avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There was no justice, because even though this mess was arguably Alfyn's fault, after he knocked Hope over, Alfyn pinwheeled his arms and managed to stay upright himself. The look he turned on Hope was one of pure dismay.]

Cripes, I'm sorry! Here, let me help you up.

[He hurried to offer both hands to the hapless kid and frowned at his familiar over his shoulder.]

Hey! Bad ogre eagle, be careful! Shucks, I shoulda paid more attention myself. Are you hurt?

[Hope took the help up easily, spitting out the sand as best he could before proceeding to brush himself off.]

Thanks, don’t worry about it. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything bad by it.

[His moogle, however, tried to berate the bird anyway, waving a paw at him.]

You need to be more careful, kupo! And— h-hey! Hope! Kupo!

Take it easy, little guy. It’s fine.

[He laughed at his moogles antics, his hands around the little pudgy tummy as he pulled him back before a potential fight started.]

We’re fine, sir.

[Rather than take offense, the griffin-y thing tilted its head like a confused dog at the moogle as Hope whisked him away, curious and friendly and not terribly bright. Alfyn blew out a breath.]

Phew, glad to hear it. Though if you weren't, I'd hope you'd let me know so I could do something about it. I'm an apothecary, you know? It's my job to help with things like that.

[This time, when he stuck his hand out, it was to shake.]

The name's Alfyn. Again, sorry about the tumble.

Oh, you mean like a doctor?

[Hope had only really heard the word in text books and stories. Cocoon wasn’t exactly the best place to learn alternative medicine when the fal’Cie were controlling that sort of thing. Speaking of which, he almost missed the handshake because he looked at his wrist.

He let go of the moogle to push the wrist band forward. He pursed his lips. It was frozen but the brand was still there. This was all confusing and he had yet to see a familiar face.]

Oh! Sorry, I’m Hope.

[He took the offered hand to shake. At least he didn’t have to worry about the Focus for now. He was certain they completed it but everything had become fuzzy once Fang and Vanille had become Ragnorak.]

[Hmm. Maybe he wouldn't even have registered that odd wristward look, except for all the time Alfyn spent looking after someone else with his own sort of brand. He paused, knowing how sensitive an issue it had been for his companion.

But, well. Timid hearts good apothecaries never made, and he was always too nosy for his own good. Time to inquire.]

Nice to meetcha, but... you all right there, Hope?

[He released the handshake and tapped his own wrist.]

Couldn't help but notice the way you looked at your arm there.

Oh, uh...

[Hm. How to explain. It was pretty obvious that this guy wasn’t from Cocoon or Gran Pulse. But that wariness was hard to get rid of after spending so much time recently on the run from the very nation he grew up in.

But if there was anything he learned from that journey, it was to trust himself more. Trust his instincts. The man seemed to be only curious, though.

He held his arm, his hand over his brand.]

I was hoping it would be gone, that’s all. Having this meant I had a... a mission, of sorts. I think we completed it but... it hasn’t gone away. It’s frozen, though, so it’s not active.

[Actually... he wondered. He lifted his arm and tried to pull out Alexander’s crystal. When nothing happened, he tried a simple cure spell. He frowned.]

It’s been inactivated completely by this place. I can’t use magic.

Sure you can, kupo! Just this world’s magic, kupo! Don’t you worry, kupo, I’ll help you learn!

[This was all just too much and he felt a headache coming on.]

Huh, I see.

[A beat.]

Well, I don't totally see, to tell the truth. But I see the part about having a mission and hoping it was done with. You say it's magic, but you can't use yours, huh? Wonder if something laid silence on ya...

[Because how could a place keep someone from using their magic? A weapon or a spell could manage it, sure, but always temporarily, and never on the grand scale of... a...

Did that little cait-looking thing say something about this world?]

Say, what do you mean by "this world"? What other world could there be?

[His own familiar was perhaps too baby to be helpful at this juncture. The ogre eagle just sat on his haunches and scratched his head with its hind claws.]

Edited 2020-11-12 00:35 (UTC)

It's honestly a really long story.

[So, he was right, this really was another world. He wondered if that's why the brand didn't work anymore. Not to mention he didn't quite understand what it meant for him or the others. Were they okay? What about his dad?

He tried to not let it get to him just yet. Panicking wouldn't do any good.]

Uhm, well, I'm from a place called Cocoon. Does that sound familiar to you?

You're on Avalon, kupo!

Avalon and Cocoon...

[Now frowning, Alfyn rubbed the back of his neck as he wracked his brain.]

I ain't familiar with those names. I wouldn't have given it too much thought once, but I've traveled a fair distance around the Middlesea by now. Been all sortsa places, met even more kinds of people. Think I'd remember mention of a place named Cocoon, of all things.

[He'd wonder what it was a cocoon for. Places got their names for reasons, after all. Clearbrook was situated on a clear brook, Wispermill was a quiet town full of windmills, and so Cocoon... well, who knew?]

Don't suppose either of you've heard of Orsterra, then? Hmm. Sounds like you might be right-- [This he said to the moogle.] --and this is a whole other world from what either of us know... Got to be a reason we're here, then, if so.

[The moogle and Hope looked each other and then shook their heads.]

I haven't heard of the Middlesea either. It sounds sound like it would be something on Gran Pulse either, I think... [He crossed his arms in thought.] As for why, I'm not sure.

[His moogle waved a paw up towards the top of the hill, where some people were already walking up.]

You'll get your answers there, kupo! The caravan will take you to where you'll be stayin, kupo, and everything will be explained there.

Oho! Up there, eh?

[Alfyn shaded his eyes as he looked, then put his fists on his hips and nodded.]

Guess we all ought to make our way topside soon as we can, then. I'm sure we'll dry off on the way. Thanks, uh... kupo! Did I get that right?

TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

I will take all boys, girls, Square and other shapes

\o/

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