TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 4

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ 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 chilly 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. It's paralyzingly cold for a few seconds before you're approached by the Lady of the Lake beneath the water's surface. She puts a vial of a vibrant, glowing red Everwarm* potion to your character's lips. The icy water doesn't feel so icy once consumed and you'll be able to move your limbs enough to swim to shore on your own. She can't stick around to explain, she's got to get this to all the new arrivals! Many of which you'll see plopping in around you. If you can't swim, a handful of helpful ice turtles will scoop you up from beneath and drop you off at the shore. It's a fast process, as they no longer have to collect possessions and pets from drowning in the waters, so they're only needing to go around hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. If anyone with Animal Magic asks the turtles, they will give the full spiel, but very slowly, and they like to get off topic and gossip about other turtles you've never heard of. 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, a pair of earbuds, and a winter cloak** and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of 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. For the month of February: there are complimentary chocolates placed on the pillows that make you feel warm and fuzzy when you eat them, all the rooms have been temporarily redecorated after hearing about Valentine's Day after an announcement about an upcoming Valentine's concert to be held by the off-worlders. They wanted to celebrate love too, and help the newcomers feel welcome! Unfortunately, this means that the two-person bedrooms only have one bed this month... maybe you can get a roll-away? 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. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! 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. As the snows give way to rain and the cold persists across Avalon, it may seem as if some of the local businesses are suddenly short-staffed. A favorite spot might have shorter hours, longer wait times. Whatever it is, it seems that there are fewer Avalonians as the days go on. It is not long before there are signs posted outside local businesses and every clinic, there is an illness striking the populace and adventurers seem to be immune. While the healers can cure this malady, they are short on supplies and some of them are not easy to obtain. All are urged to take up a task and gather these ingredients. Anyone who does obtain one or more of the required ingredients will be given a Fairy-blessed Tincture of Wellbeing from one of the faeries who stayed behind after the tournament. It is said to bring healing no matter where you are when you sprinkle it on the ground in front of you. (Note: The tincture will teleport the nearest healing mage to your location. This information is not included with the tincture... surprise!) A ⦿ Ingredient One: A Can of Sprite Sprites can be found in and around Avalon, and thankfully so. The first task is to obtain a small can of magic dust from a sprite's wings. Now an adventurer may think to capture and take this by force, but be wary: sprites always travel in packs and will be so inclined to curse any would-be attackers dance till they drop, literally. Sprites are mischievous sorts with a wry sense of humor and can be quite fond a flower which grows near the Red Springs called the Cinnabar Paper Bush. Bring them a bouquet and beg for their cooperation, but be cautious of breathing in the flower's pollen-- the sprites will not warn your character that it's a potent ingredient in probability spells, so breathing it in may cause sudden repeated visions of 15 seconds of a potential future based on every choice your character could make in a particular situation. Getting out of the pollen's effects takes a full day of going through visions of parallel possibilities if there's no one to help you, and the sprites will be long gone by then. You'll need another adventurer to use their magic to get you out of this or prevent the pollen from spreading... good luck. B ⦿ Ingredient Two: Deez Nuts Within the Brocéliande there grows a certain tree. Even in winter, this tree produces tiny star shaped nuts that when ground into a powder are a key ingredient in many healing tinctures. However, the nuts are coveted by the wildlife for they taste quite sweet when eaten straight from the tree. Adventurers are tasked with entering the woods and retrieving baskets full of these tiny nuts. A warning was given to not go unarmed, those animals can be very protective of their food supply and they are rumored to be coveted by the Bear Fir, who won't hesitate to come for you. A warning to the wise: do not eat them yourself. They can be quite tempting. A tiny call will induce the desire to devour all of them, burrowing deep within your conscious. Not only would an adventurer fail their task but they would fall gravely ill for a period of two days. With these obstacles in mind, it may be best to team up and go at this task together to make sure everyone comes out alive and well. C ⦿ Ingredient Three: Wait, isn't that a Pokémon? The hills to the south-east of the Red Spring are home to the elusive Hill Trolls, who never leave their hills, but like to engage with any traveler who does come through. Most try to avoid them as they are extremely rude in every way. However, for this particular remedy, there is special bluegrass known as poliwag grass, so named because the seer who discovered this unique grass had seen the creatures it is named for in an alternate world and found them endearing. The catch? Only the Hill Trolls know now wherein the hills the small patches of this grass can be found. Adventurers are tasked with entering the hills, engaging the Trolls, and requesting a guide to the grass. Avalonians will advise doing anything the troll asks of you, it’s the only way to appease them and get the prize. Characters will be set about various household and yard chores by the Hill Trolls, who will lead them to believe that this grass will take several days journey to reach and they simply can not leave their home and yard in such a state when on a long trip like that. Make sure to complete all your tasks, though, try not to be too angry when once their yard and home are spotless the Hill Troll produces a satchel of poliwag grass straight from their cupboard. They didn’t say you had to go on the trip with them and they will need to replenish their supply after, so they're not apologizing for anything. A video is sent to everyone's devices, a strong magic spell making certain that it opens. Morganna's face appears. Morganna, after all, is to be listened to when she speaks. She seems to be looking at her nails as the recording starts, not looking at her captive audience.

