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

[It's not long after Zuko's settled in the caravan that a fake teenage fashion deva climbed in to join him. She looked a mess - between being soaked, her pigtails sticking out at odd angles, and her clothes torn and bloody from where she'd been killed.

It was taking "Junko" a little time to get accustomed to things as well. She'd...died. She was sure she'd died, and that left her in a bit of a dazed state.]

Seriously...what the hell...

[ At first Zuko doesn't pay any mind to the girl, fixedly disgruntled and staring out the window even before they take off. But after a moment or two once they do, he does glance over to her to his right, his scarred side hidden from her view until he turns to face her. His eyes widen as he catches a glimpse of her, immediately noticing the blood. Does he say something? Is she okay? She seems... okay... like she's not dying right now... But clearly not okay, overall. It's not like he could help her anyway. He has no healing magic. He doesn't want to be nosy. Too many people have been nosy about his scar; he hates this feeling. He has no business knowing what's wrong with her. He's not sure he'd even want to know. He stares at her for a short but pointed moment, giving her the once-over twice over, maybe catches her eyes for a beat. But without a word, his scowl softly sets back in, and he calmly turns away again to look out the window, scar out of view once more. Just a grumpy handsome young boy from this angle, not visibly someone who might relate to a girl covered in blood. But in full view, yeah, he really could. Which is exactly why he won't say a word about it. ]

[It felt like the other passenger in the caravan wasn't really up for a chat - and that was fine with her, it gave her some time to think. Soon enough she became so lost in her own thoughts that it took her until he actually caught her in the eyes before she even realised he was watching her.

She blinked a little in surprise at that, catching sight of his eyes and that obvious old scar- a burn, definitely, probably from close range. Perhaps a grenade... no, that would have a wider radius. Too shallow to be a backfired gun.

...No, it probably wasn't any of her business. And now he was scowling. She fidgeted, wanting to fill the awkward silence with something to break the tension.]

Sorry- I know I look kinda a mess right now.

...Yeah. You're all right?

[ She catches his eyes again when she speaks, turning to face her after a moment's hesitation. He means to be polite. But no, she looks like a bloody mess, quite literally. He's not going to deny that. ]

...It's just...a lot...

I know they gave the whole talk about why we're here but... doesn't feel real, you know?

[It almost seemed like she was looking through him rather than at him, at first, still in something of a state of shock.]

...hey, can I ask what happened to you before you ended up here?

...Yeah. I know the feeling.

[ He sounds heavy saying this, cryptic. He gives her a weird look at the question. He's so used to people asking about his scar, and he's already anxious and aggravated that she might be. But on the other hand... she might not be. He narrows his eyes, voice tentative, a bit of an edge to it. ]

What do you mean, "what happened to me?"

Like...what's the last thing you remember before you got dumped in the water?

[She could definitely sense that edge in his tone, and tensed up a little on guard as he did, subtly shifting to defend herself incase Zuko turned this into a fight. It wasn't like she could switch off her combat instincts, after all.

But she really didn't want it to go that way now, and the rest of her words just sort of fell out: ]

...It's...not important. Just- pretty sure I didn't make it- so-

Oh.

[ He feels a bit foolish for the conclusion he jumped to, and falters, but feels obliged to answer candidly after suspecting her of something that was nothing. ]

...I was on another planet. Kind of like this situation but... not at all... but not my home. I'd been there many months. One night my, uh, roommates and I had, um— well, a fire started in our house... so we went to stay in a motel. It was late at night when we left. And then I woke up here in the lake.

[ Wait, is the implication there that they just... left the house burning, vamoosed while it was still on fire?

Yes. That's exactly what they did. At least one of them called the fire department on the way out, after they'd packed all their bags under growing billows of smoke. This was very good emergency response tactics; they moved fast and efficiently to get out of there and, uh, that's it. Questionable life skills already, clearly, reading between the lines... But that may not be quite so interesting as his being spirited away to another planet... What poor luck this kid must have, two in a row. Nothing compared to, uh, dying, though... He doesn't know how to respond to that, so... he won't. ]

Edited 2021-02-11 02:03 (UTC)

...You didn't, like, try and put the fire out or call for help or anything?

And, wait, you're saying you've been through this before? The whole...weird other world thing...?

[Well that was. A lot.

At least he calmed down...she could guess somewhat what Zuko might be sensitive about from that reaction and made the definite mental note to not ask about that scar of his. She was curious, sure, but it was clear that any questioning on that would be unwelcome right now.]

We called the fire emergency hotline. I guess they took care of it?

[ They didn't stick around to find out. ]

But yeah. This is the now second time I've been in this position. Or at least a similar one. Doesn't make it much less shocking, though...

I...guess so.

[The fact this could happen to someone twice was definitely strange.]

...So not some messed up afterlife. Right.

How is something like this even possible...?

No. Not the afterlife. An alternate reality — like your destiny has deviated temporarily.

