+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[It’s that time of year again! Anyone around the last few years will remember that it's a certain someone’s birthday - and time for the birthday tradition. As is typical of a Porthos Birthday Party, there’s food and drinks everywhere. Also lots of fruit. In the past, the party’s mostly been stuck at the park or beach and near the hotels… but not so this year. In fact, it seems that Kiseki wants to get into the party spirit along with Porthos since there are new areas to explore.

As if by magic – funny how that works – there’s suddenly a Town Hall - a new place for everyone to gather and meet for important discussions, or when those pesky events strike. There’s also a new arena for training, expansive and well-suited for all the warriors out there. It's about time you guys got your own place to train, right?

Not that you’d necessarily be able to tell today that these are fancy and sparkling new. There’s food everywhere, after all. And, well, the mess that comes with it. Is that a table full of cakes on the ceiling? Maybe. Anything is possible today when Miracle Country gets in the spirit of celebration. Try not to slip on that puddle of... beer? Well, let's hope that's beer.

You’ve probably been invited to this party, though. Or maybe you’re party-crashing. Or maybe you were trying to find a quiet corner to spend the afternoon and people won't shut up. Miracle Country might even help with that. Not likely to visit the beach today? Well here you are! Maybe you feel compelled to check out those new areas, or try to find where the party’s slowly migrating to. Maybe your foot's gotten stuck in a bridge and some nice party-goers are going to help you out. Everywhere you go, it sounds like there’s music and talking happening, so it might be hard to pinpoint everything down. Also, did we mention the food and drink?

Trying to ignore the party? Good luck, cause it’s lasting all day and well into the night. And just getting progressively louder and louder....

..... Did you just hear gunshots?


[ooc: this is an open log and feel free to jump in however you’d like. If you’d like to interact with Porthos specifically, his top comment is here; otherwise, use this as a mingle as you see fit!]

[This bright summer day in Miracle Country will find your characters over at the sports island. There on their own, encouraged by the ever-present floating bunnies that love pestering people to do things, or inexplicably arriving at the same place despite having headed somewhere else, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that the pool area is ready for use, and... bigger? It certainly seems that way.



People will find that the place looks revamped, with many more dangerous-looking trampolins, long slides leading into the pools, and all sorts of floating toys, beach balls, and other things to play with. You'll even be provided with proper swimwear, should you need it. What a better way to end the week than swimming and playing with others for a while?

If you end up needing to restore some energy, or simply don't feel like joining in on the pool fun, there's plenty of room to hang out. Even a mini-drinks stand! Nothing as fancy as the one at the beach, but good enough for the day. Careful you don't get hit in the face with a flying beachball, and have fun!]

🌸

[It’s bright and early in the morning today at the garden island, where a recording from the journal resting shows Yona and Lili clearly up to shenanigans. Yona’s clothes are folded up and tied off appropriately for the work in front of them, the plot of land some might remember from her gardening efforts. Several of the crops she planted months back have become ready to harvest now in the summer months, an exciting time for her seeing the literal fruits of her labor. It’s certainly not the most professionally grown crop of vegetables, but a formidable effort all the same. Most of all – that means it’s time to prepare crops for the fall season.]

[Yona sets down a basket of the harvested crops aside with an off, and grins at Lili as she wipes her brow.]

Okay! We’re making good progress.

Right now, we can start planting these... [Lettuce, Peas, Radishes and the like.] But - let me know if it feels like too much work.

[Lili’s covered in more dirt than Yona but her basket isn’t nearly as full. And she’s gripping her trowel like a lifeline and staring tentatively at the things they’re meant to be planting]

[Say something nice, she tells herself. So of course she says:] This better all be worth it.

[Ehe... Feel free to come on by and see what the girls are up to. Yona is here and Lili is here!]

[It’s been a lovely couple of days, hasn’t it? With the onsen, and the advice everyone was supposed to kindly get from each other thanks to Miracle’s Country little push. But the nice things don’t stop there. Doesn’t the beautiful day that it’s outside give you an overwhelming desire to express nice feelings? To grab the hand of the one you love or care about, or simply touch them? Even if you’re not the kind of person who is a big fan of public displays of affection, the feeling is still there.



To give everyone another reason to go outside aside from the nice weather, the Usyagi will be giving out invitations for a little food fair on the main island near the shops. There are many different mini-shops with food from many places and worlds. Maybe you’ll find that favorite kind of soup you hadn’t had since you came here or your favorite homemade food; anything kind happen and that’s kind of the point. Time to expand your culinary horizons and, most importantly share some love!]

((Event replay of the hand-holding event! Have fun!))

[It's Friendship Day in some select, great countries!!!, or so Miracle Country seems to be showing everyone. Places like the amusement park or the zoo have discounts if you bring along a friend, many shops in the city have similar sales, and the Usyagi might try and pester you into taking a friend along on a boat or balloon ride.

But of course, what better way to make a new friend on such a day than by bonding over something that is entirely none of one's business?

All of today, people might notice words floating around them, like strange holograms, spelling out certain questions. How to ask a certain someone out? What to pick for breakfast today? Should they get that cute hat that's on sale even if they never wear hats? How do they get over that overwhelming fear of water? The questions vary in content depending on what the person might need advice on, and can range from the silliest little detail to much heavier, troubling issues.

Once a question gets a decent solution for it, it'll disappear... but another might take its place after a while. Fear not, they'll all disappear by the end of the day. And you're allowed to ignore them, as much as one can ignore strange floating words around others. Perhaps the available entertainment can help with that?]

🌸

[With many still recovering, it's perhaps time to help with the process. Kiseki will be providing everyone with an invitation to the onsen springs, via the Usyagi, a good chance to relax for a while, especially given it's been long enough that most will be up on their feet by now.

Perhaps outshined by the sports facilities found near it, the large onsen on that small island is a facility with many, many springs, both outdoors and indoors (even smaller ones for a more private use), as well as japanese-styled rooms to rent for the day. Are you not the type to enjoy some hot water and relaxing in a yukata at a hotel room? Well, you might find yourself there anyway. It's probably best to go along with it, right?



In fact, Miracle Country will collaborate in other ways - because it might not be the best time to be soaking in hot water, the weather will have gradually chilled during the past days, making this one a pleasantly cool one, perfect for these activities. So there's no excuse! Embrace this mini-vacation and enjoy the day.]

🌸

[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.]]

[Things have been pretty calm recently, with time to relax at new places and everything... Which means that when you get ready to sleep tonight, and find yourselves completely unable to, it might feel strange to many who don't currently feel stressed out or worried about anything in particular. As the minutes turn into hours, it's clear any attempts to relax and get some sleep are pointless - no warm beverages or sheep counting will do the trick.



So perhaps you'll opt for embracing the sleeplessness and staying up in your rooms, alone or with whomever shares it. Perhaps you feel like heading down to the common rooms under the hotels and watch a movie, or hang out with others who might've had the same idea. Perhaps you feel like going outside for a walk - it's a good night to do that, with a bright full moon to light your way.

In any case, the following day will be declared a holiday, to account for those who might be exhausted after staying up all night. Never say Miracle Country isn't fair.]

[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.]