”"As infamous as Arthur and Merlin are, there are many magics they are unfamiliar with. They live in the realm of basic magics, the ones you all have touched and trifled with. But there are skills you will need in the future that require something a little stronger. Now if you came to me seeking spells, I would ask a fair price, dears... but it is my universe you are all saving too, so I will offer you a taste." She finally looks directly into the screen. Despite that it's just a recording, it looks as if she's looking directly into your soul. She sees you even without you responding. Her lips curl up in a little smile, friendly and yet mischievious. "Magic is stronger when more than one person performs it. Where you would be able to toss fire, you could create a fire tornado or rip the earth until it spits the fires of hell up as lava. To perform this kind of magic, you must be entirely in sync with your partners. Of one mind, of one movement. Open the attachment and it will place a memory of how to perform Synchronic Magic with a partner into your mind. It will still take practice, of course. Baby steps."

Magic-infused technology is a hell of a thing-- those who listen after the video ends and open up the attachment will find themselves rapidly flooded with what amounts to an instructional video and a visual sample of witches moving exactly in sync. After a little finger painting on each other's face and collar bones and some deep meditation while performing the spell, the caster of the spell will have complete control over the movements of the person the spell is cast upon. For the duration of the spell, the person who the spell was cast upon will mentally reside in the caster's head outside of their body. Their body will do anything the caster's does. For this particular version of the spell to work, it requires the consent of the person it's being cast upon, though there are other forms of the spell that do not that are not. With that knowledge, get practicing. A ⦿ We Succeed Together When a goddess gives instructions to learn something, you learn it, and so some of the locals have set up meditation tents at one of Camelot City's parks. The tents are filled with incense, steam, and have a spell cast on them to provide relaxing sounds-- babbling brook, yoga music, rain on the ocean, a crackling fireplace, the cries of your enemies, the relaxing sound of change falling from your favorite plinko machine... It will respond to your emotions and find the sound that's most relaxing to you to help you clear your mind. If you trust the person you're with, the spell will go smoothly and you'll be able to perform the much simpler practice spell provided in the tent: a shadow dance. Follow the dance steps around the circle on the floor of the tent; shadows will begin dancing along the walls of the tent outside of their light source. Your shadows will be able to separate from your feet and travel without you once the dance is completed. It will return after completing whatever task you need from it. If you need some help developing your trust in the other person, try playing a game of twenty questions or partaking in some of the sparkling ginger shots in front of you-- they've got a heated kick to them that's sure to warm you up and make you fire out a secret to the person you're sharing the tent with. B ⦿ We Fail Apart If you aren't perfectly in sync with your partner to cast Synchronic Magic, all kinds of things can go wrong. People who do not trust each other may end up accidentally sealing the tents shut and trapping themselves inside until they tell each other a secret they've told no one else, thus forcing them to trust each other. People believe the exact opposite at their core could end up temporarily body swapping with their partner until they wipe off the body paint and break the spell. And of course, even if you're completely on the same page and the person controlling both bodies has two left feet, a mistake in the shadow dance could cause the shadows to enter your eyes, turning both of your vision to complete darkness until you've been in sunlight for about 15 minutes straight. I hope you weren't practicing at night. C ⦿ Loss and Gain After performing the Synchronic Magic, magicians of all kinds are going to feel a little strange. It's a magic outside of their field of expertise used to perform further magics, after all, and they've shared their