Miracle Country RPG

It’s been a few days since the quiet atmosphere of Miracle Country was left shattered. First, there was the rain of mysterious sand, slowly mounting into a storm. The longer that storm bellowed, the more the ground seemed to rumble. And the more the ground rumbled, the more dangerous everything became.

Soon, it was clear it was an earthquake, shaking the island to the ground in the midst of a sandstorm. The underground areas are no longer safe and, finally, at the peak of its seismic waves, the earthquake levels everything— housing, trees, buildings, everything all around.

You must face the inevitable: the earthquake happened. Now, it’s a matter of how to survive.



Enough days have passed now, the storm sweeping away into the distant horizon, and Miracle Country looks to be only a desert full of ruins. The sakura tree, at least, still stands strong, but nothing much more.

And then the acid rain starts falling. Burning on contact, it’s impossible to stay out in the open for long without burns spreading over your entire body. But there’s so little shelter available.

It might be foolish to venture out... but there might be new people arriving. Surely you won't leave them out there all by themselves.

What will you do?


The Ocean
It might be a simple enough assumption— it’s a desert now, so go to the ocean in order to find food. It’ll be a disappointment, then, to reach the shoreline only to discover that the ocean, too, is acidic, poisoned enough that even trying to touch the water can cause unspeakable pain.

What’s worse, once you’re close enough, you might not realize that the monsters loom out of the water, poisoned by their own environment and frenzied. Perhaps you might be able to fell one of the monsters and use its meat for food and supplies. Or, perhaps, it’ll just be another poisoned thing among the wasteland.


The Forests
It’s true that the forests have seen better days. So many of the trees have been ripped away by the storm and earthquake, and debris scatters everywhere, making it difficult terrain to hunt. However, there are enough trees to offer rudimentary shelter from the acid rain.

The downside, of course, is that there are also animals and monsters here. Animals to hunt, certainly. But also monsters that are hunting you. And they’re so hungry.


The Shrine
Deep in the forests, if you’re lucky enough to find it now with all the devastation and ruin, there was once a shrine, the old bones of an ancient dragon, and the little dragons that live there, guarding a place of peace and calm.

If you actually manage to find your way here, you’ll find that, miraculously, there’s some clean water. Where does it come from? Trying to find a source proves impossible, but perhaps you can figure out a way to carry some of this water back to everyone else.


The Underground
The earthquake has left the area utterly devastated. It isn’t safe to be down in the tunnels, but perhaps desperation drives you here. Where else are you going to find shelter, after all?

This is where the injured have gathered. There’s little first aid to be found, houses swept away with the storm and, with it, most basic supplies. But perhaps those with healing abilities make time to be here, and perhaps the injured are doing their best to grin and bear it.


The Desert
Perhaps you’re foolish enough to brave the open expanse of the desert. Perhaps you’re hoping that there can be something gained from the ruins, some sort of supplies— food, blankets, medicine. Anything. Anything at all.

Be careful. The rain is falling more and more consistently. What good are you if you get hurt? What do you have to show for your efforts?

🌸

[As many might be aware of, today is White Day. Just like every year Valentine's Day tends to be a big deal, White Day is often picked as a celebration of sorts (innacurate as that is). So it's not at all surprising to see some renewed decorations here and there, with themes of teddy bears, flowers, chocolates... all white, obviously. It might put one in the mood to set up a date with that important person, or maybe take advantage of the sudden abundance of sweets, or even pick some flowers for decorations (jams are forbidden for the rest of the year).

Perhaps one's also waiting for some silly thing to happen, such as mistletoe showing up to make things awkward again. Well, maybe it's that feeling of paranoia that seems to be working against you at first - maybe your nerves made you drop that coffee, perhaps being focused on what the Usyagi have up their... sleeves? is what makes you miss out on that important thing someone was telling you, making them upset you're so distracted. Could be that being so focused on what-ifs is what causes you to get distracted while preparing a special meal, ending with it burned...

