+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[Fog rolls into the town of Samara – another cool autumn day, the sky murky and the tress shedding their leaves. The nights are longer now, the moon hanging low in the sky – and that can only mean one thing: stirrings. With the darkness creeps the dangers. You’ve likely heard those whispers all your life – those murmurs of caution, of danger, of otherness. Be mindful not to step out into the shadows for too long and risk losing yourself entirely.

The little town of Samara might appear quiet at first, unassuming, gentle even – a far outpost and a far cry from the Leridae kingdom’s capital. But it isn’t too far-flung from there, although hidden away in its own little haven, the trees growing closer and closer to its city lines with every passing year. No, this town is not as unassuming as it might seem. You might have grown up here – you’d know as much. Or perhaps you were drawn here for the same reason so many others have been drawn here:

Here in Samara, the rumors are simply that – just rumors. After all, who would ever think that vampires would prey upon such an unassuming, quiet town. But those who whisper the rumors might just shake their heads, looking out towards the forest, towards those darkened alleyways between the old, rickety town. Vampires are one thing. Hunters are another. And Samara has long since been the established epicenter of hunter activity – their meeting ground, so to speak, their headquarters. The hunters, of course, are branches of factions, individualistic in some ways and community-based in others. There is no set leader but there are clans within those hunters, those who strive for certain aspects of the hunter code – and others who operate well outside the set parameters of that.

This place has always been quiet, despite the heavy hunter presence. Few vampires risk staying too close within this town simply because of the danger to them. For years now, decades and decades, the hunters and the vampires have been at odds. Recently, these fights and tensions have only grown more devastating, with loses on both sides – tearing friends and families apart. The hunters hold pride in their abilities and the vampires, secretive and hidden, search for a means to survive in a world that rejects them. Or, perhaps, there are those few who seek the living for the sport of it. Just as there are hunters who seek to kill for the sport. Each side has had its demons and its loses.

And in this, the sleepy little town of Samara is mired with one rumor that just keeps being whispered again and again: that Queen Anne of Leridae is coming – or is already here, as the rumors indicate. Rumors speculate to her purpose – many assume that it’s her wish to form a formal alliance with the hunter factions. Others aren’t so sure. A few more believe that the rumors are just that: rumors. What purpose would a queen have to visiting this quiet little town where absolutely nothing ever happens ever at all? What purpose could such a queen have to coming to a town known for its hunter populace and devastating vampire attacks? Will peace come at last?

Despite this, the large meeting hall at the center of town is undergoing some sprucing up, some redecorating. There’s a grand ball planned, set to be open to the public and the higher-ranking hunter guilds within the next few days. That seems indication enough that something important is underway – or, at the very least, a royal visitor is imminent.

In the end, though, this quiet little town is certainly just meant to be quiet… But with the promise of Queen Anne’s arrival, there’s a new flurry of preparations: decorations everywhere, preparing housing for guests, trying to clean up the streets – and trying, so desperately, not to be bitten when the moon is high. And with the rumors of Queen Anne’s arrival come all the other new arrivals, seeking different desires: to join the hunters? To escape hunters in other regions? To find lost friends? To try to meet royalty? To find something to eat? To be turned? Or, perhaps you are more innocent in all this – just a bystander dragged into these strange happenings, torn between this conflict that seems to have no end.

Perhaps, then, there can be hope – and perhaps, someday, peace. Welcome to Samara.]

[[Our vampire AU event begins! Find more information here.]]

[It’s been a long few weeks with the dragons, and as the days pass it’s clear that the Alpha is getting worse and worse despite the dragons’ efforts, and the efforts of those who were willing to help him in the first place. It starts out simple, the Alpha just sleeping more and more, his breathing coming out in wheezing gasps. Then, slowly, the Alpha stops moving so much, hardly reacts to any food or medicine.

But with every passing day the Alpha gets worse, the world around you starts to get worse, in turn. Plants start dying. Water starts drying up. It stays darker for longer. There might have been a few cave-ins towards the back of the tunnels.

It’s finally too much, though, and when the Alpha does die, it lets out one final, earth-shaking roar before it collapses and bursts into a wave of sakura petals. With that, the world around the Alpha dies as well – the bridges collapsing, the caves starting to fold into themselves, the island crumbling into the water as the regular Miracle Country returns to itself.

