empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: JUNE

— TEST DRIVE: JUNE —

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 Wednesday, May 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Wednesday, June 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: On what promised to be an otherwise normal day, a local shopkeeper wanders out of his stall, a scowl on his otherwise glazed expression. Ignoring all attempts at communication, he stumbles down the road… but not without consequence. Did he leech your emotions, leaving you apathetic and listless? Or perhaps you were hit with a projected wash of bitter jealousy, maybe with an accent of grief or rage? Either way, something is going very wrong here. Can you still muster the strength and focus to care, or does everyone around you now have a new problem to deal with?

• Prompt E: Thou reckless child from beyond this world’s ken. Quit meddling in life’s blood, and be not swift to shed it lest a reckoning come.

What the hell was that in your head?! It sounded a little like a crystal communication, but you definitely hadn’t been touching your crystal or trying to acknowledge any messages! Also, it sounded like large number of people all whispering to create a voice, which was weird, and it felt as if thin, icy cold tendrils were slowly reaching into your mind, like a slow brain freeze. Maybe someone was pranking you? The problem is, if you try to reply, you’ll find that your message went to a random crystal somewhere on the island, and with it, that same strange sense of coldness you experienced.

• Prompt F: For mysterious secret Arehtei purposes, Sosyne and Thras were attempting to install a large-scale waterfall outside the Memory Tree, of the sort that had been previously used to display images from other places. But the two of them got into a huge argument over their respective Deus Ex Arehtei cards (Thras believes his is overcosted, Sosyne believes he’s a raging egotistical jackass and also she should have higher attack), and while they were distracted the screen overflowed its drain. Now emotion-charged water washes down the streets of Verens, and as it passes by people it displays the most emotionally-charged memories of their life. What secrets and histories are on display as it washes by you?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include flock of pigeons and/or giant rolls of cheese.

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

[The air heats up around them both.

Zelos... Just annoys him, honestly. Not a ton of depth to his feelings there.]

I have no need to take lessons in duplicity from you. You aren't exactly a master of the subject, Chosen.

[He sighs and turns to him.]

There is no need to play the long game I did before. This place has its own gods. Attempting to use Cruxis as I did would merely confuse matters. No, there is no need for Yggdrasill to hide his power here.

So, what, you're just going to wreak havoc?

[He doesn't very much want to fight the guy that could easily kick his ass, but for defense purposes, he places his hand at the sword at his waist just in case. He can feel the heat in the air...]

The prospect is... intriguing, in a way. To pit my angelic might against the emotional magic of the Arehtei would be a contest worth seeing.

[He shakes his head, smirking coolly. There's that control he likes feeling again- He sees Zelos' hand move to his sword and it feels like all is right again. Intimidation.]

No. This is... anomalous; these birds were an irritant. But a display of my power, nonetheless. Power begets loyalty, Chosen, as your own questionable followings have proven.

[This guy really pisses him off. An irritant, like he couldn't walk down the street and ignore some birds. And then he's talking like he could take on these whatever-they-are... It could be, honestly, and that's what bothers Zelos the most. But those harsh words at the end reel Zelos in as they always do, though.]

Well, I can't deny that. [He's being cautious because from his point of view, he was still carrying out orders from this guy— or playing along, at least. But when was he from?]

But I don't know if your power is going to get you very far, here.

Mm. [The heat in the air dissipates, replaced with... The feeling of rain. Rain that hasn't started yet, but is on its way. A quiet rumbling of thunder, too.

Yggdrasill has not felt doubt in four thousand years, and he doesn't like its sudden comeback.]

The blend of different worlds is... troubling, to say the least. It is fully possible that my power is something others have witnessed before, or that there is power to match it here. ... But that is why I must persevere. I cannot fail again. Martel must- I must return.

[He scoffs at that, holding no sympathy for words that only lead to more suffering. Temporarily, fear subsides for attitude.]

I hate to break it to you, but you're not going to do anything for Martel if she's not here. You're stuck. Why don't you go find some kids and play pretend?

[In an instant, Yggdrasill is in Zelos's personal space, a glowing hand pointed right at him. The heat around them is unbearable, mixing with the humidity from before to create a tiny localized rainstorm over the two.]

I will not be spoken down to, Chosen. Death shall be merely an obstacle for me, one that I will overcome. I will return to our world, I will be victorious, and any who stand in my way will fall. I would feel no remorse if you were to be the first.

[His reflexes are fast, but he can't get back from his speed in that form. It's only enough to draw his sword and hold it defensively as his expression changes, his whole body tense. Hot rain... great.]

Hey, hey, I'm not doing anything to you, so leave me out of it! [As much as he wants to repeat that he can't do anything... He's not pushing it in the face of that magic.]

... Very well. I do not wish to cause a scene. [He lowers his hand, but that rain's not going anywhere. Thunder is booming overhead.]

Do not forget who I am, Chosen. You and your companions may have defeated me once, but that mistake will not be made again.

[...Well that answers his questions. He's already been defeated, so is he not going to expect him to carry out any orders? He wouldn't be of that much use here, right? Maybe he's safe.

Well, but this kind of thing is too unpredictable to rely on it for very long, so he'll just have to pay attention.]

I don't think anyone's forgetting. [...] What are you going to do here?

Find a way out. I assume others are doing the same. I have no interest in being a pawn in the interests of these emotional deities.

[He shrugs slightly.]

For now, it is merely the best use of my time to travel the area and see what there is that I could utilize. It is not so different from what I did in my time.

Sounds different to me.

[This sounds slightly more like leaving the world alone, but maybe he's wrong.]

... I do not need companions, any more. [He figures that's what Zelos is on about. These people and their need for friends.]

I have grown more powerful than anyone who could possibly assist me. Their contributions would mean little, and would be a detriment upon my return to Aselia.

So you're just going to try this all on your own?

[He doesn't think that will go so well, but like hell he's telling him that. If he's easier to take care of and stays more out of the way, then it's not his problem.]

... There may be room for a... single exception.

[He hates that the world here echoes his emotions, because as he says that the heat shimmers and fades a bit, almost as if a relieving cool breeze had come through.

Damnable feelings.]

Whatever method I use would presumably be discoverable by others, in time. You possess the same type of power as I do, if at a lower level. If it required angelic might, even you could wear away at it eventually.

[All of this is surprising him. He watches Yggdrasill cautiously.]

Me...? But I don't even know how any of that stuff works.

[He's had a very, very long day.]

Lucky for you you're mostly immortal if you so choose, then. You have quite a long time to figure it out.

Gee, thanks. [Who's a guy gotta stab for an instruction manual around here?? Oh well.]

Anyway, I'm not the type of guy to do things like that at all. I've been perfectly fine just enjoying my time here. Maybe you should, too.

I have spent four thousand years putting pieces in play. I cannot just give up.

[The thought is genuinely inconceivable to him. And if Genis couldn't talk him out of it... Well, bimbo Chosen over here's not got much chance.]

This place is a barren mess, anyway. Emotions instead of mana? A momentary amusement.

TEST DRIVE: JUNE

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