avalaughs | 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

A brow arches high into the fringe of the adolescent's hair. It's a bold assumption, to be certain, that either one of them will prove to be pleasant company for the other, complete strangers as they are.

Or perhaps it's just a bold homage to clichés spouted by people who want to be chummy.

"And what would you define as pleasant company?" Walter asks, genuinely curious.

"Riveting conversation. I talk, you listen. Mayhap you could even participate! I don't mind," he says facetiously, waving a hand. "Or I'm sure a boy like you has some interesting stories of your own to tell. You don't seem to act the same way others your age do."

Although it does become rather hard to tell age after a certain point. He thinks they're on the younger side of a mortal lifespan. That is assuming they are mortal, of course.

The brow arches ever higher. Somehow, he feels like he's being challenged.

Well then, challenge accepted.

"Well, if it's conversation you want, participation would be a necessity, wouldn't you agree? Else it would just be a riveting monologue."

His lips stretch into the hint of a smirk, the youth lifting a hand out before him. "Then again, I'm sure a man of advanced years like you has some interesting stories to tell yourself."

His lips curve into an amused smile. Ah, this one has some promise.

"Indeed. But I think we ought to save that for the journey ahead. 'Tis no small distance from here to the Red Spring." With that, he sweeps a slightly mocking bow, gesturing to the cliff face. "Would you care to do the honours?"

"I thought you were the one offering to escort me. Isn't this the opposite of that?" So he says, but he's already striding towards said cliff face, completely unbothered by the idea of being the one in the lead.

"Here you are, oh cliff-dwelling one. I've brought someone with me now, and I have your gift." He drops into an easy crouch, setting the shell down at the base. "Will you let us in so we can help with the ritual for the coming solstice?"

He trails after the boy, folding his arms as he gazes up at the white cliff face. The 'beast' that roams its surface reaches down to accept the gift, and soon enough, a dark hole yawns open. The entrance to the cave.

"Well, that was easy," he remarks. "Let's see what awaits us inside, shall we?"

Without hesitation, he takes the first step inside. The sharp contrast of light and dark makes it nigh impossible to see anything for a while, so he steps carefully and uses a hand to keep track of the wall.

With the other man taking the lead now, Walter follows suit, fingers brushing against the wall, just barely grazing along its surface.

It is indeed dark. But the older fellow seems sure enough of himself, so he doesn't produce his lighter; he doesn't have elemental or light magic, so he feels it better to conserve the fuel inside for now. However, he does make a mental note to go look for a replacement fuel among the shops later.

"So," he begins after a time of silence has stretched between them, "How is it that you ended up out here if you weren't planning on participating in the ritual to begin with?"

"Hmm? Oh." He shrugs even though the boy likely can't see it. "I heard talk of it and decided to accompany some...shall we say acquaintances? Here. I know not where they are now. Being helpful I suppose."

Perhaps it IS a little too dark, come to think of it. He closes his eyes (it's not like they were being helpful right now anyway) and continues to carefully feel his way through by hand. Usually, such caves would develop some bioluminescence or other forms of natural light. So, why...?

Ah, because such light must attract predators which hunt for it.

"What of yourself? Did you just arrive?"

"I was around for a few minutes before you came up to me." Their voices echo oddly against the cave walls, Walter notices. He drops his volume accordingly before continuing, "Like you, I heard word of it circulating among the population here."

In Camelot, he means.

"Felt like being altruistic, did you? You don't look the type."

Small, sassy, and petulant, but with overweening confidence in whatever combat abilities they had. He wonders where the attitude comes from.

"So you know, I've not the faintest idea where we are supposed to go. The thing in the cliff didn't happen to say where this altar is, did it?"

Edited 2020-12-27 14:20 (UTC)

Doesn't look the type, does he? What type does he look like, Walter wonders.

"Apparently the journey is part of the experience," he replies with another sarcastic quip, "though from what I heard around the city, it should be obvious when we find it."

"Hmm."

With that, he falls silent, focusing on the way forward. If they're supposed to know it when they see it, perhaps he should trust that the tunnel will lead where they need to go. Either way, there's little point worrying about the unknown. Should they wander the dark for too long, he can always turn right around and use his other hand to guide them back out.

Thankfully, it doesn't come to that. The faint glow he spots ahead of them feels like it's a trick of his eyes, but soon enough they come across a softly illuminated cave. The water - and the cups - are waiting for them, along with a sign explaining what to do.

TAKE ONE CUP TO THE SPRING, LEAVE THE REST. SPILL NO DROP. The sign is really emphatic, isn't it?

Drawing to the side of the altar, Walter reaches forward to take up a single cup. Being a butler, and having good balance besides, avoiding a spill feels a simple task even in the dark. "I suppose it means to have us take the water to the Red Springs. There aren't any other springs around, are there?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

Emet-Selch has far less poise, but how hard can it be to avoid spilling a drop? He reaches out to take one of the cups, carefully bringing it close.

"Well, that was uneventful. Hardly as dangerous as was implied."

More like they just got lucky.

Edited 2021-01-08 15:57 (UTC)

Lucky indeed. Though Walter at this point finds himself similarly underwhelmed.

No matter. The job is the job. All they have to do now is finish it.

"So all that's left is to make the rest of the walk without tripping."

The water must be very important. He can't help but wonder a little bit about its nature.

"Shall we make our way out of here?"

"Yes, let's. Would you like to take the lead this time?" he offers with an amused smile.

After leaving the cave, the tricky part would be making it to the Red Spring. It was quite a distance to walk on foot. One could hardly trust a carriage ride to be free of bumps along the way.

Instantly, a smirk blooms over the youth's features. He'd been following well, but the opportunity to do something other than follow is very much welcome.

"If you insist."

Having a good head for navigation, Walter remembers the way they came. The rest of their time in the cave is fortunately uneventful.

As for what happens beyond their going their separate ways, such will be a story for them to tell... or not to tell, whatever their preferences may be.

TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 2

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Sass competition? Sass competition.

may the sassiest win

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Wrapping this up