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

[liveandforgive]

Okay. She definitely fought through hell prepared. Or...got prepared, anyway. Judging by its shape and the density of the barrel, that's some sort of grenade launcher. Even across worlds, weaponry remains relative to Cloud; it doesn't hurt that he used to be in the military, seen, used and fought against his fair share of guns as well. It's unspoken, but even if he knows nothing about this lady, he's glad she's not stuck there. ...even if the multiverse was on the brink of collapsing outside this realm.

"Hm?" He blinks, his gaze drifting back to the tall blade when she asks. Guess he found the outlier when it came to weapons between them.

"It's real," said so plainly. Like he's used to carrying it like it was nothing. In most circumstances, he is. "... not that it'll do me any good here yet."

A frown mars his lips as he stares down at his right hand, giving it a couple flexes.

"Second I got here, I had to practically drag it around."

[cameprepared]

"And...why is that?"

Claire sets aside the grenade launcher, her heavy riot weapon looted from a broken police locker, and frowns at the giant sword.

"Something happen when you landed? You don't look injured."

Powers, supernatural or otherwise, are a completely foreign concept to Claire's worldview. Other than Birkin and Mr. X, she's not dealt with super strength at all.

[liveandforgive]

"No." Cloud shakes his head. At least he's less broken up over that. He can deal and adapt. There's so much he has to do still... "Nothing like that."

That's when he decides to get up from his bed, slowly making his way over towards the corner where the Fusion Sword rests.

"Not sure if there's people like me where you're from." His hand flexes around the handle of his blade. "I used to be part of an elite military group called SOLDIER. I'm what you'd call enhanced."

With some effort and a furrow of his brow, the muscles in his arm tense as he lifts the blade up with some considerate effort. No, he's not about to start swinging the thing around. At least the roof is tall enough as he pulls it up as he turns to face Claire, resting the blade along his shoulder.

[cameprepared]

Claire's brow furrows at the mention of the word 'Enhanced' because she can only think of one or two examples of such a thing. Superheroes from comic books are an obvious thought but her mind, frazzled as it is, skims over to the G-Virus Infected. William Birkin, specifically, but also that strange trench coated creature that'd hunted her.

"Enhanced how...?" she asks warily, eyeing him up and down. Nothing hostile, but more concerned than anything.

"The handful of enhancements I've seen at home typically have some pretty gnarly side effects."

[liveandforgive]

Cloud can see the wariness on her face. He can't begin to imagine what it must be like to be trapped in a zombie apocalypse... He isn't about to try anytime soon either; seems like the sooner they moved on, the better. Besides, ghosts and zombies and other things of the horrific variety weren't exactly the blond's cup of tea.

"Experiments gone wrong, huh?" Hojo and Umbrella would have either been bedfellows or the worst of enemies...

"Guess to keep it plain, members of SOLDIER get infused with energy pulled straight from the Planet. Mako. Super strength, speed, reflexes, durability..."

He doesn't get far with the Fusion Sword on his shoulder however. He never thought he'd be trying to carry around a giant sword in a bathrobe. Carefully bringing it off his shoulder and back against the wall, he calmly makes his way over to Claire. Though he stops a good few feet from her as he puts a hand on his hip, half frowning.

"Only real side effect is your eyes glow a little, thanks to the Mako."

But as he looks to Claire, as blue as his eyes were, that 'glow' he speaks about...isn't there anymore. Cloud's skimping over certain details. Like how he's a special case with Jenova cells inside of him. Or how members of SOLDIER degrade over time quicker than ordinary humans. Time will tell if it's those alien cells in his DNA are what keep him from that same shortlived fate. He is only 25, after all.

[cameprepared]

A lot of that kind of goes over Claire's head, but separating the Proper Nouns from the rest for context makes sense. Infused with some sort of essential oils is what she gets out of it, but the talk of glow makes her think Radium or something. He doesn't seem to be glowing, and he doesn't seem to be sick, or mutating or anything, so some of the wary tension in her jaw releases.

"...So like, I dunno, super soldiers?"

She's moving that direction, to Captain America and away from Mr. X, and that's good. One is a lot nicer to think about. Though at the same time, that was what Umbrella was trying to make, wasn't it?

"You work for a government, or a corporation, or...?"

