avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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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

"You must be talented if you're looking to take on more than one school." He laughs.

"I considered it at first...after all, I wanted to be a fire mage when I was a kid but...I don't know. I got as far as I have without that. And honestly, alchemy just seemed like cheating." He motions to the components of the video game console laying out, still meticulously sorted.

"I wouldn't consider myself a cleric honestly. I'm more interested in the buffing enchantments; strength enhancement, shielding, things like that."

"It's not all about talent, a lot of hard work and studying goes into mastering magic. As for the alchemy, I'm not really interested in how it applies to something like that," he also motions at the pieces of that whatever it is, "I'm more interested in seeing how it can be applied to something more... natural, I suppose."

Somebody call FMA he's gonna do human transmutation.

"But, anyway. Enhancements and shields are definitely useful, but I do recommend learning at least one simple healing spell."

"Well, yeah, if I didn't learn at least one spell like that I'd be a piss poor excuse for someone learning healing magic."

He snorts, puffing air up and blowing his bangs out of his face in the process. But a second later, what his roommate said starts to click.

"Wait...more 'natural?' Like...what? Isn't that an easy way to make monsters by accident?"

"I suppose something like that could be a possibility, so I'd have to be extremely careful."

And maybe not actually experiment on living subjects. It doesn't really end well for them.

"I'm more interested in... I suppose you could say it's the opposite of that. Unmaking them."

He pauses awkwardly for a second, realizing that what he just said kind of just sounds like murder? Let him try again.

"More like, taking something that's already been put together, and separating the components into their natural states."

Darin stares blankly and mildly in horror.

"And you're...interested in separating...things from. Living things. Taking them...apart."

Super cool, now he's scaring the guy. Nice going, Zel. Let's see how impressively you bomb this one.

"That isn't too far off the mark. Actually, that's exactly what I'm talking about."

Y'know, maybe he should actually just be straight with the guy. It would make explaining this a lot easier. Probably. Or it might just scare him more. Only one way to find out, really.

Zel sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, have you ever heard of a chimera?"

Darin still looks incredibly unsure but he responds anyway.

"Y...Yeah. Aren't they monsters created by magically combining several others? They exist in my world too but they're rare as hell. Usually caused by some sort of mutation due to corrupt or an over-saturation of mana."

He thinks he knows where the masked stranger is going with this but he can't help but ask the inevitable followup.

"...Why?"

He manages to overcome the urge to snap at Darin for calling them monsters, it's not like he's directly calling Zelgadis one. He's a little touchy about the subject, but in recent years he's at least getting a little better about controlling his anger about it. Only just like barely, though

"Something like that. Like in your world, chimeras in general are very uncommon, but where I'm from people create them deliberately. They mostly use animals in those kinds of experiments, but even more rare than that are the chimeras made from... other ingredients."

Rare as in he's pretty sure he's probably the only human based chimera in the world. In his world, at least. Who knows what the hell kind of people he's going to run into in a place like this.

Before he was all chatty because he was nerding out over magic, but now he's kind of just being chatty because he's trying to stall. He's not afraid of showing people his face, but part of him is a little concerned that this excitable goofass is going to freak the fuck out as soon as he sees it. Either way, it's for the best that Zelgadis gets this out of the way sooner rather than later, so he almost cautiously reaches up to finally lower his mask and hood.

"My body is part human, part golem, and part demon. I'm sure you can guess why I'd be interested in alchemy."

Edited 2021-01-08 22:16 (UTC)

... ... ...

Blue.

You're blue.

WHY ARE YOU BLUE?!

And there's that freak out that Zelgadis had been so concerned about. His face immediately falls and he quickly pulls his hood back over his head, but boy howdy he sure does try his best not to go off on this idiot for being an INSENSITIVE PRICK.

"That would be the demon third. I don't have to spell the rocks out for you, do I? You've picked up that I'm a chimera, right? I know I've been dropping all these subtle hints, but I would think that at this point it's glaringly obvious!"

Nope Zel was right the first time, this clown is totally a bluer Gourry.

"Since when the hell were demons blue?! I've got the soul of a demon lord inside of me and I'm not bl--"

He freezes and lifts a hand to his hair. His blue hair.

"....Huh."

And then, realizing what he just blurted out, he stares at Zelgadis.

"...Ah shit."

"...Wow, you really are an idiot."

See at least Zelgadis had a little build up to his big reveal, this dipshit's just sitting here blabbing his big secret by complete accident. It's a wonder this guy survived to his 20's, let's be real.

"You know, I think that's enough about me. Why don't you tell me a little more about this demon lord you're harboring."

"...Nah."

Darin leans back and lounges.

"That wasn't a request."

Welp, time to escalate things. Cue Zelgadis rising to his feet and snatching his sword off the bed, leveling his blade in Darin's direction. His magic may not be what it once was, but his ability to do a good stabbin' is still fully intact. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, though. He'd hate to leave a mess for the inn staff.

"I've dealt with demon lords before, one of which was sealed inside one of my relatives. I'm afraid it's not something I can simply ignore, so I suggest you cooperate."

Darin doesn't seem interested in moving. Not yet. His green eyes meet the point of Zelgadis' sword and follow its gleaming length up to stony (heh) faced individual wielding it.

"Big talk for someone who just admitted to being part demon himself. But here's the thing..."

