Encyclopedia of Life after Stillfall
Volume I – Found at the Garden's Edge
---
I. Creatures of the New World
1. The Withered
Once human, now hollow shades that wander toward any lingering warmth or emotion. The Withered are the remnants of those who perished during the Stillfall event, twisted by the collapse of the world into something unrecognizable. They are neither truly alive nor truly dead, driven by instinct to feed on the warmth of living beings and emotional energy.
Behavior: Slow, silent, and unnerving, they are drawn to both fear and joy, feeding off any lingering emotional energy. They can sense distress, but joy or excitement can also attract them.
Weakness: They are repelled by light-emitting plants and can be momentarily halted by the silence, making quiet zones with light-emitting flora a key defense mechanism.
---
2. Blightbeasts
Mutated animals driven mad by the remnants of Stillfall's magical radiation. The Blightbeasts are twisted versions of common creatures—wolves, deer, birds—reduced to violent predators with little semblance to their former selves.
Appearance: Distorted and monstrous, with scales or patches of decay on their bodies. Their eyes glow with a strange, unnatural light.
Behavior: Aggressive, nocturnal, and highly territorial. They hunt in packs and are relentless in their pursuit of prey.
Weakness: They can be trapped by certain plant-based mechanisms, such as thorny vines or fire, and they are naturally repelled by certain plant scents.
---
3. Ashlurkers
Small shadow-things that appear in swarms, often resembling shifting patches of fog. The Ashlurkers feed on the vitality of crops and plants, rendering fertile soil barren.
Behavior: Pest-like creatures that appear during early morning fog or twilight, moving in swarms and attacking plants in their path. They avoid fire and fast movement, often scattering when threatened.
Weakness: Fire, fast movement, and defensive strategies like rapid growth of defensive plants can drive them away.
---
II. Living Plants – Guardians and Allies
1. Thornlash Vine
A whip-like vine that reacts to movement or sound, often used as a natural defense system. It thrives in regions where movement or vibration is frequent, learning to strike at perceived threats.
Use: Often utilized as perimeter defenses or traps for unwary creatures, creating effective fences.
Ability: Thornlash Vine can "learn" simple defensive commands, becoming more aggressive when triggered by movement or sound.
---
2. Scorchleaf
A fiery plant with wide, red-green leaves that explode in intense heat when touched. The leaves burst into flame upon contact, creating a dangerous yet useful natural trap.
Use: Scorchleaf serves as both a trap plant and a fire starter. When triggered, it can set nearby plants alight, creating a chain reaction of fire.
Special: It is highly useful in dealing with larger creatures like Blightbeasts, but its flames can also spread out of control if not handled carefully.
---
3. Sentibloom
A bright, white flower that opens up in response to nearby threats. Its petals vibrate slightly and emit a low, humming sound to alert those nearby of danger.
Use: It serves as an early warning system, its sudden blooming acting as a signal of potential threats in the vicinity.
Behavior: The Sentibloom will not open unless it senses danger, but once it does, its hum becomes louder and more distinct, drawing attention to the impending threat.
---
4. Glowshroom
Mobile, bioluminescent mushrooms that grow in small clusters and move slowly. They can be seen growing near sources of life or energy, often creating a glowing, serene atmosphere.
Use: They are most commonly used as a mobile light source or shield, guiding travelers through dark areas.
Note: Glowshrooms are harmless unless stepped on, at which point they may react defensively by emitting a bright light that temporarily blinds anyone in the vicinity.
---
III. Buff Plants – Nature's Gentle Gifts
1. Buffbloom
A flower with golden petals that produces energizing pollen when disturbed. This plant is an excellent source of stamina, helping to bolster endurance and minor strength.
Effect: It enhances stamina and provides a temporary boost in strength (lasting about 10 minutes).
Use: Buffbloom's pollen is often used by those who need a quick burst of energy during difficult physical tasks, such as fending off creatures or traversing dangerous terrain.
---
2. Mistfern
A soft, feathery fern that releases a dense, concealing mist when touched. It grows in shaded, cool environments, and its leaves release moisture that shrouds its surroundings.
Effect: Mistfern cloaks an area of about 10 meters in a dense mist for around 15 minutes.
Best Use: Ideal for escaping or hiding from Blightbeasts or the Withered, as it can obscure movement and provide temporary safety from detection.
