+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[And just as quickly as it started, it stops.

The last twenty-four hours have been a difficult one – and it likely shows around you. Everyone who was caught up in the attack is tired, injured, and scared after everything. It’s still again, just like before – can you trust it?

The monsters are now gone, and even if you tried to pursue them into the forests, you wouldn’t be able to find them. It’s as if they have simply vanished. But the impact they’ve left on the island is clear – the shopping district is a mess of broken glass and claw marks in the walls and street. The park has a few fallen trees and broken branches. Some of the bridges have gaping holes in them that haven’t been repaired yet. Some Usyagi are floating around, magically repairing things, but some other damages will be left untouched, especially if it’s a character-run business.

And, even though healing is no longer blocked, it’s – delayed. What would normally heal within a day is going to take a couple of weeks to heal properly. Too bad, considering almost everyone was attacked in some way, right? But it’ll be quiet for the next few weeks, so hopefully that’ll give you all time to heal…

And at least it’s a sunny summer day. The sun is shining, there’s a light breeze, and there’s at least some peace. For now.]


🌸

[[The invasion event is over; keep in mind that this log is backdated to a day after the invasion event began.]]

[It starts like any other day, really. It’s a lovely summer day – the sun is shining, birds are chirping. You might be outside relaxing or inside escaping the heat. Perhaps you are at the beach, enjoying the new set-up. Or in the park, enjoying the cherry blossom trees.

It is not to last, though.

You might notice that the hotel begins to lock you out. It’s sealing itself. But why? No one is allowed to get inside and if you were within your room or the underground tunnels, you’ll find yourself magically pushed out, gradually at first.

And then the sudden, complete silence follows – perhaps those with a sense for it will notice that something is going wrong. Everything is too still. There are no more birds chirping, no insects buzzing. Even the wind has died down.



When the monsters come out of the forest, they strike without hesitation: anyone and anything in their way are in danger. You might want to grab weapons before the hotel seals itself completely – because it will, in the next few minutes.

The creatures move in waves, each wave a different type of creature – wolves, spiders, bears. Then, creatures you might not recognize at all. They move swiftly and silently and without mercy. They are not real animals, more like spirits given form, come to seek vengeance and invading every place they can find. They will bite and they will claw and they will attack – but they will not kill, not if you get away quickly enough. Some of them are poisonous, their jaws dripping with it, enough to make you ill or to paralyze or to make you weaker.

Thankfully or perhaps unthankfully, they seem to be specifically targeting: they go for the strongest first and bypass the weaker characters. But it’s only a matter of time before they start coming for you, no matter how strong you might be.

The invasion will go on for the full day, without relief – not that you can know how long it’ll last. You can fight back – in fact, it will be necessary for you to fight back – but it will not be enough to stop the hoard. The monsters will not retreat until they’ve hurt you enough.

You won’t be able to escape to the safety of the hotel, as they will all lock you out, but some buildings might be open elsewhere. You might have better luck escaping to the other islands, although the creatures will follow. Do not try to escape to the water because there are monsters waiting there, too: giant sea serpents and other creatures in the ocean, lake, and river. They will linger near the bridges crossing between islands and the train no longer works.

You will not be able to heal your wounded, as magic and bending are blocked – and even traditional medicinal skills don’t seem to work. Wrapping the wounds means the bandages slide off the skin. Painkillers and herbs do nothing.

You have one job for the next twenty-four hours: survive.]

🌸

[[The invasion is here! Here is last month’s plotting post regarding the event and remember you can ask here about anything concerning the event.]]

[Summer's around the corner, and Miracle Country has decided to celebrate it by making a few changes. The Usyagi will inform everyone via cute invitation notes, that they should head down to the beach these days.

There, they'll find the previously mostly empty beach is looking quite lively! There's a large, colorful ice-cream shop & drinks bar on the side opposite to the lighthouse, currently attended by Usyagi but open to hiring anyone who might be looking for a new job. The bar don't make the joke has special places set out for people to sit and enjoy some drinks or snacks. You can even bring your own food! But know that now and then an Usyagi might stare at you judgingly for it.



