TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 21

[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. There is currently no sun or moon visible, making the world in a persistent state of dusk for now.

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. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly.

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B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot

Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of ear buds and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. 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.

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C ⦿ The Red Spring

The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Newcomers get free inn rooms for their one night stay on the way to Camelot, containing two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and movies. Don't want to relax in the room? Take a dip in the communal hot spring. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there.

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D ⦿ Light it Up
	With the sun and moon temporarily gone, some fae have put forward a solution to fight the dusk off for a little while. They have made special lanterns holding a spell which, when powered up with any kind of magic, activates a small energy field large enough to comfortably fit up to five people. This field takes its form straight from the magic-providing person’s mind - so whether they're feeling homesick or just really want to be stuck in a deserted island for a while, the lantern will make it happen! Naturally, all of it is an illusion so nothing is actually real... but it feels very real, especially to the person providing the magic. The lantern will not make illusions of other humans or animals - just places, buildings, and flora - and those taking part will be able to move around and explore… but be careful not to get too excited, or you might just end up moving your real body and knocking another person out of the illusion, or falling out of it yourself to a very disorienting awakening.
If you don’t mind being crowded together, the energy field could squeeze in up to ten people, but the risks of someone being nudged out accidentally go up as more people enter. After that, anyone else who tries to step in - invited or not - will find themselves repelled by an invisible wall around the outside of the illusion. There is, however, a time limit on this. While the spell can last up to twelve hours, it's advised that the lantern isn't used for more than a few hours at a time. If this guidance isn’t followed, it’s possible that after the lantern is deactivated the people who took part will keep seeing the illusory scenery around them for some time afterwards. If a person uses the lantern for the whole twelve hours, the illusion will continue for up to three days in the form of intrusive, imaginary objects and buildings that only they can see, or even faint shades of people from their own worlds.

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E ⦿ Getting More Familiar
With Elphame and Camelot in better relations than ever thanks to the efforts of Otherworlders, Queen Elphame and King Arthur are working closely together to accomplish the next step of her plan, despite some tension about her not sharing what she intended to do with the Fisher King from the get-go. But they're talking now, and the place that everyone needs to go next is a place only familiars can reach. The first thing that needs doing is a little bit of magic practice before anyone can go on the full mission. This will be much easier for those who have been here longer, bonded with their familiars longer, but will certainly not be impossible for those who have just arrived. Team up with another person to help balance
your brand new and unstable magics to accomplish what amounts to changing bodies with your familiar. Form a circle with another person and both of your familiars at equidistant points on the circle. Your familiar should be to your right. In the center of the circle, a bowl filled with a strong alcohol, enough to cover a chunk of malachite (a stone of transformation, associated with the heart and throat), vervain (to purify the spell of interfering spirits and offer protection, as well as assist in astral connection), purple coneflower (increases ritual powers by calling upon local deities), and violet (dedication and loyalty, to hold steady the bond between familiar and mage). Both mages in the circle should take the deepest breath they can and hold that breath, hold each other's palms up facing each other, and light the bowl on fire. It's important that you hold your breath for as long as you can, because malachite is toxic when exposed to liquid and will be released into the air during the spell. As the spell casts, a light will glow from your chest, up to your throat, and at the moment when you can no longer hold your breath and have to let it out, your soul will exit your body along with that breath. The protective qualities of the vervain will have kicked in by this point, and the fire of the bowl will go out. All four souls will swirl over the bowl slowly, like a turning galaxy, for a few moments, until they burst out and the souls find their way to their new host: yours in your familiar's body and your familiar's in yours. Result can be unpredictable if you step outside of the lines with this spell, depending on which part you mess up, so players should feel free to come up with their own mishaps based on what each of the above ingredients for the spell are should they wish to go that route. Once you've managed to become your familiar (and your familiar you... good luck with that), you need to practice being your familiar. Get the hang of moving, the hang of your familiar's characteristics, voice (or lack thereof), and how to function as them. Exactly how to do that will be a personalized experience based on what your familiar is, so there's no clear means to practice... which means it's a good time to send you on a softball, but useful quest to practice before the real thing! Each of you who have done this should head into the Brocéliande and look for silver flowers that look like daffodils. Within them are drops of what appear to be water, but those drops are actually enchanted glass spheres only visible to familiars. Be careful- the silver daffodils are guarded by skunk-like spirits that spray knock-out gas, then they will drag you to a random location in the forest. You really could get lost very easily, but don't come back without your sphere! Those will be super important for bringing back the sun and moon soon.

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• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, as the events within are considered game canon 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.