essence with another person to perform it. There's a chance that characters are going to feel very alone after being separated from the synchronic magic. Alone, tired, and wanting to feel connected again even if you're normally the lone wolf type. Synchronic magic makes you feel connected to others in a way that's hard to do otherwise, and without it it leaves a sense of loss and disconnect. It's not a side-effect that was discussed ahead of time, but the citizens of Camelot have prepared for it for anyone who wishes to stick around after their spellcasting. After the magic is done, at the center of the tented area, everyone is invited to gather around a huge, prismatic bonfire taking place in the center of the park that the tents had been set up in. The bonfire is filled with flames of all colors, like a prism reflecting light and warmth, and acts as a beacon for casters' shadows to find their owners and reconnect with them. It also is enchanted to encourage affectionate feelings. This may inspire people to be more... touch-friendly than normal, wanting to hug and hold onto or simple be shoulder-to-shoulder with the people around them. These feelings can easily be fought even if they're present, but fulfilling them will help to eliminate the sense of loss from the synchronic spell ending. At the end of the night, little rainbow fireflies will begin to fly away from the flames, having been hatched within them, and fly off into the night as the flames turn to embers, and then to charcoal. It is said that if you catch a rainbow firefly, you can make a wish on it, and when let go they will take those wishes to the heavens with them. Some wishes may actually be granted, so if your character has a wish, submit it here. 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. • 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. • If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. (This month, please check updated method of inventory collection at the Rent-a-Ride and the "February Special" rooms at the Red Spring.) • The Shadow Dance Ritual is a form of advanced dark magic; this means that yes, after significant practice, a dark magic user may be able to do this on their own with only their own shadow. Even if your character isn't a dark mage, they can do a ritual to perform out-of-discipline magic. More information on rituals and how to unlock them will come in the future! • Please comment with wishes regardless of new/current member status if you want to participate! :) • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ. *This Everwarm does not count toward your potion collection for those who wish to take up potion brewing. You must obtain Everwarm from the Elphame Trader's to count. **Jackets come in a variety of neutral colors, enchanted with a fit-adjustment spell that will adjust to your character's size.

Comments

[thepattern]

[ Wizards and sorcerers traveling between worlds? Corwin's first assumption is that these accounts were really tales of his relations, the royal blood of Amber, traversing through Shadow and using their superior knowledge and power to position themselves into seats of power as wise sages-- as they are wont to do.

Lord knows, he did the same thing in the true Avalon, so many years ago. ]

It really isn't, is it? Still, having at least a theoretical concept of different realities gives you an upper hand compared to many of those who find themselves here. I take it you're no stranger to magic, either?

[ Given the casual way she speaks of "wizards and sorcerers." ]

ovelia atkascha 🕊 final fantasy tactics

[ofnovalue]

[ i - arrival ]

[ Ovelia sputtered and coughed for what felt like a full minute once the turtle had brought her to the shore. All that she had read, thought, and dreamt of what the passage of the dead would be like had not at all prepared her for what had actually happened. The plunge into the icy lake, the beautiful woman who had warmed her blood with some magick, the turtle... It was all so bizarre, so unlike anything she could have imagined. The shock of it had kept her so stunned as to simply move with the moments, but...

Once on the shore, once her breath was clear... She could only let out an agonized cry into the air, clutching her arms around herself, at her chest... heaving with sobs but no tears seemed to be able to form. She was soaked to her very bones, dress and cape clinging to her...

