avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 2

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 2

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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 chilly 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 paralyzingly cold for a few seconds before you're approached by the Lady of the Lake beneath the water's surface. She puts a vial of a vibrant, glowing red Everwarm* potion to your character's lips. The icy water doesn't feel so icy once consumed and you'll be able to move your limbs enough to swim to shore on your own. She can't stick around to explain, she's got to get this to all the new arrivals! Many of which you'll see plopping in around you.

If you can't swim, a handful of helpful ice turtles will scoop you up from beneath and drop you off at the shore. When not helping people, the turtles are going around and hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals or pushing personal items to the beach near the new arrivals they smell like (belong to). If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. If anyone with Animal Magic asks the turtles, they will give the full spiel, but very slowly, and they like to get off topic and gossip about other turtles you've never heard of. 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, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly.

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, a pair of earbuds, and a winter cloak** to everyone before getting them settled in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and give them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: 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.

A ⦿ Trial and Icy Errors

Winter has arrived in Avalon, and with it has come to a change in the weather. Puffs of breath precede sentences when outside, small fires fill braziers to allow people to stop and get warm for a moment between where they come from and where they are going. Snow has begun to fall; at first, it is the same, fluffy, white flakes many adventurers will have seen. However, as the day progresses, the snow begins to shimmer; it’s like a prismatic effect, a magical light catching against every little crystal and illuminating sparkling flakes, so vibrant it’s clear someone has enchanted the snow.

Shortly after the change, there will be a text alert to all devices:

Tired of the same old routine with your magic? Ready for a little something new? Come on out and have an old fashioned snowball fight with a magical twist. Be sure to practice your new powers and have fun! 😉 -Merlin

Those who come outside to find the rainbow snow already being packed into neat balls by Camelot's citizens; go ahead and grab a basket full but remember, don’t just toss them. Let’s get magic with it!

Different types of magic will have different effects on the enchanted snow:

Use kinetic magic to toss three at once. Nevermind if they suddenly balloon inside and burst into a snow shower over your opponent, throw a couple more; some are bound to hit, right?

Throw a little animal magic in there and morph a few into a bear or some other animal of your intent; sorry about his random dance attack, at least your opponent will be laughing too hard to throw a snowball at you.

Try hiding them in a shield or cast an illusion with some light magic; better apologize when that goes sideways and the snow hardens, bursting into rainbow crystals at your opponent's feet.

Team up with someone who has cognitive magic; they can telegraph you the plan without your opponents being any the wiser... except the snow seems to be picking up on it and sending those thoughts right to your opponent! Perhaps use this as an opportunity to learn control!

Maybe you want to try using a little wind magic if you’re of the elemental class; watch out for the rainbow snow squall your perfectly lobbed snowballs will become.

Healing magic is one you might not see coming-- enchanting a snowball with healing magic can result in positive mood enhancements. Give your enemies a blast of zen to lower their guard and make them an easy target!

A dark magic user might think to add a little hex to their snowball; give themselves an edge... too bad, without practice, that hex might be a little too heavy and burst over the maker before it even leaves their hand! Hope you know how to fix it.

Alchemists are welcome to change the shape of those snowballs. Maybe try and craft them into something a little more stealthy or projectile. Too bad that snow seems to want to turn into a batch of butterflies and be free... magic sure is tricky! But hey, they sure are pretty.

In the end, it seems while adventurers will be able to get plenty of practice in, some of that practice is going to come from trying to stop the side effects of mixing their powers with the magic snow; welcome to your first lesson in control. If one is going to use magic in conjunction with already magically imbued things, they ought to know the right amount, seems Merlin wants you all to learn in a trial by snowball error.

Those who practice their magic and participate in the snowball fight will be given hot chocolate, warm soup, fresh baked goods, or other treats to warm them up after their training is done. But don’t slack off! You’re like to find your hot chocolate spiced with pickle flavor, that warm treat suddenly turns to ice cream in your mouth. Avalonians want that practice to happen, and are willing to add some incentive... whether that means the carrot or the icicle.

All throughout the City of Camelot is a buzz of excitement about the oncoming winter solstice on the 21st. Citizens will tell you of the winter solstice's importance in cleansing the flow of Avalon's magic each year and absorbing sunlight to increase its potency. In other words, the winter solstice generates a significant amount of magic if the proper ritual is followed, so the visitors from other worlds really should head on over to Albion's White Cliffs.

