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.

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Arrival C

[ Meeting ice turtles, Cliff Beasts, new technology, and all manners of different people and creatures was more excitement in a tiny amount of time than Levi expected to ever find in his entire life. Or what would have been his entire life, anyway.

Thankfully the ride to the resort town gives him some rest and some time to catch up (mostly learning about technology once he gets that smart phone to work). Now, don't call him an old man or anything, but by the time they arrive, he's ready to rest again. And so he makes his way to his designated room.

There's a roommate there! Or maybe you're just lingering nearby. Either way, he takes off the soft grey colored cloak he was given and hangs it up, exploring the new surroundings. Tvs...video games.... more things he's never seen before and never expected. ]

I don't know what any of these things are, so I may have to pass the time some other way. [ He glances at his new roommate, lifting a brow. ] Want to cuddle?

[ With eerie, sclera-less eyes and an even tone, it may be difficult to tell if he's serious.

Later on though (probably kicked out by his roomie, lbr), he's on his way to those springs and will happily respond to anyone else on their way. ]

Just promise you won't peek at me, I'm very shy.

Snow and Tell

[ For TDM purposes (and maybe permanently, who knows! Levi has been granted the abilities of an Alchemist. He's "old" and his body is (was??) falling apart, but he likes excitement. He likes watching people and seeing how they tick. So of course he's got to take part in the snowball fight!

He tosses some rounds of regular snowballs but eventually decides to experiment. Because experimenting is his favorite thing ever. And actually, when his snow crystals turn into a flurry of butterflies, he seems more fascinated by this than disappointed. ]

Look at them all! How marvelous.

[ He's plenty distracted though so it's a good time to take him out. ]

Winter is Coming A

[ The Cliff Beast wants a gift, is it? He has always felt he's been a good gift giver, so Levi takes off to find the perfect thing to give. He's mostly looking at shells along the shore. It's peaceful there and there's less technology to worry about. It does him good as well as the Beast. So it works out. ]

What do you think of this one?

[ He's especially prone to asking that to people who look a bit shy or troubled, or simply a cute lady, but anyone will do really. Once it's selected though, they're off into the caves!

Levi's eyesight is probably already quite poor as it is, so the darkness certainly doesn't do him any favors. He squints, pausing his steps as he nearly collides with a random rock formation jutting out rudely in his path. ]

If I had more to work with I'm sure I could make some light.

[ It can't be that hard, and alchemy isn't unheard of or unstudied in his world anyway. But he's not getting any answers from his groupmates. Perhaps because they're attracting bats? Levi seems to lack body heat though, and has largely been left alone. And left in the dark metaphorically as well. ]

What's the matter? Are you scared of the dark or something? We all return to darkness eventually.

[ He also doesn't know how to shut up. ]

Wildcard

[ Hit me up with whatever! I am considering him or another PH character so we'll see how this goes lkalkef Feel free to hit me up at haurchefant @ plurk if you need to! ]

[ Taichi's not smart, so he still hasn't figured out what his magic stle is. It'll take him a while, but he'll get there eventually, probably a little behind everyone else. But that doesn't stop him from trying and calling out nonsense attack names as he throws snow at people, hoping one of them sticks.

But he definitely stops mid-snow scoop to watch the butterflies go by in awe, then quickly perks up in an excited shout. ]

That's SO COOL! How did you do that?!

[ Levi blinks a moment, snapping out of his own amazement at the surprise butterflies. ]

Not sure. Some kind of alchemy I'd assume.

[ He tilts his head, and then bends down to grab some more snow. ]

I wonder if it will work a second time. Would you care to experiment?

Let's do it. I'm not really sure what I'm doing yet, so let me know how I can help!

[ At least he's eager, and good at being bossed around since he's used to a cranky costume designer ordering him around. This guy seems much more open though, and Taichi's gathering up some snow of his own. ]

Alright, just stand there.

[ He's going to... throw snow at him again.
This time there's no magic, it's just snow though. Because Levi is like that.

But he promises he'll try the butterflies again soon! ]

[ Taichi is gullible, so he just gets nailed with the snow.

Taichi is also loud, so the puppy eyes come out a second later. ]

AHH! That wasn't magic! [ He laughs though and scoops up a snowball to throw his own back. ] Revenge ball!

[ Levi laughs because wow he was not expecting it to be so easy.

He's so distracted by how funny it is he doesn't even bother dodging the revenge ball and it just kind of splats right into Levi's shoulder and against his collar. He might start feeling the snow seep in shortly.

But he deserved it he supposes. ]

I simply couldn't help myself. Let's try for real this time.

[ He bends down to scoop up more snow for potential butterfly making. ]

[ At least he seems a little more weary this time, if still playful. He doesn't throw another one though and moves over to stand closer to his side so he's a less easy target. ]

How did you do it the first time?

[ Taichi wonders if it's something he can do. He definitely hasn't tried making butterflies.. ]

I'm not terribly certain.

[ A sad answer, but true. ]

We were supposedly given new abilities, but I have not figured all the details out. Just that I am capable of making things.

[ But why butterflies? He isn't sure. So he starts maybe trying to make a different shape out of the snow, wondering if that will change the outcome. ]

Butterflies have gotta be.. animal powers, right? Here!

[ Taichi gathers up some snow and some nearby twigs and makes a little snow bunny and brings it over to him. ]

Try bringing this to life!

[ In reality, Taichi's accidentally infused his own magic, so it'll just feel pretty refreshing when he hands it over since Taichi... doesn't have any idea at all that he's got healing magic, or what he's doing with it. ]

[The snowball fight was really fun and she had been playing for a while with Bandersnatch beside her. So it wasn't a surprise that when she saw the man with snowball that turned into butterflies she came running over.]

