TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 5

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ 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 slightly chilled 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 still chilly, but not enough that you can't manage on your own. The Lady of the Lake is swimming around under the water, but seems to be focusing on coordinating a band of chia manatees to help rescue any wayward new arrivals. Chia manatees are a special Avalonian manatee that is green in color and has what appears to be a patches of grass or other short plantlife growing on its back. While some are fully green, others sport small flower blossoms that haven't yet grown in or various types of mushrooms. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. Those with animal magic may get their info from the manatees, though may notice that they're really overly friendly and have zero concept of personal boundaries. Everyone may notice they have no concept of personal space, as they will happily run right into someone's belly for a snoot squishing. 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. *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of earbuds 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. 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. The Isle of Avalon is abuzz with excitement for the upcoming Spring Equinox (though some of the more posh citizens will insist it's the Vernal Equinox, tut tut). Unlike the very specific rituals of the Winter Solstice that require much preparation, the Spring is welcomed throughout the month through a variety of small rituals to help the world along as it renews itself, growing new plants and allowing nature to make new life. A ⦿ The Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies Throughout February, the Frost Fairies were running amok and keeping things chilly, even awarding those who gave them treats last month. These fairies create ice crystals on contact and can be spotted by the beautiful ice crystal patterns that form in their trail. They cause frost bite if you physically touch them, so capture isn't recommended. They seem to be sticking around a little too long this month, as they're normally supposed to leave at the end of February. No one seems alarmed, as it seems that this happens from time to time. It's easy enough to deal with-- and so, people throughout town are being asked to perform a ritual called the Lesser Banishing of Frost Fairies. It's perfectly safe, and lets these invisible little creatures be sent on their way until the next winter. The first step: create bait. Fill a planter with dusty miller and silver sage, with a night-blooming flower at the center. The silvery-white leaves pique the curiosity of the Frost Fairies because they look snowy, yet when they see the flower bloom, they know it cannot be. The plants won't be damaged at all in the ritual, so you'll get a moon garden out of it, which can be incidentally draw adorable little moon rabbit kits in to play inside your home while the moon is out. They're friendly, though they do tend to enjoy pack-sized snuggles-- you may find yourself stuck with no fewer than 15 rabbits attempting to climb on you for attention and need someone's help to pull them off. You may need to get them under control before you continue with the ritual. Once you've assembled your miniature moon garden, you'll need to find a stranger to perform the ritual. You need to bring a new energy into your home in order to let the Frost Fairies know that it's time to meet something new. Take hands with the new person and dance in circles around the miniature moon garden. The plants will start to glow and the Frost Fairies will become visible-- short, fat, all-white penguin with flamingo-length legs and icicle crowns. They will immediately challenge you and your summoning partner to a duel! Though, you can pick what kind of challenge it is as their culture dictates. They're pretty overconfident, just remember not to pick something that involves touching them unless you want to end up needing a healer. B ⦿ The Language of Flowers Once the Frost Fairies are properly banished, flowers are starting to crop up all around Camelot, the Broceliande, the fields in between, and those who come back to the White Cliffs after arrival will even find the Cliff Beast in a pleasant mood from all the lovely little flowers hanging off of his clifftop. (No one's quite sure how a cliff seems happy, but that's the sense everyone gets.) Wherever you may be, there are flowers starting to crop up. Normally, this would be when people would start gathering decorations to cover the buildings and make flower altars, but a lot of the wild flowers normally accessible... well... It looks like a brood of dragons hatched a little early and, upon seeing all the flowers start to crop up, decided that these flowers are the treasures that they want to hoard. The baby dragons didn't fly too far down from their mountain, but once one of them flew past the Lands of Rot and found the fields of flowers, it got its siblings. Now there are a handful of baby dragons claiming different areas as their hoard and making it impossible to get around without being attacked by an admittedly cute fire-breathing menace. No one wants the baby dragons slain, but the baby dragons need to be brought back to their mother's cave in the Ash Mountains. The safest way is through the half-dead area between the Dusklight Woods and the Lands of Rot. The dragons will attack anyone who comes into their area but seem to be friendly toward anyone wearing a flower crown, as they seem to accept them as a part of their hoard if the flowers send the right message. Use the language of flowers to communicate with the dragons and try to get them to follow you by wearing a flower crown that matches one you offer to the dragon. A flower crown that says sympathy and sadness might not be as effective as something that says virtue and bravery. Just be careful not to woo them the wrong impression with something that says eternal love and devotion, or you might have a different kind of dragon problem... Regardless, since the dragons are guarding the flowers you need to make the crowns out of, you'll need to find a way to get past their attacks to gather flowers to begin with to find the flowers you want to make your crown with. Flower crowns need at least two types of flowers to communicate with the dragons, so it's recommended you work together with others to try to gather as many flowers as you can to find the flowers you need. Thankfully, since dragons are sacred, most of the Dusklight Woods creatures will leave you alone, so it's best to hug that side of the