TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 9

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ SUMMARY: New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. There is a small earthquake during this (shaking, some things may fall off of shelves, but no structural damage) that upsets the normal arrival creatures, limiting cliff-falling rescues and sliming the water. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there. A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that. In the middle of the new arrivals, there is a small earthquake that shakes the island and makes the waters choppy. The jellyfish are startled and release a glow-in-the-dark slime that may dye your characters' hair and skin until they can get a proper bath. The Lady of the Lake seems disquieted by the earthquake, but there isn't much to be done about it where they are now besides make sure that everyone is outside of the water as quickly as possible. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, as the earthquake has scared the cliff beast into hiding, meaning for July's arrivals, there is no safety net. They may need some serious help if a fall occurs! *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones, sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses, and a pair of ear buds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. SUMMARY: Camelot throws a carnival to combat the warming up weather featuring "cool" foods and contests, Queen Elphame sent gifts of aquatic mounts to practice in gratitude for the offering and peacemaking with Celliwig, and the clean-up for the carnival goes haywire as cleaning implements magically seek to clean everything. Thankfully, not every minute of Avalon is adventure and trials and rituals. There are moments of respite, and moments to have fun. This July, for example, locals have decided to invite everyone to what they're calling the "Cool Down Carnival"! A ⦿ Cool Carnival, Bruh Vendors of all kinds have taken to selling cooling goods throughout the carnival grounds. Shaved ice, frozen yogurt, gelato, ice cream, iced tea and boba drinks are everywhere, and each and every vendor is vying for the attention of customers. Whether it's coupons for free snacks if they fill out a punch card for all three days of the carnival, or trying out their new, more magical recipes of frozen slush that make you temporarily behave like a penguin and try belly-sliding down a slip-n-slide that's been set up to occupy the unfortunate victims of that slush (It wears off, don't worry.) Perhaps most notably is the Margaritaville Pair Challenge. If you and an acquaintance can down a giant schooner of frozen margarita in less than a minute together, you'll both get a free happy hour item once a day for the next month from the restaurant and they'll do you a solid and teach you (Recipe) Hangover Moveover, a recipe that instantly cures hangovers. The brain freeze caused by downing that much frozen drink is yours to deal with, unfortunately... B ⦿ Surf New Turf In the evening, the fae folk of the carnival crew lead the way to uproot the party off toward the docks near Camelot. The Elphame Traders came back this past month with good tidings from Queen Elphame, who was impressed both with the gift of a ship and the winning over of Celliwig's people. To this end, a second ship was sent with the Elphame Traders to provide a means of transportation to the faery Kingdom of Elphame without passing through the Forest of the Felled: aquatic mounts. However, they aren't exactly easy for anyone who isn't an animal mage and will require practice before anyone can set out. You'll need at least one person to steer and one person to act as a combatant, as the lake north of the arrival point is more than a little treacherous but that will be a journey for another day. (Maybe the 20th? Stuff seems to coincidentally always happen around then, huh... Weird.) For now, the fae who stayed behind from the Elphame Traders this month are sticking around to help you find a partner and an aquatic mount that gets along with the two of you. Most of the creatures who have agreed to be mounts are hanging out alongside he beach near the old docks, so you can go around and check out the different kinds of available mounts: Alpacapies: Cousin to the much more violent water horse fae the Kelpies, Alpacapies have been mistaken for baby loch ness monsters on more than one occasion given their penchant for sitting with just their hump and long neck above the waterline. They can be ridden in the water and tend to bond with people who are polite to them upon greeting. They will assist in combat by spitting water at their enemies or kicking with front legs, but they may shake you off if they need to deep dive to gain speed for an attack. They do not have back legs, only a dolphin-like fin. For some reason, they're really impossible to take photographs of. Mossatees: You're familiar with the mossatee already. A special breed of manatee that grows flowers and moss on its back like a miniature garden. They blossom in the spring, and their backs can be very comfortable. They're a little clumsy and tend to run into things, both accidentally and on purpose, so it may be a bit of a derpy ride if you and your partner choose a mossatee. They also just had a lot of children, so part of riding with them will mean protecting their young on the journey. They're not good in combat and will prioritize defense. Deinosuchus: A Cretaceous crocodile that gets up to about 10 meters long. It's huge and carnivorous and very well could eat you if you piss it off. It is fast, but has to take a lot of breaks. It will also terrorize in a