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avalaughs2022-02-28 08:54 pm
TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 17
| QUICK NAV: |
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A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. Those with animal magic may get their info from the mossatees, though may notice that they're really overly friendly and have zero concept of personal boundaries. Everyone may notice they have no concept of personal space, as they will happily run right into someone's belly for a snoot squishing. 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
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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. 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. | |
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! |
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When everyone arrives it seems like during the siege on Camelot the training grounds were absolutely trashed! |
A ⦿ gArBo HuNgErS | |
| With everyone focusing on recovering Camelot main and the bulk of the resort facilities at the Red Springs, the training grounds at the Red Springs have gone a little neglected.. at least enough to be taken over by a band of local decay sprites. |
What's more, they grow in size each time they eat something new, so some of them are already big enough to swallow an orc! Don't worry, the trash goes into a hammerspace to decay over a long period of time, so if you get swallowed, there's still a chance for someone to get you out... which they can do by fighting the decay sprite. Decay sprites can suck things up similarly to Kirby, though they do not gain your powers, so finding a way to keep your feet on the ground with magic should be your first step. Beware though, defeated sprites will spin in a circle and fall over, and everything they've eaten will spill out onto the ground... so you're going to have to clean it up yourself. | |
B ⦿ Slightly Shabby | |
The state of Camelot isn't exactly great when everyone arrives. It's been ravaged by siege. Things are broken, scattered, and though many of the buildings are still standing, most people are focused on things like taking care of kids, rebuilding, or rerouting the new arrivals since the inn is not available right now. The castle rooms are already pretty full of people whose homes got trampled during the siege, so new arrivals are going to have to find their own place to live. |
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kinda clingy feelings toward anyone who lets you out. Though acting on it can be fought with strong enough willpower, it's certainly going to get you and a stranger much closer than you planned a lot faster. It looks like you may have gotten caught up in some kind of dark web experimental product... oops. | |
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The start of the month begins with the usual March rituals like the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies before flowers start to bloom throughout Avalon. Once things start to get cleaned up, some Camelot citizens think of ways to get Camelot back to its normal glory.
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A ⦿ Running of the Moon Rabbits | |
Doing the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies often attracts Moon Rabbit kits. These friendly small rabbits do eat a lot though, and it's important right now that the youngin's are nourished without depleting Camelot's food stores. |
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B ⦿ Eggxacting | |
| With the streets clearer and Camelot finally starting to look more like its former self (albeit a little sparser) a culinary wizard has taken to trying his hand at a kind of magic that should help to quickly decorate the city and encourage floral growth. Using a wild combination of animal magic and green magic, the wizard created a special brand of eggs he's calling Oeufs de fleurs. He's selling them for a low price (hey, he does need to bring in some income to afford his expenses) for everyone and new arrivals get half a dozen OdF eggs for free! Just make sure that you follow the directions and there won't be a problem! 1. Blue eggs should only be thrown at night. More information is available on the chef's Instagram page, of course, but that's all that's included. The further information lets you know that blue eggs are |
photosensitive and will turn into bear firs if thrown during the day, but if used correctly will blossom into moonflowers at night. The white eggs react to the moon and will grow into 60 foot tall trees if you throw them at night... but if you're throwing them during the day, they will become beautiful morning glories that only blossom during the light. | |
• 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. |
no subject
R-Ritsuka...?
[ The erratic movements and light magic stopped. She was saved! All would be well with her favorite human and first friend having found the accursed ball. And cherry on top, she wouldn't have to suffer the humiliation of some random human laughing at her for having been fooled by that scam.
Most importantly, that meant she didn't have to put up an act. Well, she wanted to try and sound a bit more dignified... She was a goddess, not some damsel-in-distress who needed rescuing all the time! Even though it was the second time she'd needed Ritsuka to save her... Or was it technically the third one? ]
Yes, it's me! [Okay, maybe she sounded too excited (and desperate). Even if she didn't have to pretend around Ritsuka, she should be a tad more dignified...] I mean— [She cleared her throat and took on a more confident tone.] Yes it is I, Ereshkigal, Keeper of Death and Queen of the Underworld.
[ There, that was better. Unfortunately, that confident tone immediately faded as she explained what she was doing in this thing. ]
A vile mortal fooled me into believing this to be a stasis unit made specifically for me till the city is repaired. [Translation: I have no experience on the surface world and I've been scammed.] B-But it's malfunctioning and I can't get out on my own!