Be very mindful of where you are, then – because the world is going to change back. Trapped in the caves with the cave-in? You may be there a while. Were you in the reservoir? Then you might find yourself suddenly at the Wings Island. The forests, the top of the Ferris Wheel at the Amusement Park, stuck on the stairs of the lighthouse at the beach – you could appear anywhere. Everyone is scattered around and it’s not likely you’ll be lucky enough to show up in the park or the hotels.

It’ll be difficult to get back, though – because there’s a heavy wind blowing all over the islands today. Reacting to the sudden shift from one world to another, Miracle Country is still trying to adapt, and the wind is strong enough to push you off your feet if you’re not careful. That, and it’s raining sakura petals all over, which might make it difficult to see. There are respites and places to shade yourself from the onslaught – little alcoves, buildings, the forests – but that might mean little when you’re trying to find your friends and family, after all.

The Miracle Country you know and love isn’t completely untouched despite the sudden change, however – while the dragons’ world might have dissolved along with the Alpha, the remnants still appear in certain spots. Some of the dragons survive the sudden switch and now live in the forests. There are a few caves left over within the forest, the path in the first layer leading towards it.

And, most striking, there is a large skeleton deep in the forest – the final resting place for the Alpha Dragon.]

[Days with dragons have hardly made the nights easier – the strange way the dragons’ eyes glow from the shadows, the way the fog rolls in at the night, the sound of far cries from the dragons as they fly just beyond sight, that deep grumbling from the sleeping Alpha Dragon, the way it just steadily grows colder and colder as the night progresses.

This night is no different. It starts with a sunset, blazing and bright, the shadows stretching long and lingering. And once it’s gone, dusk passing, the night creeps in. The fog grows thick and those sounds come again. Dragons rustling, dragons calling, the nocturnal dragons large and difficult to spot – never seen during the day and seeming so strange, perhaps a little less friendly than the ones who come out during the day.

The air grows colder still, so it might be a good idea to collect wood for a large fire, to find a place to stay warm and safe. Or maybe you’re feeling adventurous. Maybe you need water. Maybe you need to find something fun to do, just for the sake of doing it. Maybe you’ve lost your way as the day draws to an end and you’re desperate to get back.]

[Miracle Country has once again changed, the entire island shifting overnight into an archipelago. There’s a scattering of far-flung islands, but you’ll find yourself at the very center of it all – and it’s not just you there. Oh no – this is a world populated by dragons. You’ve found yourself in the Alpha Dragon’s nest. There are dragons that fly, some land dragons, and some dragons that primarily stay in the water – and they are everywhere. There are flocks of dragons everywhere you look. Large dragons, small dragons, nocturnal dragons, diurnal dragons, two-headed dragons, dragons the size of your palm, dragons that breathe fire, ice-breathing dragons, camouflaged dragons, feathered dragons, and baby dragons that just act silly.

What used to be the hotels is now a series of caves - you'll be able to find your old rooms in there, although they're a bit more basic now - no such thing as electronics available (not that you'd need them with nowhere to plug them in), no kitchens, but everything else remains. Clothes, beds, even a small bathroom. The maze-like nature of the caves means the rooms might be a little harder to find this time around, and you could end up choosing to just crash with someone else if it gets too late. They're cold, as well, being inside a giant ice-fortress, so find ways to keep the place warm!

There are also other sorts of rooms, of course, some empty and some with supplies like weapons or staple food, some with a few seats and cushions where you can gather around, build a fire, and risk having a flock of dragons come chill with you a little less, if it happens to bother you. The caves are all rather cold and dark for the most part, and within them are many maze-like turns and corners and passageways, so it’s easy to get lost, especially since many of the caves open up to strange and new locations. Plenty of things to explore – and plenty of ways to be separated from others.

And at the very center of it all is a large structure of ice, that juts up and forms into the shape of a large, winged egg. Within this egg is the dragons’ nest – one corner of this structure has a large sakura tree that the dragons love to sleep in or fly around. At the other end is the Alpha Dragon itself – the largest dragon in creation, white and pink and spending most of its time sleeping. And at the very center of a large expanse of water is a little island with the only source of fresh water – a reservoir. Surrounded by saltwater for miles around, the dragons have no trouble reaching it – but you might.

