avalonmods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
avalonmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
avalaughs2020-12-31 11:53 pm
avalonmods) wrote in avalaughs2020-12-31 11:53 pm
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3
 Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️  A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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
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
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
Along the route, racers can expect to run into minor obstacles such as snow bunnies, puddles that can’t be jumped, a flock of snowbirds giving hassle, trees that upend their own roots and move to confuse the pathway. Whatever the interruption, it will come in the form of either a small creature made of magical snow or some minor hindrance to the path. Competitors will have to use magic to overcome these obstacles. Whatever your magic class, find a way. B ⦿ Sled Races
On the path, obstacles will come in the form of wholly washed out portions of the track that need to be reformed using magic to pass. Use elemental magic to flatten rocky areas or wash away debris. Larger creatures such as snow deer and moose congregate in large groups blocking the path, so an animal magic user could be useful for asking them to move... someone with cognitive magic could try their hand at a little hypnotizing a fellow newcomer with big muscles to move fallen logs for them. Healing mages could easily use buffers to support their fellow magicians with temporarily increased speed or strength. Use light magic to sneak past living obstacles, or dark users can cast a love enchantment and make a love match between two moose even though it's far from spring. There are tons more creative uses of magic to help you get through the obstacles on the sled's pathway. Find a creative way to use magic and get through the obstacle; make sure you are faster than the other guy. C ⦿ Snow Chicken
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
B ⦿ Pure of Heart
"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
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. |
Shen Qingqiu | Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
Shen Qingqiu didn't know what to think of the sudden submergence into ice-cold water. The shock was immense, and too many things were happening at once. It wasn't until he had gotten to shore, coughing up water and soaking wet that things started to sink in. One, a woman had given him some sort of potion to help him, two, it shouldn't have felt so shocking in the first place!
Now, he was not a stranger to waking up in new worlds, transmigration was not a stranger to him, however, one did not expect to keep world hoping. Especially when that was not part of your skillset. Still, what he found most odd in this particular jump was, he was still Shen Qingqiu. What was this? Some sort of AU cross over fan service scenario?
"Fuck!" he couldn't help swear out.
The Caravan to Camelot
Even with a winter cloak, he was still feeling a bit lost, grumpy, and cold. The world was odd and a bit confusing, both fantasy, but also... pretty high fantasy. At least, in that sort of nonsensical having convenient technology when it made no sense with the magical setting.
The explanation was... well, it wasn't particularly surprising. It was a very... 'isekai' explanation. You have been chosen by a magical familiar as a special individual to bring here, while the world you left behind is in some sort of state, and as a Chosen one you will fight for the sake of your world!
Except, wasn't there an issue here? He was no main character! He was a regular guy, that just happened to be put into the body of a scum villain, what world could he help? What characteristic could he possibly have that was desirable? If someone was going to be pulled from Proud Immortal Demon Way, shouldn't it be Luo Binghe, the golden protagonist? And if not that, maybe Liu Qingge? He had been too good to live in the original, wouldn't he be taken as a good option for this sort of thing? If Gongyi Xiao had been a choice still he would have thought he was a better candidate than himself.
"Even Liu Mingyan would be expected first..." he muttered to himself, but this was when he started absently fiddling around with the smartphone and exploring its features like second nature.
His mood improved slightly as he allowed himself to be funneled into a carriage. Now, this was a good ride! It was warm, it had a minibar, there were a lot of distractions!
"All fantasy worlds should have this! Don't you think?" he spoke to whoever was near him. "It's silly not to, right? Such low fantasy to not let for easy conveniences, it's annoying, right? If there's magic, it should let you be comfortable!"
The Red Spring A
Shen Qingqiu had already relaxed significantly. Outside the world of Proud Immortal Demon Way there was no particular reason to keep up aspects of Shen Qingqiu, and thus, more honest parts of Shen Yuan started to seep through. Given so many more or less familiar creature comforts, the part of Shen Yuan that mostly remained internal with the exception of occasional outward teasing or simply in the presence of Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky was fully shared. The aetherial aloof teacher of Shen Qingqiu was pushed to the side as the internet nerd Shen Yuan had fun with the technologies he had been denied for years now. He didn't even think about the fact he would be sharing a room with someone before already going through the movies and trying out the video games.
If anyone came in to see their room, they would see this man with impossibly long hair, beautiful and as if he had stepped out of some sort of Chinese costume drama sitting on one of the beds playing a game like it was second nature and occasionally swearing at the screen.
The Red Spring B
Shen Qingqiu wasn't going to skip out on a hot springs trip. Who in their right mind would? Though, in the back of his mind, he wondered if it was supposed to be one of those scenarios, but, who put that sort of thing at the beginning of a story?
Anyway, he wasn't the sort of person to try and pry!
Instead of doing anything so uncouth, he found himself a corner to sink into. To relax, and enjoy the warmth.
Pure of Heart
He felt like he had seen this sort of thing a million times, in a million stories. You just had to have confidence and not be some sort of scum villain trying to exploit the treasure at the end. He didn't know about pure of heart, but, he doubted it was so exact and literal. Humans were incapable of being one hundred percent pure of heart. Though, he felt he was pretty even himself at least. Despite everything, he had still ended up a cultivator, who did cultivate. Being balanced of mind and body was important, and he thought it was probably the closest you could get.
So, without hesitation, not that somewhere in the back of his mind he wondered if he would fall off the edge, he stepped out, and when he didn't fall relief flooded him. Good.
"I feel like I've proven something on a very deep level," though he couldn't exactly say what that was.
Wildcard
Feel free to hit him up with anything else!
Red Spring A
"Pardon me-- it seems the two of us have been assigned a room together."
