avalaughs | test drive meme ⚔️️ 22

	QUICK NAV: ⚔️️ Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary
⚔️️ View Top-Levels Only ⚔️ IMPORTANT NOTE: The sun and moon have returned to normal, but the Calamity is still visible in the sky.

DATES: 1st half of the month Prompt Summaries: A. Soaring in Your Arrival: Dolphins kidnap new arrivals. Do your best to escape or help others do so, and maybe tap into your magic instinctively in the process. B. MagiCamp: The Red Springs is preparing for a special training, so it's unavailable. Instead, the caravan is lead toward a special once-every-decade event: the eruption of the chocolate geyser. C. Joust the Tip: Learn to fight hand-to-hand, joust, and more-- a great way to self-defend and learn to use your magic combatively! D. Ubercooked: Soup kitchens are popping up around town, but the enchantment for these pop-ups is unstable, making for a wild cooking experience. E. Avalon is Flat: Pirates force otherworlders to go treasure hunting for them at the edge of Avalon, which is essentially water falling off into space. Cool-ass views, scary ass death awaiting anyone who falls. F. The Heart of the Sea-- Er, Lake: The ships seem to have hearts, and can be reasoned with to sail passengers back to Camelot. You have to handle the pirates, though. Messages in a bottle appear from an old ally to let you know they'll be ready to help you get to Dinas Emrys mid-month.

A ⦿ Soaring in Your Arrival
EEEEEEEE!

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. But there is no plunge today. There are loud screeches and vibrant, neon flashes of color that may have you wondering "What in the Lisa Frank?" as multicolored dolphins expertly snatch new arrivals out of the air above their plunge and kidnap them. It seems this was not an expected development, as the Lady of the Lake is below, surrounded by a bunch of mossatee families (their lovely babies following them about and rolling around on the beach) and shouting after the new arrivals and dolphins alike. The dolphins seem to have decided that the new arrivals are playthings and are swimming and jumping off in all directions to take them off who knows where! Work together to escape the dolphins and swim

to shore-- as it turns out, adrenaline and panic are a great way to discover what kind of magic you have, so you may find the best way to escape your new captors is to instinctively find the magic within.

B ⦿ MagiCamp

horses through a tent

Once everyone is finally 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 tells everyone that their normal destination is currently closed to prepare for a special training fair that everyone will be invited to. They should see far more of the

otherworlders who have been here for long to gain wisdom and direction from. In the meantime, it's late, so they're going to head south of the Red Springs into the selkies' land. Each person is loaded up onto the back of a horse, not the regular carriages, and gives them their 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.

The horses seem to know where they're going, so 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).

It's not long before everyone arrives at a camping site set up within viewing distance of a geyser that seems to be going off. But there is something a little different about this geyser, and the smell of the air about the entire site. It smells distinctively of chocolate, and when the geyser bursts into the air, it's clear why: the geyser is an opening to a special chocolate aquifer that runs underground in Avalon. Some say it's a magical shortcut to the sweets fairy kingdom.. but that's frozen in time as well, so visitors will not be permitted. You can still enjoy the best chocolate you've ever tasted and get a good night's rest in two-person tents-- each assigned randomly, so if you want to room with someone specific, you may need to argue it out. Especially since some of the tents have mistakenly been given two-person sleeping bags instead of two single-person sleeping bags... oops! The campsite is also very popular right now, as the news is reporting the chocolate geyser as a once-in-a-decade sight to see, brought early by the mix up with the summer solstice issues. Otherworlders both current and new are encouraged to head to the campsite to see this amazing chocolate geyser!

Oh-- but make sure you watch out for the selkies. Selkies are very attractive fae who are capable of shapeshifting between human and seal form by removing their skins. Male selkies are known to be extremely handsome and have almost incubus-like seductive abilities toward women and gay men, especially those who are already in relationships. It is much rarer to interact with female selkies nowadays, given the protectiveness of their tribes after a long history of forced marriage by human men. They're very protective of their coats, so if they see you eying them, they may try to drown you... but if not, you probably only have to worry about their seductive nature.

C ⦿ Joust the Tip

Some Camelot natives have taken it upon themselves to offer basic training for swordplay and archery, noticing that there appear to be many people who don’t know how to fight or defend themselves! The flyers for instruction go up around a week before, posted in windows and underneath doors (sometimes more than once, whoops), and alongside the offers for weapons training from some natives is an additional opportunity - jousting.

‘A great way to practice aiming on horseback!’ is the tagline, though some might disagree with how true that is.

There is some transport being offered to the Red Springs, where the training is taking place, but the carriages from Camelot are only once every few

a knight with a blue shield jousting

hours and with limited space so if there are no more seats you’ll have to wait… or hang on the back of the carriage for dear life the whole way there. Otherwise, it’s a case of making your own way by whatever means you’re able to.

