test drive meme ⚔️️ 22

[avalonmods]

	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.

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B ⦿ MagiCamp

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.

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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

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?

 

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D ⦿ Ubercooked
	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.

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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
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!

 

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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.

 

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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. • 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.

Comments

[whosaysdajare]

Heh! [ *Squeaky toy noise* The comedic timing of his partner's glasses slanting is golden. Sasara stays put as Rosho grabs him, still there's way too much glee on his face. He's definitely serious, though, and that's the worst way he can be! ]

It's a real snoozy– [ ( ...Doozy...! ) ] –ain't it!? [ Obviously he should get a laugh for that! Ahem... but it's also like one time Sasara has something other than jokes on his mind. ]

A-ah... Rosho, ya really thought about sleeping through all 'a that? [ Getting pinned in place like that is a little like a hug, but Sasara shrugs in it. All nonchalant, to the naked eye. ] You were seriously gone...

[glossophobia]

[ You deliver one more pun and Rosho is flinging you into that statue, and hopefully that destroys two nuisances in one. For once in his life can Sasara just take things seriously and actually listen? Maybe Rosho will have to shake him around to sort out his head. His grip on his shoulders almost tightens in frustration before the subject switches and Rosho's finally able to take his mind off of Rei's obnoxious statue. That isn't the most important thing here. The distress in his expression fades as realization finally dawns on him. ]

I was, gone... so this whole thing hasn't been a dream at all.

[ Not that he ever doubted that in reality, but just as usual, Sasara helps get him back on track. Even if its not something he's entirely relieved to hear. ]

I really left, didn't I? I... [ He doesn't really know what to say other than one thing. ] I'm sorry.

[whosaysdajare]

[ Two birds and... he doesn't even need a stone! It's just everyone's luck, then, that Sasara was first to wind down. As cavalier as that shrug had been, now he's looking almost a little stern. Meanwhile his hand slips into one of his jacket pockets. ]

Teh! Seriously, Rosho, you gotta be the one to quit apologizing this time. [ But it seems like it's all coming back to him. In a way, Sasara is relieved not to have to make that confession again. It didn't end up where he wanted it, though. ] Everything I told ya, about Tokyo and Samatoki... ya remember all that?

[ It's the sorta sigh Sasara never does, never really pausing to think when he talks, except this time. ]

W-well, it never turned out right for me anyway. In the end, I don't know why we split up or what happened that I made the break and went back home. But it ain't just that... I know, I wouldn't 'a lasted in that team up. [ Teh... weird how he's gotta think about giving the old man some thanks in this moment. ] Without you, I mean.

[ He's still fumbling, blindly. Something jingles... his keys? ] I asked ya to stay...

[glossophobia]

[ Rosho shrinks just an inkling as he's scolded but refrains from biting back like he normally would. Sasara has a point and yet Rosho still feels the guilt of abandoning him. Yet he remains silent, knowing that this isn't the time or place for excuses. His focus perks up at the mention of Samatoki however. ]

I remember, yeah... everything ya told me about.

[ A part of him is still unbearably curious about what happened between Sasara and Samatoki. How they met, sure, but also why it didn't work out. All he can assume is that it must've been unpleasant. Bad memories are always difficult to dredge up in any way. Its the only reason he'd never said anything about it. It'll probably always bother him, this inkling of a secret Sasara still won't share with him... but he'll just have to let him have this single thing to himself. He can't shoulder all his burdens. Just like he can't hold all the blame for everything thats happened in all the time they've known each other. Even when they were apart.

Not that Rosho will ever stop apologizing. He'll always worry endlessly. Its just unfortunately in his nature when it comes to Sasara. There's even another apology on the tip of his tongue that he forces down. There's no point to it anymore, Sasara doesn't want to hear it, and so he'll keep it to himself. But it's clearly eating away at him. The fact that he left him alone again when all Sasara's ever wanted is to have him there, with him. ]

We can't do anything about the way this place works. So if I disappeared again, that'd be that, ya know? But I know for sure, even if I forgot everything, even if we were back home and its like none of this ever happened... I'm sure of it, that I'd still feel the same way I do now. What I said before, about... how I need to be with you. That's always true.

[ Rosho reaches up to touch the little fan pin fastened to the front of his vest. ]

I wanna stay with you too.

[whosaysdajare]

[ He gets what that look on his partner's face is about. Everything he told Rosho wasn't everything there was, Sasara knows, and he sorta wishes he could remember it all... even to tell. Even if, and he sorta feels it deep down as some subconscious pressing thing, it was another break-up that hurt. Samatoki ain't to blame. But Rosho least of anyone. He's done everything to alleviate Sasara's guilt around not stepping up and saving their duo in the first place, or even just figuring it out sooner.

He half backs out of his own advice right here, one more apology trying to squeeze up his throat, too. ]

W-well, yeah but... [ It ain't like he chose to dip out of this world for a moment too long. ]

Ya know, I'm saying— [ Or, Sasara knows what he wants to say. He looks down, at Rosho's hand touching the pin. ] —Rosho, even if something happens or whatever does, more like, I'll feel the same too.

