TEST DRIVE: MARCH

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: MARCH —

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 Tuesday, February 23nd and Applications (Canon | OC) open Tuesday, March 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: Fireworks are a common source of entertainment for the island, and each year the equipment and technology used get more advaanced—and more dangerous. This year they're trying to contain the explosive emotional power from the easily angered by using a new device based off the Tree of Memories petals. Except the "device" includes the explosive powder for the fireworks. You can only imagine how disasterous that could be. YOUR OPTIONS:

1. Someone is deliberately provoking you to try and make you mad.
   
2. Someone else has blown their top and the device (and nearby fireworks) are exploding.
   
3. General firework and explosives mayhem.

Note: Calm emotions will help diffuse the situation, but you might want some water or something else to help douse both the literal and metaphorical flames.

• Prompt E: The spring season of Zephyras is on its way, so there's a lot less snow these days. To make the most of it, a lot of the local children have built as many snowmen and snow creatures as they can. Some adults have also taken to it, some actually treating it like some kind of competition. The resulting creations range from the standard to the incredible. Behemoth, monstrous creatures with gaping jaws and horns, majestic unicorns with ice sculpted wings and horns, lifelike human sculptures in various poses. Normally all of these would be considered works of it, but when you're in a world where emotions can sometimes give things a mind of their own...well. Creativity isn't the only way to "breathe life" into them.

1. Emotions can affect these snow sculptures in various way. Those that trend on the happier side will cause the snow creations to move and frolic around in place, perhaps even try to "play" with those around them. Those that trend on the negative, however, will give the opposite, especially anything that could make them more angry and violent.
   
   
2. A few people have caught onto this and have actually created a snowmen army! Using "stock" made snowmen, at least ten from each side slide and wobble around, chucking snowballs and rocks at one another for pure snow destruction. Hopefully you don't get caught in the middle of it.

• Prompt F: Have you ever ridden on a hover board? Or a flying motorcycle? Well if you haven't, you get to be one of many to try out a new design set to come out by the summer months of Eurus. Of course, they are still in development, so expect some hiccups and stalls. Even more, to help with fuel and power efficiency issues, the engineers have created a system that would help absorb and channel the user's emotions into the machine. Now, it's supposed to only take the energy from emotions and not actually be affected by what kind is given. In theory, even a sad person could power their new flying vehicle! However, that's a kink that still needs to be hammered out, so the test vehicles are still prone to emotional effects just like everything else. Angry emotions will have fire bursting from the exhaust, giving it a super huge boost in speed and power, but lack of control. Joy and excitement are also good boosters, but prepare to have a trail of stardust that could blow back in your face. Some other side effects are: rust, engine stall, decreased acceleration, suddenly flying upside down. Oh yeah, these don't have seat belts. But you get a helmet and a parachute! Good luck.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include empty barrel and/or chickens.

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

Action

[becomeashield]

[She was easy to spot even from a long distance. He knew the red hue very well; it's carved into his memories and into his soul. It brings him comfort and his heart feels soothed, even if his blood almost boils in his veins.

He approaches fast and goes for a hug. It feels like it's been forever and it's just been a day at the same time. Zeno's concept of time is always skewed.

Under his feet, tiny pink flowers bloom between the floor tiles.]

Re: Action

[herpath]

[She accepts the hug happily and offers one of her own back. The area around them seems to feel like springtime. Warm and happy. She's convinced it's Zeno's doing, he always has reminded her of the sun. For her it had only been a few hours since she'd seen him last, but his happiness at seeing her was infectious. Besides, hugging Zeno was always a good thing.]

It's so weird, I just saw all of you back home, but it feels like it's been months. I want to know everything that I missed.

[It's upsetting that there's such a time discrepancy between them. It's weird and she doesn't like it, but there isn't anything she can do about it except ask them to catch her up on what she's missed in their lives so suddenly.]

