avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary

⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️

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 chilly 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 paralyzingly cold for a few seconds before you're approached by the Lady of the Lake beneath the water's surface. She puts a vial of a vibrant, glowing red Everwarm* potion to your character's lips. The icy water doesn't feel so icy once consumed and you'll be able to move your limbs enough to swim to shore on your own. She can't stick around to explain, she's got to get this to all the new arrivals! Many of which you'll see plopping in around you.

If you can't swim, a handful of helpful ice turtles will scoop you up from beneath and drop you off at the shore. When not helping people, the turtles are going around and hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals or pushing personal items to the beach near the new arrivals they smell like (belong to). If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. If anyone with Animal Magic asks the turtles, they will give the full spiel, but very slowly, and they like to get off topic and gossip about other turtles you've never heard of. 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.

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, a pair of earbuds, and a winter cloak** to everyone before getting them settled in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and give 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 nip bottles. 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.

Everyone needs a little fun from time to time; the locals have put together the annual Snow Games. As with all things Avalonians plan, magic plays a part in the competition. There will be three separate tiers for characters to enter. Each Tier will have its predetermined track or ring, set up and ready to go.

A ⦿ Foot Races

three-legged race

B ⦿ Sled Races

magically driven sleds

C ⦿ Snow Chicken

Snow Chicken, Magic Vs Yeti Style... This competition will differ from the previous two; it is not a race to the finish line but instead a competition to be the last team standing! Participants will pair off and one person will climb on the shoulders of the other and try to wrestle their opponents off without getting knocked off themselves. The field is full of snow, with more coming from the sky. Your opponents will be Yeti. Try to stay on, Yeti are no slouches so teams will have to work together using their magic not only to stay put but to knock your big-footed opponents to the ground.

Just... be wary, these friendly yeti are surprisingly big on hugging as a form of congratulations. It's much more challenging to escape from a yeti's embrace than it is to knock one over.

Trumpets hail an announcement by the town crier in front of the castle. More than a few people pull out their phones to record it and post it to the AOL network for all to see.

"Hear ye, hear ye! Our noblest of lords, King Arthur of Camelot, will host a tournament on this January the 20th on castle grounds. All are welcome to participate in competitions to determine those most skilled in both the physical and magical arts. In preparation for the upcoming tournament, we are sending envoys to Celliwig. In Celliwig lies the Magic Mirror of the South, gifted to Camelot by the Fae, and a means to communicate with their royal court at will. It is a vastly important task in your journey to become magicians and to show your good will toward the fairies. Parts of the mirror's frame have been damaged. We will need those brave of soul and pure of heart to retrieve the crystals needed to repair the mirror. Those interested, the party leaves at dawn."

A ⦿ Brave of Soul

The first stop on the trip to restore Celliwig's Mirror is to a cave just north of Albion's White Cliffs. No longer a part of the cliffs themselves, this outcropping goes underground and to a dank, dark cave. It is the only place which a special prismatic crystal grows. The crystal itself is hidden deep in the cave, which can only be passed by passing into a zone in which magic cannot be used. Characters will enter the cave and must face an illusion of one of their greatest fears. Those frozen in fear will pass out and wake up outside of the cave with no crystal. Those who run will find themselves turned out of the cave as well. Only those who recognize and face that fear deep in their soul will find the path forward. The fear will turn into a small light spirit, which will smile and reveal to them the crystals they seek.

B ⦿ Pure of Heart

The second stop is past a shanty town and at the bridge north of it. The bridge itself is broken, only the ends in existence. The water itself is impassible, white rapids sweeping away anything that steps into it. Silver crystals are on the other side of the bridge, visible in an outcropping from where they are, but it appears there is no way around as magic does not work on the bridge. The only clue as to how to get across is a plaque in the dirt before the bridge.

"The pure of heart will form the bridge with a leap of faith."

Since everyone has gone as a group, it will be possible to see others walking over the water once one person figures it out. Though the clue may seem challenging, it is quite straight-forward. Characters who are pure of heart will find that if they believe in themselves, they will be able to step off the bridge and hardlight will form beneath their feet to allow them to step over the water. Those with ill intentions or those who are willing to harm others to get their way will slip into the rapid waters and may need to be saved by other characters. At least you're off the bridge, so magic will work to that end.

