Last year in Nalom, people might remember how a certain marshmallow shaped robot was seen waddling around the city doling out those good, good hugs. They may be looking for him again, but the researchers and entrepreneurs who were responsible for him last year have decided to try a new tactic. Having a single robot just won't cut it anymore now that so many new people have arrived and so much has changed! Thus, they've decided to introduce the (hopefully) hottest new craze in robotic companionship: Cuddle Cubs!

These adorable knee-height fuzzy bears are the newest creation to hit Havenwell's streets, and the creators are hoping this trial run of their tech will net them a lot of Dora with the merchandising possibilities-- I mean, help the world. Yeah that's it.. They travel in packs, pairs, trios, or singles, and love love LOVE to give hugs. Each Cuddle Cub comes with its own (trademarked) Cuddle Mark on their big fluffy tummy that glows with a soft, warming light when they hug someone. With so many people around, the Cubs have their work cut out for them and so these cuddly little bears have decided that the only way to get to everyone is to go absolutely turbo.

When they spot a good target for affection, the Cuddle Cubs will rush them like NFL linebackers while squeaking, "Cuddle Cub Huddle!!" and tackle or dogpile them to ensure they get the best, fluffiest hugs. Thankfully, these little creatures don't weigh very much and so the most damage you'll take is to your heart as they melt it with their cuteness. Once the cuddle is over, however, people might find they have some strange feelings to contend with based on what Mark their bear had...

1. A Rainbow Heart: When the rainbow heart bears hug you, a matching rainbow heart will appear either on your hand or your cheek. With this mark on you, you'll be overcome with the urge to confess something to whomever is close-by. This urge can be fought off with enough willpower, but as the month drags on the mark will grow larger and larger and the urge will get stronger and stronger until you finally get something off your chest (or the month ends). The moment you confess, the mark disappears and so does the feeling. What can you confess? Well, anything really! Do you have a secret you need to release into the wild? Someone you love that you've been avoiding telling? Are you just hungry and really craving some crazy topping pizza (cinnamon apple is a legit creation, I swear!)? Your confession can range from your current regular ol' feelings to your deepest darkest secret. That's up to you!
   
2. A Fluffy Pink Cloud: When a pink cloud bear hugs you, a matching pink cloud mark will appear on your hand or your cheek. With this mark on you, you'll be overcome with the urge to cuddle someone. This urge can be fought off with enough willpower, but as the month drags on the mark will grow larger and larger and the urge will get stronger and stronger until you finally give in and pay the cuddle forward (or the month ends). The moment you give someone a great big cuddle fest, the mark disappears and so does the feeling. Whomever you cuddle does not inherit your mark. How long do you need to cuddle someone to get the mark to disappear varies by person. You can, of course, resist the urge and go into hermit mode to avoid the mark's influence, but why be such a Scrooge? It's Cuddle Time!
   
3. A Pair of Blue Mittens: When the blue mitten bears hug you, a matching pair of blue mittens will appear either on your hand or your cheek - and a secondary unique personal mark will show up somewhere else on your body. With these marks on you, you'll be overcome with the urge to complete a personal mission. This urge can be fought off with enough willpower, but as the month drags on the marks will grow larger and larger and the urge will get stronger and stronger until you finally finish your mission (or the month ends). The moment you finish it, the marks disappear and so does the feeling. Your secondary unique mark can be anywhere on your body, but it will be visible regardless of whether it's covered by clothing, projecting itself on top of whatever is covering it. The marks seem to correspond (sometimes loosely) to what your mission is - and what are they? That's up to you, the player! Your character's mission can be as simple as hugging a stranger they don't know to as complex as throwing someone who looks a little down a very merry un-birthday party to cheer them up. The possibilities are on these endless, but if you have a question if your 'mission' would be allowed, please ask a mod on the Questions thread down below.

The environmental issues that were affecting Havenwell in Lasra seem to be continuing into Nalom. The localized snow storms are subsiding, thankfully, but in their place is a stranger and much stickier predicament. Throughout the month, the rain and snow that falls in the city isn't composed of water but of chocolate. That's right, actual chocolate. Whether it's chocolate rain or chocolate snow, the edible treat is raining from the sky as naturally as anything. The natives are baffled by this phenomenon and the researchers are scrambling to collect samples and try to repair the environmental controls. Whatever has caused this issue, it doesn't seem to be mechanical however, and so they'll be asking everyone to collect and submit samples from all over the city. Of course, you could just eat it instead. It's actually quite delicious. You may also want to enlist some help, however, because the clean-up on chocolate coating your house, garden, or you is...difficult to say the least.

The weather isn't the only thing that's broken. The replicators in the homes and other areas of the city seem to be on the fritz as well. Sometimes the replicators simply refuse to function at all, with no amount of cajoling, repairing, begging, or percussive maintenance making a difference. Sometimes they will give you a meal that you didn't ask for at random times of the day with someone else's name stamped across the top of it. Other times, the meal you requested will come out in pairs. Requested a plate of spaghetti? Well, now you have two. Some people may be lacking food as their replicators are refusing to work, so pair up, help one another and hope that the city natives can figure out what's causing all these system failures before someone brings marshmallow pie for the seventeenth time to the community potluck.