TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary 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 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. You'll definitely see other new arrivals plopping in. If you can't swim, a red-headed woman known only as the Lady of the Lake will drag you to the shore if she doesn't spot someone else near you helping so no one ends up drowning. She's a little busy casting directive magic to make sure everyone lands safely and playing lifeguard, so if anyone attempts to talk to her, she'll tell them to head up to 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. 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 earbuds to everyone before getting them settled in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and give them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: 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. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. 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. 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. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. 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. A ⦿ Get Fresh Upon arrival in Camelot travelers are ushered to a large set of wash rooms where they can clean up and make themselves presentable for the Welcome Feast. They are informed that once the feast concludes there will be an announcement on where they can seek lodging and how to begin their magic studies. B ⦿ Be Merry After they freshen up, travelers are led into the main dining hall. The decorations range from simplistic to a little more grandiose, it is likely everyone will find something familiar. A modern mash up with a medieval flair. The jester makes his rounds, perhaps he has a joke or two to tell, go ahead, give him a listen or perhaps volunteer to participate in one of the jester's shows, like knife-throwing or hypnotism. Within the crowd of staff there are mummers, a juggler, here and there dabbled through small troupes perform mini skits, perhaps they’ll perform a well known verse from a traveler’s world or tell a tale of fancy from this realm. C ⦿ Eat Well A banquet is prepared with food that while all “rustic” in appearance are usually a version of modern dishes ranging from basic roast chicken and veggies to Korean-Mexican fusion and French patisserie. The drinks are much the same; while served in old fashioned goblets, they are drinks modern travelers will be familiar with. Have a seat, meet a new neighbor, find a roommate, maybe a new or old friend? Talk to the person to your left, your right, across from you. Mingle, enjoy the food, the music, it shouldn’t be long before the information promised is provided. Till then take your fill and get to know your fellow travelers. You've been here a few days now and have gotten a chance to settle in, find a place to stay, and Camelot's citizens have decided that you've been here long enough to start living your life again. Well, your new life. A group of citizens have decided to give everyone their first quest. "Hear ye, hear ye!" a man in chain mail with a tablet with his statement typed up on it declares to a crowd from atop a pedestal. There are two other citizens around him with phones to post the video to AOL later to make sure the word gets heard ye all around. "Those with magic, we beseech thee! Findeth us a grail most holy hidden in the depths of the Brocéliande! This holy grail is known to grant thine wishes three, a most noble quest for noble souls! Great reward will come to those who find it and proclaim at least one of their wishes to find the great Excalibur for King Arthur!" This is the first you've heard about King Arthur, and it seems curious that he hasn't yet shown his face around town. It also seems strange that this guy is speaking like he's stepped out of a bad period piece, and probably should be the clue that this is more or less an attempt to haze some of the newcomers by sending them into the forest... but no one is telling newcomers this. It's better to get them out there and start praciticing, after all. A ⦿ Lost, and Lost, and Lost Again The Brocéliande is well-known around Camelot for being a forest that's both bountiful and mysterious. Oddities are known to happen that may never happen again to the point that even if something weird happens and you can't prove it, most citizens will assume you're telling the truth. Which is what makes it peculiar when you keep passing the exact same locations over and over again, as if you've been traveling in circles or reaching the end of the map in a video game and coming out the other end. You're stuck in a space loop. The only way out is to successfully find the one difference in each loop five times in a row and collect it. Maybe it's a strange frog, a crystal that wasn't there before, a small wooden step that doesn't lead anywhere, or some other singular item, you've got to find what stands out... pick the wrong item, and you'll have to start your five count over again, and again, and again... B ⦿ Grail, and Grail, and Grail Again!? If you either missed the space loop or managed to get out of it, eventually you'll come to find one of... quite a few copies of a grail with holes in the side placed throughout the forest. They look like they might be good for draining noodles, but that's about it. Though they're spread out, it's entirely possible you'll find more than one, but each of them are placed in situations where it's impossible to get to by normal means. You'll have to use magic! It may be hidden in a bird's nest at the top of the tallest tree, inside of a hole in a rock with bars that prevent you from reaching in (perhaps an animal friend could reach it), inside a boiling pond, or inside the body of a bear fir... there are a load of possibilities, and now's a chance for you to try out your brand new magics! Use one of those samples, find something from the bestiary, or come up with your own adventure to get your hands on that less-than-holy grail. C ⦿ A Quest Completeish Or it would be, if you could ever find the guy who announced it... The AOL posts have since been deleted. You may end up spending a lot of time trying to find the guy. At this point, citizens will start telling you that you shouldn't take quests unless they're on the quest board or else you're going to get scammed... that's definitely an olden times themed noodle strainer. If that doesn't make you give up, or perhaps motivates you to find the guy to kick his ass, you'll have to head out to the farmland and chase them through a cornfield. (Be careful not to get lost, it's a maize in there.) If one of the boys are caught, they'll explain they were just testing you-- and hey, you got a free addition to your kitchen! If pressed, they'll apologize and give you a bit of money for your trouble. It's not much, but it'll get you at least a meal.