And what's more, if one looked, they could see a slowly disappearing bloodstain on the front of said dress, but seemed to be flowing into nothingness like ink on wet paper, soon to be gone entirely. ]

[ ii - caravan ]

[ Once within the warmth of the caravan, Ovelia doesn't quite relax, but it does seem the uncertain anxious energy she'd been carrying with her since ascending the cliff lessened enough for her to simply sit, hugging her knees to herself. She's already tucked the dagger she'd retrieved from the box inside of the cloak she'd been provided, and her gaze seemed fixated on the scenery outside the carriage.

Time passes, and she eventually turns to the other person. She manages to speak, though her voice is somewhat strained, and soft... ]

If tis not rude of me to ask... what say you to this scenario? Do you believe what has been said, thus far?

[ iii - the red spring ]

[ Even in her addled mind, still reeling from the reality that was progressing around her, Ovelia could not help but think the room she'd been assigned at the inn was just... overwhelming and silly. The strange fae technology fascinated her, but not enough for her to be distracted by it. The decorations seemed gauche, perhaps even charming in their own way, but just made her head hurt to be surrounded by for too long. She didn't even get a chance to meet whoever it was she'd be rooming with before she decided to head off to the spring she'd been told about.

What she needed, more than anything else, was a chance to just gather her thoughts, and relax her body. She felt absolutely sore from the tension she'd been retaining since arriving. Her body was heavy, and she felt like her heart was skipping every other few beats, causing her to feel dizzy and just... She really hoped the spring could help.

Dipping herself in, soaking in the apparently healing water, she cast her gaze above. The sky was painted in the colors of evening, the sun setting just out of sight but still casting its majesty of reds and violets into the heavens. It gave her something to focus on, for the moment, to try and smooth out the chaos in her heart...

She had not, in fact, noticed she was no longer alone in the spring. Or even hadn't been alone at all. ]

[ wildcard ]

[ Got an idea that doesn't quite fit up with the above? Hit me up and shoot ur shot! I'm down with anything, so lemme have it, and if you feel like you need to discuss it first, we can do that, too! Just as a note, she likely would not participate in the quest or learning the control spell. She still needs time to adjust before she jumps into that kind of thing. Anything else is golden! ]

[recommendations]

Maybe so, but I'll never have the level of finesse or control over it as you do with your jacks.
Don't discount yourself so easily, Jiro-san!
You really are amazing!

[ You wanna know why it was so easy for the boys to con Momo into making a whole set of cheerleader outfits for the sports festival? Because she's already high key cheering on her friends 24/7/365. ]

I'm not sure, honestly.
Presumably we'll have to work to train them and build up the level of strength and control we're used to.
We are starting from square one, after all.

[sighsheavily]

[she offers a thin-lipped, grim smile to that.] Indeed not. Magic is a healthy facet of my homeland, and many others besides -- again, well-read. [oops. whew.]

I'm told members of this estranged little...well, it's not a community, but, you know. [she shrugs slightly.] I'm told many are stripped of powers and the like upon waking here. Is that actually true?

[thepattern]

[ If her smile is grim, then his nod is even more so. ]

Not only the people, but their belongings, too. Any enchantment placed on the items we came with has been nullified. A magic sword? Is now just a sword.

[ Not that Grayswandir's enchantments were of any use anywhere outside of Tir-na Nog'th. Corwin's more upset that none of his trumps are working. But then, if the rest of the multiverse truly is frozen in time, then that explains their ineffectiveness. ]

Uraraka Ochako | My Hero Academia

[floatsaway]

i. Arrival

A. [Well, this is certainly a shock that Ochako was not really all that prepared for. Plunged into frigid depths that she was no where near before, seeing a woman in the water and no sign of her friend and mentor, it's...a bit much, to say the least. Of course there's a tiny bit of struggle at first on her part, Ochako has no idea what's going on, but at the very least the woman seems to be helping more than hindering. The potion is consumed (though not at all eagerly, and with quite a bit of hesitation at first), and Ochako swims to the surface where she coughs and gags, releasing the water from her lungs and wringing out her hair and clothes.

