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

Alternate B

[concierto]

[Oh, does the little floating cupcake think she can one-up Venti, a sharpshooter himself? Think again- As soon as he senses that she's nearby and aiming right for the back of his head Venti dodges with a swift roll to the right and lands with the grace of the wind.

And he cocks his own water gun, aiming and shooting with deadly precision right at the open target in return. Get wrecked!!]

Ehe, who's got who?! You're more mouse than cat.

[notemergencyfood]

[Oh no. This is bad, like SUPER bad. Paimon can't decide which is worst, trying to shoot an anemo god or the fact it was the most laziest person who can shoot her down, floating or not. (To be honest, he deserves every shot to the face!) The water doesn't aim only at Paimon, it shot right on her forehead, knocking her back comically, water gun lost somewhere in the air. Forget cat and mouse, Paimon's a sitting can on a pedestal.

Insert splutter noises.]

WAHHHH! [SPLAT. To the ground.] Ow... Tone-Deaf Bard.

[concierto]

[Venti can only smirk triumphantly, holding his water gun up with his finger still on the trigger. He's no bow but Venti quite likes the feel of a gun in his hands. He could get used to this. Perhaps he should find another type to use.]

Fancy seeing you here, dear Paimon!

[He hums sweetly.]

You're looking a little wet behind the ears these days. Are you alright?

[notemergencyfood]

[Give her a moment before she quickly rocks herself upright, shaking her head violently like a wet dog. Paimon's face puffs when she sees her favorite bard glowing with victory.]

You shot me right on the head! Of course I'm not! You could had gone easy you know! Picking on Paimon like that.

[More importantly... Her eye lids flutter in realization.]

Why are you here?

[concierto]

[Venti only sticks his tongue out and revels in his total victory. Paimon deserves it. Plus she's an easy target.]

My apologies! I thought you would have been keen enough to dodge!

[He didn't actually think that.]

And I could be asking you the same question. Aren't you supposed to be aiding a certain honorary knight of ours?

[notemergencyfood]

[One day, she will have her revenge... Countless floating water guns, yeah. Paimon huffs, hands planted on her hips.]

Unlikely story.

[She's easily pissed off easily with this guy's trolling charm. Enough of that. Paimon shrugged, unsure herself to why she was arrived solo.]

Paimon was suppose to, but you know. 'Unexpected World Kidnap', and that's not even a quest! Paimon's not sure which part of this is more surprising. The fact this place was able to kidnap a god, or pick a lazy god.

[concierto]

[He looks forward to the day she tries!]

Ehe.

[Although he is trolling her... He is slightly concerned about The Traveller's whereabouts. With so many allies from Mondstadt here and a few from Liyue but no honorary knight in sight... He is worried. That small twinkle of that is in his eye.]

While I'm quite fine with being here myself, [lazy god or not] it's the Traveller that I'm sure would have a better time at this than us. What is the last thing you remember of them?

[notemergencyfood]

Oh, I'm sure it would be easy breezy for them.

[Now that Venti mentioned about the Traveler, Paimon couldn't help but flash some concern from her non-poker facial expression. Paimon fell silent for a moment, contemplated where to start. The Traveler had ventured to other worlds before, Paimon was pretty sure they'd had it easy skipping from one world to the next, but it was no longer in their capable hands, for now. Paimon brushed her index finger and thumb under her chin, thinking.

Their most recent adventure was an ex-aristocrat who used 'vengeance' to communicate better with people, still a weirdo, but pretty cool. (pun intended!)]

Let's see, we recently met one of the Knights of Favonius who happened to be from the Lawrence Clan. [Which was quite interesting given the history both were briefed on. Though maybe for Venti, that could be interesting given the history of Monstadt.] Don't worry, Eula is very different from the Lawrence Clan. She will take vengeance on people instead.

[Paimon concluded with a smile and a nod. Yep, totally normal.]

Before that... [Before that, something else itched in the back of Paimon's mind. There was something else important...

Oh no.

Paimon's face turned pale as she recalled this 'important' matter. The thought sent shiver up her spine, they meant to contact Venti about this certain matter. The thought of it was scary, everything from that adventure was scary! Paimon fell quiet thinking about that weird adventure.]

[concierto]

The Lawrence Clan, was it? They are always a strict sort of bunch, aren't they.

[Although his tone is a question Venti of course knows all about the Lawrence Clan. During a time in Mondstadts history when the aristocracy ruled with an iron fist over Mondstadt. He knows what the records say but Venti might or might not have had a hand in demolishing that entire regime.

A story for another day. Instead, Venti's gaze settles on Paimon. Her expression does not sit well with him.]

... Paimon? And?

[notemergencyfood]

[Yeah, they can save that story for another day. Paimon knows the history of it, but not how Venti played in the act. Venti's voice returns Paimon back to the 'here' and 'now'. Maybe a bard thing, or Venti's voice of concern. Doesn't change the fact she's still scared out of her wits what's bottling up in her mind.]

Yeah, um, Paimon is going to say this bluntly while being freaked out. [Paimon translation: Let me spaz this out please.]

Um... [She peers around first, make sure no one else plans to eavesdrop their conversation, that's how serious it is okay!]

We found a statue that belongs to you which was lost, but really the Abyss stole it and, they're trying to use it to make their own cybernetic octopus God to control from what we gathered.