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[avalonmods]

Claude von Riegan | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | current character

[leicesters]

I. LIGHT IT UP

[Claude's feeling homesick, so his choice for the lantern is an easy one to make. Whoever joins him, he'll give them a choice: if you're a fan of striking, vast landscapes, of the type you'd never see in Avalon, he'll take you to the steppes of his homeland. It's an entirely flat, dry stretch of land, peaceful and still, punctuated only by the rustling of low grass in the breeze. In the distance to the west are mountains on the horizon, and to the east, nothing but a few clouds and the beginnings of the sunrise creeping over the horizon, bathing the land in red, soon turning to gold.

Or maybe you just want a breather and a nice little vacation spot to unwind for a few hours, in which case he'll take you to a desert lake. It's huge, with some parts of it lush and dotted with grassland and shady trees by the shore, with even patches of tough wildflowers here and there. Other parts are more like a beach, with small huts constructed for shade and privacy, indicating this is something of a popular spot for people to visit. Or you can climb up to the peaks of the sand dunes surrounding the lake, with a view of everything below, and the desert stretching out further still beyond.

Whichever your choice, Claude's dressed in his wyvern riding gear and wearing a gold diadem on his brow, as if he's really travelled out here on an expedition from the palace. Once they've had a moment to take in the sights, he turns and beams to the visitor, a genuine, excited smile.]

This is my homeland, Almyra. What do you think?

II. QUEST - KISSING BOOTH

[All for helping a good cause, Claude has set up a booth in town to promote the questgiver's medicinal lip balms. Maybe he notices you passing by, or stopping to look at the stall. Regardless, he'll flash you a wink and a smile to encourage you over.]

Hey! Want to buy a kiss from yours truly? I'm just that good, it'll make your day. Maybe even heal your wounds, or shield you from harm.

[He hasn't quite pointed out that whatever powers he's ascribing to his legendary kissing abilities is actually the effects of the lip balms, but unless you're gullible you can (hopefully) notice and read the sign on the booth, listing each effect customers can choose.]

III. GETTING MORE FAMILIAR

[Another month, another crazy task or ritual to help save the world... Claude's not against it, exactly, and so he seeks out someone else willing to conduct the ritual with him, but he's a little apprehensive when it comes to actually starting the spell. The reason why becomes evident when he whistles for his familiar, and a small white wyvern, about the size of a cat, swoops down and lands on his outstretched arm like a scaly little bird of prey.]

I'm sure we wouldn't be asked to do this if it wasn't safe, but who's going to keep an eye on... well, us, while our familiars are in our bodies? [He shoots his familiar a flat look.] You'd better not wander off with me and do anything weird.

[The little wyvern just chirrups, as if she's completely innocent and doesn't know what he's talking about. Which is probably true, she's not the brightest.]

IV. WILDCARD

[Choose your own adventure! I'm open to all options for the quest prompt including nsfw, just let me know if you have a preference or I'll choose/RNG it.]

I

[asaviorshand]

[Dimitri lets go of all the thoughts in his mind when the scenery changes and takes the time to look around at the scenery. It's absolutely striking -- vast, flat grassland, as far as the eyes can see, aside from a few things that are clearly miles and miles away. Not even the Tailtean Plains looked quite like this. It's enough to make Dimitri wish he had a horse with him so he could go riding any which way he so chose.

It's then that Claude walks up and mentions Almyra. So, that was the story after all. Dimitri had suspected something along those lines, but it was nice to have confirmation. It does leave Dimitri with a number of questions, but ultimately changes little for him.]

So this is the Almyran steppe. I've never seen anything quite like this in my life. Not even the Tailtean Plains or Gronder Field compare.

II i'mma throw Rosa at u in a bit but have this stupid first

[morns]

( The response to Claude's latest salesman tactic (if you can call it that) doesn't come from a passer by, but rather a nearby stall where Kate is leaning against her table, doing little in the way of encouraging people to visit hers.

(Unless you count looking hot, but she always looks hot in her humble opinion. Especially with her hair down in loose waves as it is right now.) )

Fine. ( She shoves herself off her table and wanders over, because why the hell not, right? Here's your coin, Claude. ) Show me what you got.

III

[silvergarden]

There's no need for concern. Adalhard, you can keep an eye on the little one in Claude's body, can't you?

[Rinea's hulking familiar pauses, apparently hesitant, but eventually nods. (The issue is not a matter of his willingness, but if Rinea's body is strong enough to constrain Claude's...)]

I admit I'm a little envious of you. [Rinea turns back to Claude, cheerful.] Won't it be such fun to fly?

ii

[obviouslyhapi]

[ Okay, that's quite the pitch. Hapi snickers, her smile wry. ]

You know, Claudester, I never pictured you for a merchant, but I guess you gotta know how to sell things if you're gonna be leader of the Alliance.

[ What with their roundtables and all. Can't be easy. ]

I might even chip in.

😘

[saxsongs]

Quite bold promises you're making there.