C ⦿ Celliwig, the Splendored Court

As the travelers leave the bridge, they turn toward the shanty town-- wood shacks and failing farms. Not a place anyone would want to visit. Those who try to run ahead will find that it disappears as if an illusion, and they will find nothing. Those who stick with the party will wait a fair distance away until the sun sets. Once the sun begins to fall beyond the horizon, the small town will begin to shimmer brilliant whites and colors-- a glamour hiding its true glory, a city made solely of crystals and glass: Celliwig, the Splendored Court. Though smaller than Camelot, every part of the city is beautiful and glistening. The population is small and it's very quiet and serene for a city. The people of the city don't seem keen on speaking to outsiders, and will typically scatter before anyone can really engage them. They seem humanoid in nature, but not entirely human. Even the animals around the city seem to be ethereal in nature, gliding more than walking.

The party is led to a hall at the center of the city-- the hall of mirrors. Those who have succeeded in obtaining crystals need to bring them and set them on a table placed before a mirror at the end of the hall, which appears to have a number of empty settings. It's unclear what happened to the mirror previously, but now it's necessary to restore it to garner the favor of the fae.

Once crystals have been delivered, people will be free to explore the quiet city, but it seems most of the city is closing shop while the visitors are around. There is a restaurant that will serve visitors food, though all of the dishes are of the molecular gastronomy variety. Alcoholic drinks seem to come in vapor form and flashes of light if ordered, but seem effective nonetheless. The local general store seems to be willing to sell supplies to weary travelers as well, but that's about it.

...That said the inn doesn't seem particularly keen on allowing visitors in strangely, so you're either going to be sleeping on the iridescent streets or camping just outside the city if you prefer the soft grass and the darkness of night. Just be aware, if you leave, you won't be able to get back into this mysterious city so easily.

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.
• Note that the third prompt in this TDM will have consequences on the game's progression. After the application round, a poll will be put up to see how many characters who are in the game, both new and old, are able to obtain the crystals from the Brave of Soul and Pure of Heart prompts.
• The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but may 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.

*This Everwarm does not count toward your potion collection for those who wish to take up potion brewing. You must obtain Everwarm from the Elphame Trader's to count.
**Jackets come in a variety of neutral colors, enchanted with a fit-adjustment spell that will adjust to your character's size.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Claire had been waiting for the drop, hoping that maybe someone she knew would show. Sherry and Chris were at the top of that list, with Leon just beneath, so she was waiting, ready to go vaulting into the ocean if anyone of the newbies had trouble. Her familiar, a huge black dog with sullen coals for eyes, paced alongside her, a bulging pack on his back with towels, blankets, and general other necessities on hand.

So naturally, when a young girl is left on the shoreline by one of the turtles, probably confused and dazed, Claire makes a beeline for her. The dog bounds after her, tongue lolling out happily.

"Sherry!" she yelled out, charging across the rocks and gathering the girl in a huge hug. Lifting her, spinning her, she held onto the soggy child for dear life.

"Oh my god, Sherry, I'm so glad to see you!"

It was the sound of a dog approaching, more than anything else, that had Sherry scrambling to her feet. She'd seen the dogs wandering around Raccoon the last few days and even though she wasn't there, it wasn't an easy thing to forget.

But she'd barely stood up when someone was shouting her name, and she turned in surprise. "Claire?"

And then she was swept off the ground and into a spin, grabbing at the older girl to keep from falling. She would have laughed if she had any breath in her lungs, instead just smiling as the spinning stopped. Woah>

"Claire!" She echoed, giving her would-be rescuer a hug. "What's going on? Where are we?" A beat. "How come you aren't wet too?"

"It's a long story, but yes, it's me!"

Squeezing Sherry gently one more time before finally setting her back down, Claire stoops down to eye level. Grinning, one hand reaching up to wipe away some grime from the girl's cheek, she nods. Some sort of affirmation.

"Right now, we're in a place called Avalon. And it's kind of weird, but I promise I'll explain after we've gotten you dry."

She waves a hand at the dog, and it trots over, giving her the chance to fish around for a towel from it's back. The barghest, it's proper species, looks from Claire to Sherry, tongue flopping around in a friendly way.

"He's mine. He won't hurt you, even if he looks a bit spooky, I promise."

Sherry tried to respond but between the whirlwind of information and the hand wiping her face clean there wasn't really a chance, and then she was suddenly face to face with a dog nearly as tall as she was.

"Hi?" She said to the animal, her expression uncertain. It was a dog, clearly, but not quite like one she'd ever seen before. And dogs were still definitely on her 'avoid' list. But he did seem friendly. If kind of dopey.

