wow, that's a lot of pollen...

[peckishmods]

wow, that's a lot of pollen

what's up?

Hard to believe the temperature today is a record setting 91 °F what with all that snow in the air. Wait, that’s not snow. It’s cottonwood fluff! And boy is there a lot of it. Over the last three days, the seed fluff and yellow pollen have steadily collected, though not quite like this. Students wake up to a white out on Wednesday, and it just keeps on piling up through morning classes, sticking to everything and causing rampant sneezing with no end in sight.

By lunch, some parts of campus have several feet of fluff on the ground. Central Campus is still manageable, but Thorntrail’s woods and Mothgarden’s grounds look like a blizzard rolled through, the hillsides around Wildgulch are a not-quite-winter wonderland and the pollen is ankle deep in Deeplurk’s meadows. Bub is working his special brand of magic double time to clear paths as fast as possible, but keeping up proves a challenge even for him.

The relentless pollen explosion is a considerable nuisance and staff has trouble keeping students focused after lunch. Junior Pre-Healer Studies is canceled outright when Healer Greatheart decides to move herself to the Central Classrooms lobby to keep a better eye on students. She passes out allergy medicine to those who seem to need it.

Several students spot unfamiliar wizards in long black robes wandering around the upper floors of Central Classrooms before fourth period. By the end of fifth, the day’s called a wash and Administrator Kwan announces that the last period has been cancelled. She advises that students stick indoors — not just because of the pollen, but because it’s hot as hell! Of course, y’all aren’t about to listen to good advice, are you? At the very least, enjoy the rest of the day. Throw on a Bubblehead Charm (or not) and brave the fluff!

As the sun dips low, the endless rain of fluff finally slows and it seems to have petered out after dinner. Staff and student volunteers spend the evening helping to clear fluff.

At the end of the night each Head of House stops by their respective Common Room with a bit of explanation for the day’s events: while the pollen itself was mundane, it seems the cause was magical. Local magical flora and fauna took issue with an invasive grove of Ents moving into the area north of Peckenpaugh, above the falls, and the excessive pollen was the result of magical beings attempting to intimidate the Ents into leaving. Ms. Treetops and Mr. Trullinger are collaborating with the BoMB to help mediate the dispute. Things aren't quite settled, but at the very least, going forward our sinuses should all be spared.

volunteer slots!

A harried Ms. Gunzenhauser, unable to track down her TA, asks 💯 GERTRUDE MCGILLIGUDDY and 💯 LIONEL LOVELACE to teach freshmen the Bubblehead Charm. Assuming they at least try (make a thread with 3 replies each) they’ll each net 5 Points for their House(s). Ms. Gunzenhauser knows how difficult the freshmen are, though, and if TRUDY & LIONEL make real headway (make a thread with 6 replies each), they’ll each get 10 points for their House(s).

As soon as classes are let out, TYBALT ZETTLER digs up some makeshift sleds in the athletic building and organizes a fluff-sledding session on the hills around Wildgulch.

Whether or not 💯 LASZLO PATAKI knows that cottonwood seeds go up like flash paper, they go right to a pile of it with a bit of flame. Just the right amount of mayhem for them, they try this again in several other spots, netting a crowd and ultimately taking their little lightshow to the Mothgarden hedge mazes. Lighting the fluff on the ground at the eastern hedge maze causes quite a scene as the fast burning fire rips through the greenery. It looks cool, but it seems to catch on some mulch. Luckily (unfortunately?) Mr. Berzelius happens to be nearby, with a “Dude,” and a quick Aguamenti he stops a real fire before it can spread. LASZLO loses 10 points for their House and has to turn in a two page paper about fire safety to Berzelius by this Saturday.

HOLLAND GRAVES and FREYA NORRIS use their free time to do some detective work, following a Muscheron scout around campus sure it’ll lead them to the source of all this pollen and fluff. In fact, the Muscheron does not, and instead takes them on a winding adventure through the deepest, densest areas of fluff before returning them to the Surly Stump, which trips FREYA as the Muscheron giggles.