The best way to travel is by dragons, of course. But for those of you who can’t fly too well, walking isn’t really an option. But don’t worry, there are a series of bridges that fall and crumble and rotate around. You’ll never walk the same bridge twice. They’re reliable enough, so long as they don’t start to move while you’re on them. If you don’t trust the bridges, there’s always the option of climbing through the maze-like caves… but try not to get lost.

Why are the dragons approaching you now? They need your help. The Alpha Dragon is sick – and he’s the reason all the other dragons are here and safe.

You’re here one reason: to help the dragons. There are smaller dragons, but also larger dragons, but don’t worry they’re not as scary as they look. In fact, it’s possible to tame or bond with them. Of course, that’s based on how well you get along with animals, mystical or otherwise, in general – not great with pets? Probably not going to be too great with dragons, either.


((Have a dragons event! Further info & FAQ can be found HERE))

[The snow has piled up to the point where it's difficult to move outside, and the wind is relentlessly howling day and night. Most areas look something like this.

It's cold now - the stone walls of the castle can't quite keep the wind out, there's frost creeping up the walls even inside, and blankets and sheets, being the only extra fabric around, can only do so much. Better make sure the fires in the common room don't go out during the night... especially considering some people seem to be having an almost unnaturally difficult time staying warm as the days pass.

By now the food supplies left in the castle are almost completely gone. Hunting for food is still technically possible, but how easy is it to find, much less kill, a prey in this blizzard? Those who have been outside in the last few days can also confirm that the strange snow monsters, previously found mostly near the forest and away from the castle, have been steadily moving closer to where people are staying. There might even be more of them around now.

In spite of all this, someone is likely going to have to try gather more food anyway - the storm shows no sign of letting up. Try to avoid frostbite, however: there's not much to be found in the ways of medical supplies.

But hey, small mercies? Magic works again. Isn't Kiseki gracious?]

[Not bad enough for you? Remember there are events that can be replayed to make this all even worse. Here are a couple of suggestions. Elsa's thread can be found here.]

[It starts out as a normal snowfall.

Or maybe not, if anyone happens to be outside to see the ice spreading over the ground unnaturally fast, even creeping up the buildings in its way. Starting from somewhere on the main island it makes its way out to sea, freezing the water as it goes. By the end of the first day the ice has spread to all the outer islands, although the trains are still running at that point.

Perhaps you find it enjoyable at first. There's certainly more than enough snow for snowball fights, for sledding, for building snowmen... but as the day goes on, the snow gets heavier; by the second, the wind picks up. Neither lets up as the days pass - on the contrary, they intensify, and the temperature steadily drops.

The hotels? Mysteriously gone, on every island. Instead, on the main island there's a castle some of the older residents might remember, although this time, everyone will find their own familiar bed in one of its room, complete with their personal bedding items. Maybe they'll want to forgo the single rooms, however, as there's no electrical heating in the castle, only the stone walls to keep out the cold. All the shops are shut down, the Kisekian NPCs suddenly nowhere to be seen, and the old castle certainly doesn't come with a cafeteria. There are some supplies to be found, however! A few cooking utensils, some flour, dry pasta, cans of dried, reheatable food... nothing fancy, and nothing much, so better ration those portions while they last. That is, unless you're prepared to go out hunting - there is game to be found around the islands.

Outside? The wind is howling, the snow piling up more and more by the hour. It's getting harder to move outside, and those that venture farther than just outside the castle? They might run into one of these snow golems. They look frightening, but won't attack anyone as long as distance is kept - being created out of fear, however, they might lash out at anyone that provokes them... and sometimes, just getting a little too close will be enough to anger them.

If anyone is still not convinced that this is Kiseki having fun at the characters' expense? For the entire first week of the event, magic powers won't work, although bending still will.]

[Plotting post for the event! The next log will go up in a week from now. Interactions with Elsa can be done here, otherwise thread to your hearts' content!]