MOD NOTES:
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Comments

all the yelling

[reigniter]

[The last thing Ignis himself remembers is being knocked out, not so gently, by Ardyn. It is an immense relief to see Noctis well and not passed out from multiple injuries. There is comfort in falling back into exchanging smartass retorts with him.]

You may not, but you know what you're capable of. [Ignis shakes his head with a chuckle. He also knows what Noctis is capable of, even when others (or Noctis himself) question it.]

There were a lot of people by the lake, it was easy to lose track of anyone. [But he's very glad that he found him, despite the circumstances, and he returns the smile.] I'm happy to see you are not injured. [And in one piece.]

[reigniter]

"You as well." The last he heard of Marshal back home was when he saw them off to Altissia. "Prompto? No, I haven't," Ignis' eyebrows furrow and he takes a glance around the hall, filled with people talking and feasting.

"I haven't seen His Highness either," he answers slowly, reading the worried lines between Cor's eyebrows. They are on the same wavelength and he can bet Ignis won't stop looking for Noctis. But it's a feast for all newcomers so logically it is the place to be at to keep an eye out for him.

[phoenixwiz]

Harry doesn’t have much to answer in return, although it is more of confusion rather than giving it up that has him feeling rather awkward at the moment.

“So do you have a name or something?” he asks him, “I’m Harry by the way.”

[cess]

I mean, I know how to go easy on people.

[ he wasn't expecting a stranger to be on gladio or ignis' level. prompto was here, so he could have asked him, but prompto was a ranged fighter; they fought differently enough that it wouldn't have been much help.

for now, he keeps the sword of the father resting point-down at his side, content to talk to ignis rather than start up training just yet. ]

Yeah, you're not kidding; I only found Prompto at the caravans... [ his expression sobers a little bit, swallowing. ] Ignis, I ran into Luna, and dad.

[ he's had his two sessions of crying on both of them despite himself, so he's not at risk of doing that on ignis. his throat is still a little tight with emotion telling him, though. ]

I know what they told us, but what the hell kind of place is this, that it can do that?

[hopticulture]

[she's going to give him A Look, frowning and crossing her arms.]

If the wasps aren't hurting anyone now, I'm not going to want you hurting them for no reason.

[sure, they can be nasty and sting, and often made their nests in places they shouldn't, but they're still important pollinators.]

Nooooct <3

[immortalmarshal]

Cor freezes as he sees that famiar fClace, even for just a brief moment. He had been worried about the lack of a royal presence, especially given his earlier meeting with Prompto. But then he relaxes as he turns to face him directly.

"It is...your Majesty." He gives the young royal a small, yet respectful bow. "It's been some time since I last saw you and..." A smile threatens to grow on his face. "...to be honest, it is a relief to see you again."

[mithrarin]

[If they were bees maybe he wouldn't have thought about it to begin with, but--]

I don't need to hurt them. Just draw them off. I think I can blow them around a little... [He flexes his free hand, trying to judge just what limits he can reach with this magic he's supposed to use.] And dodge them, long enough for you to act.

[cess]

It almost made sense, that he was pulled here. He'd been worried about everyone else once he realized he had been yanked out of the Crystal. He couldn't turn down the request for help, of course, but it was easier, having seen Prompto. Seeing Lunafreya and his father had been... interesting, at least. If he's honest, he was hoping to be able to drop off to bed to process that.

But, here's Cor. Which is both good, and also more responsibility. Noctis raises a hand to rub the back of his head, as Carbuncle jumps from his shoulder, trotting over to tilt its head at the coeurl.

"You don't have to be so formal," he mutters, before he clears his throat. "Yeah, I don't think I've seen you since before we went to Altissia." And then everything literally exploded in their face. He'd only spoken to him over the phone since then.