mixed path. You and whoever you're working with only have to worry about fighting alongside the baby dragons to fight off the Land of Rot creatures that hang around the edge: Skeleton warriors that can only be scattered but not killed, Fogueria (a lion made of fire that likes to play with its food in sadistic ways), and rattlesnakes. Once you're at the foot of the Ash Mountains, the baby dragons will fly back up to their cave on their own. With the baby dragons returned to their nest, you can head home, and the townsfolk can start decorating for the Spring Equinox. C ⦿ Spiritual Cleansing The frost is gone, the flowers are free, and rabbits are running around town like they own the place. All of the physical and symbolic spring equinox preparations are made, now it's time to look within. As the season of renewal and rebirth, a huge part of that is personal reflection and growth. As such, outdoor meditation and yoga flash parties are all the rage right now. Get caught it one and you and anyone around you will be stuck in a barrier until you complete at least 5 yoga poses and hold them for 30 seconds each. Some of them are a little challenging.. thankfully, no one is going to stop you from getting help holding them from someone else who's stuck with you. A plague of smoothie hockers has also cropped up around town, which means portable carts offering different magical smoothies is going around selling their fruity and flowery spring flavors for a refreshing boost of your spirit. No, really boost it. The magical effects are in small text underneath the flavors, so they may be easy to miss. Hibiscus-Berry: Vanity Spirit (person may become temporarily obsessed with appearance, finding cute clothes, getting their hair and nails done, needing to be their ideal of attractive) Strawberry-Rose: Romantic Spirit (flirtiness, desire to be romantic with someone) Jasmine-Peach: Friendship Spirit (go out of your way to make new friends, make grand friendship gestures to people you've already befriended or have known for five minutes and want to befriend) Lavender-Mulberry: Distrusting Spirit (paranoid, may start fights because they think someone is out to get them) Butterfly Pea-Lemon Tea: Meditative Spirit (fall asleep easily, peaceful/relaxed about alarming things, sudden penchant for Big Thoughts about the universe) Dandelion-Apple-Banana: Surivival Spirit (sudden desire to do everything yourself, whether that's hunting/gathering food, getting really into DIY projects like making your own soap or building your own chicken hutch because you're going to get your own eggs, or really wanting to live outside for a while) The effects only last for an hour or two, so it's unlikely any real damage can be done (hopefully) but it'll certainly give you a new outlook on life! Spring is in the air, the Equinox is coming, and prep is underway. But all work and no play can get a little boring, right? Avalonians have come together and set up a few activities for Adventurers. While all of these activities can be completed and enjoyed without using magic, participants will be encouraged do to so, don’t worry if it goes a little haywire. There are magical force fields around the play zones to contain any mishaps. A ⦿ Keep it Rollin' Rollin' The first area set up for fun and games is a barrel rolling contest. Participants are split into pairs to compete against each other to see who can roll their partner inside the barrel down the hill and across the finish line the fastest. Springtime is when geysers start bursting around the bottom of the hill though, so you'll have to watch out for those and any boulders to make sure your barrel doesn't burst before you reach the bottom! To make things a little more interesting, the planners had a bit of mischief with the barrels... As barrels reach a quarter of a way down the hill, the outside will burst into flames. Surprise! While they are enchanted so that the flames aren't actually hot, participants are not aware of this. Sorry, the guys running this game aren’t that big on explaining; after all, it’s just rolling a fire barrel down the hill; what’s so complicated? Fire makes it look like it's going faster and is way more exciting to watch! B ⦿ Hop Skip and a Jump Everyone loves hopscotch, right? Well, whether you do or don’t, that next zone is all about the hop, the skip, and the jump. Two hopscotch boards about the size of a basketball court each are laid out side by side for participants. The object again, to see who can complete the task that fastest. If you reach a spot with a magic symbol, you have to cast a spell at your opponent or you can't proceed. This is combat hopscotch! Of course, once more, the folks running the show forgot to mention one tiny thing, a quarter of the way into the board, random spots will drop away as you go, leaving holes in the ground! Yikes, better take that leap! Don’t worry, if you miss, the bottom of the hole is filled with marshmallow fluff in bright pink, yellow, and pastel purple. (Kind of reminds you of something, huh...?) Down in the hole are rungs and footholds to get yourself back out, but boy, will that put you behind the other guy if they didn’t fall. Well, guess victory will have to be a little sweeter than you planned! C ⦿ Gettin' Brewy With It Now, this activity probably seems a little safer. Welcome to the “Brew” tent. Participants will be given ingredients, space, and set up in pairs to brew up a tasty drink! A variety of ingredients are available and with it, participants will be taught the Recipe: Brewery. This spell can be used to accelerate brewing and distilling processes for alcoholic drinks. Of course, if someone who is too young to drink according to their world's rules, any alcohol in the drink will evaporate, so it's really only a spell that's useful for adults... but everyone can participate in making drinks. You can pick any ingredients you want, but all participants are instructed that a sprinkle of that magic at just the right time will make it perfect. When asked what the right time is, all they will be told is they’ll know when. Some may get it right, depending on instinct. Others might sprinkle too much and cause the drink to burst all over them and their partner, and their workstation or have some other silly side effect, like make them hiccup uncontrollably or catch a case of the giggles. Or maybe they cast for too long or too short a time and the drink turns sour, turns to ash, grows wings on the cup, and flies away. Brewery magic can be fickle, so there's lots that can go wrong.. but get it right, and you can have one heck of a drink to enjoy! 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. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

