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

⦿ Prelude - Soaking in Your Arrival ⦿

[ Floating through an empty void... It's a familiar sensation. Whether that's a good or a bad thing, that was for Cloud to decide; it also depends on if this means he's alive or not. While the powers that be within this ever distant utopia healed any of his wounds, whatever prior battle he'd just emerged from still took a toll on him. While everything felt like an incoherent blur to him as he's dutifully whisked away by his familiar, he barely registers the sheer cold as his body unceremoniously splashes into the Bay waters. ]

...... .... ......

(Tired...)

[ As Cloud sinks, the light from the surface grows dimmer and dimmer. Perhaps out of sheer will, he opens his eyes, still not registering the fact that he can't breath yet as he sees a blurry image of someone approaching him. Wherever he is, and whoever is reaching for him... ]

(Aerith...?)

[ Long, auburn hair... He really has no idea where he is anymore. If this is Lunatia. If he's dreaming. If he's alive. If he's dead. Weakly, the blond extends a hand out towards the Lady of the Lake, only for her to place the Everwarm potion to his lips. Reactively, he swallows and feels a sudden rush of warmth fill his limbs. At the same time, he feels a force beneath his body as he's pushed back up towards the water's surface. The mysterious woman disappears (no doubt to aid other arrivals), and Cloud's vision blacks as he attempts to reach out for them in vain.

Swimming usually wouldn't be a problem. But still very tired and mentally exhausted, the ice turtles successfully bring the man ashore as he lies on his back. The potion keeps him warm as slowly...very slowly...he becomes more aware of himself again. Lying at his side, the turtles bring along an impressive sword that must have come with the man. At first, Cloud doesn't stir from where he lays. ]
..............

[ Well, until... ]

[ "Kweh~?" ]

[ Pecking at the spiky-haired man's forehead, an equally spiky-haired (er, feathered?) chick continuously bothers its bonded partner. The elementally inclined Chocobo Chick that was responsible for whisking Cloud to Avalon in the first place. Sure enough, after enough poking, hopping up and down on his chest, and making cute little chirping noises, the blond's eyes suddenly snap wide awake. Everything comes rushing back to him, but first things first?

He coughs, sputtering up what water he took in when he was unconscious. Sorry in advance to the familiar, as it shakes its head after getting some of the splashed water on it. His sight returns to him blinking hard as he scrunches, dry coughing a couple more times as his surroundings become more clear. ]

Where...am I?

[ Clearly not Lunatia anymore. ]

⦿ The Red Spring ⦿

[ Avalon... It's just like the legends. Only familiar with the legends and tales in passing, the fact that this was now the true last safe haven across the multiverse raised the stakes even higher than before. This wasn't about restoring one world anymore. It was about setting things right for everyone. It's still taking some time for it all to sink in; he doesn't even know if he's going to wake up back on that planet or in his own bed in Edge. But if this was happening, he may as well absorb his surroundings and take as much time as he needs.

Stubborn as the acerbic swordsman usually is, he's learned that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. So the first thing he plans on doing upon arriving at the Inn? ...not sleep. No. He's far too restless for that. Too many thoughts running amok in his mind. People he left behind. Family he's missing. Loved ones... Cloud needs a distraction from the sense of loneliness that creeps up on him. What better than a dip in the refreshing springs?

You'll find him leaning against one of the rocky walls, with only his spiky-head above the surface, eyes closed as he takes a deep breath before huffing softly. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but he does feel a little less stressed now that he's had the time to clean up and rest. There'd be more time to think about his next step tomorrow. ]

Option A

... Mm?

[ Cloud hears somebody approaching, whether they're taking a dip into the springs or just walking by him, which causes him to tilt his head in their direction from his spot in the water. ]

Taking a dip?

Option B

[ Cloud's already out of the spring, dressed modestly in a pair of trunks when it dawns on him with a shudder. ]

Forgot a towel...

[ Smart. Pure genius right here. Well, there's no sense in staying out here for very long. Cloud hasn't been able to tap into his Aura to block out the cold since he got here. And there's only so much a former SOLDIER can endure when soaking wet in the middle of winter. Then again, it's not like it's a far walk to the change room either. On his way however, before he steps inside, he's momentarily distracted by the night sky as he looks up.

Long enough for him to bump into someone while he's walking. Apologies in advance if he knocked you over or made you stumble? ]

Sorry.

⦿ Trial and Icy Errors ⦿

[ It wasn't like Cloud was armed to the teeth with Materia prior to arriving in Avalon. Unbeknownst to the blond for now, he no longer has the ability to tap into his extraordinary powers. Limit Breaks? Gone. The makings of flight that he was learning from a friend? Gone. Even lifting and using his full Fusion Sword was more of a strain than before. Not impossible, but still something he'd need to adjust to until he could figure out a way to get his strength back.

But at least, thanks to his feathery little familiar, Cloud still carried an affinity for elemental magic. Simple enough, right? What better way to practice than with a grandiose snowball fight brought on by the denizens of Camelot. And he's a quick learner too! At first, he wasn't interested in actually partaking in some impromptu snowball fight. That is, until someone(s) decided to provoke him with prismatic snow exploding in his face. Okay. He tried doing things by himself.

Now everyone else was gonna hafta be on the receiving end of him "testing out" his magic. ]

Heads up.

