This article or section contains spoilers about content or story from Leif's Request.

Even if they seem like obstacles, we can exploit them for our own benefit. —Leif

Leif is one of the three protagonists in Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling. He is the third and final member required to join Team Snakemouth.

Appearance

Unlike most moths, his head, torso, limbs and abdomen are coloured cyan blue. He has navy blue wings with gold highlights that he uses as a cloak of sorts over his body, as well as a fluffy gold collar around his neck. Like most bugs, he has a pair of black antennae atop his head. In official artwork, Leif is shown to have more detailed texturing on his collar and antennae. His eyelids are always shown to be halfway closed, except for when speaking in the Roaches' dialect.

In the non-canonical Version 0.4.1 demo, Leif is shown to sport a slim physique with short, cyan hair and three bangs; the center being the longest. Leif wears a brown suit with gold buttons and a beige undershirt. He also wears a scarf in the same color as Leif's wings.

Spoilers

When Leif was alive, his head, torso, limbs, abdomen and wings were the same red instead of different shades of blue with the same gold highlights and collar, and his eyes were a light brown color, instead of white. He is shown wearing his wings like a cloak when he was alive.[2] After being stabbed by the Dune Scorpion, Leif was bandaged up by Zasp. However, this is only temporary, as none of his sprites going forward show Leif bandaged.

History

Background

Before dying, Leif lived in the Ant Kingdom under the rule of Queen Elizant I, along with his father and his wife, Muse. During this time, the roaches were still living in Bugaria. As a part of a scouting team under the Queen, his team was ordered to explore the depths of Snakemouth Den, where he was trapped for at least a full generation. This resulted in his exposure to magical crystals which is what gave him his ice magic. Leif eventually died during his trip within Snakemouth Den. However, at some point before his death, a hidden Roach laboratory created an advanced colony of cordyceps fungi, which they then discarded as a failure. This cordyceps survived and found Leif's body, inhabiting the body and inheriting the original Leif's memories sans his memories in Snakemouth Den. The exact amount of time Leif spent trapped is uncertain. During this period, the roaches disappeared and Queen Elizant was succeeded by Queen Elizant II. The Explorers' Association was founded, and much of the Ant Kingdom City further developed during his absence.

Chapter 1

After Kabbu and Vi fall into a trap on their travel to Snakemouth Den, they encounter his unconscious body tangled in a spider's web. After a grueling fight between Kabbu and the Spider, the freshly formed Team Snakemouth come up with a new plan to save the bug and head to safety. When they achieve this plan, Leif introduces himself to the team (albeit with some misunderstatement) and joins the party. After an ambush when heading to the next room, Leif discovers his ice powers, unsure as to how he got them. Once they head to the room hosting the Ancient Mask, the team once again meets the spider in which, with the help of their new friend, defeat, retrieve the mask, and are promptly washed up.

Upon returning to the Explorers' Association, Lief discovers new buildings he doesn't recognize in the area and is official made the third member of Team Snakemouth. The Team and Maki then have a meeting with Queen Elizant II to deliver the mask, but the meeting is interrupted by news of another ancient artifact being located in the Golden Hill. Elizant II tasks Team Snakemouth with recovering the artifact and dismisses them before Lief can ask any questions.

Chapter 2

After the meeting, Leif reveals to his teammates that when he went into Snakemouth Den, the reigning queen was Elizant I, meaning that he had been trapped for decades. Though Leif is upset by the revelation, the changes since he was gone, and the new queen's off-putting demeanor, his teammates encourage him to keep exploring with them in the hopes he could learn more about what really happened.

On their way to the Golden Hills, Team Snakemouth saves Professor Neolith from some Wasp Soldiers attempting to extort information about the artifacts from him with the help of Team Celia. After crossing the Golden Path, Team Snakemouth reaches the Golden Settlement where they learn they can only access the Golden Hills after the Golden Festival concludes. Team Snakemouth obtains the two offerings needed to start the ceremony and after defeating Acolyte Aria in a ceremonial battle, they are allowed into the Golden Hills to search for the artifact. Despite interference from rival explorers Mothiva and Zasp, Team Snakemouth reaches the domain of the Goddess Venus. Upon learning the Goddess has knowledge of many of Bugaria's inhabitants, Leif asks her if she knows what happened to him in Snakemouth den, but the Goddess only agrees to answer his questions and give them the artifact if they can pass her trial. After Team Snakemouth defeats the Venus' Guardian, Venus hears out Leif's story and recalls that Leif's previous teammates escaped with their lives, but she hasn't felt the presence of Leif since then, even when face to face with him. Leif is satisfied that his teammates survived, and Venus gives them the Ancient Tablet.

