TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 20

[avalonmods]

	QUICK NAV: ⚔️️ Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary
⚔️️ View Top-Levels Only ⚔️️

A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! You and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon... a ways away from the normal arrival bay. This time, you're plunged into a small lake within a gorge formed by waterfalls on one side and land on the other. Within the lake, an even smaller island within it that contains what appears to be some kind of statue encrusted with moldavite. You'll likely find that around the same time, current characters have been pulled in by mysterious means.
The Lady of the Lake is still around to help people get out of the water and onto the little island, but even she seems a little perplexed at where everyone is supposed to go from here. At the very least, she will be providing shots of Everwarm potion to save people from freezing in the cold winter waters, and will tell new arrivals to partner up with some of the mages appearing on that middle island to get an explanation about where they are and what's happening.

B ⦿ Meeting Fae't With the Fisher King delivered to Queen Elphame, events must move very quickly from here if they are to enact her plan. It is not quite as it had been intended, with the Fisher King conscious, so there may be some moral objections.. but at this point, morality is not something that Queen Elphame intends on falling victim to when the fate of the multiverse is at stake.   What she does need is the strongest mages and for that, there is no finer way to find those more skilled in magic than a tournament. Queen Elphame has used her magic to transport everyone, their familiars, and their pets to Nicnevin to either participate or witness. Those who do not wish to stay can wander out to the waterfall-surrounded waters to try to find Johannesen to send them back to Camelot... though fae will make fun of them the whole way home for not being cool enough to stay.

Fairyland Tournament: Day One C. 1v1 (Beginner): Perhaps the most standard measurement of talent, the 1v1 involves mages fighting each other through a bracket until the top mage wins. Because she seeks the base magical capability, there are two levels: beginner and skilled. Beginner levels are for new arrivals. Only those who arrived in the last three months may participate. D. 1v1 (Skilled): Perhaps the most standard measurement of talent, the 1v1 involves mages fighting each other through a bracket until the top mage wins. Because she seeks the base magical capability, there are two levels: beginner and skilled. Skilled levels are for those who have been here for more than three months and have had time to practice their magic. E. Free-for-All: All mages who participate, of any level, will use their magic to fight all opponents at once. All participants are wearing an enchanted bracelet and can use the whole of Nicnevin as a battlefield, allowing those with magic that benefits from the use of the environment around them to show off their talents and creative thinking in their magical battle. While weapons can be used, they must be imbued with magic or used via magic-- not standard combat. Tricky fae around Elphame may sign up innocent bystanders by slapping bracelets onto their wrist. Those wearing bracelets cannot harm those not. Bracelets can only be removed by saying "Uncle," a rule which is introduced when the free-for-all begins, so those tricked into it may not get that info right away. Oops. Anyone who says "uncle" must do whatever the person who defeated them says for the remainder of their stay in Elphame.

F ⦿ Bubble Down With the first three rounds out of the way, Queen Elphame has arranged for everyone to stay in magical bubble inn rooms under the water that surrounds Nicnevin. The walls are bubbles, so you may encounter some of the lake's residents swimming outside of your bubble or gently pushing you along the current. Don't worry, there's a balance spell keeping you upright and from getting jerked around. If you've managed to win yourself a servant in the free-for-all, there will be a small walk-in closet with a bed provided for them as well! Everyone will be provided food delivery from the mermaids who run the hotel. Make sure it is from one of the mermaids though-- they're delivering human food, any other food that is offered to you is fae food. Be careful to use magic to keep your bubble from crashing into anyone else's... they are bubbles, they'll fuse into one magically and you'll be stuck rooming with strangers.