[ A formality at best, considering that he's already thrown the snowball infused with a touch of wind magic. Should it hit, or right before it can make impact? It'll explode with a cloud of glistening rainbow light as your character gets powdered in enchanted snow. ]

⦿ Wildcard ⦿

[ Want a different prompt or something unique? Feel free to make something up! Hit me up via

Clandon or PM if you want too. I ain't picky. ]

( OOC; As a side note, this version of Cloud is from the ending of Advent Children Complete, with CRAU from Prismatica! Hence references to things like the city of Lunatia or Aura (a power from the RWBY-verse that he obtained but no longer has.) )

Edited 2020-12-05 10:53 (UTC)

[Rin would dodge after words like that but she's so surprised by recognizing the voice and seeing him, that she gets hit by it instead. Surely she looks so surprised just because of the snow effects! Of course! Why else would she look like that?

Cloud! Here?! No, Rin doesn't expect him to remember Lunatia so she tries to look like she doesn't recognize him... Not that it's working very well but hell, she is more used to losing people back home and in that city too and what are the odds of more people from there showing up anyway??? Maybe Rin shouldn't be like 99% sure that anyone appears here without memories from there, but--. If people actually remember that place then life is less disappointing that way?

So, anyway...

Huff! He really managed hit her with that snowball? This means war as if this competitive girl hasn't been here like she's challenging everyone to this snow war..]

You really shouldn't have done that. Stay still.

[... Who would stay still in some of the situations, where she has said that?? Too bad for Cloud but Rin has kinetic magic, so she is pointing a finger(gun) at him and she's about to throw three snow balls at once!! Maybe at least one of them will hit, who knows, she is still getting used to her new magic so none of them hitting their target is possible too.]

[ Having already come to terms with the very real possibility that he arrived from Prismatica alone, it didn't make the initial sting any less potent. Maybe that was another reason why he was so quick to retaliate with this snowball fight. A distraction. Something... Anything to help him keep his mind off the past until the day came to a close and he was left to wonder what was next for everyone. It was indiscriminate, the way he hurled his snowball at the unsuspecting Rin.

...

... .... ..... — ]

!

[ His breath catches in his throat when the realization hits him. Even when covered in beautiful prismatic snow, there's no mistaking that face. Her hair...especially that voice. Whether he's thinking about if the Tohsaka heir remembers him or not, his answer would have likely been the same in the end. It's the first person he's recognized since he got here... ]

Rin? -[-NOTIME. kjdhfas Instinctively, he tilts his head as a snowball wizzes by him, only to be met with another one smacking him dab in the center of the face. It's enough to send him reeling a step back, but nothing serious like falling over either. That's one way to be greeted...

Says the guy who already covered her in snow in kind. Grimacing, he wipes the glittering snow off his face, feeling the tension leave his shoulders as he tries to call out for her again. ...hopefully with less snowballs to the face unless provoked some more. ]

Is that you?

[If this had been Rin's first month here, and especially if she had arrived alone, a snowball war would be a great distraction for her too. Apparently now it's a challenge and another war, that she's aiming to win!

She gasps and her heart may just skip a beat, when Cloud obviously knows who she is. What a relief, no need to pretend like she has no idea who he is or like she's never met another Cloud before. It's not like she couldn't do that but she's really glad to know she doesn't have to!]

Oh, so you do recognize me!

[Rin's taking notes about how they hit or miss and she's not even trying to hide her amusement, when that snowball hits his face. Welcome to this world, Cloud! She doesn't aim more at him, at least not for now, maybe they can talk a little first. Instead she relaxes and smiles at him.]

Who else would I be? [Technically she could be Ishtar but nope, she's not.] Hello, Cloud.

[ The gasp that escapes her isn't lost on the blond. He might not have a keen sense of smell anymore, and his senses altogether feel duller compared to when he was a wolf. But he can at least listen to instinct. For all intents and purposes, Cloud could have been reaching out to someone who didn't have the foggiest idea who he was. Then he would have had to explain to yet another version of her. It wouldn't be the first time... After all, a girl he met long ago had apparently known Cloud from a different world herself. Not to mention the likes of Roxas and Sora knowing a version of him...

Good thing Cloud and Rin get to cut out any and all complications as she smiles back at him. He doesn't drop his basket, but he sets it to rest on his arm as his expression softens. A slightly shaken sigh leaves him too. Familiarity... It's a good start. And good company to boot. ]

H-Hey, Rin.

[ If she winds up pelting him with snowballs for this, he'll take the hits. Cloud's more keen on closing that distance between them as the snow crunches beneath his feet. ]

When'd you get here?

[He is cute with his softer faces and everything else. No wonder Rin can almost still hear Cu teasing her about having (had) a crush on him... She'll keep denying that but she can't deny being glad to see Cloud. But she would say the same about many Lunatia, not just about him!!

Cloud is coming closer. Goooood. He is welcome to come as close as he wants to... Her basket is on the ground now because she wants to see how well or badly they fly from there. Closing their distance is a very good priority, she is not throwing more snow at him yet. She is far more tempted to hug but that can wait for now.]

Last month with all of the other first arrivals. That means you're late.

[More like that means she thought she would never see him again... but she never disappeared from Lunatia at all either. Her command seals are gone and all of her Cordis stuff are gone too, of course.]

Cloud Strife | Final Fantasy VII

Trial and icy errors!!

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prelude

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Springs A

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Ice

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Trial and icy errors

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