TEST DRIVE: JANUARY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: JANUARY —

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 Sunday, December 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Sunday, January 1st.
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are 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: Isn’t it supposed to be frozen and snowy this time of year? Normally, yes! And the fact that lately the sun has been out and the temperatures have been rising to almost early spring temperatures certainly… is strange. Has pollution ruined the environment of Empatheias beyond repair?! No! Of course not. While concerning at first, the unseasonably warm weather is because of the extreme amounts of positive emotions running through the population of Empatheias. While this early thaw might be nice, it’s not exactly expected and comes with some unfortunate side effects other than a pleasant afternoon in the sun.

1. There’s been several snowfalls, and the ones at night are especially prone to staying for a while only to melt away as the days go on. This has caused a few problems, especially during the daytime. Large piles of mushy snow will slide off of the high angled roofs of the city, and wet, mushy snow is way worse than normal snow. Ice patches on the sidewalks are even more frequent and dangerous, so careful where you step.
   
   
2. Homes and sidewalks aren’t the only thing suffering from this fluctuating weather. The roads too, are becoming dangerous. This means only one thing! Any idle hands are given shovels and bags of salt and are put to work handling the iced over roads. Just watch out for any skidding carriages and wagons as you work!
   
   
3. Draining water is creating a problem in the slums as well. Many volunteers are being deployed to the lower sides of the slums to help direct water with the use of dunamis or more traditional ways such as sand bag piles and other obstructions. The buildings themselves are also suffering from the cold moisture and ice that form under the awnings. Careful not to get spiked if one falls.

• Prompt E: This year for Selenium more intimate get togethers are happening throughout the city alongside the regular practices. Smaller gatherings around warm fires to stave off the colder nights are the stage, and small delicately sweet snacks accompany refreshing drinks for those who decide to camp around the fire for a few hours. But it wouldn’t be Selenium if they weren’t honoring the dead, so of course that takes center stage.

1. Those who have gathered around the fire are, at one point or another encouraged to get up and share a story about a love one they’ve lost. It can be a happy or sad memory, or anything in between. Of course, there is no obligation. Perhaps your character is chosen to go next? Or is there a lull between storytelling where you get to talk to the neighbor seated next to you?
   
   
2. Instead of being sold, these simple bracelets are given to those who volunteer a memory to go inside them. Fashioned from leather, a golden hued metal and copper, the bracelets’ centerpieces are elaborate containers with a glass top to display the tiny fragment of memory petal inside. The petal, once a part of a larger one has been infused with a warm memory of a loved one at request of whoever managed to obtain a bracelet. Though most memories are of those past, in this case those who are alive or separated from the bracelet’s creator can also be depicted. What image appears on yours?
   

• Prompt F: There have been reports of "ghostly activity" occurring around the various cemeteries and graveyards in all three main cities. Most have been harmless, but others have caused some alarm and help is needed.

1. A few of these incidents are harmless pranks by the local and foreign kids teaming up with one another. Moving flowers and gifts, making strange sounds or running past as shadowy figures. Help find these kids and put them in their place! Or maybe it's you who is part of the pranking.
   
   
2. While the world does not have traditional ghosts, those of the dead can leave residual emotions that can take on a ghostly form. They can wander about and act out on the emotions left behind. Anger, grief, joy, regret—anything is possible. While they cannot directly harm anyone, they can still directly cause damage through their own emotions, not to mention the emotional damage from those who witness them. For now they remain near their graves. Help keep them there and disperse the lingering emotions to put them at rest.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include blueberries and/or chipmunks.

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

Tear Grants | Tales of the Abyss | OTA

[mysterical]

[Since her sudden arrival—of which she's sure isn't yet another hyperresonance between two Seventh Fonists—Tear has spent a good deal of her time in reconnaissance mode. A part of her has fallen into it easily, but most of her attention is caught by all of the adorable creatures running around in the parks. And to her pride, she is remaining very stoic as she watches the chipmunks frolic together, throwing nuts and rocks at one another as the move. She's not even blushing.

However, sadly, there are rather large hearts around her that multiply every time a new rodent appears or they do some very cute trick.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, she turns to look at whomever it is, her hands reaching for the throwing daggers in the sheaths under her tunic.]

It's never wise to walk up on someone without announcing yourself.

[All those cute little hearts? Gone and replaced with a slight red sheen that is reminiscent of fire behind her.]

[hamnation]

[Tanaka takes a step back with a slight flinch at her actions, but he retains his composure and confidently smirks as he answers her question.]

Do you mean to say that those noble woodland beasts did not sing songs foretelling my arrival? [The chipmunks... don't exactly look like the singing type...]

[mysterical]

[She takes a good look at the young man in front of her and doesn't relax. He looks menacing, especially with the scar running down his face and mismatched eyes.]

They were more interested in playing with one another from what I could tell.

[Besides, there's no ring around their tummies to make them sing and talk okay!]

[hamnation]

[That's right. He looks like he means business!!

His smile does turn into a curious frown as he glances towards the chipmunks to confirm their activities.]

Hm... It would seem that you are correct. They chose not to herald my coming this time, which is well within their rights. Let them frolic freely!

[mysterical]

[Please to take your creepy smile to someone who appreciates it. Thanks so much. Check for that weird blonde behind you.

And she spares a second to watch them from the corner of her eye. Little pink hearts show up around her again. The chipmunks are now throwing what appears to be fruit at one another.]

I had no intention of disturbing them. [Ah, hostility is back now.] That would be unnecessarily cruel.