---
3. Hearthroot
A buried root that gives off warmth, emanating a calming energy. It is often found in areas near fresh water, where it anchors itself in the soil and releases gentle, healing warmth.
Effect: Hearthroot provides mental clarity, resistance to fear, and emotional stability. Its soothing warmth offers comfort and strength during stressful times.
Side Note: It often grows near safe water sources, where the plant's energy can flourish, aiding those in need of emotional or physical recovery.
---
4. Clearberry
A small, translucent fruit that grows in clusters along vine-like plants. The berries are known for their ability to sharpen the mind and improve focus.
Effect: The fruit heightens awareness and dispels minor illusions or distractions, making it an excellent tool for those who need to stay sharp during times of stress or conflict.
Use: Clearberry is often consumed before tasks requiring deep concentration or for individuals who need to dispel magical or mental distractions.
---
IV. Natural Phenomena
1. Stillfall Zones
Areas where energy collapsed during the Great Fall. These zones are highly unstable, and the collapse of magical energy has left the land in a chaotic, constantly shifting state.
Effect: The terrain in Stillfall Zones is unpredictable, with sudden shifts in the environment, rapid mutations in plants and animals, and surges of chaotic magic. These zones are hazardous to enter without proper protection and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
---
2. Blight Rain
A phenomenon that manifests as ash-like precipitation falling from the sky. It poisons the soil, corrupts crops, and weakens plant life in its path.
Effect: The Blight Rain weakens the vitality of all living things, draining the soil of its nutrients and hindering plant growth. Crops that are exposed to this rain often wither and die.
Counter: Protection can be found under living canopies, especially those made from Heartroot or similar protective plants. Additionally, Puriferns (a future plant) may be used to cleanse the toxic effects of Blight Rain from the air and soil.
---
V. Lyra's Abilities – Gifts from the Stillfall
1. Emotional Resonance
Description: Lyra can tap into and amplify the emotions of those around her, especially when in close proximity to plants or nature. Her abilities are often heightened when the plants around her are blooming or responding to emotional changes in their environment.
Effect: This resonance allows her to soothe or intensify emotions like fear, joy, or calmness in both plants and people. It can influence the growth rate of certain plants or calm hostile creatures that are sensitive to emotional shifts.
Limitations: Can be overwhelming if too many emotions are being projected at once, leading to an emotional drain or sudden fatigue.
2. Botanical Manipulation
Description: Lyra has a unique connection with plants that allows her to manipulate them more directly. Unlike other characters, who may rely on physical tools or basic knowledge, Lyra can "speak" to plants and influence their growth and behavior.
Effect: She can grow or alter plants at will, either to create barriers, find food, or even create defensive structures (like a temporary wall of Thornlash Vine) within moments. In critical situations, she can command plants to defend her or attack her enemies.
Limitations: The larger or more complex the plant manipulation, the more energy it consumes. Overuse can leave her physically drained or weaken the plants she manipulates, making her vulnerable.
3. Amplification of Buff Plants
Description: Lyra has the ability to enhance the effects of the Buff Plants in her vicinity. While these plants naturally have restorative or strengthening properties, Lyra can channel her energy to increase their potency and duration.
Effect: For example, a single Buffbloom flower might energize someone for an hour rather than just 10 minutes, or a Mistfern can conceal a much larger area than it normally would.
Limitations: Amplifying too many Buff Plants at once can result in a backlash of energy, leaving her disoriented or even temporarily unconscious.
4. Heartroot Connection
Description: Lyra shares a deep, almost spiritual connection with the Heartroot trees, which is both an ability and a bond that she discovered after her memory returned. The Heartroot acts as a spiritual guide, offering guidance in dreams or visions during times of emotional or physical need.
Effect: This connection allows Lyra to receive cryptic warnings about danger, access hidden knowledge about the land's history, and strengthen her resolve in the face of fear. It can also influence plant growth around her, causing the Heartroot to grow in particularly harmonious environments.
Limitations: The connection can be overwhelming and can only be accessed during certain phases of her emotional state—especially when she is truly at peace or when faced with imminent danger.
5. Guardian's Embrace (Hidden Ability - To Be Unlocked)
Description: When Lyra is fully attuned to the land's needs, she can invoke a natural phenomenon known as the "Guardian's Embrace." This power temporarily summons protective flora from the world around her, creating a shield of animated vines and flowers that act as both defense and offense.