[He knows it's the lip balms, but he likes to play along. He hadn't set up his booth yet so why not test what they feel like first.]

I'll buy one. I could use something to heal a paper cut.

[Says the one with healing magic.]

i (clunks in late with a suit of armor)

[mamowavin]

[ The landscape conjured up by the lantern is truly unlike anything she's ever seen before. Tokyo had little to offer in the vast open natural space department, and the combination of her age, work, and school obligations kept her from venturing out of the city. But the desert before her seems to span out forever, and the surface of the lake shimmers like gems in the sun. There's so much to take in, she doesn't know what to consider first!

Or, well. First, after smiling back at Claude with just as much genuine excitement. ] I think it's really nice! Thank you for sharing this with me, Claude-san.

kate galloway 🐱‍👤 original 🐱‍👤 current character

[morns]

— light it up.

( When she agrees to cast the spell, Kate thinks it won't be so bad. Of course it wouldn't be. She's never been known for her imagination, after all.

But her longing for the past? Well, maybe she should have taken that into account when she used siphon magic to flare the thing to life. The field quickly shifts into the shape of a house. Simple red brick and a teal front door with three steps leading up to it. The front garden is a small thing, with two miniscule strips of grass and pavement, potted plants dotted around the wall of the house. Kate knows the layout instinctually: when she pushes down on the door handle and enters, the hallway will be there, wallpaper a lighter, but complementary, shade of blue to the door, light wood floors with a shoe cabinet that doubles as a sideboard.

She runs her hand along the grain of the cabinet top and finds air, brushes through the key bowl and counts the coats on the wall opposite. Five, as always. The smallest ones slipped onto a standing coat rack, umbrellas beneath.

This isn't real. Of course it isn't. And yet it all looks exactly like she remembers it. The chip on the wooden balustrade where her dad tried to carry a filing cabinet upstairs by himself and quickly regretted it. The wear on the carpet when she steps into the living room, a stain next to it where paint spilled and could never fully be removed.

She draws in a shaky breath and turns around, catching the eye of someone she drew into this scene and immediately glancing away.

Something so normal, and yet so impossible to talk about. Where would she even begin? )

— quest: kissing booth.

( Sometimes in life, you take on a quest you're not really into because the rewards are interesting. And because you want a point of contact with the person who posted it. There's promise in the kind of enchantments they're saying these lip balms have, and so Kate has a full roulette of them on hand, reapplying each time someone approaches. )

You interested?

( Don't mind the glint from her fangs as she speaks, they're harmless, promise! )

— quest: crappucino.

( Dark Web quests are not, by nature, something you do because you agree with the action. At least, not usually for Kate. She seeks out things which offer worthwhile rewards, and the stain on her soul can join all the others she has.

But this one is different. This she agrees with. The experience of ordering a coffee has gone from simply saying "one black coffee" to "one black coffee, no I don't want oat milk, no syrups, no I don't care for your seasonal offerings..." and, well. Maybe it would be nice to watch some people suffer.

So, after ordering her own coffee (black, no sugar, no syrups, no nothing), Kate settles in at a table near the counter and quickly casts a spell on the rows of syrups near her — changing the flavour from whatever ghastly sugar concoction they are to hot sauce.

Extra hot hot sauce.

Have fun, froofy drink lovers. Please don't mind the fact that she whips out a cameraphone to record your reaction, it's fine. )

— wildcard.

( you know what this is! )

💩 ☕️

[whosaysdajare]

[ Who doesn't like coffee!? Black and no milk, no sugar, cringing through your own teeth drinking it— Uh-uh-uh! Not that kind!! Sasara understands something else with it. After all, he'd also "offered" Hitoya his opinion that the mocha ice cream hadn't turned out sweet enough.

It's a preference someone—like Kate—could surely guess at. Somehow the supply of melon syrup at the Roost is always tight, even when it's only him drinking the cream sodas.

Here's something Sasara doesn't get at the Roost: a vanilla bean crème frappuccino with cinnamon dolce syrup, white chocolate mocha sauce, whipped cream and a caramel drizzle and cinnamon powder. For a pro like him, it's no challenge to rattle down the words of his order that fast, that practiced, ya see!

And he probably gets every flavor in there that she cursed.

A-ah! He spots her, by the way, it's a small multiverse-world after all, after getting his blood-sugar raising bomb of a drink. You really can't call it coffee... But before Sasara can get out a "Kate-chan~!", there's something to do with him being too eager for a sip. As far as taking a gulp from a straw goes, it's about that much–

And it comes right back out of his mouth, his nose (and what feels like even his ears!) instantly. And right. in. her. direction. As Sasara snorts and sputters—and for once can't even talk!! ]

😘

[hellheir]

[ Well, now that's interesting. ]

Actually, I am interested.