Team Snakemouth delivers the tablet to the queen and are given the task of retrieving the third artifact needed to find the Everlasting Sapling. The third artifact turns out to have already been unknowingly found by the Bee Kingdom and used to build the Honey Factor's core. Elizant II reveals she has already negotiated for possession of the key in exchange for materials to build a replacement and assigns Team Snakemouth to oversee the trade. She also warns them that to be wary of the Wasp Kingdom, who are also seeking the artifacts.

Chapter 3

Leif discovers a family of his descendants are living in the ant kingdom but decides to wait until they learn the whole truth about what happened to him before meeting them. While crossing the Lost Sands to reach Defiant Root, Team Snakemouth helps defend some traveling merchants from Wasps aided by bandits. After reaching Defiant Root, Team Snakemouth rides the lift to the Bee Kingdom hive where during a security scan, an unknown anomaly is detected in Leif. Doctor H.B. discovers that the anomaly is that ancient crystal fragments are inside Lief's body that are the source of his new magic along with another anomaly that can't be identified. When the doctor considers the possibility of dissection to find the second anomaly, Leif reflexively unlocks a new ice shield magic and turns the doctor down. Team Snakemouth and the rest of the explorer teams assigned to oversee the trade meet with Queen Biance, who invites them to tour the factory and witness the new core being installed.

However, just as the tour starts, the factory suddenly goes into an unexpected lockdown and the only way to disarm it is with a code from the Overseer. Team Snakemouth navigates the factory's defense systems and rescues Malbee from some Abomihoney, who gives them access to the lower levels of the factory. There, they save Team Mothiva from an Ahoneynation and Zasp gives them the key card needed to reach the Overseer and evacuate her from the increasing Abomihoney. The Overseer unlocks the core room, but when Doctor H.B attempts to replace the core, its protector Heavy Drone B-33 attacks due to a programming oversight. After the drone is destroyed, Doctor H.B replaces the core and Team Snakemouth obtains the third artifact, the Ancient Key.

Team Snakemouth delivers the artifact to Elizant I, but Professor Neolith discovers that the key missing its other half, and the news gets worse when Elizant I reveals the Wasp Kingdom is on the verge of invading. Fortunately, Team Slacker arrives and reports the missing half is likely inside the hidden Ancient Castle, which is concealed inside the Lost Sands and can be uncovered by two keys, the first key being believed to be in the possession of Defiant Root's mayor. Elizant sends Team Snakemouth to search for the castle and the second half of the artifact.

Chapter 4

After finding the first key in an abandoned roach village in the Lost Sands, Team Snakemouth speaks to Defiant Root's Mayor who reveals the second key is in possession of the bandits who plague the region. The team gets a lead from a mysterious strange that lets them infiltrate the bandit's hideout, but it turns out to be a trap and they are thrown into a cell to be handed over to the wasps. They escape and, in the process, learn the wasps were responsible for the incident at the Honey Factory and see them having a falling out with the bandits when they refuse to pay them for their assistance. After reclaiming their stolen equipment, Team Snakemouth confronts and defeat the bandits' leader Astotheles, who after being shown mercy gives them the second key.

Team Snakemouth heads to where the Ancient Castle is buried but are ambushed en route by a Dune Scorpion. Though they defeat the creature, it still has enough strength to sting Leif while he's distracted. The attack causes several strange tentacles to briefly emerge from Lief's body and he is only saved by the timely intervention of Zasp. While being treated for his wounds, Leif has a dream where he hears voices discussing discarding a failure of some kind. Leif awakens hours later, though he is disturbed by what may lurk inside him. His teammates assure him his is still their teammate and Zasp leaves with his debt repaid for being saved at the Honey Factory. Leif insists they finish their mission at the Ancient Castle, hoping answers could be found there.

