TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER—

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. Date reminders. Reserves open Saturday, October 24th and Applications open Sunday, November 1st.

• 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? The following emotions will have more effect than usual: fear, bravery, grief, joy, anger, and calm.

• 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.

• 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: Thanks to the destruction created by Sosyne’s wrath, several infrastructure problems have been… uncovered so to speak in one of the busiest sections of the city. Nearest one of the commercial areas, much of the streets have needed to be re bricked, and upon pulling up the destroyed pathways an infestation of spiders in the sewers has been discovered. The worst part though, is that these are anything but ordinary spiders.

Huge, fat, and aggressive, the spiders are extremely territorial and tower at an amazing 4ft tall at their largest. The smallest are the size of a small dog, and are even faster than the large ones. Now that there is a hole to the surface from their lair they’re escaping and causing quite a mess. Buildings are covered in webs and citizens of the city are alarmed and quite afraid.

Either you pick up a weapon and help beat them back, or perhaps your own fear of spiders is preventing you from helping?

• Prompt E: Outside one of the smaller hobby shops there seems to be quite the gathering! Thanks to the cooler air, it’s more hospitable to have gatherings outside. Several tables have been set up, with each table offering a different engaging game to play. One has a rather complicated looking card game -- a rock, paper, scissors sort of setup, but instead of elements -- emotions are the name of the game! The biggest twist though, is the one that’s the most evident.

Full of sudden anger after pulling their next card from their draw pile, a player nearby suddenly slams down their deck in a rage. Their opponent shrinks back, eyes glued to the upright Sosyne card now displayed on the table. Ah - hah. With a confident flip of their wrist they play a Peromei card -- one with a strong aura of hope. The opponent straightens their back as the hope springs from the card and slams into the Thras card. It’s a complete defeat of anger in the face of hope.

Upset that their CERTAINLY flawless play got countered, the Thras player stands up and shouts at his opponent before flipping the table over and scattering its contents all over the ground. Still angry, they stomp off before they can be confronted, leaving you and whoever else to clean up the mess in their wake.

Careful though, keep in mind that depending on what card your hands touch you might just wind up experiencing that emotion yourself.

• Prompt F: The sudden appearance of Daimonia’s crystal structure over the lake has quite a few people interested. In fact, it’s become a bit of an attraction, and as with most popular places for sightseeing -- with crowds comes garbage. A couple of more enterprising individuals have tried to sell foods and other goods along the beach, to mixed success. But in the end, it definitely means there’s garbage strewn up and down the beach.

For a few coins and the chance to loiter on the beach yourself, taking up a shoulder bag and a stick to spear the garbage sounds like a good idea right? Just try not to accidentally step on the surge of hundreds of tiny sand colored crabs that are trying their best to pinch toes that get too close.

• Prompt G: Make your own! Do what you like, just make sure to include scented candles and starfish if you’re up for a challenge.

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

Allen Walker | D-Gray-man

[odetothefallen]

B

[The task board is something new to his life but in the days he's taken jobs from it...it's a comfortable kind of control. He can't leave Verens so he's making the best of things. A pale haired young man stands at the top of a pile of rubble. It had once been a clothing store. He removes the glove on his left hand and it transforms into long bladed claws.]

Even if it's been a little while. Maybe someone is still alive!

[He tries not to let the concerns weight him down. He can't let his emotions crush the very person he's trying to save. A cloak of white whips out behind him and splits into sections that plunge into the damaged boards and brick while he kneels down to tear at a sheet of metal.]

Hey! If you can hear me, call out!

D

Option 1

[In the afternoon Allen makes a point of stopping by a food stall he found that sells freshly baked scones by the bag. He's sure they mean them to be shared but one bag is enough to keep his stomach pleased until he has enough time to sit down for lunch. The hard crust is the perfect shell for the soft tender insides and he almost savors them. Almost.