After a few seconds she tentatively reached out to try and scratch him on the head.

"He's so big." She managed to say.

He bobbed his head, making a gentle 'whuff' sound before shoving it under her hand so she could get a few good scratches in.

Claire, on the other hand, busied herself with freeing that towel and wrapping it around Sherry. She held it tight, soaking up what she could of the water that probably clung to her doubtless grimy jacket and tried to get more of the wet, exposed skin toweled off too.

"He is. He's a friend. And he'll protect you, just like I will."

His snout turns to start snuffling at Sherry's belly.

"Not a zombie. Just...special. He's from this place. So trust him, okay?"

Sherry nodded, gently scratching the dog behind the ears until she had to stop because of Claire toweling her off. It was a little strange to have someone doting over her like that. Her mother had rarely had the time, and her father hadn't ever done it. So it wasn't really something she was used to. But it was sort of nice?

"Okay." She answered with another nod, bringing her hand up once she could to pat the dog on the nose as it nuzzled at her stomach.

"What's his name?"

"Doesn't have one."

Claire chuckled, and finally pulls away the towel, ruffling it through her hair a couple of times real quick. Just to make sure that she doesn't get a cold or anything after, presumably, a very...very...bad day.

"We haven't picked one out yet. He hasn't liked any of my suggestions. So...maybe you can help me with that sometime. "

A doggy sneeze followed, but he good-naturedly said nothing.

"I know this might feel overwhelming, and I'm sorry. But, there's something important about my dog. He's a familiar. That means he's magic. Something about this place gives people a bond with a creature, and that means you'll get one too. So before we go, we need to look around and see if there is anything you feel tied to."

Sherry giggled softly when the dog sneezed, giving him another little scratch before she let her hand drop back to her side. "I can do that," she agreed, sounding a bit more cheerful than she probably had...well, the entire time Claire had known her. She'd never had to name a dog before!

This was going to be a lot of responsibility.

"A...familiar?" This was definitely a lot. And overwhelming. And probably too much, honestly. But Claire had never lied to her, and she'd fallen into a lake where a magic woman had given her some kind of warming drink then turtles had carried her to shore so. Yeah.

"Uhm." She made a soft sound that wasn't really word as she looked around. Something she felt tied to. What did that even mean, really? But actually there was a sort of...unconscious tug towards the water behind her. Tug wasn't the right word. She didn't know what the right word was.

"Maybe..." She said this mostly to herself as she turned around. "Over there? I think I..." She trailed off, because at that moment, a large, lumbering green monster came crawling out of the water on all fours, claws digging deep into the sand. It let out an shrill, unhappy chirping noise as it pushed up onto it's hind legs and shook the water off it's back.

Oh god.

Claire rises immediately when Sherry starts to turn, looking in that direction. Her familiar instinctively moves to the girl's side, pressing himself there to offer support, almost like he can understand what Claire's hoping he'd do.

"Over..."

She trails off as well as her eyes catch sight of the frog creature scrabbling out of the water.

"...Well, that's different."

Not what she expected, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Her hand doesn't stray to her gun yet, but she does watch it, eyes going between Sherry and the creature.

"That's the source, Sherry? What can you feel from it?"

"I don't know," Sherry's voice was nervous and a bit plaintive as she stared at the monster. That was her familiar? Claire got a dog and she got a...something. What even was it?!

As if drawn by her emotions though, the hunter turned towards the two of them and let out a brief but loud shrieking chirp noise before lumbering over. It stopped a few feet away, bending over slightly to stare Sherry in the face.

She just stared back, barely resisting the urge to hide behind Claire. "It..." She hesitated. "It feels confused? Or I feel confused and it feels my confusion. I..."

She groaned softly. "I don't know."

"It's okay, Sherry. If he's coming to look at you, then he's here for you.
But he won't hurt you."

Claire stepped behind Sherry, giving her and the froggy familiar a little room and something supportive to lean against. She looked at the creature as well, giving it a serious and sincere look.

"Say something to him" the dog said in one of his view vocalizations to date. "He's waiting for you."

With the monster staring at her, and the dog suddenly talking, well...Sherry was out of her depth. Even for the last few days this was weird. But...but if they were right, if this thing was her familiar, she couldn't just ignore it, right?

She opened her mouth several times, with no idea what to say, before finally just managing a "Hi."

The monster huffed out a breath, beady eyes staring intently into Sherry's face, before it gave an abrupt nod and straightened back up. "Okay."

