avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 6

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 6

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

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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

Fighting games

NASTAR Racing Game

rhythm dance game

Grand Theft Automation

really

B ⦿ Arthurian RP in your Arthurian RP

LARP as their favorite Knight of the Round Table

rock-paper-scissors-magic

dress-up

props that will magically give you sword skills

picnic on the concrete floor

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

overgrowth of prehensile, very friendly vines

destructive magic

without

tickle the person the vines have captured

B ⦿ Selfies with Selkies

very, very large flower

Take a trip up to the Archivist

Cereus de Anima

the Silent Shore

shirtless selkie

take a selfie

eventually

a cottage on the other side of the Pure of Heart Bridge

old man that Morganna tried to kill and save in a quest a couple of months ago

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ooc: Bean is 7 years old and his canon contains CWs for child soldiers, child homelessness, food insecurity, human experimentation, children killing other children, and genocide. If any of this would put you off of tagging Bean, you can opt-out here. I will match prose or brackets. Hit me up @

millennialfalcon or ©hris#9103 if none of the starters appeal to you and you would like to plot something else! ]

Arrival

[ Bean doesn't know how to swim. He's never had opportunity to learn, having gone straight from living on the streets of Rotterdam, to Battle School in orbit around Earth, to the asteroid Eros. They don't have room for swimming pools at military installations in space. Theoretically, he understands the principles of how swimming works. The body needs to remain afloat, with the head above the surface, so as not to inhale water instead of air and die. Bean is very good at not dying, but some circumstances are beyond even him.

And so, there is a small child, thrashing and flailing in the otherwise calm bay waters, gasping for air in fits and spurts. Maybe you can play lifeguard and help him get to shore. If you'd rather just stand there and watch him drown, well-- too bad. The mossatees will step in if no one else does, allowing him to grab a hold of the moss on their backs as they tow him to shore.

Either way, he ends up on the beach, coughing up water and panting, trying to catch his breath. It's clear he's in the throes of panic, but he recovers quickly, balling his tiny hands into fists and closing his eyes, drawing in slow breaths as he counts to ten. Soon enough he's back in control over his body, enough at least to look around and decide... he has no idea where he is or how he got here. ]

Alright. Where are we?

Network

USERNAME: ^Graff

We've been told that the rest of the universe is frozen in time. I believe that even less than I believe all this talk about "magic." It's like no one here has ever heard of Arthur C Clarke. The only thing I do believe is that the people who claim to be in charge are keeping something from us. Most notably, whatever "sufficiently advanced" tech they have that would have been able to pull us all here instantaneously. Until a few days ago, I didn't think anything could travel faster than light. I will accept that I've been proven wrong on that front. The evidence (me being here, nowhere near where I was when I woke up this morning) is indisputable.

So. Tell me. What should I know? I don't like going into a mission blind, and these "Avalonians" have turned off my viewscreen.

-END.

[ And then, a minute or so later: ]

ADDENDUM-

The little dragon is cute, though I can't help but think it's someone's idea of a joke.

CameCon pt. I

Bean has never been to a gaming convention. Nor has he had any desire to. The whole concept of video games is only something he was introduced to in the past year or two, and even then only in the context of a teaching tool, or a method of psychoanalysis. He doesn't trust anyone who gives kids a game to play and claims it's 'just for fun.' But, after watching the flashy gameplay of the fighting and RPG games, watching the players closely, as well as the staff working the display, he can find no logical ulterior motive. Maybe it is 'just for fun' after all.

That, and only that, is the reason why he decides to give the space piloting game a try. Commanding ships via a computer screen is literally what Bean is trained for, and he's the best at it. (He's the best at a lot of things, grant you, but he's especially the best at space ship maneuvering and tactics.) Some people might be mad that a measly kid who looks like he can't be more than four (even though he is) is defeating all comers, but Bean takes every win in stride. He doesn't gloat, he doesn't show off. He wins a match, then waits patiently for the next taker.

"Do you want a go? I promise I won't go easy on you."

Bean... That's not a very reassuring promise.

