TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 10

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ SUMMARY: New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there. 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 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 still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. 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. (Though.. given how hot and muggy the weather is this first week, maybe you might want to ask him to toss you right back into the lake where the waters are still cool.) *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. 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 and a pair of ear buds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of 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 whole coconuts filled with tropical drinks and topped with tiny umbrellas. Strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, margaritas, mai tais, and more... all frosty and in the spirit of keeping you cool during the sunny month of August. (Naturally, virgin editions are available for the underaged.) 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. SUMMARY: The first attempt at using the mounts to travel en-masse up to fae territory is filled with problems: mandrake sprouts caused by recent murders drumming up requests to dig them up, two titanic creatures face off in the lake and catch characters in a maelstrom, and a mysterious underwater town with a strange curse being good neighbors with a last minute save... at a slight risk: becoming a merperson, naga, or cecaelian for a little while. With communications with Elphame in Celliwig disrupted by specters and Arthur temporarily decommissioned, the Hall of Mirrors is temporarily off limits for cleansing rituals. Celliwig has encouraged people to return to Camelot for the time being, which is just as well with all the newcomers flooding in. Last month's new arrivals through the old guard got an introduction to the new aquatic mounts and there are now plenty of people versed in how to handle and work with the magical alpacapies, mossatees, and deinosuchus. As scout parties head out further, there are a few problems that they've run into that need a helping hand from Camelot's otherworldly population. A ⦿ A Mandraconian Task Just as volunteers are asked to bring supplies for the journey to fae territory, a series of grisly murders involving strung up corpses appears around town (see this month's quest, "Not-So-Good Morning" for more details), and the dripping blood and fluids of these corpses seeps into the ground to give birth to strange, leafy plants that sprout leaves in all directions at once. They're small, and the locals seem weary of them, but ultimately they're breaking up pathways and making them into trip hazards... the locals recognize these plants as mandrake root, which is known in different cultures for... very different things. The mandrake root is a cursed plant that screams in a way that curdles blood enough to kill small creatures if they're too close and make a grown person go deaf. The reason anyone would pull them up however... well, their magical properties are astounding. It is said that Joan of Arc carried one in her possession to give her the power to take control of her own fate. Some religions claim that it has the ability to restore a person's fertility, and before clever manufacturers started using the name for tomatoes, Islamic tradition called the "apples of the jinn" and cause strong bouts of lust. Needless to say, a good many people are cautious about pulling them up, but more than willing to offer a fair sum of money to a newcomer who can get them out of the ground. The cause of their sprouting may be tragic, but there's no way that you're going to make it through town center with trip supplies without getting pulled aside and asked to help harvest the mandrake roots for a pretty penny... or maybe you're interested yourself. Either way, it may behoove you to practice a little magic with a friend to try to get them up. B ⦿ Clash of the Titans Finally everyone has gotten going and a mixture of brave Camelot citizens, Celliwigians, and otherworlders have headed back to Albion's White Cliffs to take off with their mounts (and partners... you're going to have to ride with someone, there aren't enough mounts for everyone to get their own!) and things are going well. It's about two days into the waters of Lake Avalon that things start to send a chill down your spine. Back on land, even for the first two days there, the weather had been hot and sunny, a beautiful summery start to August, but as the party starts to approach the southern banks of Dinas Emrys, they see a gargantuan beast run at bewildering speeds off the land and straight across the surface of the lake. The creature appears to be some kind of centipede formed of black clouds and lightning that illuminates its exoskeleton from inside of its body in deep purple and blue hues. Each of its legs kicks up a titanic wave headed straight for the party of explorers as it charges towards its target, what appears to be a tsunami wave containing a dark, shadowy figure emerging at least twenty stories above the water. The only part of it that isn't black are the blank, soulless eyes. As the lightning bug monster charges what some may recognize as an umibozu, it crashes into the tsunami wave and all three fall asunder... which is bad news for the traveling party, as the waters are now extremely choppy and lighting up with charges of the centipede's lightning. The result? As the two monsters dive down below the water, a maelstrom forms in their path and starts sucking everyone down! C ⦿ Fresh Waters Anyone who manages to escape the maelstrom will find that their mounts aren't moving forward this time around and are heading back where they came from, even with lost supplies. You may find yourself having to switch mounts with others nearby or talking to a strange beachball on the back of the alpacapie that's carrying your ass back to the White Cliffs... Or if you weren't