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

[bloodandlife]

I'm not trying to insult you, just making a point. How about Meg, can I compare you to her?

[Zagreus is pretty sure Thanatos understands what he's saying and is just being difficult.]

[inevitablerest]

[He is relatively sure of what Zag is getting at, but that doesn't mean he doesn't chafe against being held up for comparison against two people that the prince dislikes.]

You made your point, Zag. [Thanatos clips out sharply.] And if you want to hear me hold up my end of the bargain you'll stop crudely comparing me to people who repeatedly try to-- bring you to my attention. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not be placed alongside your obstacles in your eyes, in any respect.

[bloodandlife]

[Oh. So that's the issue. Why is talking to Thanatos so difficult these days?]

Of course I don't see you as an obstacle, Than, that's not what I was trying to say. It's just...I don't want you to think swinging a weapon is all I'm good for. Not that I've ever proven it, I suppose, but...I plan to. With this lyre.

[inevitablerest]

If you're concerned about my opinion of you, don't be. You don't have anything to prove to me as far as I'm concerned.

[Since he found Zagreus on the beach he would have removed himself from the conversation at least four times by now. Conflict resolution has never been his strong point, and continually bickering like this is... exhausting.

How does Zagreus do it? Placing himself so constantly at odds with so many.]

But if you want to play that thing, fine. Just don't do it on my account. My offer still stands.

[bloodandlife]

I'll do it on my own account, thanks.

[If you're concerned about my opinion of you, don't be. Zagreus can't tell whether he means that he shouldn't be concerned because his opinion is good, or he shouldn't be concerned because he doesn't really...care. That can't be right, can it? Nah.

Then he frowns in thought. A minute ago, Thanatos said something...a bit strange.]

Wait, what do you mean, they try to bring me to your attention? I didn't think there was any reason for you to fetch souls from the Underworld, much less, er...ones that die messily.

[inevitablerest]

[Of course he would have a comeback for that as well. Thanatos is still so glad to see him, so glad to have him here, but every time they argue the already small carriage feels as if it contracts around him, uncomfortable and stifling.

The only way he's ever known how to end a disagreement is by leaving it, and he and Zagreus disagree in such a natural way.]

Did you think that my job excluded you? [Zagreus even got special attention, you might say. At Thanatos' own discretion.] It doesn't.

[bloodandlife]

I did, actually. So...does that mean every time I die, you know about it?

[Sure, Hypnos does too, and so does everyone else at the House when the Styx dumps him back onto the steps, but...they're physically present, so that's to be expected. Thanatos is hardly ever there in person.]

[inevitablerest]

I don't need to come to fetch you when it happens if that's what you're asking.

[But...

He looks offside, focusing on the ground moving outside the carriage window for a moment. Truthfully he didn't realise Zagreus wouldn't be aware of this. The rules of death apply as much to the gods as to mortals even if Zagreus is the only one that Thanatos knows to run headlong into it over and over again.]

But I know about it. It's part of the reason I found you.

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus opens his mouth to say something flippant, but something about Thanatos' demeanor makes him think twice.]

What's that like? The knowing, I mean. How exactly do you know?

[inevitablerest]

It's...

[How to explain something that has always been purely instinctual for him? A sensation that doesn't really have any words.]

The cutting of a thread. A tension that suddenly snaps. I know it's you because you're not human. It feels different somehow, when it happens.

[bloodandlife]

Huh. What about when I defeat my father, does it feel the same then? Or when a Fury sister dies?

[Sure, Zagreus dies more than any other god he knows, but at this point he defeats the Furies pretty regularly! How would Thanatos tell the difference?]

[inevitablerest]

[He shifts on the seat, not quite looking Zagreus in the eyes. Does he know when one of the Furies is defeated? Yes, though it isn't entirely the same. As for Hades himself...

Thanatos might come back to that.]

It's similar. But not the same.

[bloodandlife]

[So Thanatos can tell when Zagreus, specifically, dies. Something's...off, here. He can't put his finger on what it is.]

Does it...bother you, Than?

[inevitablerest]

Does it bother me?

[He sounds surprised to be asked. No one's ever really asked him if his work and all the things connected with it 'bother' him. His expression turns thoughtful.]

I suppose, in a way. I don't particularly enjoy knowing about it every time. But it's part of the job.

[bloodandlife]

Well, then at least let me apologize for making your job more unpleasant.

