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avalonmods ([personal profile] avalonmods) wrote in [community profile] avalaughs2021-04-01 12:00 am
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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 6

Check out the OOC intro meme for this month to say hi to new players/characters!




{ 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 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 mossatees to help rescue any wayward new arrivals. Mossatees are a special Avalonian manatee that is green in color and has what appears to be a patches of grass or other short plant life growing on its back. While some are fully green, many sport blooming flowers or fairy circles 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, a pair of earbuds, and animal-themed ponchos 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, [community profile] 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. Which given the fact that it's pouring down rain in April? Not ideal. You were only given ponchos, not rain boots.


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.

    Unfortunately, due to a bee infestation and massive amounts of rain, the hot springs of the Red Springs are not available this month! Instead, an underground salt cave is offered as a way to relax and unwind. Gather around in the rejuvenating, dimly lit caves and breathe in the relaxing effects of salt crystals. Feel the sand between your toes, or if you don't like sand, try one of the many pools with tiny garra rufa for a fish pedicure. Or, lie down in a recliner and stare up at the "stars"-- magic sparkles in the ceiling that move to spell out single-word concepts you may be experiencing. (Maybe you're relaxed? You might get something like "Chill." Find your relaxation buddy hot? Just be careful to look away before the stars spell "Thirsty" to the whole room.)

    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 it turns out, a mythical land that's been around for a few centuries has a few things in common with many modern worlds. It's got the internet, and games have evolved a little bit past hoop trundling and draughts. April, being the traditional month of mirth and games and lots of rain making it hard to have fun outdoors, is the time for Camelot City Gaming Convention, affectionately shortened to CameCon. Come into the large convention center located in the south part of town, get dry, and check out some of the awesome things to do.

A ⦿ Couchless Co-Op
    Without the massive audiences required to really run MMORPGs, Avalon is much more a fan of couch co-op style gaming. Though most games are available on mobile devices throughout Avalon when they are released, there's nothing quite like coming to CameCon to utilize the gaming stages for everyone's favorite fighting games. Multiple players at a time can plug in their phones and connect their accounts to a light magic-based illusion stage (powered by multiple light mages at a time, once a year only!) roughly the size of a basketball court. Fighting games can be played tournament-style on the phone next to your opponent for some awesome trash talk during your battle. Race through space with this year's popular NASTAR Racing Game (National Association for Space Travel Auto Racing) game and fight off space pirates in an epic Mario Kart-esque racing and item battle adventure with your choice of star ship.

    Or plug your phone into the stage podium and get away from the humdrum fantasy life by joining in a live-movement game that combines synchronous kinetic and light magic. Move your body in the vortex illusion of your favorite rhythm dance game with a buddy! Or maybe you're more into the free-style gaming of Grand Theft Automation with both friends and strangers-- step onto the illusionary stage itself to explore crawling cityscapes and live the life of crime you always dreamed of... at least the cops won't really arrest you if you do it here. Just make sure if you use magic you remember you're on a stage and don't accidentally send some flying off at a poor convention go-er just past the illusion stage.


B ⦿ Arthurian RP in your Arthurian RP
    None can forget one of the most important of game types: the roleplaying game. There's a huge historical set game going on right now where characters can LARP as their favorite Knight of the Round Table. There may be a couple of arguments if two Lancelots end up in the same game, but don't worry, there's a fair way of determining who gets the part for this game if you don't want to wait for the next storyline: rock-paper-scissors-magic. Instead of the traditional version of RPS, you shake your fists and open up to whatever hand-held spell you can make with your particular brand of magic. If it's something that can overcome the other kind in less than three seconds, you're the winner. (And yes, even healers can play-- some protective magic to block a dark magic pain curse is definitely going to win out, for example!)

    Either way, once your role is decided, put your acting skills to the test! ...and if you don't have any, well, they have costumes that will help you get into the mood with a little dress-up and props that will magically give you sword skills... though only while using the dull-edged plastic props. Or you can just sit on the sidelines and have a picnic on the concrete floor of the center with a potential new pal and watch other people play-- there's a lovely little buffet table with pastries, coffee, and juice in the corner.


