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

[littlestbaskerville]

It was a good thing he wasn't. With Lily there was a lot to unpack in so many ways.

"Oh? So it's like from fairytale books?" Lily moved a little closer to look at it. It was a strange thing to her but she was sure if Lottie was here she would have figured if it was something to avoid or not. There wasn't a lot that could kill Baskervilles but what could...was no joke.

"He can do magic things at home! I have a contract with him forever!" With an excited voice she hugged the creatures neck as it flashed it's mouth of teeth at Samatoki. "Nice to meet you, Sama..toki?" Then there is a sparkle to her eyes. "Wanna be my friend?" She asked with a new degree of joy, as she moved the brand on her face more visible.

[punchpass]

Spending all his time around people like the Generation of Miracles let Kuroko not so much as blink as Samatoki was a rude asshole towards him. Nigou whined sadly, putting his little paws up on the man's leg again.

"Well, you greeted Nigou properly for one. I also trust his opinion." He knew what tsunderes were like, though Midorima was decidedly less violent about it. Now Amon was looking for more snacks, and he was looking for them in Samatoki's hands. Kuroko grabbed up the pup, however, before the man decided differently and kicked the poor animal away. Some people just didn't like dog slobber, he guessed.

[theskyaccepts]

I just thought they were in books or something.

[At the sound of Tsuna's voice, the Griffin looks up and seems to brighten. It leaps towards Tsuna like an overly-friendly dog, knocking him to the ground.]

[bakudan_bambino]

There are a lot of creatures in books that were based off of real animals, Tenth. [A sage sort of nod accompanies his statement, and he seems much more relaxed.

Until the Tenth is knocked over.]

Boss! [He moves to push the creature off of his boss, not sure if the griffin is going to try and hurt him, but not wanting to stand about and find out.]

[deliveryhawk]

Valid point; he is far from perfect and sometimes far too sarcastic for his good. In the end, this meeting shows one thing, neither was strictly at their best in that previous meeting. Rather, it was this Gokudera or not, and that is in the past.

Takao sputters out a laugh, shaking his head as a devilish smirk turns his lips. "That about sums it up." Then Takao shrugs. "It could have been worse; people there came from worlds that were a lot more dangerous. Still, the touching thing was weird, animal ears and tails too." The other effects, he'll keep those to himself.

"Not a bad idea, like that story, Alice in Wonderland. The flowers could talk." He reaches out, closing two fingers around the flower; he waits a moment to make sure nothing else is going to happen. Then he plucks the bud and stands up; as he does, the path seems to shimmer, parts of it shifting, becoming more tangible.

"Hey..did you see that. It's like a television screen flickering and starting to come in."

[deliveryhawk]

Just a little, I think they want us to know how to call them because they don't always stay with us, they have their stuff.

[Takao laughs watching the girl, it is not a mean laugh. It is just him being very amused and enjoying her positivity. When the bunny comes, and those colors begin to swirl around her, the raven-haired point guard has seen something like that before.

Lucky for the girl, one of his close friends happens to share her magic class, it would seem at least from where Takao is standing.]

It did; just needed to know you wanted help, you know, you say you haven't found out your powers, but you look like you have light magic, you're all lit up.

[bakudan_bambino]

He's got no memory of it, so can't make a comment on it. Takao will just have to keep it to himself if that's what he wants to do, and the bomber will have no idea that there is any point of tension... or any other water under the bridge.

"What about an animal without visible ears or a tail? Like... a frog. Know anyone in that world that became like one?" That's a disgusting thought. What if they got slimy skin? Gokudera would not want to touch a normal person, let alone one with scales or slimy skin.

"Mmhm. This one's small, though. So if it won't shut up, you can just put it in your pocket." He's pretty sure that the flowers in Alice in Wonderland were large, not something that could easily be plucked like the little glitching flower they're currently facing.

"Looks different. Let's see where it goes." No hesitation. If there were anything ominous about the path, or even threatening, like a dark miasma, he'd still head right in. Out of all his boss's guardians... only the Tenth seems to be able to see obvious things like that.

[happyberry]

Eh?

...Ehhhh?!