Using the keys, Team Snakemouth raises the Ancient Castle and begins exploring it for the artifact. At the top of the castle, Team Snakemouth obtains the second half of the Ancient Key after defeating The Watcher as well as a crystal gem. However, when they leave the castle Zasp reports the Ant Kingdom is being attacked by the Wasps. They return to the kingdom and race to the throne room where they find the Wasp King attempting to steal the artifacts. Team Snakemouth proves to be no match for the king's devastating Fire Magic and he steals the second half of the Ancient Key. Before the king can steal the rest of the artifact, Maki arrives and forces the king to retreat, though he vows to return for the other artifacts. Fearing even half an artifact has the potential for disaster in the Wasps' hands, Elizant I orders Team Snakemouth and Maki to pursue the wasps to their home in the Far Grasslands.

Leif's request

Team Snakemouth shows Professor Neolith the gem they obtained from the Watcher, who reveals it is the key to an ancient lab in Snakemouth Den. Using the key, the team gets access to Upper Snakemouth where they encounter hordes of cordyceps infested zombies. Using Leif's new icicle ability, Team Snakemouth investigates the lab and learns it was being used by the roaches to perform unethical experiments in the pursuit of a source of immortality alternate to the Everlasting Sapling. The roach scientists kidnapped different bugs across Bugaria and infected them with parasitic cordyceps that turned them into zombies, but the infected victims became increasing uncontrollable and violent. Despite the problems, the scientists continued their experiments and learned how to channel into the victims using the crystals, with moths having the highest compatibility. However, their experiments eventually rebelled and wiped out the lab and the scientists. Team Snakemouth eventually encounters their most powerful experiment, the Zommoth, which Leif instinctively identifies as his sibling and becomes crippled by confusion. Leif quickly recovers from his shock and helps his teammates put down the Zommoth.

Afterward a recording plays which reveals Leif was actually an experiment cordyceps created by the scientists that was discarded when it became sentient and fused with the real Leif's body. Leif's teammates assure him that he is different from the rest of the cordyceps zombies, as he is capable of caring for other and his actions and feelings were genuine since they met him. Team Snakemouth returns to the Ant Kingdom where Leif decides to honor his original self's will and introduces himself to his descendants as distant relative, who welcome him with open arms.

Chapter 5

Team Snakemouth and Maki travel to the Far Grasslands, where Kabu reveals that the only way to sneak past the Wasp Kingdom's defenses is to sneak around through an even more dangerous region called the Wild Swamplands. Inside the Wild Swamplands, the group faces the hostile Leafbug tribes who separate Maki from the others. Team Snakemouth continues on their own and learn about the Beast, the most vicious monster in the area who killed Kabu's friend and master during his journey to reach Bugaria. On the verge of escaping the Wild Swamplands, Team Snakemouth is attacked by the Beast and Kabu recklessly battles the monster to avenge his fallen comrades. During the battle, the Beast Knocks out Leif and Vi, but Kabu rallies to protect them and summons the strength to defeat the monster. Team Snakemouth then reunites with Maki and makes camp to recover before infiltrating the Wasp Kingdom.

While sneaking through the Wasp Kingdom, Team Snakemouth discovers the kingdom in a state of disrepair from the Wasp King's rule. They find a janitor named Jayde who reveals that ever since their queen disappeared and was replaced by the Wasp King, the wasps have been solely focused on fighting even as their kingdom slowly falls apart. When they reach the throne room, they are ambushed by General Ultimax. After defeating Ultimax, Team Snakemouth discovers the wasps rightful queen, Vanessa II, being held prisoner. Vanessa reveals that the Wasp King has somehow brainwashed her subjects and stole control of her kingdom and that he's already left to launch another attack on the Ant Kingdom. Team Snakemouth hurry back to the kingdom along with Maki and a rescued Vanessa. When they return, the Ant Kingdom seems to be fine, but when they reach the throne room, they find the Wasp King stealing all the artifacts. The Wasp King defeats Team Snakemouth again with his fire magic and Elizant II relinquishes the other artifacts to save her subjects and the Wasp King leaves, but not before revealing he plans to conquer all of Bugaria once he obtains the Everlasting Sapling's power.

Afterward, Elizant II mourns her failure to protect the artifacts and admits her real reasons for searching for the sapling: to resurrect her mother who was put into stasis using crystals. Fortunately, hope is not yet lost when Professor Neolith reveals that his research points to the sapling being location in the Giant's Lair, a forbidden area said to have previously house giants. However, to get there, they will need to cross Metal Lake, but the Wasps have destroyed all their ships. Vanessa suggests that they request help from the isolated Termite Kingdom and Elizant II decides to personally travel to the kingdom and request aid, which lies deep inside the Forsaken Lands, a dangerous territory shrouded in fog, with Team Snakemouth being selected to escort her there.