In a flash, something lunges Zel's way. It's not Darin though. It's whatever was under the bed; which just so happens to be a pretty sinister looking antlion, about the size of a small dog and it's gnashing its long mandibles at Zel's face defensively.

Hopefully that distracts him enough to allow Darin to kick up and roll backwards over his bed to a standing position, drawing his obsidian bladed dao in the process. He strikes a defensive pose, keeping the bed between the two of them.

"I happen to know for a fact that it doesn't matter how strong you were back in your world. Here, you're likely no stronger than a normal person. Your inability to access all of your magic tells me that much. So if it's down to swordplay? I'll have you know that there isn't a weapon that I don't know how to make that I also don't know how to wield competently."

He smirks.

"I'm willing to roll those dice."

Never type the words "gleaming length" again.

Aaand shit, all the yapping they'd been doing had completely distracted Zelgadis from whatever was under Darin's bed. He'd totally forgotten about it, so the little rascal does manage to catch him off guard. He blocks his face with his free arm, preferring to keep his sword trained on Darin, but very quickly realizes that something is uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh kind of fucked up. He may have successfully protected his face, but the antlion has managed to puncture Zel's arm with it's gnarly bugchompers. This shouldn't be possible on account of the whole being part golem thing, so this right here is kind of a shock.

He looks startled for just a second before narrowing his eyes and shaking the antlion off. No sooner does he shove the ugly thing away with his foot than Darin's whipping out a sword of his own and hitting Zel with a genuine shounen protag monologue. Which. Kind of means that Zel's the bad guy here, but he's fine with that.

"Hmph. I told you what I am, the fact that you're this invested in resisting only suggests that you have something to hide. Could it be that this demon lord of yours truly is a threat?"

Needling a guy enough and getting him good and annoyed is a good way to get him to make mistakes. At least that's what Zelgadis is banking on.

Meanwhile, Zel's dragon familiar continues to nap. Real good familiar there.

"Name one 'demon' that isn't." Darin fires back. Hell, he knows damn well what he is and he has no qualms making it plainly clear.

But regardless his tone doesn't waver in determination or conviction.

"And don't give me a speech about hiding. You literally walked in here dressed like every shady assassin in the corner of every tavern I've ever stepped into. And even after you admitted to being demon, I didn't draw my weapon on you."

He snaps an his familiar skitters back, leaping onto his shoulder protectively.

"So if you're gonna pretend I'm the only monster here, I'm prepared to show you how much of a mistake you're making, Zel. I don't run from a fight."

"I'm not a monster!" Zelgadis snaps back, immediately falling for the exact trick he'd just tried to play on Darin. I mean who's the idiot now, am I right.

I guess the good news is that Zelgadis is starting to get the hang of the way magic works here. Good news for Zel, at least. Kind of? He conjures a decent sized ball of fire in his hand, one that he is totally prepared to hurl at Darin because fuck that guy right now. He does manage to stop himself though, quickly realizing that he's being a complete fucking jackass who has clearly been hanging out with a certain short tempered sorceress for too long.

After mentally berating himself for losing his cool so easily, he swears under his breath and dismisses the fire. Or he's pretty sure he has, at least, he'll worry about that later. Right now he maybe should try to walk this stupid situation he's put himself in back a little.

"I'm not-- I'm not a monster. I never asked for this." More power sure, he'd totally wanted that, but not so much the disfiguring chimera part. With a sigh he lowers his sword, averting his gaze since he's not too proud of himself for losing his cool like that. "...I take it you never asked to be in the situation that you're in, either."

"Does anyone?"

He doesn't break eye contact with Zelgadis, but he sheathes his dao on its place across the small of his back.

"...I lost my family because of what I wound up being born into. My parents, my brother..."

He fights the urge to recall the events of his childhood while his antlion familiar chitters helpfully. Shaking the thoughts away, he fends off the encroaching malaise.

"I'm human. Whatever's inside me...it's not who I am and I've spent my life making sure that whatever it is doesn't get out."

The silence that takes over is awkward and smothering. Finally, Darin crosses the room and takes Zel's arm where his familiar had managed to wound him.

"Hold still. I've never done this before." Which is always something you want to hear before someone attempts to cast magic. But, surprisingly, Darin manages to heal the minor wound. Though doing so completely winds him.

"That is...way more exhausting than I thought it'd be..."

"You have my apologies. I shouldn't have just assumed the worst of you."

But then today's been kind of fucking nuts, he's kind of just assuming the worst of pretty much everything right now.

There's kind of a lot going through Zelgadis' mind at the moment, most of it revolving around the fact that in this place, he can't even take advantage of the actual benefits that this deformed body had given him back home. His magic was pathetic, at least right now, and apparently now his body was just as frail as it had been when he was just a regular human. The stone that still made up some of his skin may still offer some added protection? But at this point he wasn't willing to bet on it.

So now he was just ugly and weak. Cool cool cool.

He's jarred out of his thoughts by Darin suddenly being up in his personal space and taking hold of his arm, and boy howdy is it hard not to protest when Darin remarks that this is his first time trying to heal someone. You can't just oopsie doodle with a healing spell, bro, you're magicking body parts. Zel manages to hold still, though, and he tugs his sleeve up to inspect Darin's handiwork once he's done.

"Not bad for your first try, the scarring may even be minimal. Your body isn't accustomed to magic yet, so you'll probably experience fatigue for a while while you're using it."

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AND DONE

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