But once your cute picnic gets suddenly rained on, or your friend chooses today to deliver some horrible news to you, or your favorite book gets lost, or your peaceful trip to the safe areas of the forests end with you running away from a monster, it might seem like today's simply not your day. Naturally, as bad luck will haunt the residents of the islands for a good while, so perhaps that paranoia wasn't all for nothing.]

[It's pretty clear once Valentine's Day arrives, as Miracle Country embraces the pinks even more than the usual. Silly heart-shaped decorations over any of the buildings, even framing doors and windows outside the different houses, all sorts of flowers everywhere despite the cold, an increase in the sappiness of the chocolates available by the candy shop...

But more importantly, the Usyagi are joining the celebration. Armed with tiny little pink bows, they're being particularly sneaky today, hiding behind trees and buildings, their tiny beady eyes even more suspicious than usual. Of course, they can't get a good shot if everyone's aware of their presence! And shoo they will - special magic arrows that will help people get in the Valentine's Day mood.



Maybe you'll start to blush and fumble over words shyly while talking to a friend (isn't it easier to realize the warm feeling in your chest this way?), maybe you're more confident and start openly flirting (it's about time, right?), or feel like making a dramatic love declaration out of nowhere (the flashier the better!). Maybe you're feeling oddly jealous in ways you never did before, or feel nervous because that person's not spending time with you and feel like fixing it (set up a special date for the two of you!). Maybe you suddenly trip and end up falling right into that special someone's arms!

Or... maybe it wasn't the special someone, and it's just your friend you don't have romantic feelings for? Maybe you were just trying to buy some food? Well, what's more romantic than a little spontaneity? Who knows what you've been missing out on? Alright, maybe the Usyagi aren't being too careful when choosing when to shoot. You can't blame them for trying to help with the mood a little, and the effects of their special arrows aren't permanent anyway. No harm done, right?]

🌸

[it's a quiet, rather chilly day today. It's to be expected at this time of the year, but it feels particuarly difficult to handle. What starts as a particularly biting cold day seems to get worse as time goes by, making it difficult to be comfortable anywhere. You might long for those (now vanished) hot springs from a few days ago and get a nice long hot bath at home, or seek out the comfort of some hot beverage at the café, or cuddle up under a pile of blankets in your rooms or the underground common areas.

While these provide some temporary relief, as the hours pass it'll be more and more unbearable. No matter how many more layers of clothing you add, or how much you get close to fire, or how immune you normally might be to weather changes, it's likely you'll reach the evening feeling uncomfortably cold, if not a shivering mess.

So what's the answer? Seek out others. The more the cold seeps in, the more that being close to someone else helps. The closer the better, and even if they might feel as cold as you, once you're in each others' arms you'll both feel very warm, clearly the work of some odd magic... maybe it's a set up for the upcoming romantic celebrations? Maybe Miracle Country didn't want anyone to be without a date, and felt like nudging them in the right direction. Or in a cuddly direction. Either way, try to at least find a friend to hold you or hang out with you, or spend a sleepless night trying to regain some body temperature.

And no, cats do not count as 'friends'.]

🌸

[It's been a calm beginning of the new year, perhaps too calm, for those accustomed to the world's shenanigans. Today it might seem like Miracle Country's up to its usual ridiculousness, since the snow has piled up and up overnight and created many odd snow sculptures along the way.

Snow Mokona here and there, a snow nine-tailed fox, a snow winged lion, even a snow banana are a few of the odd shapes that can be found all over the place during the day. A few snow forts and an abundance of premade snowballs seem to call for a dumb fight on this weekend, and you might be tempted to go out and be silly for a while...



Until you notice the mistletoe, that is. Showing up fashionably late, our usual festive friends are to be found at all sorts of odd places throughout the islands, trapping people under them until they kiss, or hug, or punch each other, or maybe sing a song? These mistletoe seem to be particularly nitpicky and will come up with creative ways to challenge its prisoners.