As he's walking away with his prize in hand chewing happily he passes by the main commerical area. The sight greeting his eyes kicks up a tiny sand storm around his feet. He drops the food as sparks of green rip over his body, altering it into the white clownish appearance of his invoked form. The new speed gets him to the scene in time to smash a large spider out its path towards you.]

Hey! Are you alright?!

Option 2

[Acrobatics help a lot when going toe to toe with fast moving arachnids. Allen flips over one as its fellows rush after him. He's never seen spiders this big or aggressive. He'd spent the past few hours herding them away from the citizens and even rescued a few that almost became dinner.

Yet there's no end to them. His frustration has been building since the first hour and the ground has begun to rattle and shake the longer it goes on.

He viciously kicks one fast moving smaller spider back into the hole just as a voice cuts across his whirling thoughts.

"I need one of each size caught for study!"

It stops him cold. Allen turns at the waist, his long sword burning green with pent up energy.]

...A-are you kidding me?! [The ground abruptly starts to quake, cracks spreading out away from his feet as he shouts. His temper has snapped like a twig.]

WE NEED TO STOP THEM FROM EATING PEOPLE FIRST!!! What the hell is wrong with you?!

[All scientists and researchers are insane! He can't even fathom why they'd ask that right now!]

F

[He hadn't known what to make of the delicate crystalline structure when he'd first caught a glimpse of it at a distance. But up close as he carefully gathers trash (and laughs at the crabs trying to get through his boots) he can't help but find it beautiful. He flicks a crab that trying to sneak under his pants cuff back into the water with a snort.]

Easy, I'm just here to help! [The crabs don't care but that's fine. This is almost like being at home with Hevleska not that far away. ...The thought makes his chest ache and thin trickles of cool water bubble up from the ground to race down towards the shore. He pays it no mind, moving with purpose and pocketing what coins he finds. It never hurts to take what you can get.

As he rounds the edge he stabs with the stick and swipes it to the side just to the left of your foot.] You should be careful. These crabs are really out for feet today.

Sorry. [He smiles, all warmth despite the water trailing after his every step.] I didn't mean to seem like I was attacking you. Here for clean up?

[Somewhere in the D prompts? ignore my TLDR figure Allen can show up at pretty much any point there]

[theflowerspromise]

[Hey Allen is that YOUR EYE GOING OFF??? Yep, it's definitely doing that thing that it does. And probably just when he was getting comfortable with not having to worry about it, too. Best to go check it out immediately, before the Akuma gets away!

The spirit is probably familiar enough to give Allen a little warning about what's going on (about just who he's about to come across), but it's unlikely the scene is one he's expecting. Practically all the way across the damaged area, there's a rather massive outcropping of webs, and tangled up in them (did he fall in?) is a rather annoyed looking Alma Karma, all of his attention on the spider across from him. It's definitely one of the larger ones. Alma glares at it and it skitters a little closer across the ridge of a piece of the ruins.]

Come on, just try it.

[Alma's tail lashes, collecting a bit of webbing on the tip, and the spider takes the bait, jumping at Alma's exposed chest (he's found a jacket, somewhere, that fits over most of his protruding shoulders, and a pair of loose, short pants), but Alma swings a webbing-covered arm free to block it. The spider goes flying from the force Alma uses to fling it away, though it leaves a bleeding gash on the stretch of arm uncovered by Alma's rolled-up sleeves. Alma looks at the gash with more curiosity than anything, then back at the spider just in time for the star markings to appear all over it before it collapses.]

...That works, I guess.

[There's a little disappointment in the air, alongside the anger and grief that comes-doesn't-come from Alma, the cocktail of painful emotions that's a constant around any Akuma. Alma seems almost cheerful in spite of it, though, as he starts pulling himself free of the web - and then falls into the gap it spans with a whumph when it can no longer support his weight. At that, there's a jump in irritation and a short burst of swearing.]

Works for me!