The new bar is not the only addition to the beach. In fact, there're a lot others: all across the beach, there're other tables and places ready for anyone to use them. More important than that, there are new huts, much like the ones found in the first areas of the forest, which people can rent for the day, or even permanently stay at - some of them are larger and have more facilities in them. There are lanterns spread out, outside the bar, huts and other spots, which will magically light up during the night. The one area that remains mostly untouched is that near the lighthouse. And while these sort of things have shown up temporarily before, this time they're staying, a fixed addition to the beach even once the cold seasons begin later in the year.

To celebrate the summer's beginning, during the next couple of days, heading to the beach will mean likely ending up in appropriate clothes, courtesy of Miracle Country. Should you lack your own, the Usyagi will hand you beach towels, or other assorted relevant items. You could end up with an armful of sunblocker, a large parasol, or even a cute bucket set to play in the sand.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and explore the new places, play games on the sand, or simply take a break and sunbathe for a while.]

[The first, most obviously noticeable thing: all the lights have gone out. Not only are the buildings and other spaces not illuminated any longer, but the sky is completely dark as well, no sun, moon or stars to light up anything. No matter the hour, the whole of Miracle Country looks this way, swallowed up in darkness that doesn't change.

The second thing to notice: it's not easy to create new sources of light. Are you grabbing some candles? Perhaps want to attempt building a bonfire of sorts? Using your own magic? All new sources of light created, even large ones, will glow very faintly, dimly, in a blueish light. Like they're struggling to stay there at all. So while they might be better than sitting around in full darkness, they won't fix the issue that much.





The third thing to... possibly be alarmed by: there are certain sources of light. Unpredictable, creepy and changing around, there're phrases and words written in different ways across walls, on tree trunks, on the surface of the caves, anywhere you look at. They glow brighter than fire or magic lights, shining for a while before it stops, and another phrase somewhere else lights up. Not only that, but the words they show might appear... relevant? Accusing? Sad, even? Confessions, bold statements, secrets, it'll be soon noticeable that these aren't random phrasings, but things that those here might think, even if they might not ever wish to say them out loud. Once that much is clear, it's likely easy to have misunderstandings. What if you think a certain phrase is something you believe your friend thinks, deep down? How can you know for sure? Nothing in the words shows who they truly belongs to. Perhaps it's a relief, if your own secrets are something you cannot afford to have out in the open...

In any case, it'll all be over after the weekend. Try to manage in the dark until then.]

🌸

[[Secrets in the dark~ event! Secrets list is here, remember you can ask here about anything concerning the event.]]

[Were the recent outfits fluffy enough? If your answer is a resounding yes, clearly you don't know this world well. Today it looks like Miracle Country is feeling like adding to the general cuddliness again... Or maybe there're other reasons? In any case, the result is the same. Teddy bears.

Lots of them, all over the place. In your rooms, on the hallways, at school (with proper little toy glasses, of course), laying around on the park, the bridges, even on the train seats... You get the idea. Some big, some small, there's even a really big blue penguin toy somewhere. What can you do with them? You could keep some, if you'd like. Or make a teddy bear fort. Or use them for shooting target practice. Make a teddy bear bonfire. Have a tea party. No one's judging. The bears that don't get claimed will simply disappear eventually.

Of course, if you're paying attention to the ridiculous bears scattered around, you might notice that the path leading to the Cherry Blossom Café & Candy Shop combo seems to have a whole lot more of them than any other place. If you get closer to them, it's easy to see the CBC in particular has so many of them that several are sitting on the café's available chairs, a few even on the counter. Maybe there's a point to that?]

[[Tiniest dumb mingle for Sakura & Syaoran's intro! Sakura be here, Syaoran be here]]

[The Candy Shop (as it is best known) has grown by one employee today. Anyone passing by or on their way to visiting the café next door may see Lancelot welcoming Connie to the shop, both aproned and her ready in the designated employee uniform. The tour doesn’t take long and the two will be soon seen working together or taking up separate jobs that morning.]

[Connie is tasked with the broom and in the front, Lancelot handles register as usual – or well, at least as he is usually used to doing so. It’s really more of a bag of money than a register. While sorting out and making sure it’s all there, he walks to the back and hears some... training drills?]

Connie? Is everything all right in here?

Ah, yes! [she hurriedly stops the drills she's running... with the broom itself. She swears she's actually working, welp.] It's just... it was already clean, so...

