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

[boutdatlife]

"Never know, could just be trickin' ya, point is, you can't believe everythin' some stranger tells ya, kid." Who knows with Samatoki at this point. What he does know is he wants a cigarette.

"Samatoki Aohitsugi and he's shit out of luck, I didn't take anythin' but the damn roll that rickety pile of bones tried to choke me with." The man reaches in his pocket, pulling out the pack of smokes and making a glance toward the door, looks like he intends to just walk away and head outside without much more to be said less the kid has something to say.

[boutdatlife]

Let me know, you find any good firearms or knives. I got some elemental shit, fire, water, that kinda crap. What they'd stick you with?

[Even if his magic would work well in combat, Samatoki is not going to pass up the chance to have some backup weaponry, how is he supposed to trust in magic? It's like a fairy tale.

Samatoki watches the guy, then scoffs.]

I think this is some dumb Lil' shit playin' a prank, oughta teach him a lesson 'bout bein' a little shit and trickin' people.

[donovan_deegan]

"A great way to look at it. Because by their very nature stories are a way to share and understand. To entertain and to grow ever closer."

[boutdatlife]

"Everyone can die kid, especially in places like this, don't get too relaxed." He is not sure if she is really unable to die or not but from what he has observed of the others on the beach, no one seems to have any power they had before coming to this place. Which to him would mean, no matter what, here she is vulnerable.

He misses Nemu, so deep it's a constant ache in his chest but Lily's bubbly personality is a bit of a soothing balm oddly enough for the gruff Yakuza.

His red eyes narrow, what the hell kind of parents do that to their kid and then let them be banished? If he was not already feeling a little protective over the girl, he would certainly be doing so by now.

"Listen, you and me, we're gonna keep that shit secret, tellin' people that might get ya hurt, then I'd have to bust up some idiots face. " And heaven help her parents if they ever meet this man, he'd gladly kick their asses just from that little story.

"Let's get you dried off kid and some food, c'mon." He rises up, waiting to make sure she is going to follow him.

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna nods, reaching out to pet some of the feathers on the griffin's neck. It's kind of nice to have a creature that isn't immediately trying to attack him.]

Yeah! Do you think it could help us out somehow?

I mean, we're definitely not in Namimori anymore.

[deliveryhawk]

[The confusion is definitely understandable. It is all a lot to take in and this is not even his first time in a strange world. Lucky for him, he has several people from home, who seem to be traversing the multi-verse with him. Primary among them his best friend. ]

I do, a couple of them, but we actually came from another world before this one. None of us have been home in at least several months, some over a year. Kise's a good friend of mine, he has a Villa I think he called her, she looks human but isn't, she can cast illusions and likes messing with people.

[Never mind his pink ear tips here because she totally got him the night before and he is a bit embarrassed by it.]

[deliveryhawk]

"Semantics, when that person is your best friend's boyfriend, it's the weirdest. Snake lady was pretty cool, she just need to learn how to walk." Takao had actually liked Rey, she was chill, just living her best hobo life on Lunatia. As for Gokudera's attitude, well be prickly buddy, you do you, he's just having a conversation, his bad that he wasn't literal enough.

"Well, that's something." And off after the other and the acorn he goes. Why not, flowers that say pick me, acorns that attack, really? What's next. When he catches up which is not long after Gokudera picks it up he sees those words.

Snorts an unamused sounding laugh "Corn..." Okay, he looks around then, maybe they need to find corn? Thing is, he is not seeing any other acorns or any corn in their vicinity.

[deliveryhawk]

You expect me to change now?

[He teases because Midorima should know better, Takao is going to be Takao. Same as Midorima is going to be Midorima, they just work that way.

Those balls can't be ignored and more than unbothered to Takao at least, the Tanuki seems quite proud as they flap there like too large melons. The other's yelling only makes him laugh harder, holding his stomach as they go.]

Ha-ha pfft, we could use an old tee-shirt, till we get some money?

[Because yeah, broke as broke can be here right now, which reminds Takao, he is going to have to find a job. Fun.]

[deliveryhawk]

When friendly involves tongues down throats, it's bad, trust me.

[Sure, it all worked out in the end and Takao is in a better place now, but there for a while, he and water were not friends.]

[deliveryhawk]

"I did not miss school, this place is going to make me study again." He can already tell because there is just too much he does not know here and if he is going to keep him and his friends safe.

"Hey! No fair." He wiggles, Kise's fault for poking his side, he's ticklish okay!

"I bet there is, I mean, there's magic, has to be some way to make some kind of permanent lucky item." Though if they find it, maybe just give Midorima the item before he goes and does exactly what Kise is worried about.

Then he slowly gets wide-eyed, there is definitely a little terror in his eyes. "Okay, new rule, we only go out in pairs, I do not want to become bear food, I'm too cute to die that way."

[littlestbaskerville]

"Nu-uh! I'm Baskerville, I've even been shot in the head and lived. Only things from the Abyss can kill us." She did freeze a little at the thought...cause she watched the very type of thing kill Fang in front of her. Lily missed him but she didn't want to think about it right now. It hurt.