[becomeashield]

[It's true that the weather was getting warmer, but it's not surprising if Zeno's emotions have made it feel even more like spring.] It was months for us. [He laughs, cheery but mischievous.] The thing is, Zeno doesn't know well how to explain everything that happened until now. This place is too wild and full of unknown things I don't understand yet. But I'll do my best, my very best! But first, we need to get the Miss something tasty to eat! Let Zeno introduce you to ice cream. [When Zeno arrived, Yona had been there. She doesn't seem to remember Verens, but it's fine. During that first day, his princess had taken him to eat treats so doing this felt like completing a circle. It amused him.]

[herpath]

Ice cream?

[pulls back and tilts her head a little. How can ice be creamy?]

[becomeashield]

Let me show you! Words can't describe it. [He grabs Yona's arm, still shining. Zeno gently leads her through streets and corners, and on their way tiny flowers again pop out between the icy tiles sometimes. Luckily the ice cream parlor isn't that far from the Tree, and he takes her to a table outside. With a hand, he calls a waitress.] Hi, hi! A chocolate and vanilla for me, and... let's go with strawberry for her. We'll have three flavors to taste.

[herpath]

[Yona twists and turns to watch the flowers just pop up out of nowhere. She read in the pamphlet that this sort of thing could happen, but seeing it actually happening was another thing entirely. It was really pretty and it made sense that Zeno would grow flowers wherever he went.

As they entered the shop she couldn't help looking around. She hadn't actually been inside a store yet and it was completely different from anything back home. Big and brightly lit with sounds all over that didn't sound entirely natural. She just barely heard the flavors in her distracted state.]

[becomeashield]

[He understands her reaction as he'd had it before himself, and had seen it in a couple of new faces as well.]

A bit overwhelming, huh? This land has a lot of weird stuff that Kouka doesn't. Machines, magic, food, animals, plants... There's so much to get used to! You hear a lot of new words and strange stories from other people's countries. But the Miss is clever and easy to adapt, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

[herpath]

[Once she'd read the packet she'd understood that she'd be learning all sorts of new things. This world wasn't Kouka. It wasn't even any of the surrounding lands which, while different still held some level of familiarity. If she thought about it long enough she might just start to feel terrified, but Zeno had been able to adapt and flourish, so had Hak. She was sure that if she tried her best she'd be able to too.]

Still, I'm glad you and Hak are here.

[She'd probably be a mess if she were here by herself. At least that's what she thought. Even without them directly by her side just knowing that they were in the same world was enough to make her feel stronger.]

[becomeashield]

And Zeno's glad to see the Miss and that she's not alone here. It's... more fun with friends, right?

[The ice creams arrive, creamy things in little colorful containers. They each got a spoon made with a strange, smooth material that doesn't exist in Kouka.]

Yay! Thank you for the meal!

[Zeno digs his spoon in the brown substance first, and he eats the whole spoonful with his characteristic joy. He's always happy when they have something good to eat, be it here in this city or back in the road with the Happy Hungry Bunch.]

[herpath]

Mmm.

[She nods in agreement, a bright smile spreading across her face. Even just looking at her friends as emotional support she could never have gotten as far as she has without them.

When the bowls of food(?) arrive with the little strange things sticking out of them her eyes go wide. It doesn't look edible at all; but there Zeno is digging into it with excitement and glee like always. Carefully she touches the thing sticking out only to remove her hand and frown a little.]

It's cold!

[She hadn't expected that. It wasn't really that cold outside or anything but the food(?) felt like it should be snowing and they should be bundled up.]

[becomeashield]

That's why it's called "ice" cream. Here they have ways to keep food cold and fresh.

Eat it with the spoons or it melts in your hand. Be careful with the first spoonful! The cold can freeze your brain for some seconds! Then it goes away and you can keep eating.

[herpath]

Spoons?

[She reached again for the thing that was sticking out of the lump, this time pulling it directly out. The ice cream came with it in the shape of the spoon and she looked at it for a moment. If she thought about it the treat looked kind of like something that might have been served at the palace, yet here, everyone could have it. That was actually pretty fantastic.

Following Zeno's words she only took a tiny bit off the spoon and her eyes widened again as it quickly melted in her mouth.]

Ah! It melted!

[Was it supposed to do that? Had she done something wrong?]

[becomeashield]

[Zeno cackles a little, delighted.] It's normal, normal! Because it was frozen before. Your mouth is warm, so it melts like snow and just yummy flavored milk remains. It's kind of the point to let it melt. Try again and taste the flavor.

