Winter's Bigfoot | Leaping Devil #2

The Leaping Devil is the result of migrating, evolving bigfoot interacting with powerful, shapeshifting nymphs.

Part 1 or 2 in: Fairfeet Origins: the Stonemen and Winter Nymphs 

CREDITS
This public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Pyper Wilson, Lenin Roman, Ronald Miller, PHouseGames, Anthony Ferries, Dandan, Fox & Brambles, Jim Walke, Claire, Hallesy, Heather, HELGA, Kris Mitchell, Kylie Reed, Rick Belcher, Cryptid Clyde, T. Carter Ross, Agus Mercado, Ead Daniels, Elizabeth Lukjanczuk, Shelby Fulton, Veronica Mulvaney, Zodiac Gaming Industry, Mr. Blue Sky  

NOTE
In the Field and its free, public broadcasting are fictional and for entertainment only. Real life stories and events have been altered for storytelling; real life stories, myths, and legends are well-researched for each episode.  

Transcript

Before humans began settling North America, the Stonemen ruled the continent. Communities were spread out from coast to coast; often in-fighting amongst themselves, groups who were ousted were forced far from their homeland and into unsettled regions. These maladapted groups eventually found suitable homes and made new lives. They grew and changed and spread apart, many communities becoming distinct and distant from Stonemen in behavior and physique. 

The Fairfeet, or Wintering Bigfoot, were born from a Stoneman departure: a small troop of unusually ill-mannered Stonemen were banished from their community during a bi-annual migration. Crossing the midwest, they ventured all the way into the mountains, finally settling in the dense forests of the Appalachians—which happened to be heavily populated by several kinds of fae, but devoid of bigfoot kind. Stonemen had encountered fae creatures before, often viewing them as nuisances or with disinterest; frequently, the large beasts inadvertently killed them or hindered their activities, causing the fae to generally view them with anger and disgust. Holding onto anger from their forced relocation, these Stonemen were particularly destructive of the environment: overeating for pleasure, tearing down old trees, and heaving boulders through the woodlands in displays of strength. Looking to make change, the nymphs studied the creatures and their habits. 

When spring arrived and the nymphs grew to their full power, they decided to cut down the number of Stonemen in the area to reduce their influence on the environment. Working together, they weaved spells and created a pile of seeds. Watching over and tending to them, by next winter’s end, the fae would have cultivated a new plant similar in appearance to parsley—one that was alluring and able to quickly sprout from still thawing earth. 

The nymphs called it Scaryroot. While it was perfectly safe for fae to consume, other life would find it violently toxic. Given a vibrant color, aromatic leaves, and eye-catching flowers, Scaryroot attacked animals’ nervous systems and caused several horrific ailments: slight conditions like nervousness and muscle twitches that gave way to excessive, frothing salivation, rapid breathing and heart rate, a dilation of the pupils, and noticeable tremors. As the toxin seeps through the body, violent convulsions and seizures occur, causing its victim to spend the last few moments of their life in excruciating pain as their muscles break down and die, or, spared this misfortune by way of a coma as they asphyxiate or their heart ceases to beat. 

Though it was a great unkindness, the plant worked quickly and efficiently. It could also be easily culled and sent into dormancy, called when needed again. Nymphs are creatures of the Kingdom of Neutrality. Keepers of land, they believe in balance, reason, and, that at times, harm can be more helpful, more good, than kindness. While nymphs, as most other plant-based fae, are a hive mind, they are not a monolith. Many of the nymphs disliked the plans for the invading Stonemen; some had even begun to grow fond of them.