Fairyland Tournament: Day Two G. Magical Maze: When the bubbles are brought back up to the surface in the morning, they are all brought back into different locations within a maze composed of magical crystal-- the only thing magic won't affect. The maze is filled with challenges and puzzles, but the kicker is that Otherworlders cannot touch them. Though they can figure them out, their bond with their familiar is what is being tested here. Only familiars can touch the puzzles, regardless of their shape, appendages or lack of, or willingness to cooperate... good luck, you may need someone to give you advice. (Feel free to come up with your own puzzles, as simple or complicated as you like!) You may run into multiple puzzles before you and your familiar find your way out. Those who would like to quit may do so by saying "uncle," but those who do will be forced to share their familiar's body for the remainder of the day. H. Potion Pickers: Use potions to fight each other. Alchemists are permitted to create their own, but everyone else is provided a room with a hundred or so potions to pick and choose 5 of. Any that are not Monthly Special Rewards or explicitly stated as restricted sale are available for use. You cannot take them home to keep, so they do not count toward a Potion Brewing collection. This is testing your magical knowledge, or magical luck. Either way. ;) I. Creative Flavors Once the tournament is over, everyone will be invited to an imaginary feast in the Land of Maidens' Island of Dreams. To get to this third island, you must cross the Whisper Bridge, which can be accomplished one of two ways: blindly and face the mental challenge of hearing the sound of people you care about try to draw you off the bridge, or with your vision in tact but under seige by sky orcas. If you are blindfolded and fall off, the orcas will catch you and return you to the start of the bridge. If you are not, they will eat you. Across Whisper Bridge is the Island of Dreams, an island where anything you imagine will manifest as real so long as it remains on the island (within size limits- you can't recreate an entire city). It is here where a banquet hall as impressive as the Palace of Versailles has been imagined, and you are able to imagine up any food you would like to your plate or the plate of your companions. It will taste real and feel filling. Your body probably won't realize you're actually still hungry until you head back to Camelot. Put your blindfolds back on and the sky orcas will fly you back overnight, if you're willing to trust them. ...Otherwise, you might end up walking.

NOTES:

NEW CHARACTER TOP-LEVELS ARE HERE! • 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 as long as the characters are currently in or join the game during the application period. If new players do not want their TDM to be considered canon, they should state as much on the OOC intro once accepted. • Both current members and potential new characters can post to this TDM log. Anyone may reply to any threads or start top-levels. Whichever you prefer! •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. This particular one is a little different. 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. • If you would like to submit your character's name to win the tournament, please reply here. Please only submit if you believe your character could win the bracket you sign them up for. You may sign them up to win more than one option, but your character can only actually win one even if they are drawn more than once due to a need for the top "5" winners to be chosen to assist the Fairy Queen in her plan with the Fisher King. Must comment to enter by the end of the application period. To allow for time to declare winners ahead of the plotting post and disqualify anyone who commented but did not end up becoming a member, the event plotting post this month will be delayed until Friday, June 17th. The event itself will be posted on June 19th.

Comments

Questions

[avalonmods]

[tsumtsuki]

re: the imaginary feast - what about drinks? same sort of deal where you can imagine up anything, or is it different?

and if yes on the drinks, then could alcohol be imagined up, and can you get drunk on imaginary alcohol?

[emet_sulk]

For the potion match, can an alchemist take their restricted-sale/not for sale potions into the fight even though non-alchemists cannot? Also, are there any blanket restrictions on the type of potions allowed in general?

[emet_sulk]

If an enterprising alchemist were to write alchemy runes in sneaky places around the area slated for the free-for-all competition, would they be disqualified? :U

I put that in on Emet's entry for the free-for-all since I had a flash of inspiration but I can remove it if it's not allowed lmao.

New Character Top Levels

[avalonmods]

Are you trying out a new character? Reply with the link to your thread here with the following info:

<b>Character's Name:</b> <b>Character's Series Name:</b> <b>Link to Top Levels:</b> <b>Other:</b> If you feel you have something to add, please do so here. No pictures or essays please, we want to keep it easy to see the links!

Tournament Sign-Ups

[avalonmods]

Your character can participate without signing up in this thread. Please only reply if you would like for your character to win. You may reply if you intend to apply as well even if you haven't submitted your application yet, we will check against the taken list before we finalize the winners! Winners will be determined via RNG of sign-ups.

1v1 (Beginner)

[avalonmods]

Reply with the following info:
<b>Character's Name:</b> <b>Character's Series Name:</b> <b>Do you have any reason to believe your character would have a signficant advantage over other characters? If so, please state it. Mods will determine if it stands out enough to give you 1 extra draw in the RNG.</b>

1v1 (Skilled)

[avalonmods]

Reply with the following info:
<b>Character's Name:</b> <b>Character's Series Name:</b> <b>Do you have any reason to believe your character would have a signficant advantage over other characters? If so, please state it. Mods will determine if it stands out enough to give you 1 extra draw in the RNG.</b>

Free-For-All

[avalonmods]