Not that...her Hero Costume has much space to gave way to do that - the tight shirt and pants combo now clinging uncomfortably to her skin, and the sickening squelch of her boots with each step. Ugh... Ochako sits in the sand, sighing, and removes them to dump out the water.]

What in the world is happeni--EEEEEYAHHH!! [She jolts falling over sideways because when she turned her head there was just...just a wolf right there beside her - white as the full moon, and deep, yellow eyes that twinkled like two stars. How did...when--what?] He...Hello there...


B. [Well, apparently she has a dog...wolf...wolfdog(??) now, because the canine is intent on following her around, and in all honesty, Ochako is delighted to have it after the initial shock. As she's given some basic information, and finds some of her belongs (thank god there's a change of clothes in that wardrobe, though her U.A. school uniform is...not particularly ideal, but better than her Hero Suit to travel in. It's also dry.

Finding a private nook to change, she'll do so quickly and board the carriages with her familiar, plugging into the network and sending out the first message, because...there's definitely a lot of extremely concerning information she was given. Her world is...frozen in time? What the heck?! What about her friends? Her teachers? Her aprents? Are they safe? Ochako's lip worries between her teeth, and her familiar lays its head in her lap with a soft whine, licking her arm gently. Good woofer.]

un: Uravity
Hello. Uravity checking in... Froppy, do you copy?
Anyone from U.A. or who is here as well, please respond.

All others - is there a means of getting information? I have many questions about...all of this.


C. [...Hm. This is not ideal.

Rooming with someone isn't necessarily an issue, but it's uh...quite awkward indeed, given the...decor. Ochako can only hope and pray these rooms aren't actually intended to be co-ed or anything like that...b-because she will happily sleep on the floor with her wolf familiar, no questions asked. The big, fluffy canine - who Ochako has been struggling to come up with a name for - makes for one hell of a good snuggle buddy.

Regardless, Ochako will mostly be at the Training Grounds anyway, trying to...wrangle the idea that she doesn't have her quirk anymore and has to rely on...magic, apparently. It's a strange and forgein concept, though not completely out there. I mean, after all that's happened, she can definitely believe in the concept, as rational and scientific as she might be. Ochako is still a teenager, after all, and she reads and watches magical girl anime - it's her favorite genre.

Still, her magic doesn't seem to want to show itself, so instead she focuses mainly on meditation and what she knows...martial arts. Tai Chi is especially good for this, and Ochako moves slowly but with expert precision and fluidity that's almost graceful, elegant...like water. This is one of her favorite forms that she learned with Gunhead, and it really helps take her mind off all the swirling thoughts and emotions that are racing.

Breathe...step, turn. Breathe, step...shift. One, two...three...]

ii. Medical Emagicy

B. [Never one to skimp on helping people in need, Ochako was quick to offer her services. She may not have her quirk, and maybe heroes aren't as common or well known in this place, but doing heroic acts just comes naturally. If she can help people who are ill and suffering...then she most certainly will. Tasked with retrieving a handful of (to her sheer delight) star-shaped nuts, Ochako gathers up a wicker basket and is given a bo staff and a dagger to defend herself with.

As she walks along, with her familiar heeling at her side, tail wagging, she turns to her now companion and tilts her head to one side.]

I wonder what sort of illness it is... It sound pretty serious, so...I hope everyone will be alright...


C. [Honestly? This isn't much different from what some heroes are tasked to do back home, so Ochako's really not too upset by it. She'd prefer not to be criticized with every step she takes raking leaves, or scrubbing floors, or god forbid moving things around to dust, but it's....fine. It's fine!! She thankfully has a deep enough wellspring of patience, though it's running low as time progresses in the presence of their heinous hill trolls.

They certainly get their names for a reason.

She remains upbeat and polite however, though her smile is tight by the end of the day, and she's tired and worn down and...hungry. Definitely hungry. Not a single break, nothing offered in the ways of refreshments or food, and...really, what was she expecting? They're trolls. Ochako sighs, holds a hand to her rumbling stomach, and shakes her head.]

