avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 4

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tdm

TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 4

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⚔️️ 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

obtain a small can of magic dust from a sprite's wings

sudden repeated visions of 15 seconds of a potential future based on every choice your character could make

B ⦿ Ingredient Two: Deez Nuts

retrieving baskets full of these tiny nuts

the Bear Fir, who won't hesitate to come for you

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[but soft, a stuttering stranger appears. easily flustered, or genuinely caught unaware -- who can say? Cecelia can at least appreciate some manners, despite the awkward delivery.]

Lost in your thoughts, were you? [she sets the book on the desk, straightening up.] Pray, tell me: Were you assigned to this particular tent, or did you choose this spot by chance?

Something like that...

[ Luke paused a moment, glancing around. Oh... right, tents. They had tents they were supposed to be going into. He reached over to rub at the back of his neck, easily holding onto the thick book with one arm. ]

Um... I'm not sure?

[ He let out a sheepish noise, turning back to her. ]

If you want your privacy, I can leave.

[she has a flip remark for that, but she doesn't voice it. manners.]

See, the thing about that, as I understand it... [she glances to the communicator she'd been given, set aside in favor of a proper book.] Someone with a lot of clout in this land is expecting some collaborative work out of this effort. So being alone wouldn't really benefit either of us, would it?

[that said, she hopes she has the chance to be picky about it, rather than get saddled with a complete lummox. this fellow, awkward though his entry may be, doesn't seem completely checked out.]

Ah... right.

[ He shuffled a moment, not sure if he should say anything more. Finally, he settled down a comfortable distance away from her, glancing down at his book, before peering up at her sheepishly. ]

...sorry. I've only been here a month, and still getting used to being without my powers. It's been... easier for me to space out.

[ He keeps trying to reach for something that isn't there anymore, and he doesn't even realize he's doing it half the time. ]

[mildly:] Planeswalking is jarring enough when intended, let alone inadvertently. [her tone starts to flatten:] No one goes out of their way to expect being suddenly dropped into a foreign sea and left to the whims of fate and a few local contingencies, so you've little to apologize for if your circumstances are the same. I am in the process of adjusting just the same.

[ Luke peered up at her at that, an almost shy and sheepish smile coming to his face. ]

Thanks, then... for understanding.

[ He glanced down at his book, before setting it aside. That probably wasn't going to help him much here, and he wasn't sure why he grabbed it. Running on autopilot, he supposed. He let out a breath, trying to bring up why exactly they were there, only vaguely recalling the details. ]

So... joint meditation to perform a simple spell, right?

[gods, he's soft. it's charming, but also kind of off-putting; old roads, old, scuffed memories and such.

she draws out a sigh, and would probably air-quotes "meditation" were she in a worse mood, but she lets it go.] Allegedly. Though, perhaps not so simple in practice. Asking for synchronicity from persons estranged from various realms is a bit more than simple at the get-go, yes?

To say nothing of trust... [she folds her hands, giving him a more critical look.]

After all, it's a spell to give over control of one's body to another for a variable amount of time.

[ Luke listened intently; she seemed much more familiar with these kinds of powers, so he was going to trust her judgement on how difficult it was going to be. He shrugged after a moment. ]

Okay.

[ He said it so simply, like everything she just said didn't register, even though it had. ]

We should get to know each other first then, since we don't, and that's the main problem with trust. Would you like me to start?

Indeed... [muttered in regard to the main problem of trust. she purses her lips in dubious thought, briefly wondering of the true goal of this exercise. after all, it's awful generous to just...hand out lessons for such a specific kind of spell.

still, that trust thing? she doesn't trust a perfect stranger to share conspiracies with. and so:] ...Very well. I would prefer you begin, since you presented the invitation in the first place. [punishment for wandering into places with narry a thought.]

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. ]

[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?

[ 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.

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?

[ 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.

[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.

It is a bit of both, yes. It's... understanding the greater universe, knowing and feeling all life connected to each other, and letting it speak through you. But also, it's knowing when to take up arms, when to attack and when to show mercy.

[ He hesitated a moment, threading his fingers together. The fingers of his glove didn't look quite right, though; like what was under there didn't quite match up with his bare hand. ]

It's not an easy balance to maintain, especially if you didn't grow up as a Jedi.

I doubt it was meant to be simple. [her tone is that of a shrug as she twiddles the quill back into writing position.] Things of great value are not easily gotten, after all. But I see. So you are a bit more of the virtuous sort than the standard knight fare... [her mouth quirks.] Must make you quite insufferable to those in positions of power, enemy emperors besides.

[ Luke inclined his head slightly at her acknowledgement of him being a more virtuous person, a bit of a smile coming to his face. ]

I may be a Jedi Knight, but I'm still just a Commander in the Alliance. My... ability to be forward toward my superiors may have gotten me in trouble more than once.

[ An amused light came to his eyes at that, the faintest hint of a smirk on his face. ]

What about you?

[it takes some effort not to roll her eyes, her expression something of a cloudy mirror of his own. right. humility, sheepishness, stubbornness, idealism...this man is designed to break hearts and induce headaches, gods help him. heaven forbid a great maw tear open within the earth to wreak havoc, he'd be the first one leaping down to stop it, wouldn't he?

still. the world needs all sorts, including sorts like him.

the smile wanes as he turns topic to her.] What of me? I haven't been completely convinced to trust you yet, Sir Skywalker. So far you've told me you're a rebellious idealist who holds some level of power himself. What else would you speak to of yourself to ease suspicions?

[ Luke paused a moment, pressing his joined fingers to his mouth. His one leg shifted, like there was a heaviness in his boot, before he finally allowed his hands to drop. ]

I'm not sure what else to say, unless you want to know the boring, humble origins of a moisture farmer.

[ The eyeroll is a clear indication of that being just as boring and ridiculous as it sounds. ]

Is there something specific you want to know?

[is there? gods, she can't say the idea of moisture farming holds any interest to her at all, but she also can't say she can wholesale entrust her safety to a bright-eyed, fair-faced man of principle the way she would've when she were a girl. it'd be nice to be proven wrong for a change, but she can't bet on it, either!

instead of answer him right away, her gaze flickers down, and she writes herself a couple idle notes in the margins beside what she'd gathered. personal assessments, speculations...hopes. engh. idealism is very contagious, despite inoculating oneself with harsh truths of living.

...maybe there is something specific. she glances back up.]

How quick are you to trust people you've only just met?

[ He let out a faint laugh at that, blue eyes bright with amusement. ]

It used to be easier back home, when I could sense if there was deceit surrounding a person or not.

[ Luke paused a moment, looking down at his hands, before peering up at her again. ]

...but I have a good feeling about you. That's enough for me.

[she gives him a faintly skeptical look. being near people with near-magical empathy is rough for her, given how much she bottles up and how quickly they can unravel her, so she won't say she's sad to hear he's lacking in that, but this whole "good feeling" thing? gods, what in the world is that supposed to mean?

coolly:] Intuition? Previous experience? I won't be too offended if I somehow remind you of someone you knew before.

Well, I admit, you do remind me of my sister.

[ He grinned at that, like he just told a funny joke. ]

But in all honesty... maybe a bit of everything? If I still had my powers, I'd be able to say for certain, but here all I have is just... my experience, and my faith in the good in everyone.

[uh...huh. right. this guy hasn't been betrayed very much in his life, has he? perhaps he's young? he looks human, so he may be young. gods, there really is no polite way to ask one's species or mortality rate, is there?

she sighs a bit.] Right, then. What was it you wished to know?

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