TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 11

[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 Atlantian Saury. Similar to Pacific Saury, these small fish don't have much lift power on their own... but contrary to their saltwater counterparts, Atlantian Saury are known for forming schools of thousands thick enough to lift a person right out of the water... as long as they aren't scared of a few fish flip-flopping out of the water and slapping them in the face with their tails. Animal mages will find they're very chatty, and very fast talkers, and very sensitive to each others' feelings. Insult one of them, and the whole school will start screaming and crying together. 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. In a deal with Camelot's farms, the drinks are honey-based-- mead, tea and honey, even healthy ginger shots with a dash of honey to take the edge off. (Naturally, virgin editions are available of any cocktails like the Bee's Knees 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: We return to Lestari to collect small creatures called fairy coins that look like stars, using a special bubble bar that allows flight but may have side effects such as truth-blurting or burping bubbles. Side quest: save some kids from some ancient giant bats. With the dangerous battle apparently waging on in the waters just off the coast of the island's west peninsula, the attempt to travel through Dinas Emrys is temporarily delayed. With Arthur back on his feet after a month of recovery, Merlin is working in the background on finding a way to get the travel party back on track. It's fine, since the autumn equinox is on the horizon anyway and there are a lot of preparations to be made. A ⦿ Fizzy Lifting Bar With the path to Lestari routed and still fresh, another caravan heads back up there, this time a group of Elphame Traders (sorry, they're sold out of goods, so you still can't buy again until the end of the month) who are assisting in the preparations. The Elphame Traders are paying anyone who makes the journey up there with them to head into a special place called a bubble bar that only opens up once a year, before the autumn solstice. At the bar, there are large tables with mideval-looking devices filled with vials of colorful liquids. The liquids are labeled with different flavors, like baked potato or bubblegum or something called gn'ooOOoo, which is reminisicent of the way that bumbleberry pie smells when you bake it but somehow doesn't taste like bumbleberry or pie. (It's a special kind of dwarven flavor.) It's no drug, don't worry-- it's magic. From the bottom of these wonderful flavors comes a tube and a replaceable mouthpiece (the traders will provide a disposable one for each person) and you're to take a deep breath in to feel the flavor overtake your whole being, then for about an hour afterward (you can refill as needed), you'll find yourself breathing out bubbles.. and flying. Have fun for a little while with this fizzy lifting bubble and get any hiccups (literal or figurative, as flavors can sometime change into something much weirder before changing back or can sometimes have the side effect of making you blurt out truths to the person you're talking to. The side effects will fade in time, even after multiple stops at the bar. B ⦿ Stars in Your Eyes Once you get past the initial side effects of the bubble bar, your temporary flight can be put to good use: gathering stars. More specifically, a special kind of living rock. They're about the size of a medium-length pinky finger nail and shaped like stars. Some people call them fairy coins, these tiny stars come in a variety of colors and fly around at the top of the caverns that contain Lestari. They do not glow and aren't visible from the ground, so you may not have even noticed them the first time you were there... especially since they're quick and tend to hibernate during the summer and wake up as fall approaches. Maybe try some of your magic out to catch them-- they're pretty indestructable, so you can use any magic at your disposal to try to catch them in jars to gather for the autumn equinox. Don't worry, they won't be harmed in the process! The Elphame Traders will explain they're kind of like magic batteries that have the ability to pass through veil and guide the dead from the underworld through Avalon and on to other worlds from the autumn equinox through the month of October. The variation in travel times is why so many cultures end up with their days of the dead passing near the world at similar, but not the exact same times. What they will emphasize is that there's a big gold prize for the person who catches the most of them.. so don't be lax in trying to compete to catch more than your neighbor! ..Just be careful not to catch them in your eyes, as they like to magically hide in reflective surfaces and can only be gotten out by telling a lie to someone you like.. a repulsive act that will scare them out of your eyes and make you a bit less, well, starry-eyed. C ⦿ Minor Side Quest Fairy coin eggs are laid deep within the rock, so don't worry about disrupting them-- they'll hatch for the next year once it cools down enough for winter and live through they life cycle uninterrupted by groundfolk interference. It's important to note because you will need to forage for something else while you're flying around up at the top of the cave. Well, not