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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B

[hegemonwings]

Now there's a voice Byleth hasn't heard in quite some time. She launches to her feet, stopping the blade sharpening she had been busying herself with. She glances about, and then—there. Solid, standing on the ground, and naturally, arguing with someone.

Byleth moves to close the gap, moving up behind that impossible-to-miss mane of green hair, a smile steadily tugging at her lips as the girl began ranting at the instructor.

"Is this how we would have looked? It's a frightful thought, Sothis."

[sleepqueen]

Sothis is about keep laying into the instructor when someone interrupts. She starts to turn on them before her brain catches up and recognition flickers across her features. Byleth. For a brief, brief moment she's struck speechless and then she sniffs.

"You! I should've known you would keep me waiting - why didn't you find me earlier?"

She is resisting the urge to simply hug Byleth. She's incredibly fond of her, after all. More than she realizes, probably. That won't do, though. She is not, after all, prone to such displays.

"At least I am used to your eccentricities..."

[hegemonwings]

Byleth's eyes light up when Sothis turns around and recognizes her, in a way she wonders if Sothis has ever seen from her. Whether her friend—her great-grandmother, it distantly occurs to her, a very strange thought—is prone to those kinds of displays of emotion or not... Byleth might be willing to indulge them from time to time. Especially since coming to Avalon.

So, she wraps her arms around Sothis—something she's never been able to do before—and huffs out a soft laugh. She won't bother to answer her indignation about her lateness in finding her, either. It's all bark.

"You're the same as ever. I've... missed talking to you like this," she says, letting her eyes slip closed briefly. She sort of... waves quickly behind Sothis's back for the instructor to just go do something else, she's got this.

"What's the last thing you remember, before you found yourself here?"

[sleepqueen]

There's something different about Byleth that Sothis can't put her finger on just yet, but that's brushed aside when Byleth actually hugs her and she squirms a little with a noise of protest, one hand coming up to shove at Byleth's chest.

"I didn't say you could hug me-!"

Even if she does rejoice at the thought that she can actually touch people now. It feels good. She still complains. So after a moment of squirming, she goes still and her arms slowly come up to wrap around Byleth in return.

"The last thing I remember? Giving you my power, of course. Did not I tell you our souls would become one?"

[hegemonwings]

Nope, sorry Sothis, this hug is happening. Byleth's not even much of a hugger, but this is a special case. She laughs a little when Sothis squirms like that, knowing it's just the way she is—and sure enough, when her friend returns the gesture, she stands there quietly with her for a moment.

"They did. I just remember hearing your voice once after that, so I'd wondered if..." There's a moment's hesitation, as she changes gears. "Well, a great deal has happened since then. And I've learned more about what connected us."

[sleepqueen]

Ugh, fine, there's a hug. Sothis sighs - it's honestly a strange, but satisfying feeling to be able to feel someone's arms around her. Experiencing the world with her own eyes and senses is a little overwhelming, she has to admit, but she's a fan of it. Not being trapped in Byleth's head is worthwhile! At least as far as she's concerned.

"You know how my memory can be," she scoffs, "So perhaps it will come back to me in time. Like... everything else."

Sothis cocks her head, "Well? Do not sit there and by mysterious! Tell me! Speak!"

[hegemonwings]

"My memory's not much better," Byleth points out. "Though it's been improving."

Still, when Sothis presses for her to go on, she pulls away and glances about for a better place to sit and talk. There's a bench over there—it'll have to do. She starts towards it and gestures for Sothis to follow, considering her next words.

"The Archbishop's true identity was Seiros herself. One of your children. Do you remember what we found in my father's diary? His suspicions... and our conclusion that whatever was done to me is what bound us together."

It's as good a place to start as any.

[sleepqueen]

Sothis follows and then settles herself onto the bench without much complaint, looking thoughtful.

"Seiros... Well. I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense."

She pauses and shakes her head, "But yes, of course, I remember the diary and his suspicions and - well. Whatever it is we are to one another at this point. From the way you speak, you must have you discovered more beyond that."

[hegemonwings]

"I've... pieced together more, at the least," Byleth begins, a similar thoughtful expression on her own face. "Between what happened in Abyss... and what Seiros tried to do later. I believe the Crest Stone that ought to have been in the Sword of the Creator was put into my chest. That... part of you, with traces of your spirit."

She closes her eyes for a moment, relaxing on the bench and taking a breath. "I believe I was intended to be a vessel. She wanted to bring you back... and my mother must have been another attempt."

[sleepqueen]

"Well... she half succeeded. I was there with you, wasn't I? But you were still you..." Sothis wrinkles her nose, "I cannot complain over-much - I enjoy being conscious, but neither of us had much of a choice in the matter, did we? It seems so strange... to try and use the Crest as a vessel to bring me back from - well. From death, wasn't it? And I am Sothis, the goddess."

[hegemonwings]

"We didn't," she agrees, trying to steady herself. She may be thrilled to see Sothis again, but it's hardly an easy topic.

"And I was. You didn't walk the world in my place, I was myself, but...it was..." There's a pause, something uncertain in her voice, before she continues. "It was harder to know what that meant, then. Especially after we became one. I hardly knew who I was to begin with, and then I had to try to discover where I ended and you began... it was frightening, Sothis. Seiros only accelerated her plans for me once it happened. If I'd been alone, I fear I would have lost myself."