so lucky, you may find yourself waking up on a slightly different shore. An underwater shore. An underwater town, in fact. After the initial panic of realizing that you're not drowning when you wake up settles in, you'll realize that you seem to be able to breathe underwater just fine. In fact, the real panic is probably about to start when you realize that like the fine people of this town that saved you, you've been temporarily gifted gills and a bottom lower half of either a merperson, a naga, or a cecaelia. Your caretaker, a nurse of the local town, offers the explanation that the only way to save everyone from drowning was to pull them into their territory, which is cursed to turn them all into sea monsters. Not to worry though, as long as you leave before the sun sets on the third day, you'll turn back to normal just fine. ...Though, they're not really sure when that was or if they battle is over, so you should probably find your friends and any possessions you had with you and start heading toward the surface. Not too much time to explore this strange, underwater town... especially since you don't have much practice not having legs to get you up to the surface. Don't worry, if you don't make it out in time, the Lady of the Lake will come fetch you... though perhaps not in time, so you may need to spend some time back in Camelot seeking out someone to break a curse. SUMMARY:After the recent event, people need to recover and heal. So Camelot's castle opens its doors for an open house, a swap meet and poetry battle auction, and a healing circle ritual. Arthur is injured and recovering, and news has spread on social media about it. There are lots of well-wishers and gifts being sent to the castle... enough that there's just too much for Arthur to do anything with it. He needs time to recover and rest and not be bothered, and as such declares that all those who need it shall share in the wealth and generosity of those wishing him well. The abundance (Especially from guilty Celliwigians who didn't realize what was happening right under their own noses) results in a few things happening... A ⦿ Open House Camelot's castle halls open up to all those who would like to come. Invitations are sent and a feast is prepared. A huge table with all manner of foods from different cultures is prepared. The only thing they ask is that you stay out of the wing of the castle that Arthur is resting in, as he is not available right now. Try new foods made from recipes from all around the different worlds or invite yourself to use the castle's royal public baths, remodeled from more ancient styles to include cool things like old architecture mixing with jacuzzi jets and waterfall shower rooms. There's even a water slide. It's more a water park than anything... Explore the library (except for the forbidden section, which has a very powerful magical barrier preventing entry-- even trying to tamper with it could result in your character glowing colors by their mood as punishment for messing with the magic). Those are dangerous texts in there! There's even a live show with a magician! Which sounds lame, but he's more or less showing off his skills in tricks, knife skills, and has a mean comedy routine to go with it. He's even willing to teach lucky volunteers how to escape death-defying stunts... hopefully. You may want to bring a buddy for backup. Or perhaps you're more interested in heading out to explore the rose gardens or finding a place to stay for the evening... don't worry, if you've had too much to drink or simply tired yourself out, you're welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms during this open house celebration. B ⦿ Swap Meet Not interested in exploring the castle? Well perhaps you'll enjoy the open-market bazaar that seems to have set up in the courtyard. All kinds of oddities are being exchanged in the castle courtyard and you may just find something rare.. or maybe it's a piece of crap. It's hard to tell, and the chances of getting swindled are just as high as the chances of getting an antique masterpiece. There is an auction for those willing to pay more for authenticity, but auctions in Camelot go a little bit differently... to win art, you must first prove yourself worthy of art-- all bid submissions must be performed in stanza. Haikus, rap, short poems-- all are valid, as long as they follow the rules of your chosen form of poetry and express why your bid deserves the win. The last person to falter wins their right to pay their bid, with at least 10,000G upped with each poetic rebuttal. C ⦿ Healing Circle After Party It's good to take care of yourself with a little fun, but if you're still stressed, hurt, traumatized, mildly upset, hung over, or just want to feel better about yourself, consider joining in some of the local witches and wizards in a meditative healing ritual. Step one: Gather herbs from the castle gardens. They've got all kinds, but you're looking for things like yarrow, apple blossoms, cinnamon, and lemon balm. Once you've gathered your herbs, join in the silent meditation circle with an available partner. Anyone is fine, but once you've entered the circle with someone, it's very important that you do not make any noise. Silence is important, and as you burn each of your herbs with your partner, you'll find that the smoke forms a barrier that surrounds the two of you. Put your hands together, and focus on the source of your pain. You will share your emotions with the person you're performing the spell with. They will feel everything you feel in that moment, and be able to share the burden without having to speak of or share what caused this pain. With the pain lightened, you will find that the smoke lights up and dissipates up at the top. Whether or not you choose to share with your newfound partner... well, that's up to you, but they sure are going to know how you're feeling right now, and that definitely wasn't warned about when you were asked to join the healing circle. 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 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.

