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.

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Louie Duck | Ducktales 2017

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

SOAKING IN YOUR ARRIVAL

[ As if getting dropped in the bay wasn't bad enough on its own. Louie's soaked down to the bone, his feathers keep hanging in front of his eyes, and he's pretty sure there are anchovies stuck in his hoodie. Do bays even have anchovies? It feels like something is swimming around in there.

But now they expect him to climb? Up a cliff? ]

Stairs? Come on! Couldn't they have at least taken the time to install a magic escalator? [ Or just a regular, mechanical one. Or an elevator! He's not picky! ]

EAT WELL

[ Louie ignores most of the festivities, heading straight to the banquet tables to have a nice meal before he gets some rest. He's hesitant at first - this looks like the sort of food old people serve you against your will - but it doesn't take him long to find something he likes.

He's got his plate full and is browsing the drinks when his eyes light up. ] They have soda?!

[ A welcome surprise! He peers down at the mysterious bubbling liquid in the fancy goblets, his eyes narrowed as he mumbles one phrase over and over. ] Cherry Pep, Cherry Pep, Cherry Pep... [ It seems that he's looking for something very particular to drink. ]

QUEST COMPLETISH: NETWORK

I could have told you guys that was a scam. I mean, sending hapless newbies into the nearest mysterious forest? Oldest trick in the book.

Network

[phoenixwiz]

I could say the same thing as well. Although I’m highly familiar with fetch quests back in my world, except it was not a scam and that I had to destroy the stuff we’re searching for since they have soul pieces attached onto them.

(Take it from someone who was both an unwitting soul jar and a soul jar destroyer and didn’t buy into the scam at all.)

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

Sounds fun!

[ Sarcasm at its finest, clearly. ]

I do NOT envy you.

[phoenixwiz]

Fun but also dangerous is what I can describe my recent adventure was like. Including one item that messed up with my head and my friends’ heads that we had a terrible fight and one of them walked out on me because of it.

Not arguing on that either.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

Yeah, now I DEFINITELY don't envy you. If anything, I'm a little terrified for you!

[phoenixwiz]

Whoa, calm down, kid.

At least I managed to survive the whole ordeal with my friends in the end. Although it did came with a cost though with a destroyed castle and many lives lost. Still, it was worth trying to stop the guy who tried to cheat death (the reason why those soul piece items came to be) and was a total twat.

So what’s your name, little talking duck kid? I’m Harry, nice to meet you. I’m originally from England, but I was in Scotland before arriving here.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

Well, all's well that ends well, I guess.

Name's Louie Duck. I know what you wanna say - I also come from a place called Duckburg, so don't comment. We have a Scotland where I come from too, though. My uncle's the most Scottish guy I know.

Re: Louie Duck | Ducktales 2017

[donovan_deegan]

Eat well

"Well you sure seem peppy," said the human in the eye smarkingly bright pink jacket. "I'd ask what exactly you are, but I suspect you'd duck the question."

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

"Oh boy," Louie mumbled, not looking the least bit amused. "As if I wasn't already freaked out enough by you... flesh people. Now you have to start making puns." He did not need a replacement Dewey. ...Or if he did, he didn't want to think about it. He grabbed the first goblet he could reach, hoping it was something palatable, and starting moving towards the dining tables.

But as much as he would have liked to avoid this conversation, he doubted it would be so easy.

[donovan_deegan]

"I would hope the food was flesh but maybe not so much for it to be people," he said with a grin. But then he ate duck sometimes, so who was to say that maybe on his world they didn't eat human. Nasty thought, but at least there were lots of people food puns he could make.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

Louie made a quiet sort of gagging sound - that should have been as good as a confirmation that he didn't eat people, either. He just wasn't quite used to human beings yet. Or at least, what people here seemed to consider human. Where he was from, "human" was just a word for anyone who was... well, a person. Someone who could walk and talk and do people stuff, whether they were a duck, dog, pig, or whatever else.

He was still giving Donovan a withering look as he sat down with his food. "Are you just gonna... do this all day? Don't you have something better to do? Like eat?"

[donovan_deegan]

"There is nothing better than puns, my boy. Not to duck the question but humour, much like fish, is food for the sole."

Soaking In Your Arrival (and in need of better icons)

[nothing_can_stop_me]

[Della is NOT thrilled. More or less because of the fish she had to spit out. She wants OUT]

No arguments. MOVE.

[And as she's climbing...]

Disgusting, horrible, freaky... and in my beak! When I find out who dropped me here...!

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ He follows her up with a small sigh of defeat. ]

You mean when we find out who dropped us here...?