[odetothefallen]

[He didn't know what to expect when his eye tells him there's an Akuma rather close by. He'd made sure the shop keeper he'd rescued gets in doors before taking off down the side street connecting the main business center to the lesser frequented shops. He arrives in time to see a spider covered with stars and a voice that stops him in mid-step.

He stares unable to help it. They'd said the dead could come back here. But...seeing is believing. Thin trickles of water bubble up from under his feet, his sorrow causing it to spread out and loosen webbing stuck to the side of a toy shop.

Allen is there with his human hand outstretched whenever Alma looks up.] ...they're coming from a hole in the sewers the next street over. They told me the recent attack opened a hole to their lair.

...when...did you get here? [When he'd first arrived he'd have been too exhausted but he'd have known if an Akuma was around. Even if that is one...made of a living body.]

[theflowerspromise]

[It takes a moment - Alma doesn't need to breathe but he's still a bit winded from the way he fell, over a piece of concrete that would have broken anyone else's ribs. Maybe it did break his ribs, and that's why it takes him so long to sit up and take Allen's hand.

It stings, a little - there's a red mark where the Innocence glove touched his skin, looking like a mild burn. Alma stands awkwardly with the assistance, apparently no more sure what to say than Allen is. But after a moment, he smiles, and in contrast to the sorrow pooling at Allen's feet, it practically sparkles.

Maybe he does have something like a friend here.]

No hello? You've got rotten manners.

[When he drops Allen's hand, the red mark recedes almost immediately. It doesn't actually surprise Alma, that Allen's too focused on saving people to really give him a greeting. That's completely fitting with the sense of Allen that he'd gotten before. It's okay, he came here to hunt spiders anyway.

At the question, Alma tilts his head thoughtfully before answering.]

Three days, I think?

[Everything kind of blurs together without scientists forcing him on a daily routine, especially when he doesn't need sleep much. Or food. Or any of the things that normally come with being human. He has to think to figure out a way of counting.]

...Yeah, the sun set three times, so three days.

[odetothefallen]

[How had he missed it? Allen winces at the rebuke of his manners and holds up both his hands.][Allen gestures for Alma to come with him as he starts back the way he came. It's a little slower with a fine mist in the air swirling around like a shroud. He needs to catch up first, find out what the other boy remembers.] You're really here. That's all.

[Kanda hadn't said anything about it and to bring back an Akuma. He glances down at his simple tan coat and the vest under that and adds.]

I've been here a week. [A scream catches his attention and he picks up speed in an instant. With little time to think, he uses clown belt to vault up and over the ledge of a roof, and calls over his shoulder.] This way!

[theflowerspromise]

[Three days is apparently enough to improve Alma's mood from "murderous and/or crying" to something vaguely resembling the cheer of his childhood. His longer legs keep pace with Allen pretty easily, even over the uneven ground; the tail swinging behind him probably helps his balance. There's a metal ring on it that has to be the amulet.

Whether the mist is causing the melancholy in Alma's voice or is a response to it is hard to say, especially when it's just a murmur as much to himself as Allen.] It's not like I planned on being here.

[But then there's a scream and his head shoots up, and Allen doesn't really need to wait for him - Alma jumps and catches the edge of the window below Allen's rooftop practically by instinct, and from there it's a quick scramble the rest of the way up. He seems a little uncertain when he pauses on the rooftop, still crouched in a pose that isn't quite human, but - ]

Just go, I'll be behind you!

[He doesn't let on how worried he is about losing control. He's avoided people, for the most part, because these people don't deserve his anger, they had nothing to do with his anger or the fact that here he is again, living when he should be dead. The Arehtei, maybe, would deserve his wrath, if they're behind people coming here -

A tile cracks under him on the roof and slides off. Fine, whatever. At least he has someone he can trust to bring him down, now.]

[odetothefallen]

[Maybe he shouldn't be so trusting but he'd seen Kanda's memories. Allen puts his trust in the Alma he'd seen in the end right before he'd helped them escape. He darts swiftly over the roof, grateful for the speed of his invoked form. It's only a street over so in no time at all he's launched from the edge and bringing his claws harshly down on a spider that had started to pry open a window.

