TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 6

[avalonmods]

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, 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.

Comments

[whatsamada]

[As Ken looked at the watch, he just stared back at Shinjiro before looking back at the object. Looking a bit closer, he didn't need to know what the bullet was implying. Taking a step back, there was a sigh of relief.]

Then I'm assuming in your world, you survived.

[He didn't mean to give a chuckle but he just had to. To think, there was a world that Shinjiro was alive somewhere! It was enough to make him want to laugh even more as he placed his hand on his head.

It was strange. While the guilt was still there, it felt that for a moment it disappeared.]

[fruitknife]

Sure as hell didn't expect to, but yeah. [He's not going to hold Ken laughing against him, either. It's a damn weird situation, so who cares how appropriate the laughing is.]

Asshole still put me in a coma for several months. Already punched him for it here. That'll probably be enough.

[Probably. He sure fucking hopes so.]

[everydayeveryway]

[She gives him a look... but, he relaxes. Or maybe he's trying to. So Adelle watches -- smiles -- and then pats the puppy reassuringly. Then, she steps closer.]

We're just going to hand you off to your Uncle Eustace, now, okay? Everything will be fine and your Auntie Adelle is right here.

[Then she starts to hand the pup over. Nice and slow, no sudden movements, just keeping it real comfy...]

[flamekthunder]

[Uncle Eust—

He shoots her a bewildered look before he has a puppy to worry about. Hesitantly he holds out his hands, again trying to keep himself calm, but...

....But......

.....In truth, it had been quite a while since he's been in close proximity to a dog, and even longer since he's held one, the most he's ever done being simple headpats. So even if he might not show it, he's actually rather excited at the prospect of being able to hold on in his lap.

But he tries to keep that eagerness restrained...which could make him seem even stiffer. HE'S TRYING IT'S HARD. Hopefully the pup doesn't pick up on Eustace's struggle.]

[rediscovering]

Zunyan cranes its long neck to sniff at Aang's offered hand, its whiskers flicking curiously. Happy with what it smells and with the respect it's served (it eats up how much sheer reverence Zuko shows it, prideful little thing), it warms up to the boy in an instant; knowing of Aang just from his mysterious semi-telepathic magical bond with Zuko, and from eavesdropping on the prince generally, the dragon already knows Aang is to be trusted. He's a friend. A special friend. And if Zuko's destiny is tied to the Avatar, then Zunyan's must be, too. The dragon can't speak, but that doesn't mean it's not thinking all the time.

Even if it's a little goofy... After a beat, it nudges Aang's fingers with the tip of its snout, then zips up his shoulders to wrap itself around his neck comfortably, claws clenched to his shirt on each shoulder, wings folded against its back as it cozies up to him. Clearly Zuko lets it crawl all over him like this... The prince is still grinning, watching the pair. Magical moment for Zuko.

"He gets big, too. Not as big as the dragons we met, but — big enough to ride on. Like a little bigger than an eelhound or a tigerdillo? He's only done it a couple times so far. He likes staying small, I guess..."

[schmisse]

What...? [ So much for relaxing. Weiss does not look relaxed at all. Atlas is, and will always be, her home. The military are people she's trusted ever since she was a child. General Ironwood was someone she considered part of the family...

There hasn't been a lot of time to process everything, given what they've been up against one after the other, but here in the now? Where time has stopped in Remnant and they can talk about all this? Weiss is stressed, worried, and all those thoughts the people she trusted wanting to hurt her and her friends, and Mantle? It's a little too much to bear. ]

... Maybe we should go someplace else.

[ Where they won't bother other people relaxing with their serious talk. Besides, the information seems a bit too private now to share out in the open.

Before signalling to get up, though, Weiss answers Blake's question. Rather coldly, to boot. Weiss has no interest to talk to Raven or talk about her. Even just thinking about her brings her mood down by a lot. Raven did help save her life once, and Weiss thanked her for it, but what gratitude Weiss has for the bandit has been spent. The niceties are gone. ]

She was. She'd caused nothing but trouble, and let someone very important to me almost die because of her carelessness and lack of compassion. [ Blunt, cold, and punctuated. Weiss has no interest in continuing on with this story. ] I really don't like her.

[all_the_aangles]

He laughs as the dragon runs up to his neck.

