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

Kuroko Tetsuya | Kuroko's Basketball

[punchpass]

Holy Grail

Maybe he should've realized there was something odd about this quest, but Kuroko had never been one to pass on helping people. The space loop had taken frustratingly forever to get his way out of, but his observation skills finally won in the end.

Now he was stuck in the quandary of getting to what looked like a colander grail on the other side of a raging river, only accessible by the thin vine it was tied to. Using his animal magic, Kuroko had theorized he could ask perhaps a bird or a mouse to go across the vines and cut it so he could catch it as it swung, but quickly realized birds were assholes.

So he went with the mouse he'd found, which turned out to be an extremely large and fat rat that was now sitting in his hands. He needed help, though; he was too short to reach the vine, and the trees were too slippery.

Spotting a (hopefully) taller traveller, Kuroko materialized beside them, holding up the rat slightly in his hands. "Excuse me, but I need your assistance."

The Red Spring

The trip had been uneventful, aside from having to walk part of the way because the carriages had forgotten him; they had been very apologetic. He was interested in the odd blend of medieval aesthetic and modern technology.

The springs were lovely, even if he was a bit shy about meeting other people. They allowed him to bathe Nigou who had somehow got covered in sand and he spent some time looking for his teammates.

It was later on that he happened upon the training grounds that he started seriously thinking about magic. Kuroko was concerned about his friends and the state of his world, but if what they were saying was true, this is the only way he could help.

Practicing resulted in little more than wasted effort and it was only after he asked Nigou what he should do and the dog answered that Kuroko realized what was going on.

Unfortunately now he had a little problem; his familiar had left him alone for now, and Kuroko didn't really want to call him for a goose that was refusing to let him move.

He thought he was being polite, asking the goose about his possible magic, but now the bird was just hissing at every movement he made. It made it very clear it wanted to chase him too, so Kuroko just stood in place and stared the bird down while Nigou ran off frantically to bark at someone for help.

Holy Grail

[theskyaccepts]

[Unfortunately, Tsuna can't really help in the height department, but he's very bad at saying no when asked for help (though to flip it around, he was ranked highest in that category, much to his chagrin.)]

Uh, sure. It's to help get us out of here, right?

Re: Holy Grail

[punchpass]

[He hadn't seen this kid before-and was woefully not really tall enough-but Kuroko wasn't one to judge. With everyone's magic, he was sure they could probably find a way to get it done.]

Our quest was to find a grail. There is one attached to a vine over there, but I'm not tall enough to get my friend here up on it.

[Kuroko pointed over at the area he was having trouble with, right next to the raging river. The rat seemed to squeak in answer, sniffing at the air while he was held in the teen's hands.]

[theskyaccepts]

[Right, the grail! Tsuna had become a little preoccupied with getting lost in the forest. He also looks concerned at the river, but if they're careful, hopefully it won't be a problem.

This would be a lot easier if he could use his flames. Then he could fly over.]

Well, I could try giving you a boost, or...you could give me one? Between the two of us, I think we can reach the vine at least.

[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.

[theskyaccepts]

[At that, Tsuna looks a little nervous. He's stronger than he was, but he's still not that strong. But it would be more his bad luck than anything else.]

I...I could try. It wouldn't be for very long, would it?

Holy Grail

[accurately]

Surprise, it's Midorima who turns around with a little jump. It's just Kuroko so he sighs. He's heard some people might have invisibility, so he wasn't certain, but he supposes he should just always suspect it's Kuroko when someone suddenly appears behind him on any planet.

Midorima himself is out here looking for the same thing, of course, because a grail that grants wishes sounds like it could grant him luck, and that's something he needs desperately, right now and forever.

It doesn't make his greeting to Kuroko any less snippy.

"What?"

[punchpass]

Kuroko really was doomed to be like that no matter what magical realm he was in, but he was at least grateful the magic he was learning did not involve that. Kuroko didn't really need help to disappear.

Still, he was happy to see Midorima, even if the answer was rather aloof and rude. Any sign of his friends being here was a good one. "Ah, Midorima-kun, I'm glad to see you're okay. I actually need help getting my friend here to the grail I located. Would you be able to assist?"

[accurately]

Midorima is no stranger to carrying around strange things and is surprisingly unsqueamish about it, having caught a live frog once before his team insisted that live animals were not allowed anymore. Still, it's strange to go from just noticing Kuroko to just noticing Kuroko has a rat in his hands.

"Where did you get that?"

He's not answering the question of whether or not he'd be able to assist. He's genuinely not sure yet. He hasn't had time to study, and his form of magic is going to require a lot of it, he thinks.

[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.

[accurately]

No, tall is something he can genuinely cannot study or show others how to do. It's just something he was born with.

A tolerance for letting a rat that Kuroko talked to (he supposes that answers what kind of magic Kuroko ended up with) climb on him isn't, and he looks like he's trying to decide exactly how this day has come to this. Midorima walks away quietly, as if he intends to leave at just the thought.

In reality he's just getting a branch he saw a few trees back to hold out to Kuroko and the rat.

"On the end."

[punchpass]

Kuroko did at least have enough faith in Midorima to not let his heart entirely sink as the guy just walked away from him. He was rewarded with his effort when he brought back a stick, a solution that was probably a better idea.

Seemingly unphased by the brusque attitude, Kuroko held the rat up to the branch, whispering a couple words before it scrambled on. "Thank you Midorima-kun; I hope the grail will count for us both but I'm more than willing to assist you in any way in return."

He started gingerly stepping over to where the river is, pointing to the vine a couple feet above his own head. In the meantime, he was observing Midorima. He knew his former teammate didn't always adapt to sudden changes very easily and he didn't know if Oha Asa was a thing he could access anymore.

