avalonmods (
avalonmods) wrote in
avalaughs2021-08-01 12:44 am
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 10
![]() Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ ![]()
A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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
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, ![]() C ⦿ The Red Spring
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. ![]()
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.
B ⦿ Clash of the Titans
C ⦿ Fresh Waters
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. ![]()
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...
B ⦿ Swap Meet
C ⦿ Healing Circle After Party
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. |
Katie "Pidge" Holt | VLD | Kinetic Magic + Green Magic; Púca (Prismatica CRAU)
After such an odd introduction to this world, Pidge honestly just wants to get to where she's going to be staying and find a way to relax. Sleep is likely going to be out of the question, but that's not a new development- and it's certainly not because she's been stranded in yet another new world that needs her help.
So being pulled aside on the way to that aforementioned destination is not something she's anticipating. Maybe it's foolish of her, but the look on her face when she turns to the person now blocking her path is a mix of surprise and suspicion.
On the other hand, the promise of a high reward for something she's assuming is a straightforward task is almost too good to pass up. Having just arrived here, the thought of earning herself a nice little chunk of change is enticing. Perhaps someone should try and set her straight before she gets too far ahead of herself.
⦿ Fresh Waters
The last thing she can remember before waking up on this odd shore is riding on a sea creature and being ambushed by what she can only describe as a domestic disturbance gone wrong. Pidge would have liked to think they were fortunate enough to get where they were going, but waking up here makes it pretty obvious that things didn't go the way she would have wanted.
The realization that a: she's now able to breathe underwater and b: she's also part fish as a means of allowing her to be here comes as an even bigger shock. It's not something she's going to complain about, though, because learning to swim was never high on her list of priorities. There weren't many opportunities to do so in space and she was never that worried about it before she ran away from home.
As neat as this new form is, though, she's not keen on staying this way for the rest of her days, so the majority of her time for the next however-many-days will be spent trying to track down her worldly possessions and anyone who might be able to help her get out of here.
⦿ Choose Your Own
[I'm also open to open house, swap meet and healing circle after party prompts, but wasn't feeling inspired enough to write starters for those. People are free to wildcard into them, or hit me up to work something out.
wildcardin' it | open house
...When the food is a small bowl of green glop, though, maybe not so much. "This... can't be meant to be eaten. Not really."
Fortunately, it's not gonna be hard to turn up something that actually looks edible, but in the meantime, Claudia's completely baffled.
no subject
The only possible exception might have to be that bowl of green goo.
"No way... That can't be what I think it is."
What are the odds of someone here deciding that food goo is the best way to go? She's hoping they're not high, but who knows. At any rate, she's not the only one questioning the stuff. Turning, she glances over at the other woman.
"Seems like the chef really outdid themselves."
no subject
But even then, it doesn't smell all that great, either.
no subject
"I feel like babies are too smart to eat food goo."
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
A Mandraconian Task
Rather, she's taking large, slow steps, treading carefully to avoid the plants. As it so happens, she was lucky(?) enough to see someone else uprooting one of the mandrakes, and saw the damage that the little plant wrought. And so, she's giving each one a wide berth, avoiding even the slightest possibility of kicking some dirt aside and unearthing one by mistake.
Unfortunately, with the way these things are scattered, there's some spots where that's easier said than done. "Why are there so many of these things...?"
no subject
Clearly, she needed to be better about not taking these things for granted.
Now isn't the time for that, though, so she waits until the princess has moved a bit closer before shrugging slightly. "I was just wondering the same thing, if I'm being honest."
It seems a bit improbable that there'd be so many, but this world clearly has different rules so there's no telling how many minute differences this place has than what she's used to.
"Have you dealt with them before?"
no subject
There's stories there, but Pidge might have to dig a bit if she wants to hear them. It's a day for digging, evidently.
Allura still seems to prefer avoiding unearthing anything, and she makes her way to a spot that's clear of the roots. "With the way this year has gone, it's a wonder that the forests haven't overtaken the cities by now."
no subject
It's frustrating because, on the one hand, they'd come out here to do a job. But on the other, Allura's brief mention of something else just makes Pidge want to hear more. There's nothing really stopping her from prying for more now, but maybe it would be better to focus on the task at hand and come back to that again later.
Allura's dance is easy enough to pick up, even for someone who isn't much of a dancer. There's a certain utility to it that Pidge appreciates, though, considering she's not looking forward to tripping over the odd plants. Sticking together seems to be the best way to go as well. "Maybe something's holding them back."
no subject
Except Pidge doesn't recall it, obviously. And while she gets the concept, that this is likely a Pidge from a different timeline, there's some part of this situation that her mind is struggling to accept.
It's a conversation for another time. If they start talking about it now, who knows when they'll be done?
