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【MAY plot arrivals】
May Mingle
Welcome to Starsand
According to the locals, you are not the first stranger from another world to be dragged to this one. This is a world that, up until five years ago, did not know magic. Fantasy did not expand beyond its designated shelves of the library; There were no gods or spirits, only science and reason.
But five years ago, the secret was blown. Magical 'spirits' exist in this world. You may have seen them as flickers of light; Souls without a body. They were once invisible and powerless, existing silently alongside the rest of the living. But with enough faith from the living, spirits can manifest. They can even have the magic powers that others believe them to have.
Nowadays, spirits and magic are impossible to ignore. Magic has transformed the architecture, average people are learning spirit magic, and technology is being upgraded with this new power. Electricity is going out of favor; Spirits now power homes in exchange for shrine offerings and prayers. Though traces of the old era still exist, they are slowly being replaced by magic. Every city is changing at a different pace depending on how the citizens reacted to the news of spirits.
But you're not here for a lore drop, are you? You just got here.
New arrivals have become commonplace in the City of Star Sand. In fact, the city is named for this phenomena; People from other worlds ("stars") appear so frequently that it's like a beach of sand. Even those who normally travel between worlds have found it impossible to leave the pull of the Star Sand once they get here. Some people have even come from other time periods. (the date here is 2025.) No other city is reporting this unique problem for some reason.
Roleplay-wise; This is a semi-private sandbox for a modern-fantasy blended setting. Characters can either be whisked away from their homes or wake up as AUed residents. While there will be a lot of background lore and a mystery to dig your teeth into, it's all optional. First and foremost, the sandbox is meant to be played in. The City of Star Sand is a very flexible place to stretch your imagination. Some parts of the city may just seem like normal Tokyo, while others might feel like a DnD campaign. The world will gradually expand as the sandbox takes off as well, so you'll be able to submit your own cities with unique cultures.
It is possible to handwave arrival and assume your character has been in the setting for months.
Anyone can top-level in a mingle post. You do not need to be playing a new character.
You do not need to feel restricted to the listed prompts.
Player characters may use this prompt to interact with each other.
This prompt will invite an NPC interaction.
Most May arrivals are dropped into Starsand at the same time.
The handprints can be anywhere that a person might feasibly grab your character.
The unfriendliness of the locals should not be malicious.
Kami & Spirits will continue to treat Fallen Stars kindly.
New Arrivals can also investigate the shrine.
The voices characters hear can be from any point in their canon, past or present.
Native characters will not enter the shrine.
The black goo is repelled by Fallen Stars, as if by a magnetic force.
Festival food can come from any culture.
Food is free and leftovers can be taken home in containers.
The cherry blossoms renew at midnight. Petals will fall backwards and back onto the trees.
Blossoms can be viewed on all levels. There are many picnic areas throughout the city.
Missing people can be brought back and disappear again.
Illusions can speak, but they disappear before they can be interacted with.
Goo puddles do not disappear until the missing person is brought back.
The black goo is repelled by Fallen Stars, as if by a magnetic force.
! Out of Character Notes
(A) Arrival: The Firm Grip of Space
Typical arrivals to the City of Starsand have always been peaceful. Remarkably so. Characters would blink their eyes and find themselves transported into this new world without any pain or drama (Well, aside from the drama of being in another world.)
But it’s different this time. Characters blink and leave their old world, yes, but there’s a less peaceful transition this time. They can feel themselves being forcibly pulled. Like someone grabbed their arm and yanked them across an invisible border. They are moved without balance, sometimes even aware of a finger grip-like sensation on their arms or legs.
And they do not arrive in the city. They wake up in a space that is strangely empty. The only light comes from their own bodies and the ripples left with every step. If they look at these ripples, they can see scenes of their lives reflected in the not-quite-water; Choices they’ve made, choices they missed, even events that have yet to happen.
Characters may see others in the distance and be able to reach each other. These meetings will be brief. A humming sound grows louder and the lights coming from their bodies gradually becomes brighter. Eventually, the hum is too loud for them to hear each other and the light is too bright to see passed. They’ll ‘white out’ and awaken in the Starsand City.
! Out of Character Notes
(B) Arrival Part 2
Welcome to the City of Starsand! Which is still blessed by now out-of-season cherry blossoms, filling the city with a sweet scent. Characters may find their eyes and ears aching from the experience of that other space. Some might even forget the experience all together, or find their memory temporarily blurred.
Regardless, they are here now. And they don’t look like the usual arrivals to the Starsand City. Typically, the civilians regard new arrivals politely and act like it’s a normal occurrence. But this time, there is something different. It’s something that the arriving character themselves may also notice: They have red marks on their skin. It’s always an exposed part of their body, like their arm, wrist, an exposed ankle, or even around their necks. Fingermarks, pressed so tightly (and supernaturally) into their skin that they’re visible for hours.
