TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 8

[avalonmods]

✨ Greet new players on the OOC intro while apps are processed HERE! ✨

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ SUMMARY: New arrivals drop into the lake and have to climb up a cliff to the Rent a Ride, where they are given their device and some headphones and can retrieve their personal materials. They travel to Camelot, which is a multiple day journey, so they stop at the Red Springs along the way and stay at an inn there. 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, helping to rescue any wayward travelers who look like they're struggling in the water. This month's helpers are giant pillow jellies, a species of jellyfish that is capable of ballooning itself at the surface to create bouncy pads for characters to hop across to the shore, should they choose or not be able to swim. They come in a variety of bioluminescent colors, but do not seem to be very talkative even to animal magic users. Those who try may find themselves being ignored, even if they hear the jellies talking amongst themselves about this and that. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. 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. (Though.. given how hot and muggy the weather is this first week, maybe you might want to ask him to toss you right back into the lake where the waters are still cool.) *Reminder: Your character's familiar may or may not be with your character in their initial plunge. If the familiar isn't partial to water, it may meet your character on the beach or sit atop their head while they swim. Or if they are, they might splash about and swim alongside your character. Familiars have different personalities and body specs and we leave those up to the players. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of ear buds (the supplier was out of the regular ones) and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. SUMMARY: Merlin has a Plan B in case Camelot failed the trials: raise a sunken ship and offer it to the Elphame Traders on their way out in exchange for permission to travel their waters. Characters prepare for ritual magic to raise a sunken ship and travel underwater at the empty Camelot docks to gather ritual ingredients for it. After they've done all they can, Merlin sets up a little beach party with a bit of master magic for anyone who came along for the trip. After arriving, people may have heard about recent events-- the people of Camelot voted against war and to instead accept the trials of the people of Celliwig. The trials are now concluded, and a good number of people are emotionally exhausted and taking time to recover. Word from Celliwig has not yet arrived, but across multiple social media platforms, including AOL, there are clips of Merlin's cryptic addendum to Arthur's announcement along with notes that the meeting date was delayed a couple of days due to the awful weather and a need to rest after how bleak the trials were to some people. With people down and out, it won't hurt to have the new arrivals pitch in and learn a thing or two. "Lucky me, we've got a decent group. Celliwig's out of our hands now, but what isn't is a back-up plan. Vote was close enough I figured we'd have enough people to get a head start. Celliwig is closer and much less dangerous to deal with, we'd be able to communicate much faster with the faeries' queendom. They're not big on internet. Big followers of the Old Ways. T-L-D-R, we can't just text the queen and ask if drop-bys are on the table. We'd never make it past the leviathans without permission, so here's the plan: There is a... fixer-upper of a vessel sunken about a hundred yards from shore tossed out from Bermuda. We tried to build docks here forever ago, but you can guess the Bermuda triangle spitting out stuff in the lake all the time didn't go great. We just keep it up for visitors now, but there's plenty to explore in the immediate area that we can magic back into business." A ⦿ Shipwreckers He goes on to explain that the fairies value items that were once lost and refound, so step one is exploring the shipwreck with fellow magic users to find what amounts to a scavenger hunt list of items from the ship. He sets everyone off with a quick spell that essentially transforms their clothing into swimsuits that best fit their preferences and personality-- that means no one's going to get a swimsuit that makes them horribly uncomfortable, he's not harassing anyone. After that, magicians will be directed to use their magic to get down to the ship. It's not as convenient as underwater breathing and not as easily sustainable, but there's definitely different ways to go about it. Light magic users will find they can create a forcefield above the surface of the water and go under the water, though they may run out of oxygen quickly. Elemental users can find they can create a similar bubble by pushing water out of the way, though may run into the same diminishing air without a more advanced elemental user already in the game who can pull oxygen out of the water or an alchemist who can create chemical reactions to generate oxygen. Animal mages may be able to convince local lake life to help push bubbles along, and healers will be instrumental in healing oxygen deprivation if anyone stays under too long! (Note: If two characters can't create a bubble, you can put in a third NPC to do the bubble while your characters handle other roles during the search.) No matter what, make sure you bring someone who can watch your back. Rumors have it that the Fuath are harassing anything that comes near the area. Fuath are intangible spirits that may present as giant humanoids at about 8-9 feet each, but with the mane and tail of a yellow horse, with no noses and keen eyes. They hold grudges against anyone who takes advantage of their surroundings, even if not their own, and will come to attempt to throw those who try to take from the ships and flying through the air to land somewhere else in the water. Be very cautious about using names around the Fuath, as though they do not speak in human tongue, they have a particular ability to draw people and animals in using names that makes them very difficult to escape once you've been found. They've been known to turn familiars against their partners. They can be deterred, dissipated through attack to buy you time, but they'll keep coming so get in and out of the ship as fast as you can and definitely stick to more combat-heavy magics like dark and cognitive mages! *Note: These magics are all examples of ways to use primary magic, but feel free to get creative with your character's magic if you think of something else! B ⦿ Hoist the Flags Once all the ingredients are gathered, the ritual is underway! With the mementos from the ship, swim to a protective circle formed at the top of the water by Merlin that will keep the Fuath out. There, you need to take whatever item you gathered from the