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

She nods, confirming his assessment. "In my world magic is uncommon. It's only really capable of being used by people with a boon from a god. I don't know where I got my ability, but it's probably a boon. Probably one that's heritable, because I think I would have remembered doing something to get a god's attention."

Thankfully for her the communication is something she has to initiate. Less thankfully: Fish basically just think about food and procreation all the time and once the communication is open it's not exactly easy to close it.

Oh how the dragon's reaction pleases him. The creature is a dear, so he may as well give a little decent advice.

"I very much do. I am over three hundred years old, after all." He wasn't going to mention that he spent a chunk of that as a far less enlightened animal. No, that was not required. "I'll give you one more piece of advice. Talking to your chosen will go quite a ways to forming your bond. Be true to who you are, and tell him what you are thinking. Ask him questions."

The best thing about that last piece of advice was the fact that it could also be very, very annoying. By the time the dragon learned how to temper its reactions it would have already been annoying its chosen for a while. Sometimes good deeds can also be funny.

"Interesting. Where I'm from magic is very common, though there are some parts of the world where it's barely developed."

He hadn't been expecting to have an in depth conversation about magic with someone who appeared so young, but he's not about to complain. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the people he usually gets stuck with back home.

The poor dragon would have been better off being paired with someone with a personality, but hey.

"That's such a good idea! I'm gonna talk to him all the time! Unless he's asleep, maybe I shouldn't bother him while he's asleep."

Joke's on you, fox, Zelgadis is used to tuning out annoying things that keep talking at him. Honestly though it's probably just going to prompt the dragon to double down on it's noise making.

"You've been so nice! If I can ever do anything for you, just let me know!"

Oh, ohhhh, there's poorly hidden interest. While the girl's expression has remained mostly flat up until this point her eyes lit up despite clearly trying to play it cool.

"How does magic develop in your world? In mine magic is mostly found in extremely rural places. Magic and technology don't get along poorly, but people who live in areas with a lot of modern technology tend to be less aligned to the gods, which means they don't get boons very often." At least, that's how Leader Korei had explained it.

"Allow your chosen to rest when he needs to. You might gain favour by cuddling up to him if he is cold."

It was not sympathy per se that made the fox decide to be a little kind this time, but more a desire to not completely sabotage the dragon's attempts to form a better bond - after all, they were all needed.

"As for paying me back, I will be sure to call on you when the time comes," the fox said with a rather large smile.

"Interesting. Where I'm from, there was a great war between the Gods and the monster race, resulting in a section of the world being cut off from the rest of it by a magical barrier. Outside of that barrier, magic never really developed, and the people turned to advancing their technology instead. It's still nothing like the technology here, but it was certainly more impressive than it had been where I was from. Inside the barrier, magic really took off, but our technology was pretty underdeveloped."

What even is a smartphone? What are phones in general? Adapting to this place is going to be a trip, for sure.

The dragon is making so many mental notes, it's going to be the best familiar ever and it's all thanks to this super nice fox who surely doesn't have some sort of hidden agenda.

"Okay! I'll be ready for it! Do you think he's cold now? Is yours cold too? It's really cold out here! Which-- come to think of it, I don't know why I'm still up here." It's cold as shit, this dragon's an idiot.

She leans in just a little, feet kicking back and forth gently as she does. This is fascinating. She knows about the multiple worlds theory - it's sort of a thing in deiology, and she uses a lot of her online time to research gods and sneak onto sites that host papers in the field - but she didn't realise there could be such a huge difference.

"The technology here is a little more advanced than in my world, what I've seen at least," she pulls out the phone for emphasis before putting it back in her pocket, "But not so advanced I don't know how to use it. It really just looks like maybe the components are more advanced?" She looks thoughtful for a moment, gazing off to the side before looking back in his general direction. "Maybe the programming is different. I don't know. I don't even know how to use CSS to customise my social media profiles."