It's that same shopkeeper he'd saved earlier, their fear making the glass fracture.] It's alright.

I'll make them stop. [His curse eye can help him keep track of Alma so that's one worry off his mind. The air feels a little lighter even as the ground is wet with his sorrow. He doesn't seem to notice as he whirls around turning back into the fray. They need to plug that hole up somehow.]

note to self get a good "neutral" icon

[theflowerspromise]

[That's the person Alma's trying to be, but... Well, there's some struggling involved. While Allen takes care of the person upstairs, Alma swings and drops to the level of the half-wrecked street, where another pair of spiders had been ready to follow the first up to the window. Alma rips the smaller one off the wall - leaving one of its legs behind - and flings it across the street into another building.

Someone else will have to clean off the splatter and move the twitching carcass later. Alma's fighting style doesn't really tend to lead to easy clean-up. The second spider hesitates and apparently decides to go for easier prey, but Alma bounds after it and slams the head-body part of it into a wall, leaving more spider guts and a small crater from the impact of his open palm.

...Ew. Spider guts. Alma shakes the worst of them off his hand with a childish expression of disgust before turning his attention back up at Allen.]

How many of these things can there be?

I need more spazz icons for later

[odetothefallen]

We need to plug the hole to their lair! [Allen calls as he scans the opening to the surface. Could they do that with emotions? He'd heard about that while he worked in reconstruction sites. But he doesn't know a single thing about doing that. His eyes flick over the scene in time to see the sheets of metal from the edges of a ruined building. He'd been working there that morning.

The site is a reclamation, since the damage was too extensive to repair. The way the rumble is spread out reminds him of ice. It gives him an idea.] Keep them busy, I'm going to try icing it over!

[Ice could buy people with better control time to plug the hole and maybe soothe the surviving spiders. He hates killing, but he couldn't ignore the people crying for help. His cloak spirals around him in threads, as he drops between two shops and rockets over the edge of the crumbling wall. He knows which of his emotions will cause the ice.

It isn't something he likes to think about. It would tap into the one thing he'd been holding back since he fled the order.

Fear.

But there's little choice right now.]

i need money to commission icons I like SIGHS - oops too lazy to get an annoyed one rn

[theflowerspromise]

[Alma, unlike Allen, has no problems with killing... Well, anything, really, but that's an anything that definitely includes spiders at the moment. (Under other circumstances, he'd probably have more issue with it than he would with killing people. Spiders don't usually cause him personal offence.)

So while Allen goes to take care of the hole, Alma rolls his eyes and takes off after another spider that skitters past his alleyway.]

Sure, leave me with all the work...

[The grumbling doesn't last, though. The spiders aren't hard to fend off - those that make the mistake of actually trying to bite Alma wind up stars and dust for their trouble - but they are pretty annoying. Alma's mood slowly gravitates towards actually being annoyed, which means things get destroyed a bit more in his path even without the effects of mood on the environment.

As it is? He might be leaving some craters in the street whenever he stops long enough to throw a spider into something (which has become his preferred method, since it keeps to goop off his hands).]

When you're done over there, a little help finishing these things off would be nice!

I need to get off my tail and color more.

[odetothefallen]

[The first thing he does is kick out the supports holding a half repaired wall in place. The bricks and hardened mortar fall, bringing with it the support frame. He'll have to rebuild that wall. It doesn't matter right now as he dives for the four and a half food wide hole.

He doesn't want to do this. The idea of touching his own fear feels like tempting fate. But...what else can he do. Allen risks a glance at Alma, making sure he's alright. He's lucky a spider didn't try to a sneak attack from the hole. Shoulders hunched he crouches down to touch the ragged edge.

It's easier than he likes to reach down inside his memories and bring out the fear. For the past three months he's been on the run but recently the 14th, Nea had begun to awaken again.