ship and try to find someone with a similar item. This "sister" item will allow you to pull the essence of the item up from the ship. It takes a load of people to raise a whole ship, but pouring your magic into the item and chanting the spell will cause the ship to resurface and restore itself to its original state before the crash, using residual memories from all the different items on the ship. Of course, finding a partner with a matching item while swimming around could be a challenge, especially if you don't get along-- it may take a while for everyone to get on the same page. It certainly won't clean up all the algae and kelp and wayward flopping fish, it brings the ship back to a livable state.. and a much cooler, more explorable one. Get a quick exploration of the ship and help clean up some of the lake slime before Merlin flags over the traders. Or goof around until then, and learn a sick free spell called (Recipe) Cool Firework: create a rocket firework from your fingertips. Make sure you're aiming it into the sky when you cast this spell, or Merlin will set off a Camelot totem right beneath your feet. No sinking the ship when they just got it up. The fireworks will attract the Elphame Traders, who are leaving the day after they close up shop to head back to Elphame, before the set out to leave. Merlin negotiates offering the ship to them as an offering for Queen Elphame to give them permission to travel in the Elphame territory. At that point, the ship is pulled into the docks and Camelot citizens are ushered out for the fae traders to take over the ship. C ⦿ Beach Episode Once everything's said and done it.. really only took a couple of hours, so the whole group is done around 4pm. There's plenty of time left for dinner and a good time at the beach a short walk away from the docks and the sun doesn't go down until around 9pm. Before Merlin leaves everyone to themselves, he conjures up a buffet-style table with loads of fresh food and drink, watermelons and bats for smashing. The swimsuits provided earlier wear off at midnight, though you'll probably want to leave before then since it still gets chilly in the evening, especially if you're all wet from playing with the chest full of waterguns or the beach balls distributed around the beach. The docks are nearby, so feel free to call your friends over to come hang out with you, even if they didn't help. It's a beach party, enjoy it! SUMMARY: Unseelie faeries and unseemly humans have teamed up to kidnap a small number of otherworlders in the chaos of the trials to fight in an underground fight ring. Play as a victim or be part of the squad to put an end to it if you're more good-leaning, or villains can choose to participate as audience and pay for "gifts" to be given to their favorite fighters during matches. CW: These prompts contain kidnapping, illegal and forced fighting, and inhumane treatment of fighters. Just because people are tired doesn't mean that the world stops for them... crime certainly doesn't. Throughout the start of the month, people are going missing. Exactly what's happening.. well, finding the truth out about that is going to depend on your perspective. A ⦿ Cursed Kidnapees Kidnapping victims will find themselves suddenly blinded by a spell, and then chloroformed by a floating cloth pressed against their face. (Smart kidnappers don't touch their victims if they have magic, you know!) When they wake up, they'll find themselves in a dungeon with at least a dozen other people. There's definitely not room to lay down, and sitting down as you had been propped up immediately starts you with a potentially uncomfortable view. Don't worry, someone's peeks in from a window at the top of the room-- an extremely handsome-looking man with long, wavy hair and pupils slitted like a cat's. "Let's see.. You two, you'll be the first fight of the night. Winner gets dinner, gyahaha!" It's a fighting ring. You've been kidnapped into a fighting ring and there's no obvious escape! Fight against fellow captives and monsters for your dinner and to buy time to figure out what you're going to do... At least you start hand to hand, so there's nothing lethal... right? (See Audience for more details.) B ⦿ Audacious Audience Maybe you're a less scrupulous sort and saw an invitation to this event hidden on the dark web, or got invited by a particularly sketchy friend. Either way, you've got cage-side seats close enough to chat with either fellow audience members or interact with the cage fighters. As a bonus point, audience members can spend some of their G on betting or on purchasing "boons" for their favorite fighters, such as weapons or enhancement spells. They can also bid against other audience members for special sabotages that make it harder to fight-- foot weights, strange masks, roller skates, hinderance hexes.. get creative with it! It's the biggest fight show that you can interact with your wallet... newbies may find it's a very lucrative way to make a pretty penny very fast. (As always, remember to communicate with anyone you're helping/sabotaging so you don't go past anyone's OOC comfort level.) C ⦿ Roaring Rescuers Thankfully, the fae who want nothing more than to sow discord and the greedy humans who joined in their venture are a bit disorganized. Even the beginning-level heroes among us will be able to track them down and topple them with a little bar hopping to gather information from the locals. Eventually, one of them will give up having overheard some "scary looking fellows" talking about which of the patrons of the bar looked like they'd be good in a fight before getting extra hush-hush. Follow all the leads, and you'll find yourself at an outlying, smaller-scale castle with a dungeon tower and an underground fighting ring built beneath its floors. Sneak in and unlock individual fighter dungeon doors while the fights are providing a wealth of distraction. Maybe you'll find a grateful Fogueria who casts a temporary fire-immunity spell on you to allow you to do ride them into battle to bust up the fight going on right now. There's definitely gratitude going on, regardless of moral compass, and you may find gifts of food and drink (non-alcoholic if you're not old enough) placed at your door over the next week for your deeds. 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. • We are testing out formats for key points displays, to be voted on for player preference based on what seems to work best for the most people. The other options were used here (end of post summary format) and here (start of post preview format). The format featured on this post is the last option, which will provide small summaries under the banner of each prompt set. A poll will be put up before the next event to see which format will be used going forward, so please keep in the back of your mind which seems most comfortable/makes the content more easily accessible. •If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Comments

