The Arborwrights' Engine

Difficulty: Slow and deliberate as moss

Deep within an ancient forest, where roots tangle with forgotten machines, a cadre of hooded figures tends to bonsai trees growing atop colossal rusted gears. Their mossy cloaks blend them into the living machinery, each movement deliberate, as if they are caretakers of a delicate balance between nature and technology. Vines weave through pipes, rivets, and cogs, while soft light filters through the canopy above. One figure holds a warm lantern, illuminating the intricate green life thriving on cold, oxidized metal.

This puzzle is a meditation in contrast—piecing together the coarse, weather-worn textures of the machinery before shifting into the lush softness of moss and foliage. The hooded figures, with their gentle tending, add a human (or almost human) element that feels both mysterious and comforting. The interplay of warm lantern glow against the cool forest shadows challenges the eye and rewards patient assembly.

🌱 Great for: lovers of nature-meets-steampunk aesthetics, slow-building storytellers, and anyone who wants to feel like they’re nurturing a secret garden inside a forgotten machine.

🛠 Bonus: The bonsai crowns are small victories to savor.

⚠️ Side effect: May lead to the irrational urge to adopt a bonsai and whisper secrets to it.