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

[she nods, as she starts to walk towards the cafe.]

Your generosity will not go unrecognized. When I'm well, you may ask any favor of me in return.

[because she won't let a good deed like this go without something in return...!]

Really, it's my pleasure.

[Aerith shows her inside and lets the door close behind them, heading back towards the counter.]

Take a seat wherever you like! I'm Aerith, by the way.

[and she seats herself a polite distance away so that she hopefully won't pass on her sickness but close enough so that they could still speak to each other.]

You may call me Ei. It's a pleasure already to meet you, Aerith.

Ei! That's a pretty name.

[Fetching a cup and pouring tea from one of the heated carafes doesn't take more than a few short moments, and she grabs a bottle of honey to accompany it on her way back to where Ei has made herself comfortable, setting it down beside the cup and saucer when she delivers them.]

Here, this should help. If you're hungry, Tifa has some pretty incredible soup on offer today, too. Great for beating a cold!

Thank you.

[the tea smells good... maybe not completely recognizable, but it'd been so long since she'd had it anyway.]

I do remember both of these things were good soothing agents for humans who had such ailments. [she already puts some honey into her tea, mixing it up and waiting for it to cool enough to drink.] I'll take some soup as well, if it isn't too much trouble.

Of course it isn't. We're literally here to serve!

[Said with the cheerful nature of someone who has the luxury to choose to be a waitress because she thought it would be fun. She heads towards the kitchen, but the space is small enough that they can still talk easily if she raises her voice just a bit.]

It seems like something has been going around. Have you noticed anything else besides the coughing and the— color-changing?

No... not yet.

[she raises her voice so that Aerith can hear her too. in fact, she sneezes... and her hair turns straight up white.]

Do you know of any other symptoms I should be looking out for?

Oh! That's a nice color on you, actually.

[But, to answer her question:]

All the symptoms of a common cold, from what I hear. The sneezing, like that, and runny noses, headaches... have you had a fever at all?

Is it? I can't really see...

[it's strange to her to think of herself with any other hair color, tbh.

shaking her head:]

I'm not sure. I just feel... unwell. How does a fever feel?

[Aerith heads back towards her table carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of soup, pausing beside it so that she can set the bowl down in front of Ei, followed by a couple of packets of crackers in addition to a spoon and napkin.]

It's kind of like... you feel a little too hot and too cold at the same time? It can be kind of ache-y, too. It's a little hard to explain, but your body temperature will rise— wait, you've never had a fever before?

[How is that possible?]

[she takes the spoon and considers... and then shakes her head.]

No, I feel just fine now that I'm in a warmer building.

[Ei starts to stir the soup in her bowl,]

Archons aren't susceptible to human illnesses. [she says as if Aerith would clearly know What That Is.] They may face erosion and afflictions of other kinds, but not a simple human cold.

That's good, at least. Colds can be pretty mild, so hopefully whatever this is will pass without too much incident.

[Fingers crossed! Soup and tea will do some of the heavy lifting, but Aerith can certainly give Ei a boost with her healing dreamotion abilities later on if she needs it.

Listening with interest, she helps herself to the seat across from Ei's, despite the fact that waitresses usually don't sit down with their customers.]

So that makes you an Archon. [She has no idea what that is, no, but she does know what it's like to be different.] What does that mean, where you're from?

[Ei's not going to complain about it. she thinks Aerith is pretty interesting, all in all...

she puts her hands around the warm teacup and sighs happily.]

We're protectors of our resident countries. Immortals that... most have been around for thousands of years.

[she takes the smallest sip of tea. even though it's still hot, it feels good on her throat.

she sets the cup back down before continuing.]

I suppose to someone who isn't from Teyvat, assuming that we are gods isn't far off the mark. Though there are those even above us who would more fit that title.

[Aerith steeples her fingers together, leaning forward against the table as she continues to give Ei her full attention, eyes widening slightly.]

Immortal. Really? And there's lots of you?

[It's not so strange, she guesses; she's met all kinds of people here, so immortality isn't really a stretch.]

Even if you're not a 'god,' the way you describe it... you may as well be. If you take care of your countries, does that make you a queen? Or— president, maybe?

Hm... there are seven of us. There are lesser guardians like the adepti of Liyue, but those aren't quite the same.

[she shrugs .]

Many of my fellow archons don't rule in a traditional way. They let their people rule themselves, and act as guardians should anything threaten their countries. Myself and only a couple others have our hands in our country's affairs... though even I don't directly deal with it either, for the most part. I have a puppet for that.

Oh, I see!

[Sort of! It's a lot to follow, but her interest is extremely genuine.

— wait a moment.]

... did you say a puppet?

[it's fine, she doesn't really expect for people to completely understand, anyway. not that she thinks people are unintelligent, but there's the whole bit of being from different worlds and all...

oh. she blinks at Aerith, wondering about how this is the strangest thing she's said.]

Yes. A puppet. A very close clone of myself that I programmed to rule Inazuma while I could not.

[Wow. She exhales steadily; she can't think of anything from her own world to compare it to, but she can take it at face value well enough.]

That's some puppet. It must be incredibly advanced.

[Actually...

It sounds like the kind of thing Shinra might do, given the chance.]

I can think of some people who might be pretty dangerous if they got their hands on something like that.

Yes, I can see how it'd be dangerous. I've even had to change her programming to soften her personality a little bit.

[that's a long story...]

But I haven't and don't plan on ever revealing the way I made her and my other... creation.

[calling Wanderer a puppet seemed kind of harsh, right now.]

That's... probably for the best.

[She worries at her lower lip a little bit, frowning slightly.]

I don't think anyone else should have that kind of power, really. So much control over another person... it doesn't seem right. Your situation is pretty unique, but if someone else were to try it... well. I'm glad you're keeping it to yourself.

[... at least they can agree without actually saying what would probably happen if such technology would fall into the wrong hands.]

Yes... my other creation seems to have formed a conscience of his own, so I stay out of his affairs. For good or ill remains to be seen.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ a bit leafy }

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