Geddoe | Suikoden III | elemental I mean

[trueltning_fury]

1. Red Spring, general

[it's hard to miss a 6'2" dude all in black with leather armor and an eyepatch roaming around. He's looking for something common to every inn he's ever been through; a tavern. He hasn't yet caught on that there's booze in every room, if very small amounts of it. Mini bars won't slake his thirst, anyway, but one is welcome to try to point him that way.]

Excuse me. Which way to the tavern?

[is there a tavern? Is it in another building and he's just missing it? Help a grouch out before he goes and sulks in a room instead]

2. Red Spring, training ground

[maybe you saw him getting slightly belligerent toward the trainers trying to patiently explain that his magic could be 'any element,' insisting that he only has Lightning Runes and how dare anyone suggest he use Water gawd...if not, it's pretty obvious after a short time that Geddoe is getting frustrated with this new world situation. He seems to be muttering well-known spells under his breath and thrusting out a hand to create a specific effect, and while he's definitely making sparks, it's not what it's supposed to be and that bothers him. Intermittently, he stops to look at his right hand, balled into a fist. A glove hides what's really there but it's like he's mad at his right hand. That much is obvious.

Uh oh, looks like his annoyed glare has been turned on you, for watching him.]

3. Wildcard

[literally anything please; he's a good fighter and open to sparring, but in his mellower moments he can just be approached by the curious. ugh I need an infopost for him lol.]

Red Spring

[luminatus]

[Eleven is roaming around the Spring, warmly greeting the new arrivals. Originally he'd been passing out scones but he'd run out a while ago both to baking too few and due to his familiar eating nearly half of them.

The Tockle had insisted they were very bad scones and she was sparing people by taking them off Eleven's hands.

When he sees Geddoe apparently practicing magic he sighs. He knows that expression, he's worn that expression...

Then he notices the glare and flinches.]

Sorry, I wasn't spying on you or nothin'!

Just kinda looked like you were going through the same rubbish I am.

[trueltning_fury]

[yeah, all right, he can't fault anyone for that. If anything, that's...heartening? No, not quite, but it means he's not alone. Geddoe huffs a small sigh and tries to brush off the irritation]

So. It isn't just runes that are affected? Unless you also have one.

[it's not like he can judge based on clothing, people could very well be from his world and he just wouldn't know]

[luminatus]

[Eleven smiles and rocks back on his heels.]

I've never heard of a rune before.

I had magic though. I lost it just before I came here.

[Then realizing that's not very helpful, he quickly adds]

But everyone loses their powers when they get dunked in that lake or something like that. We're supposed to learn this world's magic instead.

