TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 16

[avalonmods]

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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. It's a fast process, though they do take their time as they need to go around hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals. 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.

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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 and a pair of ear buds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives 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 a special feature for warm winter drinks like hot apple toddy and butter beer. 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.

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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. Newcomers get free inn rooms for their one night stay on the way to Camelot, containing two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and movies. Don't want to relax in the room? Take a dip in the communal hot spring. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly. 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.

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Those who listened to the Fae Queen last time have made it clear to her who is going to trust her when they are given the chance willingly and who is going to defy her. Was it a fair system that only measured trust and wasn't swayed by peoples' ability to figure out her riddles? No, certainly not. Fairies don't care, nor have they done much to give the impression that they don't care about the trivialities of human subtleties. But there is a new batch coming in, and before she shares the information she promised, she needs to see where upon her line they lie. I beckon thee to wither's tree, Where widows often cry, A poisoned place of death's embrace North selkie's weary eye. You seek the prick whose corpse makes rot, And rot begot those life forgot, 'Fore the questing beast slips by. The riddle is presented to all in the form of a dream with a magical compelling not to forget the words, nor to ignore them. There do seem to be two main parties forming based on clues within the riddle, resulting in different possible adventures and proof-of-completion items.

A ⦿ The Dragon's Graveyard CW: Undead, facing mortality
	Welcome to the Land of Rot! Home of banshees (crying widows!?), where nothing living can really survive except things like zombies, skeleton warriors, and so on. Get past all that to the northernmost area of the Land of Rot (or, where is the northernmost now after the collapse of the Ash Mountain took out part of it) and you'll find The Dragon's Graveyard. It's not a traditional cemetery, but the land seems to have been landscaped into an open pit mine. It's clearly not active, leaving huge bones and fossils of skeletons sticking out of the walls. There's a lot of dried blood dying the dirt a copper-y color, and it's unclear what happened in this portion of the Land of Rot, but it clearly wasn't pleasant. Draconic Wraiths run freely around the Dragon's Graveyard-- the unsettled beasts created from the mass slaughter of dragons during the age of dragon slaying.
With the world having been rocked by the death of a dragon for the first time in centuries, despite it being within the rules of this world, they are particularly vicious and unwilling to spare any lives. They cannot be touched by physical weapons and can only be fought with magic. However, if they run through your character, they will immediately plunge into a hypothermic state and will need an immediate healer to undo the damage or a siphoner to remove the Wraith's curse and stop the damage from getting worse. Going three days without a healer or siphoner will result in your character dying! What's more, your character will see a vision of their own death in the future upon the moment of contact.   They do seem to be guarding something at the center of the pit: a broken ceremonial sword with dried blood on it. Perhaps this is the "prick" the queen meant? The sword itself seems immensely heavy and impossible to carry on your own, so bring it back as a group effort and decide where it should go. A bit of asking around and someone will be able to identify this as a sword called "Clarent."

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B ⦿ Well, Sssssshit CW: Graverobbing, buried alive adjacent, snakes
The Forest of the Fisher King seems to be another popular interpretation of the riddle. After all, the "prick whose corpse makes rot" could definitely refer to the Fisher King, whose body is rumored to be buried within the forest. I hear that guy's whole story is that his wife stabbed him in the leg with the holy lance because he cheated on her and she didn't want him to be able to die or have kids ever again- definite prick! The low-down on this place is that it's an enchanted forest with plants that release drug-like magic spores that cause euphoria, rapid (15-20 minute) memory loss, a desire to stay and become a part of the forest, and general submissiveness with anything except attempts to get them to leave (which will be met with violent resistance). Why this? Because the forest plants themselves survive by slowly devouring anyone who wanders in by making them want to stay! Oh, and don't forget the Titan Pelicans that can swallow you whole too. Just about anything in the Forest of the Fisher King will try to eat you.
Turns out, if you manage to get past the spores and get your friends free of it to go deep enough in, even the ground itself will try to swallow you up! Quick sand only takes moments to try to pull you under. Better hope you came with a friend to pull you out. The more you resist, the more likely it is to kill you! Though, everything in the forest is dead or thriving off of death anyway, and with a stroke of luck you'll see a snake slither right down in (or maybe you stopped by the Archivist before you wandered in single brain cell first). A deep, painfully-held breath should be able to hold you long enough to sink down to the bottom, which seems to pull you faster down the less you resist it. Faster, and faster, until it spits you out (unfortunately covered in mud) into an underground tomb. The only thing you'll find here is what appears to be an ornate tomb containing the corpse of the Fisher King and pits of poisonous snakes to capture graverobbers... and a strange creature whose head is a serpent, front legs are like a giraffe, spots of a cheetah, hind legs of two different creatures, tail of a lion, spits acid-- well, sssshit. If you're planning on getting this "prick" out of here, you better get past it before it comes at you-- and it comes faster than most people can run. Get to robbing that grave and run!