Reply with the following info:
<b>Character's Name:</b> <b>Character's Series Name:</b> <b>Do you have any reason to believe your character would have a signficant advantage over other characters? If so, please state it. Mods will determine if it stands out enough to give you 1 extra draw in the RNG.</b>

Magical Maze

[avalonmods]

Reply with the following info:
<b>Character's Name:</b> <b>Character's Series Name:</b> <b>Do you have any reason to believe your character would have a signficant advantage over other characters? If so, please state it. Mods will determine if it stands out enough to give you 1 extra draw in the RNG.</b>

Potion Pickers

[avalonmods]

Reply with the following info:
<b>Character's Name:</b> <b>Character's Series Name:</b> <b>Do you have any reason to believe your character would have a signficant advantage over other characters? If so, please state it. Mods will determine if it stands out enough to give you 1 extra draw in the RNG.</b>

drew ( anubis ) ☥ dislyte ☥ elemental/death | common zebra blue

[moussecake]

— tournament: beginner.

( There may be a greater purpose to this tournament, but Drew's first priority is a personal one:

He seeks to test his own capabilities with this magic he's been granted. It means sheathing his swordcane and placing it to one side, a move which is not the most familiar to him in a combat situation, but no one ever became a better fighter by remaining firmly in their comfort zone, he supposes. )

Very well. ( His familiar, a small blue butterfly, flutters from his ear to his cane, as though guarding it, and with a nod of gratitude to the creature, Drew steps into the arena. )

I expect you to do your best.

( Despite the fact that he is entirely new here, Drew looks calm. Collected. As though he's all too used to the idea of being the trainer, rather than the trainee.

And despite being new, the gust of wind he conjures (by fluttering his ears, please do not comment, thank you) is rather powerful, designed to push away his opponent if they should try to approach. )

— magical maze.

( The maze is... a bit of a frustrating one, he'll admit, and it'd be obvious to anyone experienced with Drew's behaviour from the way his ears pin back as he stares at the stone door and its series of mechanisms he cannot touch.

However, his familiar can. Unfortunately, well... His familiar is a butterfly, and it's not about to be able to move any of the heavy looking levers that need moving.

So, when he hears the footsteps of someone else approaching this area, Drew perks up, his ears twitching as he turns his head. Thank goodness. )

My apologies, but would your familiar be able to move these levers?

— wildcard.

( hit me with something else, maybe? )

magical maze [alchemy/green | ...dalmatian]

[hellheir]

[ Never let it be said that Cruella isn't clever, because she is. Oh, it's not just in fashion where her genius lies, no. She is woman, hear her roar--

--and she has a Dalmatian for a familiar, who can scent out confidence and calm and lead her through the maze with ease. Khan, he's called. He's a good, intelligent dog, far better than the Baroness's dogs for being hers heart and soul. Part of her.

She could get used to magic.

Between Khan's senses and Cruella's comfort with tricks and less than pleasant tasks (she's still Estella, deep inside, in some ways), she arrives at the stone door to find a man... dressed as a jackal? Part jackal?

Khan wags his spirit-mist tail slowly. Cruella shrugs, dramatically. Everything about her is a little bit extra, as some people say. She's fine with that. ]

I'm sure he could. Have a go at it, Khan.

[ The dog familiar trots to the door, stands up on his hind legs, and puts his forepaws on one of the levers. There's a creek as he puts his weight into it. ]

Hmm... [ a high pitched, sustained note, amused as much as it is thoughtful. ] Perhaps a bit more strength?

Anyway. My dear good sir, you're dazzling. Impeccably dressed. Might I ask if you got that suit here?

maze

[readytolearn]

[Elsa has a bit of a problem with the maze as her familiar is... not always the most co-operative one. While the Snowgie is calmer than Anna's similar one it still likes doing its own thing more often than not.

... it also doesn't have arms, so it's been. A Morning.]

Oh... uh. Let me ask... [Elsa turns to the snowgie.] Hey? Can you help the gentleman?

[Snowgie looks at Elsa, at the man (?) and at the level. Hmm. After a moment it bounces towards it and jumps on the level.

And again.

And a few more times.

Click.]

Oh! You did it.