Ah, well. At least you can always kick down one of the snow Usyagi after an unpleasant encounter, if you feel like it!]

🌸

[It starts slowly. You might not even notice much of anything, at first. Nothing too remarkable - a joke you don't find amusing anymore. A gesture that doesn't seem as endearing today. A little touch that feels more unwelcome.

Little by little, it starts to add up. It slips away. Your interest in this person fades away. You don't want them close to you. They're not amusing anymore, they don't make you feel as comfortable. Chatting with them, a hug, a kiss, you don't long for these anymore. Old memories don't shine as much, don't seem as precious to you... you'll even start to have trouble remembering them too clearly. Were they ever that important? Were those something you truly held close that dearly?

Little by little, your most important feelings fade away. It might leave you feeling empty, it might leave you feeling relieved, it might confuse you - did you really stop caring entirely? Is it time for a difficult talk? Are you worried about the memories that keep washing away?

But maybe something helps. A place you two shared. A photograph that reminds you of an important moment. A song you once danced to. The food you prepared for them. A broken-hearted face you can't bear to look at, even like this. And then, just as they left, the memories and those feelings will start to flood back - slowly, perhaps, or rushing back to where they belong before they can be forgotten about again.

Nothing lasts forever here, afterall.]

🌸

[While many major celebrations get ignored by Miracle Country, there's a few you can always count on. Valentine's Day, for example. And Halloween, of course! You could say what truly matters is candy. In any case, it's time for some Halloween style shenanigans.

Added to the recently carved pumpkins, more and more decorations start to show up throughout the days (you might've even seen a bunny here and there hanging little plastic bats around the place). The bazaar is now holding more themed items, like decorations for your own house, materials that could be used for costumes, some spookier movies and books, and of course, plenty of candy. You might be tempted to get swept up in the holiday spirit, but by the time the actual date arrives, you won't be able to pay for these the usual way. A new negative week has begun, and so for a while all the Usyagi will accept is the more rare, dark konpeito from your jars.



To help a little with this, there's a special holiday-themed quest! Play a prank of some sort on anyone else, and earn a few dark candy to use. And what better time for this than during the celebrations that night! Not quite such a formal scenario as the ballroom held the last time, it's more an assortment of little booths by the park, with all kinds of candy and drinks, even more items to dress up. No need to only be a jerk to others, you can show off your own costume, admire the carved pumpkins set out all over the place, or ignore the themed items and simply enjoy the abundance of candy. And even the Usyagi will join in!

You might get a visit from one of these little creepers, knocking at your door or seeking you out around the islands to try and get some candy as a gift. Should you not pay attention to them, or choose to deny them their request, well, expect a little "trick" in return. Just keep in mind that they're capable of doing much more than throwing eggs at your dome!]

🌸

[[Obviously backdated to the fitting date! Take advantage of the Usyagi's candy-deprived revenge to do event replays!]]

[When the night sweeps in, it seems a simple enough evening. Another evening just like any other. The moon hangs heavy in the sky and there’s perhaps, if anything, an unnatural stillness in the air. Perhaps it’s easy to dismiss that as the eeriness that permeates this island, that unsettling whisper that always prickles at the back of the neck, that one little thread that keeps you from fully relaxing.

Still, it isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm when night falls. It isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm when the fog rolls in, banking down all around. But it stays. It lingers. It grows thick and oppressive, almost suffocating in its unrelenting presence. It seems to follow you. It seems to close in around you. There could be a person walking right beside you and you’d never know—

And perhaps that’s the thing that’s most unsettling. Out of the corner of your eye, occasionally, there is the flicker of movement. As if someone is walking beside you, chasing you, reaching for you, trying to speak and unable. That distinctive, unnerving feeling that you are not alone.



You see a face, turn and— nothing. A trick of your mind, lost out in the fog? Or something else?