The village was poor and Lily was the smallest and weakest, so it only added more onto her when bad things seemed to be drawn to her.

Lily tilted her head a little confused when he mentioned a secret. "A secret? So don't tell people...I can't die? Or about my mark?" She didn't argue with him, she just didn't know what she was supposed to keep to just them.

"Okay!" The mention of food was quick to get her attention. Instinctively she reached out to grab onto him as they walked. "You're really nice!"

[littlestbaskerville]

Bring it she's has worse from Vincent! At least Gokudera hadn't started off with throwing things at her. Though when he shoved her she was ready to yell at him but then stopped.

Wait...what did he see. Lily wasn't sure if she should call Bandersnatch back, so she just moved closer to Gokudera.

"What is it?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"And so long as they don't end up ending tragically, they'll be a pretty good story too!"

Luz was very aware of THOSE stories too. She did visit fanfiction sites, after all.

[dvine]

"Do we have a choice? Can our familiars teach us?" As always, Kise will try to skirt around studying and school if he can. Midorima can probably "bully" him into it, but that's something to think about later.

His fingers stop tickling him, but Kise grins playfully all the same, in the "I can do it again" manner.

"Yeah. He hasn't been all closed off because of the lack of items yet, so hopefully we can come up with something." Or not. Maybe if there's nothing to tell him the list he will think less about it and just acquire popular lucky things?

"No one goes alone anywhere outside of the city. After that jackass put up the fake quest on the board, I'm finding it hard to accept anything that comes by." The boy who called wolf situation and all.

[bakudan_bambino]

"Sounds like you came from somewhere weird. Semantics... a waste of mine and your time talking around the fucking point," he grumbles and waves a hand dismissively. Gokudera may be rude, but he's not upset, just dropping an f-bomb. "How did you teach her how to walk?" He imagines lying on his stomach and using his arms to drag himself.

"Heh... acorn." Amused by puns but not being obvious about it, Gokudera pockets the carved acorn and walks on ahead.

[happyberry]

[ Miwako notes Takao’s soft flush at the mention of the villa, but thinks nothing of it, so says nothing of it, either. She’s more distracted by his other comments, which elicit so many of her own. She’s really not overbearing — just over-excited. ]

Ehh?! Really?! This is not your first time being kidnapped by aliens?! All your friends stay together, too? That’s amazing! And scary! Are you scared? You seem so brave about it! Do you like living in outer space now? Are these worlds really different from yours? How long has it been since you’ve seen your home? That’s crazy!

[donovan_deegan]

"Even from tragedy can we learn and grow. It is one of the hardest lessons that life has to teach."

[imaglyphwitch]

"I think I can agree with that."

Lux might not have experienced a tragedy yet, but watching Eda lose herself into her owl self and being able to do nothing about it had been one of the hardest things she'd ever had to deal with. She still had nightmares about that night outside of Bellos's castle.

"I think I might still have a lot that I need to learn."

[accurately]

...Where did he go?

[ He looks a little surprised and confused, but he doesn't actually want him gone. If he's here and just temporarily on mute/invisible that's fine though. ]

[dvine]

I'm here.

[Kise says. But Midorima doesn't hear him. And Vila doesn't explain. Just smirks and shrugs and continues to play with her hair.

She definitively put him on mute and when it dawns on him, Kise just pouts and grumbles and then demands she drops the spell.]

[donovan_deegan]

"The great thing about life is that we all do."

[grylls]

I can speak to animals.

[ It's very troublesome. ]

What are your orders, Samatoki?

[ He will give whatever lesson Samatoki wants him to impart. :) ]

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz nodded, exhaling. He was right. She had some discovering to do.

"I might have to go off on my own, but maybe well see each other again someday?"

[bakudan_bambino]

I'm sure it could! Maybe it needs us to help it out in exchange? [It doesn't seem to be in any kind of trouble, but maybe it was looking for a friend and found one in Tsuna. Gokudera smiles.]

Just needed a friend? [He shrugs and looks the creature over with an impressed expression on his face. Gokudera turns his head to look out over the water and gives a small sigh.]

Want to go dry off, see if we can find whoever is in charge?

[bakudan_bambino]

It's not a rough shove. He's just trying to put her behind him so he can face whatever has been following them.

But nothing comes out from behind the tree he's facing, or the bush next to it. Instead, the leaves on the ground shift as if there's a snake under them, and he takes a small step back to avoid stepping on it. Gokudera looks around at the leaves and notices an odd webbed paw, then traces around for where it would connect to a body. But... that's just a bush.

"I'm not sure."

One leaf shifts, and there's something in the plant. It shakes, stills, and then a bubble floats out of it. Gokudera watches that for a moment before glaring at the bush. Come to think of it, that plant wasn't even there before. It's standing out right in the middle of the path!

"Don't call Bandersnatch back..." He doesn't move to approach it... honestly too scared.