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empatheias_ooc2016-09-18 12:53 pm
empevents) wrote in empatheias_ooc2016-09-18 12:53 pm
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER
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 Saturday, September 24 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Saturday, October 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!
• 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: The increased exposure to Shaarnathian culture has prompted many in Verens to attempt to pick up on the discipline of Dunamis. The interest has become something of a popular trend, resulting in small businesses focusing around teaching the skill to those who are interested. Unfortunately, this doesn’t often go well for those who have lived on Empatheias for most of their life and relied so heavily on technology instead. In the seedier and more dubious schools this sometimes winds up disastrous, or outrageous in weird and interesting ways.
One particularly seedy school seems to take to the hands off approach, leaving their students alone to practice in an outside arena full of gourds of all sorts and sizes. Some also seem like they’ve gone quite rotten, resulting in a strange pungent odor. This goes about as well as expected when a particularly … enthusiastic … and poorly trained student manages to implode every last one into a glorious mess that rockets high into the sky.
Now half the shopping district is covered in various states of rotting gourd, and absolutely no one is happy about it. Nothing is spared, shops, stalls, and worst of all, the shoppers. Perhaps you’re one of the unfortunate victims of this mess, or you’re ready to help start the stinky cleanup.
• Prompt E: Someone is setting up a maze in the cornfield for kids and has run into an infestation that needs to be taken care of, but the bugs must be tackled in pairs because they're tricky bastards. They're a new species that not only releases a type of gas that makes one feel sluggish and apathetic, but they also "feed" off emotions. They're otherwise harmless, but it does make capture difficult. Since the use of pesticide is prohibited, the current tactic is for one person to act as "bait" while the other is armed with a special gun that shoots out a special paralyzing webbing. However, the shooter must stay hidden, and keep their emotions unnoticeable, or the bug will catch wind and will flee. After capture, they're thrown off the island. They're like roaches, no one wants them. In fact they also look like roaches. Still unwanted. Other tactics could be employed, but keep in mind that the farmers would like their crop to come out unharmed. Any damage incurred will come out of your pocket.
• Prompt F: A new acting troupe have established themselves in Verens, with a few new aspiring actors from Shaarnath. Through the use of Dunamis, the plays have become more lively and interactive. Most have welcomed them, but there are some groups who adhere to the "classic" way of acting, which can cause some tension.
Feel free to combine the scenarios and add whatever you'd like.
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include peanut butter and/or jelly.
• 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: The increased exposure to Shaarnathian culture has prompted many in Verens to attempt to pick up on the discipline of Dunamis. The interest has become something of a popular trend, resulting in small businesses focusing around teaching the skill to those who are interested. Unfortunately, this doesn’t often go well for those who have lived on Empatheias for most of their life and relied so heavily on technology instead. In the seedier and more dubious schools this sometimes winds up disastrous, or outrageous in weird and interesting ways.
One particularly seedy school seems to take to the hands off approach, leaving their students alone to practice in an outside arena full of gourds of all sorts and sizes. Some also seem like they’ve gone quite rotten, resulting in a strange pungent odor. This goes about as well as expected when a particularly … enthusiastic … and poorly trained student manages to implode every last one into a glorious mess that rockets high into the sky.
Now half the shopping district is covered in various states of rotting gourd, and absolutely no one is happy about it. Nothing is spared, shops, stalls, and worst of all, the shoppers. Perhaps you’re one of the unfortunate victims of this mess, or you’re ready to help start the stinky cleanup.
• Prompt E: Someone is setting up a maze in the cornfield for kids and has run into an infestation that needs to be taken care of, but the bugs must be tackled in pairs because they're tricky bastards. They're a new species that not only releases a type of gas that makes one feel sluggish and apathetic, but they also "feed" off emotions. They're otherwise harmless, but it does make capture difficult. Since the use of pesticide is prohibited, the current tactic is for one person to act as "bait" while the other is armed with a special gun that shoots out a special paralyzing webbing. However, the shooter must stay hidden, and keep their emotions unnoticeable, or the bug will catch wind and will flee. After capture, they're thrown off the island. They're like roaches, no one wants them. In fact they also look like roaches. Still unwanted. Other tactics could be employed, but keep in mind that the farmers would like their crop to come out unharmed. Any damage incurred will come out of your pocket.
• Prompt F: A new acting troupe have established themselves in Verens, with a few new aspiring actors from Shaarnath. Through the use of Dunamis, the plays have become more lively and interactive. Most have welcomed them, but there are some groups who adhere to the "classic" way of acting, which can cause some tension.
- The troupe are advertising themselves on various street corners and parks, all dressed in bright, colorful clothing! But instead of a regular play, they are beckoning others to join them in various impromptu acts. Action, comedy, romance, tragedy—anything goes! So what do you say, care to join? You can even pull in or shove the person next to you forward instead. Remember to put some feeling into it! Bonus: The scene may require some dunamis for prop work. Try it out!