[ Cruella walks over to the booth, dramatically setting the tip of her cane on the ground when she stops. ]

Tell me this is all a front to collect blood for vampires and blood magic. That'd be far more entertaining than the truth.

[ The secret to a good grift is knowing what's true and what's not, and knowing how to use that knowledge. ]

Crapuccino

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata normally drinks his coffee either black or with just some milk, and he very much shares Kate's (and the quest-giver's) opinion on the ridiculously over-the-top concoctions that are so commonplace nowadays! This one time he might well have turned an eye on a dark web quest... if he had seen it yet.

Today of all days, of course, he lets the barista, determined to shill the seasonal frappuccinos, talk him into changing his order. He wants to ask for no syrup at least (how can anybody drink that stuff?!), but too late, one pump already went in, and at this point he's too resigned to argue further. He had a short night, okay? So he sits down at a small round table and takes a sip...]

Ew!! Ugh! Damn, what the hell did you put in there?! Tabasco?

[The baffled barista stammers that no, it was only one pump of acorn syrup, but he's not even listening and instead looking around as if he expects a prankster to pop out. In a way he does - back home he's ended up with hot sauce in his food and drink courtesy of his subordinate Okita too many times to count. That sadist better not be back on Avalon!]

Harry Potter | Harry Potter series | Current Character

[phoenixwiz]

Red Spring (Training)
(Even with the constant state of dusk (it happens to be early morning in case anyone asks), there is nothing that can prevent Harry from going out to practice magic. After all, it is a good time to work on his new magic abilities that he has been struggling for weeks.

He knows that he has a lot to work on wind magic and flight that he immediately starts off with them, producing small bursts of wind and carefully levitating himself, giving himself some peace of mind, before he could begin to fly and not lose control like the last time. As he tries to remain calm mentally, he could slowly feel so lightweight that he is amazed that he is able to pull it off.

Now it is really time to take flight and have the feeling of the wind rushing through his face once more.)

Light It Up
(When he agrees to cast a spell onto his lantern, he is hoping that it wouldn’t be this bad. After all, it’s all in the mind, right?

Even though Harry has been in Avalon for so long, he never stops thinking about his friends and his world so much that the moment he casts a fire spell onto the lantern, he is surprised to see the field changing into something so familiar: a circular room decorated in shades of red, a lit fireplace, a proud portrait of a lion above it, big windows on the walls that has light entering in, comfortable armchairs and sofa, a chess set in the middle of an arm chair circle, a bulletin board pinned with lost posters, school notices, etc., bookshelves filled with tons of literature of various genres and rich scarlet tapestries depicting wizards, witches, and animals alike.

Oh Merlin, this couldn’t be this real, could it? And yet it sure feels so real to his eyes and the field has managed to replicate the Gryffindor common room oh so well. He walks up to the fireplace, wondering if this is just all a dream, and sits down on the rug covered floor near it as he watches the fire burning brightly in the fireplace. Try not to get too close to the fire while you are enjoying yourself, Harry.)

Wildcard
Want to do something else? Feel free to put them down in the comments below.)

Red Spring

[itsmypower]

[Would'ja look at that! It's too nice to see others grow, all their work paying off for them, their building magic strengths blooming, proverbial wings spread. He watches a half moment longer, moving to join him once his wind settles low enough, soft voice drifting up to him.]

You're Harry, right? [Flagging him down at first, then, genuine half-smile forming, beaming out at the other. His tone's appraising.]

Looks like you've gotten the hang of it...

[Still smiling a little, though swirling his own strands of wind apart, tugging his gauntlets up.] Can I join you?

Light It Up

[scriptwriter]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! This is a pretty nifty room, pal!

[As a Light mage himself, Kotarou had admit that he still had some trouble making everything look realistic as this. It must've came down to the emotion and mental attachment to why this whole place even smelt real. Whenever it came to the supernatural, he couldn't help and feel himself grow increasingly excited.]

Feels like I've walked into the realm of high fantasy! [He'll even sit down on the sofa and bounce up and down on it.] Man... This is awesome. Even the couch here feels nice and soft!

Toshirou Hijikata | Gintama (Primatica CRAU) | Current Character

[mayoninofukucho]

1) Soaking in your Arrival

[Given Avalon's current state of affairs Hijikata decided to come to the White Cliffs at the start of the month to ensure that no new arrivals drown or get lost in the darkness. Sure, the Lady of the Lake and the freshwater octopuses are already looking out for them, but under such circumstances they can probably use some extra backup! He brought further support, too: his archaeopteryx mount, which carried him here, and Lambrini, the harpy who agreed to be his partner when her clamor aided the outworlders in a big ritual last month. These two will be much faster in saving anyone in trouble than he would.]

