TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER —

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 Thursday, August 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Thursday, September 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: EVENT SPECIAL. Based on the upcoming/current Piphron event, you are on your way to confront that crabby Arehtei who refuses to trust in anyone but himself. However, before you can even get there, you have to journey deep into the mountains and follow constantly changing and winding tunnels. Yes, you read that right—the paths and tunnels change, never actually going in the same direction. This makes getting lost and splitting up from your travel partner fairly easily. What's more, the labyrinth proves to be one giant trust exercise. The atmosphere is filled with doubt and suspicion, little voices whispering and digging into your deepest fears of betrayal and uncertainty. Is the person you're with really that trustworthy? How do you know they won't just leave you or worse—stab you in the back? Literally. Those who are strong of faith will be able to resist, but even they may waver. To get past the labyrinth, strong bonds will either need to already exist or quickly form, particularly between strangers. Those strong in trust will be able to better persuade and convince those who are susceptible to the suspicions. But other obstacles and challenges lay in wait. Steep walls to climb up or down, giant gaps to cross, a random but precarious rope bridge that could break at any step. And everything here is influenced by emotions. The stronger the will to believe, the more likely they are to pass safely. But when those doubts start to take hold...when it becomes too great to bear, then you will slowly turn to stone.


• Prompt E: The Empatheias-Shaarnath-Otherworlder Collaborative Expeditions need otherworlder crews to venture out into the desolate wasteland of the planet’s surface, and that means YOU. On an airship with several otherworlder allies, you’ve ventured forth on a several-day journey to explore uncharted territory. It’s hot, dry, and deadly if you slip away from your dunamis protection, but absolutely necessary if anyone is ever to find what’s left out there.

1. Living on an airship in crowded conditions makes for close friends and fierce rivalries. Are you handling the pressure well? Do you seek out others to get to know them, or try to find a place on the ship where no one can bother you?
   
   
2. What’s that in the distance? Is it -- a large terraced pyramid? Do you venture into it, or catalogue it and retreat away to let stronger souls venture within? And if your fellow otherworlders really want to explore, do you go with them? Or try to talk them out of it?
   
   
3. Of course, the wasteland can still suffer fluctuations of emotion—which means that a simple trip off the ship has turned into disaster as the ground beneath you comes alive with writhing black tentacles! Though not large, they are numerous and hungry for blood and flesh. Better hurry back to safety—unless you need to rescue someone else! Or need rescuing yourself...

• Prompt F: With all of the current, living Arehtei now gathered, the next step is to start working on the world at large—and that's not going to be an easy feat when it's basically a giant wasteland, deteriorating with every passing second. So tests must be done first to study how effective efforts can be—and perhaps dunamis may be the key. In a protective area just outside of Shaarnath, those who wish to try and practice their emotions on the actual barren ground are allowed in. These are the types of tasks they can try to accomplish:

1. Make any type of plant grow and see how long it lasts. This could be a flower, grass, a small tree, or even some kind of crop.
   
   
2. With the aid of a water core, create a small pool of water and have it last as long as possible before the dry earth sucks it all in.
   
3. Change the temperature from dry heat to something more comfortable and maintain it for as long as possible.
   
   
4. With the aid of an air core, create pure cloud cover. As a side-challenge, alter the clouds to make it rain, but not storm. The rain should be one fueled by positive emotions, not negative (so no grumpy lightning or gloomy clouds).

And anything else a character may think of that is in relation to "restoring the land." The only thing not available to test is a living creature. Note: This is going to be very difficult and will require a great amount of effort and concentration. Small successes are more likely.


• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include balloons and/or fire ants.

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

yuuri shibuya | kyou kara maou!

[swirlied]

B - felix toys;

[ Yuuri decides to go for what he hopes is one of the more fun jobs, so he decides to try out those combat toys.

Too bad things don't go as he planned, because those fire toys are destroying all the other elementals, especially the earth ones. ]

Hey, stop! Don't destroy each other like that! [ Yeah, because talking to them is really going to help.

He really has no idea what he's doing. ]

D-1;

[ The constantly changing and winding paths have Yuuri a little on edge, and he's regretting going into this alone. So when the path changes yet again and he comes across someone else, he runs after them. ]

I'm so glad I found someone else here... [ He lets out a small sigh of relief. ] We should probably stick together in case it gets dangerous.

D-2;

[ Yuuri's sure that they're close to their destination, that they're almost there. Too bad they have to pass over a flimsy looking rope bridge to get to it.

He takes a deep breath, steeling himself. ]

I'll go first, just to make sure it won't fall.

D1

[dereban]

I don't mind, but can you defend yourself if it comes to that?

[ She has to ask, if only because she knows just how dangerous it is. Especially with the whole turst and distrust thing that's going on around the area. ]

[swirlied]

Yeah, I can. [ Kind of. He doesn't sound super confident. ]

What about you?

[dereban]

I'm just an ordinary human.