C ⦿ It Figures...
    A convention isn't a convention without a little shopping. Come check out what cool games are upcoming in the exhibit hall, buy figurines of your favorite game characters (or.. new ones you've never heard of since this is a new world, but are still cute and/or kick-ass), and most importantly, check out the cool magic you can apply to them. A spell available for purchase in the convention hall that's popular this year is Recipe: Figure Anima, which makes your figures move in place and say popular lines as if they're an actual, miniature version of the character. It's recommended you practice while you're in the convention hall though so figure experts can help if things go.. awry. People have been known to have their own emotions influence the spell, and sometimes toys have started taking on the attitude of the caster. There's nothing quite as tragic as your favorite angelic game character telling you they're gonna kick your ass because you were in a fighting mood. So OOC. Maybe you can find someone who's a little better at magic to fix the problem?

    Of course, when the rain breaks through and floods the exhibition room, there's a lot of mass hysteria as people scream and climb up onto tables, trying to protect their merch above all else. Hurry, help someone else up onto your table before their ent dakimakura they just purchased gets wet! Only you can save the gamers from water! ..Or that's what you thought, until a second later the electricity goes out and you're left in a total electricity blackout in the convention hall. It may be a good idea to use some magic to try to light the way and find a way out of the flooded hall...






A ⦿ Keep Your Vines to Yourselves
    With magic blossoming left and right because of the bountiful spring equinox rituals, things have been getting a little stranger around the Broceliande. Though it's always been known for being a little odd, there is an overgrowth of prehensile, very friendly vines populating the forest now. The vines seem to have minds of their own, sometimes grabbing people, pulling them up into trees, or generally wrapping around them as if trying to get a warm hug. Ultimately, they seem relatively harmless.. except when you can't get down from them.

    Hopefully, you've got some kind of destructive magic that can help you fight off the overly friendly vines as you head into the forest to investigate the strange reports citizens have been making of their friends and family disappearing in the generally friendly, if odd forest when they've gone to fetch herbs or other supplies, gone on walks, or who knows what else from the forest. It seems like the best way to get the vines to let go without magic is to tickle the person the vines have captured, so you really better hope you're ticklish... and there's someone willing to really go in on it. It takes a lot of laughter to get these vines to leave you alone!


B ⦿ Selfies with Selkies
    Those who continue on with their investigation after avoiding or escaping the vines will find a very, very large flower that seems to have taken route in a sink hole in the middle of the forest. Hundreds of vines seem to be coming from it, and it seems like this flower may be the source of all of the vines throughout the forest. It won't attack unless you attack it first and it seems to almost immediately regrow any vines that are destroyed. If the flower itself is attacked, it will rise up and attempt to eat your character with thousands of tiny shark-like teeth that lie where the pollen of its flower should be. Those who try to fight will find it seems virtually unkillable and immovable. It is neither plant nor animal and seems to have a thousand minds and souls held within it that somehow feel incomplete, so it's largely incommunicable even with cognitive or death magic. It's definitely a strange find, and it could be easy enough to assume the missing people tried aggression as their first tactic and got gobbled up...

    Take a trip up to the Archivist will lead them to find a book that includes information on the species: The Cereus de Anima. This giant flower rapidly grows when a seed from the Land of Rot transfers via someone's clothing to an appropriate forest environment and is known to absorb a piece of a person's essence from anyone it touches with its vines. People often seem to go missing for a short period of time when one of these appears, then come back behaving a little differently but ultimately don't seem to be in distress. No one is quite sure what the cause of this is. There doesn't seem to be any record of there being lasting damage, however questionable the plant is... The Archivist, upon seeing you researching the plant, says that he's heard some of the lake's residents just off of the Silent Shore have some experience with one. He hands you a couple baskets of some specially anti-rust enchanted parts and tells you he was supposed to deliver them to a Selkie man living in the lake for a project he's working on. You and a partner can make the delivery and ask your questions from him.

