TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 2

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary 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.

Comments

Judy Hopps | Zootopia | idk what magic yet tbd

[carrothopps]

Arrival

Ma’am. Ma’am, please, I-.

[Oh sweet cheese and crackers, these turtles were almost as bad as the sloths at the DMV! She refrained from pinching the bridge of her nose, even as the little kitsune by her side snickered into his nine tails. Don’t start, Kit!

She just needed some information but the turtle before her at clearly gone on some tangent about another turtle named Barbara and she wasn’t here to gossip!!]

Okay! Well, you’ve been a lovely help, ma’am but it looks like my ride is here. Thank you so much and-

Oh dear... but... are... you... s-

Positive, thank you! C’mon Kit, let’s go, we have the uh—

Cara...van...

Yes! That!

Caravan

Oh, that feels much better! Even if it is a little big...

[Judy was positively swimming in her winter cloak, but it was certainly better than the alternative! Kit the kitsune was even able to fit inside with her as she scrolled through her new phone and popped in the ear buds to listen to the information provided.

She let out a sigh, ears drooping.]

Sheesh, what in the world am I gonna do now? I hope Nick’s okay.

Drink Up

Ah... steady now... sheesh, they couldn’t have given me a smaller cup?

[She had to hold the cup with two paws, it was also being held as though it were a jug of water rather than a cup. But she was a bunny, not a human. At least Kit wasn’t fooling around this time and the walk was actually very pleasant!]

What do you think they’ll have over there? Honestly, this feels like one of those quests in my brother’s video games.

[Kit merely shrugged his fox shoulders. The Red Springs were bound to be nice, though. As long as his charge didn’t spill anything!

Judy peered up ahead and spotted another person.]

Oh, hey! You’re on this quest too? Mind if I join you?

Wildcard

[Or pick a different prompt! I don’t mind, I can make one up too! Ping me here or at mossflowered]

Drink Up

[phoenixwiz]

Oh, I am also in this quest as well. You can join me and my familiar back to the Red Springs. Some company is more than welcome.

(Harry has been careful in carrying the clay cup he has picked up from the cave while Rose is riding on the pocket of his trench coat, her head bopping up and down while looking for any possible spill or danger.)

[carrothopps]

Thank you, I appreciate it! You know, it’d be really nice if this plot thought of us little people sometimes... this cup is really big!

[She wasn’t normally one to complain about this type of thing but how were they expecting her to not spill a single drop if they can’t give her a bunny sized cup?

She sighed. Welp, she just had to deal with it. If she could use a restroom mostly designed for large mammals, she can certainly keep this cup steady!]

[phoenixwiz]

Not a problem, I never saw the cups myself either until I got the one I’m holding onto earlier. Maybe the fairies who made these cups will probably take notes after this, they probably did anticipate that anyone who would possibly participate this will all be humans or humanoids.

(He is nervous about what happens if the cup spills over, but he has to put up a brave face and stay strong throughout this walk with Judy for this ritual to be a success. He has went through much worse things back home, so why would a cup of water scare him so much? Justified paranoia, perhaps?)

[carrothopps]

I have noticed that there are way more humans than there are other species of animal around here. I wonder if there's a reason why there's so many of you...

[It wasn't even a bad thing, she was just curious because after growing up in a place without humans, suddenly seeing so many was jarring!]

[phoenixwiz]

I had no clue either, but it might be because humans are the more prominent species in the multiverse, I guess? Although there are some who arrived at the same time as me that are not humans at all. I haven’t met them just yet, though I am sure that I will bump into them someday.

Maybe there are more animals coming in the near future, although we can never know who or what could show up.

(Harry has never seen anthropomorphic animals before in his world, so he is curious about it and learn it from Judy’s perspective.)

Arrival

[whatsamada]

[After seeing a bunch of talking turtles, Ken wasn't really surprised to see various other animals doing the same thing. Although, it was another seeing an animal dealing with the same thing he did?

Well, he couldn't help but laugh at the scene.]

How long do you think they'll keep on talking for?

[carrothopps]

Hopefully not for too much longer.

[She mumbled, crossing her arms.]

I think they gossip more than sloths.

[whatsamada]

Oh really? I thought sloths would be too tired to talk.

[Meanwhile, here Ken was raising an eyebrow. Just what kind of world did Judy come from?]

[carrothopps]

Sloths are slow, not tired. There's a difference.

[She said this matter of factly as she continued to watch the turtles slowly gossip, a hand on her chin. She sighed softly.]

I think we're gonna have to be on our own...

Caravan

[morganknight]

We get to be heroes, I suppose? [A self-deprecating smile accompanies a shrug, and Morgan is quietly grateful his fellow rider takes up less space than most since he's got these damn long legs to fit in here.]

[carrothopps]

Well, I suppose if this place is looking for an officer... I don’t know if I’d call myself a hero but...

[She already had gotten too prideful once, so she was hesitant to do so again. She would always believe that she would and her fellow officers would try to do the right thing but... as Chief Bogo said, the world has been broken for a long time.]

[morganknight]

[Morgan smiles, waving a hand vaguely to catch the point and refine it.] Most of the time, that label's something others give you. So it's more a matter of working to deserve it!