The townspeople are distant this time. It isn’t the usual friendly greeting of past months. They whisper cautiously: Isn’t it strange? Did a Kami do that? Why would a Kami do that?
Fortunately, spirits will flock to the new arrivals this month. Brave and kind civilians will push passed the rumor to offer aid. Free food, housing, clothing, etc. will still be supplied. But it will not be as easy-going and friendly as before. There are also a lot of new arrivals at once, as opposed to a sprinkling at a time.
! Out of Character Notes
(C) Old Arrivals: A Shattered Shrine
At the same time that this month’s new arrivals were dumped enmass, something dramatic happened on the top level. The TimeSpace Shrine, which had locked doors and closed windows, has changed. All of the windows that lined the spiraling staircase have been shattered and have a dark, sparkling liquid leaking from the cracks. The liquid is gathering at the foot of the shrine and everyone seems rightfully afraid of it.
”What is this? Did someone vandalize the shrine?”
”Is the Kami inside there alright?”
”There are so many new Fallen Stars! Are they connected?”
People murmur from a safe distance.
When approaching the shrine, one can hear a strange humming noise. Like static from a radio with a distant melody lost in the noise. As you climb the stairs, the sound gets louder and louder until it’s unbearable. You can hear voices and sounds from the world you once knew, but they’re drowned out by the static.
If you manage to reach the top and touch the door, you may find yourself in the same space as new arrivals. Use this to interact with new arrivals from Prompt A! You can also put !NPC REQUEST in a thread title for an NPC interaction.
! Out of Character Notes
(D) No Plot: Cherry Blossom Viewing
It is a few days after the Shrine of SpaceTime broke. Reception to the new arrivals has grown warmer as the marks on their skin faded away. In order to ease tensions, the Kami of Love has renewed the cherry blossom trees and called for a final good-bye party for the season. Grassy parks are lined with picnic blankets, food vendors are opening all kind of stalls, and cherry blossom themed trinkets are being sold for faith.
It’s an easygoing sort of prompt. Fallen Stars, as out-of-worlders are called, are welcome to join in the festivities. People are encouraged to take a spot on an empty blanket and view the blossoms. The blossoms are renewed with faith every day, so the trees do not go bear for long. But because the blossoms are faith-based magic, they also don’t linger on the ground. Try to take petals home and they’re disappear overnight. Perhaps it’s a small price to pay for reviving the sight over and over again. The blossoms are getting no rest this month.
! Out of Character Notes
(E) Rumor: The Fallen Stars
Unfortunately, despite the Kami and their attempts to maintain peace, Rumors still exist. These stories carry the power of faith, which can turn a lie into truth if spoken enough. They’re unfortunately common in the City of Starsand, though admitting to their power will only make it stronger. Very few average civilians realize that Rumors exist, and those that do know better than to explain this dangerous magic to just anyone.
Since the Shrine of SpaceTime shattered, there has been a common rumor about Fallen Stars. It’s one whispered between the native civilians, which they try not to let Fallen Stars hear:
”Perhaps the reason that they’ve come here is to replace us? So many of the Fallen Stars have magical powers unrelated to spirits and Kami. Are they going to replace us? Is the SpaceTime Kami trying to make a stronger and more magical world?”
This Rumor has an unfortunate power. It is replacing civilians with illusions of Fallen Stars. You may see someone you know suddenly running the general store in the place of the old lady who once gave you free snacks. Once you get closer, both the person you saw and the person who should be there are gone. In the civilian’s place is a pile of the dark, glittery substance that was leaking from the SpaceTime Shrine.
The missing people can be brought back. If Fallen Stars visit the broken shrine, they can pray for the return of missing civilians. Missing civilians are typically the ones who bravely reached out to help at the beginning of the month.
! Out of Character Notes
Notes for May
The arrivals in May are different from normal. Arrival process is expected to return to normal in June!
There will be a second part to the Rumor event later in the month.
There is a possible third event that can be triggered by exploration this month.
The NPC contact is open to anyone who wishes to interrogate/meet a specific NPC.
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[She answers seriously with a bit of a heavy sigh.]
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Words can be deceiving though. I'm not totally telling the truth-- er, lying! It's not entirely my shrine right now... But I'll still apologize on its behalf, if that makes you feel better?
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Just be straight forward next time, geez... if it isn't your fault, you shouldn't need to apologize for it.
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[Call him crazy, but Yuuto is getting the vibe that Inaba is smart and perceptive. The worst kind of person for an idiot like him to run into. He looks visibly troubled as he imagines what might happen if Inaba starts telling other people that she met the SpaceTime Kami. The shrine is hated more than most, because its Kami hasn't sent the Fallen Stars home yet. It's also blamed for their arrival.
She must be new here, he thinks, or she'd have had a bigger reaction.]
