empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: MARCH

— 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:

Someone is deliberately provoking you to try and make you mad.
Someone else has blown their top and the device (and nearby fireworks) are exploding.
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.

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.
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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hello, Countess. Fancy meeting you here.]

I didn't think there was much virtue in you left to protect.

[ It isn't very fancy when he greets her with a barb rather than something more pleasant, now is it? ]

Wouldn't it be proper to defend what little remains then? [ Not even going to deny it or defend herself. Doing either would give him too much joy so she opts for the least interesting root (haa) when she speaks with him. ]

[But it was for his thorns that she bought him out, wasn't it?]

That then begs the question of why you would need someone else to defend you. I thought you would be more than capable by yourself.

[Yet even so, he still manages to find some way to throw it all back.]

[ And to brush up on her plant puns. He should pleased to serve some purpose rather than wilting away in a corner elsewhere. ]

If I handled the rabble on my own, it'd leave you with very little to occupy yourself with. [ Waving a hand dismissively towards the scene. ] Interfering with festivities of this nature would be unbecoming for one of nobility, wouldn't you agree, blossom?

[ Lowering her hand, her eyes look him over briefly, fully intent on locking her gaze with his before asking: ] Or are you fussing still over the last party we attended together?

[He does suppose her freeing him was one boon in the arrangement. But perhaps the only one.]

Personally I'd find it quite enlightening and would spark more life into the arrangement. [Hey, Canach likes explosives. He has no issues watching them go off in someone else's face.

However, he would have been interested to see how Anise would have handled things. He knew the Countess had skill, but how much he had yet to personally bear witness. Trying to figure out this "maddening woman" is almost like a game at this point; an exercise to pull him out of the humdrum of an otherwise boring position when she's not sending him out on errands or missions.]

But no, I have put that behind me. You may have fooled me once, but it will not happen for a second time. [Ah.] Which reminds me. I technically am no longer beholden to you.

[ Unperturbed by his last statement, Anise rests a hand against her chest all while breathing out a heavy sigh. ] You wound me.

[ Not that she seems hurt in the slightest. If it were tears or any sign of weakness at all he had hoped to glean with that remark, he was denied as per usual. Anise's visible emotions were only part of the mask she wore as the Master Exemplar and nothing more. ]

You are technically no longer beholden to me. [ This much is true, Anise won't deny him that. The circumstances that brought them together have changed.

They both were now prisoners. It's a heavy thought she's carried with her, having anticipated this conversation well in advance. A conversation she's played out in her mind relentlessly in Tyria and although she could predict what statements would bruise beforehand, he had the upper hand in this matter. Only a fool enamored with his pride would walk away from an arrangement so she would lower her guard slightly with her gaze towards the ground. Appear a little less capable and a little more human. ]

Does that mean you will abandon me when I need your blade more than ever? The potential for something more... ahhh, perhaps I misunderstood your intentions from the start.

[Canach knows better than to expect anything from this one. Doesn't mean he won't still try whatever angle he sees available.

...And now he's just going to quirk a brow at her.]

I think there's more than just misunderstandings on your part. Although you still don't fool me, Countess. Neither real or fake tears will move me. [How rude. Though no, he really is not quite buying the change in attitude.] That said, if my brothers heard wind of me just leaving you to fend for yourself while they're full of this "same world camaraderie" then that would be far more annoying to bear than whatever guilty conscience you're trying to invoke.

So long as the price and circumstances fit to my liking, I suppose I could at least listen to your "pleas."

[ Come now, she knows he craves to see her reflect some emotion. It's a pity her whims aren't enough to fully reach him else she may have had more fun spinning a more tragic tale. ]

You would stay with me out of an obligation to your siblings? How unexpected. [ Except the tone in that last bit says something else. ] Hoping they will return home to mother and boast of the kindness of their wayward sibling? Tell me, what does the Grove provide you that I cannot?

[ She is was rich. Could money not keep him? ]

[But those are fake ones. He wants to see real tragedy. If she's even capable of it.]

If you think that is my angle, then you still have much to learn about me, Countess. However it is curious how hard you're trying to keep me to you. Are you truly that desperate?

Edited 2016-03-09 16:54 (UTC)

[ Remind her that she'll never see her greatest friend's smile once more and he may very well have his tears.

Or his death. ]

Desperation is ill-suited for a noblewoman of Kryta. [ Then again, so was running around with a criminal. ] I only fear for your well-being, blossom. Nothing more.

[Sounds fun.]

Fear for it? Or do you actually care?

[HAH YEAH RIGHT.]

Regardless, you should know I am more than capable. I doubt you'd try so hard to keep me on your leash if you didn't.

What good is a leash when you don't wear a collar? [ See, he's not a pet ~~yet~~. ]

I simply provided you a plot to grow in. Seeing an investment wither away due to lack of care would reflect poorly on my skill as a gardener.

[ That's the closest thing he's getting to the c-word so he better enjoy it. ]

[He'll get it out of her one day. Never. Still fun to try, though.]

Yes, you had quite the green thumb. [Doesn't sound that sincere, really.] But I still have no interest in returning to your little "plot."

[ Even if she can't keep him pressed under her thumb, she'll find a way to wrap him around her finger. It's simply what she does. ]

You would scorn a woman's feelings to her face? [ Tsk, tsk. ] Your affinity for explosions is ever-present but it'd be improper for me to lose my temper.

[ She'll leave that to the guy making a fool of himself nearby. ]

Yes. Especially when the woman's face may not be as real as she makes it appear. [That smirk. It's enough to make any plants around them to curl.]

And frankly I'd think you losing your temper would make you for a far more interesting person.

[ Making a mental note to introduce him to one of her exemplars when they return to Kryta in regards to her temper, she keeps it under check. If he would find pleasure in it, then why give him the joy of witnessing her lashing out? ]

You do enjoy skirting that line. [ Where are his manners? ] Questioning my age before guests, accusing me of deceit in beauty... whatever rude gesture will you make next?

[Because it would the nice thing to do.

And he has manners. He just chooses to not employ them at times.]

Do you really wish to find out? I think you know how far I can go, particularly around those I care nothing about.

TEST DRIVE: MARCH

D. Because. It can only end well.

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