    The Selkie isn't going to be particularly friendly to fellow men, not trusting human men farther than he can throw them, but will decidedly try to seduce women as Selkie men are known to be extremely handsome and flirtatious with human women. Non-humans he will be neutral toward. It's best to go in pairs so you don't end up on a whirlwind candlelit beach picnic with a shirtless selkie in exchange for information about how to uproot a Cereus de Anima. (At the very least, the selkie will want you to take a selfie with him before you leave so that you have something to remember him by, and you'll always be welcome back if you change your mind.) Regardless of how much of a challenge it is for you to get to that point, as long as he gets the delivery from the Archivist, he'll eventually tell you and your traveling partner about how he heard that there used to be a village at the edge of the Dusklight Woods that was overrun with one of them, and that there's only one survivor who moved to in a cottage on the other side of the Pure of Heart Bridge.. Those familiar, yes, it is the old man that Morganna tried to kill and save in a quest a couple of months ago! Time to travel all the way back to the Pure of Heart bridge and make your way over to the cottage and talk to the man and it sure seems like this quest is long and tedious and you may be wondering if someone will have noticed you're gone...


C ⦿ The Answer is No
    Back in Camelot City, it seems that anyone who's been touched by the vines has been replaced by a doppelganger in their lives. They're just barely off from the original- they have all the memories, but may be slightly more skilled at things they didn't used to be, or may seem to make less ethical choices than they might otherwise. There's just something slightly off. But when people start using AOL to contact their friends and let them know they've been gone.. well, it may seem like the jig is up, or at least in question.

    Those who find out they've been replaced may want to return to Camelot quickly to try to reclaim their lives. Doppelgangers will attempt to kill their original if they come into contact with them when they aren't around other people, so you may need to flee for your life if you haven't gotten good enough at magic to defend yourself yet. Around other people, the doppelgangers will do their best to try to prove themselves the real person and since they were made from the original, will have the same memories as the original character so asking questions that "only ___ would know" may not work. Eventually it will come out that the doppelgangers have occasionally wriggling vines instead of spines underneath their clothing, if you're willing to check that to see who's real, but that won't be common knowledge.

    What can be found out from the old man at the Pure of Heart bridge if you choose to leave your doppelganger alone is that Cereus de anima doppelgangers can only live for a month without killing their original and absorbing the rest of their essence. However, if the original plant isn't taken care of with a special venom you can only obtain from certain creatures in the Forest of the Fisher King, the problem will just keep happening over and over until the city is overrun and becomes nothing but a breeding ground for the flower and its replicas.




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.
• You can have any animal-style poncho you want! They are themed, not made from actual animals. No animals have been harmed in the making of these ponchos!!
• TIMELINE: The resolution to the third prompt will be in April's event! The first two prompt sets will be during the first week of the month. The doppelganger problem and obnoxious traveling and research will be occurring for the second and third weeks of the month.
• People with green magic may be able to fill something off about the doppelgangers, but may not be able to identify what it is right away. Blood mages will be able to feel that their blood feels the same as the original as they are essentially copies. Cognitive people will be able to use their magic normally except for hypnotic suggestion- the doppelgangers are immune to it, so while you may be able to find other ways to out them, hypnotizing people to tell the truth won't work this time. Doppelgangers are made from the essence of the person, so they will be able to access their phones and accounts. Note that the Cereus de Anima and doppelgangers are not fairies and cannot be contracted with. If a Death Mage attempts to possess a doppelganger, it will technically come in contact with the doppelganger's vine and may end up with more than one doppelganger depending on how many times they try it. Siphon magic can be used to destroy a doppelganger easily, however, the essence that was stolen from the original's soul may be destroyed in the process so it is not recommended as the original may start to feel as though they are no longer a whole person.
• 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. Make sure to read the Red Spring section on this month's even if you're normally familiar-- the springs are closed this month, check out the alternate prompts!
• Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.
konpeito_aji: (Bloodthirsty demon king)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
[....]

[HEY, HE KNOWS THAT LOOK!]

[A LOT of people give him that look.]

[A lot.]

[All the time.]

[He hates people.]

[This is why he became the Demon King, damn it!]


It's not that I'm religious!

[... WELL, OBVIOUSLY NOT!]

[But he means a "believer."]

[And he gives an irritated growl.]
The monks of Japan force everyone to abide by their rules, whatever the people want otherwise, and consequently extort them with demented schemes about demons plaguing the countryside and claim so long as people just don't enjoy anything about life, then virtue alone shall save them -- as if a miserable existence is even worth prolonging.

[Look, he doesn't usually... ever...? Go on a "Buddhism sucks, Confucianism sucks, let's all go to hell, and live happily ever after," rant because --]

[The... obvious reasons. Genocidal extreme hatred of anything and anyone is not how you make friends and win allies. To say the least. Also, he's already enough of an idiot fool, and hated by everyone and rubs everyone else the wrong way, he doesn't have to go the extra step above and beyond, really.]