fight. The fae recommend bringing it a goat or some other similarly sized meal to get it on your side if you want to go for this one. This pack is the only one left, transported by fairies to Avalon long, long ago, so you'd better not let them down. Once you've found a mount that seems right, try to practice balancing on its back. They don't much like saddles so that may be a challenge, but if you hold onto your partner it might be easier! Once you're settled, try racing against another pair or going through a Survivor-esque obstacle course with your mounts. C ⦿ Clean Up Chaos As people head out for the second day of practice with their mounts or recover from a crazy carnival experience, things around town... seem a little off. It seems like someone tried some experimental magic after competing in the Margaritaville challenge feeling particularly benevolent. All around Camelot, cleaning utensils have taken on a life of their own. Brooms are sweeping customers right out of restaurants, sponges are scrubbing up dishes and chasing down patrons for the most public sponge baths of their life, and the local woodland creatures are assisting in picking up and taking away anything that touches the floor that ought not to be there. Some are even hopping up on residents to do their hair! Whatever the source is, the only solution is to either destroy or scare the cleaning supplies off to the woods before they take over the whole town! A little magic should help, so why not test out the magic you've been working on since arriving in Avalon? SUMMARY: The earthquake busted some of the Land of Rot wards and zombies are attacking Camelot's farmland. Save the farm, restore the wards, fight a giant worm, and then find a mysterious marsh before getting transported back home just as mysteriously. The earthquake on arrival day was a little frightening, but ultimately didn't seem to cause too much trouble around New Camelot. That is, until a few days later when the farmlands seem to be under attack.. by the undead!? It seems like the wards surrounding the Lands of Rot were disrupted by the earthquake near Camelot's northeast farmland. ' A ⦿ The Farming Dead Step one is to fight the hoard of zombies spilling out into the farm and stop them before they contaminate Camelot's food source. Use whatever means you can to dispense of the undead, keeping the following in mind: death mages are going to be the most effective combatants against the undead, but anyone can follow the basic rules of zombies to clear a path. Loud noises attract their attention, they shamble during the day and can move more quickly during the night, they don't feel pain so if you hurt the they won't be deterred-- you have to kill them, and always double-tap if you aren't sure. Just be careful not to set them on fire. Flaming zombies can spread fires to buildings and other surroundings and are just generally worse than regular zombies! Once the zombies are cleared out, farmworkers will bring out gifts of fresh lemonade and some extra mixed herb seeds they gathered throughout the year. They're still good, please take them as a thanks for helping save the farm! B ⦿ Of Wards and Worms After searching the perimeter of the Land of Rot, sources have found that the wards were damaged on the west side, so the zombies haven't fully penetrated any areas but the farm. Pair up with another person to draw the attention of the zombies away from wards while the other person resets the wards. While doing this, you'll find the earth is rumbling again-- a little heavier this time since you're much closer than back in the Bay of Avalon. Rather suddenly, a huge sinkhole opens up in the desert landscape of the Land of Rot nearby... and out leaps a thousand-toothed worm, flying through the air and diving back toward the ground teeth-first... with your character right in its target location! Maybe you're lucky and get out of the way only to get knocked down by another huge tremor, or maybe you've just been swallowed whole by a giant worm and really, really need to find a way out for you and your partner! Maybe you'll find something interesting while you think... Is that a broken boat in here? Hopefully you find your way out (or.. if you don't, you find someone to resurrect you, but that would really suck if you just arrived!) C ⦿ Wake Me Up Before You're Go-Gone First zombies, then a giant worm... today's been exhausting! And now you're.. somewhere in the middle of the Land of Rot and you seem to have run into some kind of marsh that you don't remember passing on your way in. The water itself is murky and the only creatures around seem to be bugs, bats, snakes, and frogs. Everything seems sickly, rotting, and is pretty awfully stinky. But none of it is quite as terrifying as when you and whoever you wandered into the Land with stumble upon what appears to be some kind of old hag. What happens next? Who knows. She screams and both you and whoever you're with pass out and wake up snuggling in an inn room. You were definitely in that marsh though, because your pants are still sopping from trudging through it... Well, enjoy the panic, maybe interrogate your neighbors, and try to find out where in the Land of Rot you were! It sure doesn't seem to be on the map... What a mystery! MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. •If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

2a

[beewulf]

[Congrats Minako. You just grabbed onto a huge mountain of muscle, scars and wicked tats of a scary looking guy. At least he certainly looks like he could drink most of anyone here under the table with ease? Said scary looking guy is now looking down at her with a slight frown.]