Claire kept her mouth shut the whole time the familiar stared at Sherry, ready to intercede if something happened. Her hands slid protectively around Sherry's shoulders, but when nothing happened, she slid back and nodded.

"You got a name, big guy?"

If he can speak, she may as well ask. While her dog gives him a sniff, curious but not committing to getting in his space.

Sherry still didn't really know how she felt about the monster, but at least he seemed like he wasn't going to hurt her? Even if he was sort of looming over her. Wow he was tall, wasn't he.

The hunter, meanwhile, just shook his head no to the question. "No name," came the words, caught somewhere between a growl and a squeak. Not the most dignified voice, which might be why he didn't seem to talk much.

"Do...you want one?" Sherry suddenly asked, surprising even herself with the question. After a moment, the hunter nodded, once.

Claire, sensing Sherry's continued tension, doesn't move away. she stoops down again, watching the hunter carefully, making an attempt at solidarity with both her dog and the girl.

"Well, I guess you've got two friends to name, Sherry."

She's cheerful enough about it, knowing that the familiar was...if not exactly friendly looking...linked to the kid.

"Something tough, but nice, maybe. He seems like...I dunno, a Bruce?"

"I've never really had to name things before," she said as she looked from the hunter to the dog and back. Great. Names had to be right, right? Something that fit and that they'd like...

"I'll need to think about it!" She declared finally, giving everyone a hopeful smile. The hunter seemed to have expected that, and he just nodded again before turning and starting to stalk down the beach.

"...Bye?" She called after him, then turned to Claire. "I guess they just do what they want most of the time?"

Claire let it go, watching curiously as the monster slipped back towards the water. When she turned her eyes away, she looked down at Sherry, nodding firmly.

"Yeah. They have a mind of their own, just like you and I do. The pooch doesn't hang around all the time either. Unless he's hungry."

The barghest sneezes again, tail wagging.

"Okay, Sherry. Let's start walking. We've got a bit to go, but soon you'll be in a place where we can get you into some dry clothes, a bath, and then some food. You've gotta be starving."

Sherry watched the hunter for a few more seconds before she nodded and turned to Claire. "Okay." She agreed with a little smile, bringing her hands up to tighten the towel around her shoulders. She didn't want to admit she was hungry but she hadn't eaten in almost a day at this point. There wasn't a lot of time for snacking during a zombie apocalypse. So she was just glad her stomach didn't comically growl at the right moment, there.

"Uhm." She had a million questions, but the first seemed the most important. "Where are we, anyway?"

Didn't growl...yet.

Claire put a hand on Sherry's shoulder and started giving her a little push away, towards the towering white cliffs and a large path cutting through them to the top.

"We're in a place called Avalon. How we got here I don't know, but I got the name when I arrived."

She paused, looking at the girl for a moment.

"Have you ever heard of King Arthur?"

"Did you fall in the lake too?" She asked as she started walking, stumbling one step before steadying herself. Look, it was important she not be the only one going through such an indignity!

"The round table king? I think I had a storybook with him when I was little."

Sherry you are still little.

"Yeah, I fell in too."

She was not alone and it sort of sucked. Actually it had sucked a lot, but at least it had washed off the sewer grime.

"And yes, that same king. I don't know if the story you read told you but when he died, there was a prophecy that he would return to save the world again one day. And...apparently that's happened here. We're in King Arthur's kingdom. Brought here by magic."

"I don't think he died in my story. It was for six year olds," she almost laughed as she said this. It was strange how a night of horror could put things like kids books in perspective. Six year olds probably could handle a little death!

"I thought he was king of...England?" That sounded right in her head at least. "Not magical Avalon."

"Avalon's apparently related to England. I...don't know if England existed when he was the king. But the stories came from England."

That does sound right though.

"Basically, King Arthur's story ended with him promising to return when his people needed him. And we're kinda stuck in the middle of it. Apparently we got brought here by Merlin, or the Lady of the Lake, or some faeries? I don't think anyone is really sure.

But, the island is a big improvement over Raccoon City. And the people hare are nice. Aaaand, you can stay with me in this awesome hotel they've been letting us live in."

Okay, all of that was very interesting and important but one thing was much more important.

"I can stay with you? You're sure?!"

She probably could've just...assumed that was true...but she clearly couldn't help but get excited about the idea.

"Of course, Sherry."

Claire squeezes her hand tight, looking down at her and smiling softly.

"I made you a promise to show you my place, didn't I?"

TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

Arrival, on the beach

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