But that’s what it is. Eventually, they materialize fully: ghosts. Incorporeal faces of those you once knew, long gone from you now. They almost seem exactly as you remember them, except that your hand passes right through when you reach out. They cannot speak to you, no matter how hard they might try. They shift and flicker and disappear with the fog, as if fully entwined with it, unable to break free.

You’re surrounded by them. The question remains: do they mean you harm or are they longing for you as you do for them?]


🌸

[ooc: Ghosts of the past event begins; go here for details/questions.]

[It’s been days since there’s been any sign of the creatures that attacked, days since the rain stopped. And you can tell that the water is receding. It drains away until it’s easy enough to come down from the trees. Once you leave the treehouses, they seem to be swallowed up into the forest, as if they were never there at all.

Night falls and it’s almost peaceful, almost a sigh of relief— the end is in sight, isn’t it?

The water drains away and you might even be able to return to your homes— although waterlogged and water-damaged. Once morning comes, it should be fine. You’ll be able to rest. You’ll be able to take care of those still recovering from the attacks.

Except, the sun doesn’t come back again.



At first, perhaps you can tell yourself it’s a long night only because you’re waiting for it to end. Perhaps you wake up in the morning and assume it’s still the middle of the night because of the darkness. But the hours tick away and still the sun does not rise. And slowly, all other sources of light go out. The fire you’ve built to keep warm still burns, but produces no light. Fire magic illuminates for a brief time until it, too, starts to fade. Any new sources of light you try to create, even large ones, glow very faintly, dimly. Like they're struggling to stay there at all. And there’s no moon in the sky. Slowly, even the stars blink away.

You are not completely without light, of course. Miracle Country doesn’t expect you all to stumble into the dark never to be found again.

The light is unpredictable but illuminates the spaces around it. They’re made up of phrases and words— across walls, on the tree trunks, across the ground, anywhere you look. They glow brighter than fire, shining for a while before slowly fading.

They’re confessions. Yours, perhaps, or someone near you. Or maybe not related to you at all—and opportunity for misunderstanding. But they seem to follow you, guide you, goad you or comfort you. Perhaps they’re words you’ve never said aloud before, words you wanted to tell someone, something you’ve been swallowing down and know you have to say it. Perhaps the magic here is trying to help you. Perhaps the magic here is trying to taunt you.

Regardless, the words can’t be made to disappear and they can’t be predicted. But they’re what keep you all from being plunged into the darkness.

Can you find your way home again? The endless darkness will remain for several days, so make the best of this— who knows what might be lurking in the dark?]


🌸


[Secrets in the Dark event starts; go here for a list of secrets (or make up your own as you go, of course) or for any questions/concerns.]

[You never knew the water could be so still.

It’s been days and while the water has stopped rising, it hasn’t gone away, either. Most days, it’s eerie in its stillness, almost looking calm— but there’s no denying the strength of the riptides beneath, the way one wrong move and you could be dragged out into the sea. The water is so clear, it looks both fathomless and shallow, looking at the world down below and maybe able to recognize what the island is supposed to look like.

Still, the treehouses have been holding up, the trees strong and sturdy. Since the storm has cleared, the weather has been clear. But it’s almost too calm, isn’t it? It’s been like this before— where everything seems peaceful, just before something bad happens.



The water is still full of those colorful fish, and have likely been your main source of food now that the supplies are threatening to run low. But something seems different today— the fish are scarcer, as if they’re hiding, as if they’re running away.

Soon, the reason is clear. From the depths of the still water, the monsters are rising. Looking almost shark-like, these creatures want only one thing: blood. And the little fish aren’t big enough to satisfy them. They attack without mercy, seem to seek you out, almost. In fact, if you sit too close to the edge of your treehouse, you’re in danger. They weren’t design to withstand attack, after all. These creatures range in size, but are frenzied, desperate for food— and there’s nothing more dangerous than a desperate monster.