She then shakes her head. "But more interesting than that, my world doesn't really see monsters much anymore. There's a theory that monsters and the gods themselves came to be by way of people believing in them. Like the dog deity in europe who could talk!" Her eyes lit up a little. "People saw the dog as a hero, so he lived way longer than another dog would, and there's real evidence he existed. His remains were kinda old by the time science found them, but the skeleton showed the amount of wear on them was consistent with what they'd expect of a dog that lived to eighty! While they have no proof that he was capable of speech like the stories say, there's enough circumstantial evidence to say there's probably something to it!"

She'd clearly happened upon a subject she liked, for as she spoke her face lit up. While her expressions were still more muted than a typical child's, she actually had a smile on her face, instead of a neutral frown.

"Where do monsters and gods come from in your world?"

Why, a hidden agenda? Him? Perish the thought.

"Why don't you go see? I think I'll spend a little more time enjoying the view." More like put time between their returns so that the man didn't get suspicious. "It's quite warm inside. Perhaps he can warm you in return."

Dastardly rascal.

He takes out his own phone while she's talking about ~technology~, staring at it for a moment before turning his attention back to her. Despite his face being half covered, his confusion is probably obvious. CSS? Social media profiles? She might as well be speaking a different language.

He's just going to lower his phone and focus on the things that makes sense. Like dog deities and monsters and stuff.

"It's not quite the same as that, but the gods from my world gain power from their worshipers. More accurately, from the positive emotions of the people who believe in them. Similarly, the monsters feed off of people's negative emotions and suffering. As for where they come from, they've just always been around. They weren't created through our belief in them or anything like that."

Mister Fox is clearly an upstanding citizen and would never trick an adorable dragon into being a pain in the ass.

"Okay! But if you get cold too, you should come inside. Thanks again!"

And then the little dragon jumps off the side of the moving carriage like a fucking maniac, but it's fine. She catches the window and squeezes her butt into the carriage, dropping into an unsuspecting Zelgadis' lap. Sure, why not. He looks like he has no idea how to react to this, and just shrugs helplessly.

"Ah, right. So I guess this is my familiar."

And it's just going to curl up in his lap like a cat and try to make him WARM. She thinks she's doing a good job, look how proud of herself she is.

Ruby nods as she listens, patiently, taking in all of the information as he talks. At his final comment she tilts her head ever so slightly to the side, but decides to focus on the rest of what was said first.

"So does this mean that gods in your world are inherently good? Or at least have motivation to be good because they gain power from happy adherents? Do monsters and gods have any connection other than human emotions kind of being food?" Well. That was a sort of disturbing equivalent to come to, actually.

Then the dragon came in, and the girl couldn't help but smile a little seeing it curl up in his lap. "I think it likes you a lot. That will probably help you with learning this world's magic." At least, it's clear she thinks so.

"Some would say that they're good, I'm mostly unimpressed by them. Their only connection with the monsters is that they're constantly in opposition. Let's just say that their conflicts aren't great for the rest of the world."

And he's just gonna leave it at that in favor of staring at the dragon on his lap. He's not so sure that it likes him, it's probably just trying to get warm, right? But, Ruby probably has a point. If this thing is supposed to be his familiar, then maybe it is the key to mastering the magics of this place. So. Maybe he should try to make friends with it or something?

He continues staring at it for way longer than is necessary before cautiously raising a hand and awkwardly giving it a pat on the head. Is this how you make friends with tiny dragons??? He has no idea, and glances back up at Ruby. Is he doing this right oh god help.

She wants to press on a little, but even she can tell when another subject takes more precedence. She looks at the dragon, watches how it seems to just take action much like a cat would and... Well before she says anything she sees his look of help and nods, then begins to pet her own knee to show him how to do so to the dragon a little more attentively.

She then nods again and then at the dragon, as if encouraging him.

He feels a little ridiculous needing how to pet your dragon directions, but in his defense, he's never had to pet a tiny dragon before. The dragon seems happy enough and wiggles on Zel's lap to make itself more comfortable. VICTORY, or whatever. He visibly relaxes a bit and gives Ruby a quick thumbs up, he's totally got this now.

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 3

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Sorry for the wait! Sleep disorders.

No worries!

Re: No worries!

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