No screams for help so far... but they can't scream underwater, I guess. Damn, I should have bought a night vision potion.


2) Light it up

[Hijikata is happy to receive the fae-made lantern. The constant darkness had been getting to him! He places it in his campside by the lakeside east of Camelot City, and the scenery it conjures up once he activates the spell is one from his "second home" Prismatica. Of course he misses the streets of Edo and his proper home there, the Shinsengumi barracks, but without the many citizens respectively soldiers those locations just wouldn't feel right and rather eerie. So instead whoever wanders into the perimeter, whether to visit him or just by chance, will find themselves in the Greatmoon Groves, a large park - or, well, a section of it.

There are tall trees with a crystalline sheen to their bark and leaves, and when a breeze goes through them it sounds like a thousand tiny windchimes. The grass comes in tones of blue and violet, and the winding plants that grow up the trees here and there hold flowers that look like they were blown from glass. It's evening, because it was sunset in Hijikata's memory, and the illusionary sky is pink and red and orange. It's such a relaxing atmosphere... but if someone does join him here there'll be a bit of an interruption, because they'll first set off his camp perimeter alarm outside the illusion. Oops.]


3) Getting more Familiar

[Both Hijikata and his familiar Arashi have a bad feeling about this ritual, but if it's the way forward to stopping the calamity... well, here goes nothing! The samurai and the humanoid but bird-faced crow tengu have probably talked the whole thing through with their partners at least twice (especially Arashi is a stickler for details), and Hijikata feels confident about the follow-up fetch quest too - skunk spirits sound like an obnoxious adversary, but he isn't a death mage for nothing!]

Are you guys ready?

If you still have questions please ask them now rather than later.

[OOC: If you'd like the ritual to go haywire, by all means, just make it so!]


4) Quests

A ⦿ D(r)own by the River

[Kelpies, huh? Good thing someone asked for help on the QuestBoard before they actually drowned someone. Hijikata is determined to chase them off or worse - but he admittedly doesn't have the best stats for the job. While elemental magic is his primary magic he still can't cleanly separate his metal from his soil, let alone summon pure iron, and even if his swords were made of that rather than steel, his range with them is quite short.

As such he's happy for a partner - especially if said partner either has an iron-bearing long-range weapon or an alternative idea to tackling the job. Regardless, in terms of a backup plan he procured a bunch of nails and a couple of slingshots - primitive, but potentially more effective than it might seem. After all who likes having nails shot at them? As they ride to the river in the eerie gloom of the unchanging night (Hijikata on his Black Star, his companion perhaps on their own horse or other mount - in doubt he got them a horse from the knights' stables) he looks all business-like with his knight cloak billowing behind him.]

Have you seen a kelpie before? They said they look like horses, but I think their real form is a lot more ghastly.

B ⦿ Knight Quest

[The confidential quest King Arthur has for his knights this month is a tall order. Hijikata avoided the prior investigation of the Unseelie group due to his inability of disguising his identity effectively - for better or worse he's pretty well-known among Avalon's criminal circles at this point, and certainly not in a positive light. Regardless, now that the group's usurpation ambitions towards Queen Elphame are confirmed he won't stand back anymore. Given that the targets will almost certainly resist their arrest and can't be expected to hold back on the lethality he first holds an in-person meeting with his quest partner. His crow tengu familiar and harpy ally are present as well, so overall it's a pretty avian meeting.]

Right, so we know their hide-out and how to get there. Before we decide on a strategy let's see what we've got at our disposal besides our magic. I'm definitely taking my Time Top along, also the Magic Mask and Counter-Curse potion. Sadly I've only got one of each. That said I also have a small bottle of Deadpool Juice - maybe one of us ought to take that as a precaution. And just in case I think I'll pack the Grayi, too.

...

I don't think putting on some Pheromia will stop them from hurting us, huh.

[Lambrini laughs out loud while Arashi remains utterly serious.]

Hahaha, your mind! You think they'll be so dazzled they'll follow you to their cells like ducklings in a row? Pffff!

[Chances are that not everybody is familiar with all the stuff Hijikata amassed, so he'll gladly explain what's behind each name: the Time Top, a small spinning top, slows down everything around the user for as long as it spins; the Magic Mask protects the wearer from inhaling dangerous fumes or spores; the Counter-Curse potion reverses a curse's effects; Deadpool Juice makes the user heal from everything for a day but also makes them act more reckless; a dose of Grayi turns a person transparent for 2 hours; and Pheromia attracts animals and people to the wearer. Yeah, that last one probably really isn't such a great idea.]