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Garnet til Alexandros XVII | Final Fantasy IX | Animal + Healing

[flewfromthecage]

1) A Mandraconian Task

[Mandragora are not unfamiliar to Garnet, being a native plant not far outside of Alexandria. The matter of their screams, too, are... unfortunately true, at least as far as she is aware. Though it seems to be known slightly differently here, she quickly makes the connection, and decides she may as well give it a try. Her magic doesn't appear to be very helpful in this situation, as they are plants rather than animals, but... how hard can it be?

Very hard, as she soon learns, having to drop the roots to cover her ears at least three times the second they start screaming bloody murder in her hands. There must be an easier way, right?

...Wait. Didn't they get some sort of device that goes inside your ears when they got here? If they put on sounds to mitigate the screams, perhaps...

She pauses for a few moments to fumble with her smartphone again, and then hesitates, turning to her nearest neighbor for help.]

Ah-- pardon me, but how does one make music play through this device again...? I think it may help to drown out the sound.

2) Open House

[Having taken deep interest in Camelot's castle right from the start, Garnet is eager to explore as much of the grounds as she can. She samples foods; she examines the various rooms; she browses the library's stock... she even peers in on the baths, though seems to hesitate to actually join in herself, as they are not fully private. Not to mention the time she spends in the rose garden, feeling at ease, like her mother is there watching over her.

When she finally encounters the magician, she is captivated by his movements in a way that is hard to describe. Reminded deeply of Zidane, of the things he was capable of doing... Maybe if he were here, he'd be able to pick up some of those tricks, too. Though her heart aches a bit, she asks to be shown some more, and the magician is more than willing to oblige her.

...So much so, in fact, he somehow talks her into assisting for his next show! He does notice how comfortable she appears to be on stage, despite not having a script to follow, and is quick to rope her in for some demonstrations.

But he requires another volunteer from the audience for this one. Given the task of choosing, Garnet scans the small crowd to look for any eligible faces...]

3) Swap Meet

[Being a fresh arrival, she has little in the way of resources on her. Even if she did try her hand at the verses the auctioneers requested, she wouldn't be able to afford anything. Despite being royalty herself, she is more than aware of her status right now, where that means essentially nothing; so in order to cover the expenses right now, Garnet decides to address someone who may or may not be looking on with a glimmer in their eye likewise. Perhaps if she's shrewd about it...]

Excuse me, but were you eying one of the pieces? If you would like to work together, I am quite good at poetry and verse, but I've no money to afford any of the things on offer right now...

[OOC: Wildcards also more than welcome! If you want to plot something specific, PM me or hmu at crystalzero.]

