You and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon... a ways away from the normal arrival bay. This time, you'replunged 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 topartner up with some of the mages appearing on that middle islandto get an explanationabout 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: DayOne
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 liketo 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 andpotential 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.
[(HAHAHA GOD I CAN'T WAIT TO YEET ARDYN AT SOMNUS AGAIN. poor somnus doesn't even get to kiss his new gf for long)
also I forgot to mention but Ardyn also has A Sword, if Rinea can make it out under his layers of cape-y clothes.
Ardyn picks up the wine bottle meanwhile, with a rather more elegant movement than what one might expect, and inspects the label, raising his eyebrows.]
My, they did decide to treat their guests...
[That likely means the wine is good? Pulling his attention from it, Ardyn flashes Rinea another smile at the compliment. See, he's almost nice!]
Oh, I get by. Alas, I have grown rather rusty over the past while... and my magic is of little use in combat.
[Actually, thinking about it feels gross to him: the reminder that once again his power is to heal and purify, after so much time of being the vessel of the Scourge and growing to almost enjoy it... it feels like some sick and absolutely unfunny joke. No, he doesn't want to think about this - and even though Ardyn was the one to bring it up, he's suddenly annoyed at Rinea. Isn't it her fault he ended up drawing his own attention to the fact? It really is.
Of course, he doesn't let it show on his features, but instead uncorks the bottle, standing up to place a glass before Rinea and slowly fill it, standing just that little bit too close to her chair, bending just that little bit too low to pour the wine. Perhaps another would have demanded that she serve him the food and drink, but that would be a little too crude for Ardyn's tastes. Besides, the girl seems uncomfortable to be near him, so why not push her further? He offers no comment on the situation, as if what's happening is the most natural thing to do; he hums very softly, tuneless and seemingly nonchalant, but otherwise lets only the sound of his own and Rinea's breathing fill the silence.]
[Rinea sits very primly, and very still, as her dinner guest hovers just-too near. It would be impressive just how well he threads the needle of acting so intimidating while only using polite overtures... if it weren't so unnerving.]
...Thank you.
[Augh... okay, this is fine. One glass should be fine, at least. She can drink it slowly to avoid refills, and besides it did look pretty good. Metaphorically rolling over like this might make her look a bit pathetic but suffering a little discourtesy won't kill her! It's fine!!]
Then, sir Chancellor.. [She raises her glass after Ardyn pours his own. Her smile is placating.] To your continued success, regardless of any harmonizing magical prowess. I will hope any achievement you make without reliance on such things is considered a mark of pride rather than a shame.
[Unknowingly, Rinea hits onto a good spot: a more genuine kind of praise does work for Ardyn, especially if it's about acknowledging how good he is at fighting against circumstances. He leans back in his seat with a smile (though, well, it doesn't look much better than his usual smiles), raising his own glass slightly as well.]
Such sweet words! I do hope you will be keeping your eyes on me in the coming days, then, miss Rinea.
[Instead of taking a sip of the wine, he merely swirls it in his glass lazily, giving Rinea a sly look that doesn't last longer than it needs to; after all, he is enjoying toying with her, and making it too obvious too soon would spoil the fun.]
[Not a lie-- though what she might do when she sees him is another matter!!!
Still, she takes a drink of the wine, feeling a little more in control. Time spent in conversation is time spent getting to know another person (for better or worse, but Rinea is the hopeful sort).]
As for myself... There was a similar tournament put on by the fey last year... and though I participated, I made no grand forays to victory. [She looks a bit sheepish, in an amused sort of way.] Considering what the Queen is seeking from her victors I'd like to keep my ambitions limited this time as well, but my familiar insisted.
[Unfortunately, there is not much good in getting to know Ardyn, at least unless you somehow unlock his Tragic Backstory and the 0.005% of him that is still a decent person. But is it worth the rest of it.]
Ah yes, the Queen's own ambitions! What do you think of the whole affair, miss Rinea? I imagine for a court lady such as yourself it must be quite the sordid topic.
Well, I must admit it is a bit ghastly. [Rinea can't help but cringe a bit.] I hate to think that desperate times call for such desperate measures... but at least the rumors say the Fisher King went to her willingly.
[Sigh.]
I wonder if her Highness considers the man who revived the Fisher King's corpse an asset, as the trouble he caused makes her plan's casualty look miniscule in comparison...