Even if you manage to avoid their attacks, be careful of their bite. Powerful and deadly, these bites seep out venom, invite infection and illness, can leave you fevered or hallucinating. Ah, if only there was some medicine to help… maybe you can wait it out? Or maybe you’ll brave the waters to find something to help your suffering friends?

Regardless of your choice, be careful out there… the water can be dangerous, after all.]

🌸

[It’s been over a week since the storm started and, somehow, it hasn’t stopped. It hasn’t abated. Perhaps it’s held steady, slow in its steady increase of power and destruction. That rippling of thunder throughout the day, the flash of lightning, the onslaught of rain— maybe it’s becoming background noise.

Or maybe you’re concerned. After all, there can only be so much rain before things become difficult to navigate. There’s that insistent dripping in the underground tunnels, growing steadily as the week progresses. The river and lake looks so full, the ocean so turbulent. The skies are an endless stretch of dark clouds.

Until one day, the storm gets even worse, so much worse than you thought it could possibly become. The ocean, the river, the lake, it all slowly starts to rise and overflow, flooding the surrounding areas more and more every second. The tunnels are filling up, flooding into the common rooms and quickly submerging them. The water rises and rises and rises— until even your home is getting flooded. Grab what you can, because once it starts, it happens quickly— everything on the islands are flooding, submerging beneath the water.



The water level will continue to rise until the buildings, forests, even a huge chunk of the mountain is submerged. The trees will seem to expand underwater, making makeshift bridges from tangled growth of branches, surprisingly sturdy. The regular places to go are gone, but the tops of the trees poking defiantly out of the water now have treehouses to stay in.

Food will be available in the varied amount of fish and other animals to be caught in the water. For those who frequent the river or beach, it'll be clear there's a much higher amount of them, of all sorts of colors and sizes. One thing that doesn't change is the rising danger the closer one gets to the area of the forests, and deeper waters may hold even more frightening enemies, even monsters. More rare fish and other creatures live around these areas, as well. Careful where you fish. For those that can get around, there are a few islands here and there. They’re a smattering around the island, barely enough room to stand and be comfortable on, but holding little magical parcels of basic supplies— blankets, drinkable water, some food. These are rare, and the message is clear: You'll need to survive. You'll need to help each other.

Once everything settles, the storm, finally, starts to die down. It’ll continue raining well through the afternoon, but eventually the clouds will roll away and the ocean will settle.

Well… hope you’re okay with swimming.]

🌸

[Flood event begins-- go here for any information or questions!]

[Things have been relatively quiet and peaceful lately, haven’t they? Parties, delicious food, kisses, opportunities to laugh together… It’s been a lovely summer so far, hasn’t it?

Well, you should know this world by now. Remember, it’s all about balance and things have been tipping towards good for a while now, so perhaps today is a means to tip those scales back towards the center.

Because today, your hands are covered in blood.

No matter how hard you try to scrub it away, it stays there, all the way down to your arms, maybe your entire body covered in it. As soon as it starts, too, there’s that strange, magical thread of thought in your mind, something whispering to you that this is because of everything you’ve done.

If you’ve ever killed someone, or feel yourself responsible for another’s death, you will find yourself covered in this blood. It’ll flow from time to time. Perhaps it’s something from your past, or perhaps it’s from somewhere in your future. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe it was intentional. Whatever the situation is, the evidence is clear for everyone to see— this is your fault.

Perhaps you’ll take solace in knowing this is for a greater good— restoring some sort of balance to Miracle Country. Perhaps you’re a lucky one who holds responsibility but whose hands remain clean. Maybe you’re suddenly witness to a loved one with bloody hands. Whatever the case might be, well— hopefully you aren’t afraid of a little blood.]

🌸

[It's been some time since the world's magic has played in this way. But some of the eldest residents will probably notice some of the signs.

It all feels normal at first, as normal as life in Miracle Country can get. But people will start to feel off in some ways. Like something's missing... or more precisely, like they're losing something. Important memories, and the feelings attached to them, they're slipping away, shed in the form of magical feathers that people will lose here and there throughout the day. The way to recover these? Someone else has to pick them up for you.



