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

Klaudia | Original Character (D&D)

[sulit]

Arrival: A

[The swim to the shore is harrowing, to say the least. Despite living on a boat for over half a year, Klaudia is not exactly a strong swimmer. She clings to the ice turtle for dear life as it cuts through the icy water, and when it deposits her on the shore, she stumbles a little more inland on shaky legs before sitting down very suddenly on the beach, her skirt pooling around her. It's only then that she has the time to look back out over the bay and gather her thoughts.]

[Thoughts which can mostly be summarized by What the heck?]

[Did she just... spontaneously fall off the boat??? The boat that she is currently scanning the horizon for, as panic builds in her chest. It couldn't have gotten that far in that amount of time, and they wouldn't just leave her. They would notice she was missing... Wouldn't they? Doubt creeps in, and she starts looking around for some vantage point where she can get a better view of the bay. That's when she notices the cliffs behind her, along with all the people making their way to the top.]

[She deflates visibly. She is tiny, barely a few inches over five feet; and that is a very long climb. She's... She's good here. For now.]

Arrival: B

[Eventually, Klaudia gets the strength to make the climb to the top of the cliffs--or finds someone to carry her. Either way, she's instructed to collect her things from the "Shit Box". She gives Archimedes the driest look that a half-drenched tiefling can muster. What kind of name is that? They could at least give it a nicer name, if they're going to dunk them in a bay and make them climb stairs for whatever all of this is.]

[She's making the grumpiest face ever as she goes over to the wardrobe, yanking the door open in a huff. The beaked face of an orange chicken stares back at her and clucks. In a rush, she startles and slams the door shut again, eyes wide and staring at the now closed door with her hand still clutching the handle. Muffled and distressed clucking can be heard from the other side of the wood.]

Peppercorn. Why-- Why is Peppercorn here? What am I supposed to do with a chicken?!

Sync or Swim (Success or Failure welcome!)

[Powerful magic? Sign her up.]

[It takes approximately zero seconds for Klaudia to hit "Open attachment" at the end of that message. The frustration she has about losing her own magic isn't going to dissipate anytime soon, but the chance to delve into new magic certainly helps matters.]

[The meditation tents also draw her interest, but she's less eager to go barrelling into someplace unfamiliar. She lingers around the tents, peering into them when she gets close enough and inspecting everything from the incense to the circle on the floor. This looks... neat. She wants to try it, but she doesn't have a partner. Nervously, she looks around to see if there's anyone else that might be showing interest. It doesn't matter to her who it is. She's not picky. Other people, though... Not everyone is eager to associate with someone with such devilish looks.]

A.

[wherethewindtakesme]

Are you all right?

[A tall young man, around six feet sees someone looking like they're in trouble. Then he notices the horns. He doesn't rescind his offer for help, but he's certainly not used to people being non-human.]

Did you come out of the lake too?

[sulit]

[She's used to seeing the way people's eyes flick up to the horns. It's fine. She doesn't care. There are more important things to worry about, and it's not an issue so long as he doesn't make it an issue.]

I'm-- [Is she fine? She looks like she's only now realizing that she should probably give herself a check-over. She gives a tug at her skirt to shift it out from under her, looks over her arms, her legs, her tail... Everything's still attached. She doesn't feel hurt, just exhausted from the swim to shore.] I'm fine. And yes, I did.

[Goodness, he's tall. She's not keen on craning her neck to look at him, and people looming over her is uncomfortable; so she shoves herself up to her feet, getting a feel for the sand beneath her boots. Still a little shaky, but she's up.]

Do you know what island this is? Or where it is?

[wherethewindtakesme]

No, I think I'm the same as you. I just got here. But if there's a bunch of people wandering in that direction, maybe they know something we don't.

[That seemed to make the most amount of sense to him. The more people gathered, the better chance that someone might know something.]

That's...going to be a bit of a climb, but I think I can manage. Do you need help?

[sulit]

[Maybe they know something we don't. That's... a fair point. She turns her head to give the cliff a contemplative look.] Or it could be the only decent path off this beach. [Which still means that it's the only real direction to be going.]

[She turns her attention back to him and his offer of help. She frowns a little, wariness creeping into her expression.]

Depends on what kind of help you're offering.

[wherethewindtakesme]

Just help up the cliff if you need it. I'm used to a bit of rocky terrain where I'm from.

[Maybe not absolute sheer cliffs, but the rocky hillsides of his homeland are a little similar. He doesn't move to approach her and waits patiently for her to decide how she'd like to proceed.]

[sulit]

[Klaudia frowns several seconds longer, but she can't pick up on any duplicity from him--not that she's ever been particularly good at reading people, but she does the best that she can.]

That's... acceptable. [Probably.]