[Oh, Ardyn absolutely hates that idea. Though it's not reflected on his face - apart from the fact that he takes a slightly longer pause to answer - he suddenly feels full of fury. An asset, is he? Perhaps Her Highness needs a proper lesson.]
Or perhaps he was her agent in the first place? What better time for her to get rid of the Fisher King for good than when the land is full of strangers blundering around?
[Rinea looks genuinely dismayed at the thought, her knife and fork entirely halted.]
For an outworlder to work so closely with the Queen so soon after she made her presence known to us at all... their talent would be overwhelming, wouldn't it? And for such dire machinations to be under her direction... Surely not. [SURELY.... PLEASE NO. GOD NO PLEASE]
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avalaughs2022-05-31 11:38 pm
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also I forgot to mention but Ardyn also has A Sword, if Rinea can make it out under his layers of cape-y clothes.
Ardyn picks up the wine bottle meanwhile, with a rather more elegant movement than what one might expect, and inspects the label, raising his eyebrows.]
My, they did decide to treat their guests...
[That likely means the wine is good? Pulling his attention from it, Ardyn flashes Rinea another smile at the compliment. See, he's almost nice!]
Oh, I get by. Alas, I have grown rather rusty over the past while... and my magic is of little use in combat.
[Actually, thinking about it feels gross to him: the reminder that once again his power is to heal and purify, after so much time of being the vessel of the Scourge and growing to almost enjoy it... it feels like some sick and absolutely unfunny joke. No, he doesn't want to think about this - and even though Ardyn was the one to bring it up, he's suddenly annoyed at Rinea. Isn't it her fault he ended up drawing his own attention to the fact? It really is.
Of course, he doesn't let it show on his features, but instead uncorks the bottle, standing up to place a glass before Rinea and slowly fill it, standing just that little bit too close to her chair, bending just that little bit too low to pour the wine. Perhaps another would have demanded that she serve him the food and drink, but that would be a little too crude for Ardyn's tastes. Besides, the girl seems uncomfortable to be near him, so why not push her further? He offers no comment on the situation, as if what's happening is the most natural thing to do; he hums very softly, tuneless and seemingly nonchalant, but otherwise lets only the sound of his own and Rinea's breathing fill the silence.]
no subject
...Thank you.
[Augh... okay, this is fine. One glass should be fine, at least. She can drink it slowly to avoid refills, and besides it did look pretty good. Metaphorically rolling over like this might make her look a bit pathetic but suffering a little discourtesy won't kill her! It's fine!!]
Then, sir Chancellor.. [She raises her glass after Ardyn pours his own. Her smile is placating.] To your continued success, regardless of any harmonizing magical prowess. I will hope any achievement you make without reliance on such things is considered a mark of pride rather than a shame.
no subject
Such sweet words! I do hope you will be keeping your eyes on me in the coming days, then, miss Rinea.
[Instead of taking a sip of the wine, he merely swirls it in his glass lazily, giving Rinea a sly look that doesn't last longer than it needs to; after all, he is enjoying toying with her, and making it too obvious too soon would spoil the fun.]
no subject
[Not a lie-- though what she might do when she sees him is another matter!!!
Still, she takes a drink of the wine, feeling a little more in control. Time spent in conversation is time spent getting to know another person (for better or worse, but Rinea is the hopeful sort).]
As for myself... There was a similar tournament put on by the fey last year... and though I participated, I made no grand forays to victory. [She looks a bit sheepish, in an amused sort of way.] Considering what the Queen is seeking from her victors I'd like to keep my ambitions limited this time as well, but my familiar insisted.
no subject
Ah yes, the Queen's own ambitions! What do you think of the whole affair, miss Rinea? I imagine for a court lady such as yourself it must be quite the sordid topic.
no subject
[Sigh.]
I wonder if her Highness considers the man who revived the Fisher King's corpse an asset, as the trouble he caused makes her plan's casualty look miniscule in comparison...
[GIRL STOP. THE DRAMATIC IRONY]
how tf has it been two weeks im so sorry OTL
Or perhaps he was her agent in the first place? What better time for her to get rid of the Fisher King for good than when the land is full of strangers blundering around?
NO SWEAT!! 🤝 leisurely tagging 🤝 LMAO
[Rinea looks genuinely dismayed at the thought, her knife and fork entirely halted.]
For an outworlder to work so closely with the Queen so soon after she made her presence known to us at all... their talent would be overwhelming, wouldn't it? And for such dire machinations to be under her direction... Surely not. [SURELY.... PLEASE NO. GOD NO PLEASE]