[ Ritsuka will let her out, right? ]
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...Well, maybe. It doesn't entirely surprise her that the whole thing was a scam; it had sounded a little too good to be true, especially when there'd been nothing like this the last time there'd been a crisis. ]
Yeah, give a moment--I'll get you out.
[ Surely in a normal situation, Ereshkigal would be able to handle this on her own. Ritsuka believes that wholeheartedly. But they're not home, and even if there's definitely some kind of underworld here, she has to assume that Ereshkigal's connection to it is temporary severed. (Yikes. Let's not think about that too deeply.)
For now, she turns the mechanism over in her hands carefully, frowning as she tries to see if there's any kind of seam she could pry open or anything, but it looks like the button is the only thing. Under her breath, she mutters: ]
Here goes nothing.
[ --and pushes it. ]
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She looked the same as ever— Though she was somewhat panicked and worried at first, looking down at her own hands. ]
I-I'm out?
[ Finally...! She'd started worrying she may have had to spend the next thousand years sealed in that thing. Not that it would have been the worse fate ever, the inside had been about as comfortable as her temple. ... Which really didn't mean much. Not being able to work and keep the dead safe though, now that would have been the absolute worse.
She then looked up at Ritsuka, beaming at her and— ]
My savior!
[ Unexpectedly, Ereshkigal took a step forward and closed both arms around the other girls, hugging her tightly. Unfortunately, no one had told her about the side-effects of this ball. And since Ritsuka was someone she liked already, she didn't really realize what she was doing. ]
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[ This is fine? This is fine. Ritsuka prefers to let the other person decide what level of physical contact they want with her--it's always felt like the safer option, especially with some of the Servants have come through Chaldea. She's not opposed to hugs!
But she also wasn't expecting it, so it takes a second before she lifts her own arms, wrapping them around Ereshkigal in turn, patting clumsily at her back. This doesn't seem exactly right? But it's the kind of concern she can put aside for the moment, because no matter what else, she is happy to see Ereshkigal again. Another familiar face! And one she's very fond of! ]
Hey, hi, I missed you too. Did you just get here?
[ In the back of her mind, she's already considering what she'll need to do for better accommodations for this newest arrival. There's still an empty guest room in the place she's got, and she's sure Mash won't mind... ]
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Uh...? [Blink blink. Followed by a horrified stare as she pulled back.] Ah...! I-I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me...! [That was horrible! What was Ritsuka going to think of her now?] It's like I had an impulse to hug you on sight...
[ And the impulse was still there! What the heck was that? Had she really missed Ritsuka that much...? Even then, she would never have done something like that in such an undignified manner. Maybe it had something to do with the ball? Oh thank goodness she had a potential escape by answering her friend's question. ]
Yes. [She put on her smile and reined in those impulses to cling onto Ritsuka like a puppy. She wasn't going to put her pathetic side on display!] I've already been briefed on the situation... In fact, I expected to see you. [Just... She'd not expected their reunion to be like that.] When they told me what this was all about, I knew you had to be here.
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[ Actually, if she's honest, that was pretty cute? Ritsuka spends most of her time just rolling with the punches when it comes to how her Servants treat her, both the good and the bad--but it's not like she hasn't noticed how much Ereshkigal seesaws between prideful leaning into her role as Queen of the Dead, and also just... being a girl desperately seeking validation.
After a moment of consideration, she goes up onto her toes, ruffling the top of Ereshkigal's head. ]
...But it's actually been a few months, for me. We're kind of a ragtag crew, here, but everyone's been doing the best they can. Including me.
1/2
[ What was that? Had Ritsuka just ruffled the top of her head? She can't do that, it's illegal! As a goddess that's a couple tens thousand years older than her, Ereshkigal was the one who should be doing something like that, right? How many respect point had she lost with that ball thing? She's going to have and do something super cool to regain the lost points. Somehow.
... Still, that was actually nice. ]
2/2
Um, but how are you holding up? I hope you fixed your sleep schedule. [She placed a hand on Ritsuka's forehead to check her temperature.] Seeing who you faced following our first meeting and with the king of mages having revealed his true nature, I expected more Beasts to awaken. [Not to mention the Beast of Calamity that usually followed them around... At least that awful creature wasn't with Ritsuka. If it had just been one that would have been one thing, but three? There was no avoiding the domino effect.] But what we're fighting here is something else altogether...