"Woah, that tickles," he replies. He watches the entire thing in wonder for some time.

As for the saying small..."Well, wouldn't you? I mean, this way he can curl up on a warm Zuko whenever he wants, right? He's a reptile, after all."

[rediscovering]

"He's pretty warm, actually — he has fire magic and all," he replies, smirking at the little ferrety lizard. "He likes to curl up with Azula's dragon, too. They're buddies."

That is an unusual piece of information, however, which Zuko rattles off seemingly without the bat of an eyelash, reaching out to stroke the side of Zunyan's face on Aang's shoulder gingerly with the backs of his forefingers. Does that imply Zuko and Azula are now 'buddies' as well? And if so, what does that mean, then? Uh oh.

Adela | Original Character

[enchantressofore]

Soaking in Your Arrival

After a rough night, being plunged into cold lake water was the last thing she was expecting. It was disorienting, and she couldn't find which way was up for a good few seconds. When she finally broke the surface the girl was coughing hard, yelping briefly at the push from one of the large, strange, green creatures in the water. Her eyes were watering from pain and shock, and she just looked at it before she realized it was trying to guide her to shore. But she wasn't sure she had the strength to swim, not after...

Once she had a solid grip on the back of the creature, it began to swim higher, towards the surface and closer to the shore. It was a nice feeling, being supported, but she didn't let go until she could get her feet under her near the shore. A soft smile touched her face when she petted down its head and nose, unable to suppress a laugh when it bumped against her side. It certainly looked like a sign of affection, at least from what she could tell, and it was thanks to that animal's help that she could get back to shore. Hopefully it could take her petting it as thanks enough.

But that left her with the question of where she was. While the lake water had washed off much of the soot and ash that had been on her, she was still somewhat scorched and battered. The girl used heavily calloused hands to wring out her hair, then what parts of her tunic she could, then her cloak. She at least had her sword, but that didn't answer where she had wound up -- or how, for that matter.

It was when she reached the white stairs that she was close enough to see anyone else, and as much as she was uncomfortable approaching so many strange people her need to know took precedent, prompting her to ask, "Uhm... Do you happen to have any idea just what is happening, here? We we woke up in that lake out of no where?"

The Red Spring

What a strange inn. Adela couldn't help frowning at everything, examining the room and its amenities with barely-restrained curiosity. She had no idea what most of these things were -- a strange flat box, a small metal box, she could at least tell what the things in the bathroom were. The fact that water seemed to run freely there was just boggling to her, and that it could be cold or hot depending on which knobs she turned was incredible! But, there was definitely one thing distracting her from all of it.

"You can't ignore me forever, you know."

That thing... It wouldn't leave her alone. It was small, humanoid, but with those horns and that tail, she was sure it was... It had to be some sort of demon. The kind she saw enslaved, the kind she knew would be looked down on as inhuman scum... The kind that a part of her knew she'd become, one day. Her expression tightened as she looked around the room, and that just prompted the little demon to sigh as he followed her around.

"You're making it hard to like you. How did I end up being so unlucky to wind up bonded with someone so unsociable?" The demon sighed dramatically, floating where he was and resting his chin in his hands as he watched her. At least, until he noticed the door opening, and he commented absent-mindedly, "It looks like you have a guest."

Adela took a moment before turning to look at the door, prompting the demon to look annoyed (he knew she could hear him!) but with the red head ignoring him as she spoke, "May I help you?"

Keep Your Vines to Yourselves

"YAAAAH!"

It had been an innocent walk. Something to be in nature, something that was at least a little familiar, and she thought she'd be okay with her sword, but it seemed that thinking was naive. She was suspended in the air, wrapped tightly (though not enough for it to hurt, strangely enough), and her sword lay useless on the ground and out of her reach. She didn't have good control over her magic here (it was as if it disappeared...), and she couldn't help squirming and struggling a little. Being squeezed like this was... Strange. Not unpleasant, but she'd rather not be hanging there!

She was far too stubborn to cry for help however, so Adela just continued to squirm and try to worm her way free to no avail. When the vines began to move her arms to expose her torso a bit she panicked, yelling, "St-stop that!"

She didn't even know why they were doing this, but it was alarming to say the least! Nehra, she hoped no one saw her like this!!

Wild Card

For any ideas that don't fit the above thread prompts. Feel free to create a starter or let me know if there's another prompt you want to play with!

