EVENT LOG: AN ASGARDIAN JUNGLE

[asgardmods]

AN ASGARDIAN JUNGLE( APRIL 13TH - 17TH )

april 13 ↴
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

They say the early bird catches the worm, and in Asgard it's no less true. Those who are awake in the early hours of the 13th certainly catch something. The burst of flowers from earlier in the month seem to have lost their strange influence -- indeed, all flowers within Asgard lost their scent entirely.

Yet those who hoped that might be the end of it will find themselves disappointed.

As the sun begins to rise over the city, another surge of growth floods all the districts. Not just flowers, this time. Trees, bushes, vines, every plant seems inspired to thrive in fast forward. New ones, as well, appear where there were none. The air turns warmer, the sky is clearing, and it feels like perhaps this might be a good sign. Like spring is simply settling over Asgard properly, and it might be the beginning of something nice.

It isn't.

The growth doesn't stop. It speeds up, and soon trees are bursting up through pathways, vines are crawling over buildings and blocking doorways. Windows are jammed shut, thick hedges are formed of the once beautiful rose bushes. All at once, Asgard is transformed into an overgrown wilderness.

Then, just as quickly as it began, all is still. Only the gentle sound of birdsong can be heard -- and, perhaps, the shouts of both Wanderers and Natives trapped inside and out.

Perhaps we better do something about that?

april 13 ↴
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

For an unlucky few, the building they were in -- be it a domicile, library, shop or something else -- has been entirely sealed off by the sudden surge of growth. Trees block pathwaves, vines grip walls and hold windows and doors closed.

It's a tricky situation, with people divided from their friends and also the tools they might use to do something about it.

In fact, it's actually even more difficult than it appears at first glance.

If you manage to escape being trapped, a short walk down the path to one of the newly sprouted trees may seem the way to indulge curiosity. Yet as you gaze up at the blossom, perhaps even reach out to touch the branches or the trunk, some movement catches your eyes.

The ground is moving. The tree is uprooting itself. Not just that, in fact, it's lifting itself up and beginning to swing its branches toward you.

Can a tree be negotiated with? It certainly doesn't seem in the mood to listen.

april 13-14 ↴
TOEING THE VINE

For those trying to free their friends inside, or simply trying to get back into their accommodation, the vines seem the biggest challenge. They're tough, wrapped thickly over each other and the doors and windows they're blocking.

Yet that isn't the only issue.

It only takes a few hacks with a blade, a few tugs at their limbs before the vines begin to move of their own accord. The vines coil and lash out, defending themselves against the attempts to cut them back -- grabbing at Wanderers and drawing them into the embrace of their leafy tendrils to be smothered or aiming to trip and bind them.

Here's hoping you have a friend to pull you back, or quick reflexes.

april 13-14 ↴
ROSE TO THE OCCASION

For those who escape both the vines and the animated trees, there's still something else. It never ends, does it?

In this case, those thick, beautiful rose bushes that have grown up and filled out around the paths seem to be the problem. Stumbling through endless grass that reaches out for ankles, swatting aside vines and avoiding trees you may finally reach a clearing only to find the way yet further blocked. The thorny bushes scratch anyone who tries to cut through them, but that isn't the worst of it. Agitate them too much and the bushes begin to vibrate strangely, a slowly building tremor that finally culminates in a shower of thorns being fired like arrows.

Luckily, the thorns are still of a normal size -- but that doesn't stop them hurting as they cut skin, embed themselves in flesh and clothing alike. Take a moment to catch your breath, of course, but then you might also want to find cover -- it looks like those thorns regrow...

april 15-16 ↴
GRIN AND BEAR IT

Now that Asgard has begun to blend in with the wilderness, it seems the wilderness is in turn creeping slowly into the city. With the overgrowth providing good cover, and the harsh lines of human dwellings blurred, animals begin to wander the streets of the city. Fox cubs go running along darkened streets, rabbits pick their way curiously around bushes, birds fill the branches of new trees.

Be careful, though, all those young animals have parents nearby looking out for them. While you might be distracted by the sight of a small bear cub wandering through the undergrowth, her mother is far bigger -- and might not consider you a good influence. You're not meant to run from a bear, right? Well what are you meant to do?

april 17 ↴
WEEDING OUT THE DRAMA

Once the worst of the undergrowth is cleared out, the animals begin to retreat back to the woods. All that's left then is... cleanup. The magic begins, slowly, to loosen its grip on the plants. Roses stop firing thorns, trees settle and no longer walk around, vines keep their tendrils to themselves. They still, however, need cutting back -- and the rose thorns still hurt even if the scratches are caused by you fighting to prune them.

How green are your thumbs? How good are you with an axe? Or perhaps, instead of cutting back plants, you're helping patch up the pathways and repaint areas the plants clung to. Still doesn't sound like you? Maybe you're just making the sandwiches and drinks for those who are working, or even just taking a nap in the spring sunshine before the next crisis.

At the very least, we might get some pleasant flower arrangements out of this -- and good fuel for a bonfire.

MOD NOTES

This is the April event log for An Asgardian Jungle! For further details, please check the Event OOC post or ask questions on the Mod questions top-level!