[herpath]

[She blinks a few times as she looks at the ice cream and let's what Zeno is telling her sink in.

It's supposed to be like that.

After a moment she takes another bite. It's cold! It's really cold, but she tries to concentrate on the flavor even though it feels like it's freezing the inside of her mouth. It takes her a second to swallow before she brightens visibly; in fact, the whole room brightens.]

It's really good!

[It tastes sweet and just a little tangy. She couldn't help wishing the others were here so they could all have some together.]

[becomeashield]

[Just seeing Yona so happy makes him happy as well. She looked so tense and lost a few minutes ago. A smile suits her much better. The power of little things in people's mood is truly amazing.]

Now try Zeno's. This light-colored part is vanilla. The brown one is something called chocolate. I know the color is muddy, but trust me.

[herpath]

[Wekk, at her base Yona was ever a sixteen-year-old girl. Little things still made her just as happy as seeing a village of people able to provide for themselves without their government taking their livelihood away.]

If I'm trying yours then you need to eat some of mine too.

[She pushed the strawberry over toward Zeno before she took a small scoop of his vanilla.]

[becomeashield]

Of course! There's a reason Zeno ordered it like that. [He directs his spoon towards the recipient and gets some of that strawberry ice cream.] Thank you for the meal!

[And he swallows and enjoys it.]

[herpath]

[At his reaction she can't help the bright smile that grows on her face or the fact that the whole room seems to brighten considerably. She should have known that Zeno would have thought ahead.

Without anymore hesitation she takes a bite of the chocolate and her eyes open wide in delight. Did the room just start to grow a bit warmer?]

This is amazing!

[becomeashield]

Isn't it? Now try it together with vanilla, the rice-colored one.

[Zeno had really missed her smile, and the one on his face becomes wider. Long gone was the nervous child in front of the Memory Tree.]

[herpath]

[If she were completely honest she really just wants to eat lots more of the chocolate. It's too delicious for words really.

She's also already thinking of picking out a flavor to take to Hak once she's managed to get enough money to buy some on her own. She's sure it'll take time so she'll have to think really hard about it.

She doesn't notice how the water starts to condense and form Hak's face eating ice cream before she takes a scoop of just the vanilla. Of course the flavor distracts her from her thoughts and the condensation pools into tiny puddles again.]

It's really light!

[That's the only way she can describe the vanilla flavor. The chocolate was dark and rich and heavy like something decadent that she might eat back when she'd lived in the palace, this was more like something else.]

I think Yoon would like it.

[becomeashield]

The lad would love this place in general. [He grabs a second spoonful of strawberry.] There's a library open for everyone, and exotic food to experiment, and then there's the machinery. Besides, medicine is so advanced here and he could learn so much to help others. Although he might cause a tiny earthquake whenever he's mad at us! [He misses his baby mom.]

[herpath]

[Everything sounds like it's geared just for Yoon, and Yona can't help wishing he'd at least be able to get a little time here. In response the lights seem to dim softer at her thoughts.]

Probably, but I think he really likes it when everyone is lively.

[She knew she did. Everyone was so different and seeing them getting along and having fun was always something that made her happy.]

[becomeashield]

Zeno too, Zeno too! It is much better when we're all making a ruckus or having fun, isn't it?

[Much less lonely. The lad had lonely moments before he met that priest, didn't he? Hakuryuu was surrounded by people, but they worshiped him. Seiryuu was incredibly lonely. Ryokuryuu was lucky to find people in Awa, but he was chained before.

And Zeno... He was lonely for centuries.

He notices the mood is dropping.]

We have to thank the Miss for gathering us and making our lives livelier.

[herpath]

[She shakes her head, spoon in her mouth from taking more chocolate. It wasn't really her, they'd all chose to come with her and she was grateful for that.]

It would have been really lonely if it were just Hak and me.

[becomeashield]

Zeno can just imagine. [He knows how it was back then for those two, but he won't bring that up. He licks some ice cream on the corner of his lips.] We raised you up as you raised us up, right? It's a good thing we all decided to come along. A great thing!