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

[prontissimo]

No way— let's do it again. How's this: If I'm right and it catches us, you'll owe me a favor. And if you're right and it doesn't catch us— I'll owe you a bigger favor.

[ Alberto no grjskn the worst bet. Poor Laphicet. Alberto just opens his arms expectantly as he presents his proposition, as if to go "ehhh~?" without actually saying it. But in any case far too nonchalant about this, especially for having no clue where they even are. He really should be more concerned — he should seem more afraid. And he is — he's inwardly actually terrified — which is exactly why he's acting out like this and avoiding the issue for a quick thrill, pretending he's not walking a tightrope above well due panic inside. Instead, Alberto just roped some poor shlemiel into his craziness as he puts his own blinders on. ]

[laodicean]

You'll have bigger things to worry about than a favour if we aren't caught and you fall.

[But. Well. Part of him can guess it's some coping mechanism from the other perhaps. Or Alberto just really is way more of a thrill seeker than Laphicet. Which he probably is, in general. Laphicet has his moments of bravery and recklessness but that was usually in learning to stand up for others. Mainly in defending Velvet and ensuring she was okay. He tilts his head at the other as Alberto opens his arms like that.]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto narrows his eyes for half a moment, silent and deliberating, before rolling and closing them with a dismissive shrug, waving a hand at Laphicet. ]

Fine, fine, fine, fine... You win. You're right. It's not worth a favor.

[ He locks eyes with Laphicet momentarily, then that same smug, lazy-lidded smirk returns to his face, and he starts to take a couple steps back as he speaks — worrisome words. ]

...But that doesn't mean it's not still worth the risk! Hah!

[ Aaand as he reaches the edge of the palm, free falls backwards off the hand into the thin air beneath them, as if doing a back flop in the pool, the truest trust fall ever fallen. And, quite to his satisfaction and relief, indeed the Cliff Beast extends another hand to catch him. However, it's only for a slight moment, and it quickly catches on that Alberto is just goofing around, and so spills the boy off itself. But no sooner does the hand give up on him, does a winged yellow tabby cat rush into view on the top of the cliff, and noticeably leaps off the cliff itself just above Alberto far below, but descends into a graceful flight.

It's over Alberto in a flash, and as the boy plummets down with a not-so-delighted scream (okay, it's a real scream, he's finally scared, rightfully so), a translucent, iridescent net of rainbow light, hard enough to break Alberto's fall, soft enough not to hurt him, materializes just above the sand below, and as he crashes down, Alberto bounces right off this magical, ephemeral cushion. It dissolves behind him as he gains his footing, and he spins round just to see the faint sparkly trace of where it once was, baffled and amazed and above all, relieved. The cat lands on the sand soon after, and just sits a distance off, staring at him with narrowed eyes, ears back... He knows that expression from cats. And that's worrisome.

But he feels such a rush from having just survived, that he just spins round to look back up at Laphicet above and throw his arms up wide in triumph, an ear-to-ear grin to match, whooping at his own little unexpected miracle. ]

Ah-hah! Whoo! Oh, mamma mia! Did you see that?! Hah!

[laodicean]

[Laphicet. Is so confused? He's got no idea what to make of this. Alberto is clearly just trying to get Laphicet as worked up as possible or something. He gasps initially, instinctively reaching out as if he could catch Alberto when the cliff beast changes it's mind about catching the other boy, only to see.....that.]

Wha -- a.....cat? Does it have...wings?

[Laphicet frowns, squinting. Cats....did not have wings. Or rainbows? At least not back home. But he can't assume things in being in some strange new place like this, he supposes.]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's eyeing the cat warily, smile faltering a bit, as it locks its gaze with his. He's not sure how he feels about this weird magic flying cat? What the hell is it? Cats aren't magic in his world, either — and definitely don't fly. Alberto can only imagine a flying Machiavelli, and just the thought of it puts him on edge. He hesitantly reaches out to touch it, but it doesn't move closer, just hunches itself up, ears further back against its head, eyes narrowing slightly. Alberto withdraws his hand, knowing this look all too well... He turns back to Laphicet above, cupping his hand around his mouth to make his voice louder as he shouts up to the other boy, each word practically punctuated by his volume. ]

Yeah! It's a mean magic cat! It's fine, though...! I'm gonna do it again!