[carrothopps]

Of course! I guess I'm just not sure how to do that here. I'm not sure how this place works, what the laws are like, I only just found out animals such as yourself are called humans and this really looks nothing in Zootopia or even Bunnyburrow.

[It was overwhelming!]

Caravan

[madcuriosity]

[Alice is quite content in her winter coat as well, and, thankfully for Judy, this little girl is incredibly used to talking rabbits.]

How do you do, Miss Rabbit? It seems we are to be carriage partners. [She had such pretty purple eyes! Alice had never seen a rabbit with purple eyes before!

I hope you don't mind my asking, but who is Nick? [Her curiosity got the best of her, as it often did.]

[carrothopps]

Oh, please, call me Judy, sweetie!

[Even with her lack of knowledge on these mammals she’s been meeting a lot of, she could easily tell this girl was not only polite but very likely extremely young! Where were her parents?]

Nick is my friend and my partner at the Zootopia Police Department. He was with me when we got separated here. If you see a fox in a police uniform, that’s likely him! Nick Wilde.

[She assumed he could have arrived here but so far, no dice.]

[madcuriosity]

Ah, well, a pleasure to meet you, Miss Judy. My name is Alice Liddell.

[Even sitting, Alice offered a curtsy, her dress still a bit damp from the fall.]

Alright, if I see Mr. Wilde, I shall be sure to let you know. I can do that, can't I, with the strange devices that they gave us?

Is that where you're from, Miss Judy? Zootopia?

[carrothopps]

You're so well mannered, Miss Alice. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? You seem awfully young... are your parents around?

[She looked at her phone and gave a nod.]

Looks like these operate much like the one I had back home... so as long as we exchange numbers, you can definitely reach out to me!

Oh, no, I'm originally from Bunnyburrow. But I've been working in Zootopia for almost a year now as an officer.

Drink up

[milkmycattle]

[ Crow stares into his cup, curious of the liquid within as he walks ahead. He lowers his head to take a whiff, but he still couldn't determine what the substance is.

He peers down, hearing Judy's voice before shrugging at her request.]

If ya think you can keep up with the Great Crow, by all means.

[ Judy will probably have no issue completing the task, it's really Crow who needs to hold himself to the same standard. He's not being careful with his cup, gripping it with one hand and walking with a quick stride. He's doomed to fail, but he's much too cocky to believe he can fail.

Despite his humanoid appearance, he's actually a hedgehog with round ears and a long spiky tail that swishes underneath his cloak.]

Didn't think there'd be other myoumon here. Are ya with a band or are ya just cattle?

[By habit, Crow calls his fans cattle. So there's bound to be misunderstandings.]

Aww, Show by Rock!!

[carrothopps]

[Judy gave him a very not impressed look. He had some animal attributes to be sure, but he looked mostly human... what was this now? Also, Crow?]

You don't look like a crow and I'm not a myoumon! I'm a bunny. The name's Judy. Is Crow your name?

[She wasn't going to deign that last bit with an answer. What kind of question was that???]

Yes!

[milkmycattle]

[ Not a myoumon? So that answers the latter question even without an answer, since Myoumon love music.]

Yeah, the name's Crow. It's a cool name, right? My parents must've been inspired when they named me.

[It's the only plausible explanation for such an ill-fitting name for a son of Dairy farmers.]

Judy, huh? It doesn't set my soul on fire, but it's cute for a bunny. Did you just arrive here, too? Not sure what to make of it, but I'm gonna just roll with it.

drink up

[disasdeer]

[ This entire quest is a pain in the ass, but he's already in deep so he's going to finish it. There's no point in quitting halfway through, after all. So, he's working - so close. Nothing has spilled yet, and he doesn't plan on it. He has pretty steady hands, after all.

He hears a voice, and his eyes shift downwards. He's careful with how he gives attention to someone shorter than him. It's easy to look like you're looking down on someone when you're not.

When he spots a... rabbit, he almost trips over himself and spills it. Instead, he stops dead in his tracks. ]

Oh - hey, no. You're a rabbit.

[ And not a familiar one. It sounds surprised when he says it. She's probably heard this a dozen times already, so he immediately self-corrects. ]

Of course you are. You're newer here, aren't you?

[carrothopps]

Uh. [A rather bemused laugh.] Yes, sir, I am. And you're a deer.

[But it looked like he was correcting himself. Honestly, it was good to see another mammal here! Even if he didn't have hooves like other deer. Huh, how did his paws look like that? Ah, well, it didn't really matter and she nodded to his question.]

I take it you're not new then, are you? I'm Judy!

[disasdeer]

[ In some ways, she's familiar. She is a lot like the rabbits at home, but in some ways, she's definitely not. When it comes down to it, though, she's another herbivore here. And that was what mattered most to him. He's more surprised to find another rabbit here so quickly. ]

Louis. I'm not as new as you are, it seems.

[ But he's still pretty inexperienced. There's a lot to get used to. ]

Do you have the humans where you're from?

[ He doesn't know. They're not where he is, and it might be an important distinction. Aside from the hands, they're different from what he's used to, too. ]

Caravan

[marxmanship]

You're worried about someone, too, huh? [Yakko gives her a sympathetic look, even as he's racking up the nip bottles to play tiny bottle bowling on the floor of the caravan]

My siblings ... they should've been right behind me. They always are.