[There's a beat of hesitation, before she remembers to ask: ] What's your name? Unless you want me calling you "hey, Guy" the whole way up there.

A just for funsies

[callmemom]

[As Klaudia looks up at the cliffs from her spot on the beach, she'll hear a very familiar voice behind her, coming from, well...the water.]

Oh my. That's quite a cliff, isn't it?

[And here's the Captain, hauling herself up onto the beach, a long, shimmering mermaid's tail just starting to dissolve into legs. Mom hums a little, contemplative, turning her attention from the cliffs to Klaudia, head tilted slightly with a curious look]

Is that why you jumped overboard?

how dare you

[sulit]

[Just as when she hit the water a few minutes before, all the air goes out of her lungs in a whoosh. Something lurches in her chest, dislodging the panic that had been building. She whips around to stare at the woman coming out of the water, a strange mixture of relief and embarrassment rushing in to fill that empty space.]

[It's only a few seconds later that the Captain's question catches up with her.]

I-- I didn't jump! [At least, she's pretty sure she didn't. She sounds partially offended, but it's a little fuzzy in her mind. She was on the deck one moment, and then she just wasn't--but that doesn't make any sense. That's not logical.]

[She's also pretty sure Azar wasn't anywhere near her, so that's one less explanation.]

I fell. I think. [She pushes herself up, getting steady on her feet before brushing the sand off the front of her skirt. Her tail swishes itself in a quick up-and-down motion to shake any sand off the back. All of this fussing is just to make it seem like she's not embarrassed.] Did you jump? You don't get to tease me if you did. That's the rule.

:>>>>>

[callmemom]

[Mom listens, quietly, observing Klaudia's rise and also moving to stand, of course making it look almost effortless, dress billowing just slightly, rippling in the breeze like the waves she just emerged from before settling. There's a smile that curls the corners of her mouth, indulgent, fond]

Oh, well. If it's the rule, then I suppose I must abide by it, seeing as I did jump off once I noticed that you were no longer on the ship.

a monster

[sulit]

[If that doesn't send her complexion tinting a darker shade of red... It's bad enough that she's still basically the newbie on the crew--or does having all those skeletons around mean she isn't the newest anymore? Are they actually a part of the crew, or just sort of... tagging along? Well, either way, she doesn't need to make it worse by falling off the boat and having the Captain come fetch her...]

Well-- Anyway, I'm here; and you're here. So... Where is Brassica? [She leans to the side, looking around the Captain and expecting to see a bright spot of blue where there isn't one.]

[callmemom]

[Mom turns to look out at the sea as well. Her eyes scan the horizon, a slight frown appearing in between her brows.]

I...am uncertain. But she wouldn't leave without us.

[Mom's lips purse slightly, and there's an expression on her face Klaudia might've only glimpsed rarely--possibly only once before, while staring down a skeleton pirate captain, trying to figure him out.

Whatever thoughts are going through Mom's head--whatever she's trying to puzzle out--she's not sharing them quite yet.]

Perhaps she simply...had to circle back for some reason.

[sulit]

[Well... She wouldn't leave without the Captain. Of that much, Klaudia would absolutely agree. So there's no reason to dispute the obvious.]

There is a lot of ice in the water here...

[Which is a little unusual. Not that it's not winter, but they're supposed to be far enough south to avoid anything like freezing temperatures. Maybe it's something like the storm that they encountered on the way to Blackbeard's Island.]

[She scans the bay with a frown.] Those turtles--It looks like they're breaking the ice up enough for people to swim through, but it could pinch her hull in a bad way if she tried to navigate it herself. [There's a chance she might be able to make it through, but that's not something Klaudia would want to see Brassica gamble on without reason.]

[Her gaze trails up to the cliffs again, her shoulders sagging a little. Ugh, they're really gonna have to... She stands a little straighter and sighs.] We could go up there-- If she's circling around the island, we might be able to spot her?

arrival b

[summonere]

[ A demon with a resemblance to a large bird has also lately been retrieved from the 'shit box'. It eyes the chicken. ]

Could always eat 'im for you, babe.

[ A man nearby looks up from where he has been stocking of his few possessions; mainly a cane and a leather bound book. ]

Griffon, I believe we should lay the ground rule now that you are not to eat anyone's companions.

You're a fuckin' spoil-sport, V.

[sulit]

[Did-- Did a bird just call her babe?]

[She turns to look at the demon and then at the man, and he'll likely get a glimpse of her wide eyes--all white sclera with no iris or pupils. And then those eyes narrow a little on the demon, her lips pressed tight.]

That sounds like a very good ground rule, if you want to keep your feathers.

[There is zero chance of her opening that door back up again while the demon bird is looking at it. She doesn't trust that some "rule" is going to stop it from snatching up her chicken.]