Mmh...faster I finish, faster I can leave... [Her gut gives a painful twist, and she groans.] I wonder if anywhere sells mochi...

iii.

A. [The initial delivery of Morganna's message was a bit odd, uncomfortable even, but the message itself isn't lost on Ochako. She's still not fully comprehending the idea of magic entirely, but if this sort of thing is really supposed to strengthen ties with others, and boost their own innate magic given to them by this world...then so be it. She'll cooperate. Whatever she can do to help, because it's one step closer to solving whatever mess is going on, and getting back home. Fixing things, helping those in need - that's the duty of a hero, right? Ochako won't stop being a hero just because she's in some new world or whatever.

A-And...without her quirk...

Jolting a bit as she's broken from her musing by her companion sititng by her (so much for relaxation), the young teen clears her throat and smiles a bit sheepishly.]

A-All right, um, so...w-we just dance, right? I know how, a little bit, um. E-Even if this is...not a dance I'm familiar with... [Ochako only really know the moves Mina showed her for the Cultural Festival, as well as a few basic forms. She can follow along well enough, but there's definitely going to be some trial and error. What did they say about trust?] Ehehe...m-maybe we should try that game they were talking about? T-To loosen up a bit? It could help!!


C. [Sitting alone by the bonfire, Ochako has her arms curled around her legs, chin resting on her knees as she lets her eyes watch the beautiful colors of the bonfire spiral and spint through the air as the air fills with the crackle and pop of burning. It'd be nicer if she didn't feel so weirdly...lonely. It's not like it was when she first got here, either. This is way worse - like she's desperate to hold onto something...someone, and her eyes blink back little tears as her first thoughts go to her parents. Her mama and papa who she...worries about, terribly. Her friends, who aren't here, still trapped in time back home.

Not even her familiar can fully comfort her, though it certainly does try. Cuddling up against Ochako's back, letting the girl rest against its flank by the rippling flames...it stays by her, but it's not quite enough.

Sighing, Ochako looks up to the sky and blinks as she sees fireflies flitting about, shimmering and glowing brightly. She was expecting to see the stars - stargazing always seemed to calm her down - and reaches out until one lands in her palm, still blinking.]

So pretty... [Is she supposed to make a wish now?]

[sighsheavily]

Dreadful. [that's the damn truth. but...she's going to take comfort knowing she isn't the only one stripped of her strongest utilities. petty comfort, but y'know. it does level some of the playing field in a way...while making it grossly mismatched in another.

after all, now she's just...a simple woman. no titles, no spells, no contingencies to rely on... naked to threats she's still yet to discover.

it's been a long time since she felt this endangered, and she doesn't like it a bit.

her hand goes to the cover of a leather-bound journal on the desk. her journal and field notes -- the only possession that crudely-named "shit box" had for her to claim. not even the wanderer's staff was waiting for her...]

That would mean there's little to offer in exchange for such hospitality, wouldn't it? And yet, despite the wretched arrival, I find many go out of their way to accommodate. How can that be? [and why? what's she expected to do?]

We Fail Apart

[whatsamada]

[Here Ken hoped the body paint would wash itself off at some point. Yes, he was bothered by it but if it was for the sake teammate? He'll go with it. As he gave a small sigh, he wondered how much longer this was going to last.]

I suppose but how long do you think we're suppose to be in here?

[Not that he wasn't having fun, he just felt awkward with so much paint on his face!]

[faithfulson]

Okay.

[ He took a deep breath, for a moment looking like he was debating where to start. ]

My name is Luke Skywalker. Back home, I'm one of the last Jedi Knights, who served as guardians of peace before they were eradicated by the Empire. I've been working with the Rebel Alliance for the last four years to overthrow the Emperor and restore the Republic.