[ She throws her hands in the air as if defensively. ]

So I... don't have much in the way of self defense.

[swirlied]

Then I'll do whatever I can to protect you! I only know some magic, but it should be enough here...

[ Even if he can't control it all that well, he might be able to in a crisis. ]

[dereban]

And how can you be so sure about that? You know where this place is, right?

[ It's Piphron's domain, or so she's heard. ]

[swirlied]

Sort of... I know it's dangerous, but it's nothing we can't handle.

B

[hamnation]

You fool! [An oddly dressed teen calls out from nearby.]

Do you have any idea what you have done?! You have thrown the elements out of balance!

[swirlied]

Out of balance? What?

[ And it's at that moment that one of the toys lets out a huge burst of flame, and he jumps back. ]

How do I get it back in balance, then?

[hamnation]

All improvement starts with the self, you fiend! [He shakes his head.]

Master the elements within yourself before you challenge the elements without!

[swirlied]

Fiend...? [ This guy is kind of weird.

But more importantly, he has these toys to worry about. ]

Okay, so how am I supposed to do that?

[hamnation]

Fuhahaha! You truly do not understand a single thing! I was correct to assume that you must be a low level human... [Gundam crosses his arms.]

Do you not feel any element stir within you?

[swirlied]

I'm actually only half human... [ Since this guy is probably not a human too it feels safe to disclose that. Maybe. ]

And, well, I can control water. Kind of.

D1

[thegreatpain]

The only thing here that is dangerous, is my mood if this place does not stop with it's... annoyance.

[ He lets out an irritated huff as he turned around to the new voice. His face fell and gave a look of complete surprise. Yuuri... ]

[swirlied]

Annoyance? [ Is he talking about those weird whispers? They've been easy enough to ignore for him, probably since he's been alone so far.

But that train of thought is interrupted when he notices that look of surprise. ]

...Do I have something on me?

[thegreatpain]

[ One look at him should be all that was needed to know who he was, and yet Yuuri didn't seem phased at all. Interesting... that was rather interesting. He shook his thoughts away and moved closer to Yuuri, a smile now placed on his face. ]

I was merely distracted by the color of your hair and eyes.

[swirlied]

[ Getting a better look at him makes Yuuri feel... odd. There's something at the back of his mind telling him that he knew this man from somewhere, that'd he'd seen him at some point. But he can't remember where.

Until he mentions the color of his hair and eyes, and it suddenly clicks. Although he looked nearly identical as the painting, seeing Shinou in person was different enough to give him a decent pause.

But for some reason, the voices are getting to him now, whispering that Yuuri's memory can't be trusted. ]

...Really? It's pretty common, where I'm from. [ He's tempted to say more, to ask him who he is, but those doubts in the back of his mind keep him silent. ]

[thegreatpain]

Your home must be a beautiful place then. I've always found black hair and eyes to be much more appealing.

[ He gave Yuuri a once over, and then a twice over. The boy looked rather uncomfortable. Perhaps he was hearing the faint whisperings as well? Shinou could almost ignore them, but they buzzed in his ear like a persistent bug. ]

[swirlied]

Ah... it is really pretty, actually. But seriously, I'm pretty average looking back home.

[ He feels like he's being scrutinized, and it makes him want to squirm. Those whispers have finally died down a little, though, enough so that he feels confident enough to say: ]

You know... I recognize you from somewhere.

D-1

[wiselike]

Shibuya!

[ Murata breathes a sigh of relief when he sees Yuuri. Being lost in what seems to be an endless maze of tunnels isn't his idea of a great way to spend his time, but at least now he can keep an eye on Yuuri. And maybe they can find the exit together. ]

Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?

[ He only asks because Yuuri seems pretty prone to getting himself in trouble. ]

[swirlied]

[ He's honestly really thankful to see Murata here. ]

No, I'm fine. All I've been doing is walking around here trying to find an exit. [ And he'll give Murata a quick once-over. ] You're okay too, right?

[wiselike]

Who, me? Don't worry about me; I'm pretty durable.

[ Or at least, he can handle punches to the face pretty well like in Caloria. ]

You said "trying" to find an exit, so my hope of you wandering back in here to direct stragglers to the exit has been officially dashed. I hope you don't mind if I stick with you, though. Getting lost by yourself in this place is scary.

[swirlied]

I'd actually feel better having you here... It'll be a lot easier for the two of us to solve this maze.

[ Hopefully. ] I feel like I've been walking in circles up until now.

[wiselike]

I hope you're right, but I'm afraid I have to be the bearer of bad news.

[ Murata frowns, looking back the way he'd come. ]

I thought I'd leave a trail behind, so I'd know if any of these paths overlapped or if I was somehow doubling back. Except... well, as you can imagine, after a certain point the trail I'd made just disappears.

[swirlied]

[ That's definitely not good. Yuuri had noticed the paths were changing, but didn't realize it was to that extent. ]

I guess our only option is to keep moving forward.