Tournament: Beginner ... Adjacent! :D (hope that's ok)

[hor]

[ Ah.. it's not quite Anubis, but as he watches him compete, Horus can't help but want to go speak to him. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, once the fight is over, Horus will be coming up to his side and reaching up to touch an ear. They definitely remind him of Anubis. This is like the things the humans wear to represent gods, isn't it? But it looks so real. Is this man's ear real? He has had people say Egypt lasts long into the future.. ]

Are you a follower of Anubis?

[ Ah, he hasn't felt particularly homesick yet, so his voice sounds a little distant.

...If he isn't stopped, he's definitely going to try to scratch the ear though. Completely fearlessly. ]

mamori minamoto | tokyo mirage sessions #fe | healing + light

[mamowavin]

A 🐇 soaking in your arrival.

[ Drenched from the sudden plunge into the lake, kimono and hakama waterlogged, shivering and clutching her shot of Everwarm Potion, the already small Mamori feels even smaller. But- but she should try and be brave, right? Even though she doesn't know where she is, and when she says ] Draug-san? [ she gets no response. (or maybe just not the response she expects?)

So she straightens up as best she can and approaches the first person she notices. ] Excuse me? Do you know where we are? [ Her voice may be steady, but her worried expression and the tremble in her hands as she curls them over her chest paint a different picture. ]

B 🐇 bubble down.

[ It hadn't even crossed her mind, amid the confusion of the rest of the day, but... she's grateful to have a place to sleep. And she should be sleeping - she's tired - but it's mystifying, being served by a real life mermaid, and having all these creatures she's never seen before swimming right by her.

Accompanied by the singing of one of her friends ("Feel", "Reincarnation", or "Black Rain"), or perhaps while singing her own ballad, she's completely focused on the world outside her bubble... "outside of", meaning excluding, her bubble as well. ]

C 🐇 uncommon sense (combat quest).

[ There's a lot she needs to learn about this world - a lot that she'll need help wrapping her head around - but it's hard to ignore something like this. She's sure her friends back home would think the same.

So she's quite insistent on tagging along for this mission. Maybe she's proven herself already, or perhaps she still has to. Either way, as she dons the last bits of her armor and picks up her axe, she stares bravely into the mouth of the cave, before her gaze shifts up to her companion. ] I'll do my best to protect you! I promise!

D 🐇 wildcard.
( what it says on the tin! just keep it age-appropriate, as she is a kid lmao. feel free to hit me up via PM or Plurk @ castforms if you wanna discuss anything!! )

A

[hellheir]

[ Luckily for everyone, this isn't the first time Cruella finds herself splashing into frigid waters. The real problem is that she only thought she'd ever need to do this once. She was prepared for that.

Although, she supposes the warmth potion is a preparation. But she's still soaked and cold and not enjoying this because she did not choose or expect this.

Shivering, she stomps the rest of the way out of the water and onto shore, arms wrapped tightly around herself. It's as she's drinking the potion that Mamori asks her a question. ]

Not London, obviously. [ Half muttered, lips twisting in distaste. Noticing she's no longer shivering, she looks at the empty bottle in her hand and hums, impressed. ] Fascinating.

[ ...aaand she tosses it away to lie there on shore in the winter sunlight.

Now she turns to Mamori, and her newly embraced instinct to be sharp and unkind just... cracks. Because she remembers being a little girl, lost and alone in a new place. A new world. Blaming herself for a tragedy she'd had no hand in.

Estella is never going to go away, is she?

She takes a breath and collects herself, the flash of sadness and empathy in her gaze gone in a moment. Cruella gets things done. There were no adults in Estella's life to help her after her mother's death. Perhaps it's fitting that she be that for someone else.

Maybe. As long as it's not too much trouble. And if no one provokes her enough to draw her attention elsewhe-- ]

No idea where we are. It seems there are people helping rescue other unfortunates from the lake-- darling, you're trembling so. Have your little drink. It helps, and it's not poison.

gyles | (d&d) oc | dark + death

[lavenfallen]

A 🎲 tournament (beginner).

[ Once again, the universe chose the wrong one to play the hero. But he supposes Hune would never participate in a tournament like this. Even if for a greater good, to find someone who could help, the idea of harming another would've been simply unacceptable. So it's better for Gyles to be the one standing in the arena, staring at the unfamiliar face across from him, dark magic pooling at his feet.

The whims of the gods are beyond his understanding. He can't even ask Olladra why here, why him - was this some sort of divine punishment? Or a second chance?