[Also also, because setting fires to mountains sends a bigger and louder message than any words.]


It's not like I have a problem with Christianity! They gave me candy!

[... Yeah. That was like... The worst thing he could have said, isn't it?]
flamekthunder: (ϟ 037)

[personal profile] flamekthunder 2021-04-05 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Just.

Another.

Very.

Hard.

Long.

Stare.]


None of that means anything to me.

[While there are various religions in his world, Eustace is not a practitioner of any of them. The only thing he really got was this guy is going against whatever dominant religion is currently in his homeland.

So just a somewhat aggravated sigh, his patience and willingness to continue conversing with Nobunaga waning.]


What did you do to deserve that title?
Edited (words why) 2021-04-05 06:22 (UTC)
konpeito_aji: (Say that after you win a round)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Small grin.] I shall keep that in mind for the future. [Entertaining! But he's still new here and not exactly used to carrying coins yet. When you grow up with retainers as babysitters, and then instantly become a feudal warlord; you kind of don't bother with cash. Still, there's more than one way to pay a piper!] Can I hear a tale of your exploits instead?

[They do have people like this in Japan in his time, sort of. Itinerant entertainers who dress up in absurd ways and perform in villages in exchange for donations. Honestly, if the monks did that, Oda would be in full support of their trade. But instead; in Buddhist/Confucian castes such "beggars" are seen as untouchables, and largely shunned. Oda Nobunaga might be inclined to say it's because the performers cut into the monks' act but do it with FUN! Which never stopped Oda from catching an act; but Oda is known as a nutjob for reasons exactly like this.]
konpeito_aji: (loud laughter)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
I'll be delighted.

Charming!

I have an oni, he is the exact opposite of "cute," unfortunately.
konpeito_aji: (Say that after you win a round)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Always. He's been at war since before he was born really, but that's for another day.]

[Oda's more just amazed at that list.]

[He echoes it in his head, and mouths it a little, still trying to wrap his head around it and at the question--]

[He can't help but laugh.]
No... definitely not. It's not-- [Real.]

[Well, he did meet an oni. And they're not real either. Tactfully amending what he was going to say:]
Something I was born with, and I was a very rebellious student as a child.

Would you be willing to demonstrate at all? Or does it not work now? [Charlatans always have some excuse for why their magic "fails" in front of Oda. His favorite is still that it's because he's a demon and his demonic aura is too overwhelming for their poor pure souls to counter.]
committing: (011 . eleven)

[personal profile] committing 2021-04-05 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Seeing Pyrrha's name on a communications device for the first time in -- gosh, has it been years? sends a chill up Blake's spine.

Two pieces of information jostle in Blake's mind against the relief that the content of Pyrrha's message has brought her: The first, that Pyrrha's dead -- that Pyrrha's been dead and couldn't possibly be in a position to inform her about her friends' whereabouts. The second, that the non-local residents of Camelot have been plucked from what have become, from their perspective, frozen timelines. Pyrrha must come from a point in time before her death -- and here, she's alive.

Still, who can trust some words behind a screen? That's why she'd asked her teammates and Penny to call her. Blake had been so distressed when she'd sent her message -- so focused on reaching out to the people she'd been with last -- that she'd forgotten to mention it was herself asking, let alone imagined someone else she had known -- knows -- would respond. ]


Pyrrha, it's so good to hear from you. Would you mind calling me at the number I mentioned? It's Blake.
konpeito_aji: (starry)

Arrival A

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
The man has been in there a long time and when he goes down again Oda mistakes him for drowning.

What he wouldn't give for a rope. Or logs. Though it's just as well he doesn't have those since he might bonk people in the head with them. Probably. Nobunaga wades back in neck-deep when Wei resurfaces, to the warlord's relief. He's not a swimmer, and he doesn't know how to signal the mossattees to help better.

As for hell...

"Why does everyone assume this is hell???" Hell doesn't exist. It doesn't need to. Humans are troublesome (wicked, evil, corrupt, the list goes on) enough! "Shouldn't you at least get to shore before saying such things?" Honestly, Oda was greeted by an oni, and still didn't think it was hell. He's just judging you all internally.
fruitknife: (Default)

[personal profile] fruitknife 2021-04-05 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
Guess so.
konpeito_aji: (Say that after you win a round)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
I can see why you had no trouble accessing ingredients now.