[ His words don't register immediately. But when she glances back down at her rabbit against her shoulders, she sees the pink glow around herself, like some kind of dim pearlescent sunshine, or the soft rainbow beams that sometimes surround the moon, a subtle but sparkling light shining from within. Her eyes widen when she sees her hands glowing... but her gaze crawls up her bare arms, until she catches sight of her hair falling over her shoulder, radiating pink, shimmering, all but sparkling, and her jaw drops. The theatrics startle the rabbit, which squirms in her rose-tinted hands, but she just holds it closer as her head explodes. ]

Miwako's glowing! Glowing pink! What! What does it mean? What does it do? What do I do?! I feel like I'm in the first volume of a shoujo manga, wooow~!

[donovan_deegan]

"So how about, 'because I respect and love you, I am going to be honest with you, even though it is hard to believe or accept, magic exists. While there are some scary aspects to that, discovering it led me to talking to all sorts of new kinds of people, and I've actually made a lot of friends because I kept an open mind, and they appreciated that. Would you like to meet my new friends?"

[souls_of_roles]

"Corn's always been a great friend to me!" she said cheerfully, but then like a plug was pulled, her cheer vanished. "But he told me that he was under a curse. All those years and I never knew it. I never knew he was suffering. He just listened to me and cheered me up." She looked down at her hands. "I was able to finally help him, but I’m not pure the way I used to be. I wonder... if it was enough...." she said, looking up at the ceiling, eyes distant and sad.

[imaglyphwitch]

"That sounds pretty good! The only problem is mom doesn't even know that magic can be real. The world where I'm from, that isn't possible and no one knows how to do it. Actually, I might be the first human to be able to do magic at all. That's where I'd have to start."

She smiled. "But what you said was really good too. Thank you."

[imaglyphwitch]

"Maybe you need to talk to him about it? Also, why were you not pure enough?"

Great, you totally have Luz dragged up into your craziness.

[dvine]

"Hmm, it feels like I can do magic more easily when she's around. But yeah, it feels odd when she leaves. I- can't really explain it, really." It's as if she's amplifying his abilities but once she's gone they deflate a little. Kise, of course, has no idea how to put that into words. He's never used magic before.

Watch it with wiggles, he's naked.

"Pffft haha, well thank you! I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I'll accept the compliment graciously because I TRY my best," Kise grins and gives Takao a wink. Yep, it feels good when you get compliments. His face is flushed from both the bath and praise.

Yeah, the thought of Midorima having a bad-luck/omen familiar would be dangerous. He'd either try to get rid of him or get himself into trouble trying to nullify it. Or just never leave the bed, as Takao said. "Yeah, he says he doesn't like cats, but a lucky cat would've been good." And the guy still has the four-leaf clover necklace Kise gave him so maybe he'll be, uh, chill? For a while?

"Well maybe that someone deserved it, you don't know!" Hey, at least it will look badass. Kise will give him thumbs up while he gets reprimanded.

[littlestbaskerville]

"...Nu-uh." There, take that Gokurdera!

"Yeah?" She looked at the dog and it quickly started to run ahead of them.

[boutdatlife]

Samatoki is now just watching the young man, the mekurabe not needed for magical assistance it would seem decides to fade from view, off to live it's life till Samatoki calls for it again or it decides to harass him because it can.

"He's a damn puppy, I gave him some attention, for all ya know I could be usin' the dog to make ya relax. Don't be so damn naive brat." The thing is, the kid isn't really a brat, he has been completely polite, Samatoki is just not entirely sure what to say or do here. He doesn't exactly make it a habit of chatting up random strangers.

[boutdatlife]

Now having baggage to unpack is a thing the Yakuza can relate to; he carries his own hundred tons with him everywhere he goes.

"Somethin' like that, yeah." This place, throwing young girls like her in to fight. If it was looking to irritate the Yakuza, it certainly has succeeded; he can't look at her and not see Nemu when she was that age; the ache in his heart only adds to his irritation.

"Keep him, close kid; he looks rough enough to protect ya." That's good; at least she has the creature, though he is not entirely sure it is her familiar, and while he is not inclined to go around adopting kids, Samatoki also can not leave her here on the beach with no one. He flashes an almost feral, half crooked grin at her.

"Why the hell not.." That brand on her face draws his eyes; he cocks an eyebrow.

"Oi, who did that to ya?" He jerks his head at the mark.

[theskyaccepts]

[The griffin, for the most part, seems to be content to settle in to Tsuna's chest, almost like it could cuddle there quite happy. Tsuna isn't quite sure what to do, but the more the griffin is on him, the more he feels a connection to it. It's hard to explain but it feels innate. Almost like the connection he now has with the Vongola Ring.

