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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.
no subject
[Leo can also gleam some information from Oz's reaction to seeing him, but he wants to make sure. So he pushes harder for a concrete answer.]
A few days ago. Bizarre twist, isn't it? [He tucks some hair behind his ear, trying to test if Oz has a reaction to Leo without his eyes hidden.]
no subject
[He blinks, tilting his head slightly as Leo tucks some hair back but doesn't really seem to react too much otherwise. Then again, even that may or may not say much given it is Oz and he tends to take most everything in stride. Or at least outwardly, for the most part. He is mostly relieved to see a familiar face. That Leo seems to be alright?]
I was just exploring more, when I overheard them and you found me.
no subject
[Leo tries to wave cheerily to a local, but the stranger hurries away with any return of the gesture.]
It's been like that everywhere I go. Quite unusual... At least we have each other, hm?
no subject
[Oz gives a shrug, blinking as he watches with a raised eyebrow as the stranger hurries off, ignoring Leo's wave. He is still figuring all this out, this place. What to make of it. What he missed here before his arrival. He glances back to Leo though, giving a grin and raising an arm across the other's shoulders.]
Yup! Together again!
no subject
[He laughs, clearly joking at both of their expense. Leo was a servant and Oz was a master, but that doesn't mean Leo is about to take orders.]
So long as they're not helping us, we'll have to help ourselves. Have you found a home yet?
no subject
[Oz chuckles, giving Leo a knowing look. There were some things others not from their home would get. Those sorts of jokes were one of them. None of the locals or other Fallen Stars would get it. An inside joke. Teasing. He had missed it. It is nice to see Leo again. Even if Oz will always ache in missing Gil and Alice. For all that he is aware at least, neither the two of them were around here.]
Something like that, I guess. But -- not yet. Why?
no subject
[And while he won't take care of Oz like a servant, Leo isn't going to leave him out on the road either.]
no subject
[For all that Oz was a brat and was often running around outside causing chaos and headaches for the staff, and Gil, he did have some more tame hobbies. Reading being one of them. In that being one thing he was mortified and excited about at the same time after returning from the Abyss ten years later.]
Have you had a good look yet, Leo?
no subject
[Which he has definitely been doing.]
No luck in that department, unfortunately.
no subject
[It might not necessarily be the first hobby people think of for Oz, but still. He does enjoy reading. He gives a shrug, offering a sympathetic glance to Leo at the other saying he hasn't had any luck with the whole 'looking for a way back home'. He figured as much, else Leo wouldn't still be here, after all.]
Maybe with the two of us, we can figure it!
no subject
[They did only recently save their world's story. Though, give Leo another day and he will not be so eager to leave this world. He'll have found Elliot and started backtracking on his grieving.]
If you'd be so kind as to follow me, then. I can take you right over to the library.
no subject
[As if there was any doubt he would follow Leo. He's just distracted, glancing around as he follows, curious and still adjusting, still getting to know this place as he walks along with the other. He follows along with Leo, keeping an eye on where the other goes and sticking close, but walking a little slower as he ensures he knows the way to the library. Noting landmarks, particular other buildings or streets or the like. Or at least trying to.]
no subject
[Leo breaks the silence with what could be categorized as small talk. But it's not needless chatter: It's intel gathering. Leo recalls from Oz's friendship with Elliot that the boy is prone to being secretive about his emotions. Where Elliot would punch the truth out of someone, Leo is taking a more subtle approach.]
It's a lot to take in, isn't it? I've never seen architecture such as this, even in books.
no subject
[Oz isn't too phased. Mostly because it's Oz and he just tries to roll with things. To not get freaked out or upset. It was how and why he seemed so nonplussed with ending up at the Abyss. And then here and all. He gives a shrug, not seeming too weirded out by it. At least outwardly as he follows the other.]
It's not home and not the Abyss. I know that much. It's...I dunno. Not sure what I was expecting.
no subject
[There's a carefree skip to Leo's stride, but that does not reach his voice. Leo might speak cheerily, but his tone carries a certain level of darkness. Especially as he muses;]
I'll cut to the chase. Oz-kun? Do you remember what we are?
[Just where along the timeline are you, Oz?]
no subject
[But he does pause then, glancing to Leo as the other asks that. What they were. Did that imply Leo remembered? He assumes so. He's not sure on saying too much, potentially. Not wanting to potentially upset him by potentially saying too much about things back home and how it all ended up. He swallows, but does give a nod.]
no subject
So you know why this is strange, hm? You should be waiting to reincarnate with your friends... and I should be home, looking about the Core of the Abyss! And!
[And something twists at Leo's smile. He's still mourning, even after learning this much:]
Elliot is here, you know.
no subject
[Well. Oz isn't really exactly sure on what he expected exactly. But it wasn't this? Still. It's better. To try be like Leo and see the positives. That at least he isn't alone here. There's a familiar face at least. That's something. Even if he tries not to think too much on the weird history exactly, between the two and the whole reincarnation thing.]
Eh? Elliot is?
[Well. Oz isn't sure on where to even begin with that. Mostly depending on what Elliot might last remember and how much might have happened since then for Oz and Leo in comparison. He's pretty sure Elliot would not take the whole situation with Oz that well at least. He blinks, and does sort of fidget with his hands a little as he follows Leo along.]