All it takes is remembering being under the bridge. He can't control it but the ice spans the hole in a thin sheet. It's not enough.] Come on! That's enough isn't it?!

[What if he can't plug this? That fear laces with the terror of his memories. The ice gets thick enough to be noticable but it's still...he groans. One glance at Alma reminds him he has some damage control to do.] In coming!

[He grabs his arm, transforming it into the sword form and throws it at a spider. Not bothering to stick close to the iced over hole he leaps after it back into the fray.]

yeah I don't like most of the original panels so HAHA @ me

[theflowerspromise]

[Well, at least you warned him. Alma drops flat, the sword sailing over his head to crash into the spider...

Or... Not, since it goes straight through. Even the spider looks surprised, as much as a spider can look surprised, or at least so Alma is thinking as he springs back up and glares at Allen.]

Thanks, that was really helpful! Dunno what I'd do without you!

[At least the outburst of angry sarcasm causes a chunk of wall to finish cracking off and fall onto a spider that can't quite get out of the way in time, leaving it with half its legs pinned under the chunk of stone. Alma turns away, slashing through some webbing to go after a couple of the smaller ones, his fingers retaining the claws.

Exorcists. They're all idiots.]

ahhhh

[odetothefallen]

I was making sure they weren't being controlled! [Allen snaps as he lands on the hilt of the blade he'd thrown. His sword like the rest of his weapon, is part of him. He takes a second to orient himself then leaps from it in a perfect flip. Being on the run for so long helped him perfect little tricks like that. As he falls his sword transforms into a wash of white that joins back with the rest of his body. The webbing he'd been aimming for doesn't have a chance.

He lands in the midst of the smaller fast moving spiders as his cloak cuts into their ranks. The white threads spirial around him keeping his opponents busy while he activates his eye. The curse given to him by Mana Walker flares to life and tries to immediately fix on Alma. He immediately swings it elsewhere. Not many of the creatures are left. His guilt knaws at him as he surges up with a swipe of his claws.] This is the last group! Local authorities are on the way...

[He still wants to talk to Alma but he will need to assist with the repairs for the fight.] Listen. I have to help fix the damage here but, could we talk again after?

abuses doujin icons. that's the solution right.

[theflowerspromise]

[It is a nice flip. Alma is equally flexible but not nearly as graceful or practiced. Truth be told, he's still surprised sometimes at having an adult-sized body.]

Yeah right, you totally forgot!

[But between the two of them, they polish off the remaining spiders quickly, at least the ones in the immediate area. Alma is about to go off after any that have escaped when Allen mentions "local authorities."

...It's not hard to guess that Alma is particularly uninterested in dealing with those people. (He doesn't trust them, doesn't really trust any kind of "authority" after the labs, and he's just a little bit a monster anyway.) Allen, thankfully, seems to have caught on to that without being told.

Alma's eyes scan the heights of the buildings nearby, before pointing out a particularly tall one.]

That rooftop, at sunset.

[Allen isn't the only one who wants to talk, and really Alma just wants company as much as anything. It's hard to find that when there's a part of you tracking and looking to murder every human within a certain range.

Alma stays just long enough to ensure that Allen knows which building he indicated before bolting off through the rubble. Allen's eye will probably follow him pretty easily anyway, though, at least until he's up and off over a distant rooftop.]

D1?

[dualgunner]

[obligatory 'gimme the D' joke

Haseo'd been trying to deal with the spider, his dual guns in his hands, but this place isn't exactly The World - he couldn't just down a couple of potions in the middle of a fight, so he was running to get some distance.

He's a bit surprised by the sudden assistance!]

Wha-- hey!

[But he'll wheel around and reload.]

There's some more!

You got it!

[odetothefallen]

[Hahaha

Allen pivots, turning to face the rushing spiders. They're fast but he isn't going at a normal human speed either.] Get the big one on the left!

