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:
• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. This is the first one, ignore this note today!
• If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities.
• For the first month only, there will not be a quest board. Starting in December, quests will be posted on the 1st of each month for current players. After that point, quests may be used as TDM prompts in addition to the presented TDM prompts. A link will be provided as a bonus prompt option at the end of the post.
• The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM. 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.

Comments

[creepyoldguy]

“Where I’m from, breathers don’t do much in the way of magic. When they do, it’s symbols or summoning and stuff.”

He shrugged. “They’re just rocks.”

Riou Mason Busujima 🎤 Hypnosis Mic

[grylls]

A. Caravan
[ Riou has taken it upon himself to walk next to the caravan. The exercise outdoors is a necessity for a good many reasons (in no particular order): He can familiarize himself with the environment and stop any time he wants to look at something without disrupting anyone else. He gets to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Exercise-- it's not easy to keep in his level of shape, and definitely not by sitting in a carriage all day.

It also allows him freedom to talk to anyone in any of the carriages as he jogs between them. Which is good, because his familiar appears to be nocturnal... which he can't complain about. Protection while he sleeps is something he worries about a lot as a survivalist. Regardless, don't be surprised if a curious man in camo is peeking into your carriage, particularly if your familiar is out. He's trying to learn everyone's familiars so there are no misunderstandings when he's trying to find dinner later... even if he doesn't necessarily say anything, so it may seem a little odd to have him peeking his face in. ]

B. The Red Spring
[ After what is frankly a long walk, Riou needs a bath and natural springs are more than a relief for him. He's definitely not.. used to being around other people though, since he tends to live by himself, alone in the wilderness of Yokohama. Not many people visit when you live in a tent. In this case, it means that he's skinny dipping with his clothing folded militantly neatly next to the water's edge (but far enough that it's not going to accidentally fall in), his dog tags neatly on top of them.

He does let out a soft groan as he sinks into the water, just his eyes above water level. He's used to physical training, but he's never had something feel so good on his muscles after a long day's run before. ]

C. A Quest Completeish
[ Riou had gone through the whole trial of attempting to find the noodle strainer and was, without a doubt, disgruntled. While his world has some very strange things, like Hypnosis Microphones and processed foods, it doesn't have magic. He at least has heard of King Arthur before (who hasn't) so he's given himself a new mission after all of this has ended: Interrogate the scam artists who planted these strainers to location the real location of King Arthur and if he's real or not.

Riou is a bit too intense, however, so if you're coming to find them to get your money's worth... you may find them tied to a chair in a dark shack with only one lightbulb swinging overhead and the windows covered, Riou sitting in the dark just waiting for the man to get unnerved before he comes to talk to him again. He's definitely gone overboard. ]

D. Whatever
[ Want something else? Hmu with whatever prompt except the Welcome Feast ones. Unless explicitly invited by friends, Riou will typically try to stay outdoors and focus on completing tasks or finding things to build a survival camp, so it's unlikely he'll be hanging out for the party. Want to chat first? tartetatin or taylotjelly#4556 on discord. ]

[bakudan_bambino]

Doesn't he usually pop up when things start to get really messy? This is just a sort of trip... [Honestly Gokudera would expect that maybe Reborn partnered with whoever is in charge and turned this into some kind of training exercise. Maybe everyone around them is part of other families?]

That guy I was talking to didn't seem to be part of the Mafia... [Which is beyond irritating. How else would they find out who is in charge? Should he fight someone, or just call out whoever it is on the network? Gokudera pulls out his phone.]

training grounds

[bbgun]

By not dropping their arm the moment they've fired.

(she's lifting her arms up to show him, as if she's got a bow in both her hands. squares off her chin, looks down the imaginary sight, draws her arm back smooth and slow.)

You gotta push the bow toward the target the whole time you're firing or the arrows dip off when you take a shot. It's a pretty common mistake. (she used to do it all the time; there was nobody around to correct her, and it took ages to iron out, so. you can have this one for free, baptiste.)

A. caravan

[punchpass]

[Kuroko had been, typically, once again forgotten by the carriages and endeavored to keep up beside them. It wasn't too bad at first because he'd gone through hellish training for basketball, but his stamina was nothing to sneeze at.

At least he didn't seem to be alone out here, though it was a bit odd to see someone dressed in full army fatigues. Amon had wandered off somewhere, so now he just held Nigou in his arms as he pushed himself along.]

Excuse me...did they forget about you too?