arrival... hewwo

[agentlewish]

( Tohru often finds herself looking for any new arrivals she might recognize when they first begin to make their way to this world. She wants to be there to help anyone the best they can - and if it is someone she recognizes, then... she doesn't want them to feel alone. She wants them to know that they have a friend here. ... Or, at least a familiar face.

So, when she hears Kyo speak, she finds herself moving before she realizes it, her heart stopping for a moment before she calls for him. )

Kyo! ( She scans the area before her eyes catch sight of that familiar shade of orange-colored hair.

... It really was him! )

Kyo, are you alright? ( He... definitely looks unhappy. All the more reason for her to offer her hand to help. ) Here--take my hand.

Hiiiiii!

[juzubeads]

T-Tohru.....?

[Kyo immediately glances to her direction when he hears that familiar voice. When he hears his name. He keeps wondering still on when her saying it sounded different to anyone else, made him feel different in hearing it. But that's. Hardly the priority here.

Even as damp as he is, as he sees her and takes that offered hand, once he's properly at his feet and such his hands go to her face, at her cheeks.]

You're asking me? Oi, what about you?! The heck are you doing here?!

[Of course he isn't. Outright saying it in how confused and worried he is in her being here too. That implication that she was here first? That he somehow hadn't noticed her being gone or something? That's enough it seems to have him more focused on her than his damp clothing and sudden arrival and all.]

[agentlewish]

( Kyo takes her face into his hands and she can immediately feel the way her heart jumps and her face heats up. She's a little surprised, to say the least. )

Oh -- I-I'm sorry! ( She didn't mean to catch him off guard! ) I've been here for a couple of months now!

( But, she's been doing well! She's all settled in and has met so many wonderful people here...