And he even spoke like a samurai, no less, unfailingly polite and humble. He looked like he was about to continue, perhaps even introduce himself, when a sudden expletive from Shen Qingqiu caused him to raise an eyebrow and clamp his mouth back shut, almost as if fighting off a laugh.
"... is this a bad time?" he finally ventured, eyes twinkling with amusement.
no subject
"No... no...." he felt embarrassed having been seen like that and self consciously stroked at his sleeves and front of his robes as if trying to tidy himself up to be more dignified. "I forgot I was supposed to be sharing...."
The Caravan to Camelot
In this foreign land so far from comrades or country, it's Shen Qingqiu's voice that calls out to ground him. Instilling warmth in a man left adrift in what might as well be a sea of emotions when his last moments before setting eyes upon this place had been emersed in a reunion with not the sound or sight of Shen Qingqiu's smile, but his body left cold even under Liu Qingge's touch.
Neither the absence of his cultivation or five long years since he'd heard a whisper of it dulls ears attuned to this siren's song. Nor does any of that stop footfalls from taking him directly to the source. A carriage near enough to board.
A born fighter, rumored to have entered the world with his sword in hand, he anticipates a trap. The most enticing bait of all doesn't materialize to dangle under his nose for no rhyme or reason. But whether this is an illusion brought about by some other cause or the fault of Luo Binghe, doggedly chasing at his heels and hunting Liu Qingge into this world, he can't yet know without giving chase.
Up steps he takes in twos or threes he enters the carriage's tight confines. At some point Cheng Luan is drawn, sliding like a second skin into the calloused grip of fingers that white-knuckle their hold. Like his own flesh and blood, it too is sapped of qi, echoing nothing but silence when he beckons with the spiritual power stolen from his veins. But its still cold hard steel. More than fit enough for use if necessary, when a single swing of powerful arms could fell towering trees and grown men with nothing more in their grasp.
People move when he shoulders on, or end up displaced to the side by the forceful path he carves through bodies nudged out of the way. There's no decorum here, no reins to hold his insurmountable impatience at bay. And that energy translates outward into the parting crowd, their disquiet and the sudden thud of footfalls louder than they have ever been now that no cultivation exists to soften their steps.
He stands in the small clearing of figures. Peoples of all sorts milling around and listening to the ringing intonations from a figure composed of elegance and grace. No less brilliant or dazzling than the first day he'd met him, but far more than the last, when this gregarious creature had been reduced to eternal silence. He recalls the same face, shut eyes casting an inky splay of long lashes across the pale chill of cheeks. Skin like ice from head to toe, yet it had almost burned his hands for the scandalous fact of its bared existence.
Sword drawn and presented in a threat, it points towards the ghost of a man who cannot exist, let alone shine so brightly after half a decade since his death. ]
You....! [ His eyesight clouds, running bloodshot in rage and torment. ] What kind of twisted joke is this?
no subject
Liu Shidi!
[He said brightly. His hands coming together with mild excitement. So they did choose someone better! Good. He completely missed everything else that was going on and didn't think to even question that there might be a discrepancy between them.]
It is quite strange, and hard to get used to, but it is definitely not a joke. You shouldn't think of it that way, it's really happening and accepting that sooner is more beneficial.
[Of course he thinks it's about the world hoping, and not that he is alive.]
no subject
It's trickery, his instincts say. It's a lie, his wounded heart warns.
Predatory creatures evolve themselves to wear camouflage like second skins, luring their next warm meal into greedy gullets by first making their prey feel safe, secure and not under the gaze of hungry eyes. Liu Qingge should know. He's hunted the worst of them. Scoured lands in his lonesome with only Chen Luan at his side. A pair that cleaved through hordes of beasts which blended into scenic backgrounds or mimicked other more demure lifeforms entirely.
Succubi have elevated this deception to an art. They have their own illusionary magic which disguises monstrosities under petal-soft flesh. It's a Universal concept, found everywhere from the farthest reaches of their world to places frighteningly close to home. Any seasoned hunter wouldn't need to wonder how likely it was that these same principles applied no matter where they might travel. They'd know.
Or so he tells himself. That Shen Qingqiu no longer lives and breathes to utter his name as he does now. And this creature wearing a dead man's face is only some perfect mimicry. Doing its utmost to perform an imitation of perhaps something it saw in his memories, or a feeling lurking in a heart it might have ransacked. Alongside knowledge of his demise and faked resurrection.
How and why he can't explain, because none of it has any explanation. But between believing this is a wholesale deception and that Shen Qingqiu has somehow risen from the grave he's not yet been laid to rest within, the lesser of both lunacies is that his ears and eyes and heart are being made into liars. ]
That's enough. [ Frustration wells up and explodes with a sweep of his free hand, as though cutting aside every word meant to mislead him. ] Don't you call me!
[ There's no blast of spiritual energies or rocketing sword glare to speed out in the same arc of a hand swung through the air in pure futility. The act does nothing more than clear more space around him as people back away from this mounting dispute.
Tongue-tied into knots he can only grit teeth, jaw working with the same tension in his sword-hand that trembles for its efforts. He summons the only defense against the fact of what stands before him: An argument. One based on the notion that this copycat is trying to goad him into buying into the fantasy that Shen Qingqiu is alive and well. That all life's consequences and tragedies composing his abrupt end have been wiped clean from existence. ]
Who's stupid enough to believe something so absurd? [ He scoffs. ] Or do you think I was born yesterday?
no subject
Why?
He opened his fan and swayed it side to side slowly as he tried to distract himself slightly from the situation. How was this so complicated? Was it not obviously a completely alien world? Denial of what is before you does nothing productive.
But then it occurred to him, perhaps the issue here was not the location, but himself? But why?]
Isn’t it already apparent? Look around. Does anything here look normal. What is denying it all going to accomplish?