2

[tantailizing]

[Zidane had wanted to see what was up with the castle, and hey, them opening up at least meant he wasn't planning on breaking in anymore. Seemed weird to him that they decided to spruce everything up for the public, but whatever, put their best foot forward. He wouldn't mind seeing it in its normal state another day.]

[Walking past the magic show, seems weird there's a magician at all, but a magician is an entertainer - even among people who could use magic in this world.]

[However, his show doesn't make him double take, but who's on the stage looking for another volunteer. Blinking, he grins and slips himself into the crowd, sneaking his way closer before raising his hand. Well, didn't this feel a little reversed.]

Over here~!

[flewfromthecage]

[A precious few seconds pass as she registers what she's seeing, but when she does, she smiles, gesturing at Zidane. Truth be told, it takes all her willpower not to just fly off the stage and into his arms as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.]

The blond gentleman with the tail, if you please?

[Something in that smile says she might have something up her sleeve, though. The magician pats her on the shoulder and compliments her choice, then glances at Zidane.

"Fan of knives, are you? Fancy doing something dangerous with those?"]

[tantailizing]

[Believe him, it’s also taking a significant amount of willpower on his end not to just maybe ‘borrow’ the magician’s temporary assistant and making a show of that. Grinning, he’ll get on stage though.]

Why thank you for picking me, Miss Lovely Assistant~

[He miiight be staring at her too much but when the magician comes and asks his question, he nods.]

What gave it away? Sure, what can I do ya for?

[He chuckles.]

[flewfromthecage]

[The magician draws out a set of four numbered cardboard boxes, small enough to be crushed with enough force but tall enough to comfortably house the knife standing up. He arranges them on the table.

"When we leave the stage, pick any box to stick your knife under. Point up, if you please. Then we're going to have the lady choose an envelope with a set of three numbers, completely at random, and she's going to smash the boxes with those numbers. We will of course show the audience what comes out of the cards. Oh, and feel free to inspect them for any marks or tells if it suits you, by the way!"

For her part, Garnet seems pretty at ease with the whole thing, like she already knows what's going on. It seems dangerous on its face, right? But she has confidence it'll work out, for one reason or another.]

1

[roseofmay]

[Instead of entertaining the silly notions that this world comes with, Beatrix would prefer to do things her own way, though Garnet's approach is likely superior if not a bit roundabout. From the very first moment mandragoras entered the equation, Alexandria's general has been on the ready, hand settled atop the pommel of her fated sword.]

Your Highness, would it not be more efficient for me to simply cut it down?

[Such brutal things are not fit for royalty and Beatrix would never expect it of Garnet. Given that she is well acquainted with such acts, it seems only natural that she would resort to force. It is paramount that she would keep Garnet's hands clean.]

You hardly have reason to rely on the trinkets of this world when you have me at your beck and call.

[flewfromthecage]

But would the locals not take issue if the roots were delivered damaged?

[If they were just normal mandragoras, sure, but if they're wanted for a purpose... Garnet shakes her head.]

We had to fight a few of them not long after leaving Alexandria for the first time. They are noisy, but harmless once the shrieking is over. What concerns me more...

[She looks down at the soil, crouching down to examine a discolored with a gloved hand. The corpses that had been strung up are long gone by now, but something about the very idea doesn't sit right with her. Alexandria is not without her share of crime, either, but a public display like what was described? The perpetrator would be executed so quickly their head would spin.]

There was mention of a string of murders that allowed the plants to take root in the first place. Why would someone do such a thing?

[roseofmay]

[OOC: My disclaimer here is I'm not pulling Beatrix from post-game. Forgive her for mistitling her future queen.]

It is unlikely that their beasts are in finite supply. You need not concern yourself with the petty affairs of these people.