[trueltning_fury]

[for a moment the pure irritation is back, Geddoe can't help himself]

What is the use of removing perfectly good magic from... [HUFF okay no] ...never mind. All of us, then. I should be fairly distrusting of a being that has the ability to do such a thing.

[luminatus]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy, innit?

[He scratches the back of his head.]

I dunno who that being would be, though. Arthur is the King but he's not the guy who did all this.

[trueltning_fury]

There was something in the lake, that could always be an option.

[oh no now he has his investigating hat on]

Is there an easy repository of information on this land? Its king, allies, enemies, that sort of thing.

[luminatus]

There are libraries and such. Big ones in Camelot... I haven't been to 'em yet.

[His brow furrows with the effort of thought.]

Uh. Oh! Did you get one of those thingummies?

The little card devices that Archimedes was givin' out? There's a lot of stuff on those.

[trueltning_fury]

[thingwhaties?]

...oh. The devices. Yeah, I have one, not sure what to do with it. A library is...more my speed, I think. I assume we get to Camelot after this stopover, or something.

[manly head-tip] I'll check it when we get there, then.

[luminatus]

The caravan will bring you to the city in the morning, yeah. Oh, and it will leave with or without you... Did anyone tell you that yet?

...'Cause nobody told me.

[His shoulders hunch sheepishly.]

I stayed here for...I dunno. A week, maybe. It wasn't so bad. The Red Spring is pretty nice. There's libraries here too they're just a little touristy.

Oh! I'm Eleven, by the way.

Red Spring

[ofsilverflame]

"Apologies, Geddoe. I didn't wish to disturb you." Chris explains as the mercenary's annoyed glance falls upon her, standing by the edge of the training area he's making use of.

Undaunted, she steps closer. "I understand your frustrations, and I did not wish to add to them by calling out and distracting you. I have...been struggling as well." But it seems perhaps her presence was a distraction all the same.

[trueltning_fury]

If there is anyone he wasn't expecting, and also has no idea how to feel toward, it would be one Chris Lightfellow. Excuse the moment of awkward and the briefest flash of oh shit across his face before he steels his expression to something much more neutral.

"Chris." Hi, yo, whatever. The surprise is at least a welcome one. Without having to pry he's willing to bet she has a True Rune of some kind. "You too, eh? You still...have it, right?" He makes the fist again, suggesting the Rune in his hand.

[ofsilverflame]

She catches the flash, wondering what exactly his reaction would be to seeing her here as well, but she's polite enough not to make mention of it.

His acknowledgement is met with a nod of her head and a small smile. "Hello again. I must admit I didn't expect our reunion to be so soon. Certainly not in this manner, at least." She looks at his clenched fist, then down at her own gauntleted, Rune-bearing hand. "I do, but it's gone dormant. Nothing more than a fanciful-looking mark on my hand." She confirms, looking back up. "I have been having some success trying to replicate it using the form of magic I have been bestowed with here." She hesitates for a moment. "Some small successes, that is." Magic has never been her forte, even after gaining a True Rune.

"You're well, though? Or as well as can be expected, given the circumstances." She looks around. "Are...any of your unit here?" She asks, looking and failing to see any familiar faces from the Southern Defense Force. None of the other knights had turned up, but perhaps Geddoe had been luckier.

[trueltning_fury]

With their runes dormant, it's hard for Geddoe to tell which one she has. He could assume, but he'd be wrong. Chris' presence is at least relaxing the way nothing else has been so far, his shoulders drop and his stance eases to one of familiarity and comfort. "Same. At least, it seems dormant and all I have is its mark. The rest, I suppose I'm meant to figure out somehow and relearn." And as he's much better with magic, well...

A slow shake of his head. "No sign of them that I can see. No other Zexen Knights, then?"

[ofsilverflame]

"You'll likely pick it up faster than I." Chris admits, but her posture is also far more relaxed now, chatting amiably like this with a comrade. And a man she knows her father trusted with his life, and that means a great deal in her eyes. "Perhaps you'll be kind enough to mentor me in that case."

She shakes her head. "Sadly, no. But at this rate perhaps it's Hugo we should be keeping our eyes out for. The two of us arriving here at the same time? I find it unlikely to be a coincidence." Hugo and Geddoe had both been valuable pillars of support despite for her in the Fire Bringer, despite their abrupt meeting and her own past...conflicts with the Karayan.