Chapter 6

After escorting Elizant II across the Forbidden Lands and defeating a Primal Weevil, Team Snakemouth makes contact with the Termites, who agree to grant them an audience with King Hector IV and Queen Layra II. Though Hector is obstinate, Elizant II successfully convinces Layra of the Wasp King's threat, but Hector refuses to grant them a means of passage to Giant's Lair unless Team Snakemouth can win battles in the Colosseum. After defeating two rounds of enemies in the Colosseum, Team Snakemouth is set to fight the same Primal Weevil they beat before, but Team Mothiva suddenly takes over as their opponent in a bid to steal their glory. Team Snakemouth wins and their strength convinces the termite monarchs to lend them a submarine that can take them across Metal Lake and to loosen the restrictions on their isolation.

Using the submarine, Team Snakemouth travels to Rubber Prison, the only connecting point to Giant's Lair, which has been taken over by the Wasps. Overcoming Wasp soldiers, escaped prisoners, and the prison's defenses, Team Snakemouth reaches the border where they see the Wasp King about to enter the Giant Lands. However, they are impeded by General Ultimax and his Ultimax Tank. Even after the tank is destroy, the brainwashed Ultimax refuses to give up until Leif puts him on ice. Elizant II brings Vanessa and the other exploration teams as backup to pursue the Wasp King into the Giant's Lair. Before they enter, Vanessa reveals that she's learned the Wasp King's magic lies in his crown and gives Team Snakemouth a magic amulet to protect themselves from the Wasp King's fire magic.

Chapter 7

Elizant II and the exploration Teams brave the Giant's Lair and overcome the monstrous Deadlanders that inhabit it until they discover a village of Roaches guarding the Everlasting Sapling. The Roach Elder reveals that the Wasp King is on his way to the sapling, but when they question their intentions with the sapling, Elizant II reveals she has changed her original goal and now intends to destroy it since it is too dangerous. The Roaches are outraged at the idea of destroying their most sacred treasure, but after Leif reveals the cruel experiments, the other roaches in Bugaria performed in an attempt to replicate the sapling's powers of immortality and points out the pursuit of the sapling has driven many mad or to their deaths in search its power as well as forcing the Roachs to live in the inhospitable dead lands in order to guard it, the Elder concedes that its existence has only brought harm and gives them passage to the sapling.

The group discovers that the Wasp King has caused the Roaches' defense to go out of control and are forced to disarm them before proceeding. They catch up to the Wasp King just after he uses the artifacts to remove the first seal over the sapling and confront him. With the protection of the amulet Vanessa gave them, Team Snakemouth are able to defeat the Wasp King, but the king refuses to give up and stuns Team Snakemouth with a bomb. While they're distracted, the Wasp King uses the remaining artifacts to open the second seal and reveal the sapling, only to discover its wilted. Refusing to accept defeat, the Wasp King eats the last rotten leaf and receives newfound power which he uses to torch the remains of the sapling. Team Snakemouth faces The Everlasting King and miraculously manage to defeat him when the power he received from the sapling runs out and he turns into a tree. Leif detects no magic within the tree and Elizant II decides to leave it standing as a warning to the folly of seeking power. With the sapling gone and the Wasp King vanquished everyone returns to rest and celebrate. Before they join the others, Leif privately asks Elizant II if she is truly satisfied with losing the sapling and the chance to revive her mother and when the latter admits that she is not satisfied but accepts that what happened is for the best, the former revises his previous poor opinion of her.

After the Roaches learn of the saplings' fate, some of them decide to travel to Bugaria for a better life and everyone turns to the Ant Kingdom. A massive celebration is thrown where Elizant II knights Team Snakemouth's for their many accomplishments in saving and uniting Bugaria and announces with the loss of the Everlasting Sapling, a new era for Bugaria has begun.

Personality

Leif presents himself as a deadpan, blunt person who prefers the reign of Queen Elizant I than her successor. He is known to be knowledgeable and intelligent, as he suggests several means of traversing Snakemouth Den. However, he is also quite blunt and often inconsiderate of the feelings of others, as exemplified in chapter 2 when he suggests to Kina the possibility that her brother, Maki, left her to get some space from her.