so much forage as get out of the rocks... it seems like during the first visit, someone brought their fairy chameleon familiar along with them and it crawled up into the ceiling to have a brood of baby chameleons. Unlike real chameleons, these magical reptiles will change colors to match literally anything they come in contact with, and as babies let out a rather pungent smell to scare away predators... And that happens to have woken up giant bats the size of people that have been flying around and scooping up pets and small children and taking them up into the rocks. While you've got that gift of flight, why don't you take a look around for some of the misplaced children and pets. The people of Lestari didn't even know those bats were up there, and they seem pretty primitive... even animal mages might find them speaking caveman-style and focused on nothing but base animal instincts. Oh, and they have 6-inch fangs and even bigger claws. Take a partner so you can fend off their captors while one of you takes care of the captive! SUMMARY:Those in Camelot help prep for the autumn equinox by gathering the ashes of the dead for a ritual to bind spirit guardians to characters via tattoo brands. Other volunteers act as personal genies for those willing to host guardians. Those close to Camelot will not be without preparations to make, whether they took the trip to Lestari and came back later or stayed the whole time. There are a couple of tasks that will take.. well, quite a few types of badasses. The first preparation involves the binding of ash to mages to create spirit guardians for the dead. While the fairy coins act like batteries for the magic that lets the dead pass through the veil, spirit guardians are needed to direct them to the correct worlds.. or in this case, to welcome them to Avalon and direct them back to the underworld safely. The universe outside of this is frozen in time and space, there's nowhere for them to go, and that means things could get dangerous when the solstice rolls by if things don't go as planned. Which means they need as many mages as possible to volunteer for this.. somewhat painful process. A ⦿ The Fighting Badass (CW: Undead creatures, destruction of remains) The first ingredient needed to raise spirit guardians is the ashes of the dead. Since they can't wait around for current ashes, a group of people will be sent out to the Land of Rot for monster-slaying. Capture an undead creature and bring back its remains to the giant cauldron roiling away all month in Camelot's town square. Be careful- undead creatures tend to pop back up even after you slay them more than once, and the trip takes more than a day, so you may have to spend all night waking up to make sure that your skeleton hasn't started crawling out of your backpack to gnaw on your arm. The remains will have to be burned in Camelot's crematorium until it turns to ash and can be placed in the cauldron, so you've got an arduous and tedious journey ahead of you. B ⦿ The Pain-Tolerant Badass (CW: Branding/tattoos) The next part of the preparation involves the removal of what appear to be pitch-black eggs that glow hot like coals from within the cauldron after it stirs in the ashes of the dead. Volunteers will be asked to act as hosts for the spirit guardians. Volunteers can lie face-down on special obsidian slabs that have been laid out around the cauldron. Others who are less brave are welcomed to use iron tongs to remove the eggs from the cauldron and place them on the backs of those who lay on the obsidian, then cast whatever magic they have on the eggs. This will cause them to crack and their insides to ooze out and sear a tattoo into the backs of the person they are placed upon. The designs are representative of some facet of the person they have bonded with. Though the process itself stings like only a burning hot tattoo can, after a couple of days, those who volunteered will find themselves immune to pain until the autumn equinox. C ⦿ The Caring Badass (CW: Consensual submission) The other two badasses have been through a lot, and no one can deny that the kind of person who can see someone go through things like that and be willing to be a shoulder to lean on is their own special level of badass. Anyone who isn't bearing a tattoo can volunteer to be a caretaker-- a special spellbound servant who is required to fulfill any need, like a personal genie, for a person with a tattoo for the duration of their shift (one day per person)! Those who take on this role are given special privileges for the rest of the month and can essentially get free meals from any restaurant in town for their sacrifice. It is voluntary to be spellbound for this position and none of the special priests around town are unclear about the terms-- anything needed means anything. Absolute refusal will result in the spell being broken to prevent non-consensual practices, but will unfortunately result in the person you are caretaking for losing their bond with the spirit guardian, resulting in return of pain reception and yield no reward in the equinox. This makes it important that guardian hosts don't push it to anything too abhorrent to their caretaker. Though you may not know each other to start, you'll undoubtedly come to trust each other by the end of the day and assure the spirit guardian it is in a place it belongs. 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

