WINNOWINGS
The autumnal forces that give scarecrows life infuse every
piece of their body. So much so that even sloughed-off scraps-- bits of burlap,
rotten straw, shriveled gourds, and more- possess their own living essence.
These remnants often form miniature bodies for themselves from whatever further
fragments they can gather, creating tiny creatures called winnowings.
Like their larger cousins, each winnowing is unique. Unlike
scarecrows, however, these smaller creatures usually have no desire or
compulsion to guard a field and will often wander off to find their own purpose.
Winnowings often gather together in small groups for companionship. There are
even rumors of entire cities of these beings hidden in the remote places of the
world.
Here is just one example of these groups. From left to right, the winnowings are:
Routinier- His body is formed from an old wooden skeleton
toy with dry roots for feet and neck, an old gourd for head, and a thin fabric
strip from an old scarf for arms. Routinier has a fondness for sneaking up to
hide under open window to listen to the
tunes played on old gramophones and these new radio receivers that are becoming
so popular. He often sways his scarf-arms to the music, practicing for the day
when he can make his own music, once he figures out just what produces those
sounds he loves so much.
Inglenook- A couple
of napkins stuffed with old straw, Inglenook was once a teru teru bozu (a small
rural Japanese charm to bring good weather). He hung from the rafters for a few
months before being blown under the porch in a fierce storm. Carried deeper
under the house by wind and curious rodents, he eventually settled into a snug
corner just under the big pot-bellied stove in the kitchen, a spot that
remained warm even in the coldest winters. The house was abandoned and torn
down decades ago, and now Inglenook wanders with his companions to find a new
home. Preferably with some place warm and snug to sleep.
Farceuse- Formed from a small pumpkin that was forgotten in
the patch after the larger gourds were harvested. She possesses a strong gift
for acting and imitating voices thanks to months of listening to the workers at
the farm. Farceuse often puts on short comical plays for the enjoyment of her
companions, and any other fellow travelers they might be spending the night
with.
Melorrhea- Another runt pumpkin with the added mobility of
twig arms and legs and a few scraps of cloth that she sewed into a dress. She
is a lover of music like Routinier. But where he wishes to conduct, Melorrhea
is far more interested in composition. One might even say to an excessive
degree. Several of her pieces, if played in full, last over six hours. She
writes her compositions on old scraps of cloth, bits of wood, slips of paper, anything
she can find. Melorrhea does not save her compositions, preferring to leave them
wherever the group stops for the night as a little “gift” for the fans she is
sure she will one day have. This is not
a problem as Melorrhea possesses an eidetic memory and can write down the
entirety of her song at will.
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