avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

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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

"Yuh-huh!" No!

"Not bad, then." He huffs, looking unimpressed.

Cheeks puffed out she then sticks her tongue out at Gokudera.

"See! Bandersnatch and come back whenever I need him."

Gokudera glares at her, bristling up visibly as if he's going to yell, but then there's movement in the corner of his vision. He hears something shift about near her, and he gives her a small shove while moving to block her.

If Bandersnatch is out looking for a trail up ahead, then protecting this stupid girl is his responsibility!

"Show yourself!" He growls... and nothing happens. Something followed them into the forest.

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?"

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.

Not about to move she watched the tree line as she tried to see what Gokudera was looking at. Lily saw something move but then it was gone. It was seeming more like...some kind of magic or ability? She wasn't sure what it might be so she frowned then she saw the shake of the bush. About to call her chain back she paused when she was told.

The little bubble then earns a smile. "Is it playing?"

Gokudera seems to either ignore the bubble or not see it at all as he approaches the brush and sets his hand on a leaf. The surrounding leaves seem to ripple like the surface of water and change to scales, and then the creature appears, the bush vanishing. It's roughly the size of a horse and lifts it neck to look down at him, cocking it to the side, opening its mouth and burping another bubble.

"What the hell..." Gokudera looks at his hand, then touches the creature again, running his hand over its neck as it blinks one eye, then the other before making an odd gurgling noise.

Lily may be able to hear it say something about being hungry, but Gokudera doesn't seem to be able to understand. It's talking to the girl, and likes her better. She hasn't yelled at it.

Lily was in love with this creature. It was really cute and kinda weird to her but Lily loved weird things. As it moved she swayed with it absolutely smitten with it. Not a thought in the world of hurting it she giggled softly at it when it blew more bubbles. She soon grinned at the creature and approached it more.

"You're hungry? What kinda food so you like?" Lily asked as she bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. "My name is Lily!"

Though the creature is speaking to Lily, it's keeping it's large glassy black eyes on Gokudera. He's staring back at it, slightly unnerved as it blows a small bubble at him that bounces off his chest. He brings a hand out and touches it, but it does not pop, and rests in his palm.

"It's hard..." He's gently poking at it, curious. It's starting to glow with the impact of his finger and he's trying to figure out how it stays together.

As far as a response to the girl is concerned, the creature does not answer, not particularly talkative. It watches Gokudera, then blows another bubble for Lily. Then another. There are a bunch of un-poppable bubbles floating about the girl as the creature watches. Gokudera pulls out a stick of dynamite and pushes it against the bubble. It's absorbed in, then hidden. He frowns, wondering if it's really gone, or just a trick of light.

How could Gokudera be mad at this thing? It was silly and cute looking! Lily was certain Gokudera was just a grumpy guy by default at this point. The bubbles around her only earned another laugh as she bounced against them. That was a cool trick, she really was more certain this thing might be a friendly chain. Unpoppable bubbles would be an amazing trick to have.

"It really likes using bubbles, huh?"

He's not mad anymore! It is strange and interesting, and he's puzzled, pinching at the bubble and grabbing the fuse of the dynamite he'd stuck inside. Then, he's grabbing his lighter and lighting the fuse. He tosses it away and takes a few steps closer to Lily as it drifts away much slower than he wants. He can see the fuse burn off behind the bubble, see it sparkling inside, and then braces himself for the quick explosion. The bubble expands, but there's no noise. Gokudera still watches it as his familiar takes one of Lily's bubbles and bounces it on the tip of its nose. It mentions something to her about juggling.

And then the bubble pops with a much louder and violent explosion than if the stick had gone off normally. The Ogopogo does not even notice. It has much more important things to focus on... like juggling and playing with a little girl.

Meanwhile, Gokudera is inspired to make a bubble bomb. He takes one of those juggling bubbles and curls his hand to make a small, curved shield of light. It happens, but it wobbles and seems to have no form once he stops. Then, it just falls and scatters into light until it's invisible.

Lily continued to giggle as she played with the bubbles provided by her new friend. She started to watch it juggle and clapped her hands before she attempted to juggle too. This was really cool. It was a lot more friendly than some of the chains she had experienced before.

"Wow! How do you keep them from popping?" The loud pop did get her attention as she looked at Gokudera with a frown. "Hey! Don't hurt it!"

“I’m not hurting anything!” Gokudera says, alarmed as the next bubble he tries to make just crumbles away.

The creature nudges Lily’s arm and opens its mouth, dropping a bunch of bubbles against her. They act more like plastic balls, because the creature wants to make sure this child stays safe!

"Good!" Lily stuck her tongue out at Gokudera.

The creature only earns more laughter as she played with bubbles. It was so cool and really nice. "What kind of things do you like to eat?"

"They're very resilient..." Gokudera says as he keeps prodding at one of those bubbles.

The creature opens its mouth, and inside is a fish, flapping about. If Lily blinks, it's suddenly a duck, then a sandwich, then a cupcake. Honestly, it will change through so many things and all she has to do is blink for it to reset to something different. There seems to be a theme of things that can be found in the water, though, and that includes litter and debris.

"Anything?" The boy asks as he looks over.

That was a even more cool! Lily blinked fast to see everything it liked before she bounced up and down. Those bright blue eyes look to Gokudera. She wanted to make sure the creature got a good meal.

"It likes lots of foods!"

"It does?" He blinks and oh yeah, it's still changing. Larry is having a blast with them, it seems.

"It does. Did you want to feed it?"

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

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