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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⚔️️ 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

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

Arrival A

Wei Wuxian, for the nth time, is falling. This takes just long enough (for him, specifically) to think that he should probably be acclimated to this by now, before he lands.

Which is something of a misnomer; there is water and it is not as temperate as his still half-conscious mind expects, and he splutters in shocked indignation. That sinking feeling just got a lot more literal, at least until lake-honed instincts kick in and drive him back to the surface. Though, preferring answers to air, Wei Wuxian is quick to dive again, albeit briefly, and get...some bearings. Not even close to a full set, but that probably isn't in the cards.

"Is hell like an ocean now? Probably not, but I bet that would streamline some things." He'll certainly suggest it if he ever gets a chance. This seems like an ocean for alive things though, if those...alive things are any indication. So, just an ocean-ocean? "Could be a lot worse, honestly."

Arrival B

'Could be a lot worse' is turning into something of a mantra, for Wei Wuxian. The Shit Box (now that's one way to name things) turns up a couple of old friends, which he takes with an awkward glance around to ensure this doesn't inspire, say, panic or mob justice. It's unlikely to, and that's an odd thought, but not an unwelcome one, even if he still hurries to tuck flute and sword both into his soggy belt with a grimace.

The poncho, on the other hand...well, he'll take it. And keep it, but in kind of an unused ball, which is mentally what he is doing with that whole explanation as well. Kind of a juggling exercise, both ways. On second thought, he will just worm his way into the poncho, actually. "Why not."

Arrival C

This is a good cave, and Wei Wuxian is not coming out. Possibly ever, certainly not til he's done some VERY necessary processing. He knows caves, and this one is top of the 'most eligible cave' list, due to the lack of monsters, homicidal instruments, and traumatic memories. What training grounds? The only thing better than this would be to sleep under real stars, possibly with liquor at hand. And that would only be better because those don't ever say words, but hey, who's even looking? Not Wei Wuxian. ~~Don't @ him he's chillin.~~

Well, he might not be here for the training grounds, but Klaudia she is. She's not a new arrival by any means, but she's got this nifty new Light magic, courtesy of that spring festival. So why not use a service if it's being offered? They're not going to know one way or another. Probably.

That said, she's not training at the moment. She's poking about in the salt cave for interesting new things to try her alchemy on. She could use normal salt from a normal cave, but how boring is that? Too boring for her tastes. So she's collecting salt and sand and whatever else she can stuff into some spare pouches, all from a cave with magical sparkles in the ceiling. And she'd probably take those too, if she could reach them.

Well, maybe she can reach them, but the best spot to transfigure some kind of landing up to the ceiling is presently being occupied by a guy in a donkey poncho. She's stands there with her hands on her hips and watches him for a moment, but if he doesn't take notice, then she'll speak up:

"Hmm, a cave donkey. I've never seen one in the wild before. I thought they stayed in grassy fields with open skies and a bunch of plant life to munch on."

Sure enough, all Wei Wuxian's not inconsiderable powers of noticing have been turned inward, so the--well, whatever that specifically is, is a surprise. But not overwhelmingly so, after the time he's had, so the best he can offer is to lounge a little less and give her a look. Maybe she's not dressed like a donkey, that look says, but she might still be making an ass of herself. Still, if someone wants to dispense with some social niceties, he's always game.

"Wouldn't be a cave donkey anymore then, would it?" Checkmate, sarcastic stranger. "I was cold and dignity is overrated. What, are you jealous?"

Klaudia lifts her brows at the look he gives. If he thinks something as benign as a stranger's visible disapproval is going to shame her, then he's in for a rough time.

She does at least seem a little amused by his response. "I guess that's true. Cave donkeys can stay in caves if they like. They can also be warm and undignified if they like. But if I am jealous, it's only a little, and mostly of your present location. Are you particularly attached to that plot of land?"

Wei Wuxian ~~does a backflip every day of his life~~ is usually in for a rough time, but sassy cave beings barely register on the scale. Truthfully, they're kind of a bonus; he didn't really want to dig into the prospect of world-saving just yet anyway, so this puzzle makes a good distraction. A quick once-over confirms it: he's not obstructing anything. Just some ground. He didn't even take a chair, c'mon.

"Well I was considering putting down roots," he says, with an extreme(ly fake) long-suffering air, "But I guess I'm open to negotiation. Why?" Notably, he has not like, moved or anything.

Klaudia is briefly considering if she can just kneel down and roll him over. He probably wouldn't take too kindly to that, but it's an opinion if the diplomatic path sours. It's always good to have alternate plans.

"Well, I need to get up there." She gestures up towards the ceiling where the magic sparkles are currently spelling out the word intrusive--but what does a bunch of dumb rocks know? "And since flight is out of the question, this particular location happens to be the best place to go up."

He can follow her line of sight/gesture well enough--the sparkles now say inconvenient and that could be anyone's game here-- but not her line of reasoning necessarily. But hey, at least she can't fly. Sounds like she maybe used to could? ~~Well, mood.~~ Things are disorienting enough without flying demons. But what does that leave?

"Are you gonna crawl up the wall like a lizard?" He sounds thrilled by the prospect. Definitely worth moving for.

He earns himself a bit of an incredulous look for that response, but then it shifts to something more thoughtful.

"No, I don't have the sticky hands for that, but I should look into that." Sticky hands? Sticky gloves? She's briefly preoccupied with trying to work out the level of adhesive needed for someone of her weight to make a vertical ascent--before she shakes her head and refocuses.

"I'm going to make a platform and climb up." More likely several platforms. She hasn't worked out the logistics yet, but she's not keen on attempting to transmute something while she's standing on it.

See, it was a good thought, admit it, says Wei Wuxian's smug look. He's full of those, smug looks and good ideas both. Still, the lack of lizard climbing is a bit of a let-down.

But 'make a platform' is vague enough to be a little promising, lizards aside, and his interest sharpens. "Well, don't let me stop you," he says, like he wasn't literally obstructing her plans, and finally gets more or less out of the way, hands on his hips like he's taking over as foreman of this job and also a good generation or two older than he looks. "Why do you want to get up there, anyway?"

Wei Wuxian | CQL/MDZS (mostly CQL)

Arrival C

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Arrival A

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C

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