[There had to be a reason this guy was just looking into the carriages.]

network

[bbgun]

(it's the first message that ellie sees on the network and it makes her squint, but then– shrug a shoulder, and type out a reply:)

i dont fully understand the sentiment but at the same time

yeah, actually

[reigniter]

There is nothing wrong with puns. A play with words, he's allowed, as a relaxation. And also to annoy Noct (he's trying not to appear old...). But, indeed, if Noct is somewhere in the crowd, Ignis will not have a hard time spotting him.

Ignis pauses and frowns, "...odd. It has been a long battle, indeed, but I was in the middle of it before I ended up here..." He got knocked out and woke up when he got dropped in the lake. Not very pleasant. And he's not sure whether to feel relieved that things ended well (from the sound of it) or the fact that Cor is talking about future events.

[hopticulture]

[It's honestly a relief to see him, now that her surprise has worn away. Between the strange human animals, and the even stranger-looking animals that are otherwise familiar, there would be a very good chance of Haru feeling overwhelmingly alone.

Louis is familiar. And someone she cares about. It's good to see him.

But...that dog?]

I...can see the four legs. [She squints with uncertainty at the dog, attention driven away from the horse. It's a bit distressing? In an existential way.] Yeah, I'm just as new as you, I think.

If my sopping wet clothes didn't make that obvious enough

[She's not sopping wet, she's just damp and exaggerating.]

[hopticulture]

[This...sounds like a bad idea. But Haru is honestly not trying to be difficult, just reasonable.]

I hate to say it, but it's a bit too high for me to climb, and I'm still useless with my magic. [In fact, she's still no clue how to use it.

She holds her palm out, a small hovering glowing light beginning to form about the size of her palm which, considering her size, isn't very big. But it sure is bright.]

This is all I can do.

[hopticulture]

[Feeling new eyes on it, the Kesaran-Pasaran opens one small eye at first, then both. It stares at Juno for what amounts to a second before it lets out a small squeak and retreats behind Haru's ear.

Ah...it itches...Haru's ear twitches. She seems amused, mostly by Juno's rapidly wagging tail.]

Isn't it? But it tickles. [She scratches just below her ear, glancing at Juno's companion again and...

regretting it. She shudders a bit at the sight of a bone sticking out of its mouth.]

Yours is um. It looks like you?

[SORRY SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY it looks like a dog-adjacent animal!! so!!]

[mithrarin]

[Dust's refusal to make eye contact comes in handy once again.]

That's... pretty impressive, actually. [It doesn't need to be big when it has such an effect.] Do... can wasps be blinded? If we can keep them away, I think I can get it down instead.

[hopticulture]

[She cups her hand over the light, making it disappear between her hands.]

I...actually, don't know. [If Legosi were here he'd probably know.] Maybe it could confuse them at least?

[If only Haru had figured out she can use her magic to make protecting barriers too. Alas...]

It's worth a shot.

[mithrarin]

[If only a lot of things. She isn't a nimbat, and even if she were, Dust doesn't have the Dust Storm to rely on any more. No augmenting balls of light for him.]

At the very least, the wasps will think of me as the threat and not you.

[hopticulture]

That really doesn't make me feel much better... [Ugh, she hates feeling burdensome. And there's always going to be that part of her that feels insulted when she feels like it's being suggested that she's weak and helpless.

Not that he is, she's just full of self-loathing and depersonalization.]

I think I'm able to direct light towards the hive. Just let me know when you're ready.

Re: Arrival - B

[souls_of_roles]

At the name Corn, she snapped out of whatever it was. And gave a bright smile. "Thank you! I wonder if his father is here too! And other fairies!" and she was back to lala land.

[mithrarin]

[Dust would prefer himself to be the target in any circumstance. That's just how he is.]

All right. Let's see here.

[Dust grits his teeth, shuts his eyes (not that anyone can tell), and does his best to reach for the power he shouldn't have and does, instead of the one he should and doesn't. His clothing slowly ripples, as if caught from below by a breeze.]

Okay. I'm ready.

[bbgun]

(oh, fuck–

the realisation of who she's just addressed jolts through ellie like a bolt of lightning, her arms slowly lowering to her sides. her left hand- the one missing two of its fingers- casually drifts behind her back.

honestly it's laughable that she didn't consider that abby might have been able to invade this entire experience. the two of them seem to be able to find each other without issue, like they're stuck in the same kind of fucked up gravity well. ellie thought that walking away from santa barbara meant that she was out, and apparently, that was naive of her.

but her first reaction after the shock dissipates enough for her to feel anything else isn't anger, oddly enough. ellie just feels tired, and slow. her skin itches, and aches at her joints. she doesn't want to do this, not again, and because she has no idea of what to say in response, she simply squints in concentration, and makes one of the cones nearer abby fly at her out of nowhere, and hit her uselessly in the ankle.

take that.

actually, no. she does know what to say.)