The Griffin is definitely opposed to being pushed though and clacks it's beak at Gokudera in a warning.]

Hey! Don't do that, he's a friend!

Bu...Gokudera-kun, I think he likes me.

[deliveryhawk]

Takao thinks that is for the best; what good is trying to explain to this guy that they met before and did not exactly hit it off? Better to take a fresh start for what it is and see what happens.

"Yup helped a lady whose bottom half turned into a snake figure out how to walk again since she had no legs and Iris exalted turned into Kraken, tentacles and all. My best friend turned into a nine-tailed fox, had another friend sprout owl feathers. The weirdest was when Kise got dragon scales,." Yeah, Gokudera should have seen it; the snake thing was kind of cool because it was just helping and he is lucky enough to have not had any Kraken transformations himself.

"Or drop it and leave it behind." Either way, if it does something, then he is going to go for it.

There is no hesitation from the point guard either, he wants out of here, and a chance is a chance. He is logical, yes, but he is not one to balk at forging ahead to do what needs to be done. Had it felt overly ominous, maybe he would have said something, either way, he is going to continue, keeping his eyes peeled for anything else that seems out of place on his side while Gokudera does on the other.

[deliveryhawk]

[Takao is a talkative sort, but with her, it is pretty hard to get a word in edgewise, not that it's bothering him. He is just watching her sparkle and explode in joy and confusion over it while she does. He sees the rabbit squirm and winces one eye closed.]

First, we don't choke the bunny, yeah? [Then he flashes her a grin and points out toward the training grounds.]

You practice; it looks like you've got light magic, I know Kise's familiar can create illusions, and he said something about making a small shield; none of us are real good at it yet.

[Then he snickers.]

It's exactly like some weird wizard manga; I have a friend who would love it.

[deliveryhawk]

"I think I get it, kind of like when the bird disappears, I don't feel the same tingling in my veins like when he's around." If that makes sense, to Takao, it makes sense; it's like static kind of, it goes louder when the night sparrow is there.

Right! Then don't make him laugh.

"That's a lot of words for a simple thank you, Mr. Fancy." He teases, flashing a playful smile and poke of the tongue to that wink.

"I wonder if we can find one, maybe some wizard can magic one up, you think?" Even if he hates cats, something lucky has to be better than nothing. Losing that part of his daily routine and the safety blanket of his lucky items to boot is going to be hard, and Takao is worried about him, a fact that shows when for the moment, he is talking about it his brow furrows with real concern. At this point, he'd sport the rabbit ears and tail if it would help.

"What would someone do to make me need to drop a tree on them?" Though it would look badass, Kise is right. This is why Kise is a good friend, even if that thumbs up would have Takao snickering while he was yelled at.

[accurately]

[ Kise isn't as big of a nerd as Midorima or Kuroko are. Though Midorima himself isn't huge on foreign literature, he at least knows the basics. ]

King Arthur was supposed to be the greatest king of all time, the legends are just stories around him. I don't know most of the details, but the summaries of it contain battles, magic, monsters, and complicated love triangles.

[ He shakes his head. ] I doubt it's more than coincidence and accessibility.

[accurately]

It's good you know your faults.

[ He knows the snicker means Takao sees right through him, and yet he's doubling down on it. Midorima would suggest they jog up the stairs but since there's no railing, he would really rather not.

The tanuki runs ahead of them though, his big ol' balls slapping the steps in front of them... ]

[dvine]

[No, he isn't. He just knows stuff from pop culture and TV shows and movies. He knows that there's something out there but he just didn't bother with it because it never really interested him.]

Isn't that also the guy that got the magical sword out of stone? Like from those movies?

Love triangles? [Squints. That's a first.]

So, you think something or someone fucked up and we got dragged in here?

[accurately]

Yes. It's fiction.

[ It's supposed to be anyway. It's rather annoying that it apparently isn't. ]

Where did you learn to speak like that? [ He's not going to let Kise say fuck. Calling someone a bastard when you're emotionally yelling at them is fine. Takao can say fuck. Kise can't say fuck. ]

[dvine]

IS it though!?

[Getting onto the same wavelength from different directions.]

Midorimacchi, I'm 18, I could swear before this too. This situation is annoying, I'm annoyed, so I end up swearing. I try not to but it happens.

[WHY CAN'T HE SWEAR!? What is this!?]