TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } 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 The footraces will be run on foot, competitors will be tied together in a three-legged race-style competition... except this binding is magic! The only way to end it is to cross the finish line. 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 The sled races will be run on magically driven sleds requiring two drivers. Races will not run on one kind of magic alone so be sure to mingle with other classes for this competition. Whatever magic class a character is, they will be required to feed magic into the sled to keep it going; the more magic, the faster it will go. 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 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.

Comments

junpei | zero escape (zero time dilemma)

[coolerjunpei]

I. caravan

[Now, Junpei has not been the most sociable new arrival, before this point. One might even call him sullen, because he certainly is, having spent most of the time from the trek up the cliffs to now, sitting in the carriage, mostly just sighing and rolling his eyes intermittently. It's not that he's opposed, fundamentally speaking, to saving the world— it's just, how many times does a guy need to fucking do that before he gets a break?

The turtles were new, at least. Conceptually there's a lot of novelty, but down in the real basics, not so much. He's gotten the loud complaining-to-no-one out of his system by now, even petted a horse!, and now he's settled into his seat in this carriage for a good, hearty Sulk.

For the first, say, ten minutes, he'll offer nothing more than just his name and a vague hum of acknowledgement to anything said to him, and then he more or less tunes out everything else. Window to stare out of, earbuds to use, good enough— he might not be the best chatty company, but he's harmless, right? Sure.

That is until he tries in vain to tap into the SHIFT ability he can no longer use, for maybe the fifth time today, and maybe it's the degree of focus he puts it into it now in this quiet moment, but it sparks life into his new kinetic magic and instead of SHIFTing quietly and casually back into the timeline where he doesn't have to play Wizard Heroes, he teleports unceremoniously into a different part of the carriage.

Is it... your lap? Is it... just on the dang floor under your seat? Rest assured he's as confused as anyone else.]

Uh— what the hell! Now this place has rebound?

[And regardless of where he's wound up, he looks over at where he was sitting a second ago, as if expecting to see himself still sitting there. What the hell ass, man!!]

That... wasn't me. I mean, I didn't mean— Sorry about this.

[Ahem. Smooth.]

II. brave soul cave adventures

[Or: Why did Junpei sign up for this, he has many regrets already. He hasn't even ventured a step into the cave yet, having gotten the gist for what's going to happen from enough people who've made it out already-- successfully or not. A horrible cave of fears isn't, like, the most appealing? For some random rocks?

So he's loitering by the entrance to said cave in his complementary cloak, frowning at it for a long moment before he glances at whoever's come to do this crystal cave mission with him.]

So, since we're about to learn way too much about each other, what should I expect from you...? If it's something like going murder-happy on the nearest person, I'm out of here.

[He will demand recompense!! He folds his arms and frowns even harder.]

Or maybe we're supposed to be the thing that's scary. [...okay, stupid,] Just an idea.

AOL, text, un: junpei

sooo we're supposed to be magic heroes, got that. okay. sure, whatever. 1 question:

is this like a secret identity magic hero thing? do you guys do code names here, or what? maybe teams?

[A code name would be... SUPER dope... don't look at his username.]

wildcard/etc.

[go buckwild my dudes!! pm me if you got any burning questions.]

aol, un: prismpink

[prismatically]

ok so nobody has ever actually SAID we need like secret identities or codenames or anything like that but now you've said it........ i rly want one LOL

gives it some glamor!! makes it more exciting!! that kinda thing.

[coolerjunpei]

glamor isn't exactly what i was thinking but yeah, sure, that works. glad someone around here gets it.

so uh what would yours be?

[prismatically]

ok so i was gonna be like prism pink duh!!!! and then i realized if that's literally already my username then it's 1) not secret and 2) not fun. so i'm clean out of ideas already. maybe i should workshop it...

what about you?

[coolerjunpei]

i dunno, prism pink is kinda catchy.

and uh i don't actually have any ideas. some other guy said to put ultra and/or neo in it, think that's a good plan?