And did he seem...older?

[accurately]

Kuroko guessed right. Any confirmation he needed would be made with Midorima's words as he lifts the rat up by the stick toward the vine. Sorry rat, he's not letting a strange animal near his fingers no matter what Kuroko thinks is acceptable now.

"Give any items or spells you find that increase luck to me as soon as possible and I'll consider us even."

As if that was even remotely an equivalent exchange. No wonder Midorima's struggling with alchemy already.

omg goose (the red spring)

[dvine]

Kise had taken his training very seriously. It wasn't something he could learn just by watching. Sure he could copy the movement of his hands, but he also had to memorize all these things that, aside from hand movements, will help him cast his magic. It was a grueling process, to say the least.

The minor illusion he conjured dropped when he heard barking and his familiar, a young-looking woman, instantly took a defensive stance behind him, floating like some menacing apparition, ready to fight. But Kise recognizes the barking and crouches down, eyes wide.

"Nigou? Is Kurokocchi here?!" Figures that he didn't spot him. He gives the pup a head pat and ruffle. "Is there something wrong? Come on, lead me to him!"

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?"

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.

[punchpass]

"I am attempting to practice my own skills. I have learned however, that birds are remarkably more difficult to communicate with than Nigou is." Kuroko didn't make any sudden movements, but he was definitely going to have to ask about the floating woman later.

Speaking of familiars, Kuroko was unsure where Amon had wandered off to. He was a hellhound, but also apparently a dog and was off investigating something interesting. It was fine, he could deal with this.

"Kise-kun, we have to draw it away from here." Wait, Kise had said light magic, right? "Are you able to possibly...create a distraction?"

[dvine]

Difficult to communicate with? Wait- Kurokocchi can speak to animals!? That's kind of freaking cool, Kise won't lie. But- it seems it doesn't work all the time. Kise himself is not moving much, maybe enough so he's a bit in front of Kuroko, in case he needs to conjure a shield to defend them from the goose lashing out.

"Uhh... I dunno. What can distract a goose?!" He's never been in a situation like this before. His familiar giggles though, but doesn't provide any help. She's too amused by the situation.

"I'm also kind of new at this, I don't know if it will work."

[punchpass]

He was picking up Nigou, not sure if the little dog was able to run faster than a goose. Kuroko really didn't want to chance it in a situation like this. "I'm assuming another goose, or something else to make it turn away."

Kuroko peeked out from behind his much larger friend, only for the goose to hiss louder, raising its wings. "Oh. I really think it hates me."

As if on queue, the bird lunged forward for Kise's kneecaps, Kuroko desperately trying to pull his friend back so they dont get assaulted.

Red Spring

[chriego]

It takes almost nothing for Nigou to get Misumi's attention, though he is immediately squatting down and petting the dog's little pointy ears and giggling to himself. So it is a little bit longer before he realizes that the dog is trying to take him somewhere. He looks up while gently tugging on Nigou's ears and sees the predicament Kuroko is in.

And a bright grin spreads across his face.

With one last pat to the doggy's head, Misumi bounds to the rescue! By which, of course, I mean he runs at the goose full-tilt, which startles it at least enough for Misumi to get between it and the boy.

"Hehehe, it's okay now~ You can go, I'll keep him distracted." Misumi's voice is airy and delighted, like he's not even remotely worried about this situation.

[punchpass]

Now the goose was hissing at both of them, and Kuroko was on edge enough that he was showing the hint of a facial expression. This guy was very....strange, and unconcerned about the situation he just stuck them all in. Nigou had crawled his way back to Kuroko's arms, who picked the pup up and petted his head in reassurance.

"I...thank you for the intended assistance, but the goose is very mad. I don't want you to risk yourself for my own sake, please." He really needed his familiar to come back, because his sudden ability to communicate with wildlife only got him into this situation.

[chriego]

Misumi has his arms out to either side, making himself look larger than he actually is, trying to keep the goose at bay. He still isn't really paying much attention to Kuroko though, oops.

"Ummm!!! I thought he'd be scared! It's okay, though, we can just run away, right??"

Because they're running out of backing up space and Misumi is starting to think maybe the goose is just a meanie...

[punchpass]

"Can you run faster than a goose?" Forgive him if his tone sounded a little bit incredulous; this guy reminded him a little of Kise when he absolutely didn't think about anything he did.

Then again, even Kise was capable of being mature. Whatever. "We should back away slowly. Please don't antagonize it further."

He was even going to try to gently tug the guy back, no matter the size difference.

[chriego]

Ah, well, that's how it's going to be then, huh? Misumi backs away easily with the tugging, though he's very adamant about keeping himself between Kuroko and the goose.

"I'm pretty sure I could run faster than it~" His tone is pretty light-hearted for the situation they're in. "But I wouldn't want it to go after you then."

But backing away isn't going to do much if the goose keeps following them. Misumi pouts at the thought... and then brightens!!

"Oh! I'll show you a new trick, then~~"

He holds his hands in front of him in the shape of a triangle and holds it out towards the goose, yelling, "TRIANGLE SHIIIIELD!" And a little light-shield in the shape of a triangle pops up in the goose's path, only just as big as the goose itself.

[punchpass]

All this does is serve to anger the goose, who lunged forward to meet the Triangle Shield head on, hissing and puffing its feathers out. Kuroko almost appreciated the kind hearted gesture of not being left behind to fend for himself, but now they were both involved and running was the only solution.

"Please run!" The tugging increased to full on latching onto Misumi's arm and pulling. He had surprising strength for someone so short, and Nigou in his arms barked for emphasis. "Inside, now!"