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

Barbara * Genshin Impact

[shiningidol]

A. A Carriage Ride Walk

"But I don't know how to-"

Rather unceremoniously, Barbara was ejected from her carriage, phone still blaring music. While it had taken her very little time to begin browsing for music once the magic of 'AOL' was explained to her, nobody had bothered teaching her just how to use the earbuds.

Huffing slightly, she let the carriage she had been allowed in gain some distance on her before walking alongside the caravan. Humming along to the tune still leaking from her speakers, likely just as annoying for anybody that happened to be sharing the road with her as it had been her carriage-mates.

B. Taking a Dip

Barbara had never begrudged life in Monstadt. As far as she was concerned, she'd lived in the best city in Teyvat, surrounded by people who adored her and that she would go to any length to help. But there were some amenities that were simply absent in the city, whether due to environment or technological limits. The technology of this new world was amazing, of course-but so far, nothing beat the simple pleasure of the hot spring.

For the first ten minutes or so of her time in the spring, Barbara had been content to simply enjoy the cleansing warmth, the wonderful feeling on her skin a sharp contrast to the cold water she'd been exposed to upon arrival. But, eventually, curiosity and her out-going nature got the better of her, and she found herself approaching a stranger. "Are you new here, too?"

C. The Holey Grails

"There are so many..."

It reminded her of home, in a way. Entering a clearing, Barbara spotted no less than three of the 'grails' that she and many others had been sent to collect, all of them obscured or guarded in one way or another. A large bear-shaped hedge stood in front of one. The second was floating in mid-air, perhaps on an updraft, but even back home Barbara had never been one to keep a glider at-hand, let alone here in Avalon. The third was encased in a block of ice, quite odd for the environment...

And wait-wasn't that bear standing *much* further away a moment ago? Taking a big step back, Barbara didn't realize that she was about to fall into another danger-or into another adventurer.

[holytrident]

When he pulls away from her finally, Lunafreya can't help but feel her spirit falter slightly. If she was a normal girl (and not a princess or an oracle) maybe it would've even been called a pout — but since she's nothing near normal, only a slight raise of her shoulders as she takes in a breath hints to her feelings. Pulling herself from the things she would like for the things that must be done is a well-trodden path.

When Noctis offers a hand to her, however, a tiny hint of a smile curls at her lips to mirror his own. "He may," she agrees, her voice calm and measured, an outward appearance of strength that's somewhat at odds now to her bubbling emotions. "Although, I do say, I think I might've preferred some other manner of travel. Even if this looks safe enough..."

Her slender hand takes his own and she begins to wander closer to the carts. "Not a single chocobo...how peculiar, don't you think?" Luna turns her gaze away to look at them, and it's nothing like any of the royal entourages she's been forced to deal with before. No magitek soldiers prodding her along, no crowds to watch as she departs. Just a group of interesting strangers...and the boy who means the world to her.

[rustyhonesty]

[The lynx familiar can hear/smell the dog coming from further away and decides to go mind his own business somewhere, confusing Jean. He looks after the weird cat and then looks around and spots a familiar dog running towards him. He smiles at her and then notices Mikasa too and smiles even brighter.

First though, he crouches to pet Snow.]

Someone's happy about getting to swim, huh?

[mithrarin]

"Never was a child. Maybe I'd understand the need to take all of something meant for everyone if I was." This was crossing the line from amusing to a mix of ridiculous and insulting, and though Dust still smiled that expression had taken on a rather stony cast.

[divinereaper]

[ That sort of explanation only served to push Naoto's buttons. His demeanor, the way he spoke... yeah, Naoto wasn't willing to listen. So the next thing he did was gently pick up his familiar from his lap, easing the little thing onto the bed he was sitting on. Naoto just got the creature; he wasn't about to subject it to what he was going to do next.

As soon as the creature was safe, he turned back to the stranger with a glare. ]

If I stay, it's my fault? Alright. Eat some shit then!! [ And with that, Naoto's fist went flying into the stranger's face. He was pissed, and if he was going to take the fall, he might as well make the fall worth it. ]

Re: Arrival - B

[divinereaper]

[ That worked... surprisingly. He might as well keep his promise to her. Seeing that rather depressed side of her made him worry. ]

Can you tell me what Corn looks like? Aside from the fairy thing.

[mithrarin]

"General Gaius."

Dust spoke the name quickly and as flatly as he could, not wanting to betray his feelings yet. If this person was allied with the General, he'd give himself away at the name. If not, his reaction ought to show that as well. Dust watched carefully, aware that this might be the moment he had to act.