A ⦿ The Darkness in the White Cliffs

The first task that you'll experience during the ritual is asking the Cliff Beast's permission to enter the cliffs. Though they look wholly solid on the outside, these cliffs contain a veritable labyrinth of magical caves that weave in and out of the chalky cliffs. As there is danger within these walls, it is recommended no one go alone. The Cliff Beast will only open a door to the caves for parties of two or more who present him with a gift. The gift doesn't need to be something significant, just a show of courtesy-- a lovely rock or a seashell will do, placed at the base of the cliff. The only gifts he will outright reject are precious gems and metals. Honestly, they make him a little nauseous-- and you don't want to see a cliff beast nauseous. In fact, if you try it, the Cliff Beast will suddenly burst into a rockslide right near where the gem was left. Watch out!

Once you gain entrance, you will find there is no light within the caves and the door seems to close behind you. Non-magical lights won't illuminate anything within these caves, so you will need to either navigate through the darkness or find a magical means to light your path. Be wary-- traveling in the dark will be a much safer journey if you can find your way through the caves and keep track of your companions. The reason there is no light are the bat-like creatures that eat energy like fire and electricity. With the magical light attracting them and nothing to consume, they'll be very aggressive and swarm anything emitting heat.. like an unsuspecting traveler. Make too much noise, and the Cliff Beast will spit you out back onto the sand and you'll have to start over.

B ⦿ "For a greedy man, even his tomb is too small."

Those who persist within the caves will eventually come upon a room whose ceiling glistens with bioluminiscent microbes that are too small for the bats to eat. These little glowing creatures create reflections in the room that show just what it contains-- glimmerings of precious gems, gold, and other treasure cover the walls and floor, save for a large flat stone altar in the center. There are many hand-crafted clay cups filled with what appears to be water. The side of the alter has a very simple message: "TAKE ONE CUP TO THE SPRING, LEAVE THE REST. SPILL NO DROP." Sure enough, this matches with the instructions you were given about the ritual: Take a cup of waters harvested by the Asrai, a fairy that lives within the walls of the cliffs that cultivates it every year to bring to the Red Springs for the Winter Solstice.

There is no clear warning about what will happen if you take anything besides your one cup. However, characters who disobey this instruction and take any of the riches within the cave will initially experience severe symptoms such as magical blockage, an endless common cold, and food turning to ash in their mouth. They will experience dreams in which they are urged to return the treasure and a day later, advanced symptoms if it goes on for too long have been known to result in vomiting frogs and snakes, insomnia, speaking in tongues despite the translation spell, bleeding from the ears, and eventually death.

C ⦿ Drink Up

Those who listen and take the Asrai's cups to the Red Springs will notice while carrying the cups, all creatures and threats will leave you in peace. Neither rain nor snow will touch you, parting from your path in both the sky and on the ground. The effects will only last as long as you don't spill a single drop. The ritual can still be completed, but the protections only work if you don't spill-- otherwise you'll be fighting off weather, creatures, other people, and whatever else you encounter as the effects of a spilled cup will cause those around you to try to steal your cup without thought for your safety, even if they might not even think to do normally.

Upon arriving at the Red Springs, a party of people there to guide those who have made the ritual's journey to a particular pool within the vicinity of the springs. Characters will be directed to take a sip, then pour the rest into the Spring alongside your peers, finally throwing the clay cup itself into the spring. Throughout the day, you will begin to feel strangely giddy, but it will pass. Nothing much will seem like it happens otherwise, but the guides assure you that you will understand on the night of the winter solstice when the ritual is complete and your body becomes a conduit to purify and rejuvenate Avalon's magic.

For now, as thanks, the guides offer you one of the celebratory gifts they have to offer-- free drinks (this time of the age-appropriate alcoholic or sugary variety), a free night's stay at the Red Springs, a yule log, an escort, a Recipe: Snow Dance. (Effect: Snow Dance will cause small flurries to pick up where the spell is cast, resulting in decreased visibility. Only works if snow is already present, as it cannot generate elements.) The choice is yours. Pick one.

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 may 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.

*This Everwarm does not count toward your potion collection for those who wish to take up potion brewing. You must obtain Everwarm from the Elphame Trader's to count.
**Jackets come in a variety of neutral colors, enchanted with a fit-adjustment spell that will adjust to your character's size.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This is its own special brand of awful. Hikaru couldn't handle a public bath, let alone a slime crawling up his back and then looking at him with its one eye. It takes a lot to disturb Hikaru but that does it. He's not looking or sounding too graceful as he screams for Taichi to get it off.