I know I said that, [Which he won't repeat, for fear of being overheard;] but please don't tell anyone about it. It would be a lot of trouble and people might treat you like you're crazy.
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[Besides, it's better to keep a secret and hold onto it like bait on a hook than to just simply tell everyone. Especially when saying anything could become troublesome.]
And I certainly wouldn't want to be considered crazy at all. I'm just -
[...it's only for a second, but it's long enough to notice the visible pause]
Someone who wants to learn answers. And I suppose investigating is a part of that.
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Oh, in that case! You should seek out the Shrine of Curiosity. It's actually a library and the attendants there are really helpful.
[He may not want to blab anymore secrets, but Yuuto does want to be helpful. So he searches his brain for something safe and useful to tell her.]
This city has changed a lot since spirits were acknowledged, but if you need a break from the 'magic' then you should go the bottom level. It still looks like it did five years ago.
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That definitely would come as useful.]
I'll definitely have to keep that in mind.
[And honestly, Inaba always needs a break from magic, as someone so...
...well, she can't call herself 'normal' anymore. Especially not with what she is.]
Thank you very much -- ah. I didn't get your proper name.
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So it brings this boy great pain to have to censor his surname.]
Yuuto. Sorry, I should've started with that. What should I call you, miss?
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[She says rather blandly. And while Yuuto may be censoring his surname, Inaba...]
Just call me Inaba.
[...does the exact opposite, and censors her given name.]
With or without an honorific is fine.
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[He seems to be taking some odd joy in that.
Yuuto turns to look where the spirits had once been, looking relieved when he sees that they had gotten bored and left.]
It looks like you'll be safe now. Not that the spirits could hurt you, but they were being a bit rude. I hope that you can forgive them, Inaba-san.
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[But there is one thing that pops to mind...]
They can't hurt me? Is that a 'the spirits can't hurt anything at all' kinda thing or 'the spirits wouldn't hurt people unless X happens'?
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[His embarrassment can't last long, since her question has his mind changing gears.]
Spirits like the ones that you saw are just that: visible. They don't have much power for anything beyond being seen. It's the ones that have little shrines or names that you need to look out for.
A~and they probably wouldn't hurt you, I'm sure. Just... be vaguely annoying.
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[She follows up with another question, curious now. As someone who likes to soak up information, and as someone in a new world, she needs answers.]
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[Now that they're talking about something 'safe,' Yuuto begins to sound a lot more confident. For better and for worse, Inaba has found someone who likes to share knowledge. Someone who also seems to be an expert on the topic.]
In this world, 'spirits' are souls born without a body. But some things cannot be seen unless someone is looking for them. For example~ Inaba? [He's dropping the honorific after her correction;] In your home world, did people ever claim to see ghosts in creepy locations?
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[So belief is a big thing in this world, huh. Well, that figures, given that the world seems to revolve around kami.
She'll have to look up on the religion in this world, then...]
Not back home-- [How much is she allowed to say? Well, as long as she doesn't out him, she supposes she can at least talk about him vaguely.] But I knew someone who could see that sort of thing. The spirits of the dead and crap.
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In this world, those wouldn't be the spirits of the dead. They would be the spirits of the unborn. They can fill the roles of stories if the living believe enough. So if enough people believe a house is haunted, a spirit can exist as the 'ghost' that they expect to see.
[Yuuto catches himself going overboard with information, so dials back to the original question:] ... The answer to your question being, the spirits that can hurt you are the ones who you give the power to hurt you.
[Or the ones that other give the power to cause harm.
But Yuuto is being mindful not to spread that idea around casually. Sensing that Inaba is smart enough to draw lines if he lays down the dots, he instead speaks vaguely:]
That's why I don't believe they'll hurt you.
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[...]
Do spirits of the undead exist here, though?
["Can people die" is what she's asking, although she's very much aware that her own soul is... uh... weird.]
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Ah.]
... Inaba, please don't die in strange worlds.
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[She says it so dryly that it's hard to believe if she's joking or not???]
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[At least his concern is plain and serious. Some of the petals at his feet even lift into the air as he jumps with surprise, an effect of his untrained power.]
Are you a ghost? I don't think you'd be the first one to come from another world, but we don't have dead-ghosts here. I wouldn't know how to begin helping a ghost. What do you eat?
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[Quickly says that without hesitation.]
If I were, I probably wouldn't be able to touch anyone.
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[He's not letting that go easily.]
Did you eat something poisonous?
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[She just says it so flippantly.]
I have no plans on dying again, though. Dying sucks.
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[Her lack of concern for the topic is leaving him to feel like he's overreacting. Yuuto tries to correct his reaction and fit her example of 'normal,' but it's a struggle.]
You won't find any ghosts of the dead here, no. But if you get seriously hurt, my- [no,] There's a Kami who will heal you. The Kami in the library.
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