Either way, his path forward is clear. If the higher beings wanted him to live, then fine. He'll just press on, as he had before.

The domino dangling from his left ear glows faintly - and while it might seem like that's all that happens, you might want to watch your feet, before a part of your own shadow tries to make a grab at you. ]

B 🎲 creative flavors.

1. whisper bridge.
[ Trying to walk across a bridge while blindfolded - fine in theory! He'd rather put his faith in his other senses than try and fend off orcas that could probably eat him in a single bite.

But once he starts hearing voices? He has some second thoughts. While just annoying at first, a smooth, even voice makes him stop in his tracks. "Is something the matter? Everyone else is going this way." ]

- Shit.

2. banquet hall.
[ Now that he's on the other side of the bridge, unblindfolded and free from the voices, he's having second thoughts in general. Prying into his heart like that - how dare this place? There was no point in thinking about his guild members anymore. Even if he could go back to his world - which, from what he's gathered, seems at least plausible - he's dead. There's no point in missing someone you have no chance of seeing again.

(he thinks, but grief makes you think in strange ways sometimes - and can even make you a hypocrite.)

Bitter but resigned to at least trying to nourish his body (hune would've handled this better. or maybe he would've falled off the bridge. either way, he'd want him to eat.) he imagines a modest but hearty bowl of vegetarian stew for himself... alongside a tankard of some sort of alcoholic beverage. His exact (mental) words were "something to knock me out".

Bottoms up. ]

C 🎲 wildcard.
( as it says on the tin! feel free to reach out via plurk @ castforms or pm if you wanna hash anything out! more character info can be found here, and campaign extra bits here. )

B

[unhappy]

What?

[ "Shit" is not what you want to hear while crossing a bridge filled with man-eating orcas. Emerald's already crossed the bridge in the past, so she's thankfully already aware of what it is she hears. Or what she used to. But she hasn't heard the new voice yet, so she's more focused on the stranger saying "Shit" to her left. ]

Yami Bakura | Yu-Gi-Oh

[feelsgoodinyou]

1. Beginner : Tournament

[Tournaments are meant to fight against your opponents, but right now there's a rather noisy new recruit who is very obviously way more interested in trying to murder his own familiar instead.

The familiar in question is the size of a medium-ish dog, pouncing around much like a puppy that's having the time of its life.]

Come here, you sorry excuse for a dustb- OW! Motherfucker!!

Kuri! Kuri! Kurii!

[Kuriboh 1 : Bakura zero. The Spirit of the Ring is just standing there, holding his freshly headbutted chin and quite literally trembling with fury. His magic might be sealed, but still]

You. Are. Dead!!!


2. Bubble Shooter : Mermaid Crush

[Once he has finally managed to get rid of the squeaking nuisance, Bakura is all but ready to settle in one of those magical bubble rooms. Those things are weird (when he's being nice about it), but hell, he's exhausted! Mentally more than physically if he's being honest about it - trying to wrangle a real life Duel Monster with nothing but his Host's puny body at his disposal wasridiculously difficult. The army of new bruises that litter his pale body is nothing compared to the beating his ego took. Ugh, he knows why he hates that thing whenever it shows up!

Bakura is half hanging after those thoughts, and half busying himself with mentally taking stock of the situation he's found himself in when his boredom gets the better of him and makes him initiate his own little game:


Manipulating his bubble to bump against as many mermaids as he can without actively running around to do it. So far he's at 3 and he's idly aiming at number 4.]


3. Maze : Rocks Fall, Familiars Die

[Kuriboh is back.

Bakura stares at the fuzzy thing with a dead look in his eyes as it keeps trying to solve a setup of real-life sized game of Boxyboy all by itself.]


No, no, two to the left and then shove the third one down.


[If it does the biggest box will fall on it, squishing Kuriboh and any other familiar that might also happen to be in the danger zone.]

3;

[roppou]

[The nature of the maze is set up in a way that Hitoya doesn't have to bother himself with his opponents in this round of the tournament. Which is just as well when his own familiar proves enough of an adversary on it's own.

It's current antics being that it's decided to listed to Hitoya's instructions but only follow the exact opposite of what he's saying. Up is down, left is right and so on and so on.

