TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 18

[avalonmods]

	QUICK NAV: ⚔️️ Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary
⚔️️ View Top-Levels Only ⚔️ IMPORTANT NOTE: The calamity is visible in the north area of the sky from all locations as of February's event.

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. The water is cold, but not enough that you can't handle it on your own. The Lady of the Lake is nearby, and normally the mossatees would still be helping this time of year... but it seems like they haven't shown up. Instead, a very helpful band of octopi have joined the cause. They range in size, from large enough to scoop three characters out of the water with their plethora of wriggling tentacles... to a band of tiny,
palm-sized baby octopi working together to try to heave a single person out of the water. No matter which you get, they all seem to have unique personalities, but animal mages may note that as a species, they all seem to think of the otherworlders as fun little playthings. These little otherworlders are so funny. 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

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 and rain. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console. 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! 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.

---

It's time for the phenomenal annual Camelot City Gaming Convention (CameCon). As you well know now, a mythical land that's been around for a few centuries has a few things in common with many modern worlds. It's got the internet, and games have evolved a little bit past hoop trundling and draughts. The large convention center located in the south part of Camelot is a good place to get dry and this year, with relationships repaired between Elphame and Camelot, is busier than ever with fae attendance up by the literal boatload! The ship raised, repaired, and gifted to Elphame last summer was used as a cruise ship to shepherd nerdy fae down for the con.

A ⦿ Becoming a Legend
	Without the massive audiences required to really run MMORPGs, Avalon is much more a fan of couch co-op style gaming. Though most games are available on mobile devices throughout Avalon when they are released, there's nothing quite like coming to CameCon to utilize the gaming stages for everyone's favorite fighting games. Multiple players at a time can plug in their phones and connect their accounts to a light magic-based illusion stage (powered by multiple light mages at a time, once a year only!) roughly the size of a basketball court. This year's primary game feature is the Knights of the Round Experience. Immerse yourself in an illusion of Camelot back in King Arthur's day. Explore the original castle, go on quests issued by mythical figures, participate in the Battle of Camlann like you and your gaming friends were there yourself! (Maybe be a little jarred by the fact that Arthur's voice is a little different-- they couldn't get the King to voice a video game, okay?) Choose your favorite
Arthurian legend level to run through with friends and strangers. And when you're done? Get some merch! Check out the cool figures of Merlin, Arthur, Morganna, Lancelot, Guinevere, and more! Or, have your game avatar printed to have a figure of  yourself to take home and commemorate the experience! That's right, you and your friends can have figures of yourselves made to keep the adventure going back home. Or, you know, find an advanced alchemist to animate it for you and really take things up a notch.

---

B ⦿ Cosplay Conundrum
A big part of the fun of conventions are the outfits. Cosplay is in this season and lucky for you, Feldspar the Tailor is here! Feldspar the Tailor is a fae-folk who loves nothing more than to travel around in his cart and make certain that everyone is dressed for the occasion... even if a little magic has to be involved to get you there. Run into his cart (not hard to miss-- the horse changes colors every few minutes) and your character will have Feldspar putting an arm around their shoulder and enchanting your character's clothes to match a character or person of legend he thinks you'll find something in common with. (On an OOC level, dress your character as whatever character you want as long as you aren't breaking the fourth wall.) It's kind of a Cinderella thing, so everything will go back to normal at midnight.   Yes, everything. As it turns out, it's not just magic clothes. Any pets will be transformed into the mascot character associated with your character's cosplay.
Nearby items will be enchanted to become the associated props. You won't gain powers or anything, but part of the magic does compel you to experience a bit of soul-bonding with your cosplay character-- which in this case means if the character you're cosplaying is easily angered, you'll find yourself easily angered. If the cosplayed character falls in love easily, guess who is going to be hot for whoever they talk to? It seems to only be one major trait at least, so your whole character's personality won't change.. but it's definitely going to be something wildly annoying.

A ⦿ Panic at the Disco
	Once you're through the day and have seen all the nifty stuff developers are working on (the worlds may be ending, but they have faith you all won't let that happen, and no ideas how to stop it themselves so they're going to keep on keeping on) the traditional way to wind the night down is with a bit of food, friendship, and staying up all night with a bunch of strangers you just met in the hotel lobby. Or attending one of the late-night dances that get thrown. Bodies in motion, a red-cup laden pop-up bar, flashing lights, a fog machine, and all your favorite nerdy hits being played by a DJ so loudly that you can't actually hear anything are bound to happen. Party hard, and maybe avoid that sketchy-looking fairy who's handing out unlabeled lollipops. (Or don't, we aren't your parents.) Later during the party, there's a shock as an orc dressed in silver bell bottoms (his favorite character is from a 70's based game!)
loses his temper and sends the bouncer flying across the room with a hefty punch. In a rage, he's fighting anyone who comes near him now. What do you do? Try to calm the orc down? Run or hide? Distract him and draw him away from the party so other guests can escape? Or do you fight him directly? Seducing the orc or joining in his fight are of course options as well.. really, this situation has a lot of ways to resolve it, and your character is going to have to figure out how.