[... He can't help a smile and comment.] Good form. That's fine, I'm only getting to the back here. [Meanwhile the money kind of jingles in the bag.]

Alright, then -- [here she stops abruptly, seeing the bag for the first time. Uh.] ... Sir Lancelot? Is that the store's bank?

Ah. That's right.

But... [......................................... b- but.] That's not -- Shouldn't you use the register?

Well- [Aha, see about this.] I'm afraid I was not able to learn how to use it.

... [suddenly she has the most srs!!1 face] That won't do at all! [and she marches behind the counter and studies the register for half a minute before she hits the proper buttons to get it to open with a little ding. ta da!]

[He looks impressed and surprised at once. Then- rather sheepishly, he asks:] ... Perhaps it might be best if we trade, my lady.

Ah... [she hesitates for a moment, looking at the broom, but then holds it out to him and gently takes the bag of money from him. cause honestly.] That might be a good idea for now...

[Chuckles a little, accepting the broom with a small bow to her.] Agreed.

[And so, Lancelot is left to the sweeping, diligent as ever. Connie handles the (actual) register without trouble. They’re working things out.

What better way to welcome another pair of hands on board? That’s right, it’s time for a candy sale! There will even be a sign hanging up outside as a display to alert others, simple but cute and the window as ever shows several different candies and chocolates for extra appeal. Come on by.]

[With people's memories (hopefully) back to normal, it's time for something different. This time, it's no blood ritual nor messing up with your heads that Kiseki has planned for everyone, no. Instead, it's something more relaxing this time. Fluffy, you could call it...



Everyone will be temporarily getting kigurumi, or animal-themed onesies for the non-weeaboo. That's right, you can fulfill your life-long dream of running around dressed as a kitty, or a mouse, or whatever else. Embrace Miracle Country and be an Usyagi, even!

What is the idea behind these cuddly shenanigans? Well, nothing too terrible. Hopefully you'll have fun with it. Or you'll loathe it and end up hiding in your room for the rest of the day. Perhaps you'll simply continue your usual routine while ignoring the change. Of course, should you want to get rid of them, you'll be able to, but any normal clothes will be temporarily gone from the world. But no worries! It'll all be replaced by... other kigurumis. You really can choose to be an Usyagi, if you'd like. You're welcome.]

[There's been time to rest and heal, after the recent events. Nothing to be concerned with, no magical flora to die for this time. The calm after the world stabilized itself continues through these days, and by all means, it looks like things are normal now. Nothing is attacking, the city looks the usual, the Usyagi still have one single expression...

And yet, something isn't quite right. As you go through your usual day, it'll be difficult not to notice... Maybe that friend of yours who always seems weighed down by their issues back home seems far too cheerful today. Or maybe your significant other is looking at you funny when you jokingly comment you're as good as married? Perhaps your usual sarcastic jokes about tragic events in your life are being met with exceedingly horrified, shocked looks. How about that person you can't stand who now doesn't even seem to recognize you or know why you shouldn't get along?

Perhaps it's not them, but you who is acting odd and doesn't realize it yet. Does something feel off? Is someone talking to you like you should know them better? Or differently? Do you even remember where you are?

What's happening, then? During the next couple of days, memories will be altered, removing significant moments in people's life from their minds. Had they achieved something? Saved someone else? Fought someone? Watched someone die, or died themselves? Had they made a big choice? Had they arrived somewhere important? Fallen in love? Were they witness to some very relevant event in their worlds? Had they formed a deeply important friendship while in this world? If it's crucial to their development, it's at risk of disappearing for a while. And with it, memories that match the loss. So perhaps you only forgot about one person, or one big event happening, or maybe you're so removed from things that you can't even recall arriving to Miracle Country in the first place.

Of course, what you forget isn't forgotten by others. So you can be told of these things you can't remember, should they wish to spoil you. Otherwise, it's simply a matter of waiting for those memories to come back - and they will, even if some might take a little longer than others.]


[[No spoilers event! Mingle as you'd like!]]

[Things seem more settled now – the last few days peaceful enough, save for the monsters on the other side of the barrier. It’s a peaceful enough night now, the stars out, the moon shining low over the sakura.

