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

[and Ei smiles back, unaware of Nahida's inner turmoil.]

If I'm to call you Nahida, then you may call me Ei. It seems we're not quite the archons we are in Teyvat here, anyway.

Indeed, we are not. Here, it seems all dreamers are equal, whether mortal or god. Thus, even the strange phenomena that sweep over this world can affect us too.

[ She's been lucky then, having dodged the cold that Ei's caught. She might not be so lucky in the future. ]

Your cold should disappear in a few days, if it is similar to the one humans experience in Teyvat.

It's strange to be on a similar level of others after all this time.

[she sneezes again, and her hair turns silver.]

I hope so, it's absolutely dreadful. To think that humans have to deal with this sort of thing...

[ Silver isn't a bad look on Ei, but it clashes with her outfit quite horribly. ]

Would you like to retreat to a private location? There is a cafe in the plaza that offers an interesting selection of tea.

Yes, please. Some tea may soothe my throat... but take care that you don't catch my affliction, too.

[she coughs a little bit as if to punctuate that point.]

I will do my best to avoid it.

[ The cafe in question is thankfully not too far from their current location. Dreambucks is the name on the sign, and while there are a number of customers about the place, the cafe also has private booths towards the back of the shop. Nahida leads her to one of the private booths, taking a seat on one side. ]

Here we are. It's a lovely place, don't you think?

[she takes everything in, and even grabs a few disposable napkins on the way to their seats. she's glad for the privacy though, and she relaxes slightly as she sits across from Nahida.]

Yes... this world is lovely so far, all things considered. I never would've expected something like this to exist.

[she smiles slightly.]

I suppose all of the new knowledge you'll find especially fascinating.

[ A waiter stops by with a menu shortly after they take a seat, which Nahida leaves on the table as she keeps her full attention on Ei. ]

Yes, it even took me by surprise. Never in all my years did I think I would see such a dream.

[ It's been nothing short of a wonder, with people from all sorts of worlds and so many new concepts and experiences that one could not find in Teyvat. She has been enjoying every single day, free from her duties to Sumeru, and free to explore to her heart's content. ]

Nor did I expect that I would be seeing my fellow Archons in this manner.

It's a very elaborate dream. It almost rivals what any one of us would be able to do by ourselves.

[she smiles a little at Nahida... even though she'd been shut off from the world for so long, seeing the other archons... she finds she doesn't mind it at all.]

I can agree to that too. It was also startling to find out that Venti and Zhongli have been here for so long... I would like to see the kind of magic that's at work here.

[ It might be greater than what any Archon can do on their own. She's never created a dream this complex, nor has she seen any domain this complex. She wants to learn more—about what sustains it, what influences it, and how it draws people into itself. ]

That is also a topic I'm keenly interested in. If I learn anything, I'll be sure to let you know.

[ But, putting that aside... she wants to know more about Ei. The Electro Archon who only recently has left her self-imposed isolation... she's similar to Nahida, in some ways. ]

I've heard that you recently ended your self-imposed isolation. Experiencing the world anew, after centuries—has it been an interesting experience?

[she nods again in acknowledgement, and at the shift in conversation... her expression softens a little more.]

It has been. I had something more recently called "dango milk" from a shopkeeper who was very nervous to sell to me. But... it was interesting and refreshing, I couldn't see why he didn't have more customers.

[she will never shut up about this.]

Dango milk... that sounds like a unique combination. I would like to try it for myself one day.

[ If that shopkeeper knew Archons were discussing his merchandise with interest, he would probably faint. ]

Has your idea of 'eternity' changed then?

[ This is an innocent question, with no judgment attached. She's simply curious about Ei's thought process. ]

It's very good. It's sweet and unique.

[and she does like her sweets...

the next comment is a little difficult.]

Yes. I haven't quite decided for myself on what form I'd like eternity to take, but I know now that by keeping the future static will only cause more problems than solutions.

{ a bit leafy }

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