---

It's been nearly a month and a half since the Fisher King was raised from the dead and disappeared from anyone's knowledge. Hiding is not something easy to do when your curse affects the world around you, though.

A ⦿ Springtime for Skeletons
What keeps the Land of Rot, well.. rotting? Turns out, it was the Fisher King's curse. Without it to keep everything looking dead as a doorknob, things have started to get... a little odd. The zombie population has started losing its spunk and most of them have become just, well, regular corpses-- which make great fertilizer for plants, and the April rains have brought a fresh sheen of green to the once cracked desert ground, small ground plants growing over the former zombies. Grass, weeds, small flowers, moss, and small shrubberies have started appearing all throughout the Land of Rot. Beings that weren't stopped from dying like the zombies from the curse are still around though, like the enchanted skeletons cast away from necromancers past, and even they have started to see a bit of plant life return to them. There are more than a few skeletons
that rested on the ground only to have flowers sprout through their skull, giving them the appearance of rather gruesome flower crowns and other leafy adornments. Less dead creatures that found their livelihoods there are causing bigger problems, like the Fogueria, who are leaving scorched trails like crop circles around the freshly grown grasslands. Those who follow the trail will discover they all seem to have settled into the Dragon's Graveyard to avoid the rains under the shelter of the gargantuan skeletons.  This land of death had been a suitable environment for the dead, and with plants growing over everything, the wards are taken down as well. With the zombie population almost obliterated, this does allow the creatures from within the Land of Rot to disperse. Creatures like the banshee head further north, to the Unnamed Marshes, whereas Swamp Slimes head toward the Growboro's Forest rapidly overtaking the former Lestari. Of course, some of the residents like the Walking Skeletons head right for Camelot, prompting a call to battle at its border. Anyone who can fight is asked to help cut down the skeletons and separate the defeated ones into piles of like bones so that they cannot reform. Those who aren't good with a sword or blunt weapons may consider relying on magic for this one- there are plenty of ways to blow a florally decorated skeleton apart with a good spell!

---

B ⦿ The Battle of the Fisher King's Forest
	Many know the the Forest of the Fisher King as a vibrant, lively place with a glorious measure of carnivorous and dangerous plants and creatures. Not dead-- but simply adapted to thriving off of the dead. It fared much better with the loss of the Fisher King's curse than the Land of Rot had. At least, that's how it started. It appears that creatures from further north have come down and started invading the Forest of the Fisher King. Mothra himself would have trouble dealing with the ensuing damage that has started happening within the forest because of the twelve-foot-tall Feral Frogs lassoing Titan Pelicans with their tongues and knocking over trees as they attempt to defeat them in a battle for territory. There's a cadre of Marsh Drakes trying to take out the smaller creatures around the area, and Cattails attempting to take out the plants that cause hallucinations as their plant-based nature makes them immune to the spores.
As a result, the Archivist has had to close up shop. He used his own powerful magics to seal off his Archive and protect its contents from the unexpected battle. He took his pocket-sized steampunk-dressed gnome to flee to Camelot to make his plea: "Otherworlders, please! You are needed to investigate what has caused this sudden invasion!" All he knows is that the invaders seem to be led by Tiddy Mun, an elderly man no taller than a three-year-old child, but wrinkly with his body front covered by a matted white beard. It doesn't make any sense! Find out what's happening and placate the invaders so that they don't destroy the whole Forest of the Fisher King! Characters can attempt to reason with the creatures they run into, break up the fight if they thing they can survive it, or... you know, accidentally get caught up in the perils of the Forest of the Fisher King and end up being hypnotized by a snake or made submissive my plant spores and swallowed whole by whatever runs into them first. It should be noted that the invaders will not harm otherworlders unless they interfere with what they're doing-- which, if your character is careful enough, will become obvious: they're harvesting resources like food and wood. There's definitely more than meets the eye here.