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For those who are less adventurous, don't worry. There are ways to test their dedication and trust as well. Before the parties leave for their determined destinations, everyone is sent a lock from the fairy queen with a simple note: Slice your sobriquet upon this seal, Secure our sprouting solidarity. Shackle it at the stockade. Sing sayonara to the key.

A ⦿ Trust Trinkets
There's no explanation as to what it will do attached, so it boils down to choosing whether or not to trust the fairy queen. Very, very simple. Well, if you can figure out which stockade it's referring to. As it turns out, in Nicnevin there is a bridge that crosses the shores of its moat that can only be seen by those who have been granted permission by the fairy queen. Etching a name into the lock, be it real or nickname or initials, will automatically transport you to the start of it. It contains myriad locks attached to it, and there are thousands of keys glittering in the water beneath them. The key to the lock is cursed- failure to discard it in the river will result in a curse falling upon your character. Your character broke an agreement with the fairy queen by taking the key with them despite accepting her invitation and instructions by taking the lock to her bridge and now they must pay the price.
Now they will find that they are unable to open or enter any door without getting someone else to give them an invitation through it. This curse will remain until they find a siphoner to remove it... so you definitely may have some immediate struggles in this new world!

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B ⦿ Pretty Pleases
	Don't know a siphoner? Don't you worry, there's a wizard right there in Nicnevin who can help you out! The half-fairy, half-vampire wizard, Speculoo-- master of the dark, dark, evil artes! An escapee from the fae prison, he'll be approaching anyone who seems to have been cursed by the fairy queen to offer them the deal of a lifetime. Speculoo offers them a potion black as tar and tells them to drink up. Drink the potion and Speculoo will explode into a poof of dust and let out a maniacal cackle-- a pixie! Seriously, you thought you could bamboozle the fairy queen just like that? The pixie's potion will cause you to be unable to resist commands from any person as long as they say "please." Time to teach you some manners!
Either live with this curse, or offer your name to the fairy queen to have her remove it. Don't trust her and try to skate past her punishment right under her nose and you'll find yourself with little choice but to.

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• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, as the events within are considered game canon. • This post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads and may start their own logs off-post, 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. • The first "Arrival" prompts are usually present on every TDM, but 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. • There will be an associated poll to determine where the sword and the Fisher King end up posted on the 7th alongside apps. Once your character is in the game, or if your current character is participating, please vote in it. We will update this bullet with the link once it is live. • If your character has to give their name to the fairy queen, please comment here so we're aware after you are accepted!

Comments

[dontgetintherobot]

Sorry, it’s all a bit complicated. Honestly I’m… still trying to make sense of it myself.

[ There, that much was very genuine. Felt better being able to be more honest about it.]

Alphonse, Alphonse aan Baelsar. It’s nice to meet you.

[bakudan_bambino]

Nice to meet you, too.

What’s complicated? You being a pilot, or you being here? There’s a lot going on. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.

[That’s why he doesn’t want to even consider what even is going on half the time, and just do his own thing. Unless the Tenth is in danger or tells him to do something, he’s just going to cruise around on autopilot taking care of his routines.

Not that finding large lizard people and getting knocked down is a routine, but hey, at least now he doesn’t have to worry about his back giving out while he’s trying to climb out of the water.]

I feel like I’ve been asking a lot of questions. You can ask what you want as well, alright?

[Gokudera is not hiding his collection of burn scars, cut scars, the strange choker of a scar around his throat, or addressing how his left hand is slightly disfigured from being smashed useless a few years ago. It’s not like he’s showing this off to the world, doesn’t even seem to realize that he has these marks (he knows he does but he’s gotten used to them), but he’s not climbing into the spring fully clothed.]

[dontgetintherobot]

[The other made a point, he should probably be trying to get more information as to where he was. His father taught him to be more mindful than this, but it was difficult to think of how surreal the situation was. Even so, he felt compelled to ask something more personal than tactical. If he was here, then perhaps his siblings might also…]

I take it you haven’t seen any others like me? No other Au Ra?

[He tentatively started to undo his top. Doing a quick glance around the room and putting his back to a wall as he shed the jacket and got to work on the body armor.

Probably a silly question. People are taken from across worlds aren’t they? It’s probably nigh impossible to run into family here.

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera was wondering how to ask the question about… what Alphonse is, but needed to work out his approach. The other just out and saying it helps ease into the topic.]

Au Ra? Is that what you are? I haven’t.

[He’s waiting, but not seeming impatient. This guy seems self-conscious. Gokudera looks away, giving him privacy.]