Network

[bright_moon]

[ The raccoon dog is adorable and beautiful! Xingchen watches with some amazement, only to smile in approval when Xue Yang takes his advice, and so adorably. The way the little creature responds and answers only proves he was right. ]

Well done.

[ Praise when praise is earned. ]

Network

[cultivatingsin]

[His apology is met with...praise? And a small kiss to his cheek from said raccoon dog. Something weird bubbles in his chest and he doesn't trust it. How can he trust any of this?]

For doing what? Talking to a -

[He bites his tongue because, frankly, he likes Ying. She hasn't been cruel to him; just clear. Firm.]

I'll remember, Lady Ying.

Network

[bright_moon]

For speaking to an intelligent being and making amends. For caring enough to make that effort.

[ Yep, he's already beginning this guidance he sees Xue Yang as having asked him for.

Xingchen glances away, wondering how far away the other man is now. ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[He doesn't know what to make of any of that and his cheeks burn. The connection is cut abruptly with a scowl and he pulls himself together as he walks. Xingchen won't be allowed to see him laid bare.

Thus Ying scampers up to Xingchen first, tail wagging, whining happily.

Xue Yang hangs back, skittish and frightened in a way he can't explain.]

Hello, daozhang.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ He frowns when the connection ends, but sets the confusion aside when Xiu nudges his cheek with her wet nose to make him smile again. He rubs her soft ears gently as they wait, and when Ying scampers up, he smiles softly at her, offering a hand for her to sniff. ]

May I call you A-Ying?

[ Xue Yang's odd behavior has him study the other man for a moment, then gestures gently before him in invitation to sit. ]

Hello Xue Yang.

...Are you injured? [ Had the Nies mistreated him? Is that what he'd sent this man off to? ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Ying sniffs the hand and then rubs her face against it, her little ears fluttering. That seems to be a yes! Then she looks up at Xiu and she sits down at Xingchen's feet, curiously staring at the sable.

Xue Yang fidgets and swallows his discomfort, stepping forward and sitting down near the other man. There are bruises around his wrists, a cut on his cheek (courtesy of Shuanghua), but he looks no worse for wear.]

Ropes chafe and burn; chains bruise. I'm accustomed to both.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ Sweet lady! Xingchen makes sure to rub at all those itchy spots before Ying flops at his feet. Xiu's nose twitches curiously back at her before the sable slithers down Xingchen's arm, neck stretched out.

He waits until the sable decides to playfully pounce on the much larger familiar, chittering a hello. Then returns his attention to Xue Yang. ]

I can help. Will you let me? There is no need for you to start off in pain here.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Ying makes fussy, screechy sounds when she is pounced, but it's clearly all in good fun. She mock wrestles with the sable and then nuzzles the smaller creature.

Xue Yang watches the two, amused, before Xingchen startles him again. He looks at the man warily, trying to read him, trying to place his feet on solid ground. Kindness just doesn't exist for him; it never has.]

Why would you bother? I deserve much worse than this in your eyes, don't I?

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ They play a bit before the nuzzle and Xiu curls up with Ying, ears happily twitching.

It's a cute display to watch and has Xingchen smiling gently at them.