Hell, had he even had a chance to tell Cor about the Keep?

[burstrate]

Prompto takes one good look at Dust and pauses, as if he needs a minute to process what he's seeing. Just the expression on his face is enough to indicate how hard the gears must be turning in his head.

Then, he chimes in with a bright tone, "Cool costume, dude! Those ears look super real."

[reigniter]

[Ignis' daggers are sheathed at his hips, one at each side. There is no that ethereal space here for him to summon him from there, but somehow they were on his person when he arrived here, for which he was glad. He wasn't sure if he'd be very useful without them.

They will train, they have time for it. But before they can focus on that it's good to rehash whatever information they have about this place.]

Marshal had told me at the banquet last night about Prompto, but he hadn't mentioned lady Lunafreya or His Majesty. [Ignis looks worried, his brows creasing into a deep frown as he thinks about it. He can't recall any type of magic from home that could do this. And this place- it nullified their old powers and given them new.]

I do not know of any magicks that can bring back the dead or turn back the time. I've never come across anything like this in all my years of studying. [He shakes his head.] I honestly do not know. [There is a long pause where he debates whether to ask more about it or no- it's a painful subject for Noct, talking about his father. And Lunafreya...]

May I ask- how- how did they look like? Were they missing anything? Injured, perhaps?

abby anderson ( tlou pt ii )

[brux]

A | arrival — cliffs

( water logged and pissed off. that's what abby is right now. all of her gear is gone save for the quarter she'd last found and pocketed rather than placed in her bag. she weaves through equally annoyed faces. she's big and not making herself any smaller right now, searching through the stragglers for a shorter, dark haired boy with scars on his face. she's already had to chase some — thing off, some animal or something but unlike anything she's ever seen, and now she just wants to find lev and get them somewhere a little less crowded so they can get their bearings.

the crowd moves inland, a funnel toward the chalky cliffs lining the shore. abby follows them, squinting as her gaze lifts upwards, the sun just above them. they're climbing, it looks like. some kind of stairway.

as abby approaches the cliffs, she thinks: piece of cake. done way worse than this before. they're just stairs, right? she can do stairs, all she has to do is avoid looking down.

if she climbs it almost sideways, both hands on the rock face and head turned toward the cliffside, no she isn't ❤️

she must look so ridiculous, cowering against the chalky stone, pressed up against it, trying to alternate between looking up, and watching her step. her breath is laboured and she whispers under her breath every other second. )

Oh, fuck. ( a gust of sea breeze fills her nose with salty air as she takes a deep breath. ) Okay, you got this...

B | caravans — network

( these little things pack so much. she used to think her dad was making shit up when he told her how much phones could do. she'd seen some around, but most of them didn't look like they could do half of what he said.

the one in her hands now absolutely does. and it does more than he'd said, like it's an upgrade from the phones he knew. that's a weird thought to have. maybe it's from a future they never had.

she fiddles with it a while near the caravans, familiarizing herself with the device. it's not too hard to figure out, and soon enough she adds her voice (or, well, writing) to the others.

this cant be the real camelot can it. because its not real

C | banquet

( she's never seen this much food anywhere. the wlf had never run out, and everyone got what they needed, but this is — a feast, like in books and movies, where food is piled in mounds as big as her head, steaming and appetizing. there's stuff she's only ever heard of or had once before. most of the plates look medieval, and the old goblets are kind of fun. it feels like a party, like a game.

she grabs a bit of everything that's in front of her with no regard for what it is, the aromas enough to let her know: she wants to eat that. and she's right for every bite she takes. she chomps down on her food like she's a little bit feral or might not see this much food again, which isn't far from her usual truth.

there's not a lot of room to move with this many sat around and so much on the table. abby has elbowed her neighbour and kind of kept doing her thing in the hopes they'd both pretend they didn't feel it, but then she does it again.

her mouth is full but that doesn't stop her from trying to be polite. ironically. )

Shi', 'orry!