[ The hell he is, though, if the "mean magic cat" has anything to say about it. Alberto gives another apprehensive look to the cat, reaching out a second and final time to see if it'd like to sniff him. But it doesn't. It wants to protect him — from himself. But, uh, that doesn't exactly translate in its low growl, gradually increasing its own volume until it snarls, yowling-like, and just as Alberto backs up to give it space, the cat lunges at him. It keeps at the attack, weaving and dancing about his ankles and swatting as Alberto makes panicked jumps to get away from it, kicking up sand by accident in the process. It hisses and starts trying to coral him, cleverly guiding him (in the most aggressive way?) back toward the mouth of the staircase.

But again— that doesn't quite come off that way. As far as Alberto can tell, he's just being assaulted by a very, very mean magic cat at random. He starts trotting away, but the cat pursues him, and then the chase is on. Both are running back up the stairs, Alberto rather clumsily while the cat is trying to claw at his barefoot heels. Alberto looks frazzled, a frantic tone to his voice as he starts waving his arms up at Laphicet ahead. ]

It's a mean magic cat! It's a mean magic cat...!!

[laodicean]

Eh? Again.....?!

[Laphicet himself might not yet have figured his own familiar necessarily. So he's probably just as confused as he observes the cat with Alberto. The way it seems annoyed but almost. Trying to look out for the reckless kid? Maybe? The way the cat corrals Alberto to the staircase again and all. He can't help but to blink as Alberto rushes over, waving his arms and everything.]

I think he wanted you to get back to safety on the actual cliffs? Or, maybe they're a girl? I couldn't exactly tell, from up here. But they are following you. So maybe they actually like you?

[prontissimo]

It doesn’t like me, what do you— AH!

[ Before Alberto can finish that thought, the cat is hot on his heels and reaches ready claws out toward the boy’s bare feet, just barely missing, and gives a loud yowl. Alberto hops up the stairs two at once, quickly enough even passing Laphicet, waving him along frantically as the cat pursues. ]

Dai, c’mon!!! Let’s get to the top!!!

[ Well, this is… a new side of Alberto. And indeed, the cat is chasing him, gives barely a glance toward Laphicet as it, too, passes him. Seems he’s in the clear. Alberto, on the other hand… seems to be being scolded by a mysterious winged magic flying cat. What a day he’s having. ]

[laodicean]

[Laphicet giggles, following Alberto as the cat chases after the other boy. As he can't help but to be amused at the sight. It isn't like he's so used to having others this close to his age around, really. The rest of the gang he was traveling with back home were older than he was. So this was kind of refreshing almost. Even with the way Alberto encourages him to try new things, to be brave. It reminds him of Velvet, a little. In how she did the same in gradually encouraging and reassuring him in boosting his confidence to be his own person and make his own decisions.]

I'm coming! And so is that cat....!

[prontissimo]

Ugh, I knooooooow the cat is coming! Via, via, via!

[ Alberto groans, yelling over his shoulder with barely a glance, as he scales the steps at an impressive speed, his long lanky legs coming in handy now, and clears the top. He means to wait for Laphicet, but as he reaches the top, another yowl is heard: first from the cat, and then from Alberto. He shouts back to Laphicet, poking his head back toward the staircase with a certain panic in his voice. ]

Hey, I'm escaping this crazy cat! Ah— Ow! Stupido!

[ He glances away, visibly dodging another swipe, then waves his hand dramatically with a loud call back over his shoulder. ]

Ciao, ragazzo!

[ Aaaand... there he goes. Did they even exchange names?! What a strange boy... ]