They are. It’s not impossible. I’ve been away from my home world for many years and I’ve seen family come and go. Is this your first time being away from your home world?

[Gokudera’s going to keep his eyes on a wall. Wow… rocks… cooooool.]

[dontgetintherobot]

[ The averted gaze does seem to help, with no one else around he more hastily discarded the armor and slipped into the water before that changed. However, he immediately foils his carefully laid plans of hiding his injuries, when hot water hit fresh burns he couldn’t help but hiss from the sting. It wasn’t as bad as it had been when he was last himself, but ah they were definitely still there. He eases himself in a bit slower, but otherwise pretends as though nothing happened.]

My people are called Au Ra, my siblings and I are of the Raen descent. Our scales are gold or white. The Xaela are our black scaled kin, but are more rare.

[It was the easier thing to talk about. His people, their history. There was some pride to be had in the heritage. His people were warriors once, though probably far better than he.]

It is. Honestly, it’s more of a shock to simply be, regardless of where it is. My last outing… wasn’t to be a repeat performance.

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera glances when he hears that his, and his eyes narrow with some suspicion. His own scars are tender, but he’s not reactive. Not drawing attention or hiding.]

What makes you different from humans aside from the scales and the obvious visual differences? And are all Au Ra so tolerant of humans?

[Because Gokudera hasn’t exactly been nice, and Alphonse does not seem too bothered.]

Did you die?

[That’s pretty blunt, or maybe it comes off as insensitive.]

[dontgetintherobot]

I’d suppose we’re stronger on average, our hearing works different given our lack of ears. We’re close enough that our kind can have children together, but that’s incredibly rare.

I come from Werlyt, hyur and Raen lived together there for longer than anyone remembers. The Xaela though, they all mostly still live in our ancestral homeland, and from what I’ve read they barely tolerate other Xaela, never mind outsiders.

[He looked down, with a pained smile. Ah, he was stalling, wasn’t he?]

I’m sorry, I’m rambling. [He took a deep breath.] too sweet your question, yes? I… I think I did? But I want… as I am now when I died. So maybe I didn’t?

[He shook his head, trying to piece something out of this, anything. But none of it made sense.]

I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t exist anymore.

[bakudan_bambino]

Mnnn the rambling is fine.

[Doesn’t actually sound like rambling. Gokudera feels like he’s learning a lot. He wishes he could write this down, and maybe study up on what Alphonse can tell him of his culture.

It’s nice to hear someone talk about something like that, to learn and heal at the same time.]

Despite that, you are and you do. In Avalon, you can help your world. Do you still care about it, even if you don’t exist there?

[dontgetintherobot]

Of course.

[said without a moment of hesitation.]

If I’ve been given the power to protect my star, then it’s my duty to do so.

[Those with the strength are obligated to lead. A value installed on him since he was young by his adoptive father, and something he always strove to emulate.

As the talk went on, as wound up as he had been, he seemed to be calming somewhat.]

[bakudan_bambino]

[The corner of Gokudera’s mouth twitches into something of a smile. This Au Ran, Alphonse, isn’t such a bad guy, so far.]

Do you know what powers you have?

[Gokudera isn’t watching or waiting for the other to calm, is simply just getting a small read on him. Something to record and file away.]

[dontgetintherobot]

N-no. [he shook his head.] I’ve never really been one for magic, so I wouldn’t really know how to start figuring it out.

[He let out a sigh as he thought about it, letting himself slide a bit more into the water. He winced again as his back was submerged deeper, but it didn’t sting quite as much as before. Of course the conversation was distracting him enough to keep him from thinking of the reasons, but it was helping him relax all the same.]

[bakudan_bambino]

Did you find your familiar and ask them? Sometimes they can tell you. I had to struggle with mine to figure it out. It’s different for everyone.

[Now that he’s mentioned his familiar, he’s looking around. The sea monster is not around that he can tell, and wonders how Alphonse might react to meeting him.]

[dontgetintherobot]

My... familiar? [That was one of the things mentioned when people were talking at him earlier wasn't it? Thall's balls, of all the things he had to mentally tune out for.] Oh, right I think I recall that being brought up. I've been rather lost in my own thoughts, so I wasn't paying as close attention as I should.

[Perhaps the creature was having about the same kind of day he was...]

Though given how I've been today, it may simply be avoiding me. Truthfully, I could hardly blame it.

[bakudan_bambino]

So you haven’t even met it?

[Gokudera is curious about Alphonse, his magic, his familiar. He seems strong, seems like someone the Vongola may be able to count on. If… the Vongola ever grows in this world. He’s not entirely sure what his boss’s plans are. Tsuna never wants to really talk the future of the family with him.]

You’ll have plenty of time to adjust. Did you arrive in this world with any injuries?

