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.

Comments

[madcuriosity]

But you called me stupid. [It was "stupido" but Alice actually wasn't stupid and could figure out the translation relatively quick.] I just wanted to come over and see if you were alright.

[Alice Liddell is, unintentionally, exceptionally good at guilt, but that's mostly because she's ridiculously blunt and honest, just like Alberto, just in a different way entirely. Alice erred on the side of politeness, Alberto erred on the side of bravado.]

If you don't want me around just say that instead of calling me names and demanding what's wrong with me.

[prontissimo]

No, no, you've got it all wrong — it's just an expression! Like saying hello! Ciao!

[ He waves his hands in the air loosely as he speaks, always animated, expressive. Why was this not being grasped? And... where is he, exactly? He doesn't want to bother asking, thinking maybe it's best if he pretends he knows what's going on... But with each passing moment, he gets the distinct feeling he's not in Portorosso. Or Genova, not that he'd ever been. He's wondering if he's even in Italy at all... Maybe a little girl is a more trustworthy source of information — or at least a less intimidating one — than trying to find some adult to help him out... Nah. Play it cool, but... he's got this. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully. ]

It's how locals greet each other... here, right?

[ Vague enough to... maybe coax out some information without asking outright. ]

[madcuriosity]

It's not a very good expression, sir. And it certainly isn't how anyone has greeted me the months I've been in Camelot. I hope it isn't how someone greets YOU!

[She bites her lip.]

Why not just say hello if you intend on saying hello rather than calling someone stupid?

[prontissimo]

[ Again with the "sir..." He may be twice her age, but he's still a kid. Like when he first met Luca — the same age and he was still calling him "sir!" These good kids are too polite; Alberto knows very little about that. Clearly.

He got the information he wanted, though, without admitting he needed it. Camelot; wherever that is. And she's been here... months. Did she just move here? Or is he supposed to be way more concerned and scared than he thought at first?

He shakes his head, having trouble hiding a mildly annoyed face (which is really just, y'know, guilt, embarrassment, same difference), and leans down on one knee before her to get on better eye level. He props himself up to keep his balance with one hand, gesturing with the other. ]

Look— little girl. I didn't mean it when I called you stupid. That's just something humans say where I'm from. [ Oddly specific for a human to say, but okay... He sticks his free hand out for a handshake, keeping his balance to stay at her level. ]

Let's start over. Alberto Scorfano.

[ Your name, girl. ]

[madcuriosity]

[You'll learn, Alberto, that Alice calls everyone misses, mister, sir, or ma'am. The only people who don't get such titles are family and friends.

And you're neither at the moment.

Unfortunately, Alice caught that "human" comment from Alberto, and even more unfortunately for Alberto, Alice is incredibly curious.]

And what do non-humans say then?

[Because if that's what "humans" say, that implies that, much like Wonderland and the Looking Glass, there are creatures perfectly capable of greetings as well.

She stares at the hand and reaches out, taking it.]

Oh ah, nice to meet you, Mr. Scorfano, my name is Alice Liddell.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto laughs, airy and dismissive, yet good-humored, not mocking, though he does lightly wave his hand at her. ]

Ha— How should I know what non-humans say? But if I had to guess… Probably not that.

[ He smirks knowingly, making eye contact with her, then stands to his full height again, and crosses his arms across his chest. ]

You can just call me Alberto, you know. Signorina.

[ The formality is a bit amusing, so he serves it back playfully. ]

[madcuriosity]

[Alice tilts her head, she knows French, she knows a tiny bit of Latin, but she knows nothing of Italian so she cannot place the language upon hearing it, and she does not know what it means...

Well, she can GUESS, "stupido" was much easier to guess, to be sure.]

Oh ah, yes, Mr. Alberto. [It's the best compromise she can give. Even Ken is still Mr. Ken.] You may call me Alice, if you like.

[prontissimo]

Yeahhh, I’ll probably just call you Alice — if that’s okay, signorina.

[ He keeps that smug smirk in place. But, as they come to some peace at last, he waves her along and starts out toward the staircase with the rest of the newcomers. ]

So, Alice — you said you’ve been here months… Where did you come from?

[ Not that Alberto really knows that much about the rest of his world; he just knows he wants to see it. He’s scared because he doesn’t know where he is suddenly and he doesn’t wanna show it, so he’s directing conversation subtly toward what might clue him in on what exactly is going on here… A brave front, for sure. ]

[madcuriosity]

I don't have any problem with you calling me by my name, Mr. Alberto, I quite like being Alice, so I most certainly don't mind you calling me that. [That's logic.]

If I didn't like my name, I wouldn't have told you it, I should think.

And I'm from England, Oxford, to be precise. What about you?

[prontissimo]

England. England...

[ He... doesn't actually know where that is. He's racking his brain, though, because it sure sounds familiar. It clicks after a second, and he puffs up as if the wind just got blown back into his sails. ]

I know where that is! [ He still doesn't really, though... ]

I'm from Italy. Portorosso, to be exact — in the Riviera Ligure. Not far from Genova. Have you heard of it?

[ He mimics her, still keeping things playful, as much as it's also a bit teasing and mocking; he means well, it's clearly not mean-spirited. ]

[madcuriosity]

Well, yes, I have most certainly heard of Italy! Just... not Portorosso... or this... Riviera place, or Genova. I apologize. I've heard Italy is very pretty, though.

[She doesn't REALLY realize she's being teased or mimicked, mostly because she's so used to being spoken to harshly. Wonderland and the Looking Glass were filled with people consistently insulting her.]