At the Red Springs themselves a good chunk of the available training grounds have been taken up with organized arenas for archery, swordplay, and the entire upper end of the grounds is barriered off to make room for the jousting. There are a few horses available if you didn’t come with your own, and once the newcomers at the bay have been dealt with Archimedes himself makes an appearance to ensure that his charges are being treated well in their temporary assignment.

When it comes to archery and swordplay, the setup and rules are simple. Anyone interested can take up a beginner’s bow or a sword and take instruction from one of the native tutors. They don’t seem to mind stepping aside for experienced off-worlders if they have the skills to teach others, but they do sometimes meddle if it looks like those people are doing it wrong.

The jousting is a more thorough affair. To be eligible for it you must first know how to ride a horse, and be able to support the lance and shield without help. Anyone who fulfills both of those conditions is kitted out with protective equipment and set against an opponent! Since it’s beginners only, the instructors aren’t making things too complicated and the rules are simple - knock the other person off their horse, and you win. They’re trusting that no one is going to do something silly like try to stab somebody, or use kinetic magic to lift the lances… because why would anyone do that?

Those who show good progress or proficiency in either of the three offered disciplines will be given the opportunity to learn a method to apply their magic to their weapons, regardless of what that magic type is! Generous, right?

D ⦿ Ubercooked

overcooked gif where the kitchen is on two moving rafts

Due to the quests lately requiring large amounts of supplies, the Camelot kitchens have put out a call for some extra help prepping easy to store, and easy to cook food for long journeys and have opened pop-up kitchens that anyone can volunteer to help out in. Just be careful! The enchantment that is supporting these kitchens was put together in a rush and is somewhat unstable, so at least two people are needed in each location

at all times to collect ingredients, trade across moving countertops, and to chop and cook the occasionally-enchanted ingredients at a rapid pace.

In such a hectic environment, people are going to need eyes in the backs of their heads to make sure that what they’re chopping and preparing doesn’t go to the wrong place (or doesn’t just end up on the floor), and watch out for your fingers on those shifting countertops if you’re using sharp knives!

All of the ingredients are headed for a variety of soups which will be put into enchanted cans (bigger on the inside!) far heavier than they look before they are transported to the coast and loaded onto some waiting ships. Anyone curious enough to ask where these ships might be going will get a shrug from those loading them up, but persistence is key, and questioning the right people will bring out the fact that there is an expedition heading out to Dinas Emrys, to locate the legendary item known as the Lapis Exilis.

PRELUDE: Sugar and Tea and Rum

There has been a lead on Lapis Exilis, a precious stone considered to be in the heart of a Phoenix that renews their youth. This stone is said to grant immortality and eternal youth to those who use it, as long as it is used carefully. Unskilled magicians have been known to reset their whole lives and perish as babies in the woods with a Lapis Exilis in hand.

It's in Dinas Emrys, beyond the elemental giants. It's time to head out and battle them to get past them, but for that you need ships. Luckily there are some natives that have generously offered to sail towards the Dinas Emrys with the otherworlders. Once the preparations are complete, it's time to set sail!

However, once the ships are far enough from the shore the ships change their flags to ones that are black and have skulls on them. That's right, you have been tricked into pirate ships!

E ⦿ Avalon is Flat

The pirates will do their all to restrain all of the otherworlders and send them down to the ship's brig. All of them have various weapons: muskets, pistols, cutlasses, and even stun grenades. They're not afraid of hurting anyone they fight. Anyone who gets caught is either knocked out or thrown directly into the cargo hold.

The pirates also have animals that are as vicious as them. Be careful of the shark parrots with their sharp teeth and sharp fin-like feathers (and a foul mouth that will insult anyone and everyone), the undead monkeys that won't die no matter what you do (death mages are able to exorcise them) or the cute but vicious venom cats that can inflict poison with their claws. But unless you've got experience using magic to pilot their pirate

a ship called the muntjac sailing off an eternal waterfall - it's from The Magicians. look up "The Magicians - Under Pressure" for the scene :)

ships, mutiny is probably a bad idea unless you want to be floating in the lake for the rest of your life. Try it and you're more likely to walk the plank and be lost to the lake's magical creatures.

If no one stops the pirates, the ships are going to the edge of the map where the water floats into space. That's right, Avalon is, in fact, flat. Why did they come to the edge of the map anyway? To find some treasure of course! There are some rare chests right by the edge of the map where the water starts going down to space. They want otherworlders to swim for the treasures because they're not crazy enough to attempt it themselves.

Attached to a rope, you get to go diving right on the edge of the map. There are various expensive jewelry found from the water that they want you to bring back. If you try to blindside them they'll cut the rope when you least expect it and you’ll fall into frozen time. The only way to get you out? A dark mage known as the Avalon Reaper who sails the edge of the lake and curses those who fall off the map to a quick death-- it's honestly the easiest way to get you back, so better be careful. There are also vicious predatory jellyfish in the waters that will attack anyone who will get too close to their favorite treasure. Luckily the pirates have a solution: a jar of dirt! The jellyfish are afraid of the land and anything related to it so they will definitely swim away when you see you have some dirt with you. Makes carrying treasure a bit hard, but better safe than sorry!