Did you fucking follow me here?

Caravan Ride

[greedyvixen]

[You know what's actually the craziest thing here in Rin's opinion? Someone was able to take away HER own magic!! Unbelievable!! How dare anyone even try that?! They'd better give her some kind of amazing local magic because if she'll get something useless, well, she'd have some words to whoever's responsible about this!!

Rin has no idea how that quote goes and she's ignoring that part but then... There's one word, that's always a great way to get her attention. And as annoyed and frustrated and whatever else she is about so many things in this situation? Rin's not showing any of that, not right now, instead she just looks all prim and proper, even friendly with a little smile on her face.]

Why not?

[disasdeer]

Louis got dragged to the shore after being dropped in the water rather rudely. He wasn't ready to be pushed into water, and he can't swim. Drenched and feeling quite a bit like an actual drowned rat he stood on the shore, watching as people and whatever creature popped up near them started to make their way up the steps. He hadn't met his, yet. Whatever it is, of course. Maybe it wasn't too concerned about his almost drowning.

Just as he said it - the white wolf with red ears appeared at his side. Just as if it knew that he was thinking an ill thought about him. It just barely introduced himself when he heard someone speak up.

Something about anime. And then - something about basketball. He blinks. His eyes start staring straight forward then they drift up... and up, to look at the taller man directly.

"Why basketball of all things?" he had to ask.

network :)

[bbgun]

wow what part clued you in on it not being real

the phones the magic the familiars... all of the food that appears out of nowhere

(ellie can hardly talk, she's arguing with strangers online while generously helping herself to the aforementioned banquet. even if this is all some kind of weird dream she's getting her fill before it ends thanks!)

network

[bbgun]

(oh, what a relieving message to find on the AOL.)

I think it doesn't matter

I've tried giving mine the slip a couple times but she keeps popping back up anyway AND she doesn't seem to care that i don't like her very much. Assuming that she knows that?? I think she can read my mind, fuck

Who is your familiar?

[disasdeer]

[ A strong handshake is important. Louis is careful to make sure that he returns the firm grip and handshake before moving his hand to his side and settling into his seat. Humans are all - well, still a bit weird to him. They're not that different from himself or anyone at home, he's found. But their faces and body language aren't as easy for him to read and predict. He knows that it means he could be just as hard for himself to be understood or read, so each movement is purposeful. He offers a small smile and nods. ]

As well as you can imagine, I think.

[ He only takes a single bite of one of his vegetables before he continues the conversation. ]

How about you, Jack? I think everyone still has that lingering state of shock and surprise hanging over them.

[brux]

thanks for the helpful contribution

Alucard | Castlevania

[cryptsleeper]

Lost, and lost, and lost again

Well. Isn't that interesting?

[There is a lot going on that would qualify for the word interesting. The world Alucard has found himself in, but for here and now, the loop that the Brocéliande has chucked him into is the focus of the word.

So he stops at a particularly tall tree whose foliage seems to hint just a little towards the autumn, and looks up.]

Solving these kinds of things can vary too much. Hm.

[So he stands, eyes trained upwards as he contemplates the precise way to deal with the matter.]

And Grail Again
[The fog here is thicker than it ought to be. Or maybe it isn't, Alucard doesn't know these woods like he knows some of Wallachia's forests. What he does know is that the weather is too warm and there's no source of moisture to create fog through any natural means. Unnatural fog, in his experience, is rarely a pleasant omen. Indeed, usually it's foreshadowing for something nasty and/or dramatic.

So he could be forgiven for seeing the few will-o-wisps glinting up ahead and narrowing his eyes. He could also be forgiven for holding up a hand when he hears something behind him.]

I wouldn't go ahead if I were you. Lights like that usually lead people astray.

[Never mind this Grail business.]

Wildcard
As you like.

[theskyaccepts]

He does, but I don't know if I want things to get messier so he'll show up.

There are a lot of people here...

[A lot of strange people at that. But he wouldn't want an incident to happen. Especially since right now, he's not sure if he can do anything.

Plus he feels like Reborn might have said something by now, if he were here. Unless this was like when they first arrived in the future.]

If he wasn't...then maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the mafia.

[He'd continue on that thought but switches gears when he sees Gokudera's phone.]

Oh! You got one of those to?