D | wildcard

( feel free to come up with your own tag or text, or PM me if you want something specific. i'll match brackets or prose too! )

b

[brux]

( oh, a friend who also hates where this is going. her arms are crossed as she watches people climb the stairs, most of them like there's nothing to it. )

God, I wish, ( she says in the biggest sigh.

she's already seen the hand that helps when a person nearly falls, but that did not reassure her in the least. she would still think she's falling. she might just have a heart attack before the hand even grabs her, honestly. and it's fucking freaky. she doesn't want a chalky hand patting her head. it's condescending.

the hand thing might not help her, but it might help this guy. )

You can't fall, though. ( she points to a spot where someone's being pulled back by the... magical hand or whatever. ) It'll stop you if you slip.

hello iggy how are you pls be my emotional rock k thnx (shakes fist at noctis)

[cess]

[ if anything, no one else having run into them yet is kind of worrisome. noctis wonders briefly, if he dreamed the encounters. maybe getting whisked away to another world on top of everything else caused him to do that.

but - no, he'd hugged both of them. they were real in his arms. he brushes the thought aside, feeling guilty for thinking they were figments of his imagination. ]

Yeah. I mean - there's nothing like that back home. Phoenix downs only work if you're still mostly alive. [ they were the only thing that could bring someone back from the brink of death - but once you were dead, and had breathed your last, they didn't work anymore. ] But if whatever we're fighting can freeze time maybe it can... pull people from different points?

[ he shrugs a little after a moment, looking away. ignis' question is as gentle as he can make it, and noctis takes a breath to steady himself, closing his eyes. ]

Luna looked how she did in Altissia, with Leviathan, before - before everything happened. Her dress was ruined and she had bruises but she was fine; she had Pryna with her. And dad... dad looked like he did the day he sent us off.

[ he had apologized, to noctis. but he keeps that to himself. ]

[creepyoldguy]

“I do. But, I literally can’t say it. How are you at charades? Or Win-Lose-or-Draw?”

He took a pencil from his jacket and drew a rough cartoony looking beetle with a “+” and a sad looking juice box, on the tablecloth.

[burstrate]

So you mean they won't be going for my throat?

[That question is immediately followed by a shit-eating grin. Prompto has never been one to pass up a good pun, and he wasn't about to start now.]

Well, you're the one with the horse know-how. If you say they aren't dangerous, that's good enough for me. It's just weird to see these guys hooked up in tack and harness instead of chocobos, y'know?

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera nods gently. It all still is a bit confusing. He’s just a part of this caravan hoping for more direction. At least if he stays with his boss, he can focus on keeping him safe, keeping them both relatively well despite the fact that he’s unnerved being in a completely different world.

The Tenth looks like he may have gone swimming or was caught in the rain, but the Tenth is usually in some kind of state (thanks Reborn-San), and if he isn’t actively in distress, Gokudera can maintain some kind of composure.]

Reborn-San is probably watching from somewhere. Who knows... he may know someone I charge and enrolled us in this to strengthen the Family! [Gokudera sounds outright excited by the prospect of proving himself. Of showing off how much of an asset and right-hand he is.]

[tsukky]

[ As much as she might DISAPPROVE of his DISAPPROVAL of her smoking, she's not going to object to some fresh air herself.

The very large and slightly feral looking striped cat with the two tails at her feet seems to have grown fed up of its spot, as it leaps up onto the carriage seat beside her. It stretches, golden eyes eyeballing the stranger before curling up next to Tsukuyo. She had sort of accepted that she was stuck with the creature at this point.

She can only guess who the hell Nero is talking to but it seems pretty obvious that it's a familiar creature of some kind. Even if she can't see anything out of the window. ]

Yours is too big to fit in the carriage? [ Perhaps it's just antisocial - but the way he mentions riding on it suggests otherwise.

She speaks in a slightly less cold tone now that the stranger doesn't seem to want to argue with her about her smoking anymore. She is being courteous enough to not blow the fumes in his direction at least. ]

he will always be there for him <3

[reigniter]

[Ignis wouldn't blame him for thinking they were some kind of illusions. They don't know what kind of people live here. Sure they are hospitable, for now, but they might have ulterior motives.]

No, phoenix down is curative. A strong one, but not with the ability to revive. Whatever it is freezing time- it has to be some kind of powerful artifact or place. [All of the Kings of Eos were strong but none of them could do such thing as freeze time.] Perhaps some anomaly occurred within the magic of this place. I suppose we will have to find out about it if we are to return home.

[He lets Noctis take his time with an explanation. It is probably a lot all of a sudden and he might've not been able to process it yet.]

I see... [Lunafreya was decidedly dead when he arrived upon her with Ravus, but he doesn't bring it up.] I was worried that they appeared as, well, creatures of the night. [Zombies, demons and other lovely bunch.] I am glad it is not the case. [He really wants to ask if he had talked to them (like TALK talk) but he can see that Noct is still rattled.]