CameCon pt. II

[ When the convention hall begins to flood, Bean is among the first to climb on a table. He's only three and a half feet tall, after all. He's already had one near-drowning so far, he doesn't want to have another, with the added chance of being trampled under a panicking mob. He's mildly upset when the lights go out, as he had been scanning the scene, trying to find the most direct path to the exits so he could beat a quick retreat. Thankfully, he has light magic, or so he's been told. He has yet to actually try to use it.

He holds up a hand, concentrating on visualizing what he wants, and-- There it goes! A small ball of light appears above his outstretched fingertips. Now that he knows what it feels like, he calls on that line of thinking again, letting the light grow bigger and brighter, sending it out over the crowd to light the way. Realizing that the vast majority of con-goers are still panicking and splashing about in the dark, he figures he would have a better chance of making it out of here unharmed if he teams up with someone bigger. (And let's face it, pretty much everyone here is bigger than Bean.)

He turns to whoever is standing nearby, offering: ] I'll light the way if you make sure I don't get run over by the stampeding masses.

"Your guess is as good as mine, kid."

Shinji shrugs off his coat (revealing he's built like a tank on top of being nearly two meters tall - just a big guy all around), since there's not much point in wearing it while it's soaked through. "Wonder if this one's more world-hopping bullshit or if it stays put."

He may not know where they are, but this is clearly not his first rodeo.

Bean's used to being the smallest person in any given room. Even among other kids his age, he was tiny. And the adults who taught and worked at Battle and Command Schools were all military. They don't take many shrimps in the International Fleet (Bean excluded.)

So he isn't all that moved by his new acquaintance's impressive size. Adults are big, Bean is small. Water remains wet. No change there.

What does move Bean is what the man says. More world-hopping? In Bean's understanding, the only interplanetary travel done by humanity is I.F.-run and sanctioned. This guy is definitely not I.F. And there's the way he phrased it, too. World-hopping, not planet-hopping. The word choice either implies someone to whom traveling to other planets is so impossible as to be a nonissue when specifying travel, or it implies something on a grander scheme than mere planet-to-planet trips.

Either way, Bean wants to find out more, but he doesn't want to tip his own hand too soon. He doesn't recognize this place, or this man, so chances are this guy doesn't know who he is. Better to play the part of a 'regular' kid, until he can get more information.

"What do you mean, 'this one?' This one what?" This one beach? This one planet? How large or small is the scope, here?

Yeah, no, Shinji wouldn't have the patience for the military even if he had the health for it. (Like, he does now, but for a while he didn't.)

Granted, he also doesn't really have a baseline for normal children. His own childhood was pretty fucked up, and the most recent kids of his acquaintance didn't have an easy time of things either.

"Whatever the fuck dragged us here."

The answer is short, but it tells Bean enough. It tells him that this guy isn't afraid to swear in front of a little kid. Good. Bean hates being coddled and talked down to just for being small. It also tells him (or, at least, he thinks it's telling him) that this guy has been 'dragged' to other strange places before.

"What do you think did it? I didn't see any spaceships or anything."

He didn't see jack shit. One moment he was in his barracks on Eros, the next he was nearly drowning. That's not just faster than light, that's instantaneous.

Shinji isn't one to tell a pretty lie when an ugly truth will do. Besides, kids are gonna learn how to swear sooner or later anyway, so why shelter them from it?

"Dunno. Depending on what's up, they may not need spaceships."

The Arcana sure as shit didn't.

Bean allows confusion to show on his face. What he feels is closer to curiosity, but he doesn't want to let that slip too much right away.

"How they gonna bring us here without spaceships? Planes don't move that fast." That's before even taking into consideration that Bean wasn't on Earth before he showed up here.

"Could be magic."

Shinji's tone does not suggest he's bullshitting in any way, shape or form. (Besides, at this point? He's seen weirder.

He's at least pretty confident this particular round of shit doesn't involve a metaphysical gacha machine big enough to hold entire people in its capsules.)

Bean glares. What is this, make fun of the little kid by assuming he believes in magic?

"Ain't no thing as magic."

He's never heard of anything so preposterous.

Bean/Julian Delphiki | Enderverse

Arrival

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