[He calls as he darts forward, the claws on his changed hand held low. The smaller creatures reach him first, and his cloak carves into them like a blade. He almost forgets he needs to make a clear shot.

He glances once to make sure the other boy is alright and lunges right.]

[dualgunner]

[Haseo's able to slide around rather swiftly on his feet, his guns shooting oddly deep, muffled sounds as they hit the bigger spider, keeping it at bay. The bullets seem to do more damage when the target is closer, but Haseo's not exactly in a rush to get up in the spider's face, hoping that a barrage of smaller wounds might dissuade it and make it retreat.]

[odetothefallen]

[As aggressive as the spiders are, they're aware enough to realize they'd have better luck with weaker prey. The big one hisses and turns to attack the seemingly unguarded back of the closer boy. Only to face sharp claws as Allen moves forward and puts power into an upward swipe.

The energy of the strike tears through its carapace and sends it crashing back into a pack of smaller spiders. They scatter, bounding off and leaving the Exorcist to turn to the other.]

I'm not sure what's going on but we can't let them hurt anyone! Did you see anything when you got here?

B

[ichoosefight]

Hello?

[ She isn't at all sure how she ended up in a pile of rubble. She can feel a bit of wetness in her hair, and suspects the reason she can't remember is a concussion. It wouldn't be the first time, and they are cumulative injuries. Why wasn't she wearing her cowl? That at least would give her some head protection. But no, she's in her civvies. ]

I hear you! Hello?!

[odetothefallen]

Hang on! [The metal gives like wet paper on his claws. Spurred on by the voice he follows it, digging where he's heard it the clearest. His cloak threads withdraw from the random pattern he'd went with to assist in his efforts.] Are you hurt?

[Allen tries his best to project a calm he doesn't feel. That's the problem with this place he can't hide how he feels at all. A nervous fluttery excitement turns some of the wreckage closest to him to sand. Wait. He nearly stops then redoubles his efforts. In no time at all thanks to the emotional effect and his own power, he makes a relieved sound and smiles wide.] Sorry it took so long.

[He offers his right hand, the deadly claws of his left dug into a wooden beam.]

[ichoosefight]

I think I hit my head...

[ The advantage to being concussed is that Steph is mostly dazed, and not in the least scared or angry. That won't last forever. She takes the hand and in moving discovers her other injuries: a veritable armada of bruises. It doesn't feel like anything is broken, though. ]

I feel like a building fell on me.

[ Good news! Her sense of humor is intact. ]

[odetothefallen]

I don't think the buildings here get back up just to hit people. [Allen makes sure to support her with his clawed hand on her back as she moves. Mindful of his claws he does away with his invoked form. The claws turn into an armored looking red hand and the cloak fades to nothing.]

The hospital isn't too far. I can explain where you are after we get you patched up. Can you walk?

[ichoosefight]

Well there's a relief.

[ She's staring at him now, and not just because of the arm. The eye thing is a little freaky too, and all of this is way outside of her experience. Unfortunately she's regaining her lucidity too, and though she doesn't show it she's starting to feel a little bit afraid. ]

I'm okay, I think. Nothing broken, not seeing double... [ She waves a hand in front of her face just to be sure. No, her vision is normal. She doesn't feel like she's hallucinating. ]

[odetothefallen]

Still...it wouldn't hurt to get you looked at. [It's a little uncomfortable being stared at. He wishes he still had a hooded coat so he could cover up his white hair and some of the scar that mars the left side of his face. He smiles politely and speaks again, his tone gentle.]

The healers can help. You're in Verens. I only know so much about it. I haven't been here long either. But...I'll answer everything I can.

I guess I should start with my name. I'm Allen Walker.

[ichoosefight]

[ The air crackles with her anxiety, but she manages a smile. She doesn't know what the source of the electricity is anyway. ]

I'm Stephanie Brown. [ And confused, and wondering where her costume is and how she got here. ]

I've never heard of Verens. Are we still in the US?