It's no wonder that Kyo is surprised, though. For him, it's like no time has passed at all, has it? )

[juzubeads]

For -- what? No, that....we'd definitely have noticed if you were gone for that long!

[Kyo is. So confused. But at the least, he has Tohru to focus on. So he sighs, trying to calm himself at least as best can be expected under the circumstances, glancing to where the others were heading up to the cliff.]

I guess it's probably better to figure finding out what's going on and you can explain. Any of the others here with you?

[Look, he doesn't want her to have been alone. Not like they almost did on New Year's that time like idiots figuring she would be okay on her own as they went to the Sohma estate.]

[agentlewish]

Oh, no. It's really just been me. ( Her expression falls a bit before she quickly shakes her head, waving her hands in front of her face. She knows that Kyo and Yuki both can tend to worry about things like this.... )

But please, don't worry! I haven't been alone. There are so many kind people here. There's no way I could feel lonely.

( She offers a warm smile. )

I know that being here is a lot to take in, but I'll do my very best to explain everything I can.

[juzubeads]

[Kyo's expression probably easily betrays that he's immediately unsettled and worried when she admits that, but she tries to reassure him and says she'd explain, so he sighs, lowering his hands from her cheeks and gesturing to the cliffs.]

Alright. At least there's nobody else to keep an eye out for then. Shall we get going? To...wherever we are supposed to stay or something? I guess where everyone else is heading up the cliffs there.

[Somehow he isn't surprised to hear she was making friends. That was good at least, even if he's still bewildered by it all yet and wondering how this works, what she has been through in that time before he got here himself.]

[agentlewish]

... Yes!

( She can't help the pause, really. She's just... so happy to see Kyo here. But... maybe it's selfish, too. She knows that if Kyo's here, he's away from other people who are important to him... )

I've been able to work enough to afford a place to stay. .... If you wanted to, you're more than welcome to stay there, too.

( She's been staying a Shigure's for so long. Kyo's welcome to say no, but... if he says yes, she can begin to repay the Soma's.

And... there's a part of her that just wants to be near him. )

[juzubeads]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised you're working here too. Just don't go overdoing it. What sort of work this time? But sure. I can stay.

[They lived together back home. So it doesn't seem that odd that she would invite him. Especially if she's the only other from home, it made sense to stick together and this way he could keep an eye on her and all. And, well. He'd made his mind up to spend as much time with Tohru as he could, before finishing school and all. So he doesn't really exactly read into it or anything, or necessarily realize how his expression softens as he agrees, gesturing for her to lead the way.]

[agentlewish]

I've been doing all sorts of things. It's mostly just little jobs to help out, but... I've been doing my best!

( She pumps her fist then, a bright smile on her face.

She begins to lead the way, but she makes sure that she doesn't wander too far in front of Kyo. )

You know, Kyo... since you're here, I bet you have magic, too!

[juzubeads]

I guess as long as you're happy and not overdoing it. But -- eh? Magic?

[Like in some of those fairytales or whatever? Kyo's not sure what to make of that. His instinct would be to just scoff about it but at the same time. Considering the Sohma family. He should maybe be a little more open? Given his own ability to transform and all for example. As he follows her up to the cliffs and tries to stay close in ensuring she won't fall or something because if anyone could it would be her with how clumsy she could get.]

[agentlewish]

Yes! Everyone who arrives here is given magic.

( She has healing magic... Though, she's still not very good at it. But, she's been practicing a lot. )

I wonder what kind you have, Kyo.

[juzubeads]

No idea. I just got here and all. But. Probably something to do with cats.

[His luck. His thing back home and all. He hasn't obviously yet taken off the beads and it's habit to keep them on and she hasn't tripped into him or hugged him yet that he has yet realized he doesn't need to worry about transforming into a cat when hugged, or to his True Form without his beads at his wrist.]

You? What can you do then? With this....magic?

[agentlewish]

If that's it, maybe you'll make a new friend.

( Cats seemed to be attracted to him at home, but that was the case for all of the members of the Zodiac... There are a lot of things that she knows are hard on Kyo and the others, but that... never really seemed too bad. )

I can heal others. It's still a little weak, but... I've been practicing hard with it.