---

C ⦿ The Unnamed Marshes
Those who head up to the Unnamed Marshes will find the marsh much less lively than it should have been. The plants are wilting despite being in the water, the animals who remain seem rather on the thin side. Fish in the water seem willing to bite just about anything that crosses their paths, so it may be a good idea to take one of the rafts that seem to be scattered about. It'll take at least two people to steer at a reasonable speed, so you may want to partner up with someone! As you explore what somehow feels like endless marshes, you'll find the rains and fog make visibility pretty impossible in the marshes and that it's hard to tell what direction you came from, let alone where you're trying to go. Maybe it's for the best that you don't know what's surrounding you. A lot of the sounds are unearthly, and you're fairly certain
you can hear the screams of multiple banshee in the distance-- perhaps this is why they flocked North when the Land of Rot started blooming. There are plenty of creatures who seem very interested in approaching the raft, though. Perhaps your character has spotted strange lights in the water and followed those only to discover that they seem to be candle-lit lanterns, drifting through the marshes in a trail. Do you follow them to their source? Or follow them to their end? Either way, strangely, you seem to end up in the same location. Will o' wisps floating around seem to be sparking up gases to light them and send them along their way, then they come in a near circle back from the other direction, the candle flickering out as it approaches before a frantic wisp approaches to relight it. It's unclear exactly what it is they are doing, but as long as you don't interfere, they don't seem to care that your character has found them. If your character attempts to stop them, they'll cast a floating spell on your character that causes them to hover over the water rather uncontrollably... hopefully whoever you're with is ready to grab you and try to keep you down! It'll wear off after about ten minutes, but by then you could be far too high to survive even a fall back into the water. Maybe there's some way to get the will o wisps to stop their frantic job? Have an idea? Submit your idea as a comment to this thread or +1 that's already been tried. There are two possible paths this can lead to later-- if any character achieves the correct solution, it will yield a different result than if no one does. In the meantime, feel free to play out your character's idea! CW: The following paragraph of this prompt contains the potential for sexually-inclined content. Please label any threads accordingly. Perhaps you run into the some of the Unseelie swamp nymphs, beautiful creatures who surround your raft and rest their ample bosoms upon the edge of it to show themselves off. They appear the gender your character is attracted to, or to asexuals they appear as themselves- transparent individuals with vaguely green light glowing through what seems to be a circulatory system. They will be very kind to characters under the age of 16 and offer to show them through the fog, as children are innocent and too young for any other purposes they may have. Adults, on the other hand... well, these Unseelie will usually approach one or two at a time, asking to mate with adult characters since springtime is physically painful for them if they can't! Agree, and you will definitely be bottom because they are looking to lay eggs. On the bright side... they'll protect you fiercely until you lay them or they realize you're not capable of laying eggs. Don't agree to what they want and, well, they'll try to turn over your raft and pull you under the water, tying your feet to the bottom with reeds with the intention of eating you after you drown. If you won't help them with one method of survival, you'll help with another. Hopefully there's someone around to help if you end up in a tough situation.

 

 

• Feldspar's spell will only change appearances. Props will not gain powers to perform the functions of the items they turn into, same for pets. • For current players: The Archivist's Totem will still take you to the Archivist's even with the Archive itself sealed off for safekeeping, but outside. • Marsh drakes are cow-sized wingless, four-legged dragons that live in marshes. They typically are greenish blue in color and are physically brutish and hunt in packs of three or more-- usually one as the distraction and two coming in from behind or the side. They have a single, thick and sharp horn protruding from their snout and  Cattails are cats made out of plant material and are named for their tails, which are identical to the cattail plant. They have sharp teeth and claws. They don't typically use them for eating as they gain energy through photosynthesis, but do use them to defend their territory. • 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.

Comments

Zagreus | Hades | elemental & blood

[hellescape]

1. soaking in your arrival

[Zagreus is used to unceremoniously being dumped in water, but usually, it's the blood red River Styx, washing him downriver into the deepest recesses of the Underworld. Certainly not the surface water of Poseidon's domain, which has him coughing up a lungful as he drags himself up onto the shore, blinking in confusion in the sunlight that's far too bright. He shields his eyes, dazzled, as the world swims into focus. Where is he? He doesn't recognise this shore at all, there are other people around (mortals?), and what he can only assume is a water nymph is directing people up the cliff to a man named Archimedes.

All in all, very confusing, but he quickly comes to one conclusion now that he's made it to the surface.]

Better make the most of it while it lasts. [He'll be feeling the tug of the Underworld in a matter of minutes, or maybe an hour or two, but it'll happen sooner or later, he's sure. If he can explore a little before then, that's something.