It's fine. He can work with this. Inching little by little toward the finish ahead of the guy who doesn't appear to be taking this seriously at all. There's only one box to go when Hitoya's familiar, a mischievous tengu in the form of a common crow, picks up on exactly what Bakura is trying to do... and makes the executive decision to lend a hand. As one of the boxes tips over, the tengu gives Kuriboh a solid nudge from behind and into the path where its threatening to fall.]

Oi! Stay focused shithead. [Unfortunately, focus is code for plop his feathery butt on the ground and start preening his feathers.]

anne faulkner 🎤 paralive 🎤 light / dark

[anz]

— soaking in your arrival.

( The first thing anyone who happens to be standing near the spot in the lake where Anne emerges from, long hair soaked and clothes stuck to their body, is a long, frustrated scream. )

What the fu—

( The lady of the lake cuts that particular curse off with a shot of everwarm, which at least resolves the issue of how freaking cold it is in here. Said lady then points vaguely in the direction of a bunch of people, telling Anne that this is where they can get more information.

Which means that Anne is now traipsing, wet and annoyed, to you, dear person! )

Oi! What's going on?

( They could be polite, but they are absolutely not in the mood for it. Answers, please! )

— free for all.

( Magic. Magic and bracelets. It's not quite as fashionable as their Phantometal, but it doesn't clash horribly with the rest of their outfit, and honestly?

This is a little thrilling! And they've already established that their magic responds best when doing what they so often do, so Anne isn't too worried about conjuring illusions or light magic.

It's just like the Phantometal, without any downsides, as far as they can see.

(Exhaustion doesn't count. Exhaustion is something you can fix with good sleep.)

When they run into someone, the lyrics come easily, a familiar song sung low under their breath to conjure up a flash of blinding light; )

My vision rather than someone else’s standard

( It's a diversion, a distraction tactic, but blinding light isn't enough to get rid of the sound of their shoes and steps as they make their way around to the back of their new opponent. )

— wildcard.

( you know what this is )

[whosaysdajare]

[ Like a banshee, no!? But half the people here are screaming and confused, and Sasara's half of that. Ahem! The sorta-calm disposition of someone who stays out'a trouble mostly, sometimes. ]

O-oi! [ He answers...?

That annoyed, determined, momentous stomp, blasting determination even in the first moment of confusion... Uwah! It totally reminds him of Rosho!! Old scar and old habit, he just sees him everywhere TT_TT And Sasara's got that inclination to let himself be swayed by his own vision, or more like go at it full swing himself. ]

What's going on, huh? Ya see, that's some question– [ Err, he doesn't know the answer, though. ] –for someone who's still wet behind the ears. AHAHA! [ ( ...Get it!? 'Cause they're drenched!! ) ]

Anya Forger | SPY x FAMILY - animal + alchemy

[forworldpeas]

a. Free for All
[Anya spends her first few moments in this new world trying her very best not to drown. As such the absence of thoughts in her mind doesn't feel pronounced. She doesn't question the fact that she can't hear shouts of echo-y concern, inner thoughts of surprise and worry. It isn't until she's safe and dry and wandering around by herself with all the bravado of a five year old that she notices how quiet it is.

Only then does she panic, head turning this way and that. For a moment, the world feels full of uncertainty. Who was secretly a bad guy? Where were her Pa and Ma? Was this all a dream? While she reaches up to pinch her cheek because she certainly isn't going to believe the tiny talking canary perched on her shoulder, someone slaps a bracelet on her small wrist.

Her first thought and her first words are an emphatic:]

I don't have money! [She reaches out but doesn't manage to catch the fae, stumbling into you, her familiar flapping to regain its balance.]

Wait! [She doesn't even apologize, one hand on your sleeve for balance before she tries to make her way through a crowd much too big for a small child.]

b. The Promise of A Feast
[Anya was promised food. The stories she's had read to her, that she's read herself rather haltingly had prepared her for some kind of quest. A quest was only to be expected in situations like these.

It hadn't prepared her to cross a bridge patrolled by giant flying fish-things. She gives them a dubious look, before turning to you because you're close.]

...A test before dinner?!

[kiss_it_better]

[The person she runs into is very tall and also dresses like he walked out of a period drama. They were still his go to clothes, after all.

He crouches down when he realizes that's a child in front of him.

He turns to look towards where the fae had run off too with a faint frown.]

I'm afraid they're not likely to listen.

[He speaks gently but not because she's a child: this is how he always speaks.]