[juzubeads]

I have enough cats following me around back home. I don't need that here too.

[Kyo mutters, but it isn't like he necessarily has any control over whatever abilities he might get here. Whatever magic this place gives him. At least as far as he figures yet. She hadn't mentioned in choosing what magic she had. But somehow he isn't surprised when she says about having healing magic. It.....fits her. In the way she was healing the Sohma, maybe not physically in that sense but. Psychologically. From the trauma of the curse, of their families.]

Healing....? I guess that fits. For you.

[agentlewish]

( She giggles quietly at that, although it's a little nervous. )

Whatever magic you have, Kyo -- they do say that the magic is something that's supposed to suit it's owner.

( She isn't so sure about that. After all, she still feels a little helpless when it comes to helping the Sohmas... )

It feels wonderful to be able to help others like this.

[juzubeads]

Suit the owner, huh?

[Well. Healing suits her at least. Kyo thinks so, anyway. What with the way she has been striving to help the Sohma ever since ending up moving in with them and all. He thinks it fits. He's just less sure on what to expect on his end. The only thing he thinks of is the obvious of it being something to do with cats. He supposes he would find out easily enough once he tests things out.]

I'm sure it does. What other sorts of 'magic' are there then? Besides this healing?

[agentlewish]

I'm still learning about the different kinds, but...

There's animal magic -- some people here can talk to different animals. Oh, and elemental magic, too! That sort of magic reminds me of the kind we'd see in the shows that Hiro and Kisa seem to enjoy watching. Do you remember how they could use things like ice and fire magic?

[juzubeads]

You ask me that like I really paid that much attention to that show. But I think I get the idea when you say elements. Ice or water and fire and stuff, yeah. So is it just the one? You can heal and that's it or?

[He asks, deliberately walking closer to the edge with her to stop her falling off or at least as easily with him between her and the edge. Kyo figures it'd be some twisted irony and mockery for the zodiac to have that animal magic. Because of course they would.]

[agentlewish]

I've heard that there are others who can talk to animals, too. I'm sure that there's other magic out there, but I'm learning about it all myself.

( It's a good thing Kyo's walking so close to the edge. It really is only a matter of time before she falls into the water. )

What kind of magic do you think you'd have, Kyo?

[juzubeads]

No idea. Harder to say without knowing what sort of magic there is if something besides something to do with animals.

[He says with a shrug, still figuring this out and wondering what to make of it all yet in having just arrived and all on his end. He raises a hand to rub at the back of his head as he walks, in following the rest of the crowd heading up. Kyo's still newer to this so definitely still learning on his end about all this, this place and how it works.]

I guess I'll find out eventually though.

[agentlewish]

Right.

( If he doesn't find out on his own, she's sure that his familiar will tell him. They're there to help, after all. )

For now, did you have any questions? I'm happy to answer anything that I can.

[juzubeads]

Questions. I dunno. I just got here and all.

[Kyo has yet to even really consider the concept that they may or may not both recall the same thing that last happened back home. This was all confusing enough without going into that possibility. He is more focused on ensuring she doesn't tumble off the side of the cliff as they walk in progressing up to the top, walking beside her.]

What do you think I should know? Besides the magic and you being here, I mean.

[agentlewish]

( Tohru pauses to think about it. She wants to tell Kyo anything that's especially important. This entire world is so different from home! )

Everyone's given a familiar when they arrive here. It's a lot like making a new friend.

( As if on cue, a cloth-like doll climbs onto Tohru shoulder. It waves at Kyo. )

Here. This is Hina! It looks like she wants to say hi.

[juzubeads]

Like the witches in stories with their cats or whatever? Eh?......a doll.....?

[Tohru what? Is that? Did that doll just move? Like in those horror films he generally refuses to be up to date on and thus assumes Jason is a bear? Kyo is clueless about this nonsense for the most part and this is very wildly different from home already in what she was saying in some aspects. ]

[agentlewish]

Yes! She's my friend -- and my familiar.

( The doll tilts its head, as if studying Kyo. )

Oh, but do you think it's similiar to a witch? Really...?

( Her expression falls, actually really curious to hear Kyo's answer. )