[Leave it to Garnet to concern over the concerns of the locals. A people who aren't even her own. It's noble, but foolish. On the other hand, Beatrix's obligation has always been to Alexandria first. She personally can't see any reason aside from political diplomacy that might benefit catering to Camelot whims.

Garnet's desire to get involved leaves her immediate attendant on a wary edge. At the end of it all, her word is law and Beatrix will move at her command.]

Princess— [Beatrix pauses but a moment before she shakes her head.] These are not the sorts of things you ought to be involving yourself in. The reasons for a murder are vast, much less a string of them.

npnp!

[flewfromthecage]

[Garnet opens her mouth to respond; closes it, then tries again. That is true, but...]

They may not be my people to take care of, but I think the coin would be useful for us. The treasury of Alexandria is not something at our disposal right now, after all.

[And it's no secret that money is a powerful thing, especially when you have little left of it. She stands up and brushes her gloves clean.]

We are no more than regular citizens here. If the murders continue, it is true there will be no shortage of mandragoras to go around, but if it means we must behave as regular citizens and lend a hand, then lend a hand we shall.

1

[eikobby]

You could just sing to them.

[Perhaps using the smartphone would be easier or more efficient, but if they're trying to play music, wouldn't it be better to cut out the middle man entirely?

It'd be just as simple and straightforward for Eiko herself to do it, but since Garnet is the one who suggested it, she doesn't feel bad about making the suggestion.]

Or we could do it together.

[She could also just answer the question, though where would be the fun in that?]

[flewfromthecage]

[Garnet makes an "oh" expression, perking up from where she'd been glancing at the screen. That would be the easier way, wouldn't it?]

I would like that. But we may have to be quite loud to drown it out effectively. Or perhaps...

[They may be plants, but would singing really soothe them? She looks to Eiko and nods.]

I think it's worth a try. We'll start singing first, and then pull up the root and see what happens?

Open House

[dragon_slaaaaaaave]

Lina is seated near the front, trying to stifle a yawn. She thought this thing was gonna be catered, but instead it's complete amateur hour with this "sorcerer".

Maybe she should just sneak off now and try to find the treasure vault that's got to be tucked away somewhere while everyone's busy with this dog and pony show...

[flewfromthecage]

And spotting an apparently unimpressed audience member is just compelling enough for Garnet to walk up to Lina and tap her on the shoulder. "This lady, if you do not mind. Perhaps a demonstration would provide more engagement?"

Trotting back up onto the stage, she glances at the magician for further instruction, who addresses Lina next. "You must want to heat things up a little up here, is that right? Have you any trinkets on you that I can play with, by any chance? A handkerchief, or something of that sort?"

[dragon_slaaaaaaave]

"Hey, what?" Lina blinks in surprise as the tap on the shoulder brings her out of her reverie. "Wait a second, I didn't—" But the crowd is cheering expectantly, and at the end of the day she does love the spotlight. Besides, things might get more interesting now, so she lets herself be led up onto the stage, crossing her arms over her chest and quirking an eyebrow. This guy has noooooo idea who he's dealing with. "All right, all right, let's see what you've got." She shoots Garnet an amused glance as she says this.

When asked for a trinket, after a moment Lina reaches up and unties the black headband she wears. "Fine, you can use this. Here ya go." She tosses it idly to Garnet, putting a little more flourish into the action than strictly necessary. "I'm gonna want that back, by the way!" Party tricks are one thing buddy, but no funny business.

[flewfromthecage]

As if knowing something she doesn't, the magician grins when handed the item. Then, with a flick of the wrist, the fabric flashes as if catching fire, dissolving away and leaving behind only a small plume of smoke. He shows off his sleeves and hands, just to prove it's not stuffed up inside, either.

Garnet laughs quietly to herself, clapping and making a whispered comment to Lina. "Oh dear. Your headband seems to have become his hostage..."

1 Mandraconian Task

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh! Yeah, I can help you! I had a hard time figuring these things out at first too.

