TEST DRIVE: JULY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

Welcome to empatheias' test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

• Date reminders. Reserves open Friday, June 24 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Friday, July 1st.
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are currently allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
  
  
• Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
  
  
• Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
  
  
• Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
  
  
• First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples! Reminder: We only require one sample and it can be done in either format. We have also made a change to our sample requirements, so look over the Applications page!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!


PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try?

• Prompt B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• Prompt C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes...

• Prompt D: Another new marketing ploy thought up by the geniuses who brought in Empatheias’ version of the red string of fate have been up all night toiling on their newest creation, sand charms. It's not just any kind of sand either, but sand that has been exposed to intense emotions of any kind, long enough to color them with the appropriately aligned colors. Light pastel sands are infused with brightly intense positive emotions, while darker colored jewel tones are power packed with negative emotions.

The point, you ask? The jewel toned sands are meant to subdue negative emotions while the pastel ones are meant to strengthen and empower positive emotions. It seems like a good idea, except in some cases the colors and effects have gotten mixed up. It only gets more likely the more colors and effects are in one charm.

• Prompt E: On an otherwise innocuous day, without a cloud in the sky or a hint of breeze in the air, the street you’re on is abruptly deluged in fish. Lots of lake-fresh fish, pouring down from the sky like icthyian rain, and worse, these fish are charged with anger. Their gleaming red eyes promise pain and agony for anyone they can get their teeth into as they flop violently about on the cobblestones, and that anger might be extending to you as well…

• Prompt F: Toy manufacturers, having finally if temporarily clued in that their line of Arehtei plushes keep having awkward side effects, have turned from stuffed emotional avatars to more interactive toys. Their latest entry into the realm of entertainment is the FeelSpring (working name), a coiled twist of metal that, when subjected to emotions, begins actually WALKING! Stretching forward with one end, then bringing its rearmost coils forward with a delightful slinking sound. But its behavior varies with the emotion you focus on it. Fix it with anger and it might crack painfully into someone’s shin, while love or compassion may find it wrapping around some poor soul and not letting go till you come over and free them. Can you keep your FeelSpring from harassing your friends, or did you never even consider the consequences till it went for some poor nearby soul?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include glitter bombs and/or glue sticks.

For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!

Comments

[fulltimeheroine]

B: ST0606 ST06011

a. The sanctity of life

[ Just before anyone can lay a hand or weapon on the fantastic wildlife of Verens, Sakura runs in and picks it up. Regardless of its size, she manages this with little effort. Was she already a beast to begin with? Yes, but the intensity of her emotions only fortifies her body, making her strength even more beastly. In fact, she shifts the creature above her to one hand, so she can point in admonition at the would be-hunter ]

Killing is unacceptable! Please retreat and take time to mediate on the sanctity of Life and upon your actions here today!!

--

b. She's got a _________ to ride

[ Just riding on a large Verens-beast like it's no big deal. Don't worry, it's totally safe (maybe). Even if her clothes are singed, torn, or frozen (or perhaps all three), she's enjoying herself, laughing and smiling as the creature beneath her just accepts the teenage girl on its back towards its owner's house. ]

--

C. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!?!? GOOD!!

[ A loud voice comes out over the network, overflowing with hope and joy. If her voice hadn't proceeded her, she would probably seem like a demure young lady, certainly not one capable of such projection, but there she is. She beams, and cherry blossom petals manifest and flutter around her. ]

GREETINGS! I AM SAKURAKOUJI SAKURA! IT IS A PLEASURE TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTANCE!!

--

Wildcard

[ idk whatever you want ]

B-a

[flowalong]

[It's surprising. By her own admission Lethe is a little impressed seeing a girl her size do such heavy lifting. The rare shift in her usual apathy would be grand in any other circumstances, eager as she is to lay low and blend in for the time being, but this -

She's got a job to do. And "impressed" doesn't necessarily imply "amused." She clicks her tongue and shifts her weapon to rest prone at her hip, gaze focused on the animal in Sakura's hand. In fact, if it wasn't for her silence, it'd look like she was ignoring the lecture entirely; after a moment, she pipes up in a soft voice, ]

All right. I've reflected. Now put it down.

[fulltimeheroine]

[ The animal in question would probably be as relieved to have its feet on the ground as well, honestly. She shifts in front of the creature, arms spread out to act as a shield, as she looks Lethe in the eyes, but also stays mindful of her weapon.

