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

[lastexit]

[Maya jumps, just slightly, at the sudden contact. Trying to get her mind around the flow of words and action that has nothing to do with her- yet she is now involved in.]

...Do I know you?

[Her manner is stifled, like she's not quite all there with what's going on around her. Especially with this surprise.]

[reloves]

You do now!

[ .. apparently. Maybe things just are that simple to Minako, since nothing what she says seems aimed at making fun of the other. Even the smile on her face just seems very genuinely excited - though perhaps a tad too excited, considering the circumstances. ]

You need a partner to participate in the pair challenge, after all! Don't you think we look like we'd do well together?

[lastexit]

[Maya's accustomed to her friends insisting she behave like a real girl and do real things. Dragging her into things she wants nothing to do with, but does admit were fun in the end. She's not so interested in a stranger doing this to her though.]

The challenge to drink a ton of margaritas?

[Maya holds her alcohol fairly well. But she also doesn't try to drink half a boat full of it. She also hasn't done a ton of drinking in the past few months.]

Why do you even want to?

[reloves]

Because it's fun!

[ Sure, there's a prize attached to it too. And it's not like it's a prize Minako isn't interested in at all - it'd sure be nice to have some free food or drinks - but it's not the most important aspect out of everything to this, she thinks. ]

Isn't that enough of a reason to do something? I just can't resist a good challenge!

[lastexit]

[Maya has some significant doubt on how 'fun' this is. It feels like a way to get really drunk really fast. And also brain freeze. Not that Maya has issues keeping herself going while drunk, just- what's the fun?]

[But if this girl is adamant on doing this, she might find a different partner, who might be less altruistic with a drunk teenager... And if that happens it'll be on her because she could have stopped it. Plus this girl just came up to Maya as a stranger, who knows who she could find after Maya.]

...Fine, but we're getting something to eat after.

[Why this?]

[reloves]

[ If only Minako could read the other's mind. But alas, she's blissfully(?) oblivious as to what's going on in there, so Minako is just assuming Maya is happily agreeing with her. It puts a wide smile on the girl's face. ]

Oh, that actually sounds great! Two cute girls winning a challenge and then going to eat something together? [ She laughs. ] I can't imagine a much better start of my stay in this place than that!

[lastexit]

You're really confident in your drinking ability. You do this a lot?

[Maya continues to sound like a cloud passing over a relatively nice day. Her words barely hinting at feelings. She would like to know her partner in this isn't in over her head.]

[reloves]

Uh..

[ The answer is 'no.'

Pretty obviously too, judging by the fact that Minako doesn't answer right away, while she was quick to answer all the time so far. And yet right now she seems to hesitate. ]

Not really, but.. it's not like anything is beyond the capabilities of the goddess of love and beauty, you know?

[lastexit]

Goddess of love and... beauty?

[Maya's a little slow to repeat the words, trying to put them into any sort of context that makes sense. And getting nothing.]

Have you even had alcohol before, or tried to down cold drinks really fast before?

[reloves]

[ Hey, as long as Maya isn't openly questioning this? Minako is more than happy to just nod and pretend like it doesn't need any further explanation. Right, she's the goddess of love and beauty! Totally simple, right. Totally normal.

Instead she focuses on the other question being asked here. ]

I've done the cold drink thing plenty of times! Isn't that what everyone does when they're really thirsty on a hot day? It won't be a problem at all!

[lastexit]

[Maya sighed, this was going to be a disaster. But if she wasn't here it could only be worse than it would be.]

You didn't answer about the alcohol... that matters. Believe me.

But if you're sure let's get this over with.

[reloves]

Hey, hey!

[ They ought to get it over with. But going into the challenge with this kind of attitude feels like they're already giving up before they even started.

So Minako takes a step closer towards the other, smiling at her widely, and trying to look her in the eyes. ]

You believe in us, right?

[ Look at this almost blindingly hopeful look on her face. ]

[lastexit]

[Honestly someone that hopeful is absolutely painful to Maya. She used to feel like that. Boundless belief that anything was possible. Maya breaks and looks away, not really able to take that.]

I believe we can try...

[Maya's not really sure what she can succeed at. She's pretty sure she can drink that hard and be okay. But that isn't something she can just say out loud.]

[reloves]

.. but not more than that?

[ Minako doesn't really look upset as she says that. Or worried. She just keeps smiling at the other, though the way-too-wide smile has definitely softened into something smaller, but still warm by now.

There's something about Maya's attitude right now that Minako kind of recognizes. ]

You know, you'd be surprised at what you can do when you put your mind to it.

[lastexit]

I know what I can do when I put my mind to it.

[I know what I can't do no matter how I try.]