Grocery stores have freezers as well?

I hope everything here meets what you're used to, but don't be surprised if it is a bit more old-fashioned, unfortunately. Are you able to adapt to new ingredients if necessary?
committing: (005 . five)

(no username yet)

[personal profile] committing 2021-04-05 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ Blake picks up immediately, breaking into a relieved grin when she finds out who's on the other end. She'd heard from Pyrrha that she could expect her friends here, but getting a direct call from this friend in particular, right off the bat, is better for her nerves than any resort stay or tea brew. ]

Yang, I'm so -- yes, it's me. Where are you right now? I'm at a place called Phoenix Roost. Could you meet me here?

[ As Blake waits, she wonders what point in time Yang hails from. Given that Pyrrha's here and that Blake arrived without Penny or the rest of her team, she figures that point's a bit further in the past than her own. ]
fruitknife: (Default)

...cw: Shinji once cooked for obligate cannibals

[personal profile] fruitknife 2021-04-05 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
Of course they do. How else are they gonna sell frozen food?

[And then Liminal Space complicated matters further by just... allowing people to make whatever food they wanted, if they worked for it. (Shinji locked that one down within his first month stuck there.)]

I've done 'whatever the food bank scraped together this week' cooking before. Long as nobody wants me to cook a human arm for 'em again, I'll be fine.

(The arm was not at home, and the diet was not those people's choice.)
konpeito_aji: (playing the fool is my job not yours)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh!]

[Is that all?!]

[His demeanor almost 180 degree heel turns again, back to the more composed recalcitrant Demon King.]

[Who knows, Eustace will probably prefer that.]


I declared war. [...] On... [A beat. A LONGER beat.] Everyone. [... Yeah, no, the revolutionist thing... yeah. Less revolutionary; more extreme conqueror.] The two major religions, the other warlords, whatever held the land and people back from greatness.

[Boring.]

[So boring.]

[They're not even in Japan anymore!]

[SIGH.]
Like I said. [ALL THE ARROGANCE UNMASKED IN FULL.] The monks used martial arts, the samurai used decades of sword training, and everyone prevented the general populous from even protecting themselves against each other.

[His eyes narrow sharply.] I changed that.

For that they agreed I was the Demon King. Their unrivaled enemy.

[But it bores him to have to talk about himself! For all the unbridled arrogance, unmitigated gall, and so on and so forth, his passions lie almost everywhere else. Japan is just a tiny island in a very big world, and even larger -- whatever they were in. He's proud of the people, but not himself. All he did was murder all the time. And yeah, he still felt it was necessary, but even Oda knows it's not something to brag about!]

[There's a lot more in there. The shipping lines he's proud of (see Owari), the alliances he's REALLY proud of (though he attributes almost all of it to the rest of his friends and allies), and even just embracing the new ways of Europeans, much less guns and such, alienated him from most of his society who feared and abhorred change. The monks insisting that the new things would bring them all to ruin, versus the plight of the craftsmen without larger markets. There's Oda's deep abiding hatred for the caste systems of Buddhism and Confucianism, which so spurned his overall willingness to declare war on the religions, but it's not something he knows how to put into words, or even bother trying. He's occasionally (okay... frequently) toyed with the idea of visiting Europe if his quest was ever done. He never thought he'd have to explain stuff like all this though!]


Like I said, they didn't want to allow guns, or much of anything from the outside world. They'd rather have perished clinging to their old ways. [Shrug!] Does it matter here?
konpeito_aji: (To war)

C I can't resist

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
[Oda watches until they really start hair pulling and then he steps in, to try to separate the two women, though if either have magic, he knows he'll be in more trouble than trying to deal with ninja women blades (at least he has armor to help against that!)]

Stop it, you're setting a bad example for children. [Clearly disgusted tone! You're worse than children, hear that?? And this is coming from easily the most childish person here!]
konpeito_aji: (I'm listening - for now)

B!

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Now there's something you don't see every day. First, an oni. Then magic. Now this.]

[What's next?]

[Surprisingly tenderly, Oda reaches out a gentle hand to hold the leg that was being used to smack the spider's head.]


Don't hurt yourself.