[ That was... probably a lot, something he realized as soon as he finished speaking. He hunched his shoulders, giving her a sheepish look, like he was silently asking her not to freak out. ]

[thepattern]

[ Corwin raises an arm to gesture around them at the meditation tent, with its pleasing sounds and relaxing air. ]

We're meant to learn their magic, to build up our skills as adventurers in the name of King Arthur. So that, in helping him, we can save our homes. If we are to be their heroes, wouldn't you think that the locals would be accommodating?

gareth 🐺 fate

[beaumains]

[ i - the red spring ]

[ Honestly, it was a lot to get used to. While she felt better having all of her gear, again, keeping her lance and armor tucked away in a corner of the room, she still felt like she was reeling. Another Camelot, another Arthur. She felt dizzy enough keeping up with all the different versions of her uncle back in Chaldea, but now she had to deal with one that was independent of even all that? And part of her felt like this wasn't even the same realm of Avalon that existed in her own world, either. It was just all so strange.

But a more immediate problem was presenting itself with the inn room. One that had Gareth's cheeks going as pink as the decorations, standing rigid and stammering just slightly. ]

I-It's fine! As a knight, it is my duty to provide service to the people, s-so I can just sleep on the floor! I'm used to it, so it's fine, r-right?

[ Chivalry was on the line. ]

[ ii - ingredient three: wait, isn't that a pokémon? ]

[ Honestly, when she arrived in her full armor and carrying her lance, she had sort of hoped she'd case enough an intimidating image to the hill trolls that they'd be a little more cooperative. But being only five feet tall, in the face of a troll, did her negative favors and basically made her look more like a teenager cosplaying a knight than what her actual title suggested. Plus it seemed they had little respect for a knightly title that didn't apply to their own world.

BUT, but, Gareth was a knight of Chivalry, so she aimed for a diplomatic approach, and that's when she wound up in an all too familiar place... the kitchen. Scrubbing dishes. How ironic. ]

Ah, this does bring back memories, though...

[ She hummed, looking out the window, which just got an excellent view of the dip into the valley below the hill. ]

I basically started as a kitchen boy, back in Camelot. I didn't like the idea of my lineage putting my foot in the door, so I just disguised myself.

[ It had been hard work... but she supposed nostalgia made her enjoy it a little more. ]

[ iii - we succeed together ]

[ Magecraft had always been one of Gareth's weakest points. She never could get the hang of it, and often relief on artifacts created by those with well more skill to make use of it. So to say she was a little intimidated by the whole process of learning the spell was something of an understatement. She did see the genuine use in a spell that allowed you to borrow the body of a consenting person, particularly if they had certain strengths or talents you lacked but needed in that moment. She could already imagine the benefits of borrowing Agravain's tactical skills, or Gawain's swordsmanship. Or Mordred's sheer raw power...

But she was all nerves, sitting at her end of the tent, legs crossed and hands planted so firmly on her knees they were leaving an indention in her tights. It was all a bit much, after all! ]

W-we should... probably build trust first. That's what we were told, r-right?

[ She really didn't want to screw this up, least of all for the other person. That would definitely be un-knightly. ]

[ wildcard ]

[ Got an idea that doesn't quite fit up with the above? Hit me up and shoot ur shot! I'm down with anything, so lemme have it, and if you feel like you need to discuss it first, we can do that, too! ]

[sighsheavily]

[as he starts, Cecelia slides a journal in front of her, pulling a quill out of its bindings and begins to write in swift, small shorthand. her brow furrows here and there -- Jedi?? how is that spelled? ah, and an empire, always the breeding grounds for conflict, that never changes...

despite his sheepish admission, Cecelia offers a clinical sound as a reply, tallying up some of her notes. she goes point-by-point:] Let me respond with what I wrote, and you confirm if I received the gist? A former knight of a felled order, currently in opposition to those what felled it in the first place. You're seeking to change the hands of power to your favored source? Or sources -- "republic" and all that.

[she quirks an eyebrow, looking up at him.] Did I miss anything?

[sighsheavily]

Hm. [is that the gist? she folds her arms, sitting back and looking askance in thought.

a beat.] ...I see. Indentured labor. Well, I suppose that makes some bit of sense, doesn't it? [with a bit of a scoff:] Save our homes, indeed. From what, may I ask? [is there something going on with her home realm that she doesn't know?? she's a bit too arrogant to believe that much.]