Where are your parents?

Zidane Tribal | Final Fantasy IX | Current Character

[tantailizing]

I. Meeting Fae't - Free-for-All!

[How many times did this make with the Faerie Queen summoning them? Well, if it was to deal with this apparent issue that was the Fisher King, fine, he's up for getting a little rough and tumble to learn why.]

[And a free-for-all? Over all of Nicnevin? Well, he didn't wanna brag, but how many people were actually good at getting around the forest or climbing the trees?]

[Not to mention, plenty of places to hide like right now. Within in the canopy of trees, Zidane can easily pick and choose targets to ambush, and he doesn't even have to use his magic. To guarantee some attacks maybe, but he didn't need it often. Eyes scanning, who would be next?]

II. Bubble Down

[More he was beginning to understand why a King and/or Queen might designate someone to temporarily take over during their absence. The bubble rooms are cool, but c'mon, he didn't live that far away in this world and he was kind of in the middle of something in Atys.]

[Oh well, kicked back and relaxing, his own magic easily kept his own bubble from being set adrift anywhere so - if by some chance - he found himself with a sudden roommate, it wasn't his fault this time.]

III. Tournament Continue - Magical Maze

[At first, he was confused why they'd been put in something as simple as a maze - and then came finding out only familiars could interact with any of the puzzles they might come across. Magic didn't work either so there wasn't a way to just leave without giving up, and why the hell would they do that?]

[Nonchalantly making his way down one corridor, Moguo didn't look like much, but Zidane's not worried about it. Was he lost? Did he know the way? That's for other people to figure out.]

[OOC: So for new players, hi, this is Zidane and his familiar. His magics are Kinetic and Bargaining (which is fairly situational). For everyone else, I'm back! And as usual, if you wanna plot something, hit me up at demidemonLove. There's no wildcard option, but if you wanna do something else, totally open to it.]

Free for All!

[phoenixwiz]

(Despite his mixed feelings towards the Fae, Harry didn’t argue too much about being brought into Nicnevin so soon. Considering that there is the matter of the Fisher King, he might as well as join the tournament to find out why. While he has certainly gotten stronger with his Avalon magic, he has opted to do the free for all as the others (save Magical Maze) didn’t catch his attention as much.

So there is he: walking around the trees, wondering who could be hiding among the trees and bushes in constant vigilance. Rose has her head up to look for possible targets from the safety of her usual pocket hangout.)

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV (NPC) | current player

[emet_sulk]

1. Tourney: Free for All

There is time for one last check of his potions and pouches.

"Are you ready, Nyx? I shall be counting upon you."

His familiar - an inky gwiber - squalls affirmation. She holds herself erect and alert, ready to leap into action at his command. It has been a year since the last tournament and they have both grown much in that time as far as skill with magic is concerned. Emet-Selch has a wide repertoire of alchemy spells in his grimoire, although he hardly needs it when his familiar is capable of recreating them after one use.

Today, however, he will also be trying to incorporate death magic. His weapon for this fight is a greatsword forged via alchemy.

They wait patiently for the signal to begin, the greatsword point-down in the dirt and Emet-Selch's hands folded atop its pommel. As soon as it sounds, Nyx barks. The earth around them crumbles, breaks, shatters as a horde of undead climb out of the ground. How fortunate for him the number of people who have died over the past year, hmm?

He cannot help a smirk when he sees his first opponent. Drawing the greatsword up, he takes a ready stance.

2. Wildcard

Got any other ideas? Feel free to PM this journal. He's participating in the 1v1 (skilled), magical maze, and potion picker competitions.

2, BUBBLE TIME

[weenwoon]

The tournament was quite interesting to watch, even if Hythlodaeus did not take part in it himself - not just because of his own lack of desire to fight, but also because he knows that Hades would not only spend his whole time fretting over his bonded, but also likely react quite ballistically if anyone were to hurt Hythlodaeus even slightly. Best for everyone concerned if he remained as a spectator for now.

It was a little disappointing to hear that the bubble 'rooms' were each for one person only, but Hythlodaeus has found some consolation in the fact that watching the lake's currents, the inhabitants playing in them, the scenery passing before his eyes is a little like watching the Lifestream.