When they do, they'll be sucked into a dreamlike state, along with the owner of the memory. You'll dive into a dark, empty place, only to watch at a distance whichever memory was lost. Only when it's been shared, will this memory return to where it belongs - and of course, while happy memories can be shared, some of them can be painful to experience again as they're recovered.

Then again, it'd be painful to lose them forever, right? Even the hurtful things in your past make you who you are now. So you might even end up seeking for someone to take a feather for you, to give those important memories back. And if you leave them alone, if you ignore them, maybe someone you don't want taking them will do it instead... the feathers might find their way into the wrong hands - any hands, as long as they can get back to you. They don't want to be separated, afterall.]

🌸

[Today starts as a usual day, another sleepy almost-summer in Miracle Country. People are going about their business as usual. Enjoying a walk with a friend. Eating delicious food. Fulfilling some of the quests.

But then, perhaps, suddenly today feels different. Does it feel like your best friend is ignoring you? Or maybe you can't stand watching them talk to someone else? Are you suddenly convinced they're going to ditch you forever, and must clearly be showing this by deciding they won't stick by your side at all hours of the day, maybe even dared to act friendly to others?

Perhaps you're jealous other people are paying attention to them, rather than you. Or feel jealous about things others have, maybe driving you to more questionable methods of obtaining them for yourself. Perhaps you're feeling particularly possessive of your significant other, or upset thinking of all the times they obviously were flirting with that one person they usually interact with.

Maybe you're already usually a jealous person, and then you'll either notice nothing different, or become fully melodramatic and ridiculous at the smallest things. ... Or you're the poor bastard who isn't affected by any of this, and is tired of people making a scene. Well, before you start considering giving out sleeping pills or shaking your partner for a while out of sheer frustration, keep in mind that while the unjustified jealousy can easily come up for a couple of days ahead, it should wear off after a short while. It'll simply be a matter of putting up with it, and... maybe hope no one challenges anyone else to a duel, or take other extreme measures, until a few hours have passed.

After all, it’s such a beautiful day— it’d be a shame if it was ruined by someone’s sour mood!]

🌸

[After some bad luck and persistent rain, things have seemingly returned to normal. But after some days of peace, it's time for some new Miracle Country induced antics.

Although it might not seem that way at first. Surely, after being soaked to the bone a while ago, it's normal to start feeling under the weather? Many concerned parents' warnings regarding warm clothes and staying out of chilly rains might flash through your heads as you start coughing, getting headaches, feeling more and more weak. Though surely, in some cases it'll feel too extreme for a simple weather-induced cold. You might wonder if you had any food that'd already gone bad, if your lungs have decided to quit life, and if you're truly coming down with something more severe as you find yourself fainting here and there - symptoms will vary wildly from person to person, and stick around for at least a day, if not longer.



The Usyagi will be more cooperative this time, however. You'll be able to trade your konpeito with them for little care packages, with things like cough syrups, herbal tea bags, containers of nutritious soups, and other items to hopefully make your day slightly less miserable... Or at least help the few who will inevitably be stuck as temporary nurses, as there isn't much of a way to fight this off other than the traditional routes of resting, staying warm, and waiting. Even if you happen to be a supernatural being who's usually immune to this.]

🌸

[Spring has come to Miracle Country. After months where the only tree in bloom is the sakura at the center of the park, suddenly everything is in bloom all across the islands. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and life seems just a little bit happier.

All throughout today, sakura petals will be falling from the sky, gentle like snow. There might even be the occasional feathers falling, too. But where did those come from?

April 1st is a special day for Miracle Country. To celebrate that special day, the quests that usually hang from the sakura are more abundant than ever. Usyagi across the island today will approach you with particular quests and part-time jobs, as if to invite you to participate…



You might receive a quest that asks for the following:

Enjoy a drink! Lucifer’s Bar is open all day with samples of different sake and other drinks. Enjoy a sip, or two, or three. Getting drunk is an April 1st tradition!