If he spots anyone on the way up the cliff, or once they arrive at the caravans, he'll offer them a cheerful:] Hello! Fine day to get thrown into the sea, isn't it?

[For a guy who's wearing what look like very real skulls, at least he's friendly...?]

2. the red spring

[On the caravan journey over, Zagreus had a chance to become acquainted with his familiar, a chubby grey mouse with gold ears and a little purple nose. It had shown him the basics of his elemental magic, like how not to accidentally set the carriage on fire by dampening the flames on his ever-burning feet (useful), but the mouse also had a habit of running off on its own (not so useful). He's trying to track it down at the inn when he spots it squeezing through a slightly ajar door and into a room.]

Mort! Blood and darkness, you can't just invite yourself in there.

[Zagreus bursts in after him, and realises belatedly that he'd just done exactly that. Oops. He looks at the room's occupant, apologetic.]

Oh-- sorry. I'm, um, looking for a mouse.

3. springtime for skeletons

[If anyone is an expert in hacking apart the undead, it's Zagreus, though it's hard to take them seriously when he arrives at the edge of the city and sees they're sprouting flowers.]

Well, aren't you adorable. [The skeletons don't seem to agree and lunge for him. He dances aside with a laugh, easily hacking them apart with his sword.

After he's battled through a few, next comes dismantling them to make sure they don't get back up. He picks up a particularly fetching skull with primroses sprouting on it like a flower crown, offering it to whoever's been battling alongside him.]

Can I interest you in a charmingly-decorated skull to take home? It would be quite the conversation starter.

4. wildcard

[Choose your own adventure! As a note, I'll be carrying over any CR from his appearance on last month's fourth wall.]

red spring!

[totallylied]

Like, OMG!?

[ Ignoring the mouse completely, SQ's eyes widen in surprise as the door to her room suddenly bursts open. And yes, she did just say oh-em-gee out loud. ]

You can't just, like, bust into a girl's room like that! [ She declares, as if that isn't exactly what Zagreus had already acknowledged a moment ago. ] What if I'd been, like, changing? Are you, like, a total perv?

[ Poor Zagreus. Though in spite of her accusation, SQ doesn't seem particularly upset, at least? ]

[hellescape]

No, I'm not! I promise I had absolutely no intention of any of that.

[To prove his point, he'll cover his eyes and turn away. Look! No peeking.]

I'm just looking for a mouse, then I'll leave you be. Did you see where it went?

[totallylied]

[ To be honest, SQ hadn't actually thought that was his intention at all - she'd just wanted to mess with him a little. Though his reaction is, somehow, strangely sweet, and she has to suppress a laugh.

After hearing his question, though, SQ furrows her brows, a thoughtful expression on her face. ]

A mouse? I totally didn't see anything like that...

[ She looks around a little, but doesn't see anything - though she's not really looking particularly hard. ]

What are you, like, even doing with a mouse, anyway? Is it yours?

[hellescape]

It's my-- companion? [That's what its namesake is in the Underworld, anyway.] Erm, I think they're called 'familiars' here. It helps me with magic and such, so it would be troublesome if I can't find it.

[...Either that, or this is an elaborate cover story for the inn having a vermin problem.]

[totallylied]

Oh, I get it! I, like, totally didn't take you for the mouse type.

[ ...Whatever that means. After a moment of consideration, though, SQ exclaims- ]

Okay! Why don't you, like, come in and look for it? If it's, like, actually here...

[hellescape]

All right, but you'd better not shout at me the second I look.

[He's half-joking, half expecting her to shout anyway, but he'll stop pointedly looking away in order to start searching, starting with a cursory scan of the floor of the room. If he were a chubby mouse, where would he go...? Under the bed, maybe? He'll kneel down and peek under it, but no joy.]

Mort, come out and I can give you this delicious pomegranate I found! [Which he doesn't have, but bribery always works on large animals, it'll totally work here. Maybe. He thinks.]

[totallylied]

You agreed so quickly! Like, that's so suspicious, or whatever...

[ But she makes no move to stop him. ]

Do mice, like, even eat pomegranates? [ She wonders aloud. Sitting on the bed, SQ doesn't bother to help look herself - instead, she simply watches Zagreus as he searches for his familiar. ]

the red spring

[wolfhunted]

[Robyn is just minding her own business in her room when she hears something small scuttling in through her door, though it disappears before she can get a look at it. And then her door bursts open, but that's happened to her before.]