I don't remember agreeing to that.

[reloves]

[ It says something about her sheer guts that she doesn't even seem fazed in the view of who exactly her victim game partner is. Sure, this guy looks like he could pick her right up and fling her straight into the sun, but does that care Minako? Apparently not at all, since she just smiles widely in the face of all this. Not a single muscle in her face twitches.

There's apparently some balls of steel going on here. ]

Ah, really? [ She sounds so surprised. What do you mean, dude! You didn't agree? That's news to her! ] But you look exactly like the kind of guy who would love to win free happy hour items!

[beewulf]

[Big, hunking balls of steel. Don't worry though Minako, he's still got you! Even if that smile of his looks more vicious than it actually is! Also excuse him as he slips his huge, hulking arm out of her grasp. Thank you.]

Switch the items with actual drinks and you'd be right. [Still he looks her up and down for a moment. Or more like down and slightly less down.]

Can you even hold your liquor?

[Well girl, can you???]

[reloves]

[ Wait, no, hold on! Where is that delicious hunky muscle arm going--

It clearly is a cruel, cruel world out there for Minako today. A cruel world, in which she's not even allowed to cling onto hot-looking guys' arms.

It threatens to make her pout for a moment, but then there's that question being levelled at her, which makes her let out a dramatic sigh, followed by a slight 'duh'. ]

Do you even know who you're looking at? I'm the goddess of love and beauty herself! [ Is she serious about this. Is she just being a dramatic teenager. Who even knows. Minako sure doesn't look the part.. ] If I couldn't hold a drink, then what kind of goddess would I be?

[beewulf]

[Poor, poor Minako can't even enjoy the finer things in life.

But hey at least he isn't walking away!? Nope instead he was eyeing the margarita up and down. And then wrinkled his nose, who in their right mind would drink such an abomination and enjoy it? Probably someone with a sweet tooth.]

You are? [Now he was scrutinizing her. She sure doesn't look like a certain, useless goddess that he knew of! Also, excuse you, he absolutely doesn't buy any of that.]

Fine, fine. Come on then, I'm not taking any responsibility for what might happen.

[reloves]

Yay!

[ Who cares that he's saying he won't take responsibility. He is both going along with her idea and not denying her goddess of love and beauty status, so you know what? Minako is already getting more than enough out of all of this, and she follows him with the biggest smile on her face.

Minako always gets what she wants. ]

Now remember, all we have to do is drink as much as possible, as quickly as possible! There's no time for breaks! No room to give up! This is our mission! [ Does she want these happy hour items that badly.

She sounds like she's hyping them up for some Olympic competition. ]

[beewulf]

[Well at least she's excited about this!?]

Our mission is it? [He shakes his head, smiling slightly at her being all pumped upped over what's pretty much a few drinks every so often. He can't imagine that she'd really go out for drinks every day for a month... actually he could, because that's something that he would do. Well whatever, if she was having fun with it then he would too.]

Come on then, I've yet to lose a drinking competition.

[Which, given his size, probably wasn't hard to imagine.]

[reloves]

[ .. wait, hold on. She just managed to latch onto the beefiest guy she could find, and now he just happens to be experienced with drinking contests as well?!

Score, Minako. How is she so good at this!!

It just makes her look even more pleased, honestly.

So she quickly directs them over to where the challenge is happening, pointing at one of the enormous glasses they're pouring the drinks into. ]

That's what we have to drink! Within a minute!

[beewulf]

[She just did! Goodness Minako you lucky gal you.

But hey, he gives the large glass a look over. A disgusting thing for a disgusting drink. Quite clearly it needs to be slain! There's a nod of his head.]

Ho? You had me worried there for a second girlie.

[He gives her a grin and thumbs up.][So darn sure!]

[reloves]

[ SHE'S GOING TO WIN THIS.

Or rather, he's going to mostly win this for her. The only thing that's complicating matters is the fact that she's now looking at the glass and its clumsy size, and only now realising: ]

.. ah, but wait, how are we going to drink that together?

