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

[phoenixwiz]

“Yeah, something within those lines,” Harry smiles back, “This adventure did brought all of us here to save our worlds through whatever efforts we do here in Avalon. I agree, magic can unpredictable at times, but practice can make it less dangerous for everyone. That would be interesting to see both concepts working peacefully.”

Oh, she notices how cute Rose is, not to mention her adorable little squeaks. He is surely going to get brownie points for that alone, that he chuckles at the thought.

“I see that Rose has caught your attention, she is a Pygmy Puff by the way: my friend’s older brothers had started bredding them two years ago and his little sister had one as well,” he replies.

[imaglyphwitch]

"Gotta love the whole abduction angle. Makes it way easier than just asking. I've seen some of the people they brought here though: looks like they cast a pretty wide net. There's bound to be some naysayers in the bunch. Likely going to have to convince them in the coming weeks, or however long we're here."

Luz, being a fan of books and nerd things, was well acquainted with the tropes.

"Pygmy Puff? Ai, Que Lindo! They're so adorable! They're from your world though, right? So that's got to be your familiar."

[phoenixwiz]

Harry nods in return, he is going to anticipate some stink eyes and unpleasant murmurs from the locals at the first time, but then again, he had dealt with such stuff back in his world, still he hopes that whatever he and the others do in Avalon are of positive efforts.

“Couldn’t argue with that, I saw some of us during the journey coming to Camelot and some hails from species or worlds I never heard of before,” he adds in, “Hopefully we can let the locals see that we mean no harm to them.”

“You’re definitely right, she is my familiar,” Harry answers as he scoops Rose up with his hands and directs her towards Luz, “By the way, do you want to pet her? Don’t worry, she won’t bite you.”

[imaglyphwitch]

"I know, some of them look really cool! All anime hair and walking and talking animals and stuff! I can't wait to get to learn about everyone and what their worlds are like! Assuming they want to talk about it. You know there'll be some of them with that rough backstory that they don't want to talk about."

Even Luz had something like that. Certainly she couldn't talk about what happened to Eda anytime soon.

"I think the locals might have their own hands full, probably. No, thanks! I don't want to make Owlbert here jealous! It took some time to win over his trust!"

Owlbert hooted in reply, seemingly agreeing.

[phoenixwiz]

“Same here, I do see plenty of them as well, it will be interesting to get everyone together and see their various views in life,” he agrees with Luz, although he isn’t so sure if she is going to stomach his rough and dangerous life story when given the chance, although that is for another time.

He couldn’t blame the locals for being dragged into this mess with him and everyone else since they have never dealt with a situation like this before.

“You got an owl for a familiar?” he spots Owlbert hooting, being reminded of owls like Hedwig, “I used to have an owl before in my world. She was one of the loyalest friends I ever have.”

[imaglyphwitch]

Harry, Luz will eat up your whole story with ice cream and big eyes, you don't even know. But if you know what is good for you do NOT explain Quidditch, she will lose it.

"The first thing will be getting everyone on the same page. I mean, when I say first thing I mean the hardest. Got to make sure everyone wants to even help Avalon, after all."

If she knew anything about locals, they'd rather other people deal with the problem, but they could still cheer them on later.

"Specifically Owlbert, yeah, and he's a palisman. Eda made him herself: he's both an animal and can turn inanimate, he helps you fly and everything! He's not a pet: he's a friend."

She beamed at the Owl, then looked at Harry? "Was?"

[phoenixwiz]

Harry’s face soon turns gloomy, knowing that time he has to drop a ton of information he was hoping not to talk much often. Still, someone asked and they shall receive like Luz’s case.

“Before arriving, I had an owl, a snowy owl named Hedwig. A friend got her for me as a birthday present as I was about to attend wizard school back home. Hedwig became more of a friend than a pet or a familiar, she is the one I could talk to when there was no one else,” he sadly recounts his time with Hedwig, “But sadly, she died taking a Killing Curse during an escape in the sky and her body fell down to the forest, never to be found again.”

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz lifted a hand and put it to Harry's arm. She didn't say anything for a moment, just stared up at the teenager. She hadn't noticed it before, but Harry looked tired, impossibly tired. Behind the matter of fact façade there was pain there, a story that was locked behind him talking about this new world.

She knew that look. She remembered that sinking, quiet pain that she took and turned to determination in the end.

"I'm sorry Harry," she finally said softly. "To tell you the truth, Owlbert might not be here right now, thanks to me. The situation was different, but it was scary and painful all the same. I got lucky, you didn't. The worlds we live in can have some pretty rotten consequences."

[phoenixwiz]

By then, Rose has scurried up to the left shoulder again to nuzzle him by the cheek for sympathy. Harry also notices Luz trying her best to offer condolence for Hedwig’s loss.

“Gee, thanks miss. My world has encroached in this war and the escape Hedwig died in was among the many things that occurred during that time. It was really hard not to think on those memories all the time,” Harry tells her, “It just ended up but the memories still hurt.”

Hell, he was born during the last major war in the wizarding world that took his parents’ lives and sent his godfather to jail for something he would never do.

[imaglyphwitch]

"Miss? No, no no. I am definitely not a miss. You can call me Luz!"

Ugh, Miss. She was definitely not an mature lady. Scary.

"I think I guessed some of that when you started talking about Hedwig. It reminded me a lot of what happened to me before I came here. It was a lot of...bad stuff, mixed with some good. We made it out ok, but it could have been worse, and I haven't forgotten that."

[phoenixwiz]

“Same here, a part of me is already tired from fighting for so long, and yet I’m still here,” he sighs deeply, “It does hurt that bad things can happen to anybody, but as long as we manage to hold our ground, things will hopefully change for the better.”

The girl’s name does intrigued him bit though, “Luz, that sounds like a beautiful name.”

[imaglyphwitch]

[OOC: Finishing up these threads at least!]

"Right, yeah! Just need to work on some people, that's all. I'm sure they'll come around!"

Maybe. It didn't hurt to have hope!

"Oh, thanks! It's Spanish, it means 'light.' What does 'Harry' mean?"