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avalaughs2021-08-01 12:44 am
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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 10
![]() Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ ![]()
A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival
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
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 whole coconuts filled with tropical drinks and topped with tiny umbrellas. Strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, margaritas, mai tais, and more... all frosty and in the spirit of keeping you cool during the sunny month of August. (Naturally, virgin editions are available for the underaged.) Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, ![]() C ⦿ The Red Spring
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. ![]()
With communications with Elphame in Celliwig disrupted by specters and Arthur temporarily decommissioned, the Hall of Mirrors is temporarily off limits for cleansing rituals. Celliwig has encouraged people to return to Camelot for the time being, which is just as well with all the newcomers flooding in. Last month's new arrivals through the old guard got an introduction to the new aquatic mounts and there are now plenty of people versed in how to handle and work with the magical alpacapies, mossatees, and deinosuchus. As scout parties head out further, there are a few problems that they've run into that need a helping hand from Camelot's otherworldly population.
B ⦿ Clash of the Titans
C ⦿ Fresh Waters
Or if you weren't so lucky, you may find yourself waking up on a slightly different shore. An underwater shore. An underwater town, in fact. After the initial panic of realizing that you're not drowning when you wake up settles in, you'll realize that you seem to be able to breathe underwater just fine. In fact, the real panic is probably about to start when you realize that like the fine people of this town that saved you, you've been temporarily gifted gills and a bottom lower half of either a merperson, a naga, or a cecaelia. Your caretaker, a nurse of the local town, offers the explanation that the only way to save everyone from drowning was to pull them into their territory, which is cursed to turn them all into sea monsters. Not to worry though, as long as you leave before the sun sets on the third day, you'll turn back to normal just fine. ...Though, they're not really sure when that was or if they battle is over, so you should probably find your friends and any possessions you had with you and start heading toward the surface. Not too much time to explore this strange, underwater town... especially since you don't have much practice not having legs to get you up to the surface. Don't worry, if you don't make it out in time, the Lady of the Lake will come fetch you... though perhaps not in time, so you may need to spend some time back in Camelot seeking out someone to break a curse. ![]()
Arthur is injured and recovering, and news has spread on social media about it. There are lots of well-wishers and gifts being sent to the castle... enough that there's just too much for Arthur to do anything with it. He needs time to recover and rest and not be bothered, and as such declares that all those who need it shall share in the wealth and generosity of those wishing him well. The abundance (Especially from guilty Celliwigians who didn't realize what was happening right under their own noses) results in a few things happening...
B ⦿ Swap Meet
C ⦿ Healing Circle After Party
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. •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. |
Satoko Houjou | Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni | Kinetic & Death
[ As Satoko breaks the surface of the water, spluttering and coughing... the first thing she does is yell out furiously- ]
Keiichi-saaaan!! How dare you!? I will most certainly get my revenge, so you had better- huh?
[ Because honestly, pushing her into the water while she’s asleep? How impudent! …But when she looks up… Satoko finds that she doesn’t recognize where she is at all. This… isn’t anywhere in Hinamizawa, is it? No, Satoko knows the village like the back of her hand, and this place is nowhere she’s ever seen before. What’s more is that there are people everywhere, many in the water just like she is, swimming around and looking just as confused as Satoko feels. ]
W-what in the world?
[ Is she in some kind of lake? At first, Satoko’s stomach twists as she briefly entertains the thought that someone was trying to kill her. Could it be that someone tried to take her to some place she doesn’t know and drown her, as revenge for last month? Quickly and firmly, she shakes away the flash of fear, but as she spots the giant jellyfish… Satoko quickly becomes convinced that she must be dreaming.
Yes – as she treads water, Satoko simply stares, eyes wide in bafflement, trying to figure out just what’s going on. None of this makes any sense! And she’s pretty sure that jellyfish that big don’t exist. At least, not that she knows of. Right?
The cold chill of the water eventually pulls her out of her thoughts enough that she finds herself swimming to land, but the whole time, her head is spinning from the confusion of it all. When she reaches the edge of the lake, she climbs out of the water, shivering from the cold, though luckily it’s a warm enough day outside. Then, looking around her, she begins to search the faces of the people around her… ]
…Rika? Hanyuu-san? Are you there?
THE RED SPRING
Ohohohoho! I’m sure that this will be a piece of cake for someone like me!
[ With a somewhat unusual-sounding laugh, Satoko’s confident boast rings out through the training grounds as she prepares to practice her magic. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t even know what kind she has, or that she’s completely unexperienced in the matter… it seems that she’s determined to become an expert – and once Satoko has her mind set on something, there’s nothing that can stop her.