F ⦿ The Heart of the Sea-- Er, Lake
Once you're done treasure-diving, it's back to the brig with ye! Within the brig, otherworlder prisoners may have noticed something a little odd. The walls within the pirates' ships seem to be a little warmer than one would expect of wood, particularly toward the center of the room. In fact, if you're near the center of the ship, you may notice that the ship has a heartbeat... and while the pirates rule the ship with fear and aggression, the ship itself.. seems to have a bit of a soft spot-- and a soul. Try speaking to the ship and pleading your case, and you may find yourself with a ship taking you where you want to go. Piss the ship off, and you may find it's happy to drive you straight through the battle of the Elemental Giants to drown you right off its back. So be nice- or don't. The choice is up to you. But once you've discovered this, you're safe to mutiny and try to take the ship back
yourself and head to your destination... Or so you may have thought. It turns out that rations were not designed for a pirate excursion, but for a straight trip to Dinas Emrys. You don't have enough to make it, so the best case scenario is to head back to Camelot. As you do, you may notice a number of bottles popping out of the lake's wakes with messages in them: an old ally, the cursed underwater town, have another way to Dinas Emrys. They'll be ready for you mid-month, prepare yourselves.

• 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.
• This month's arrival prompts vary from normal, so make sure you read through!
• Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The selkie smiles, looking Rosho up and down and rubbing his chin in a blatant "I like what I see" kind of way before his eyes finally settle back on his face.]

My, did you think I was a seal? How cute. Are you at the festival on your own? I can barely believe that! Usually ones like you are already on someone's arm.

[But as he steps towards Rosho, be it to put an arm around his shoulder or play with his hair, the fun police is already approaching with large strides across the sand in the form of a pissy knight.]

Hey!! Get your pelt back on, that's indecent exposure!

These are selkie lands, Sir Knight! Don't forget yourself now. This isn't your city.

And you think I'll let you guys screw with our people just because of that? Back off!

[Honestly, he's not giving off shiny-armoured rescuer vibes here. If it weren't for the circumstances anyone would be forgiven for thinking he's harassing a harmless couple.]

[ A lot seems to happen all at once which makes it difficult for Rosho to keep track of what exactly is going on here. At least he knows what part of the world he's in now, but selkie lands? He doesn't recall ever visiting there. Maybe that's what this man is? But whether selkie are supposed to be walking around naked isn't much of an issue for him. In fact, already somewhat caught in the allure of a selkie's seduction, he can't help but try to defend him as he squares up against the sudden knight. ]

N-no, please don't get him in trouble, it was my mistake for bothering him thinking he was an actual seal! I was just hoping to get directions back to Camelot so I could go home...

I can take you directly to Camelot by totem, or to the carriage station if you prefer to take the scenic route.

Or you can lend me that cravat of yours so I can tie myself some nice bathing bottoms out of it. That would take care of the indecency, no?

[The selkie sends a twinkle-eyed little glance at Rosho. See, he's good-humoured on top of good-looking! Naturally Hijikata isn't impressed.]

Like I'll let you wrap any part of my uniform around your ass!

[He puts a heavy hand on Rosho's shoulder.]

Are you coming along? It'd suck if we lost you to the selkies.

[ Now that's definitely almost enough to shake the daze out of Rosho's eyes. Even as he has the instinct to jerk out of the other man's hold, he's already thinking about the opportunity to see all of his friends. Or, he hopes his friends are still around here. There's a painful ache in his chest at the thought of showing up here only to end up all alone, but he's distracted by the sensation as he looks overly casually at the very much not human creature with them. ]

A selkie...? So, that's what they are?

[ He's trying to think back on all the extra information he was able to learn about fantasy creatures during his life here in Avalon but the memories are still a bit fuzzy. ]

Yeah. They break people's hearts for fun.

You're so prejudiced! You think I'd flirt with just any cute human I met at this shore?

Yeah.

Well, that's not true. The moment I saw him I felt that there was something special about him.

[The selkie takes Rosho's hand and brings it up to his lips for a chaste kiss, then smiles at him with passionate eyes.]

Won't you tell me your name?

Don't. He's a fae creature; any information they have about you will help them fuck you up.

You're jealous, aren't you, knight? You've probably had an eye on him for a while already, but that's too bad if you didn't make a move!

Bullshit! Don't turn this into a drama! We simply need everyone we've got to do something about the calamity up there! Maybe consider that this is also in you guys' best interest?!

[Sorry, Rosho, they're barely letting you get a word in... but the selkie actually goes quiet for a moment as Hijikata points up at the distorted sky.]

test drive meme ⚔️️ 22

1B (+1A-ish if he can wrangle him that way, maybe!)

works for me!

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