Hotsprings wild card 8D ahah...

[dvine]

Kise was never studious in his life in things that didn't interest him. It's just how things were. Basketball and few subjects were alright but anything else fell through. So when he arrived here and learned he can actually PROPERLY cast magic, he threw himself at it. His familiar, Vila, told him what he should practice and he was doing that.

In the evening, completely spent, Kise drops in by the baths. They reminded him of onsens back home and Kise was delighted to just soak in it for hours on end. He could hear the door open in front of him, but his view was obscured by his familiar. She's sitting on the edge of the springs, her whispy clothes floating around her, bunching down around her waist, leaving her topless.

Kise inherently knows she's a master illusionist and handles the wind without a problem, so she had received just a frown from him. He figured that since he's alone in here, he doesn't care what she does.

But when the door opens, she is the first thing that Takao sees- hands in her hair as if she's washing it and making a messy bun out of it, very skimpily dressed, flushed from the bath with legs still in the water. Kise's trying to see who came in but she's blocking his field of vision for now.

Re: Arrival - B

[souls_of_roles]

And she almost stalled out again. "I'm not sure. In the human world he had to borrow a form from my mind for me to be able to see him. But tall, handsome, not human, blond hair. But... his face itself and his voice... needs to be borrowed. Right! I must think of someone else when i meet him, just to be sure!" If he borrowed the same face and voice again she might just die for real.

[gundhamster]

There was a beat as Gundham listened, half expecting there to be more to the statement. When it was clear there was nothing more coming, he made a face of bewilderment he usually only saw from people trying to parse his own brand of nonsense.

"If that name is supposed to mean something to me, then I fear you are farther from wherever you were than you thought."

[mithrarin]

"Good." Dust relaxed. Not entirely, but -- well, enough. For now. "That's what I was hoping to hear. Wherever we are, I didn't want to deal with him again."

[gundhamster]

Gundham huffs, almost as if annoyed that there would be someone more frightening than him. He turns, his coat swooshing dramatically as he does.

"Perhaps you should be focused more on the threat standing before you than worrying about some pitiful mortal."

He takes a few steps up the nearby stairs before turning to look down at Dust, a smug grin on his face. "For today is the day I establish the Tanaka Empire here, and bring all beneath my glorious banner!"

As if to emphasize his point, four small hamsters scurried out of their hiding spot in his scarf to pose at various parts of Gundham's arm and shoulders, doing their best to flex and look intimidating; something that usually had the opposite effect.

[punchpass]

[Kuroko was a little sad that both of them were directionally challenged, but he wasn't going to be mean about it. He was hoping the other kid had some sort of powers to help, but pure physical strength would work too.]

Would you be willing and able to lift me? It's rather slippery over there.

[bbgun]

I have a feeling that if i did that my familiar would make some kind of comment

Is your one rude??? my one is fucking rude

[hawthrone]

Well, she's not exactly wrong. The only word he recognizes out of her mouth is the word tart. It reminds of treacle tart and how much he'd appreciate eating that right now instead of being stuck with a bird and an odd woman who tells him he had all his sweetness sucked out. Draco Malfoy was never really sweet, though. Except for his mother and, sometimes, his closest friends.

"Well, you remind me of Acromantula. Wild and appreciates lurking in dark places." He huffed. Not exactly the best comeback but he's a new, reformed boy fresh from the war. He didn't have it in him to come up with his school yard insults anymore. He watched as the hippogriff tilted his head down towards her, allowing her to touch his head. Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Just like Care of Magical Creatures all over again.

"Traitor..."

[hawthrone]

He has never heard of Callian in his entire life. Then again, Draco hasn't really gone anywhere except Wizarding World England and Wizarding World France. It wouldn't have been hard to go to the muggle versions of his world. He was actually planning on getting around to eventually after the war. But he never got around to it. But even he knows that's mostly an excuse. He didn't want to be caught unawares in the muggle world with whatever weird contraptions they come up with.

"I'm from England." He says simply. Does the Statue of Secrecy still apply here anymore? It's not like his magic works and plenty of people have seen his hippogriff but the Ministry hasn't come yet to arrest him. Who knew all he needed to escape the Ministry was to get thrown into an ocean and get stuck with a hippogriff as a companion. He almost wishes the rest of his family were here. They'd at least appreciate the place being free from the reign of Saint Potter and the Light Wizards. Along with the Daily Prophet.

It wouldn't hurt to test the waters. "Wizarding England. It's like normal England but full of magic," He then paused. "Do you even know what an England is?"