[Darin holds his hands out for the device so he can give Garnet a quick rundown on how the apps on the device work.]

That's a pretty good idea. Don't know if they have Mandragoras in your world but they're not fun.

[flewfromthecage]

Oh!

[It's pretty straightforward once he shows her how to do it. Ah, but it would make sense to just push the button that says "music," wouldn't it?]

Thank you for your assistance. There's quite a lot to put on, however... should I just pick something at random?

[She puts the buds in her ears, though they remain silent as of right now as she deliberates.]

We do have them, yes. And they are quite similar to the ones here, if a little more animated. But they are also easy to dispose of with fire magic. I never knew they had magical properties like what are being described, however...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hm...well, why not find something you like? What type of music do you listen to back home?

Well...I don't have elemental magic and honestly, I'd feel bad setting something on fire that can, you know...

Scream.

Back home, we used to deal with them by putting them to sleep. If we had wind magic we could lower the oxygen content until they pass out...

[flewfromthecage]

Putting them to sleep... I never considered that.

[It's far more useful an idea when one aims to collect them instead of kill them, of course. Vivi had always been able to quickly put them down before they started screeching, but it never occurred to her to ask if they had medicinal use. Though as far as medicine goes, it seems less... essential than some concoctions.]

I don't think I'm capable of wind magic here, or so I've been told. So the music idea will have to do. Normally, I am partial to things that are softer and slower in tempo, but for this, I think something a little louder and more animated might be better.

[Figuring out how to look at the available genres, she doesn't recognize any of them. She might just have to figure out how to pick something at random... or whatever happens to be the top song on there.]

1

[angelolatry]

Oh! The....um, phones? We didn't have anything like this at home. They're pretty amazing! But ah, I guess, if we find some music that way to drown out the noise....

[It just might take her a moment before she finishes fumbling with it, even after months of being here, to find the music app and put a song on. And putting up the volume of it to hopefully be loud enough they won't be bothered by the mandrake's bawling. Hopefully. It might make it more difficult to talk but she can at least try to help out somehow like this. Colette then glances to Garnet in checking if she needs help in dealing with the Mandrake or if she has it covered now with this assistance of the noise.]

[flewfromthecage]

[Garnet follows suit, copying what Colette does. Then, adjusting the volume -- too loud, too soft... there.

Now, to test it. She grabs one by the leaves and pulls, loosening it from its spot rooted in the ground and waiting for the scream. And it's... still loud, but actually tolerable like this. Turning back to Colette, she nods in affirmation, saying something that gets half-drowned by all the sound input, but that looks by her lip movements like "it works!"

A pause, and she removes the earbuds, glancing down at the phone again and squinting.]

This music... it's different, but not unpleasant. What is it, exactly?

[angelolatry]

Ah, I'm sure Ochako might know more about the music. I think what they have there, here? It's a little different to back home because Sylvarant wasn't this advanced and all. To play music like this.

[Honestly she just had it play some random song so she herself might not even be so sure on the name of it for that matter. It's probably only thanks to Ochako playing music at her birthday party that Colette is aware phones can do this even. But the important thing is that this seems to be working. That there is some sort of way to deal with the mandrake's crying.]

3

[morganknight]

Oh, well! I have money and delivery but no talent for lyrics in the slightest! [Morgan claps his hands together, quite pleased with this turn of affairs.] I thought things were looking bad for me there, but now they're looking... verse?

[Eh? Eh?]

[flewfromthecage]

[Oh... oh. Garnet blinks, the corners of her lips quirking slightly. Yes, that was bad, but she's not about to say it out loud, at least.]

Perhaps I can help with that, then. I haven't seen anything that has stood out to me, but I would like to participate anyway. Is there anything you have your eye on?

[morganknight]

Oh yeah, check that out.

[Morgan points to a large tapestry, the sort of thing decorated with highly-stylized figures all surrounding a central symbol.]

That'd look great in my dojo! What about you?