[summonere]

Please recall that you are now a physical creature, with physical limitations before you pick fights.

[ But V also doesn't really seem to be doing anything to reign in his own creature. He's of the opinion that Griffon needs to make his own mistakes. ]

Why d'you have to put it like that? Really takin' the wind out of my wings, buddy.

Hm. [ V does turn his head to actually pay attention to her. He inclines his head, a little deferential. ] I apologize for him. His bark is worse than his bite, as it were.

[sulit]

Obviously. Birds don't have teeth, so they can't have much of a bite in the first place. [Even ones that have strange mandible mouths made of beak parts.]

[She doesn't seem to have any ill will for the demon's owner, but she does give Griffon another wary look.] This chicken is part of my crew, do you understand? If you eat her, you had better sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life because I will find you.

[And with that, she'll turn and open the door again so she can scoop up her belongings and pick up Peppercorn. If he's interested in looking, V could probably notice the contents within the wardrobe are rather light: A ring, a bottle half-filled with some kind of liquid, a ruby, and an astrolabe about the size of her palm. Otherwise, she'll just shove those objects into her pockets to be sorted through later.]

So. He's--what did you call him? Griffon? [She glances at the demon bird again, then up at the man. Everyone here is so tall...] What do I call you?

[summonere]

That a threat? Is this chick threatenin' me?

[ V shakes his head wearily. He is... very used to how this loud mouthed bird can be, it's not even worth acknowledging. Especially considering the demon has lost all his magic. He could certainly cause some physical damage, but nothing V couldn't stop with a swift swing of his cane.

He doesn't need the cane all the time, but he is using it at the moment to make sure he picks his way across the rocky ground carefully. He returns to where they are all gathered around the 'shit box', Griffon perched on top of it still. ]

That is Griffon, and you can call me V.

[ It's not exactly his name, but neither is he in the frame of mind to do anything about that. V is a tall man, but quite gangly. With his coat unzipped, it can be seen that his chest is covered in tattoos. For whatever reason, the long leather vest he has on doesn't have another shirt underneath it... It's not practical. ]

[sulit]

[Klaudia gives Griffon a cheerful smile as a means of response to his question. It's mildly threatening; but that aside, she doesn't harangue the creature any further. Her attention is fixed on V.]

And you can call me Klaudia. It's nice to meet you.

[She has manners enough for the pleasantries, at least. Her head tilts a little as she actually takes note of him for the first time, her gaze lingering on his chest. She barely even notices the lack of a shirt.]

You have some very nice ink. Is it for something?

sync;

[monostich]

[He hasn’t seen anyone who looks quite like Klaudia before, but there’s a lot of things here in Camelot he hasn’t seen before. That’s just his life now. New things.

So maybe the horns and red skin are just... Normal. He’s not going to be rude about it!!

He notices she’s looking at the meditation tents, and he hesitates for a moment before speaking up.]

Are you interested in the synchronization magic?

[Because it looks like it...]

[sulit]

[Ah, her methods have paid off. This person will do nicely.]

[Klaudia straightens, like she wasn't just skulking about the place, her tail whipping back and forth once like a cat's might.] Yes, I am. Are you interested in it, too? I need a partner for this, but I don't have one.

[She waits expectantly for his answer. Say yes, say yes, say yes--]

[monostich]

[Yes, her heinous scheme is working...

He blinks, before nodding.]

Yeah, it's not a kind of magic I'm familiar with, and it seems like a big deal, so...

[He trails off, before brightening.]

I could partner with you?

[Sure nothing can go wrong!]

[sulit]

[He barely gets the question out before she's rushing around behind him.]

Perfect! Let's do it! [She all but shoves him into the tent in her haste, pulling the tent flaps closed after them. For privacy and all. If they have to get real personal with this, then they don't need an audience to worry about, too.]

Okay--Where do we start... [She's already moving to look at the body paint, excitably chattering to herself.] Here's the paint, and they already have the incense going, so that's good. We just need to make the markings with this, and then we can start...

[monostich]

[Wait, what--

Before Kaede can even think of protesting, he finds himself in the tent. Well. Okay. Someone's a little enthusiastic, he supposes.

He's pretty sure she's talking more to herself than him, so he stays quiet as he looks at the offerings on display in the tent. He picks up a cup and sniffs it curiously, and whatever it is smells incredibly soothing. He looks back over to Klaudia, holding the cup close to his chest.]

You mean with the dancing?

[Which is such a funny way to cast a spell, he thinks.]

[sulit]

More like, it's somatic components to a complex arcane ritual that channels the energies of the universe through your physical being in very precise patterns that allow you to harness those energies. But sure--dancing.

[He can call it that if he wants to.]

Hold still. [The command comes suddenly as she approaches with the paint, already reaching up to start creating the marks that she remembers seeing.]