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?

🌸

[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.]

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

[If anyone happened to be worried about what was going to happen with all that giant food as the days went by, there’s nothing to be worried about. Slowly, all that food explodes into flower petals, covering the entire place. So if anyone happened to grab some to take home, they’ll be in for a surprise when they go to get a snack.

They’ll be very hard to avoid, as they are practically everywhere. So it’s not a bad time to either enjoy some time outside with the brightly colored view, or start cleaning it up. At least it’s a lot better than having to clean oversized food gone bad.



Aside from the flowery explosion, one of the booths that force people to sit there until they do what’s asked for them has showed up. Except this time, the person in it is there willingly to complete a task.

It’s a fortune telling booth, with the sign reassuring that they are 100% true and reliable. Cisco is sitting there, waiting for people to come in so he can do this and get his gauntlets back. So feel free to go learn what your future will hold!]

((so basically this is a spoiler event! Cisco has the ability to vibe people, which allows him to see a moment of their past, present or future. So feel free to either have your character go talk to him or handwave the spoilering ifyou want- or just roll around on the flowers))

[If you thought today was going to be a normal day after the last few days of fun, then clearly you don’t know this place at all, do you?

Which is to say, when you set out to walk around today, you’ll be bombarded with massive amounts of giant, giant food. There’s a pudding over there towering over your dome house. And over there, your usual pathway in the park is blocked by a stack of giant macaroons nearly as tall as the trees around. Heading to the beach? Well, you’ll need to find your way around the giant bowl of ice cream currently melting in the sun.

And it’s not just the giant food, either. There’re all sorts of regular food all around— marshmallow fluff, yogurt parfaits, popsicles, donuts.



Look out, though, because the Usyagi seem to be in the spirit and seem to want you to enjoy yourself— if you look away for too long, you might find yourself getting hit by that food. At least it’s sweet? Maybe you want to waste food with your friends, one way or another.

Do you want ants? Because this is how you get ants. But in the meantime, what better way to start summer than with a cream-filled cookie taller than you?]

🌸

[Has worked piled up recently? Are you someone with a busy schedule? Well, forget about that, because Miracle Country evidently doesn't care for the workaholic. Today it's the beginning of summer, which means it's time for a beach day!

You'll find yourselves at the aforementioned beach, should you not head over yourselves (why waste the chance, afterall?), with an appropriate outfit for the occasion... Or inappropriate, depending on your standards. The drinks stand is open and ready to take your money any orders, with its lounging area asking to be used during this sunny, clear day. There are inflatable toys to be found near the shore, should you feel like indulging in the water for a while.

More importantly, around the middle of the beach, there's a very large sand sculpture of an Usyagi, towering over a designated area where you can find buckets, shovels, and other things to build your own sandcastles! As the non-sand Usyagi will remind those who didn't check up on quests, anyone can join in and build their own. If you complete the task, you'll get a reward - and there'll be an extra prize if you manage to make a castle that's bigger and fancier than everybody else's.

Lucky for any grumps out there, this time nothing is forcing them to stay, or keep whatever clothes they end up with - unless you count the chances of earning bad konpeito for being a killjoy, that is. What? That absolutely counts as having a choice, doesn't it?]

[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!]

🌸

[Certainly it’s been a few weeks of bad luck, hasn’t it? First, all that rain, then all that sickness… wow, you must need a break, right?

Luckily for you, it seems Miracle Country wants to make amends for the harsh month. Really, the usyagi just want you to relax!

There’s a new path in the forest today. If you follow it, you’ll find yourself coming upon some natural hot springs— deep, calming pools spread out throughout the forest, tucked between pockets of trees and bamboo, some wildflowers and floating cherry blossoms. With little wisps of steam rising up over the tree line, comfortable rocks to lounge on, and more than enough space for everyone, it’s an open invitation for some relaxation. Overall, it looks inviting and soothing, and don’t you just want to relax, if only for a moment?

The Usyagi are looking out for you, too, as you’ll find some towels and robes, and some naturally growing bamboo for privacy when changing, or if you just want to be alone.

So lean back, relax, and let your thoughts drift in the calming, mineral-rich water. Let the tension soak out of your shoulders. Prop your feet up. Just forget for a moment.]

[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.]

🌸

[It’s been a beautiful few weeks in Miracle Country— sun shining, birds singing, flowers in bloom. But today is a little different. Perhaps you felt it in the air, that shifting change in balance, from good luck to bad luck. A few clouds roll in. A few drops hit the top of your head. There’s the slightest chill—

It’s Friday the 13th and it’s raining. It’s that type of rain that gets everywhere no matter how covered up you are, thick sheets of rain that actually obscures sight. There’s the murmuring sound of thunder in the distance, the occasional flash of lightning. But no, today is a rainy day— and hopefully you weren’t caught outside when it started.

It’s understandable. There’s been enough build up of bad luck that the rain was bound to happen, and of course it was bound to happen today. That’s just your luck, isn’t it?]

🌸

[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?]

🌸

[As people's powers and the world state recover, there's one last thing that lingers - shooting stars, persistent during the day and night for the last couple of days, the final remains of instability until it all clicks into place.

But during the last night, once everybody's recovered (and it's no longer likely to wander outside and have the bridge behind you collapse, ending up stuck in quicksand, under falling chandeliers, or surrounded by walking fish) the shooting stars still fall, creating a beautiful scenario for everybody to enjoy despite the cold outside.



Perhaps some people have been enjoying the renewed normalcy a little too much, however - it'd be difficult to miss out on the grand sale the bakery's been having, with even more over-the-top elaborate and complicated goods to offer to everybody around than usual. And while Miracle Country is happy to offer accomodations for special occasions, the way the park and its surroundings find themselves covered in star-themed decorations and hosting small, private tents with plenty of cushions, blankets, and samples from the bakery for people to enjoy in company seem a little too much of a coincidence...

Well, at least nothing is randomly sprouting feet, nor collapsing in itself. It's already a good thing, isn't it?]

🌸

[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.]]

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