And it's while he's sitting on the floor of his own bubble, an arm resting on his knee, peacefully watching the outside that his bubble collides with someone else's. He barely notices at first, but then the change in the angle of the walls gets through to him. Surprised, he looks around, but that surprise quickly changes to delight when he notices who his new roommate is.

"Hmm?~ Were you so worried about me that you chose to seek me out like this, Hades?"

Ardyn Izunia | Final Fantasy XV | Current player, returning character

[problemsoncauthess]

B - Meeting Fae't - 1v1 (Skilled)

[ Ardyn can only laugh at the idea of being invited to the tournament when he was the one to revive the Fisher King in the first place, but he welcomes it as well - it lets him escape his brother's tiresome company for once, and perhaps even cut a little loose. The only downside is that he's lost his previous more combat-oriented magic, but he's still got a sword and his specific brand of... creativity.

He gives his opponent a pleasant (in fact, mostly sleazy) smile and a little bow, resting his hand on said sword. ]

Shall we begin, then?

F - Bubble Down

[ Between the capriciousness of the lake's inhabitants (and Ardyn's own attempts at seeing if the bubble can be popped with enough prodding), it's little surprise that it would soon crash into another bubble. Ardyn appears entirely unperturbed about it, stepping into the new space and looking around it. ]

I do love what you've done with the decorations.

[ ... It's obviously sarcasm, given that this is a hotel, but hey, can't an old man have fun? ]

Wildcard! Hit me up

F

[emet_sulk]

He had been having the most wonderful nap until that voice speaks up. His brow creases; he slowly opens his eyes and turns, frowning at the speaker.

"Why are you here?" he asks irritably. Wait. "This is my room. Leave."

He hasn't realised their bubbles joined in his sleep.

Fran | Final Fantasy XII | OTA

[ranksinmistlore]

{Bubble Down}

[Even by what Fran has come to consider to be normal for Avalon, the idea of spending the night in a literal bubble is... distinctly unusual. Not that Fran has any particular qualms about doing so, mind. A place to stay is a place to stay, but she does spend at least some of her time seeing if she can use her elemental magic to gently push her bubble around.

More to see what - if any sights there are - but while she's not trying to crash her bubble into anyone else's, it's not impossible that it might happen even so.]

{Creative Flavors}
{i: bridge}
[For all that it's something that Fran is used to, there are times when having a sharper sense of hearing than most is more a curse than a boon. This, as it turns out, is one of them - though she trusts her own abilities with a bow and with her spells, she had not been willing to attempt to fight the whales that guard the bridge and so she has taken to cross the bridge blindfolded.

(Interestingly, even without her sight, her footing is sure, despite the fact that she's wearing shoes with a distinctly high heel.)

It's not until she's halfway across the bridge that she starts to hear the voices. Some are easy to ignore (her elder sister, speaking of the wood and that she has left behind). Others are less so (her younger sister, begging her to return, or barring that to come with her on her travels beyond the wood), enough to have her shake her head, as if to clear away the voices.

But it's not until she hears Balthier's voice that she pauses. Lingers a moment overlong, and then speaks, to a what she is almost sure is a phantom.]

Were you here, you should not need to ask.

{ii: feast}
[Even sky pirates, as it turns out, are not immune to the desire to party. Fran is, admittedly, not precisely the most social of people - and all the more so since Balthier's departure - but she is not making any effort to hide either.

(She has long since accepted that she is going to stand out. Even in her own world, viera are hardly common.)

The things she's imagining up are not exactly the pinnacle of luxury. Things that might be otherwise out of the means of a someone who tends to move from place to place, yes (and more than a few things from her home in the woods) but for the most part she is not particularly inclined to flights of fancy.

She does however, end up imagining herself a bottle of madhu, and though she takes it slowly enough to not risk significant drunkenness it might well be clear that the drink is something reserved for special occasions.]

Creative Flavors - II

[menphina]

[ That was an experience she doesn't want to repeat- especially hearing her children while she's blindfolded. That's just rude, she thinks-

But at least they're here now, and on realizing that things she wants to eat are manifesting, a plate full of miq'abobs is just what she wants. And it's already half-gone, as she munches (though where it's going in her is anyone's guess, she's still munching away).

It's when she spots Fran that her ears lift in surprise and she quickly moves over, waving to her. ]

Fran, Fran! Try these! They're a miqo'te delicacy. You haven't lived until you've tried a delicious miq'abob!