[ There's no way they will be able to drink at the same time!

Should she just leave it entirely up to him. He can probably handle it. ]

[beewulf]

[Gasp, that's a good point! He hums and hums in thought....]

That's a good point.

[Thinks and thinks. Ah--!]

One second....

[He goes ahead and wanders away for a moment towards a nearby stand. Before returning with:

A long straw!]

[reloves]

Hm?

[ Minako is rather curious what he's got in mind when he's wandering away. Clearly he must have an idea, right? A purpose? Something he's looking for?

But when he returns - indeed, he has an idea! And what an idea! Minako gasps in utter delight. ]

No way, I didn't know you were a professional drinker and a genius! [ The compliments are just flowing today. ] .. And a total stud!

[ Maybe a few too many compliments. ]

[beewulf]

Oi, easy with the compliments. Using them too much cheapens 'em.

[But he was smiling at her all the same. What an excitable girl! Well he goes ahead and extends that straw out to her all the same.]

You sip, I chug. With both of us going it won't take long like that.

[Said with just as much confidence and bravado as before. They so totally got this.]

[reloves]

Oh, don't worry, don't worry! [ She takes the straw as she says it, using her other hand to wave away his comment. ] You know what they say! "A compliment a day keeps the lawyer away!"

[ Nobody says that. But before he can say anything, it seems that Minako is already moving on to: ]

Now, are you ready for the challenge?

[beewulf]

[Absolutely nobody says that Minako, and you got him a little worried now. But hey, she was already moving ahead!]

Yeah yeah, lets get this over with.

[He's following right behind her.]

[reloves]

[ It's too late.

They're locked into this challenge now. He can't leave. Especially since they're already handed their way too huge glass now, and Minako is starting to move her straw into it - a little off to the side too, so she won't get in the way of whatever chug monster he turns out to be. ]

Alright, they'll start the time on 3, okay? 1.. 2.. aaand 3!

[ TIME TO DRINK. ]

[beewulf]

[Oh no...! To late to escape her claws!

Well he'll go ahead and take a knee to make things a bit easier for her. Really though the thing was more like a slushy with alcohol in it. People actually enjoy this stuff!? But things are already starting, so he'll get to chugging.

Mouth open and throat relaxing as he pretty much pours the stuff down his gullet. It's still cold though and far too sweet! But there's a girl counting on him and his pride on the line. So Beowulf, being the proper Norse person he is, keeps going and going.

Chug, chug, chug, chug...!]

[reloves]

[ Minako's true blessing is the fact that she dragged him into this. Not that she isn't doing her best to drink her fill over there, but really, how much can one drink with only a straw? He's already had most of it before Minako can even truly contribute a whole lot.

But as the time ticks, as the challenge passes..

.. the giant glass is empty before the minute is over. The moment the glass is put down and she notices that, Minako lets out a happy shriek, jumping up in the air. ]

We did it!

[ And thankfully she doesn't - for now - seem really drunk. Apparently she just didn't drink enough of that to have that problem.

But Minako doesn't even have to be drunk to be this excitable. It's all natural, baby. ]

I can't believe it, we really did it..!

[beewulf]

[Gasp! They did it! They managed to drink the ice cold abomination and give Beowulf a raging brain freeze! But, well seeing the small girl being all excited like over it did make the raging headache worth it!

Just... excuse him as he discreetly uses some healing magic to deal with his head and purge the alcohol. Good gods above, what a vile drink that was!]

Yeah, couldn't have managed it without ya.

[He gives a laugh, not as loud as it might normally be, and moves to life her up onto one, hulking shoulder. Victory!]

[reloves]

[ There's just suddenly so many good things going on. Winning the competition, actually getting some credit, and then suddenly being lifted right on top of the shoulder of this muscly, super hot guy, like hello!!

Give Minako a moment. She can't even respond right away, because her mind is about fifteen miles away, straight into seventh heaven. This is finally the goddess treatment she has always deserved. ]

This is the best day of my life! I'm dreaming, right? [ Cue her trying to pinch her cheek. ] It's too good to be actual real life!

[beewulf]

[Oh gosh, oh goodness Minako why do you got to act so darn cute?

Just... you know, careful you don't fall. His shoulder is quite high up off the ground! But hey, at least she has a story to tell now?]

No, it ain't no dream. Live it and enjoy it while you can.