When it is off, he stares at it in the snow.]

Okay, it's definitely settled! This is worse than the perverted aliens!

[Hikaru's kitsune jumps up a couple of times and Hikaru frowns.] Glad you enjoyed the show. Thanks for the help, Yoshiko.

[The kitsune only yips once like she's saying "you're welcome".]

Don't worry, he's friendly! Even if he's slimy, he's like Akapoyo-kun.

[ Taichi is a huge Akapoyo fan. Hikaru would've found out about him eventually, more than likely. He'll never stop being a fan of a children's cartoon about a slime monster. ]

I want to get him a baseball cap, then he'll really look the part. ...I think it's a guy anyway?

[ It's a slime, so it doesn't really have a gender. Oh right, the kitsune-- Taichi gives a polite bow to her. ] Nice to meet you, Yoshiko-san!

Somehow, I don't think Akapoyo-kun works in real life...[Mostly mumbled to himself but Taichi's excited about his little slime and Hikaru can't bear to bring him down too much. Maybe Hikaru will gift him with a hat if he can find one.

The fox yips again and goes onto her back, like asking for belly rubs.]

Don't fall for the cute thing. Trust me.

He'll get there with the right attitude! "#Goals" maybe?

[ Taichi probably needs a pair of pants that aren't torn up before he worries about a hat, but Taichi isn't necessarily great at prioritizing. At least the fake blood and dirt-stained shirt he's got on is covered by his birthday jacket. ]

She is cute though. So cute she can mess with me even if I know it's coming! [ He goes to pet her belly despite the warning. He trusts Hikaru but. Cute..!! ]

[Hikaru's really not certain that an actual slime can become a beloved children's cartoon character and his face shows the uncertainty.

But he'll still get Taichi the hat if he can even though he has no money himself or even a job.

She does look adorable as she rolls around but then as soon as Taichi's hand goes near her, she turns into a hyosube demon. Shriveled and ugly, like the river mutated its body, she grins and then screams loudly. No matter how Taichi reacts, she turns back into her regular form and rolls around with her laughing sound.

Hikaru is snickering because it is kind of funny.]

Told you not to trust her.

[ He's definitely screaming and running behind Hikaru. It's his familiar, obviously he is the person to hide behind even though he probably has no more ability to fight demons than Taichi does.

For the slime's part, it is a slime still, so it just keeps doing its slime thing. ]

I thought you meant like she would jump at me!

Don't you know anything about kitsune? [He grins and looks over his shoulder to Taichi.]

She hasn't hurt anybody but she likes to scare people. Right?

[Yoshiha yips and then runs off, disappearing completely at some point.] No idea why I got her as this familiar thing.

[Clearly he's very nice and never teases anybody at all.]

No idea whatever?

[ He definitely just sassed him. Hikaru loves messing with people, he just didn't have magic before!!

Which reminds him of two things: there's no flow of chroma between them, but there's definitely still some kind of spark when they touch, much more noticeable to him now that they're not both crying and overwhelmed. And two, they both have magic now!! ]

What kind of magic did you get?

[He only sticks his tongue out but from the way he looks, he isn't too bothered. If anything he's happy. It feels nice that Taichi can joke with him like this, that they can joke together at all.

Although Hikaru's noticing that touching Taichi still makes him feel like it did before and Hikaru doesn't know what to think about that.

He puts his hand out and a small flame comes out in the middle of it.]

It's what I had before. Kind of boring. What about you?

[ He finally lets go of him, though he doesn't really want to. Hikaru is way warmer than the snow. Or the slime. But he can't show off his complete lack of knowing what he's doing if he's holding onto him still. ]

I have no idea, nothing's working.

[ To illustrate, he picks up snow and holds it out, shouting loudly. ]

Kinetic snow blast! [ It does not budge. ] Make it rain, elemental ice shot!

[ This is clearly not working... ]

[Hikaru tries very hard not to pay attention to the disappointment when Taichi let's go. At the very least, he was very warm, and Hikaru tells himself that was a big part of it.

He snorts at the attack names.]