[ Because they're here together, and that's definitely a comfort. And it's not like that's a secret, either - Della has witnessed Louie's anxiety firsthand. If he had ended up here without anyone he knew - without her - he'd probably be crying already. But with his mother around, this just seems par for the course. ]

[nothing_can_stop_me]

[Della calmed down enough to sigh and look back at Louie.]

Right. Us. Oh, Louie, at least we got each other.

[She's gonna give you a hug. Yeah, they're still wet, but they need it.]

We're going to find out how we got here and we're gonna make them send us back. Or ask them to bring the others with us. I mean, I prefer the former, but if we can't, might as well have the latter.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ He tries to wiggle out of her hug - mostly because ugh, wet - but he's obviously not as bothered by it as he lets on. ]

Right. I mean, we've been through way worse, right? We just gotta figure out what's causing all this nonsense.

[ And from there, it's smooth sailing! Probably. Hopefully. As far he's concerned, they already skipped straight past the "whoa!" and the "wait, what?" and went right to the "AAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" ]

soaking in;

[hopticulture]

[she hates being wet with no chance of drying off. her fur, though shorthaired, sticks matted and uncomfortable, and her sodden clothes hang heavily off her.

it's just a miserable time for Haru, and what's worse is her companion is a griping kid who doesn't wear pants. though, similarly to those odd-looking animals called 'humans,' there's enough of a difference with this duckling and the ducks she knows from her world where she can tell that it's...normal.

...anyway. she's just going to begin her ascent up the mountain. she may be small of stature, but she walks with long strides.]

Complaining is only going to make this trip up much harder.

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Honestly, Louie's just relieved to see someone who's not a horrible flesh monster. He doesn't stick too close to Haru, because who knows who can trust here... but he doesn't completely separate from her side, either. She's at least something nearing familiar. ]

Hey, I've been complaining all my life, and it hasn't failed me yet!

[ If anything, it's just been a somewhat ineffective form of stress relief. So ha. Take that, weird rabbit girl he just met.

Still, he drags himself up the cliffside anyways - you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at him, but he's used to far more strenuous activity than this. Like running for his life on a near-daily basis! ]

[hopticulture]

[with the exception of being kidnapped by the lion yakuza, Haru's life has been pretty ordinary, so she's going to assume that this is just some lazy kid and not someone who's been on wild and daring adventures.]

Well, it's going to fail you if this is a roundabout way of trying to get me to carry you.

[she only clocks in at around 3'5" which is probably taller than him but...look, she has weak noodly rabbit arms.]

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

[ Hey, he is both a lazy kid and someone who's been on wild and daring adventures! He has layers. ]

Ugh, no thanks. Huddling together will just keep us from getting dry. Besides, I met you... what, two minutes ago? I'll pass.

[ Ignoring the fact that she never offered at all. Still, she's only a conversation partner for now. He's going to take some good time to decide if he actually trusts her or not. Just like he will with more or less every single person here. ]

Re: Louie Duck | Ducktales 2017

[imaglyphwitch]

"Cherry Pep? That some kind of flavor where you're from?"

She was already knee deep in some of the stranger looking food when she spied the duck boy. Resisting the urge to go for the hug (clearly he was NOT a duck version of King, he was wearing a shirt after all) she settled for casual conversation.

"I mean, it's not that interesting a name, and has ANY soda ever really tasted like cherries?"

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

"It's the best flavor where I'm from," he corrects, staring up at her with a calculating look. "And it doesn't have to taste like cherries to be good. It has its own merits, as well as a unique flavor profile." He leans over the table again to squint at the goblets. "...Though it would be a little easier to find if I weren't so used to it being in a can."

[imaglyphwitch]

"More that a cream soda or a root beer? Doubtful. But hey, to each his own. Artificial flavors will always be a thing tastebuds will judge for themselves."

So says Luz, master of tasting many, many strange things.

"Oh, that's just criminal activity! If you don't keep it in the can it'll lose carbonation. What, are we supposed to have, flat soda? Bleh!"

[lyingthroughyourbeak]

"Let's just hope these are magic-y, carbonation goblets, then," he mumbles, squinting closely at one before finally plucking it up off of the table. He's always been particularly picky about his carbonation levels, after all. ...Though if this is the only soda he's going to get, he might have to lower his standards a little.

He takes a cautious sip. Not Cherry Pep... but not bad, either! He takes another, eying Luz with thinly veiled suspicion. "So what's your deal?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"If that's the case I'm definitely going to ask if we can buy some of our own! I haven't had a soda in SO LONG."

She tried, but apple blood was just not a good substitute for soda.

"Oh, me? I mean, I'm a regular human born in the regular human world that happened to mistakenly stumble into a portal to a demon world. There I met a witch, decided I wanted to be one myself, made tons of witchling friends and fought their version of a tyrant and lived to tell the tale."

She drank a little from a nearby cup. Ooh, limey. "Then I was brought here."