Pretty! How did you do that?

[ Levi has probably (??? idk how Glens work tbh) seen this little Baskerville through the eyes of the current Glens. But since he's himself, maybe he won't let on immediately.

Or maybe I'm being vague because I don't know things. ]

It's magic, of course. Can't you do something similar?

[He probably has tbh. Lily thought doesn't know he's a Glen, she knows HER Master Glen and it wasn't this man.]

Yeah! I can do magic too! Mine is...hmmm...I have this cat that is my familiar but it's not a chain like Bandersnatch. It does let me do some different magic! Nothing pretty like that though.

[ They're all your Glen, Lily. It's a fact of life. ]

A chain? Hmm I see. Is your chain also with you?

[Glens everywhere!]

Yeah! He is, wanna meet him?

[Before he can answer the dog-like chain forms next to her.

Then she pauses for a moment.]

...Wait, you know what a chain is?

[ It seems he doesn't have a choice either way, so he stands back a bit as the chain forms.

Whatever he recognizes of her or the chain, he seems to keep hidden behind the smile he's wearing, his sclera-less eyes blinking at her slowly as if her question is strange. ]

Oh. I suppose you don't recognize me in this body, since you served one of my successors. But think of us as long lost family members.

[The chain looked up at Levi, still for a moment as it studied him.]

Huh? Served...Master Glen?

[Lily tilted her head at him curious as she looked him up and down.]

Just so.

[ He nods, peeking up at the chain before glancing at the girl again. ]

I remember you. Of course it was through the eyes of another. You may call me Levi if you prefer.

...

[The gears clicking in her head can almost be heard as she stares at Levi.]

Huh? How? I don't know what you mean. Mn, okay Levi?

[ Hi hello, it's another old man with bad eyesight and a broken body, it's ~~Xerxes Break~~ Gu Yun, a man whose kinetic magic is still going awry, so he's left off hostilities in favor of playing fetch with his qilin. The beautiful butterflies unfortunately attract his (monocled) eye, which means that his next shot loops-the-loop through the air, with a perfect trajectory for going splat in the butterfly-maker's face.

... ]

Pfff! Hahaha!

[ To think they could have been old, broken, trolly grandpas together. Until that snowball splatters right back in Levi's face, much to his surprise.

At least the cold doesn't really bother him. But ... ]

A declaration of war ...

[ He smooths the slush away, conjuring himself up another projectile of snow to launch at this monocled fiend, hoping he can get the butterflies to do something useful this time. ]

It wasn't that funny I assure you!

[ Who are you calling old, he's not a grandpa!

...all right, the crown prince calls him "grand uncle," but that's just courtesy???

Anyway—Gu Yun has been playing with his legendary beast, the dignified qilin, steed of the immortals like a giant puppy. And so, when it sees the butterflies, it leaps up to try to eat them, by chance blocking the brunt of them from hitting their target.

It's not so much that the qilin was protecting Gu Yun, however; qilin have a powerful sense of right and wrong, and it's pretty clear who was in the wrong here. It just wants to play.

In any case, the end result is that the qilin has a mouthful of snowball and butterflies, and Gu Yun is left picking several of them off his hair and clothes. He lifts one up to look at it, perching on his finger, its ethereal wings softly beating. ]

My, how elegant!

[ He looks up, grinning. ]

No need to declare war, that was friendly fire.

[ Grand uncle, grandpa, it's all the same!

Levi watches the legendary creature bound around with the butterflies and for just a moment wonders if his cold dead heart can forgive him for such a wholesome sight.

But then again, his heart is cold and dead so maybe not. ]

Friendly fire is something you should hope to avoid, last I was aware. Have you no skill in warfare?

[ On one hand, he could be said to be a legendary general, having successfully won a protracted war, defending Great Liang from a coordinated attack from the Westerners and their allies on all of the country's borders, land and sea. On the other, that victory came at an atrocious cost: tens of thousands of lives and years of effort. If his father, the old Marquis, were alive to see it, Gu Yun is convinced the man would beat him to death for his failings.

So he simply smiles tightly and agrees: ]

No, none at all.

[ The qilin, however, which had heretofore taken a neutral stance, suddenly halts, melting the butterflies in its mouth with a blast of magical fire. Its sense of justice, apparently, is piqued at such a comment. It turns to face the man, lowering its horns, and lifts its foreleg, to scrape a cloven hoof on the ground. ]

No, no, no! None of that!

[ With one hand, he reaches out to restrain his magical beast. With the other, he motions for a pile of snow to come streaking up from behind his adversary, aiming to hit him in the back. ]

Well neither do I.

[ Unless that "warfare" is "chess".
Nevertheless, whether he sees how tight that smile is or not, he keeps his own easygoing one, despite the fact that the qilin is rapidly deciding that it shouldn't be neutral any longer.

And that Levi himself is probably the enemy now.

Ah, such is the story of his life. ]

I was just correcting him on the usage of "friendly fire", that's all!

[ As if Levi has ever been an innocent person. But he quickly tries to move away so he doesn't get trampled or pelted by snowballs. The latter he's less successful at. ]

Oof. [ So rude. He bends down to scoop another ball of snow up himself, hurling it at his less-qilin shaped adversary. ]

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 2

Levi Baskerville | Pandora Hearts

Snow and Tell

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Snow and Tell

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TF, I NEVER GOT THIS

Lol all good!

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was just crying, I mean reminiscing about PH the other day...

OH GOOD

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