Help out! Part-time jobs are traditional and surely someone needs help today with their job or tasks at hand!

Wear a kimono! There’s a booth set up in the bazaar with a wide array of kimono, yukata, and Chinese-style dress to try on. So many colors and patterns, it’d be a shame if these weren’t worn. There are also accessories to choose from, such as jewelry, shawls, and eye-patches.

Bake a cake! It’s a certain girl’s birthday today and it’s such a shame that she’s made to work today at the Cherry Blossom Café… Why not stop by and help her bake a cake to celebrate?

Learn to fight! Head to the fighting arena and you’ll see a wide array of swords. There’s a mini-course set up there with dummies that need to be fought with obstacles to avoid. If you complete the course, you might even get to keep the sword!

Sing! It’s alright if you aren’t confident in your ability to sing, but no matter where you are today, there might appear a karaoke machine. No cheating and singing just to yourself, you’ll have to find a friend!

Collect the flowers! With so much in bloom today, it’d be a shame not to make a beautiful bouquet to give to someone special, wouldn’t it?

Make a teddy bear! There’s a booth set up in the bazaar to make your own teddy bear. Teddy bears are, of course, a great tradition and a lovely gift to give to someone special. Maybe you’ll get lucky and someone will name your gift after you…

Take your time! The museum today has a beautiful display of all sorts of clocks. They start out normal at first, but the further into the display you go, the more complicated the clocks appear, the more connected they seem, and the more they seem to call to you, too— mistakes you’ve made, things you’d change, things you’d want to take back… Oh, maybe Miracle Country wants you to think about that too much?

The quests might not be required. But, knowing this place… perhaps it’s a better idea to go along with it. These will be available throughout the month, too, so perhaps you want to save it for later. For each quest completed, you’ll of course be awarded the konpeito.

It’s time to celebrate. What’s the worst that can happen?]

🌸

[On this White Day morning, Miracle Country residents will find that once again, something unusual is happening— nothing like the strange events that happened recently, but just as noticeable.

By the plaza where the Usyagi fountain is, you can now find a large structure: a sculpture perhaps, something resembling a monument, or a shrine perhaps. You might recognize the very large black Mokona standing to one side of this structure with handfuls and handfuls of black roses by its feet. Mokona seems uncharacteristically sad, though. There is an open space by the Mokona's side, as if something else was meant to be there. It's not tough to figure it out, should you remotely be familiar with these creatures. Mokona is missing the other Mokona! And how can they be reunited?



Well, that's where our residents come in. The Usyagi will gift everyone either a blue or red pendant to help with this task. How does it work? When blue and red pendants come together, they will guide you through the islands, creating a small beam of light to follow, shining brighter the closer they get to its goal: a smaller shrine to match the one at the plaza. The location of this new shrine changes— it might be in the mountains, by the underground tunnels, inside a cabin by the beach, in a barn by the farms, and so on. There is no Mokona here at this new shrine, but rather an inscription on a stone tablet.

"Show me love!", it reads, and once read, you'll encounter some sort of event. Perhaps music will play, so you can dance with the person you brought along. Maybe you'll feel a strong urge to compliment them, to express how much they mean to you. Or want to embrace them right there. Perhaps you'll just want to ramble about someone who's stuck back home. Once some "love" has been expressed, white roses will bloom by the smaller shrine, and matching ones will appear by the larger one back at the plaza!

Gather enough white roses, and a white Mokona statue will show up to be by the black one's side, both looking happy now, and by the roses in the smaller shrines, you'll be able to find luxurious chocolates and candy, teddy bears, and other romantic-themed presents for you to take home.

There's no punishment for leaving them alone or failing the task, but really, who can let a Mokona be sad? So team up and help them reunite!]]


🌸

[As the days pass, the chaotic atmosphere remains - the world seems unsure as to where it stands, plants dying and regrowing, rain falling out of place, snow covering the beach now and then, the trains lead to odd places, the lights go on and off... But slowly, surely, people's efforts are working.