[He moves closer, concerned by more than the obvious overwhelming adjustment ahead for Alphonse.]

[dontgetintherobot]

I have not, no.

[The next question though, that had him sinking a bit further in the water, obviously guilty. He shouldn't even have injuries should he? Was death considered an injury? Then there was the whole Diamond Weapon thing... was his back truly such a big deal after all that?]

That... is something of a loaded question.

[bakudan_bambino]

I understand it may not be any of my business, but if you need to see a healer, maybe we shouldn’t be here.

[The Red Spring is great and all, but it can only do so much. Gokudera is getting up. His back will hurt regardless, and he won’t forgive himself if he’s putting a new arrival in any kind of harm.]

[dontgetintherobot]

[Hen let out a sigh and shook his head.]

I’ll be alright. It’s far better than when I last remember feeling it, but they’re… burns. So it’s uncomfortable regardless.

[he tries to offer an assuring smile. Burns were one of those injuries that would continually ache until healed.]

Melted scales pinching tender skin doesn’t help either.

CW: Mentions of self-immolation

[bakudan_bambino]

They will not get any better in this water if they are still so sensitive. Come on. We should get you a healer, or something to ease the discomfort at least.

[Gokudera’s entire back is scarred. Not only had he been thrown into a burning building while strapped with explosives and come out alive, he’d set himself on fire from the inside out on another world. It is… very visible, and he is not trying to hide it. He doesn’t treat burns with nothing more than the utmost care.

Climbing out of the bath, he offers a hand to help Alphonse out.]

Do you shed your skin where the scales are? Is there any treatment that may help in generation of new scales?

CW: Mentions of torture

[dontgetintherobot]

[He’s quiet but stands out from the water. When Gokudera got out from the water he’d be able to see the myriad of old welts and lashes in various stages of scaring or healing, all sitting under a collection of very fresh burns. Scales melted from the heat, some patches missing completely leaving only raw fresh skin beneath, though it’s impossible to tell whether those are related to the burns or the older wounds. It was all clearly done deliberately, and over a fairly long amount of time.

He kept his gaze downcast in shame, and when he spoke his voice was soft.]

I… don’t want anyone to see them.

[he can’t bring himself to look up to accept the offered hand for now. He’s just bracing himself for a reaction. The other may have had his share of scars, but he held himself with all the fire of a seasoned warrior. He had allowed his own scars to happen, and in the end he’d failed. He tolerated it for so long and all for nothing.]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera does not stare. It’s none of his business and he heaves a sigh, reaching out so that his hand can touch Alphonse’s arm.]

I know a doctor. She’s very capable, and she does not pry. I’m only saying as much because I’m interested in bettering the life you have here. So you can help the world you came from, and the people in it.

You do not have to reach out to her now. Just… think about it, yeah?

[Gokudera isn’t going to ask any questions that concern how those scars came to be. He has faith that Kimishima-san would also be respectful. He’s out of the water and grabbing up his device, turning it to show Naomi’s inbox.]

[dontgetintherobot]

[The touch gave him a brief start, it wasn’t expected, but there was no shying away. He looks up at this helpful stranger. It has been… some time since he’d encountered such blind compassion from one that was not among his siblings.

Truthfully he wasn’t sure he could handle someone else seeing the injuries, but at the same time Gokudera’s words struck true. He couldn’t fight like this, couldn’t protect his home. He wouldn’t be able to fulfill his duty. The conflict was clear on his face.]

I’m going to have to, aren’t I?

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera is confusing in how compassionate he is, generous even towards those who would hurt him. For so long, he’d been guarded, and if Alphonse were human, this interaction may not be going so smoothly. The way Alphonse followed his little barks earlier didn’t hurt, either.

Gokudera shakes his head.]

There is no one forcing you. But I would strongly advise it. I’m no doctor, and this world took my healing powers away. If you do not heal, or take the steps to lessen the marks, they could grow more visible and take longer to heal.

Why not show someone who can help?

[dontgetintherobot]

[He looks at the offered device while mulling it over.]

...would you come with me?

[Perhaps it was too much to ask a stranger, but he'd been kind thus far... and he didn't want to have to go through that alone.]

Y-you don't have to, I'll be fine on my own...

[bakudan_bambino]

To go see he doctor?

[It feels odd to be asked that, but honestly, he doesn’t mind. Seems this guy may need the company as reassurance. Naomi is a professional, he thinks, but understands the apprehension.]

I can and will if you decide you would like me to.

[dontgetintherobot]

[He heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, even offering the other a small smile. It was nice knowing he didn't have to face all this completely alone.]

Thank you. [And finally he hoists himself out of the water as well, true to the claim, some of his aches had lessened, and he was grateful to the other for dragging him along. ] I should... probably cover all this before someone else comes in.