ARMANI’s eyes are so bleary and itchy from all the pollen that they can hardly see, so they decide to head back to their dorm to nap once classes are cancelled. The wheezing mess barrels right into MERLIN PLETCHER outside Central Classrooms after fifth period going in the complete wrong direction. So, MERLIN finds themself tasked with escorting ARMANI to their dorm.

Something’s moving in the fluff near the Greenhouses and CORIANDER PICQUERY can’t tell what it is. It’s kind of freaky, the way it moves, and they scramble to get away, but whatever it is gives chase. CORI leaps into the arms of EDDY WAXWEILER seeking escape when the tiny predator leaps to attack—it’s the FEROCIOUS cactus kitten! Covered in so much fluff it almost looks like a regular cat! CORI and EDDY return the kitten to a very thankful Mr. Trullinger, whom they find speaking with a bearded wizard in long black robes.

locations!

⬦ WHAT'S UP: Well, this has been a weird day! Did you get an allergy headache? Collect fluffy seeds for a craft project? Celebrate when classes were cancelled? Tell us in brief how your student spent their day here!

⬦ SCENES: A place for threading around campus during the Pollenpocalypse!

⬦ OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

Comments

Freya & Holland are ON THE CASE

[freyanorris]

"Think what heroes we'll be for cracking this case! They're all relying on us!" Okay, so the other students aren't literally dying... And they probably don't even know Freya and Holland are out here trying to save them... But why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

Holland's intuition proves to be right, and the cottonwood is quickly up to their thighs, then their waists. Struggling through it gets harder with each step, until even Freya begins to wonder if they should turn back. Then, mercifully, it thins out. Freya adjusts her goggles and peers around at where the Muscheron has led them. Wait a minute... "We're back at central campus?!" she exclaims. This is a plot twist she did NOT see coming.

Freya & Holland are ON THE CASE

[gold_digger]

While being a hero sounds a little tempting, not being covered in junk also sounds tempting. It's too hard to turn back now, and she doesn't want Freya thinking she's a wimp, even though everything about her body language suggests that she's trying to not be the big baby that she is. "They are, have you seen how bad some people are reacting? It's terrible."

The trudging continues, and Holland has a strong desire to claw off her bare legs. She squints from behind her charm and sunglasses. "...what the h....eck?" She releases the other girl to do a full turn; she'd been so focused on her agitation at the fluff that she hadn't even made note of their path. "Were we just duped?"

Freya & Holland are ON THE CASE

[freyanorris]

"There could be a hidden clue...?" Freya, optimistic until the last, marches forward and starts kicking up fluff in the hopes of uncovering something. (And also because, come on, she's been dying to do this for ages.) Unfortunately, the only thing her foot discovers is a root from the Surly Stump. It trips her, and she goes flying. The landing is not as soft as she imagined.

Sitting up, spitting cottonwood, Freya hears giggling and twists around to see their Muscheron guide pointing and laughing at her before he hops behind the Stump and disappears. "Yeah. Definitely duped," she attempts to say, but it's at this point that her body objects to all the pollen in her nose, and she starts sneezing uncontrollably.

... Not her most successful investigation ever.

Freya & Holland are ON THE CASE

[gold_digger]

Holland succumbs a little to her fussiness - she releases Freya's arm as she moves forward and begins kicking, keeping a bit of distance between them; she really doesn't want to be up in there. Unfortunately, it means she can do nothing when the other girl goes flying... though fortunately it means she's not in danger of the same fate. Letting out a little yelp, Holland darts forward to help her friend, incredibly mindful of the Surly Stump.

"Are you alright?" In the world of potential injuries this is fairly minor, but she's still worried.

As she kneels at the other girl's side, she grabs up some fluff and throws it in the direction of the fleeing Muscheron in attempted retaliation, though it barely goes anywhere. Whatever. The intent was there.

Freya & Holland are ON THE CASE

[freyanorris]

"Just bruised pride," Freya says, when she finally stops sneezing. And, okay, bruised knees and sore wrists... but nothing that can't be easily fixed. Holland's attempt at throwing fluff at the Muscheron coaxes a smile out of Freya, who appreciates the gesture even if it was futile.

"I don't know about you, but I could really use a shower. A long one," she adds, trying not to scratch. Someone else is going to have to get to the bottom of this mystery.