- Perhaps you're one of the people siding with the classic actors. Or maybe you just don't like plays in general. There's a bucket of tomatoes just waiting to be thrown. Even better, the angrier you are, the more rotten and sour the fruit will be.
Feel free to combine the scenarios and add whatever you'd like.
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include peanut butter and/or jelly.
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!
no subject
I've thought of at least a dozen ways to make this easier, but none of them have worked out so far. At least there are enough people helping that it shouldn't take too long.
[She can't let herself feel too bad about any of this though, since a quick look at Merisia reveals she wasn't lucky enough to be inside or far away when it happened.] Perhaps in the future, such training schools should be located outside of the city.
no subject
[ Is she grumpy about getting trash rained on her? Yes. Yes, she is very grumpy, as evidenced by some of the light being sapped out of the area around her. ]
Of course none of them would work. With how messed up this gods-be-damned city is, it's a miracle if something goes right.
[ Carbuncle squeaks a protest at that statement. Excuse you, he's made tons of great friends here and has been spoiled with great treats. Whose fault is it that everything's all doom-n-gloom, huh?
Merisia has had almost nothing but problems since she got here. Honestly, the highlight of her stay in Verens is probably the time she shoved a cake into a certain wind seraph's face. Everything else is considered a low. ]
no subject
Teaching can be a complicated art, but I'm sure the school will learn from its mistakes, as will the student responsible. Sometimes the best way to learn is through failing. My teacher once told me that defeat builds stronger character than victory.
[She smiled to Carbuncle, and gave him a gentle pat on the head. He'd probably be earning himself more treats if she had anything worthwhile to share.] I've found the city to be perfectly lovely so far. A bit strange, perhaps, but I'm not unfamiliar with odd occurrences. [Speaking of which, she is a little curious about that trick with the light, but it's probably rude to just ask about that right away.]
no subject
[ To be fair, Merisia does see the meaning behind Alisha's words, and she doesn't necessarily disagree. Merisia just tends to be a bit cynical. Perhaps a side effect from being so distrustful. ]
...you must be new here. I can guarantee you won't find it nearly as lovely when things start to go awry, and they always do. If it's not the Arehtei, it's some other mess. And that's not even getting into how this gods-be-damned place likes to toy with your emotions, in more ways than one.
[ While Merisia is griping, though, Carbuncle is enjoying the attention as usual. There's something...different about this lady, but he doesn't mind it at all. If only Merisia weren't so snippy with strangers... ]
no subject
[The last thing Alisha wants to see come of this is violence. She's not been here long enough to have a good sense of the laws of the land, but she's had enough conflict to last her three lifetimes.]
I'm not foolish enough to believe that there will never be problems, but the people here seem reasonable enough to find ways to solve them. [She's also faced her fair share of challenges before she arrived, and she doubts there's much this place can throw at her that would be worse than her own home.
Silly, silly Alisha to throw down a gauntlet like that.][All that said, she can't help but turn her attention to Merisia's traveling companion.] I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like your little friend here. Is he native to this world, or did he come with you from yours?
no subject
[ Fortunately for everyone, Merisia's threats are usually pretty empty and consist almost entirely of just her venting some frustration. She won't actually be attacking anyone...this time.
She's also more than happy for a subject change. If it means keeping this young lady from lecturing her, she'll take it. ]
Carbuncle isn't my friend - [ Carbuncle squawks in protest at this; they both know that isn't true but Merisia will never admit it out loud ] - he's my familiar. He's a lesser elemental summoned from my own aether, so that would make him native to my world.
no subject
Carbuncle... I see. [It sounds sort of like the Normin from her world, though only in the vaguest sense.] Either way, he's absolutely adorable. And to be frank, he's shown more of an inclination to help than some of the other residents.
[On that note, she drags the squeegee around the street once more, gathering together another small pile of the debris. But there's no harm in making small talk with her, is there? It certainly makes a task like this more tolerable.] Magic's not all that common in my world. It must be a fascinating skill to learn.
no subject
I'd like to see you call him cute once you know he can send you flying back fifteen yalms with a single shockwave.
[ Cute and dangerous. Merisia just hopes it's enough to ward Alisha away, though given how her explanations have worked in the past, she wouldn't be surprised if it didn't. Maybe if he had poisonous claws instead it'd be more effective. ]
Depends on which school you're learning. They've all got strengths and weaknesses, and some're harder to learn than others.
no subject
Does he get aggressive from time to time?
[It's hard to imagine, but she's run across more than one smug knight who said the same thing about her, and she'd put every one of them on the ground with busted noses, sore backs and critically wounded pride.]
I'd be more interested in the defensive and healing arts, if I had the choice. There might be less chance of blowing things up with those disciplines, at least. [There's a bit of frustration seeping into her voice now as she continues to clean up the streets.] How long did you have to train for, where you come from?