The look he gives Xue Yang is steady and earnest. ]

I do not believe you are beyond help. How you treat A-Ying tells me that much. And if I am to guide you, then there is no reason for that to begin with pain.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Ying is motherly and she immediately cleans little Xiu, licking her fur. But those blue eyes rarely leave Xue Yang. She's much wiser than her new "son" and much tamer in some ways.]

She's just a small animal. [He has never gotten into that habit, thankfully. Torturing animals seems like a stupid waste of time to him.]

If you're going to see my wrists, I'll have to take off my brace. You won't like what's underneath.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ The cleaning has the little sable wiggling before flopping over, though her attention also stays fixed on Xingchen. Taking cues on threat level from him, though she's also aware of Xue Yang - there's a wild fragility to him that has her concerned but wary. ]

An animal who has chosen you. They see deeper than most people.

[ The brace...his gaze drops to the piece of black wrapped around the other's left hand. ]

What happened to it?

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Ying makes a sound of assent in her throat. Yes, her new kit is wild and he might do something crazy and stupid. But she knows he needs her, so she will take a risk with him and for him. She doubts he ever had a true mother.]

Someone called them...familiars? What does that mean?

[His hand twitches under that perfect, serene gaze.]

A cart ran over it.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ He can't help the little smile at that sound. ]

Mm. I do not know. But it seems everyone should have one, that they might be why we're here.

[ He draws in a startled breath at the answer, lips parting and eyes going a little wide before a determined look settles over his expression. Xingchen holds out a hand for that poor hand. ]

Please, let me look? Why would anyone do such a thing?

...Xue Yang? Is that why you destroyed that sect?

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

She's...not normal. Neither is yours. [They're much smarter than a regular animal and they understand human speech. He doesn't mind it so much because he doesn't sense anything negative about them.

Tensing, he eyes the hand held out to him in the same way he might view something poisonous.]

I was a kid and...he promised me...desserts in exchange for delivering a message. I delivered the message and I was beaten for the contents. I was dragged into the street by my hair.

But I didn't care. All I could think about were the sweets. I ran back to the man who had made the promise and he pushed me away. He whipped me too. That's why I fell under his cart.

[He grinds his teeth and nods.]

The world isn't fair.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

No. I sense no maliciousness from them.

[ Xiu has only been sweet and fussing over him since they'd met!

Xingchen's eyes close at that horrible news. His head lowers as he thinks on what to do. What to say.

A child. So much makes sense now. He draws in a steadying breath and his eyes blink open to settle back on Xue Yang. ]

They shouldn't have done that to you. I am sorry you were treated so horribly. All I can do now is try and ease some of the pain that probably lingers. If you let me. If you let yourself trust me that much.

[ He also promises himself, silently, to find candy and give it to Xue Yang. Every day. ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[He doesn't sense any maliciousness from Xingchen either. Is this man really so...pure? His stomach twists and he feels like he is either standing in the freezing cold or the scorching sun. In either case, he needs a place to hide; a place with plenty of shadow so the wind can't find him and the light can't burn him.]

You... [His lips twist sardonically and he laughs, throwing his head back.] Ah Daozhang, I haven't trusted anyone since then. But...

[The offer is too good to pass up. Tearing open the brace with his teeth, Xue Yang removes it and stretches out his butchered hand.]

Disgusted?

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ The laugh itself sounds painful, but Xingchen stays patient, waiting. A laugh wasn't an answer.

And eventually, that brace is removed and Xue Yang holds the poor hand out. Sorrow settles over him at the sight and his touch is gentle when he reaches out to hold it, fingers careful in where they touch. He presses careful healing energy into the poor hand even before answering. ]

Only with what was done to you. You survived it. I cannot imagine the pain you were in.

[ No. More than that. He's appalled with the horrible state of this poor hand. And how this level of damage had been dealt to an innocent child. ]

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Underneath the mirth, the anger and the pain, Xue Yang is empty, almost dead. Without his emotions fueling him - without his need for revenge - there isn't much left of him. His hand reflects that brokenness and Xue Yang feels like he is in a dream when the healing energy pours into his skin.