4A

[hellescape]

[Hopefully Hijikata was feeling generous enough to let Zagreus share a ride on his horse with him, because he absolutely has no idea how to ride one himself. As for his own contribution, while Zagreus' magic isn't of much use here, his idea is to bring along a bow and a quiverful of iron arrows. Even if he misses his shots, the arrows landing in the water should hopefully be more than enough to deter any kelpies from theses waters, and all without the risk of getting dragged in himself.

Of course, few plans ever go off without a hitch like that, but that's his initial thinking, anyway. To Hijikata's question, he shakes his head.]

No, but they sound like the stories I've heard regarding sirens. Only those are less horse-like, of course.

4B

[itsmypower]

[So this is it, then? As always, nothing in way of clear objections, and as he is, for all he knows, completely unknown to any circles, trusting the other so completely he's drowned out all hesitations, simply following Hijikata, very little he needs to know beyond his planning or tactics, who to target, what his threats are. All he's cared about—still-youth watching as if to guard him, eyes on everything all at once and showing faintly though dusk's-light. Fiery Hellcat on his left—golden-eyed and much smaller, almost-kitten pretending at tame and shrinking his flames as disguise now; concealing demon's true form still. He's watching Arashi... Perched to spring from youth's shoulders, pink tongue dragging across his teeth, cat's eyes resting upon the harpy next. At that mocking remark, Shoto too cuts his eyes to them, sort of glaring as if to send some sharp message, some wordless warning to watch their tone around his sensei.

His mood's a tensed coil.]

What's the "Grayi"?

[Laying his weapons out. His icy White Amaryllis blade; his own, white wakizashi; several glass-looking "marbles"—which he'd been told act as light-shields; three more charms as small mascots, his polished moonstones filled with ice, or soothing, single-use Healing spells; tucking two light-beads away. The last ones his keepsakes.]

Here. [Passing the rest to him,] These beads are for light-shields. [Then, tossing one as demonstration, watching the other through shield's glow,] We can trust them. [And here, between his fingers, producing stiletto-length needles, cold steel dipped in toxins, an unkind choice for such a boy-scout, who may have fostered an idea or two from those a little less savory, who's turned from softness when he needs to. He has, in truth, developed some shocking new tactics; surprised himself a number of times.] I can throw these pretty far by now, but they'll only cause poisonings. [Yes, "only"; unconcerned a bit, maybe, when his spells keep the antidote.] It should slow them if it comes to that. [Keeping his eyes away... then, handing off charms to him,] You should hold onto these...

[Still not finished; searching what's packed for more weapons, things more useful, maybe.]

And these—

[One last present: a round, small pouch drifting up to him, holding condensed orbs of Flashfreeze; blizzards trapped in smooth crystals, small "bombs" of Absolute-Zero formed as self-made explosives.] You can use them like my Flashfreeze. [His strongest ice spells.] You'll turn anything to frost with these. You just follow up with your flame's attacks. Just make sure you've got some distance first...

[There'd be a big blowback.]

You can watch the fireworks after.

[Shifting over to him; then, lighting glow from stretched fingers,] I can shore up your defenses next. Add my armor if we need to.

4A

[tantailizing]

No, this would be a first. Also, first time hearing about a kelpie.

[It's also a good thing his relationship with horses is pretty iffy so he's not about to try riding any strange horse that comes about to try coercing them into a ride... somehow. But hey, if it's weak to iron, he's got solutions - similar to the ones to beat out Dullahan.]

Anyway, if we need anything else, Moguo can fetch it fast.

minako aino | sailor moon | current character | ota

[reloves]

[ The sun and moon being gone sure is.. something, alright. It's pretty worrying, and Minako is - if anything - even more worried about the effect it might have on people. She doesn't like it when people end up having to worry, after all. It's way easier when she's carrying all the worry on her own shoulders, allowing others to just be happy.

So when she hears of a solution that might cheer some people up, Minako goes for it. She doesn't trust the fae, sure, but that's why she makes sure to test the lantern herself before subjecting anyone else to it.

But when she finds that it seems to work just fine.. well, that's when Minako gets to work.

No matter where you might be in the city, and no matter whether you're familiar to the girl or a stranger, Minako will just run straight up to you, a large smile on the girl's face. ]

Hey, hey! Why don't you tell me about your [ she might be leaning in a little here, just for effect-- ] dream destination.

[hellheir]

[ This city is fine, she supposes. Much more colorful than her London, but that's probably true of everywhere. (She loves London, but she's not blind to its flaws.) It's strange to be in a place where people seem to be provided for, and where there's always some sort of adventure to be had.

But the fashion. It's just— ] Boring.

[ She mutters that, and her familiar, a spirit Dalmatian named Khan, gives an indignant snort. He too thinks it's offensively bad.

She's thinking about sketches she wants to do, a store she might like to open, when a young blonde girl comes up to her and invades her personal space to ask something of a personal question.