She's met people like her before; she should know how this works by now. Mostly. She's still acting as a meatshield, but it's better if she gets hurt than this precious pet. ]

You reflected very quickly.

[flowalong]

It's not hard. "Mediate on the sanctity of life," was it? You only live once, so there's nothing much to choose from.

[She shrugs and offers a small, disarming smile. She's relaxed, but the expression doesn't reach all the way to her eyes.]

[fulltimeheroine]

Indeed. . .

[ She relaxes, out of familiarity with this type of person. A person with a smile like a Noh mask, pleasant but empty. ]

Ah. Even if you smile, that expression will not put me at ease. I can tell that it does not reach your heart.

[flowalong]

Does that mean I can stop? Thank you.

[Which she does. The smile fades from her face in favor of a neutral, disinterested expression - almost like it was never there.]

Are you going to let him starve up there? I'm getting worried.

[fulltimeheroine]

My apologies, there was no need for you to do that on my account.

[ Apologizing is the proper thing to do, is it not? ]

I am going to return him to his owner. There was a task for that on the board as well, you see. However, the payment is of no concern to me, so if your desire to hunt this magnificent animal is motivated by that, then you may collect the reward.

[flowalong]

That's kind of you.

[It's a little gross.]

You don't want the money?

[She'll take the money. There's no issue with the proposal, but she's genuinely a little curious. What's the point of doing these menial jobs if you don't want money?]

[fulltimeheroine]

If money is what you desire and it would keep you from killing the animals, then it is a small price to pay. I shall figure something else out. There are other means of employment here, after all. . .

[ She smiles, and a gentle breeze flows around her, carrying the sweet scent of cherry blossoms along with it. Surely, this is the best solution. Even if she's never had a job. Ever. How do those work? She would worry about it later. . . maybe??? ]

[flowalong]

Well.

[Honestly, Lethe's not the fondest of outdoor smells, or outside for that matter, but even she can't hate flowers. The smile on her face is smaller and slighter than the previous one, more genuine. She's looking in Sakura's direction as she speaks, just because she's addressing her with a prospective offer, but the expression's not really for her.]

If you're so poor, come work for me. You know how to bus tables, right?

[fulltimeheroine]

I am very good at lifting things, yes. . . And have a good sense of balance. What kind of establishment do you run?

[ She begins walking this ice cockatrice (that's what it is because I say so now) in the direction of the home of Mil Iona Ires, making a motion for Lethe to follow. ]

[flowalong]

Just a little eatery.

[A severe downgrade from back home. But people talk over food, and she can build up again if she's just patient.

She trails behind at a leisurely pace, like she's on a walk with an old friend.]

How about it?

[fulltimeheroine]

[ For her part, Sakura is enthusiastic. Even if she tried to kill an animal, surely this can't be a bad person, because she runs an honest business. Perhaps she had misjudged her! Not that it would make her any less wary until the creature is safely returned. ]

It would be a pleasure to lend my assistance! Are there any other tasks you would require of me?

[flowalong]

I'll let you know if something else comes up.

[For now it really is an "if." But it's not bad to have muscle on layaway.]

[fulltimeheroine]

I must apologize again. It seems I have misjudged you.

[ Despite her figure, she certainly has muscle to spare. ]

[flowalong]

I just want to get ahead like anyone else.

[Whether that's with money or power, all she's doing is taking things she deserves to have. What's a dumb bird's life in comparison to that? Or anyone else's? So it's not a lie. Lethe keeps herself simple just to omit the nasty little details; she doesn't feel like they bear omission in her esteemed opinion, but a girl like this would die before she agreed to a job if she knew everything, and as it turns out drowning everyone and ollying out is not a reasonable solution when you're not on the top of the world anymore.

Lame.]

[fulltimeheroine]

A business seems like a more respectable way of doing so. . . Especially if food is involved. My mother taught me how to make a beef stew so good, flowers will pop out of your head!

[ Surprisingly, her sanctity of life deal does not make her a vegetarian, although she's quite aware of where meat comes from. She feels deep respect for the animals who gave their lives to be put on her table.

She seems blissfully unaware of Lethe's omissions, happily thinking about food. ]

[flowalong]

... Do you know what they put in beef stew? It's beef.

[fulltimeheroine]

And beef comes from cows, but that situation is different. Food is part of the circle of life and is acceptable so long as one does not lose sight of the process and has respect for what is consumed.

To kill for monetary gain, for power, or pleasure is not right.