[birdflipping]

Yeeeah, try not to kill yourself.

[Nero raises his eyebrows, turning back to Harry. Despite that, he's actually kind of impressed, though.]

You're picking this up a lot faster than me. How long have you been practising?

[burstrate]

"It's - gone? But how can it just be gone?! That's your birthright!"

Prompto had realized pretty quick that he couldn't use the armiger here, but he figured that had something to do with either proximity to Noctis, or being on some other planet. But with Noctis here, that blew one theory straight out of the water. He didn't know much about how the royal powers worked, but that wasn't good news any way you looked at it.

"Man, I don't like this! Anything that can drag you away from where the Draconian wanted you to be? That's gotta be scary-powerful."

But the big guy that owned Rent-and-Ride also said their familiars had pulled them here, which meant - what? Big power in tiny packages? Now that Prompto's getting a better look at the creature Noctis is holding onto, he's starting to realize he's seen it before, if only in paintings of the Six and in cutesy art for the faithful.

"... Noct, dude, is that a carbuncle?"

[birdflipping]

Yup. Big demon horse with a shitty personality.

[So perfect for Nero, then, given how much he likes to complain and sulk. It would be pretty convenient if his familiar got to like him enough that he could ride it, though.

He looks back over his shoulder at the cat.]

You seem to be getting along with yours, though.

cliffs

[thecacophony]

Sal follows the line of strangers leading the way up this cliff. For once it doesn't feel like an all-too-familiar march through the wastes of the Scar, as if they're some battle-shocked survivors hobbling together and doing what they can to forget the lives left behind them. No, this is just — like heading through a magic gate into some unknown place; that lingering lurch of sickness in her stomach included.

A Vagrant knows a thing or two about leaving home, however, so she adapts. The stairway etched into the cliffside doesn't mean much (eres va atali, as if it could); she's focused on a goal now, as well as finding some answers. Or, barring that, maybe finding some asshole who needs a good punch in the face.

At least she's trying. But this woman in front of her, as big and as built as Agne back home, seems to be moving along far too carefully. Sal eyes her with a frown, and that old scar slicing down her right cheek doesn't make her look any more pleasant. Fuck's sake, what's the hold up?

"You need somebody to hold your fucking hand up there?" Look, Sal's not really...great with manners but it's worth it for her to ask. She's not really in the mood to watch some woman shriek and fall to her death.

[burstrate]

Prompto visibly relaxes, loosening his grip a bit on the chocobo, who seems content to stay put for now. That was a relief, because now that he was paying attention, there were a lot of animals on the shore of the lake alongside other people dragging themselves out of the water. It was starting to look like a really weird pet convention here.

"Crazy almost doesn't cut it! One minute I'm with the guys in like the biggest Nif base, and now we're here? I'm pretty sure I didn't fall off a platform or hit my head."

As he talks, Prompto has started almost unconsciously stroking the chocobo chick's feathers, which does a lot to soothe his nerves. She's so fluffy! He wasn't sure it was worth being separated from his friends and having his camera taking a potentially-fatal dunk in the water, but if this was a consolation prize, he's taking it.

"Woah, dude - I mean, sir - I didn't know you were some kind of coeurl whisperer!" After all, they were wild animals, and that one was listening to Cor like it'd been trained.

[immortalmarshal]

Cor slowly nods in sympathy, fully understanding how bothered Ignis must be to not know where Noctis is right now. However... "You would have little luck finding him at the salad bar, I suspect," he speculates in that dry, deadpan tone reserved for his kind of humor.

Then he clears his throat and starts to carve a slice of quiche for himself. "In any case, it is likely that Prompto may find him before we do. His eyes have always been rather sharp for his experience level..."

[immortalmarshal]

It really feels like a natural thing, seeing Prompto absently petting a chocobo chick. It's like seeing Noctis fishing, or Ignis cooking - just an extension of that person as part of who they are, in Cor's mind. It help silence the paranoid voice in the bsck of his head, reassured this isn't an illusion, but the real young sharpshooter.

"Where were you last, then? Which base and what area?" That's kind of important, especially if/because the guys were planning on ultimately getting the Crystal back from the Niffs. Still, the Marshal craves enemy intel, and he'll take anything Prom could offer.

...later, maybe. Right now, he snorts ruefully as he glances down at his sulking companion. "She isn't an ordinary couerl; too small to be even the Lucian breed. I suspect she may be something akin to a Messenger - like Umbra."