As would be expected, the last few days at the Bridge Between Worlds has been complete and utter chaos. Korra and Aang have spread themselves thin, using their magic in order to keep the world stabilized and not collapse in on itself and plunge the three worlds into thousands of years of war. But things are only getting worse the longer things go on – the barriers are weakening between the worlds and the dark spirits keep rushing in. Peace Talks have derailed completely, everyone looking out for their own and in-fighting becoming prominent as sides are chosen and paranoia and confusion mounts.

The Bridge’s lack of total collapse is the only reason that anyone can still exist. With all the Bridge Keepers’ magic focused entirely on keeping the Bridge stabilized, the barriers between worlds have all but collapsed and locked down, preventing everyone leaving and finding sanctuary in their own worlds, perhaps an unexpected side-effect to those who plotted for this. Everyone is trapped, and it’s only a matter of time before the world destroys itself.

Or so you might think.

Because within all this infighting, this plethora of magic, this confusion – there’s still Aang and Korra. And they absolutely won’t let this world die. There’s no time to speak of it, no time to really say goodbye, just the understanding of what they have to do—

So anyone looking towards the Bridge will see Aang and Korra alighting there, their eyes aglow, a grand display of their magic and their abilities, hand-in-hand as they finally understand what needs to be done, in order to keep everyone from disappearing.

And that’s to disappear themselves. With their magic combining, they smile at one another one last time and then close their eyes, disappearing in a wave of light and magic that stretches across the entire world – and vanish.

There’s barely any room to breathe, because with Korra and Aang’s disappearance in a blinding light, the aftermath is this – a beautiful, calm world yet again, untouched by the fighting and the violence, with a strong and stable Bridge at the center of it. And no Bridge Keepers in sight. They’ve become the Bridge.

And with it, perhaps, peace.



But that moment of peace does not last long… because soon the world is shaking all over again. This time not with explosions, but with something else entirely: the worlds are colliding, curling into themselves and merging as one—

Because Miracle Country is returning, and the worlds are condensing yet again to the world you all know and remember. Miracle Country returns, and just in time to celebrate a new year – as the worlds shake and collide, as the familiar sights disappear and reappear again, there is a release of light and fireworks from the cracks of the worlds, the barriers exploding in shimmering lights, and a sweep of paper lanterns lighting off into the sky and across the water – everywhere you look, there’s a paper lantern to light your way. These will last throughout the night and well into the morning.

And what becomes of you? Whether you were angel, demon, or otherworlder, you now remember the life you truly lived before arriving to Miracle Country – only you now hold the memories of another life, everything fresh with these memories. It’s part of you now.

So Happy New Year… welcome back.

The day is finally here – the day that everyone has been waiting for after so long. It’s the day for the Meeting of the Realms, The Bridge Between Worlds finally open to all three worlds. For those who have never attended the meeting before, it is a formal affair, and many arrive to the Bridge in order to discuss these negotiations for peace. The main point of this meeting is for the rulers of the three realms to negotiate for peace and establish themselves this way – and these discussions will span over the course of days. The rulers and a small contingent of their closest advisors and strongest allies will accompany them for the official meeting, but the Bridge is open to all members of the realms who wish to attend and meet within that world.

It’s a formal affair, certainly, but also one of celebration – for many, this is the first time in centuries that a Bridge Meeting has even taken place, and being able to witness the temporary collapse of borders is one to be remembered. The last Bridge Meeting was short and brief, due to a collapse in negotiations – but many are hopeful that this time will be different. It’s a chance for everyone to come together on neutral ground and meet with the other worlds, exchange cultures and understandings – it is, after all, the overall hope to achieve peace and acceptance. What better way to do so than to truly get to know your world neighbors?

The world in which the Bridge resides is a small little bubble of a world in comparison to the expansiveness of the other three realms. To explore the entire world, it takes only a few hours’ trek across fields, around the lake the Bridge stretches across, or navigating the mountains. The world, though small, is mountainous, and the air is crisp, clear, and clean. The Bridge and its lake lies centered in what appears to be a valley, surrounded by mountains and beautiful sky.

The Bridge itself is an old-fashioned relic of past cultures long since lost, the remaining remnants of an era of peace and prosperity. It’s old, but sturdy. Korra and Aang, maintainers of this world, have done well to preserve it and prepare it for the many new arrivals to this tiny realm. They’ve taken all they’ve learned of the various worlds and incorporated it into this realm to make everyone feel as safe and welcome as possible – there are clusters of trees reminiscent of the Otherworld, the waters of the lake are the purest and cleanest outside of Heaven, and there’s even a fire pit similar to the one found in Hell.