Maybe you're thinking too hard about it? Or maybe your magic is different? [Hikaru hasn't been paying a lot of attention to the magic. He'd been wrapped up in being all alone but that seems like a logical conclusion?]

[ Taichi, on the other hand, is very good at trying to distract himself when he doesn't want to deal. Being alone definitely wasn't something he wanted, especially after he'd lost all his friends for a second time- first from home, then from Prismatica. Spotting Kaoru and Ren had helped, but Hikaru held a special place in his heart that definitely helped not feel as alone anymore. Confusing as their situation is, he doesn't want to let anything but happiness come through right now. ]

Different how? I heard some people can read minds. Let me try, hold on.

[ Taichi narrows his eyes and focuses in on Hikaru's, very intensely. He's doing his best. ]

You want... hot dogs...

Yeah, that's definitely what I'm thinking about. [The sarcasm is thick in his tone as he gives Taichi a level stare back. It's all in good-nature and he pokes his forehead.]

You definitely can't read minds.

[And it's a good thing he can't because then it might be a mess.]

[ Why doesn't everyone want hot dogs the way Taichi does?? ;O; It's his passion. Can he major in hot dogs? Find out later. ]

Well, it can't be alchemy or I'm going to be completely useless. What were the other ones..?

[ HE CAN"T STUDY, DON'T ASK HIM TO STUDY!! ]

[Big brain: act in hot dog commercials.]

If you could turn lead into gold then you wouldn't have to worry about money. [Just study that!] Or turning anything into food. Better than being able to control the elements or whatever. [Hikaru isn't a fan of his magic. It's so basic.]

[ He's pretty sure lead is poisonous and he doesn't want to get brain damage, his brain is already slow. ]

That's not true! Elements are awesome. You can do anything with them, right?! If you're freezing to deal, you can save everyone's lives, or if you're in a desert you can pull an oasis out of the ground! [ A beat. ] And if you're a prankster, you could use the wind to push people into each other at key moments to create meet-cutes, or put rocks in peoples' shoes after they already put them on, or blow someone's hair back with a little heat so that they look like a cartoon character with their hair sticking up!

[ He's very passionate about everyone else's magic. ]

[The rock idea isn't bad but that's really small stuff. Good pranks have to stick with you throughout the day. However...]

Oh, would you use your magic to set people up? [He grins and puts a hand to his mouth.] Who knew Taichi was so ecchi? Are you going to ask me to lift up girls' skirts next too?

[He doesn't think Taichi would but it's fun to just make Taichi react.]

[ Look it's not bad for 2 seconds of thought about it. ]

What--?! [ He's blushing bad and he waves his hands back and forth like no no ] Impossible! Just like, blow someone's umbrella away so they have to share with someone else to make a cute story!

[Taichi is easy to rile up. Even if Hikaru feels like he can't be too mean to him, it's still fun to make him blush.]

Make a girl get all wet? So her shirt is soaked? Taichi...[The grin still on his face gives away the fact he isn't serious at all.

And really it's Hikaru who is coming up with these ideas.]

No! The guy can! His shirt can soak through and show off his sculpted pecs and six pack dripping with water! We believe in women's rights!

[ He's just screaming this now. ]

[Hikaru didn't even have to set that one up. Taichi fell right into it.

Hikaru bursts out laughing and has to lean on Taichi for support.]

I can't believe you! You just...[He can't finish his sentence because he's laughing so hard.]

[ Taichi holds him up as if he wasn't the reason he was laughing, shouting in defeat. ]

I stand by it!

[Hikaru's still laughing for a good bit until he sighs and then takes a deep breath, sighing as he calms down.

But when he looks at Taichi, he has one question because now that he isn't distracted:]

Hey, Taichi? Why are you dressed like some Halloween reject?

Huh? Oh, it was the zombiefied version of my Roy costume before I got thrown in the ocean. We just finished closing night.

[ He opens the jacket Hikaru have him for his birthday he's got over it and shows him the shirt, obvious where squibs had gone off still but faded from being set in the ocean and worn for a few days now, even if he tried to wash it in the inn bathtub in between. ]

I promise it looked better before. I don't have any money to buy new clothes.

[He had been happy to see that Taichi still had his jacket. Not that Taichi probably had had much of a choice. Hikaru definitely had not chosen what items he'd brought with him because if he had then Taichi's gloves would have come with him.

Time shenanigans are still confusing, though.]

Is that your last memory before coming here?

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