Ah... [So it's Zagreus again...but after that strange encounter while she was helping to find Queen Mab, she can't be sure if he even knows who she is or not. Still, there seems to be another matter at hand.]

A mouse? Well, I heard somethin' come in here...

[hellescape]

Wait-- it's you again?

[He'd thought that whole strange episode looking for a queen in a cave with a mortal had been a vivid dream, though he'd had a nagging feeling since he arrived here again that it wasn't the case. Somehow, things make a lot more sense now. Or less? He's not sure.

Well, that discussion can wait, since he's a little more worried for his missing familiar at the moment.]

Where'd the sounds go? Could you tell?

[wolfhunted]

Er, yes, it is.

[So he does remember her after all. But he's clearly in the middle of something right now, so the best thing she can do is offer her help.]

I heard it walk across the floor, but I didn't see where it went... [Though Robyn is interrupted by Merlyn the falcon, who cheeps something to her and inclines his head towards the dresser.] Oh! Merlyn says he's under there.

[She's secretly glad Merlyn didn't try to catch the mouse as soon as it came in. She wouldn't want to deal with the consequences of her falcon eating someone else's familiar.]

[hellescape]

Thank you. [Zagreus gets down on his hands and knees, peeking under the dresser. The mouse peers at him for a second, nose twitching, before scurrying away and over to Robyn in a bid to hide under the bed instead.]

Mort, stop--! [He tries to move too quickly to try and grab him... and just succeeds in bumping his head on the dresser instead. He rubs his head, grumbling.] Ugh, gods.

[wolfhunted]

[Robyn is just barely able to grab Mort before he makes it under her bed. Still, she tries not to grip him too tightly, since she doesn't want to stress him out any further.]

You're his familiar, right? You should be helpin' him, not makin' trouble for him like that.

[She tries not to sound too authoritative when she says this. She knows she never liked it when her father was especially strict with her.]

[hellescape]

[Mort tries to wiggle out of her grip with a surprised squeak, but he's a little too pudgy to escape, so he just tries giving her a cute beady-eyed look like she might take pity on him and let him go instead. Zagreus just rolls his eyes.]

Don't fall for the cute act. [Even if he is very cute, so he actually can't stay mad at him for long. Zagreus reaches to take the mouse safely off her hands.] Thanks for help.

Springtime

[onyouraxis]

[On one hand, it's nice to have anyone show the undead their proper place, on the other hand...c'mon this her turf, let her have this, it's not enough her own godly titled has been stripped to a stump at this point, now she's being shown up by a demi-god from an entirely different pantheon

It doesn't help most of her other interactions with monsters tend to end badly for her, at least with them she has a natual upperhand, and now that's being overshadowed]

...Y-yeah thanks for that

[Aqua sulks as a skeleton tries to get a jump on her before vaporizing it with her staff]

[hellescape]

[Zagreus isn't exactly seeing this as a competition himself; the dead take many gods to govern, and he's just one of those many. So when he realises she's sulking, he raises an eyebrow, and ditches the skull for the time being to help out and hack down a few more skeletons.]

You seem to be in a bad mood. Does battling the undead disagree with you?

closed to Thanatos

[hellescape]

[Zagreus has been in Avalon long enough now to understand a few things, and one of those things is that those confusing memories of a cavern and everything that happened within it weren't just a dream, but something very real. Meeting Robyn a second time had confirmed that.

That also meant that, if it had really happened, Thanatos really had been there, too. And if so, everything that they went through, everything the God of Death told him, had also been real. Maybe it even had something to do with why Zagreus' familiar had taken on such a-- well, familiar-- shape, after Zagreus had vowed to find him again.

But it doesn't mean he's any closer to figuring out where to find Thanatos, so he's just been exploring Camelot, trying to get accustomed to this strange surface city and all its overwhelming sights. It's raining, which he quickly decides is something he does not enjoy, and probably why a lot of the streets are deserted, but he's too restless to just wait around all day for the rain to pass.

He's getting close to the castle when he suddenly hears a loud bong echo down the streets, and his heart leaps into his throat. There's only one person he associates that knell with.]

Than! [He takes off at a run, deciding he has to be nearby. He splashes through the streets, straining his ears to figure out which way to go as the bell continues to toll...

And soon arrives at a square where an old belltower is announcing the hour. Baffled, Zagreus doubles over, hands on his knees to catch his breath.]

That thing is making the sound...? [He puffs out a sigh of disappointment. The surface is so confusing.]