By now, the shock of the situation she’s found herself in and the million other emotions she’d felt upon realizing what was happening have finally settled down, and Satoko has decided that it’s about time that she tried this whole “magic” thing out. Despite the pressure that’s on her and everyone else to save the world- worlds, plural, even- Satoko can’t help but find herself feeling, among other things, excited about all this. After all, she’s getting the opportunity to learn real magic. Real magic! That’s unbelievable, isn’t it?
She wonders what kind she has? Something that could bolster her traps would be nice, and ahhh, she can already imagine what kind of creations she might be able to create in a world with magic in it… But she’s getting ahead of herself.
Despite her arrogant words, Satoko still needs to figure out what she’s doing. And how does one go about finding their magic, anyway? ]
Maybe I should just choose a type and try things out? But I do wonder where to start…
TAKING A BREATHER
Oh, my! Keiichi-san would be jealous if he could see me now!
[ Dressed in a swimsuit that she’d managed to get from who knows where, Satoko stares at the water park- public baths, they’d said, but it’s basically a water park- with a glint in her eyes. She doesn’t know where to start! The water slide and the jacuzzi jets both look like very attractive options, though… Perhaps she’ll start with the slide?
For a moment, Satoko feels a pang in her heart as she thinks of her friends back home. She wishes that the whole club was here. One of the more painful realizations she’d had since arriving here was that she likely won’t see many of her friends again for a long time, given the situation she’s found herself in. It’s painful, and it’s sad, but… she’s confident that she’ll be able to save them, and they’ll meet once again in the end. So all she can do is try her best and succeed – for their sake, as well as her own.
There’s a few people queuing for the slide already, so Satoko turns to the person nearest to her and decides to start a conversation. ]
I must say, they’ve certainly done their best to keep us entertained, haven’t they? I never imagined the royalty here would allow us into their own halls. We must take advantage of this while we can!
WILDCARD
[ Feel free to throw anything at Satoko here! I've taken her post-Matsuribayashi, but let me know if you want me to avoid spoilers for Higurashi or not. I'm also available at
TAKING A BREATHER
She stopped suddenly. Where had that voice come from? Surely... Surely it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her, was it? Her gaze swept the crowd. There were too many people...
Clenching her fists, Rika gathers her courage. If she shouts out and receives no reply, will she be okay? Her heart won't break? It would be so lonely to have hope and then see it crushed that way... and yet.
She breaths in before calling out;]
Satoko?! Satoko!
no subject
Because Satoko recognizes that voice. There's no way she could mistake it for anyone else's... not when she knows it so well.
Frantically, Satoko turns away from the person she'd just been talking to and begins to search the faces of the people around her. Her heart is fluttering in her chest, and it feels like she can barely believe that she might be here... Satoko had been so lonely, thinking that she'd been all on her own here - having been ripped away from her friends without warning. But of all the people she'd wanted to see the most, Rika had been at the top of her list.
And then, finally, she spots her. Rika. Her best and most precious friend. ]
Rika!? [ Satoko shouts, not caring one bit about the strange looks she receives from the people around her. Quickly, she darts out of her place in the line and runs towards her friend as fast as she can, until she's standing right in front of her. There's no mistaking it - that's Rika for sure. For a moment, Satoko's almost convinced that she's going to cry. ]
Rika... it's really you... I'm so glad that you're here...!!
no subject
[Recognition brightens Rika's face, while bringing an equal amount of tears. Satoko... She's really here. Rika doesn't care what world this Satoko is from right now. Her loneliness eases up and her smile trembles across her lips; It's Satoko. Her most precious friend, an irreplaceable part of her life...
With a soft step forward, Rika throws her arms around Satoko's shoulders in a hug.]
You're here! I was so worried!
no subject
Rika's here. It's not her imagination. She doesn't have to do this alone, and her best friend is by her side once again - Rika is okay! After hearing that the world was in danger, she couldn't help but be afraid, no matter how hard she tried convincing herself that everything was fine... But now, she's certain that everything will work out. Rika's presence is all it takes to convince her of that.
She holds the hug for a long time, and when she pulls back, hands on Rika's shoulders, it's reluctantly, though she's still beaming with joy as she looks at her face. ]
O... Ohohoho! I should've known that I would end up meeting you here! We cannot be separated so easily, after all!
[ And together, nothing can stop them! She's sure of it. ]
loving the new journal name aahhh
But with Satoko here... Yes, there is still hope. That happy ending is still possible. Together, they're stronger. Rika has learned as much.]
We can't, because we're best friends! And if Satoko is here, everyone mean and naughty had best scurry hurry away~ They cannot escape your traps for long~ Nipah!
ahhhh thank you!! c: i'm super glad it wasn't taken!
[ Satoko laughs cheerily, happy to have been praised by Rika. There's a mischievous look in her eyes as she puts her hands on her hips proudly, exclaiming with confidence- ]
They most certainly shall not! I'll make sure to ensnare them utterly!