"You might be right about that. With all the rituals I've seen so far, it's not a stretch of the imagination that they have something to protect the cities, in case the balance with nature gets disrupted too far. Even worse than the entire city of Camelot getting overgrown, I suppose..."
See? It's a huge, distracting tangent, waiting to happen.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Fresh Waters
no subject
When she spots Keith up ahead, he seems to be having the same sort of luck she's been having. It had taken her quite a while to work out swimming in a straight line. But all in all, Pidge feels like she's making some decent progress. She's even smiling when she approaches.
"So what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"
Ridiculous? Absolutely. But he seems a little frustrated and in need of a distraction, and she's nothing if not willing to provide.
no subject
"Really... Where'd you hear that? Lance?"
Still, Keith was glad to see a familiar face in a weird situation, and secretly even more glad that he wasn't going to be suffering through some weird transformation thing alone. Misery loved company or something, right? He huffed a little.
"You getting the hang of this any better?"
no subject
"Nah. I've always been safe from his lines."
It had irritated her a bit at first, but Pidge has more or less made peace with it by this point.
"You looked like you could use a distraction, though." There were probably better alternatives, but sometimes it's just fun to be a little bratty. As for his question-
"I feel like I'm managing. How about you?"
no subject
"Yeah... though, managing is one thing," he said. "A distraction might not be the best idea? I just..." He frowned. "Without us knowing how long we've been stuck underwater and all that, I don't wanna get stuck here long enough that we end up cursed to be like this for a while. Three days isn't exactly a long time. I just want to get myself to the point where I can swim fast enough to break the temporary part of the spell... I can come back for my stuff later."
Really... he could. He could turn into different animals, after all.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
WILDCARD | Swap Meet
But the bazaar? That was practically a second home for the blacksmith. He's thrown together a makeshift stall in what he deemed a high traffic area where he has set out all manner of devices.
"Step right up! See a device you like? Well, guess what! Teach me how to fix it and its yours! That's right, I'm swapping for knowledge!"
no subject
The fact that she's new and the lack of any sort of resources isn't going to stop her from wandering the bazaar, though. The art auction isn't really her style, and she wouldn't even know where to begin if she wanted to enter that poetry contest bid war. Fortunately, a nearby stall offering an assortment of devices catches her eye.
"Where'd you even find all of these?" If she sounds a bit skeptical, it's probably because she is. This place's tech level isn't anywhere near what she's used to.
no subject
Darin holds up a device.
"This one I made a couple of months back was meant to use as a sort of divining rod for magically charged ore and crystals. But no matter what I did I couldn't get it to work."
no subject
That's certainly not what she's expecting to hear. Needless to say, she's pleasantly surprised.
"I'm assuming you've already tried exposing it to the sorts of ore and crystals you're wanting it to locate?" Just that by itself probably wouldn't be enough to locate them, but it seems like it would be a good first step.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Fresh Waters
Matt's not paying attention, just grumpily swimming. He'll definitely be glad to see his sister, though.
no subject
So when she turns to question the grumpfish, it's with no small amount of surprise that she realizes who it is.
"Matt!"
Mandrake Mania!
trademarkedtwo-tone hair, scarred nose and surprise turning to his wide, happy smile. The one thing that may (or may not) surprise her is that he doesn't have a prosthetic on the right side. His sleeve is neatly pinned in place at the shoulder instead."Pidge! It's great to see you - Matt's going to be over the moon." He reaches out to attempt to rest his hand on her shoulder as a pint-sized lung dragon flies up and settles across his broad shoulders like a cat.
no subject
It's nice to see another familiar face, though Pidge certainly would have picked a better place for it. Hanging out near some weird dangerous plants is hardly her idea of a good time. But there's no way to go back and change things now, so the only thing to do is muscle through it.
He looks about the same as she remembers, though the biggest glaring difference is the lack of prosthetic arm. Should she ask? The odds of him not knowing about it are pretty slim, and she doesn't want to accidentally drag up some unpleasantness right now if she can avoid it.
Instead, she decides to focus on the more important things for now.
"Are you out here for the money, too? Also- and I'm sure you already know this, but there is a tiny dragon following you around."
no subject
The little dragon bows its antlered head to Pidge. "Greetings, Green Paladin. I had the pleasure of meeting another version of your fine self. I hope that we might also be friends." Despite his diminutive size, Shinryu's voice is a deep bass rumble.
"We came out to help with the clean up out here," Shiro says, a troubled expression crumpling his brows as he looks back along the wall where others are taking down bodies and arranging them to be transported to the graveyard. "....But I think I'd better stick to the plant side of things for now." Looking back at her, he smiles again. "If you need money, all you have to do is say so, you know. I have some saved up, and Matt has been here longer than I have, so he's got a crazy bank account right now. You know he'll pile money on you."