[hamnation]

[Hostile as her delivery may be, her intent is pure in Tanaka's eyes. So he nods.]

It would seem that you know the proper protocol in this situation. Good, good... That's more than I would expect of most humanity.

[He goes on seriously, while still looking ready for action.]

At a time like this, we should be sure to observe them in their natural habitat! [A few pleased sparkles emanate around him as he glances towards the chipmunks, but he otherwise maintains a serious demeanor.]

[mysterical]

[She listens intently to his words and is a little shocked, if the drop in hostility is any indication.]

I just don't see any reason to disturb them when there doesn't appear to be any predators around.

[It would be like stopping cheagles from playing with each other. And that's just something that Tear cannot do. And despite his serious face, those sparkles are spotted and make her reassess his character.

After all, people can't really help how they look, right?]

Are you familiar with this breed of animal then? We don't have them where I'm from.

[hamnation]

[He nods at her assessment.]

Your instincts do not deceive you...

[Then he stoops down to get a better look at the creatures, while staying some feet away from them.]

I am quite familiar with this breed. They are a common woodland beast, known as the chipmunk! It is a delightful creature. Kehehe... And, of course, there is a fair chance that many of them are elder gods assuming an earthly form! [Tanaka grins, and the air warms up around them as he watches the chipmunks.]

[mysterical]

[She watches him as he gets closer to the animals, approving of the caution he's using.]

Chipmunks... [There's a mutter of something like "they're adorable" as more hearts pop up around her.

Until his last comment.]

Elder gods? Is that possible?

[hamnation]

[He grins.]

Anything is possible when it comes to the world of mystical beasts. Creatures that can fit in the palm of your hand can easily turn out to house spirits older than time itself and powers unimaginable!

[mysterical]

[Most of what he says sounds like pure trash, but then again, her life in the last year has been pretty strange. This place is no different as she can just chalk it up to another weird thing in a long line of weird.

And after befriending someone like Emperor Peony, this boy seems rather harmless. Or at least he's not a large threat yet.]

I agree that small creatures should be respected because they have the potential to do a lot of things that are belied by their size. But I've never met a god in an animal's body.

[Not even Arietta's animals or Meiu were godly.]

[hamnation]

Kehehe... Are you sure that you haven't? You simply may not possess the proper insight to see the true forms of the beasts around you...

[It seems like a simple fact of life to him. He chortles slightly, but really most of his delight comes from watching the chipmunks play.]

[jeido]

[The familiar face out and about doesn't escape Jade's notice, and it's with an amused smile that he notes the hearts forming around her as he approaches. He is slightly taken aback when she's about to draw her daggers on him, but not enough to have it shown on his expression then. Which is, of course, a picture of complete calm.]

My, my, I hardly think that's necessary., Tear.

[...At least until he breaks out that usual smile of his.]

Has this old man changed so much that his footsteps are no longer recognizable to a dear comrade?

[mysterical]

[At the familiar voice, Tear's hostility dies and a sense of relief is so overwhelming that a rush of warm air brushes her long hair around her.]

Colonel!

[And then the relief turns to a certain brand of mistrust. Because life around Jade is always tempered a bit.]

When you sneak up on someone, you should really expect that the other person will respond hostilely. Every soldier I've met has had that taught to them at one point in their career, Jade.

[jeido]

[To which Jade lets out a hearty laugh and a helpless shrug.]

I wouldn't call it sneaking up as much as it is casually passing by. The last time I checked, it wasn't illegal to walk around the city parks.

[His smile does soften a little--a tell on how he's teasing rather than being serious about it. Tear's not the only one who is glad to see a familiar face around, after all.]

That said, what brings you all the way out here? I highly doubt it's the scenery, beautiful as it is.

[He could guess it's probably the local wildlife, but he'd rather have that confession come from Tear--if she owns up to it, that is.]

[mysterical]

[She narrows her eyes as she watches him. It's not really like the older man to be quite so open about his feelings. Not that... he's heartless either.]

It might not be illegal, but normal people generally announce their presence with words, not just ominous footsteps.

[Not that they were ominous. She was just concentrating so much on not being obvious that she managed to block out a great deal of other things.]

As for why I'm here, I'm trying to find the answer to that. The last I knew, we were in Yulia City with the others. And then I woke up here.

[jeido]

[He opts to continue smiling and decides to let go of the topic regarding his stealth or desired lack thereof... for now.]

I see. As for why we're here, supposedly, it's to help this world recover from an old disaster, but past that, no one really knows. That aside, I think we may have been pulled from different points in time, given what I last remember in comparison to yours. [He cups a hand to his chin in thought.] To confirm, what do you remember of our plans in Yulia City?

[mysterical]

[Thank you for not calling her out on her overreaction too much. She couldn't take it.

As Jade explains what he knows, she listens intently. In her exploration, she'd overheard other's talking about how people come from the same world but at different times. She didn't want to believe it, but something about the way he talks makes it feel more real than when she'd been diagnosed with Miasma Toxicosis.]

We were to go to Eldrant the next day. [If he doesn't know, she'll tell him, of course, but she doesn't want to say it out loud and around strangers.]

[jeido]

I see. That confirms it, I suppose. What I remember is what happened after our trip to Eldrant. Which is to say, the operation was a success.

[He pauses, none too sure if he should continue, considering the price everyone had to pay for it. But the pause may as well be mistaken for something of a breather instead of a hesitant, withholding one, for he continues smoothly afterwards.]

On another note, have you met anyone else from our world around here?