[liveandforgive]

The caveat of hailing from different planets, it seems. But Cloud's not all too concerned. It's also the reason why he doesn't go into excessive detail either. While he's become less guarded than before, that didn't mean he wouldn't or shouldn't go blabbing everything to the next person he sees. Still, if they're all going to be in this together...whatever the King had in mind for them, that is, better leaving enough on the table.

"...So like, I dunno, super soldiers?"

"Bingo."

He crosses his arms as she asks whether he works for a government or corporation. Not sure where that connection lies, but he may as well be truthful. After all, it's not like he actually made it in SOLDIER. It's a convenient story when crossing paths with those like Claire.

"Not anymore. I quit." A beat. "I ran a delivery operation."

Though speaking of occupations...

"And what about you, Claire? Looks like you know your way around a gun or few."

[cameprepared]

"Good on you."

She's pretty glad to hear that. Government is a thing she's wary of after the previous night, hearing about their involvement with Umbrella. And corporation to hear means mercenary security. Which is a whole other can of worms for her right now. Thanks Umbrella.

She cocks an eyebrow at the question about her. What about her?

Can we just go back to not talking about me? she wonders to herself. She is no super soldier. She isn't even really all that special. Just someone who was looking for family, and happened to get involved in some deep shit.

"I'm a student. Just...going to school, figuring life out. But, my brother was a cop. And he was in the air force before that. So, he taught me how to shoot and handle firearms. Even the police issue stuff."

Like this grenade launcher. That will have to be retconned later since mods didn't approve it.

[liveandforgive]

Whether he was expecting some elaborate story or unique background or not, Cloud stands to lean beside the window by her bed, arms crossed as he quietly listens. All things considered, it sounds like Claire was just trying to do her thing. Live a normal life. After everything he's been through, while he can't go back and change it all, and just keep moving forward? Part of him envies that.

It's part of the reason why Tifa and him were trying to start all over in Edge to begin with. As a family. After the fighting was done. Why someone of his talents and, blatantly speaking, absurd power, settled down as some delivery boy. He speaks warmly when she finishes explaining.

"Sounds like it came through in a pinch."

One helluva pinch if the monstrosities he assumed she faced was any indication.

[cameprepared]

"Definitely kept me going, yeah."

She chuckles softly, setting aside the big gun and flopping back onto the bed to stare up at the ceiling. Puffing out a breath, she goes on...

"I'm worried about the people I was with, though. We'd just left Raccoon City, and everything seemed okay, and then I was here. No Leon, no Sherry, and shit...I'd just told Sherry I'd take care of her."

Adopt her, really, since she was maybe 13. And very, very small.

"Time's frozen or something they say, but that's a big Question Mark from me."

[liveandforgive]

While he's not about to forget the name Leon, Claire zeroing in on Sherry gets Cloud's focus too as he crosses his arms, brow furrowed slightly. The only reason he doesn't ask if they're okay is the fact they apparently left Raccoon City. If that was the hellhole that was infested with zombies, then hopefully they'd put the worst of it behind them. Was Sherry some kid?

"After what I've been through, I'm inclined to believe it."

Might as well rip the bandaid off now as far as what Cloud's seen. Approaching 'science fiction' levels of bullshit was always fun to try and break down for others. The first time he got that spiel, it was from someone who said they knew him from another world, then hopped to the last one he was in and- just. ???

"The last place I was at had time stopped for everyone too. So far as I can remember, this is the second planet away from mine I've been taken to."

[cameprepared]

Second? Well jeez. That's confusing and weird, surely.

"And is that just normal then? If this is the second, with frozen time, that makes a pattern, yeah?"

She isn't sure if it counts, or if it really is, but she's hopeful. She's also still seriously worried about Sherry and Leon, but that fear isn't going away anytime soon.

[liveandforgive]

"When you put it like that..." Yeah. Claire seems to be onto something. If what they've surmised is true, maybe she can take solace in the pause in time. He lets out a terse yet amused little huff. Even coming from a world like his where magic and spirits were the norm, he can still see how all of this sounded very hokey.

"I dunno about you, but I'm saving thinking about all this for tomorrow."

Tackle everything with a fresh head. But talking about time, theories, parallel universes? That's just. Brain scrambling.