[sleepqueen]

"I did say we would always be together, didn't I?" Sothis responds, almost chiding. There's a softness to it, though, that takes the edge off.

"I would've watched over you. No matter what happened. But... I am glad you were not lost and instead here you are!"

Sothis gestures to her with a little smile.

"I'll need to learn more about what happened, I think. Or at least as you remember it."

[hegemonwings]

Byleth understands that, of course. Honestly, she still finds herself speaking to an empty room at times, in hopes that Sothis might somehow still be listening. Still, her hands fold, a slight tension in her shoulders.

"Edelgard and I had become very close, by the time you and I merged. She began preparing to make her move while Seiros planned to take me to the Holy Tomb... she hoped that by having me sit on the throne there, you would take over." Byleth takes a breath.

"Edelgard revealed herself there as the Flame Emperor, and cut things short with an attack. The Empire declared war on the Church, and... I had seen too much to stand aside. I joined with her and my other students to bring down the Church, the nobility... all of it. Every shackle that Seiros had placed on Fódlan."

She finally looks to Sothis, hoping to gauge her response.

[sleepqueen]

"That is... not quite what I remember, but my memory is... foggy," Sothis allows. She'd heard this from Edelgard, so she's perhaps not surprised to hear it from Byleth herself. She settles herself on the bench, one bare ankle crossed over the other, face turned up to regard Byleth with that peculiar intense expression of hers.

"I'm sure you did what you thought was best, Byleth," she continues after a moment of thought, "And I was not there - I could not give you advice and I will not second guess you now. Although perhaps, if I learn more, I will have to scold you for certain indiscretions or not thinking things through clearly."

[hegemonwings]

Byleth huffs a laugh at that and finally turns to face her properly, leaning her left side on the bench.

"We... had our missteps along the way," she admits, meeting Sothis's eyes. "But I believe in what we're doing, with my entire heart. I... I have a place to belong, Sothis. One that time can't take from me, I..."

She's quiet for a moment, struggling to find the right words, as she loosely tugs at a lock of her own dark blue hair. "I chose humanity. I always will. My heart beats, and I feel... everything, now. Not just what slips through."

[sleepqueen]

Sothis has noticed the hair and her eyes light up a little as Byleth continues, "Oh, dear soul, did I not say we would never be parted? No matter what you choose, I will be with you - a part of you. And I am here, am I not? To see you, to speak with you, and to supervise! One of us must, after all, and it surely cannot be you."

She really does have a deep, genuine affection for Byleth. She just shows it in strange ways.

[hegemonwings]

Byleth actually laughs at that, properly this time.

"So even now, I can't manage my own affairs, hm? I suppose we could all use a minder," she says, a smile tugging at her lips. Yeah, she at least understands Sothis's sense of humor and the way she expresses affection.

"I'll have you know I've done quite well for myself here. Edelgard and I even have our own home, now. But I would... be grateful for your continued guidance," she says, fondness in her tone. It's true, despite all she's done to establish her independence. Sothis was not responsible for the state she had been in, after all.

[sleepqueen]

"You more than anyone else I know," Sothis sniffs, "I cannot begin to recall all of the times you desperately needed my advice."

Not strictly true, but... well. She's a busybody and a bit overbearing, but it's all because she does care, in the end.

"I'll look forward to seeing what you and Edelgard have built here. If only because I need to see how you're managing..." She sighs softly, "And apparently I will need to learn... or relearn... some of my own magic. Or possibly entirely new magic. It's hard to say."

[hegemonwings]

"All too often," she admits, "but I'm glad I have the option once again."

Byleth reaches out, and just sort of... prods at one of Sothis's braids. It's strange, seeing her solid like this.

"It's likely entirely new. It doesn't work how it does in Fódlan, and... I haven't heard of anyone able to manipulate time with the local magic. I've lost my white magic, as well."

[sleepqueen]

Sothis allows the poking and prodding, but she does half-heartedly swat at Byleth's hand. She's still not used to being physical.

"What an annoyance... if they wanted my help, they should've figured out a way to let me use my true power!"

[hegemonwings]

Byleth's eyes crinkle with amusement when Sothis swats at her, but she obliges by pulling her hand back after another few seconds.

"They haven't afforded any of us the option. Even Crests have gone dormant. Everyone's on the same level... which isn't without benefits," she says, glancing to her. "The societies here are more equitable than Seiros's Fódlan was. People from all sorts of worlds, all walks of life... it's been remarkable."

For someone of her background, the only unifying factor of life in Camelot being a shared outsider status was... nice.

[sleepqueen]

"You may call them benefits - I call it an annoyance!" Sothis objects (a bit stringently). She rather liked having her powers, thank you very much. She folds her arms with a little 'hmmph' sound.

"What am I supposed to do? I don't even have my Divine Pulse!"

Look, she'll argue the socio-political ramifications of Fódlan another time. Right now she's lamenting her lack of cool time powers.

[hegemonwings]

Byleth just raises her eyebrows, lightly amused. Oh, how much Sothis must be suffering without her sick time powers. "I've done perfectly fine without it," she notes, mildly. "Still, a solid body is a fair trade, isn't it?" Look, she's just saying.

[sleepqueen]

"I suppose it's a trade," Sothis allows with a grumble, "But I know not how I would rank it just yet. I will simply have to wait and see!"