Soaking

[konpeito_aji]

[ooc: gonna act like he's been here awhile for the sake of brain & exposition!]

"Avalon, it's an island. Wormholes or portals, or whatever word you prefer brought us here to help save our worlds. If you look around, you should have a familiar. Some kind of mythical or magical monster or creature that technically is the one who brought you here."

If Oda looks bored... he is. It's not that he doesn't want to meet new people, he's just not used to being the one answering questions instead of asking them!

"Oh right," he bows then! "I'm Oda Nobunaga. My familiar is an oni, my favorite things are Go, konpeito, and new interesting things!" A very normal greeting. Very normal. "But more importantly: are you any good with that sword?"

[all_the_aangles]

And that makes his blood run cold.

"Wait, Azula's here? And...wait..."

He looks shocked at that. The last time he'd seen Azula she had been...well. Certifiably insane. And hardly a friend to either of them.

[enchantressofore]

What the...

Oh Nehra this man was tall. And sort-of intimidating. Actually, truly intimidating. Which made her hooked on his every word, but just when she began to look around for the so-called familiar--

"A-Ah, uhm, my--" She didn't even get a chance to get her name out in response to his greeting before he asked about her sword, and she glanced down at it, "I practice, but fighting seriously is different. I test the blades I make, because a swordsman will trust their life to their blade. If the blade falters, that swordsman's life may as well be forfeit."

[konpeito_aji]

"Yes," he agrees, not nodding, just acknowledging she's speaking the truth. "So you're a craftsman then?" A blink, and a surprised head tilt, even if stranger things have happened here. "A swordsmith?" But she's so tiny! "In training?" He has to assume! "Who do you study under?"

[enchantressofore]

Why was he asking so many hard questions? She felt so put on the spot, not even noticing the little demon on her shoulder (nor how amused said creature looked) before she answered, "A journeyman. I was deemed ready two years past, though I have yet to create a masterwork. But yes, a swordsmith among other things. I have worked with metals for several years now."

[konpeito_aji]

"How?" Sorry kiddo, he's not letting up.

He sees the familiar, but has no outward response to it whatsoever, and likely won't until it does something that interests him.

[enchantressofore]

"... I apprenticed under my uncle? How else would one learn than through a master?" She answered plainly, unsure of how else she was supposed to answer the question he was asking, "Do you need me to go into detail, or...?"

Did this man not know how trades were passed down? She had to wonder how he wouldn't, but at the moment her head was pounding as a remind of just how exhausted she was. She wasn't sure she had too much more patience for this, at least not then and there. But she should try at least, if only so that she'd blend in for at least a while for the time she was stuck around so many other people.

[konpeito_aji]

"You're not even up to my shoulders. Metalworking is a grueling task for someone of even more sumo wrestler build than me. And you've been practicing for years? You barely seem to be an adult," he pointed out reasonably. A sigh. He really didn't want to point this out, but: "You also seem to be a woman. Is your world really so different that lithe teenage girls work over anvils instead of other crafts and arts? Even ninja trades?"

[enchantressofore]

His words were knives, white-hot and jabbing into her. She didn't have confidence in a lot of things, but what he said--

"Perhaps all of what you have said is true. That I am quite young, and that I am a woman. It would normally be unthinkable work for a woman, and my uncle has said the same. But what matters far more than any of that that is the quality of my work. And if you would tell me to turn from my path as a smith, I will ask you to refrain."

It was a hot-blooded response, and in an instant she held up one of her arms pointedly, showing the burn scarring of her skin with an even hotter fire in her eyes as she just glared at him, "I learned how painful and grueling of a path this was long ago, and that has never deterred me. It was always my choice, and it was that alone."

[konpeito_aji]

If anything, he's impressed. That's a hell of a lot of determination. "Why would I dissuade you?" Genuine question, he's stupid. "Your quality must be superior to most men who take their strength over finesse for granted." He's going to kidnap her now.

He snaps his fingers and with a dramatic kind of flair (complete with cape in the wind!) "So I can't let you fall into enemy hands. And you're clearly not afraid of explosives." No one said anything about explosives! "You can work for me and my associate forging guns and blades. Come along, we need to check if there's anything in the Shit Box that didn't come through the water with you."