[prismatically]

oh yeah for sure it's catchy! but if im gonna have a codename i want somethin shiny and new... hmmmm. things to think about. ANYWAY.

ultra and neo are BOTH extremely good. rly catchy. i feel like you could just slap them together as is and have a p good codename? ultra neo...... NO WAIT. NEO ULTRA. YES. there's your codename.

aol, un: koromaru

[whatsamada]

If there was a secret identity magic hero thing, you gave yourself away rather quickly.

You need to be a little more creative with your superhero name.

[coolerjunpei]

wait, what? oh
maybe that's not even my name.

if we're all supposed to be secret magic heroes, you guys can know the truth, i guess.

[Supreme save!!]

[whatsamada]

I'm not saying it's a bad thing!

I'm saying we just need to come up with superhero name if you want! I vote for something that sounds cool! ヽ(^o^)丿

[coolerjunpei]

it's not really the same if everyone isn't doing it...

but okay, i'll bite. what sounds cool to you?

[whatsamada]

Something that involves superheroes.

Maybe with the name like ultra or neo in the front. Something that conveys you're not one to be messed with!

[coolerjunpei]

oh, like the guy in that movie. yeah, i can see that.

[The Matrix is not a superhero movie, or is it?? Anyway.]

is "ultra neo" cheating?

[whatsamada]

No, I don't think so but it does sound like something is missing.

And it probably sounds like a villain's name too.

[coolerjunpei]

wait, how does taking 2 of your cool hero words and putting them together equal a villain? that's not how it works.

[whatsamada]

You never know.

Haven't you seen villains copy superheroes sometimes?

caravan

[schroedinger]

Really? Because I'm pretty sure that was definitely you.

[So says the...cat...chilling on the seat that Junpei just yeeted himself under, peering down at him through big yellow eyes and a generally unimpressed demeanor.

Although, there's something in the random guy's protesting that strikes him curiously. He didn't seem astonished that whatever he'd done had happened; he'd seemed surprised that it hadn't happened the way he thought it would.

Which. Is definitely something that Sissel can relate to, himself. Something's up with all this so-called "magic" around here; maybe he's not the only one.]

What's "rebound"? Were you trying to do something, and it didn't work?

[coolerjunpei]

Yeah, I was trying to throw myself under the other seat, duh. "Magic," my ass...

[There's some... scuffling, shuffling sounds, as he drags himself like halfway out from under this seat, sitting up halfway only to really connect that, yes, the cat is talking.

...

Okay. It's not the wildest thing that's happened today, so okay. He still makes a face, but sure, why not! Time to talk to this small animal about magic powers! It feels more and more like a children's cartoon the longer he has to exist in this place, dang.]

I, uh... I guess I was trying to leave.

[schroedinger]

Hmm. You tried to do one thing, and a different thing happened.

[The cat flicks his tail in that aloof way that cats sometimes do, before folding his paws on the seat and hunkering down to peer at Junpei a little more closely.]

You had a power and it's been changed, right? So when you tried to do the thing you're used to, the other thing happened instead. This place tampered with that "thing" you can do, somehow.

[coolerjunpei]

[Instinctively he wants to split hairs about how it's not a power, he's not actually some kind of superhero, that's ridiculous— but he pushes that thought aside with a frown, brow furrowed. Cat still talking... just like a video game...

Okay! Okay.]

I guess so, yeah. But hey! I can get myself stuck under seats now! That's real useful, right?

[He throws his hands up for emphasis, exasperated, then only as an afterthought actually fidgets his way out from under the seat entirely. He doesn't get up from the floor, just leans his shoulders back against his own original seat, arms crossed.]

So what's your point? That happen to you, too? Don't tell me you're not really a cat.

[schroedinger]

You might be surprised. Getting stuck under a seat could save your life, under the right circumstances!

[...Why does it sound as though he's talking from experience, when he mentions "the right circumstances". Weird.]

But yes. I used to be able to do something, and right now I can still do that thing...sort of. But not in the same way that I used to do it.

[He inclines his head toward the side of the carriage, seeming to focus, and after a moment the latch on the window rattles and opens, allowing the window to slide down a crack. Unfortunately, now that means cold air is starting to seep in to the carriage interior, but for demonstrative purposes, it's not half bad.]

See? The window opened. Now you try and close it again.