[Can it speak? Human languages? Would Oda even know how to understand it? It's wearing the earbud things though so...? It seems to have some inkling of what its doing and how the technology operated. Probably. Maybe. Worth a shot.]
flamekthunder: (ϟ 014)

[personal profile] flamekthunder 2021-04-05 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
[...

Hearing this, Eustace's eyes narrow. His initial perception of the man has changed considerably from a blubbering idiot (well, that's still there) to something more concerning, potentially dangerous. Of course, he doesn't have all the facts, only what Nobunaga is telling him. Wars...as much as he hates them, they are inevitable. For good or bad, people are always hurt and sacrificed for some supposed greater ideal. Whether the costs are worth it are always impossible to answer. Hell, he's in the middle of a large conflict and about to face the biggest war of his life if they don't stop it.

Maybe Nobunaga's actions were needed and the organizations he speaks truly needed to be changed.

Or maybe he's a delusional idiot who believes his way is the only right way and will do whatever to make it so.

And of course there's the complicated "it's something of everything" that's usually the real answer.

Regardless, Nobunaga's current "favorability" isn't exactly high—of course that's always a tough thing to raise for Eustace's standards. He's also aware he doesn't know everything. But as of now, he's not having the greatest first impressions and seeing he might be dealing with a trigger happy warlord, Eustace maintains his guard.]


...Perhaps not.

[He studies Nobunaga a moment.]

Final question. Are you satisfied? Or are you still on this conquest of yours?

[He keeps talking about leading his country to "greatness," but what is that exactly? How far will he go? And as much as Eustace favors his weapon, he knows its destructive power. He's not sure how to feel about Nobunaga being so fixated on them, but he supposes if it's a new technology for his people, then it would make some sense as a tool to overpower his enemies.

Poor guy, all Nobunaga wanted was to gush about guns and got an interrogation instead—]
konpeito_aji: (I'm listening - for now)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 08:14 am (UTC)(link)
Frozen food. Of course. More than just mochi ice cream? Are many desserts frozen now?

What's a food bank?
[Because try as hard as he can, Oda can't come up with anything other than envisioning a candy river, and subsequent riverbank of food. Not that he's going to TELL anyone that's what he's thinking.]

I think we can avoid eating people. This is absolutely a long shot, but I don't suppose you bear any relationship to Date Masamune, do you? [Because he can just SEE the other man writing all of this word for word almost. Except that Masamune wouldn't mind hunting. And that's it. The only difference nearly.]
angelolatry: (Rovers)

[personal profile] angelolatry 2021-04-05 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
It would! I mean, I'd probably still figure some way of bumping into it but still.....

[Colette is a Klutz. This is well known. Even around here. Still, she remains hopeful, since Kratos showed up that others she knows from home might too. Hence her coming to at least check. To see. Just in case.]

I guess we'll see. If Lloyd or Garnet show up or not. What's wrong with a dress?
liveandforgive: (f smash)

[personal profile] liveandforgive 2021-04-05 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ "If you're incapable, just step back." ]

—wait. [ He raises a hand up at the ensnared Erune man, signaling for him to stop. Narrowing his gaze upon the length of his makeshift Buster Sword, he contemplates it. More specifically, he's contemplating words prior. Magic... He'd resisted the temptation to just start casting fire to the troublesome vines for the sake of everyone that could still be here. But after having given swinging the sword a try? Now he wonders...

A thoughtful hum later, and Cloud's grip tightens once more. This time, however, the length of the blade begins to faintly glow orange. Like it's starting to get hot.

One more time. He's going to try one more time. This time, pulling the proverbial trigger in his mind on his own spells. Channeling his magic through his arms, he endows the blade with an element. He's most used to lightning and wind magic, but he also has access to this too. He winds back once more, focusing as he takes another precise slash at the vine wrapping around the nearby tree. ]


Hmph—!

[ With a very loud 'SNAP', the vine is chopped at the cutting point. But rather than the entire vine being set on fire, it's burnt and wilted at the end that writhes down the trunk of the tree. Whether this one was connected to Eustace or not though? Time will tell. Satisfied with the result of using a magic sword combination, he waits for Eustace before deciding which one to cut down next. ]
fruitknife: (Default)

[personal profile] fruitknife 2021-04-05 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
It's better for preservation than drowning everything in salt or brine or fermenting it, so yeah, a lot more than just ice cream, and definitely not just dessert. Frozen meat keeps for a good few months, if not longer.