Despite this bluntness, he is shown to be loyal to those he trusts, namely Team Snakemouth. Despite his stoic façade, however, Leif is shown to have a weak spot towards domesticated bugs like Aphids or even towards smaller characters such as Tanjerin, often calling them "cute". Leif is also shown to point out specific physical traits, such as admiring Fluffy's fur collar.

Leif is shown to have a quirk of referring to himself with first person plural (we, us, our, etc.). As revealed in Leif's Request, this is due to the cordyceps residing in him.

Abilities

Due to strange circumstances surrounding his time in the magic-drenched Snakemouth Den, Leif is able to utilize ice magic. He is also shown to have literacy in the Roaches' language.

In the field, Leif can freeze water to form paths and platforms as well as freeze enemies to bounce around and use to solve puzzles. He can also create a shield that protects the party from hazards, and the shield can first strike an enemy in the overworld when they make contact, eventually he also learns to hover by carrying himself (and any other followers if present) on a block of ice, but he only does this to follow Vi when she flies as the party leader.

In battle, Leif acts as the party's mage. He is able to freeze enemies for a short period of time and deals 1 extra damage against plant-like enemies. Upon hitting a frozen enemy, it will deal extra damage. He is also able to increase the damage or defense to the party or decrease enemies' damage or defense. He owns the most move medals in the game.

Skills

• Icefall (starting skill)
• Frigid Coffin (learn at rank 6)
• Bubble Shield Lite (learn at chapter 3)
• Bubble Shield (learn at chapter 3)
• Ice Rain (during Leif's Request)
• Cleanse (learn at rank 13)
• Charge Up (requires the Charge Up medal)
• Enfeeble (requires the Enfeeble Medal)
• Empower (requires the Empower medal)
• Break (requires the Break medal)
• Fortify (requires the Fortify medal)
• Charge Up+ (requires the Charge Up+ medal)
• Enfeeble+ (requires the Enfeeble+ medal)
• Empower+ (requires the Empower+ medal)
• Break+ (requires the Break+ medal)
• Fortify+ (requires the Fortify+ medal)

Trivia

• Before the v0.5 round up video, Leif's name was "Moth".
  • Prior to settling on the final name, Leif was originally going to have the name Levi.^[3]
• Leif has the most skill medals in the game, with 10. 5 of them being stronger variants of some of his others.
• An uncommon glitch in the demo occurs when selecting the HP bonus during a rank up before Leif joins. Leif will not share the HP bonus and will be permanently locked out of attaining his maximum possible HP. 
• Leif is technically a sorcerer, being the first one to appear in a long time.
• Mar, the programmer and animator for the game, has given conflicting statement's on Leif's age, stating that Leif is either almost 30 or over 30 years old.^[4][5] Due to being stuck in Snakemouth for many years it’s very likely the latter.
• Design-wise, Leif is Genow's favorite character.^[6]
• Leif has Trypanophobia (the fear of needles).^[7]
• According to Effo, the sound designer for the game, the SFX Leif makes for his attacks are from an audio library called "3000 Sound Effect Pack", just "cut, layered, [equalized], compressed, stretched, squeezed, and processed with some reverb".^[8]
  • It was one of the first sound effects created for the game.^[8]
• Leif did have a kid with Muse, although he is likely unaware of it.^[9][10] That kid is possibly Todd’s grandfather.
• His first concept had him as a female moth named Cerice.^[11][10]
• Leif's name is meant to be an anagram for "life".^[12]
• According to Oma, his original creator, Leif's backstory was influenced by Oma leaving development and served as an inside joke.^[13][14]
  • According to Mar, Leif was originally going to be scrapped altogether as a result of Oma leaving, but was eventually added later.^[15]
• Leif is incapable of getting indigestion or any sort of food poisoning caused by over-eating, due to the cordyceps residing in his body digesting food very quickly.^[16] He is shown to enjoy eating toxic foods, as shown when talking to Dan in Fry's shop or when inspecting Xic.
  • One food that Leif enjoys is Cooked Danger, which contains fungus as the primary ingredient. Similarly, when completing the quest I Want a New Taste, Leif claims he enjoys Hearty Breakfast, which of course, also contains fungus.
• According to Genow, one of the main creators and lead writer for the game, Leif's birthday would be November 2nd, which is All Soul's day. ^[17]
• Leif's Magic Ice Shard appears as an item in the Abomi Nation crossover with Bug Fables.

Gallery

References