.]

I believe... I'll be fine. [ACHOO!! and her hair turns green.] An illness that could kill a human certainly wouldn't be able to harm me as much.

Oh...um... [ Prompto holds up a finger a little hesitantly. ]

I don't know if you know this but your hair has turned green?

Hm? Impossible--

[but then she takes a strand of her hair and squints at it as she holds it in front of her eyes.]

How does that happen? Is it magical? Is it permanent?

[sorry, it's curious and alarming all at the same time.]

I'm um, not exactly sure! [ Prompto chuckles a little bit. ]

But there's a lot of magic around here, so I wouldn't be surprised. I'm just not very well versed in it.

Interesting.

[she almost sneezes... and she pauses for a few moments, before being able to breathe again as it passes.]

Do you think there's a doctor well-versed in medicine enough to study it here? I'd like to know the results of such a study.

There might be, but if it's because you're sick then...maybe you should get better first.

[ She looks kind of unwell, no offense. ]

Are you okay?

They could always use me as something to study. Live specimens would probably be preferable in a case like this, anyway.

[maybe. she's not really a science buff here.

she nods.]

My memories are hazy on the last time I've been ill. It must've been centuries since my last affliction. But I will be fine, please don't worry.

I don't actually know if that's right? I'm not a healer.

[ She must need one, he thinks. ]

Wait, centuries?! Um. How old are you? [ Wow, rude, Prompto. ]

[she drops the first subject when he exclaims about her age. she blinks at him, and then tilts her head slightly, almost as if she's confused on why she's so thrown off.]

Probably about... a few thousand years old now? Are there not many long-lived among your people?

Ummmmmm....no?

[ There is one. He's a dick, he doesn't count. ]

Most people probably live to be like, I dunno, seventy or so? More than that a bit?

[she thinks she gets it now. she nods.]

So more like a normal city of humans, then. Although even in Teyvat, the excessively long lived are more or less the guardians of their countries and their subordinates.

[she's not really sure how she'd describe the Yae Miko and the Adepti in Liyue to someone she's pretty sure doesn't live in Teyvat at all.]

But even then they're still known to walk among humans at times, rare as they are.

Whoa, I can't imagine it. [ He's having a rough life at 20, he can't imagine being hundreds of years old. ]

You must've seen a lot.

[some sort of emotion pinches at the corners of her eyes and makes her purse her lips for a moment.

...]

The passage of time is more unkind than it is kind at times.

[she's not mad. just... sad. everything she'd lost--

but she smooths out her expression after a minute.]

But that isn't a conversation for a day like this.

[ Prompto sighs softly, apologetic. ] Sorry.

[ He understands. Not the passage of time like she does, but he understands the pain of losing things. He's still fixated on anger though, for now. Someday it will just be sadness. ]

It's fine. I just don't wish to pull the conversation in a depressing way on our first meeting.

[she coughs a little and then sniffles.]

Perhaps you could tell me where I might find some relief for my symptoms instead. I'll make sure that I return the favor, in time.

Oh yeah, sure!

[ That's fine, Prompto understands. ]

There's someone running a clinic this way, I can walk you there. I hear water really helps too.

[she nods a little.]

I had some tea earlier, as well. It soothed my sore throat... but didn't do much for the sneezing.

[she says it like it's weird that a single thing doesn't cure everything!!]

Have you experienced a sickness such as this before?

I've been sick before but not quite like this I think? Like, I'd get cold medicine but they don't seem to have that around.

[ Is it a cold? Hard to say. ]

Strange. Maybe there's something herbal we can find?

[there's gotta be something.]

But bartering when I have nothing to offer would be challenging, though.

Oh no, don't worry about that. I can barter for you.

[ Maybe he can offer some manual labour or something. ]

You're sick, so you should be resting.

[she looks a little surprised.]

For me? But... you don't even know me. Why would you do something like that?

I just want to help out. It really sucks being sick.

[she knows of the kindness of humans, but as an Archon whose face is known to other people, it's kind of a strange thing. he doesn't even know her, and yet.]

Okay. I'll allow it.

[Ei please.]

But I will find a way to repay you one day.

Sure, if you want. [ Prompto smiles brightly, he's always been the kind of person who will lend a hand. He's just like that. ]

Come on. Let's get you somewhere you can rest.

{ a bit leafy }

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