Some bridges start to seem more stable - a good chance to cross to other areas and try to help there, especially those who work at locations outside the main island. Night and day start to happen at almost the right hours, although they might overextend or switch around too quickly. The sudden weather changes become less extreme.

And you, who hold skills you've never had, or have lost your own, maybe you're feeling more sure yourself. After days to become used to this change, you might have started to manage better. Even gained a new understanding of abilities you never would have otherwise, maybe a nw understanding of other people as well.

In a few more days, the chaos fades. The world returns to normal. Your jars will glow, a reward you didn't expect adding itself to them. A note appearing out of nowhere, once more.

Good job.]

🌸

[[Second power swap log! More info here]]

[Like so many things in this world, it happens quickly— just one moment you are yourself and the next, everything is different. You are someone with magic, and suddenly you are not— those powers you’ve always felt seem to have just disappeared in a flash, leaving only an emptiness behind. Or, you are someone who has never held any sort of power, and now suddenly that’s all you can feel— that strange, overwhelming flood of magic inside you, threatening to overwhelm you.

That isn’t the only thing, though. This sudden upset, this sudden lack of balance— the world is responding, thrown into disarray along with you. While you struggle to maintain the power you now hold, or the absence that spreads inside yourself, the world around you is destabilizing due to this switch in fortune. The konpeito doesn’t seem to be helping— your jars full of too much good, or too much bad, or not enough of either.

Things aren’t staying in one place: trees bloom only for the flowers to die immediately, fruit rotting on the vine. The snow on top of the mountain melts while the beach is hit with snow flurries. The lake seems to drain and the underground tunnels seem to flood, but without any direction from the tides. Night falls in the middle of the day and the stars are never in the right place. Is the moon upside down? Is the sun rising in the north? It’s hard to say— everything is too strange, too unsettling.

And the barriers in the forests, holding back all the monsters? Those are weakening, too, threatening to tear open and unleash unspeakable horrors onto your small collection of residents.

The world is flaking apart right before your eyes— so what are you going to do about it? Perhaps the Usyagi approaching you quietly and leaving you with one simple message will make it clear:

Work together & restore balance.


🌸


[[ooc: power-swap event begins! For information and the list of who received what powers, go here.]]

[Another year has gone by, and you're all still stuck in-- wait, no, you're all here to enjoy yourselves and celebrate, that's it. Miracle Country sure seems to be in a festive mood - while mistletoe has mostly disappeared, the winter days are more clear and make it easier to get around. The Usyagi are hard at work, creating ice sculptures here and there - you might spot a snowy Mokona by the Welcome Center, or various youkai-like creations by the forest's entrance, and so on.

By the afternoon, their efforts concentrate by the pavillion at the park, where a typical party setting is being put up. Food, drinks, lanterns hanging around to create a welcoming environment. More ice sculptures decorating, and once you find yourselves there by night (by your own accord, or because you found yourselves there via magic), you'll see you've been given beautiful outfits for the evening, and everything seems to be going well. There's even a piano nearby, for certain snobs who think their own music is the best. So what's the catch, one might be wondering?



Well, there aren't only ice sculptures. All around, in corners and in less decorated spots, there are what might look like slabs of ice at first, but really are large shards of crystal. When you get close to them, they'll show glimpses of memories and thoughts - nothing too elaborate, not this time. It's just little flashes, of things that might've made you upset recently, of things that make you nostalgic, that might've been weighing on your mind. Should you touch these crystals, they'll shatter into snowflakes... a good way to symbolically get rid of those unresolved issues, hopefully. It's the New Year's Eve, afterall. It's a time to renew yourselves and start over.

And if that's not enough, well, there's always the party. Enjoy the drinks, the food, the company, the fireworks at midnight. And happy New Year!]

[[Obviously backdated to the appropriate date.]]

🌸