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

[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!

[herpath]

[She nods, smiling brightly at the thought. In fact, it almost looks like she's glowing a little.]

Mmhmm!

[becomeashield]

You two needed company to rely on and survive. The lad needed to see the world and hone his talents. As for the Four Dragons, the bloodlines of the Hakuryuu and the Ouryuu had been waiting for a moment like this for ages now. Seiryuu and Ryokuryuu, however, they needed to break their shackles and find a home. And well, Kouka itself needed someone willing to help.

In our needs colliding, something special was born. This was fated, Zeno's certain.

[herpath]

[She paused with the spoon still in her mouth and shifted uncomfortably. The way Zeno talked about it made it seem more impressive then anything in the world. Something about it seemed just too big for her. She wasn't big and impressive, she was just Yona and everyone was just everyone.

Besides, she tried not to dwell on the idea that all this was fated. She chose her own fate, it wasn't laid out before her like some vast path.]

I'm just glad things worked out and we're all together.

[For her, that was really the only fact of the situation that mattered. They were all together and happy and healthy. She didn't need anything else.]

[becomeashield]

[This would sound more solemn if his mouth and cheeks didn't have ice cream stains.]

Priests say every meeting is fated, even the ones with no purpose like bumping on strangers in the street. So don't take it with such a stiff expression, Miss. Not everything is decided, despite some stuff being meant to be.

[He laughs and decides to drop the subject after that.]

Yup, it's working just fine~ Zeno's glad everyone in the group is the way they are! I don't regret tagging along.

[herpath]

[Ice cream stains are totally priestly.

She continues to listen, content to just hear Zeno's voice. It's always been comforting.]

Mmm! I wanted to know about the girl you're living with!

[She's almost been distracted by the ice cream and forgotten to ask. She knows she doesn't need to ask if she's nice. This is Zeno and she can't imagine he'd live with anyone who wasn't nice.]

[becomeashield]

[The lad's priest would certainly be a mess with ice cream.]

Sure... What do you want to know about Kaya?

[The fact he uses an actual name is quite strange, and even telling. Also, his cheeks are blushing a bit.]

[herpath]

[Yona notices and decides that Kaya must be a very special person to make Zeno blush like that. Which only makes her want to know about her more.]

Everything. How did you meet?

[It's as good a place to start as any.]

[becomeashield]

I was traveling somewhere between the territories of the Fire Tribe and the Earth Tribe, I'm not sure, when I just fainted somewhere. When I woke up I was at Kaya's home, lying on her only straw bed. She had seen me and dragged me to safety, and she offered some of her valuable food to me despite being gravely sick herself. So Zeno decided to stay and take care of her, to return the favor.

[He interrupts the story.] Hey, what's the last thing that happened back home, miss? What do you know about Zeno's story? From the point I was taken from you guys know the important part of it, but I don't know about the Miss in front of me.