[enchantressofore]

She felt like her feet were swept out under her just then, mostly because his response was just... Unexpected. Why was he suddenly complimenting her work? He hasn't seen it though. And explosives? What was a gun?? What in the world did he mean her falling into enemy hands???

She was lost...

"What in the world are you speaking of? A... Shit Box?" Finally Adela managed to get some words out, and she could feel her eye twitching because she had the feeling she just met someone who was incredibly high maintenance.

[konpeito_aji]

She just met the Demon King of 6th Heaven, and survived. Be grateful!

"Guns are--" he ejected his loaded bullet, because this man, and tossed her his weapon, even though he had no reason to trust her with it, it was another test of sorts to see how good she actually was with metals, whether maybe she was bluffing, or how well she adapted to new information and overwhelming situations. (Oda himself IS an overwhelming situation, after all!)

"A projectile weapon, like a bow, but instead they shoot bits of metal using explosives, like a shooting star or fireworks."

He just starts heading to the stairs, like it's normal. "The Shit Box wasn't named by me. Everything winds up in it if it didn't arrive on your person. If you had a pet, or animal friend at home, they will likely be there too. That's where my Haguro, a falcon, was, and Mitsuhide's fox: Chimaki. And Kitsuno's fox: Mitsu."

[enchantressofore]

In her tired state her reflexes were barely good enough to catch the gun, and she looked it over with a frown. It... Sort-of seemed to be as he said, but how was it supposed to fire? She couldn't see the mechanism that would shoot whatever its arrow was (or she guessed that arrow was meant to be the "little bit of metal he was talking about? Maybe?). It looked complicated, but she couldn't understand how it could propel anything even close to an arrow. And then he just kept throwing more strange words at her, explosives, fireworks, they were apparently like a shooting star? But shooting stars were so distant in the sky, that didn't really help her understand. Just what did all of that mean?

Adela started following him, still holding the gun in her hands (and having yet to realize her own familiar at her side) and frowning skeptically, but what he said...

"... I would not be surprised if there was nothing for me there."

[konpeito_aji]

"But you're a journeyman. You don't have tools or anything?" He shook his head, shaking off his frown. "Even so, then there will be smart phones there. Everyone gets one. They communicate with the others here and over great distances as quickly as talking to someone in person."

[enchantressofore]

That just got her to slump even more, and she gave a soft sigh before shaking my head, "All lost in fire. Unless this "shit box" can turn back time, I will have to start again from nothing. And even if I had the tools, I have no forge in which to use them in this strange place. Sorry to disappoint."

Nehra, she was so tired... She wasn't sure she could keep up anymore. She didn't have the energy to ask more questions, or to take in any more information. What even a smart phone was...

She raised a hand to cradle her head, feeling it throb again. She just wanted to rest. And this person was taking more energy than she had to give. She wasn't sure she could deal with it anymore.

[konpeito_aji]

"It does turn back time yes. Or pause it... Or rather creates holes that travel through time and distance. I'll be providing the forge, I thought I said that?" Maybe he hadn't. He takes basic necessities for granted, but when he says he's going to do something, he does it, however ridiculous. "You'll be given a room at the inn, not by me, by the King of this realm. If you please him you can become one his knights or royalty, but I can offer better than that." He doesn't expound on that, because once again, he thinks he already did. Instead, without missing a step: "Have you settled on a name for your familiar yet? Some of them talk, so you could always ask. Either way, you might wish to get acquainted with them."

At least he takes his gun back, and sets her up the steps ahead of him. That way, if she falters he can catch her. And if she falls asleep, he'll just carry her. Or it might be so she can't run away, whichever. He knows he's an absolute headache for quieter types (or anyone sane?) to deal with, but this part of his Demon King selfishness where it's too much work to address or change, so he doesn't. Let everyone else deal with the headache! "My own familiar is an oni called Kimon. He doesn't talk. I haven't met anyone else with a demon familiar, but the demon I met had a skeletal dragon familiar. Magic here tends to be a bit off." How the fuck does he have this much energy and breath while climbing stairs?! "Yuber, the demon, and I have healing magic. Don't worry if that does don't exist in your world, it doesn't in mine either."

This probably isn't helping anyone ease in anywhere, but Oda is a very very trial by fire kind of person, and she just survived a literal fire, so what's another metaphorical one?