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I... kind of? A little? I mean, it's not like there's as much for me to do here.
[ There's always some way to get into trouble, even when she isn't looking for it--and honestly, Ritsuka usually isn't. She doesn't want to cause trouble for people! Especially the ones who'd worry about her! But it follows her regardless, and she's made her peace with that. ]
I can usually sleep for like five hours straight now. That's good, right?
[ It's better than what she manages in Chaldea, but she knows it's not actually a good thing. But she's working on it! Five hours at a time is a lot when you're used to catnapping! ]
--Anyway, never mind that--if you're looking for somewhere to stay, you could stay with me? It's not as much room as you'd get in Chaldea, but... it's something? And it's free.
no subject
[ And then-- What? Ereshkigal blushed as she heard Ritsuka's offer? Stay with her? But that wasn't like that time when she'd been in Ishtar's body. People didn't stay in each other's place unless they were really close, did they? Yet again... ]
You really wouldn't mind...? [That meant she would also be able to regulate Ritsuka's sleep cycle more efficiently, too... She pondered for a moment, but finally she shook her head.] N-No, it's fine I'll manage to find something. Even if I don't find a room or place, that won't be much different from home.
[ Someday she'll have a cozy temple for her to rest in. Nothing extravagant, just something decent for her and to receive guests. ]
no subject
[ There's a moment of hesitation, and then Ritsuka reaches out, to try and take both of Ereshkigal's hands in her own. ]
Actually, I'd feel better if you did. The rules in this place are kind of weird, you know? There's not actually much I can do for you guys here.
[ Not that there's a lot she can do even back home, it sometimes feels like. The bulk of the energy needed to sustain her Servants comes from outside sources... and now even that has been taken away. Even if she's had this conversation with Beowulf already, it still feels like there should be more that Ritsuka can do, especially for the people who have supported her for so long. ]
So if I can give you a place to stay, even for a couple of weeks, I want to.
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Alright then... [Well, it was a bit selfish of her... But something Ritsuka had just said had helped her make this decision.] But first— [A pause.] Do you remember what that Merlin guy said? The Grand Assassin appeared thanks to you. Because of who you are and how your presence affects people around you.
[ Yes, that "there's not actually much I can do for you guys" was what had just changed her mind. Well, she did expect Ritsuka to be modest, but she didn't want her to think just because she wasn't a Master here changed anything. It had never been about that. ]
You don't need to be a mage to be the person who brought about that miracle. [A smile.] That's the potential humans have. So no thinking you're any less helpful because of the rules in this place, alright?
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[ Ritsuka doesn't freeze up, exactly, but she goes still and wide-eyed for a moment. She does remember that, vaguely--it had been one of those moments tucked absently in the recesses of her memory, almost overwhelmed by everything else that had been going on at the time... and everything that has happened after. It's not something she's actually given much serious thought.
There are times when Ritsuka feels less like a person and more like a placeholder; it's not like she has brought that much that is special and unique to the role. She wanted to live--she still wants to live--and she wants the world to survive too. That's all. Anyone could have done it, surely.
But it doesn't mean she isn't appreciative when someone says it. Especially someone who's been there.
After a moment, she ducks her head a little and laughs, rubbing the back of her neck. ]
...I mean... I'm still trying, but... thanks.
no subject
It was incredibly demoralizing when you started feeling that way and there wasn't anyone to tell you "good job" or "well done." Someone to acknowledge your hard work and reassure you that you are, indeed, doing something unique and important... All you could do then was either give up or work harder and harder to prove your worth to yourself.
Well, thank goodness she wasn't a mind reader! Ereshkigal laughed too and followed this with a hug— The unfortunate side effect of that accursed ball still affecting her judgment, for better or worse. Well, at least the effects seemed to be slowly dissipating... Within a matter of hours, she should be freed from that "magic" altogether. ]
Alright, let's get going then.
[ She took a step back, she was very curious to see what Ritsuka's home was like! And they probably had tons of things to talk about, she'd probably done so many singularities and gone on tons of adventures since they'd last spoken properly. ]