[inevitablerest]

[He had been quiet for a few days after saying goodbye to Zagreus outside Queen Mab's chambers. Since then the time had passed relatively uneventfully, save for Thanatos inexplicably dozing off for a very extended amount of time one day and waking up recalling several events that he hadn't remembered before. With only Hypnos around to discuss them with he hadn't really thought too much about it all, and his relationship with his brother had not altered as a result of it.

After he had managed to settle things in his own mind life had carried on much as it ever did in Avalon.

This time, he'd decided against going down to the beach to see who might arrive. There's no reason for him to imagine that Avalon, in its infinite capriciousness, might actually return Zagreus to him after dangling him so cruelly in front of Thanatos only weeks previously. As it turns out, he should have thought better of the place at least once.

He's walking briskly through the centre of Camelot as the belltower begins chiming, an umbrella held over his head and his steps snapping smartly against the cobbles. Zagreus' familiar figure is one he could have easily missed had he not heard the equally familiar voice, the sound drawing his attention around swiftly enough to stop him in his tracks.]

... Zagreus?

[Cautious. The uncertainty in not knowing how much he might know or remember twists nervously in the pit of his stomach even as his heart begins to pound wildly against his ribs.

And he worries, of course, because what if it's just another trick?]

[hellescape]

[Zagreus looks up in surprise, and has to scrape his dripping hair from his eyes, before a relieved grin plasters itself across his face.]

Thanatos! I knew I'd find you somewhere around here. [His completely flawed logic about the bell wasn't so flawed after all. Take that, common sense.

He has a lot of things he feels he should say, but amidst his excitement and relief, truthfully he hadn't planned ahead at all beyond 'find Thanatos'. So he just says the first thing that comes to mind:]

Erm-- what are you carrying? [He points at the umbrella. He looks different in general, really, but he'll address the most obvious thing first.]

[inevitablerest]

[He's held in place and rendered mute by his own disbelief, but at least extended silence would not be strange to Zagreus when it was coming from Thanatos. Perhaps the slightly wide-eyed way the death god is looking at him would be a little more unusual, though.

There's nothing in the greeting to suggest that anything was remembered. That what had happened in those caves was real at all. Thanatos isn't sure if he should feel relieved or disappointed.]

It's an umbrella. [He lifts it up from where it's resting on his shoulder and approaches Zagreus to hold it over the both of them. Thanatos does not enjoy getting wet.] How--... when did you get here?

[hellescape]

[Zagreus is certainly used to Thanatos's silences, but there's something nervous in his smile this time as he waits for his response.]

Oh, thank you. [He glances up as Thanatos moves to shelter them both under the umbrella. He's already drenched and woefully underdressed for the weather, but a reprieve from the rain is still a welcome one all the same.] Just a few days ago.

[His heart is racing, and he can't tell if it's from the run... or from what he's about to say. Still, he lowers his gaze back to Thanatos, and his nerves settle into something more assured.]

I swore I'd come looking for you, didn't I? So... here I am.

[inevitablerest]

You... you did.

[He did. He had. And now, despite all Thanatos' doubts about Zagreus' ability to follow through with a promise like that here he stands regardless. A few days ago, and he had been so wrapped up in his belief that it could never happen that he hadn't even thought to look for him.

What he had said to the younger god before he had vanished in the caverns had come so easily to him with the inevitability of the parting, but now he finds his voice momentarily caught in his throat.]

So you remember all of that, then. [Ah... hm.] I meant it, Zag. Every word of it.

3

[suetekh]

[Set will take any chance he can to fight and it's a good thing so many tasks here require fighting. Especially since they've had plenty of problems with the undead. Set had told everybody he thought there had to be more respect for the dead and here he was, being proven right.

So as he's fighting with ease, working on dismantling the ones he took down, he looks at Zagreus with an unamused look.] Why would anybody talk about that?

[Set takes things a little too literally.]

[hellescape]

Because bones with flowers growing out of them is unusually decorative...? I like how it looks, anyway.

[He shrugs. He's used to dealing with humourless types, at any rate, so he doesn't try to push the matter further than that, resuming dismantling the skeletons.]

I suppose once we're sure they won't reanimate, we ought to find somewhere to bury them properly.

[suetekh]

[He looks at the skull once more, as if looking at it again will help him understand the appeal of it. It does not.]

You can bury them where you live since you like them. I heard that planting things can make more grow. [Yeah, typically how that goes.] You can have more skulls with flowers. Or we could lock them up somewhere. But they should be laid to rest so they may move on.