I don't think you know exactly what you're getting into. That's all. But I'll help you do this, and give it my all.

[Maya almost smiles, her lips move like she was thinking about smiling then stop before really making any sort of expression.]

Promise.

[reloves]

[ There's another moment where Minako just stares at the other girl, as if she's trying to determine what she might be feeling or thinking, but then she just smiles when the other reaches that 'promise'.

Maybe she shouldn't consider it too much here. This is still someone she's only just met, after all. Minako could be reading too much into it, so she moves right back to her playful mode, letting out a 'pfftt' kind of sound. ]

Trust me, if I had ten cents for every time someone told me that, I'd have.. [ .. ] Well, let's just say, a lot of money! [ Because Minako is the definite queen of underestimating things. ]

Now come on, let's go!

[ She starts heading in the direction of where they're filling up the glasses. ]

[lastexit]

[It takes Maya a few seconds to follow Minako, because she has to process what Minako just said. There's a little more concern in Maya's voice than she expected.]

That's not encouraging. You meant it to be encouraging?

[But Maya follows in Minako's wake, somewhat reminded of home with this.]

[reloves]

I meant it to be reality, of course!

[ Hey, Minako may be shameless.

But she is very honestly shameless. Isn't that half of the fun? It keeps her smiling, anyway, as she's standing there while watching them fill one of the big glasses for them. ]

But I think it's better to look at these sorts of things positively. If I think I can't do it, then of course I can't! But as long as I think I can do it, then there's a chance.

[lastexit]

[The Tori vibe going on here, minus the casual drinking for fun, was very strong. Absolute belief regardless of any evidence to support. And a desire to just do things. Although there was a hint of the Old Maya there too, that confidence she had once upon a time.]

Alright, I can see how that might work for you.

[That didn't work for Maya anymore, but who was she to judge how others made it through life. She was kind of a fucking mess after all. It made that ridiculous title this girl gave herself a little less ridiculous. But only a little.]

I'm Maya. Do you have a name, as I'm not calling you the Goddess of Love and Beauty. At least not sober.

[reloves]

[ Minako winks. ]

So that means there's a chance? [ You know, in case this drink does not leave them sober. It does seem like there's a whole lot going into this huge glass right now.. Though Minako mostly seems to mean it as a joke - hence the wink. ]

But it's Minako! [ She guesses she'll live if someone doesn't refer to her as a goddess. She guesses. ] It's nice to meet you! You know, even if it's under these.. weird circumstances.

[ After being dragged off to another world like this is some sort of manga story. ]

[lastexit]

Yeah, having a weird day. Some Goddess of Love and Beauty decided to strongarm me into a drinking contest.

[Maya actually smiled. Not- like, a bright beaming light of happiness. But enough to show that her soul wasn't dead. Her voice was a little more casual too, with some feeling in it. Instead of someone lost in the woods, talking to themselves more than others.]

Also everyone I know is frozen in time, and instead of helping them I'm at a carnival. And I have healing magic.

[Because she was aware of what Minako meant with 'weird circumstances' but Maya does have a few fragments of the old her rattling around in her brain sometimes.]

[reloves]

Hey, I know which of those two things is weirder!

[ But Minako doesn't sound upset either. Something about the shift in Maya's tone - no, in the other girl's entire demeanour - makes it clear that she's just joking, and so Minako happily goes along with that, throwing back a remark in very much the same fashion. ]

It's a lot, the whole.. being brought to this weird place out of nowhere, and everything surrounding it.. [ Though Minako says it much more casually than she feels about it. ] But I think that's exactly why it's good to focus on the lighter side of things first, you know? Something tells me we'll probably have plenty of time to think about the more serious stuff later and try to process that.

[lastexit]

It's pretty 50/50 to me on this.

[Of course the time stop magic world was weirder, but Maya, the old Maya. Would joke. And here, that felt right. While there's more life to her voice, and her expressions, it's still a bit weird. Not- even approaching energetic for a teenager.]

So... because it's a lot to get used to, the answer is to get really drunk with a stranger- or a new friend?

I can go with that.

[reloves]

[ Minako winks. Then she just pulls out a double finger guns gesture on Maya, letting out a bright laugh. ]

You've got it right!

[ What better way is there to get used to a place than that? Being by yourself is no good when it comes to this sort of stuff. ]

So, do you want to start the challenge, and I take over midway, or would you rather do it the other way around?

[lastexit]

[How very carefree. Still, endearing in a way. Even if there was a lot to give Maya worry.]

Hmm... We probably don't want to drink for that long at a time, it's cold. We probably want to pass it back and forth about every ten seconds or so?

[That's what felt best to Maya, in any event. Maybe she's taking this too seriously.]