Effect: The plants summon a physical shield made of vines, thorns, and flowers that can defend against attacks. They can also function offensively, attacking enemies who try to harm her or her allies.
Limitations: This power requires a deep emotional connection to the land and is triggered only when Lyra is in extreme emotional distress or when a significant amount of time has passed since the last usage.
---
VI. Elliot's Abilities – The Seed of Solitude
1. Elemental Affinity (Minor)
Description: Elliot has a subtle, yet innate connection to the elements, a power he discovered after living alone in the garden. This bond allows him to sense changes in the weather, soil, and plant life. His emotions can influence the environment, especially when his connection to the land deepens.
Effect: Elliot can slightly manipulate natural elements like water, wind, and soil, but his power is not as refined or direct as Lyra's. For example, he can call on a gust of wind to clear away fog, or encourage water to irrigate thirsty plants in his vicinity.
Limitations: The power is not strong enough to create major weather changes or control large-scale elements. Overuse can leave him mentally fatigued or cause environmental imbalance around him.
2. Tactical Mind – The Strategist's Eye
Description: Elliot's main strength lies not in his raw physical power, but in his sharp, tactical mind. Having spent years alone in the garden, he has learned to anticipate danger and understand the needs of his environment, from organizing his plants to developing strategies for surviving attacks.
Effect: Elliot can quickly assess situations and formulate plans, using the natural terrain, plants, and available resources to his advantage. He can predict the behavior of creatures, such as the Ashlurkers, based on patterns he's observed in the past.
Limitations: This ability is limited by his knowledge of the area around him. New and unpredictable creatures, like Blightbeasts or creatures from unknown parts of the world, may challenge his strategic abilities.
3. Synthesis – Nature's Hand
Description: Elliot can combine various plants and natural elements to create useful tools or items. He has developed a rudimentary form of "alchemy" where he can combine parts of plants, minerals, or other natural resources to create new forms of protection, healing, or utility.
Effect: He can craft rudimentary weapons (such as crude spears or tools), herbal remedies, or even advanced plant-based traps. For instance, he might create a healing salve using herbs from the garden or design a plant-based defense mechanism like a thorn trap.
Limitations: His creations are often temporary or weak in comparison to the more advanced technology or powers of other beings. Over-relying on synthesis may also drain his energy, leaving him vulnerable in situations that require more physical combat.
4. Empathy with the Garden
Description: Elliot's connection with the garden goes beyond just planting and harvesting. He feels the pulse of the earth beneath him, sensing when something is wrong or when a plant is in danger. This connection allows him to react to changes in the environment with heightened awareness.
Effect: Elliot can sense disturbances in the garden, such as impending attacks by Ashlurkers or Blightbeasts. His connection to the garden also allows him to "hear" the plants, receiving vague messages about threats, changes, or warnings.
Limitations: This ability is not as precise as Lyra's, and can sometimes be vague or unclear, making it more difficult to act on. He cannot communicate directly with plants or control them to the same extent as Lyra.
5. Survivalist's Resilience
Description: Having survived in solitude for many years, Elliot possesses incredible physical and mental resilience. His isolation has taught him to adapt to extreme conditions, endure hardships, and survive with minimal resources.
Effect: Elliot is able to go for long periods without food or water if necessary, and can navigate difficult terrain without losing his sense of direction. His ability to endure extreme weather conditions, such as Blight Rain, makes him better suited to surviving in the chaotic world of Stillfall.
Limitations: His resilience is not infinite. Prolonged exposure to extreme conditions can cause significant physical and mental fatigue, potentially leading to illness or injury.
6. Awakening of the Heartroot (Connection to Lyra's Gift)
Description: While Lyra has a deep, mystical connection to the Heartroot trees, Elliot's connection is more pragmatic and grounded. He cannot communicate with them as Lyra does, but the Heartroot responds to his care and nurturing, offering him a sense of inner calm and clarity.
Effect: The Heartroot provides Elliot with a sense of peace and stability, especially in times of stress. This connection allows him to regain strength after a difficult battle or when he's been mentally strained. The Heartroot can also subtly enhance his other abilities, particularly his senses and reflexes, when the need arises.
Limitations: The connection is not as strong as Lyra's and cannot offer the same level of guidance or power. It acts more as a support mechanism for Elliot, rather than a primary source of strength.