[Blunt accomplished. Paimon's voice rises for the next part while holding her small fists close to her.]

They hung your statue upside down! It was giving off really yucky vibes like an army of tiny slimes climbing up all over you! It was holding a dark orb! Upside down! [Did she mentioned that already? Oops.] And it freaked Paimon out really bad!

[concierto]

Cybernetic octopus god...?

[He listens carefully to what she says. Putting everything into consideration with careful thought. A statue of his hung upside down and used to create negative energy. Abysmally energy to be sure. And while Venti's face might seem neutrally calm... There is a sting of worry in his heart.]

My... That is concerning...

[He simply puts his hand to his chin in thought. And does absolutely nothing to comfort Paimon! Venti's acting very calm!!]

I do hope that you and our dear Traveller did something about it?

[notemergencyfood]

[Much as Paimon is thankful Venti is listening, something else concerns the fairy, why he so calm about it? Paimon can't grasp what thoughts are playing in his head, and at the same time anger is bottling up inside because he isn't showing.

The next question quickly washes the anger away, leaving her quite lost for a moment.]

Well... [Paimon begins, circling her feet in the sand, like a curious child trying to hide some mess. How to put this nicely? Then again, Paimon has no filter.]

Let's just say they won't be summoning anything anytime soon. [Yeah! Let's go with that, Paimon keeps it vague. There is obviously more to say but Paimon believes information should be saved for a later date, like when the Traveller is here, or home. Paimon nods.]

[concierto]

[Sorry dear Paimon. Venti has to assess things for himself before he can say anything more. And perhaps speak with Zhongli on the matters as well. It's all a matter of keeping certain things secret and secure. and the fact that we don't know what it's all about yet in actual canon]

Then that's nothing to worry about for now, is it.

[Her answer has him smiling easily even if there is a twinge of concern deep in hs heart.]

So long as you remember the Honorary Knight being safe and sound before you found yourself here. Hm?

[notemergencyfood]

[Dear Genshin peeps, hurry up and update canon!

Thankfully the next part Paimon nods happily and sure!]

Yep, safe and sound. Except to wake up with no Paimon.

[Which she's concern about. This place didn't even give her a chance to leave a letter at least.]

We plan on gathering more intel on how to go about entering Inazuma. [You know, before the whole upside-down statue incident. Paimon shrugs. Somehow, she's not very concern about the whole 'world hop' game.]

How long you've been here anyway?

[concierto]

So long as they're safe there's no need to fret for the moment.

[Venti gives a small nod of understanding. It would make sense that Paimon and the Traveller's next destination in their search would be Inazuma.]

Hmm. As for me? I've been here for roughly five months? They say that while one is in this world our homes are frozen in time.

[Although... Does he trust that? Does he believe that? How does anyone even know?]

[notemergencyfood]

That's what Paimon heard too.

[Paimon taps her chin lightly, pondering.]

Hmm, and last we saw you was during the Windbloom festival which was... two months ago?

[So how does time work here again? All this pondering is making Paimon's head throb, she rubs her head.]

Ugh, this is confusing!

[concierto]

How curious! Before I came upon this world, it wasn't anywhere near time for the Windbloom festival. In fact, you and the Traveller were just preparing to leave for the Lantern Rite in Liyue.

[So points in time are warped as well. How fun.]

Try not to think too hard on it. You'll only give yourself a headache.

[notemergencyfood]

Huh?! But that was--!

[Paimon place an open palm over her head. Just as the bard warn her, thinking about this gives her a headache.]

Oww, too late. It's already hurting Paimon's head. Let's move to something else.

[concierto]

[He does giggle. And reaches out to pat a hand on her twice. Pat pat.]

There are a lot of questions we have about this place. Unfortunately, I don't have many answers for them, yet.

[Yet.]

In the meantime, we have magic to learn. And new familiars to bond with. It seems that this world does want to keep us busy.

[notemergencyfood]

Busy for what exactly? All they're doing is giving their version of a 'vision' without the charm.

[Paimon shrugs curiously?]

Well, whatever this place have instore for us, we'll just have to do our best and show them what we're made of! They won't take us down that easily, not without a fight and some good food vendors.

[concierto]

Ehe... A good way to put it, Paimon.

[That might be a simple way to put it all but it's true. This world's versions of power granted to almost everyone there is like visions without token or tact... He's still not sure what to make of it all. He is cautious of this world and what lies underneath the surface. What the real goal is... It's mostly why he does not entirely trust King Arthur. But monarchs suck in general.]

Keep yourself busy for now, Paimon. And sharp enough that when our dear friend the Honorary Knight makes their appearance that you'll be ready to fill them in. Alright?

[notemergencyfood]

[Paimon still got a lot to learn about this world. She doesn't like the bard very much, yet this time their thoughts are alike. The Traveller will one day arrive and someone will have to fill in all the details. As a personal guide, it's up to Paimon to fulfil this role even in this alien world. The Paimon nods cheerfully.]

You bet. Don't you worry, Paimon was born for this. Just, ah, try to stay out of trouble.

[concierto]

Just, ah, try to stay out of trouble.

[He mimics affectionately. But it's true. They both should at least try, isn't that right?

With that Venti waves goodbye!]

See you again, dear Paimon!