[ Oh, boy. First conversation and already "destiny" has come up. Bravo, Junko. Now you have to deal with him and his destiny bull shit. ]

...my destiny, huh?

[It's fine, nothing like an existential crisis and a talk on philosophy on your first day in town right?]

You think there's such a thing as destiny?

Of course.

[ What a question. Destiny™ is so much a thing to Zuko. Even through a multidimensional existential crisis, he has no doubt destiny is real. Just way more complex than he thought. ]

Huh...wonder what mine is.

I always figured we just chased our dreams, you know? But...guess that didn't get me too far.

[On the contrary, Mukuro's never really thought about it too much. Hope and Despair were tangible things, sure, but destiny? Less so.]

Destiny is far more than "chasing your dreams..." Your destiny is just in progress. I mean—

[ He looks her straight-on, a sober look on his face. ]

Obviously. You're here now. But I mean, it doesn't reveal itself so straightforward like that. Destiny will always surprise you.

...Yeah, I get what you're saying, it just... feels so vague, you know? It's not something you can just understand or grasp like that-

[She struggled to meet his eyes, her own expression strangely serious.]

No... When it presents itself to you... it's unmistakable.

[ He's just as serious in turn. ]

But you can run from it even when you recognize it.

I'm a little jealous...it sounds like you know exactly what you're supposed to do, exactly where you're supposed to be. Is that your 'destiny' talking?

...Is it like a purpose, or something deeper than that?

[ She has no idea the questions she's just opened. Zuko falters, trying to find how best to answer such a tall order. ]

Deeper. Destiny... reveals your life's purpose. I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to do — not at all... but after misinterpreting a lot of signs, and walking down many paths in life — even getting lost for a long time... I've found where I'm supposed to be. Who I'm supposed to be is up to me; but if I follow my fate, I'll be better off for it, even if it's not clear how at first. Destiny will always surprise you. Things never turn out as you expect them to, but they always turn out as they should.

[ What a weird, serious, strangely profound young boy she's found herself with... Heavy stuff to discuss for just being spirited away seemingly from potential death, like, a few hours ago tops. ]

Feeling lost is normal then...I thought that was just me.

[Hey, perhaps it was the fact that she'd been dragged away from her death that meant she was dwelling on all of this stuff. She was...well, it was comforting that he was hearing her out, envy at his position aside.]

...they should always turn out as they should, huh...

Yes... Maybe not immediately, but in hindsight, you can see the trail. Even now, with something like this—

[ Should he open up at all? Maybe so. People had when he'd first been spirited away; it helped him then. Maybe granting her his own story's context may help her frame hers now. ]

...For example. In my world, it was my destiny to find someone called the Avatar. He'd not been seen in 100 years. I needed to find him to prove myself, to reclaim my honor, which I thought I'd lost. But instead of capturing him, in the end, we became allies — friends — and I reclaimed my own honor for myself by joining his fight. I'd spent years searching for him and never expected that.

[ While there are many holes in this short story, the plot twist is the point, just to illustrate further twists and turns in this apparently ever-changing narrative, one that stays true to itself regardless of all its change... ]

Then— I found myself mysteriously stranded on another planet... where I found the Avatar again. I met my friend's next incarnation, a woman from my future, and she helped train me to regain my powers I'd lost — just like the Avatar before her. Not only that, I became friends with someone I'm convinced is an Avatar from another world, who shared incredible parallels to my life. It was definitely destiny that brought us together, he was the first friend I made on that planet — the only best friend I've ever had, really...

[ There's a vague melancholy blip that's quickly erased by sheer earnestness, gumption, conviction. Perhaps it's superstition, but he believes it with his whole self, and that's quite clear. ]

But meeting him, an alien Avatar, as well as the next true Avatar from my world, who even knew me as an old man — inexplicable. There's no way that's not the hand of fate. I'm certain that it's my destiny to find the Avatar to restore my honor, because it's already happened three times, even in an alternate reality. That's no coincidence. There's no such thing as coincidences that big.

[Mukuro grew quiet, focusing on listening to Zuko's story. It sounded like he'd been through a lot...his honour, huh?]

So you and that Avatar kept finding and helping each other, over and over across the different worlds...woah...

You're right...it doesn't seem real to be a coincidence at all.

[It did seem unlikely, especially when world-hopping was involved. Did that mean she might meet her sister, here, as well? She couldn't be sure of that.]

...It's a lot, huh?

If there is something bigger... um. Do you think we can, like... miss our fates? If you'd not been able to connect with him, for instance, um... is it too late?

That's not how it works. Fate finds a way.

[ His tone is clipped, not harsh, just assured, though he doesn't seek her gaze. He feels strongly about this, clearly — but despite his certainty in his delivery, he understands far less than he knows, and knows far less than that. ]

How- it can't like, do anything if you're already dead, right?!

[A bit of anxiety slipped into her voice there. Sure, she was alive in this world, but...she glanced down at her bloody clothes.

It was too late for her to find something like that, wasn't it?]

Caravan?

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