Cruella tilts her head a little, frowning. ]

Hmm. I'm not sure, really. A design studio, I suppose. But... not a modern one, no. I want mine.

[ The one from the warehouse. The one the Baroness torched. She had built her life there, with Jasper and Horace and Buddy and Wink. It was theirhome for all those years. She remembers her wall of cutouts and sketches, the old sewing machine they'd stolen for her, the fabrics, the knickknacks-- ]

Why, does your magic take people wherever they like?

izumi tachibana 🎬 a3! 🎬 current character

[currysseur]

— getting more familiar.

Is this... really how you walk?

( The voice coming from Izumi sure sounds like Izumi, but she's notably unsteady on her feet, fingers flexing and twitching with each step she shuffles out. Next to her, a lioness watches, eyes wide and teeth bared, before she... nods.

Well. It's close enough. And it's not like she can a. talk, or b. figure out how her legs work any better than Miho. Izumi lifts one paw and inspects it, slowly placing it a step further. All her limbs locked, trying to keep herself upright and—

tripping over herself in her hesitation, crumpling to the ground. )

... You're embarrassing me.

( Not that Miho's knock-kneed steps are any less embarrassing, but that's besides the point! Izumi whines, a noise which sounds more threatening than anything else when it comes from a large, sprawled out lioness whose tail flicks, irritated at her own difficulties. )

— quest: kissing booths.

( How did she end up here...? It seems to be a running theme. First the cupid outfit, and now this. Izumi sighs to herself but pulls on a smile and opens the booth. )

Kissing booth! For a good cause! Raising funds for a new medicine shop!

( Unlike some (cough Claude cough), Izumi goes for a factual approach to her promotions. But she's smiling, eyes bright and catching the eye of anyone she can, even if doing so makes her cheeks pink with embarrassment.

— wildcard.

( you know what this is. hmu if you want to discuss anything. )

you know what this is

[readytolearn]

[This is only the first time Elsa arrives at Izumi's booth with a faint blush on her face. The whole concept of a kissing booth is not very familiar to her and the thought of kissing Izumi is already sending her stomach butterflies.

... especially since she's never really kissed anyone.

But it's for a good cause like she said! So!]

Hello... I would like to help. Since it's for a medicine shop.

tsumugi tsukioka | a3! | ota | current character

[tsumtsuki]

A ❄ moondrop
( note: current characters can backdate this prompt to the end of june, after the last event! )

[ Maybe you're walking around town with no destination in mind, or perhaps Moondrop's exactly where you're heading. Regardless, the flower shop/garden store/cafe might catch your eye more than usual, because it's glowing.

The darkness has been worrisome, of course - how long will it last? will all his plants be okay? - but without it, Tsumugi wouldn't have thought to put together such a magnificent display. In conjunction with his Floral Illuminator, well, illuminating the flowers, it really is a sight to see. (those more familiar with his store will realize the interior's been rearranged to accomodate. nothing extreme, just more flowers than usual about, an arrangement or starter every couple of feet, as well as upstairs in the cafe space. there's a limit to the magic - 100 feet, to be exact - but the front, at least, has plenty of lighting.)

Friend or stranger, he greets you with a warm smile as you enter. ] Welcome to Moondrop! How can I help you?

B ❄ getting more familiar

[ It's an adjustment, definitely, going from the body of a rather ordinary human to a familiar that's the spitting image of his elderly dog back home. B-but at least it was intentional? And it could be a lot worse... (and also, while a bit of a stretch, it makes him feel that much closer to zabi.) ]

[ i (together). Still, a Garden Boss with gardens at home, Kaika, and Fleur can never rest. Which means Fuyu, currently in Tsumugi's body, is left with the hefty responsibility of ensuring multiple gardens continue to flourish despite the darkness. It's a task easier said than done - Fuyu's watched Tsumugi garden many times, yes, but it's one thing to observe and another to actually do.

So Tsumugi, as Fuyu, leads a quiet Fuyu, as Tsumugi, around one of the many gardens. Neither Tsumugi speaks, but the messages seem to be coming across clearly. Dig up the weeds he sniffs, and water the plants he points at with his paw. A strange sight for an outsider, but easy enough... right? ]

[ ii (solo). There is one small problem, though - and that's how small he is. His perception of the world's so different, as he's so much closer to the ground now... and with his little legs, he's not moving very fast.

So he asks telepathically (with the option of receiving a telepathic response in turn): ] Um... sorry, but could you pick me up?

C ❄ twist! kissing booths (assistance quest)

[ ... well. He sure did read over the part of the listing that said he'd be running a kissing booth. But at least it's for a good cause? And Kazunari seemed to be okay with it when he told him about it. So he has a booth of his own, an array of lip balms and medicinal plants (his own, but they tie in nicely, and he fully intends to give these particular ones to the aspiring shop owner once the day is done) on display. There's also information written out about each of the different lip balms. ... minus the quacking and viagra ones, of course.

