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

I'll be fine.

[ It's dismissive, but he also doesn't want to dwell on his loss in strength either. Part of him is curious if Weiss wound up losing anything in the process too. Now that he's stable on his feet, the sword at his back secured, he squeezes her hand again as he falls in stride with her. Gotta keep moving forward. Get inside. Sit. Hold her again, to be honest...

As they walk, he'll bring it up. ]

You didn't run into anyone else, did you?

[ From Prismatica, that is. He couldn't find Weiss when he awoke. Or Tifa or Aerith. Or Panty. Anyone, really... But if Weiss being here was any indication, maybe it was only a matter of time. ]

[ "I'll be fine" just means he's not fine now... and it's not exactly an answer Weiss wants to hear. Maybe they can talk about it later on. For now, they can get inside and start asking each other questions.

She won't ask why they can even remember each other. To her, it's a blessing. No need to question it. ]

There was Ren... not JNPR Ren, but a Ren I met in Lunatia. He's an idol. I also met Shintarou and Merlin.

[ That's "anyone else"! Unfortunately, there's no one from Remnant that's familiar at this time, but after her experience in Lunatia, where people can just pop in at any time? She'll likely meet Yang or Ruby or Blake or someone else like Neptune soon. ]

I'm guessing you didn't?

[ That's three to account for. Ren. Shintarou. Merlin. ...assuming it's the dog, that is. ]

Just Rin. [ A beat. ] Rin Tohsaka? Twintails. Won the Holy Grail War—

[ ! Wait... His gaze lowers down to their hands, brow furrowing slightly as he asks, ]

What about Sanson?

[ The Command Seals that once marked his hand were gone without a trace... ]

[ Weiss shakes her head when he mentions Charles. Inside, there are benches to sit on, and there aren't a lot of people out anyway, so they should have some privacy. It's not a very forceful pull, but she does lead him to sit down first before she does, herself. ]

No. I can't feel him, either. [ Before Cloud can even ask Weiss, though, she'll answer the question he's got in his head already. ] My connection to him's been severed, and the Seal is gone, as well.

[ The kinetic magic she's been bestowed aside, she feels like a normal person. Being equipped with the knowledge of combat and her Glyphs all her life, though, her current state makes her feel helpless and weak. ]

On top of that, I can't even access my Aura. Everything's just... gone.

Edited 2020-12-12 09:00 (UTC)

[ Lucky for them, there's no backing to the benches. So he doesn't have to worry about drawing his sword again and letting it. Just. Clatter on the ground. When he's settled, he'll give a gentle tug so that she joins him shortly after. Leaning forward in his lap, his eyes stay on her when she answers the next question in his head. It's unfortunate...and he regarded them as equals even if they were technically spirits. But...if their fate was to return to the Throne of Heroes or Chaldea, it couldn't have been all that bad, right?

Still... ]

I've lost Marie too.

[ Then there's her inability to access her Aura. That'd explain why he couldn't regulate his body temperature as easily when he first arrived... With his free hand, he flexes, balling it into a fist before uncurling it. ]

That explains things... S'just a hunch but, I think the mako in my system's been cut off.

We've been stripped away of our own abilities, only to be given new ones...

[ That part, Weiss understands. She wishes it weren't the case, but she doesn't know if there's anything that can be done about that. ]

Maybe we can get ours back, though. I don't know how, but I don't think we've lost them. It's just... [ She pauses, unsure how to word what she wants to say. Her frown turns into a more confused expression. ] Locked.

At least... that's how I want to think. I refuse to accept that my Aura is gone.

[ Listening intently, there's only so much he can interject with, effectively echoing everything that Weiss has said. In the same vein as limiters that were once placed on them during the tournament. Or the limiter bullets he was shot with during their one mission to the Lightless. But he understands exactly what she means. He doesn't want to believe his powers are gone either.

The training he did back on Prismatica...the Aura he had unlocked by Raven, all of it; he doesn't want any of it to go to waste if it means being able to protect what matters to him. He squeezes her hand, instinctively scooting in slightly closer to her before letting go. But it's not long before his arm drapes itself over her shoulders, half-hugging her at his side and giving her support. ]

We'll get it all back.

[ How? That's an answer for another day. When they get their feet wet proper in this world. Right now though...he's more keen on resting. Worried as he is about the others, there's solace in having Weiss at his side. The one he promised he would find, no matter what it takes. After felling the Beasts of Calamity and restoring the planet, only to be whisked to the edge of the multiverse itself as Avalon stands as the final beacon of hope... ]

Just gotta start by keeping our feet under us, right?

[ That's the manifestation of her soul— Aura. Maybe it's being dramatic, but would she even be alive without it? No. Weiss really doesn't want to accept any of this. She'll get her Aura back, and everything that comes with it.

She's jostled from that brooding state she's in when Cloud places an arm around her shoulders, though. Oh. And it's only now that it registers to her... that warm feeling in her body that's like flowing water. That's gone, too. But she can feel it all— Cloud's pulse, his warmth, his very presence. He's still right next to her. With or without Chroma, it doesn't change anything.

And logically speaking, this is how it's supposed to be, anyway. ]

We have to, don't we?

[ At least, she knows she has to. ]

What now?

[ The positive thrum of energy that he experienced whenever he touched Weiss was different now. On one hand, the benefits that came with Moonlacing now were gone. But now... Now all they had was their feelings. What was inside their hearts for one another. Holding onto that, it would make this new sensation even stronger. Or rather, it's always been there. Hiding beneath the surface while Chroma did its proverbial magic.

With Prismatica seemingly safe, but the multiverse on the brink of collapse, there was no longer any need for Chroma. Now they had to start again, and make this strength their own together. Whether they both awoke here or not, he promised he was going to find her again. No matter how many times it took... ]

I don't know. [ But he's very quick to follow that up with what's important as he looks down at her. ] For now, we just keep doing what we've always done.