Except, something feels off. Maybe you’ve felt it the last few days: the monsters are stronger. Or, the barrier is weaker. Or maybe it’s a mixture of both. Those monsters that have broken past the barrier don’t seem to be aiming for you – but then what are they aiming for?

In the meantime, the sakuras are fading away. Perhaps it’s subtle enough to miss at first, but some of the smaller ones nearer the barrier are fading out, the petals turning bone-white. The largest sakura at the center of the city is still pink, but it’s clearly fading in color.

And all around you, things are crumbling. The river is flowing a little sluggishly, with less fish than before. The crops in the field are starting to rot from the roots outward. The buildings around you are starting to crumble.

It’s not an entire disaster, though. Those basic weapons you had at the start? They’re evolving, too – and at least they aren’t crumbling around you like everything else. No, the more monsters you destroy, the sturdier your weapons are.

But what about those who weren’t given a weapon? Now that the monster attacks are growing stronger, the barrier growing weaker, it might become clear to you that your skills are – not helpful against fighting the monsters. In fact, anything you try to do is just useless against them.

But those without weapons – perhaps you’re starting to feel what your place in all this is. As a priest or priestess to the sakura, you’re responsible for protecting them – so even if you don’t have the sword, you can always be the shield: protect the trees, at all costs, or else all is lost. The sakura need to be protected.

The monster attacks are increasing, the sakura are losing their color, the world around you is crumbling, and the clear, calm nights are slowly slipping away – are those thunderclouds in the distance? Whatever’s happening, might be best to figure it out quickly.]

[At first, the change might not seem as immediate – there is, after all, the giant Sakura in the center of the park, still visible and still large and blooming. But today, all the trees seem to be sakura, surrounding the area and everywhere you look. It’ll soon be clear that you are no longer in the Miracle Country you know and love.

The city isn’t as you know it. Gone are the more modern-style houses and replaced with an ancient Japanese aesthetic. The sakura curve around the paths, made of stone, little streams of water and sakura blossoms falling to line the way.

And for those sensitive to magic, you’ll notice the giant barrier right away. It branches out from the giant sakura in the center of the town. Even those who can’t sense magic will be able to tell this is an old and powerful tree – it emanates its aura, the barrier strong and expansive. Seems simple enough, right?

In fact, this new ‘world’ seems idyllic in many ways. There are fields to plant crops, some vegetables already ready to harvest. The river remains, full of fish just waiting to be caught. The houses are in good repair and there’s enough supplies for everyone. The sun is shining, and it’s a warm spring day. Maybe despite yourself, you have to feel cheerful – it’s hard to see something so peaceful and lovely and not feel a simple joy with it, after all.

Well, except for the part where if you step out beyond the barriers held up by the sakura trees, you’ll find monsters lurking, just waiting to attack. And if they get past the barrier – which is known to happen – they’re aiming for one thing: sakura. They’ll do everything they can to get to them – destroying them or consuming them.

Thankfully for right now, these monsters are weak – and don’t show up that often. The barrier is strong enough to keep them out, after all, and they’re easily dispatched. And you aren’t going to necessarily know the connection between the trees and the monsters. It’s still too early to tell – if anything, it’s easy to mistake the monster’s intent: surely they’d be after the people, right? You should protect them. You'll find some basic weaponry in the houses around you - just basic-level swords or bows, nothing too fancy but it'll get the job done.

How do you fit into this, then? Characters are sorted as warriors or as priests/priestesses. The warriors are in charge of fighting the monsters that come through and the priest/priestesses are responsible for keeping the barriers strong. Warriors are unable to affect the barriers on their own just as priest/priestesses are unable to fight against the monsters with any sort of success. You’ll know which one you’ve been sorted into based on the outfits you’ll suddenly find yourself in – appropriately, the warriors will have more samurai-like garb while the priest/priestesses have outfits inspired by traditional miko.

For now, your purpose isn’t entirely clear. It seems you should be making the best of the situation you’re in: if anything, it’s like a mini-vacation. So long as you stay inside the barrier, you should be perfectly safe.]


[[ooc: our sacred sakura event begins! The event plotting post is here if you need a refresher. Other logs will be up during the timeline to show the advancement of the event. Keep in mind that things are relatively calm and peaceful at this point and the character would not know their role in everything just yet.]]