[ And they had better not underestimate Rika, either! Satoko knows just how sly her friend can be, after all - it's one of the many things she loves about her. And it's not just her - everyone in Mion's club is a force to be reckoned with. ]
But I must say, when I found myself here, I was shocked!! To think that magic would turn out to be real, and then to be taken to another world... it still makes my head spin thinking about it!
red spring
Just from the brief bit she can overhear, the girl seems to be taking it well, though. Rise approaches cheerfully, hands clashed behind her back. ]
Oh, are you trying to figure out what kind of magic you use? There's teachers here who can help you with that. They'll go over the basics of it, too, since it's kind of hard to adjust to if you've never used it before.
[ "It" being magic generally. ]
no subject
[ Satoko turns around to face Rise, surprised at being approached so suddenly. She'd really been talking to herself, so she hadn't expected anyone to actually hear her... but Rise seems kind enough, so Satoko responds with a smile. ]
I see! That does sound like a most excellent idea. [ But she doesn't run off to find a teacher straight away. Because honestly, Satoko's been pretty lonely up until this point.... so it might be nice to start a conversation, right? ]
How about you? Do you know what kind of magic you have?
no subject
Me? I use cognitive magic, so it's kind of like being a psychic... Well, except for being able to see into the future. But I can see into the past sometimes, send people messages... Stuff like that.
[ Which isn't quite the power she had back home, but there's enough similarities that it seems natural to her. What she hasn't been able to draw comparisons to, her own natural drive has helped her to begin to get a handle on. ]
I can also use light magic, but... I'm still kind of learning how to use that one.
no subject
[ That would be quite amazing! Though the ability to see into the past and send people messages are already incredible as well - and suddenly, Satoko is more full of enthusiasm than ever, wanting to know everything about what Rise can do. ]
And you can send people messages through their minds, correct? Do you already know how to use your magic?
no subject
Yep! I've been doing it for awhile. I can't use it for mind reading, though. That's off limits, buuut... Fortunately, I normally don't need magic to read people's minds.
[ Which is really just to say that she's good at reading people. ]
Oh, and mine isn't the only one, either! There's a bunch of different types. I bet you're going to be doing all kinds of amazing things with yours before too long.
no subject
[ Satoko laughs merrily with her hands on her hips, clearly confident in her own abilities. Then, she looks back up at Rise again. ]
But I must say, I'm quite interested in this magic of yours! Would it be possible for you to show me what you can do?
[ Like sending a message to Satoko's mind or something. She's asking rather politely, but it's obvious that Satoko is finding it difficult to hold back her excitement. Who wouldn't be? ]
no subject
Oh, sure! Let's see... Oh, I guess I should take this opportunity to introduce myself, huh?
[ It takes a little bit of focus, but she manages to send the rest via telepathic message: ]
Hiiiiii! I'm Rise Kujikawa! It's nice to meet you! What's your name?
no subject
Ohohoho! How impressive! My name is Satoko Houjou. It's very nice to meet you, Rise-san!
[ She introduces herself cheerfully, and then her brows suddenly furrow in concentration. She mutters- ]
I wonder if I could send a message back... perhaps if I concentrate hard...
no subject
[ The muttering is a bit difficult to hear, but the look on her face says it all: She was already excited to find out what kind of magic she has, and now Rise has gone and put the idea of cognitive magic in her head.
Well, truthfully, she's just fine with that. ]
Do you want to try? Here, you can test it out on me. The worst that can happen is it doesn't work, right? Ooh, maybe we can try out some different kinds of magic for you if that doesn't work?
[ Rise claps her hands in front of her chest, as though she'd just thought up the greatest idea in the wrong. Which, really, isn't that far removed from what she'd originally suggested - but hey, she's having fun. It didn't take her very long to get invested in what this girl's magic is (and, well... she thinks it is a little less boring when it's not just a teacher who's going through the same steps for the hundredth time.) ]
no subject
[ Satoko exclaims the words with confidence, but... in reality, she doesn't actually know how she would send a message back at all. So when she starts to concentrate, frowning and staring at Rise intently... she quickly realizes that she has no idea what to do.
Should she just imagine the thought going to Rise? Or does she need to "feel" it? That's such an abstract concept that it's barely helpful at all. Still, she tries her hardest, thinking as strongly as she can - 'can you hear this message?' - and waits for a few moments. ]
...Could you hear anything?
no subject
Nope. Nothing.
[ She might have kind of been hoping for it, too. After all, it would have been kind of cool to get to be a mentor to somebody with the same magic as her... Oh well. She'll just have to make up for it by being a good role model in other ways. ]
Hmm... Maybe that's not it after all...?