To anyone who'll listen, he'll try to give a pitch: ] Hello! I'm raising money to help someone open a medicine shop... would you like to help?

D ❄ wildcard
( as it says on the tin - feel free to hit me up via pm or plurk (castforms) if you wanna hash anything out! )

A

[reloves]

Hey.

[ Minako seems a little bit more subdued than the usual. It's not that she seems sad though, nor does she particularly look like she's hiding something. Maybe it's just a sense that things are getting pretty serious here, with even the sun itself being gone now and all..

But there's still a smile on her face as she greets the guy. It's just that it's a little smaller than the usual. ]

I see you've managed to find a way to make sure the flowers are all still okay.

[ Because Minako didn't even think yet about how much of a problem that would be with the current state of the sky and all. ]

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV (npc) | current character

[emet_sulk]

1. Lighting Lanterns

The darkness does not bother him but he accepts one of the lanterns regardless. Their purported effect has him intrigued and, truth be told, a little apprehensive. He knows what scene he would like to see from it, but even the grand, recreated city he had made in the depths of the Kholusian sea had paled in comparison to the real thing. What if this is more of the same...?

He wanders back to the store but slips into the backyard rather than head inside. His horse and various other creatures they've taken in all watch him curiously as he sets the lantern on a small table. He ponders it for a time...before making his decision.

Channelling some of his magic into the lantern, he holds a particular place in mind.

OPTIONS:
A. Garlemald in its glory days
B. Amaurot in ancient times
C. Some other canon location (PM or state in subject line)

2. Cat-astrophe 🛡️ (July quest)

Emet-Selch needs catswort for his medicines, and so he has some vested interest in assisting this particular farmer with their crops. He dons gloves and his magicked face mask - designed to protect him from inhaling fine particles just like this very pollen - and cautiously ventures into the fields. As he's plucking the flowers and filling his basket, he occasionally glances up and scans his surroundings in case one of the wayward workers appears.

Some movement in the near-darkness has him pausing and moving closer. Do they need help? Or are they simply another person assisting with the harvest?

3. Wildcard

If you have other ideas please feel free to DM me!

1b

[seasoflight]

When he looked out into their back garden to spy Emet with a lantern, curiosity gets the best of him. He, too, had been intrigued by the lanterns, the chance to get a glimpse of a home he could never return to. For now, though, maybe he could get a better look at a different home. One he doesn't remember, but knows was his, once upon a time.

He cautiously hesitates at the edge of the lantern's bubble of influence, watching as Emet feeds it some energy, before Felih slips in. Felih stands beside him before he looking around, intrigued and curious. Would it be more vivid and alive than the recreation Felih saw? Even that sight alone had filled him with pangs of emotions he couldn't explain.

"Hades?" He calls softly, before watching the magic take shape.

Ren Jinguji | Uta no Prince-sama | current character | OTA

[saxsongs]

Light it Up

[The space Ren has made with the lantern light is a beautiful lake and Veranna. In the distance an academy can be seen but it's just that - an image in the horizon. The area here is just the surroundings of the lake during night time. There are also some cherry blossoms blooming nearby and the petals are falling down gently. A place of calm. He wanted to offer the comfort to stars and moonlight to anyone who misses it.]

Welcome to Saotome Academy... or the lake nearby. I've always liked this place, since it's a very calm and beautiful area. I hope it's able to bring you some calm from the current norm.

[He smiles, his expression soft as he looks at the academy. it towers over the scenery like a castle.]


Quest: Kissing Booth

[Of course Ren would set up a kissing booth if the opportunity rises. The lip balms add to the fun and he has all of them there on display.]

This is your chance to kiss one of your local idols. Much better than any autographs, though I'm not opposed to giving out those either while at it. [He winks.] Don't worry, I have no eaten anything spicy today so the kisses are all soft and mild... unless you really want spice, that can also be arranged.

[It's an option.]


Getting More Familiar: Forest

[While Princess is having fun on the network, Ren is out in the forest in a Fox Fairy form. It has been rather hard to adapt to walking on all fours. Flying, also, has proven to be a challenge which is why he opts to walking for now.]

Hmm... flowers. Silver flowers...

[It's a blessing that Princess is able to speak, even if she rarely does so. Makes it easier for Ren to cope, definitely.]

Any luck?

[He calls out to someone nearby in a soft, feminine voice.]

Kissing Booth

[idoliceking]

Should I be worried that your offering other people spice?

[There's sarcasm and humor in his voice as Camus walks up to the booth Ren is manning. He leans on the counter.]

Or at least make sure there's some for me later.