Food banks take donations for people who can't afford to buy food.
[Hunting: not terribly practical in a big city.]

Like I said, diet wasn't their choice. It was fine until the smell hit some bad memories. [No one had to die to produce the arm, thanks to Liminal Space being what it is, and past a certain point meat's meat. He wasn't expecting the smell to be a problem, but then it was.]

No idea. My parents died when I was a toddler. Don't think it's likely, though.
flamekthunder: (ϟ 172)

[personal profile] flamekthunder 2021-04-05 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
[Eustace narrows his eyes slightly, but given that he's in no immediate threat and if this guy can actually manage something, there's no harm in giving him another chance. So he watches, wondering what he has in mind before he sees the length of the blade glowing faintly. Thoughts arise as he's familiar with that kind of effect, and he continues to watch carefully as Cloud aims at a vine around the tree.

The snapping carries through up the tree and over Eustace, and while something drops to the ground—

It's not Eustace.

In fact he only lowers maybe a foot or two, but a part of the vine had fallen.

Still, it's a positive sign and Eustace directs Cloud to another location.]


Try the cluster of vines on that tree...that my familiar is sitting in front of.

[His voice shifts to something a bit dry and borderline irritated as he just looks at his not very helpful familiar, its tail swishing slightly over the ground. As if on cue it stands and looks over at Cloud, a bit of frost dusting the ground before it steps away as if to open the way for him.

But look, see, the familiar will be a little helpful by coating the necessary vines with a thin trail of snow.]
tantailizing: Artwork by: Hira (Otemoto84) (What the heck?)

[personal profile] tantailizing 2021-04-05 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
If that almost happens, I'll help you out if I'm nearby.

[Klutz or not, it wouldn't do just to leave her like that.]

Right. Let's start having a look around. [At her question, he shakes his head.] Nothing's wrong with a dress, but if landing in water is normal around here, dresses aren't really easy to swim in.
konpeito_aji: (Smug son of a bitch)

ooc: sorry for the TLDR -_-'

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
[There is probably very little in Oda's world even a fraction as dangerous as him. Hence the title Demon King as well.]

[Still, he doesn't kill indiscriminately, and he always wanted to travel abroad.]

[And NOW HE IS!]

[So as to the question...]

[That's difficult to say, really.]

[Will he ever be satisfied? Yes. In... theory. Should Japan unite, the people achieve enough peace and prosperity that he can go sail to Europe sight-seeing and having fun. If the people can be free to be as eccentric and wild as him, without obligations TO a lord or even of BEING a lord! If they're no longer even capable as much of terrorizing one another with fictional monsters: kappa, oni (he has an oni familiar, and yet...) youkai, yasha, demons, spirits, and whatever else.]

[If everyone can have and enjoy candy with the freedom like him to tell the priests to shove their rules against it up their asses.]

[Listen, the candy part is very important.]


Conquest is not the goal. Nor was it ever. It is merely the only means to an end, and the only way to stop others from doing worse.

[He grits his teeth in slight irritation. For all he doesn't believe in any religions (even Christianity!) he can't deny this is probably some sort of accidental karmic justice for all he's done, and the many many times he pried every last detail from the Portuguese missionaries and merchants that he could.]

[But fool as Oda is, he's still smart enough to know that Eustace doesn't care about Japan per se, which is good, because Oda can barely begin to explain the status of that mission, when he doesn't really know what it is here!]

[Wormholes. He was told they're fanciful even in the future. 500 years into the future. Whether his dream is accomplished then or not, doesn't matter, he still has to achieve it. Still, at least Oda has heard of the concept even in passing. Mai fell into the past, Nobunaga into another land. In both cases: make do of the situation at hand first and foremost.]


I have no intentions to conquer Avalon. It won't achieve anything for me. [Blunt, and 100% honest. It would also be one hell of a headache! He doesn't even want to rule over Japan! He's just trying to get them to stop being a bunch of bucket crabs dragging each other down! Sadly he only knows how to slap sense into them with violence, and by being the biggest baddest crab so he can build a ladder for anyone else like him who wants out!]