[prontissimo]

It's beautiful. I don't know what England looks like, but— Italy is amazing. I wanna see all of it. On a Vespa. And then maybe I'll drive to England someday, too, who knows!

[ He has a wistfulness to his tone, a growing excitement, getting rather friendlier by each moment.

He's not retired his Vespa dream; it's merely on pause. He gave up his first Vespa, but not the dream itself; he still reads magazines all about them, has full intent to get another, even better Vespa, and when Luca's done with school... whenever that is, since he really doesn't know anything about school, just that it'll be a year until the next summer... But when Luca's done — then they'll still go see the world together on his new Vespa.

That's been his idea, at least. ]

[madcuriosity]

[Alice tilted her head.]

What is a Vespa? [Was it like a train, was that why he was going to see all of Italy with it? Or a boat? Italy had so much coast so maybe he would sail all around it?]

[prontissimo]

The coolest thing ever invented? Here— hold on...

[ He stops in his tracks and crouches down in the sand suddenly, just before reaching the staircase. He leans over and... begins to draw? With his finger? In the sand? A very simple and stylized outline of a Vespa. Alice is seven and can probably draw better than Alberto, but that doesn't discourage him from drawing. He's clearly practiced at drawing Vespas, at least. He's not even conscious of the quality of his artistic skills. He just does things. Because it's fun. Like anything else with him... ]

It's like a bicycle, but faster, and better, and you don't have to pedal. You just sit on it, and it goes...! Anywhere you wanna go!

[madcuriosity]

Goodness! [She leaned in close to look at Alberto's drawing. It did indeed look like a sort of bicycle.] That's lovely! You don't have to pedal? And it's faster?

Maybe you shall find one here! All sorts of things are about in this place! Though, I've never ridden a vespa... or even a bicycle. I don't think I would be very skilled at either.

[prontissimo]

It doesn't take any skill! Not at all like a bicycle, yeesh, what a nightmare — nah, a Vespa, you just sit down, and go see the world~

[ He pauses, standing straight again, chest puffed, hands on hips, contraposto, lids lowered smugly with a boastful little nonchalant pout on his lips, like it's no big deal... ]

...I owned one once. Won it in a contest. I've made several Vespas myself, too.

[ No comment about finding one in "this place." That comment made him nervous. He doesn't like being nervous. He wants to feel like he's got things under control... even when, in this particular moment most especially, he knows very much that he does not. He doesn't know where he is still, after all. So he's just smoothing right over that until he gets more information. Then, as soon as he figures out where he is and can get a map and maybe a snack for the road, yeah, he can find another Vespa here and just take it back to Portorosso from... wherever this is. Can't be far. Right? ]

[madcuriosity]

Goodness! You're very talented! [Alice smiled, taking everything he said at pure face value and not realizing just what sort of "vespas" Alberto had made.]

You are very skilled, Mr. Alberto! What was the contest you won it in?

[prontissimo]

[ Even considering the sort of "vespas" Alberto made, he is indeed very talented regardless, to have made them from scratch with no reference or prior knowledge of anything he was using to build them... It's a miracle and testament to his and Luca's wits that those makeshift machines moved at all.

He waves his hand loosely as he speaks, gesturing as he feigns more capability than he's truly, uh, capable of... But he knows how to sell shit well, at least — at least to other children. ]

Thanks, I know. They gave us a trophy and everything. It was a traditional Italian triathlon — swimming, bicycling, and eating pasta. I ate the pasta. [ He didn't. ] And bicycled — sort of. I helped. [ He also didn't. ]

[ Technically, Alberto himself never actually participated in the race, and won by association of being there and causing a sensation, but y'know, that's half the battle, right? ]

[madcuriosity]

I've not heard of a triathlon before. [Because seven.] Is it true what they say about swimming and eating?

[prontissimo]

What do they say about swimming and eating...?

[ He's not at all with her. He swims and eats, like— often? By nature? There's scarcely anywhere else for him to eat? It's not like Alberto's been cooking for himself alone on his little private island. He just goes and searches for whatever snacks he can find below the surface. Eating while not swimming was a treat. Plus, y'know, the pasta itself. ]

[madcuriosity]

That you shouldn't swim immediately after eating lest you cramp up. I don't think it to be particularly true. Fish eat and swim all day, after all. So why not people? But I'm much too nervous to try and test it.

[Alice questions it too, honestly.]

[prontissimo]

Uhhh... Yeah, no, that's not true. I've never heard that. Definitely not the case.

[ He says with a thick air of authority, completely shooting the idea down, brow furrowed and everything. Alice is right, but... Yeesh. Just the suggestion. ]

...Why would you be nervous, though? Can't you swim?

[madcuriosity]

Pure superstition, then, I suppose.

And no, I was nervous about it because if it WAS true, I did not wish to cramp up while swimming. I'm... well I'm alright at swimming but nothing terribly impressive. I can get from one place to another in a lake or river, at the very least.

[prontissimo]

Eh. Most hu— I mean, most people aren't good at swimming. It's fine, whatever. There are no swimming cramps, though — totally superstition.

[ He waves a dismissive hand at her. He's. Wrong. But he feels pretty knowledgable even if he. shouldn't.

He sets off in a (comically over-confident) strut again, gesturing for her to follow along as he starts back toward the steps, abandoning his masterpiece drawn in the sand. ]

Sooo— where do those stairs go, exactly?

[ He points, glancing toward Alice with a raised brow. Still not fessing up that he doesn't know where he is, but, y'know, he's getting there. ]

[madcuriosity]

They go up to the carriages that will take you to Camelot, Mr. Alberto. The horses are very nice, if you ask, you can even pet them! I love petting them when it's new arrival time!