The first day of the Meeting is taking place on the winter solstice – and it’s clear wherever you look, the entire world dusted with a layer of snow, and the clouds above threatening more at any moment. There is definitely more snow incoming. It’s chilled and crisp, so perhaps best to keep warm or stay warm with someone else.


[ooc: Again, if needed, check out info & plotting for this event in regards to what will go down during this meeting - and please keep your top levels to the appropriate subthreads.]

For centuries, the three worlds – Heaven, Hell, and the Otherworld – have been separated, often at war, sometimes in stilted tension waiting for the next war, but never, truly, in harmony. Thankfully, between the three worlds, there is a neutral ground – the Bridge Between Worlds. The purpose of the bridge is to be a connection point for all three worlds, in which peace treaties can be negotiated and signed on a neutral platform without having to invite potential enemies into one’s own realm.

For the first time in decades, the Bridge is being opened and the three worlds are meeting – and everyone is waiting in anticipation for that moment. The barriers between the worlds have slowly weakened over the years, making it easy for demons, otherworlders, and angels to drift between the worlds if they so choose (and some certainly have), when means of communication through magically-connected journals no longer seems enough. In addition to this, there have historically been long, grueling wars between the worlds that have only recently started to wane in intensity. With this weakening of the borders over the decades and the long war, the need to reach agreement between the worlds couldn’t be stronger, and sorting out those differences is goal number one.

… Or so it might seem. Because there are rumors that Hell isn’t as on board for peace as the other two worlds are. In fact, there are whispers that the Demon Queen has perhaps had her hand in disruptions. There’s no way to prove this, and certainly anyone to suggest as much would unleash another decade of war. Still, things are tentative and tenuous between the three worlds, and the success of the bridge meeting is imperative.

Still, such rumors give light to a truth – things are tense between the worlds, and not even the entire worlds are in agreement. There are rumors, too, that the two Otherworld rulers are in disagreement about how to proceed with respect to the other two worlds – one wishes for connection, the other for isolation.

And while things may seem good and peaceful in Heaven, perhaps not everything is as it seems there. Heaven is very powerful, and very populated – more and more angels are being born every day, and there are stirrings within the Otherworld and Hell wondering if Heaven is truly as good as it seems, if they aren’t planning some form of invasion themselves with their gathering numbers, their protection of their barriers, their secretive insistence on peace. Perhaps there’s something more selfish hidden behind the guise of kindness and compassion.

But things aren’t going smoothly already. With random attacks happening every day across the worlds, things are more and more uncertain – and there’s no telling what will happen at the bridge meeting, or even if everyone truly wants peace.

And it’s no good to go into negotiations feeling as if you’ve been pushed to be there, after all… The Bridge Meeting is only a few days away and, regardless of one’s position on it, there is a quiver of anticipation – the opportunity for peace or, perhaps, for the opportunity to meet others who have, until now, been separated from one another.


[ooc: Please check back with the info & plotting for the event if need be, and if you want a list of where everyone is, check this thread. Please note that this event is a full AU, meaning that your character has no knowledge of Miracle Country or any details from their old life. This post is purely for characters to interact within their world – the bridge will appear in a few days time with a new log; characters can move between worlds, but it’s difficult to do so at this time, emphasizing communication through journals or through messages sent through Korra & Aang, and interaction with one’s own co-worlders. Each of the three worlds has its own individual thread.]

[Rejoice, Kiseki residents, as today the massive flood finally comes to an end. Starting early in the morning, the water levels will slowly start to go down, faster and faster, the extra vegetation that had grown all over the place receding with it. Eventually, the usual Miracle Country will reappear, just the slightest signs of rust remaining for a while. The tree houses will gradually disappear in the following days, once its inhabitants go back to their usual lodgings.

Not all the water will disappear, however. Now, near the Sakura park, a small lake will show up, and connected to it, a narrow stream that will go all the way up to the ocean, widening as it approaches it and becoming large enough to allow people to swim in it or travel it by boat or other means.]