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

» Arrival

[ An unexpected plunge into icy cold oceans does not make for a happy firebender. He's a competent swimmer, enough to annoyedly push turtles out of his way on his way to shore, but he's none too calm about his situation — in fact, he's furious. It's not Zuko's fist time being spirited away to another realm; he's just arriving from a six-month-long stay in Prismatica, where he lived a life of willing poverty for sheer resistance of intimacy, but nevertheless made deep friendships and lived a peaceful life, which were both now... gone... along with his own real world, apparently, if he didn't do his best here to save it, as if that weren't what he was doing at home, too. He'd had an existential crisis knock him out of commission for a week upon his first veer off destiny's path, but this one mounting now just felt spiteful. He'll not be a good companion for anyone in any sense, more likely than not, for the first week here, but he'll will himself conscious for it, at least, since this ain't his first time at the alternate-reality rodeo...

Find him having a public meltdown, fuming and seething to himself on the beach once escaping the freezing waters, dripping wet and cursing the turtles bringing him his belongings, in spite of himself. Maybe you've found yourself in the same caravan as him, where he's no more fun; he'll barely fidget with the device, won't strike up friendly conversation with friendly strangers, won't drink from the mini-bar... No, he'll just wrap up in himself with legs splayed to keep maximum distance in his personal bubble, glare out the window, and maybe grumble or sigh occasionally. If you're the lucky ~~turtle-~~ducky to find yourself rooming with him, you might find a slightly softer (though no more agreeable) fire prince in the inn, a roll of parchments with various small paintings on them spread across the bedspread before him, a pensive, distraught look on his face as he examines each sheet. In the morning, though, is where he'll shine: Zuko's at the training ground at the birth of sunlight, determined to start practicing his new magic. All he knows is he can't make fire, and he's going to lose his absolute shit if he can't regain his flames, like... tomorrow. Unfortunately, it seems he's just full of hot air — literally. With his new elemental magic, any firebending forms he tries just produce puffs of unintentional airbending, and a whole lot of frustration. He doesn't know he's now an Avatar yet, essentially. ]

Mirror, Mirror

A » Unquestionable Honor

[ Zuko is an exceptionally brave boy, for better or worse. While he may be reckless, however, he's not fearless by any means. It's just that his fears are rather— entrenched. He's never met a battle he was afraid to join, even if he shouldn't, or an adventure too intimidating to avoid, even if he should. His fears are more conceptual; philosophical worries, deep self-criticism, misdirection... Fears of his own moral bankruptcy, abandonment, latent dishonor. So given the inconcrete nature of his innermost fears, illusions of these doubts are all but entirely convincing and realistic, without any logical tells physically to show that it's not just... typical. That said, it's promising too because it means he already knows how to defeat his demons — and already knows that he knows how, too. Overcoming one's darkest sense of self is no easy task alone; in fact, it's impossible, and it took him the better part of four years to realize it, only with the support of his wise, kindhearted uncle... Someone he's sorely missing now finding himself in Avalon — especially in this instance, facing his own fears of innate disgrace in a dank cave with no magic, where the old man's guidance would be more useful than ever. But any friends he finds himself with in the cave, old or new, can be of just as much help. People need to reflect on themselves, but sharing yourself with another person allows them to be like a mirror; so any glimmer of light you share will shine on both of you, leading the way as it's revealed. ]

B » A Pure Heart

[ After overcoming fears of being just, like, a terrible person at his core, and still coming out of the cave triumphant, the invisible bridge seems less challenging now than maybe it otherwise would. Beyond this, Zuko is courageous, trusting, and thickheaded — pure of heart, indeed. For someone who's plagued with doubt, he's also rather confident, maybe overly so, and more often than not acts before thinking. Watching the others successfully crossing the bridge briefly before trying anything himself, it doesn't take him long to take a stab at it. Before he does, though, he turns to his partner to make a wry joke... except he's entirely serious, so it's not really a joke, is it? ]

Hey — let's jump off the cliff. Literal leap of faith.

C » High Ideals

[ It'd been a long and arduous day on this mission, leaving Zuko looking pretty haggard, with a lot of confrontation within and without himself. Zuko's not exactly the social butterfly drawn to the big groups, or in this case more like a moth drawn to the prismatic city of light. He's not exactly tired, but he's done. He's beelined for the outskirts of the iridescent city by the end of the night, determined to get away from the hustle and bustle. The city was stunning, but it was a heavy emotional load to bear to get there, especially for being so new to this realm, still in shock of his situation. He'd explored a bit but the novelty is not as absorbing for him as it is for maybe most. He needs time to think and rest. There's a lot on his mind. He's set up "camp" on his own, content to just lie in some grass to sleep, no frills. But before that, he'll spend a contemplative silence gazing at the stars above. There's a lot out there to contemplate. He's got to rather literally think about his place in the universe tonight, and that's a real brain-buster. Maybe he'll ruminate aloud to the right person; maybe another might break his revery, for better or worse. Either way, company is appreciated whether he appreciates it or not. ]

[Sokka is here to check if there are newbies and despite their rough start and history, Sokka is glad to see Zuko.

In fact, he's do glad he's giving Zuko a hug.]

Zuko...! Finally. You can help me finish my training.

[No, really, he's glad to just see him but bonus.]

[ Zuko's stunned to see his friend, almost double-taking at the sight of him. Even through his surprise, though, which washes his rage away like the frozen tides they'd just escaped, he catches the hug with warmth and welcome. He's become so much better acclimated to physical affection while living in Prismatica, and so extending it to his real friends now (no shade, everyone else), it was a special kind of excitement and endearment. Zuko returns the hug probably more than he may have six months ago whenever he last saw Sokka, but boy, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. However, at Sokka's first words, Zuko's face falls flat, breaking the embrace to look him straight-on, outstretched hands still pressed to his shoulders. He's always a grump, no matter where or when, but he's inwardly good humored about it, so happy to be reunited after almost half a year. Being annoyed by Sokka is a blessing he'll never take for granted again. ]

Sokka...! —Seriously? That's the first thing you say to me?

Edited 2021-01-13 01:13 (UTC)

[Sokka blinks but shrugs.]

Don't get me wrong it's great to see you. But it hasn't been that long since I last saw you. And you need to understand that I need your help now more than anything.

[He looks serious as he takes a deep breathe.]

You need to teach me how to firebend.

[ That drops Zuko's hands to his sides, brow arched, soft scowl replacing the endeared surprise on his face. He figured it wouldn't have been that long once he saw his friends, if he saw them again before going home, though he'd certainly not imagined it in this context, on a different deviated path in his destiny, and after having imagined this sort of conversation for so long over the past several months in Prismatica, this was not how he'd seen it going. ]

Firebending? Well, sorry to break it to you, buddy, but I'm all out of juice. Look—

[ He takes a step back, but barely a couple because he knows already nothing is going to come out. And indeed, as he stretches out for a basic firebending form or two, no flames erupt from his palms. He stops his failure of a show and waves his hands in the air emphatically, snarling in frustration. ]

See?! Nothing!

Zuko | Avatar: the Last Airbender

beach arrival as promised with hugs

c; avatar buddiesss~ i'm assuming our other thread can stay canon for sokka but zuko will forget it?

nah, but we can handwave stuff they talked in the threads so we don't have to repeat. Easier

perfect, what i had in mind

Arrival !!!

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High Ideals

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oh I feel so guilty

the pain ;c we knew it was coming

A Pure Heart

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c; high ideals

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Arrival: Training Grounds (f... finally)

omg ten years late but hello

Glad you're back! Hello!

Caravan?

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