Moving forward.

[ After tonight, they would be moving again. Into Camelot proper as they learned more about this world and what it had to offer them. Keeping their feet under them had to start somewhere though, so... If she's looking for a direction beyond "forward", well... ]

Let's figure out where we're gonna live tomorrow.

Yeah.

[ Heh... Hearing Cloud be the one to say that... it doesn't sound bad at all. And if Cloud's the one who's more prepared to keep moving forward, then she'll move alongside him. For someone who thinks too much, it's good he's thinking about what he can do in the present.

But enough of that... she just worries about him. Once they've settled down and can spare a little more time for themselves, then she'll worry again. It's back to the surface, to tackle things that come their way. While she'd want to talk to Cloud about how he is and what he's actually thinking—his personal thoughts, and not just what he thinks he's thinking, she knows there are more important things to tackle first.

Housing. A job— they can't exactly hold hands to make money. Their duty in Prismatica is done, and they have new things to do. They'll need to arm themselves with information and prepare for what's ahead— threats or silly events. Immerse themselves a little... ]

Do you have a roommate yet? I'm not sharing a room with anyone now.

[ ... okay. Maybe she wants to be a little self-indulgent despite priorities, anyway. She just found Cloud. They haven't been apart for very long, but she doesn't want to miss anything now, even for a second. ]

[ It's always been one of his strongest suits despite being a flaw at the same time. Even if he had his doubts, there were still things he knew he could do. He could keep fighting. Keep going ahead despite the uncertainty that can weigh at the edges of his mind. In a way, he's lucky... Though now that he's been effectively cut off from most of the strength he's come to know, that might need to change. ]

I'll go with you.

[ He doesn't even have to think about his answer for a second. If she's alone tonight, than he's going to stay with her through thick and thin. But to answer her question? ]

Had a room with someone when I first rolled up. But... I don't wanna be anywhere else.

[ Now that he found her. ]

Okay.

[ There's actually something else she wants to ask. About how he is, if he's hurting, or if he's okay. Maybe she can ask that later, though. No. She'll definitely ask him later. ]

Sorry if I cut your training short.

[ No, that probably wasn't even training. It was letting off steam. She was the one who was going to do some training despite the time of day. After seeing him, though, a change of plans is more than fine. ]

You can do more another time.

[ By now he'd hope that she knew what he wouldn't hide anything from her. Not anymore. Anything that he withheld in the past was mostly before they even got together... But when they're truly alone, that was a prime time to ask. Cloud wanted to ask about her too. Ask if she's heard from the others. From her other family, her teammates... Like him with the likes of Tifa and Aerith, RWBY was still around last he recalled.

Maybe it's only a matter of time before everyone else was summoned forth here too. But then again, even Prismatica itself was so fickle... ]

"Training"... [ Despite himself, there's still the traces of a smile as his arm slips from her shoulders, this time settling around her waist as he gently hugs her against his side. ] More like figuring out how to train.

[ He's not worried about it right now. They can figure out what to do with the power unlocked for them together maybe! Especially if he was going to have to temporarily hang up his own weapon. ]

[ She leans on him, closing her eyes as she lets out a soft laugh. ]

I accidentally sent someone flying earlier.

[ Weiss witholds the part that the person flew straight to a lamppost. It was probably painful. ]

...

[ Snrk. SORRY... hurting people isn't fun, but now that she's talking about it, it sounds ridiculous as hell! ]

So you're off to a good start.

[ ... .... ..... ]

They okay?

[ Cloud asks a little shakily. Because he's trying not to laugh because she cracked up against him. ]

Unfortunately not the most embarrassing thing that's happened to me.

[ He can laugh all he likes. It's not like Weiss will get upset! ]

I think so. He was more worried about me than, well, him. I hope it doesn't happen a lot here.

Edited 2020-12-15 14:56 (UTC)

Funny. When he's the one getting tossed...

[ Cloud shakes his head. Neither here or there however. With his free hand, he opens his palm out between them. He's had some practice, not to mention just his own innate connections with magic from back home. But right now, this was the best he could do. A tiny little ball of ice, broken up and glistening in his hand, floats for her to see. ]

Looks like I drew the "elements" straw.

All of them?

[ The elements, she means. It's been a day but she doesn't really know much about the type of magics the people are able to use here. She's even still discovering her own! ]

Haven't had a chance to try...

[ But apparently that's his affiliation. ]

Assuming the basics, I'll get a handle on fire, water, lightning, wind and stuff...

[ He says whilst a small swirling ice ball floats in his hand. Before that too crumbles away as he stops trying to focus. ]

I dunno how to cast anything offensively yet. But- [ He shrugs his left shoulder. ] -I'm a fast learner.

[ Hang on.

Did he just— ]

Cloud.

[ ... She pulls away slightly only so she can shift in her seat and get a good look at him. Uh-oh. This is just like that night before his birthday when she asked him about purple and violet. ]

You do know the element is "electricity" and lightning is what it produces, right?

??

[ She doesn't really give him much time to ask her what's wrong. Especially as she shifts slightly to look up at him. For the most part, he's still leaning against her in kind... But then she gets matter-of-fact with him about his terminology. ]

...

[ But Weiss will meet resistance ~~for once. dkasfjh~~ ]

You sure about that? We always classified Thunder spells as Lightning magic.

You don't even know where your summons come from.

[ So how can she take your word for it? ]

Sure I do.

[ ... From the Planet. :D ]

Go ahead and explain, then.

[ She's all ears! ]

...

[ ]

There's a lotta different ones.

[ Cloud. ]

Can we find our room first?

[ He just. Needs to think about what to tell. ~~That he remembers.~~ ]

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