Why would Xiao Xingchen bother helping him?]

What do you want? [His voice is tight and he can't hide his fear.] If you just want me to behave, lock me up. Don't play games with me.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ His hands brace that poor hand, energy continues to warm abused flesh as gentle fingers start massaging.

What does he want? His brow furrows in confusion, only for him to shake his head. ]

I'm not playing a game. If...You have been horribly abused. If I can help heal some of that damage, if I can help you embrace life without needing to resort to so much violence...I will be happy.

I don't want to lock you up if I don't have to. It doesn't seem to me like you've been shown how life should be.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[It's infuriating. The gentle way this man holds him and touches him makes him want to do something rash. Ying growls lowly, warning him and he licks his lips, trying to keep his panic hidden.]

No one could care that much. You're only doing this to prove a point and to make your job easier. [Yes! That must be it. He can understand those motives.] Have I exhausted you, daozhang? We had a long chase, didn't we.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ Xiu turns her attention to Xue Yang as well, echoing Ying's low sounds of warning. Xingchen's grip doesn't change, even with the accusations. He only looks sad as he continues his work. Xue Yang hasn't jerked away from him, after all. ]

You must think very poorly of everyone else. Even those not associated with cultivation sects. I'm sorry for that, too.

[ But even those comments, that question about if he's been exhausted, threaten to make him smile. ]

I'm not the one who was chained up. I have enough energy to help your body heal a bit more. And you let me find you.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[How can he pull away when the attention feels so good? He is accustomed to his hand aching and throbbing, but under Xingchen's care, the muscles are relaxed. His fingers curl almost naturally and his forehead furrows in wonder at the sensation.]

Wouldn't you? [No, Xiao Xingchen wouldn't. He would rise above it all somehow. Xue Yang isn't that good. However just as those dark thoughts are threatening to drag him back under, Xiao Xingchen - the man who apprehended him - says something downright...sassy?]

You're getting cocky. [And, frankly, he likes it. He smiles a little, reluctantly.] You'll have to show me. I'd almost rather give you my arm than my trust.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ Healing should feel good! He lets his focus on healing stay on that poor hand - he'll see about getting rid of the other soreness later. But that hand has been left untreated for far too long for his liking.

That question has him shake his head a little, lips helplessly curling up a little. ] My master took me in when I was a baby. I suppose I was abandoned, and she found me in time. That's how she gets her disciples - I wish she'd found you.

[ Then he's told he's getting cocky! His cheeks pink a little and he ducks his head shyly, smile widening a little. He's not used to being teased! ]

Am I? I only know what I can handle, and when I've gone too far.

I will be glad to show you.

[Action]

[cultivatingsin]

[Xue Yang has been ripped, stabbed, burned, bruised, broken, sprained... You name it and he has likely endured it. But that hand is the source of so much more than physical pain. The trauma has shaped him and unhinged him.

Hearing about Xingchen's past surprises him a little. An orphan? A lucky orphan.] Here I thought you must have been raised in some rich household with all of your needs met.

[The wish makes him flush and he clears his throat. Of course Xingchen's wide smile and shy reaction doesn't help matters.]

You're cute, daozhang. I hope you don't regret being nice to me.

[Action]

[bright_moon]

[ He's coming to understand a fraction of that, and it makes his heart ache to know such horrible acts are done in their world. ]

Mm...my needs were all met. I worked hard though, to learn everything my master had to teach me. We all did.

I won't regret helping someone who needs it.

[ Xingchen fights the smile at being called cute, his gaze drops again to settle on where he cradles that poor hand. He finds himself reluctant to let it go now, and it's easier to talk about that than the rest. ]

I want to get an herbal salve for this hand, and wrap it so it's supported and kept warm. The scarring can be eased, so you can move your fingers easier.