I-B

[whatsamada]

UN: Koromaru

That depends. What kind of information are you looking for?

[As much as Ken wanted to help, there was only so much he could do. Maybe if he explained the basic that would be more than enough.]

[faithfulson]

[ He smiled encouragingly. ]

That's right. The Republic was the government established before the Empire; the chancellor had declared the Jedi traitors, had them killed, and had the Empire voted in to replace the Republic, declaring himself Emperor in the process.

[ He paused, shrugging slightly. ]

That's the... general idea of what happened. The specifics are harder; the Empire had a tendency to write it's own history.

[thepattern]

From... Whatever magical mayhem they're saying has got the rest of the worlds frozen in time, I suppose. [ He waves a hand in a vague gesture, leaning back in his chair, posture entirely too relaxed for someone discussing a multiversal calamity. ]

Speaking personally, I only just finished saving all of reality from one disaster. I'm not exactly eager to throw myself full tilt into solving the next one.

[ Can a guy catch a break? Please? ]

[floatsaway]

Ochako's wish would be the health and safety of her friends and family. If this can translate into perhaps...more resilience against attack, or a ward of some kind, I am down.

[sighsheavily]

Mm. [scritch scritch scratch scrawl.

a beat.] ...Well, that's all good and fine as setting goes, but it doesn't really speak much to you beyond that, now does it? [she'll give him another pointed look, her head tilted down still at her writing before straightening back up to explain.]

What I mean to say is, you've given me a basis to understand that you have opinions about a particular man and his political maneuverings, told me what your ambition is, but it doesn't say much beyond that. I've read countless stories of dishonored knights striking paths to vengeance or vindication or whatever other vice or virtue you may come up with. [he'll point the quill at him with a little gesture, like she's dotting a letter on him.]

What of yours?

[sighsheavily]

[she quirks an eyebrow at that, filing that one away for later inspection.]

...And...have you seen this calamity in progress? Has the source been pinpointed? Or is it as you said -- hearsay.

[thepattern]

[ A dejected shrug. ] Hard to get an eyewitness account when those of us who would have had the means to travel between worlds have been, as you said, "stripped of our powers and the like."

[ The use of the first person is intentional, in this case. ]

[sighsheavily]

[flatly:] Convenient, that. [her brow knits as she thinks on this, idly drumming her fingers on the cover of the journal before she retracts them, folding her arms.]

I'll admit, Corwin of Amber, that I'm of the mind that the burden of proof lay within the hands of those who make these claims. Barring that...I can only imagine what other reasons could be behind the scope of this venture.

I will say many a country would be delighted to have willing and eager magical adepts to follow their whims.

Re: Wishes

[melonlord]

Toph wants to know how to use elemental magic to sense the elements. (Because being able to tell where air was not would be pretty handy.)

[How did she catch the firefly? Mostly luck, but she's going to be proud of it.]

[faithfulson]

[ Anyone else might have been offended by her blunt assessment, but Luke's smile just turned a little sad. ]

A Jedi doesn't seek vengeance, though... I admit, when I was first learning, I... tried. I had been led to believe my father had been killed with the rest of the Jedi, and...

[ He paused a moment, fiddling with the fingers of his gloved hand. ]

Well, I learned the path to vengeance just leads to misery the hard way.

[sighsheavily]

[how very storybook. she offers a beat of reflective quiet for that one, as is only fair; she'd get too caught up in grilling him if she didn't pace herself.

but grill she must:] So you're more of a philosopher than a warrior? Or do you mean to find a way to marry the two roles along your way.

ii

[morganknight]

Tell me about it. [Morgan doesn't break from his sweeping as he rounds up dirt and dust into a neat pile, no matter how far under a table or a counter it might lurk.] When I was growing up, we did chores like this every day to teach us discipline and self-respect. And it worked, too. To this day, I'd put money on not a single student being unwilling to get their hands dirty, no matter their circumstances.