[Zagreus has gotten so used to dying repeatedly that it barely ranks on his list of "terrible things that could happen to him" anymore. He never really stopped to think that other people might not be so cavalier about his many deaths. Certainly, no one else has ever expressed such a thing, other than Persephone in a sort of oblique way.]

[inevitablerest]

I don't find my work unpleasant, Zag. [The retort comes out in an almost kindly way this time, as if explaining something to someone who couldn't possibly know. Thanatos' life was his work, as many could attest to, and although Hermes had a hand in it too there was really no one else who did what he did.

He smiles very faintly and shakes his head.]

So don't worry. But I'll accept your apology, since I know you meant it well.

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus smiles. Thanatos' mood seems to have improved again! This is good.]

All right, then. I won't worry about it.

[inevitablerest]

[He can be hard to read even for those who know him best, but Thanatos is sure that Zagreus would know very easily if he was really in a poor mood.

That his friend manages to keep his seat in the carriage for the rest of the journey is an impressive feat in itself, though it isn't without what feels like almost endless fidgeting. At some point, when Zagreus has returned to bluntly plonking away on the lyre (no doubt spurred on by the idea that he might actually hear Thanatos sing some day) Thanatos dozes off with his head resting against the side of the carriage.

Sleeping is still a strange experience, but the familiar company somehow makes it easier.

When they finally arrive at their destination and the carriage comes to a halt, he wakes up with a softly indrawn breath and sits up quickly, glancing Zagreus' way.]

I suppose we're here.

[bloodandlife]

[To be honest, Zagreus is pretty proud of himself for staying in his seat the whole ride. It was a near thing, to be sure--although once Thanatos fell asleep, he couldn't stop himself from occasionally glancing over to watch him sleep. It's so strange--he's never seen Thanatos even sit or lie down, let alone do it for a long time with his eyes closed. While breathing and unconscious.

...this is maybe the most peaceful he's ever seen Than's face, he thinks. The softest, even. It's kind of nice to see. No stress, no worries, just...sleep.

When they get there, Zagreus cannot leave the carriage fast enough (especially carrying all his stuff). He stretches and jogs in place a little just to be moving.]

Finally. How does anyone sit in one place for that long on a regular basis?

[inevitablerest]

[He still doesn't like falling asleep. It feels strange and unnatural - a funny thing, perhaps, considering who his brother is - and he's embarrassed to have done it in front of Zagreus of all people. At least he doesn't snore. That would really be too much.

Thanatos exits the carriage after his friend, taking a moment to help him get all of his belongings out with how quickly he's trying to get out into the fresh air, and it's not without a small groan of satisfaction that he finally stretches to his full height and twists his neck slightly to ease the faint ache there.]

People manage it. [He points out blandly, closing the carriage door behind them.] But I'm glad we've confirmed you can't die of boredom.

[bloodandlife]

Never say never...

[It's a wry mutter, as he hefts his lyre onto his shoulder and smirks.]

You know, I seem to recall you saying something like 'Death never rests,' but it looked to me like you had a very nice nap.

[He looks around with keen interest.]

So! We're here. Where to next?

[inevitablerest]

Ngh.

[It isn't that he thought it would have gone by unnoticed, but he did hope it wouldn't get mentioned. Needing to sleep is very inconvenient, and having never done it before means that Thanatos is very bad at it. He doesn't sleep well or nearly enough, he suspects, and falling asleep in the carriage like that had just been a symptom of his growing problems around the necessity of it.

How do humans get anything done when they need to be unconscious for eight hours a day?

At least the subject changes blessedly quickly.]

I get the impression you'll be interested in seeing the training area.

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus has slept before, but not regularly or often except during the time after he’d quit his job and Thanatos had left, but before he went rummaging through his father’s desk. Then he’d been bored and upset enough to sleep whenever he just couldn’t take it anymore. At least Hypnos had been a good friend and given him nice dreams.]

That does sound right up my alley. Maybe we can even spar together. We haven’t done that in ages. And I am curious about this magic you say I’m supposed to have.

[inevitablerest]

We haven't, have we.

[When had been the last time they had sparred at all? He barely remembers when he might have had the time for it. While his scythe is still too unwieldy to handle without using magic alongside his own strength (it's half as long as he is tall and incredibly heavy, and he's already moved past the shame of not being able to swing it) there is a sword on his belt.

He might have been concerned about harming Zagreus before, but here... they might find themselves far more evenly matched.]

Just outside of town, then. It isn't far. [And then, as an afterthought...]

You're not going to try and bring all of that with you, are you?

[bloodandlife]

Er...I was until you said that. Where else would I put it?