[ He really does get his keys out now and, fumbling with them, looks away from his partner. Fiddling to get the keys to their house off the keychain, someone who was meaning to say this months ago, the purpose of his clumsy confession, oughta have come better prepared. He manages after all, though. ]

S-so... I ain't just asking ya to stay. [ Sasara has just the keyring in his hand now, letting the loose keys fall back into his pocket. Seriously, he jokes on TV but TV doesn't joke about getting all weak knees in this kinda situation...! But before he can think about it he's already down on one. Now, looking at Rosho again, he holds the ring up. ]

Marry me?

[glossophobia]

[ There's something about the admittance of all these unsaid feelings that helps make his shoulders feel a little lighter, even though Rosho knows this'll probably never be the end of the conflict between them. The traumas they still hold onto and the bad behaviors they just can't seem to shake off. But it helps to know that no matter what happens, regardless of the past, from here and now until however far in the future, nothing will change the fact that Rosho and Sasara want to be part of a team together. Even beyond just that, they want to be together. And they'll do whatever it takes to keep things that way. Granted it'd be nice to keep these memories and experiences from their time on these different worlds, but its a fact now that nothing will keep them apart. Sasara's stubbornness will guarantee that of course, but Rosho's devotion won't ever waver, no matter what his waning confidence tells him every day when he has to try to make his own decisions.

This person is important to him, and he's glad he feels the same way.

Or at least that's the presumption Rosho makes. They're on the same page as far as he's concerned, and it feels like everything can be wrapped up in a nice little package until Sasara turns away to fiddle with his pockets. Rosho's more than a little confused as he hears the familiar jingle of keys. What on earth could he be doing? Maybe he's making sure he didn't forget anything? Maybe he's preparing so they can head back home? It's a little rude to interrupt Rosho's heartfelt conversation like that! Sasara dawdles for so long that Rosho almost reaches to try to snatch the keys out of his hands until he sees him stuff something into his pocket and he turns around. The only thing left is the keyring. Now he's even more baffled. What is even happening?

Sasara's always been a predictable person from the very first day Rosho met him. He wears his feelings on his sleeve along with his jokes. But this... this is the first time Rosho couldn't ever expect his next move. When he watches him drop down, its like in slow motion, and Rosho almost wants to catch him until he realizes he's not falling. It isn't that he slipped, or like he's hurt, or something caught his eye on the ground.

This guy... he really drives him insane. He's going to be the death of him some day. Today, as he sees him on one knee with that keyring in his hand, and he asks him a question Rosho couldn't ever prepare himself for. His head's reeling. There are a million things he wants to say, to do. Why is he asking him this? Why is he doing this? Did he not pay attention to what Rosho said about how they could end up back home and not remember any of this? Does he understand what kind of commitment a marriage is? Doesn't he feel uneasy getting married after what happened with Sasara's parents? Aren't they a bit too young for this now? If he was going to propose why doesn't he have an actual ring with him? Why is he proposing in front of a goddamn giant statue of Rei? Is he aware how big of a commitment getting married is

Is he serious? Is he insane? Is this a joke?

He would wring his hands around Sasara's neck and shake him for hours, cursing and berating him for his decision as he screams questions into his ears until his voice goes hoarse. But all it makes him think of is the disappointment and pain on Sasara's face when he thinks that Rosho wants to tell him no, and that's not remotely close to anything he'd want to say to him. All of those questions... none of those come down to "no".

'He really can never tell him no, can he? Rosho loves him that much.'

His face goes hot with the realization, his own knees suddenly all wobbly. Rosho crouches to kneel in front of Sasara as he wraps his hands around the one holding up the keyring. ]

...for a performer, you... you could do better, than this. [ He can't help at least one single jab though as he squeezes Sasara's hand. ]

Yeah— I, I mean... yes. Yes, I will.

when u posted this comment it was sasara's bday my time..... Gay

[whosaysdajare]

[ It's seconds that feel like hours once Sasara is down on his knee. A motion he went into recklessly and with all his courage gathered in a single place in his chest. He looks up at Rosho and then, all at once, feels his heart hammering away at his nerves.

He's serious, ya know! And the thought almost overcomes him and he shouts it out, as passionate as when he defends his silly jokes when his partner'd shoot them down. He even takes a breath to say it but it quits, as a gulp, in his throat. Life's only supposed to flash before your eyes when you're dying... but doesn't Rosho's silence make him feel just like that?

They've been through it all. Together. School, their first performance, heading for the top– Nights spent in a tiny apartment, pouring over ideas for their next bit and chatting endlessly even as the conversation veered off into something else. Lonely days, when they were cities apart, and Sasara still couldn't get Rosho out of his head. Being side-by-side, together, that's the only way to bury his impossible longing.

The what-if's and maybe-not's, Sasara doesn't have a single thought to spare for those. In that way it's definitely reckless, what he's doing here. But not doing it, that is the thing that'd destroy him. He's held together by Rosho's hands squeezing his. ]

W-well, if ya—! [ It almost gives him the strength to come up as defiant as he'd otherwise be to defend his quips. Nearly... Geez, his legs'd definitely buckle right now if he was standing. ] Ya... ya mean it? I mean, ya know, ya really...?

[ He doesn't doubt his partner now! But like a fool Sasara keeps babbling... ]