I don't believe I can bring information from here into my time, only what was said, to use magic -- [Excuse him, he HAS to eyeroll. Magic isn't real, and whatever, even if they were brought here with magic and such, he still will have to squash this reaction every time!] to save our worlds. Nothing more.

Last I was in my time, I was just tying up loose ends to my goals. Takeda Shingen, Kennyo, Kenshin-- [A blank stare. He's saying the names out of pure habit of talking to his retainers and allies, and everyone who needed to know that information, and he doesn't know how to apologize for it, or even properly that he should, but he DOES realize the names are a nuisance to Eustace. The name are in the way, just like the people they represented, which is kind of funny to Oda.] Enemies we thought dead are not. I don't need anything new to deal with them. I simply must, in their own time. It's not particularly troublesome. [Hideyoshi (Oda's right-hand man) would have a fit, if he heard that, but to Oda's mind, "Good thing he's not here then!"]

[Oda waves a hand then.]
My goal isn't to rule over Japan. That's why I refuse normal titles. [He has no choice but to accept "Lord," that was more than just birthright, that was "become Lord Oda or die via assassinations even as a child so someone else can get rid of and replace you." And he DOES like "Demon King" (see above.) But even the Lord title he only writes out of habit, and almost NEVER says out loud, because the Portuguese missionaries and merchants accidentally reminded him how stupid it all is. There's too many lords in Japan, and most of them are just undeserving assholes who didn't do anything and further fail their obligations, and wouldn't it be better if both the people and lords were freed from such nonsense? At least it'll let Japan stop being obsolete and catch up to the rest of the world!] There's far better men than I to deal with such things. [His one best skill is war. He can set up the economics and governance to help Ieyasu and Hideyoshi succeed, but he doesn't want to have to stick around to do it all!]

[Back to a cocky smirk!]
As for what I planned to do after that, when I can end the wars... [Smirky smirk smirk!] Classified.

[No, but he just wanted to say that back at Eustace! Can you blame him?]

[Although Nobunaga doesn't tell nearly anyone how much he REALLY just wants to travel to Europe. It's just... It's really embarrassing, okay? Big badass Demon King conqueror... just wants to go be a tourist. Listen, some people want to dominate for the sake of power. Nobunaga wants to be a hedonistic little shit, and eat all the candy. He is a simple idiot on a hopeless Fool's Errand for very stupid reasons.]


Ah! But I'm already doing it here.

[And we're right back to not helping himself via very poor suspicious wording.]
Edited 2021-04-05 09:00 (UTC)
crimsongirl: (laughing at you)

[personal profile] crimsongirl 2021-04-05 09:14 am (UTC)(link)
Fortunately, Homura had dealt with these to know when to quit. She used wind magic to propel herself backwards, right at Rose's side and away from the vines.

"Oh don't worry, they make for some good training for me. I feel like I'm getting more of a workout here than back at the training grounds," she said, moving her neck, some cracks could be heard while doing so. She glanced at the Dragoon. "You okay though?"
konpeito_aji: (starry)

[personal profile] konpeito_aji 2021-04-05 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
[GIVE HIM A MOMENT, HE HAS TO TAKE NOTES!]

[As for the food banks... he's floored.]

[He thought Mai was sheltered, and this isn't to say she's not, but he's starting to get a better idea on 500 years into the future Japanese view of hunting. It's just not... necessary in their time. And the idea makes his head spin. In a good way. But dizzy, all the same! He wishes he knew how to convey his excitement about this to Mitsuhide, but he's not sure the other would get it. Would anyone? Oh well, Oda's kind of used to being alone in thoughts and concepts others can't grasp. Hell, he's not even sure what to write to Shinji about it! The biggest downside he now feels for being brought up the way he was is he has no idea how to pretend to be normal either. He can't even express simple gratitude for the information. Well, he'll make sure Shinji has access to food. Anonymously probably. Because again, Oda has no idea how to even pretend to be normal.]


Should the one-eyed dragon of the north ever show up, challenge him to a cooking contest. I have no doubt you'd get along infamously.
birdstheword: <user name=birdstheword> (✂ 51)

[personal profile] birdstheword 2021-04-05 09:35 am (UTC)(link)
That's all the more fun then! You just gotta move to what it says. Move to the beat!

[She's casually just bouncing their hands as she playfully tugs him along.]

Its easy! Then once you get the hang of it, you can make it harder and harder!