[hawthrone]

At least she knows what a magical creature is. She gives off serious Gryffindor energy and he is doing everything in his power not to just walk away from the conversation. Him and Gryffindors have never and will never mix well. But he has to remember that he isn't in Hogwarts anymore and, as a Malfoy, making connections is important.

"I don't know what world this place is but this creature comes from my world," He explained. "And just where exactly do you come from? Are you some from fairy world?"

[punchpass]

[Maybe if he knew, Kuroko would be happy he'd almost started a special forces military man, but the frustration of being forgotten far outweighed the advantages.

Nigou wiggled in his arms and barked, almost startling him again. Kuroko had a sneaking suspicion the reason he was starting to understand what Nigou was saying was because of this place, but it still was a suprise.]

Nigou says hi. They did forget me earlier, and I stopped bothering with letting them know. I was curious to see if I was not the only one.

[It's been a trip and he was starting to get a little out of breath. But like, he didn't want to admit it in front of a military man of all things.]

[punchpass]

Well, being tall didn't require any studying, but Kuroko just kept staring back at him steadily without a hint that was doing anything that could be considered wierd.

"I found it in the forest. The rat will help me get the grail as long as I catch it, but I'm not tall enough to reach the vine where it needs to go. I believe you are more than enough, though." Kuroko held up the rat further into Midorima's personal space, the creature now poking its nose at him in curiousity.

[mithrarin]

Quick as the wind, Dust whirled his sword to a forehand grip to level it at the would-be Emperor.

"Don't," he said, voice quiet but intense enough to carry. "That is the one warning I will give you. "

The runes on the Blade of Ahrah flickered with no particular pattern, like a cold firelight.

...okay, he's really not sure about the hamsters, but Dust intended to let no one establish any sort of totalitarian rule.

save him

[punchpass]

Nigou barked again like he was agreeing and shot off in Kuroko's direction. Thankfully he hadn't gone too far to find help, and the shadow was still there standing stock-still, having a staring contest with a large goose.

The dog whined, putting his paws up on Kise's leg. Neither Kuroko or the goose were budging from their spot. He did however, chance a glance up, his expression visibly brightening (by his standards) when he saw someone he recognized. "Kise-kun. I'm glad to see you. I seem to be having a problem with a goose. I don't suppose you can talk to animals?"

Holey Grails

[highsocietyknowledgepower]

"This sort of arrangement is more suited to the deeper wilds, but how they came to be must be a bit unusual," Zhongli mused, entirely oblivious to any potential dangers. "According to some legends, elemental trials such as this were placed by the adepti, in order to encourage those who ventured out into the wilderness to hone their skills and develop critical thinking. Some scholars even posit that Rex Lapis himself began the tradition as a way to encourage finding new markets -- new uses for old items, as it were. But even if all these are true, why would they be found here?"

Apparently, the task of locating these items came with history, or at least mythology lessons.

battle of the century

[dvine]

Kise follows after Nigou, as fast as he can, trying not to interrupt other students or lose the track of the dog. With him as a leader, he doesn't take a lot of time to actually spot Kuroko having a standoff with a... goose? His own expression is a mix of happiness and worry because- goose. It's staring at them.

"Uhhh- Kurokocchi?" Why are there animals here? Is this even safe? "I'm glad to see you too! Uhh... no, I can't. Apparently, I have an affinity for light magic or something." He still doesn't get it. "Are you alright?"

And thus Kise also joins in a tense staring contest with a goose. His familiar, Vila, floats right behind him, legs crossed and head cocked to the side, watching curiously.

[bbgun]

(the only other answer is that this is pure coincidence, that running into abby here is the punchline to some sort of cosmic joke at her expense. that feels like a weak explanation, but the alternative doesn't make any sense either, because the last time they met was–

she doesn't want to think about that right now. the memory of it is making her hand shake. ellie grips it into a fist and sighs. compared to the obvious tension in the straight, rigid line of abby's shoulders, she's almost slouching, loose and numb. she thinks that she could find irritation and anger if she dug deep enough, but it's been months since the beach and that awful fight that declawed her and she just. can't.)

There's still time.

(to go in the opposite direction, that is. this place is fucking huge.)

training

[chriego]

[He doesn't mean to be nosy, really! Misumi just really likes people-watching, so he is smiling brightly as Zest struggles with getting his magic to work, oops.]

Hey, hey~ Maybe you should take a break! Sometimes that helps me focus too... Oh! We can go find some triangles together~~

[His voice is airy and he obviously doesn't have a care in the world right now.]