Unfortunately, aside from the possibility that Hugo might be here as well, the news doesn't get much better with who else is. "Yuber is here. He and I crossed blades here in this yard." He must have skulked off to lick his wounds if he hasn't tried coming after Geddoe yet. But that's only a matter of time.

[trueltning_fury]

Geddoe's face instantly darkens. That is not good news at all. "Is he, now?" It's definitely not a question. "I see. I'll have to keep an eye out for him." If their True Runes were dormant he had nothing to fear for any Rune-theft but uh. That's probably the least of his worries about Yuber.

Hugo, though. Yes, if all three of them were there, that would make sense. Geddoe tugs at his glove idly and looks away, as a seasoned mercenary does when privately discussing sensitive topics. "What do you make of this...idea, that we're here to help some other world in order to help our own?"

[ofsilverflame]

Chris scowls, recalling the previous encounter. "He came at me while I was unawares. I'm not even sure he realized it was me at first, he just wanted someone to hurt and it was a happy coincidence. Had me on the ropes for a moment, but I managed to conjure some fire he wasn't expecting and it hit him harder than he expected it to." She smiles in grim satisfaction. "I don't think he truly comprehended how much power he'd lost. Left him in quite the rage. I expect he's probably skulked off somewhere for now, but yes, do be on your guard. He's as bloodthirsty as he ever was." By what logic was it that compelled the force that brought them here to bring Yuber? Of all the Destroyers, Luc, Sarah, even Albert could be useful and most likely persuaded to help, but Yuber? The creature lived for slaughter. It made no sense.

Chris gives pause to his question, shifting slightly, arms across her breastplate. "I'n...not sure." She admits. "I'd be inclined to think it some sort of ruse, but we are clearly not the first group to have been brought in." She looks back out across the training yard. "To have fooled so many people for so long? I'm not sure. And if this is a lie, what is the purpose? Our power is taken away from us but we're given new magic to compensate? I don't see the sense of it." She looks back towards Geddoe, her expression serious.

"What I do know is that any force that can seal the powers of the Twenty-Seven is not a power to be taken lightly, whether it intends good or ill."

[trueltning_fury]

Geddoe takes in the story in full, though a couple of small details catch his ear. He'll revisit that in a moment, first he wants to get down and dirty and talk concerns to Runebearers. "That was the same thought I had," he murmurs, directing his eye back to her. "Rendering all these True Runes null without stripping them...not even the Sindar could do that, as far as I know. Yet, it makes no sense to prevent one perfectly good ability in exchange for another - and for all I can tell, it's weaker too."

He's only been practicing a few hours, though, so not being able to find something that measures up to a Hammer of Raijin might just take time. Frustrated he may be but he can also be patient.

"Anyway. You managed fire magic? Interesting. Have they given us the use of all elements, then? I wouldn't consider it fair compensation, but..."

1

[latkje]

C'mon, Geddoe, does that line ever work?

[ Does Nash really have room to critique anyone else's lines.

Does he even want to know if that line's ever worked? ]>/small>

[trueltning_fury]

[NAAAAAAASHH...]

To find a tavern? Yes, yes it does. Some things don't need a spy to find out if you just ask nicely.

[...]

Do you know where it is, or are you being coy because you don't know?

[latkje]

Of course not. You get a spy so that they can ask nicely. [ A pause. ] I also hire myself out as a guide.

[ The kind of guide that needs to ask directions, but still. ]

Have you even seen the other stuff they have here?

[trueltning_fury]

[mmhmm yeah he can probably guess at what that means. No tavern until the money's in your hand? Get out, Nash]

You didn't answer my question.

[which, he isn't surprised. Patiently droll for now but he likes his answers straightforward, not led to after a long and exhausting journey]

[latkje]

C'mon, Geddoe. You've got to have something to drink about.

[ Even if getting dragged into an alternate dimension surely qualifies. ]

There are paintings that move.

[trueltning_fury]

[getting dragged into an alternate dimension definitely counts]

Spare me your... [wait] ...paintings that move? What do you mean?

[a mystery is afoot!]

[latkje]

Ah! I'll guide you!

[ There's a room not far away with video games set up. Of course, he doesn't know to call them that. It doesn't take too long to make his way there. ]

I found them on my initial perimeter.

[ Except, instead of the glorious moving paintings, there are just black, soundless boxes. If someone was playing the games before, they're turned off now. A mystery! Or maybe Nash was just lying because he doesn't know the way to the tavern? ]