TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER

[empevents]

— 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!


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: 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!

Comments

Kantera | End Roll

[happydreamed]

[D]
[Kantera had defaulted to medicine shop as his choice of employment. It was what he was knowledgeable in, it was what he enjoyed, and for the most part, it was a fairly peaceful job. He learned about infusing medicines with positive emotions to amplify their effects on the user, and about what could be done with local herbs. All in all, a good fit for him.

...Except when someone makes squash explode all over their roof.

As the newest employee, the task defaults to Kantera to clean the mess up. He understands, really, it's just... there's so much of it.]

I don't suppose you possess a ladder I could borrow? [This is asked of mostly neighboring shopkeepers, but also passerby.] Our roof has seen far better days.

[Feel free to comment that this request is coming from someone with wings.]

[A]
[Emotion magic. Even the Draken of Dragons' Peak would be amazed at such a thing, a magic anyone can learn to use. Like any other kind of magic, it requires some practice.

Kantera sits on a large towel outside, with a cup of cold tea. It's intentionally cold for the purposes of this experiment.

He focuses on that cup, and calls to mind happy thoughts. Thoughts of naps on warm days and pleasant time spent with the other residents of Nameless Town.

The tea starts to heat up, just a little, so Kantera continues, thinking that he's lucky to be here-

Do I truly deserve this after all I've done?

The teacup crumbles into dust at once, and Kantera sighs as the tea makes a stain on the stain on the towel.]

I'm beginning to run out of teacups.

[C]
If you would spare some time to answer a stranger's question... Do you find it difficult to resume your old way of life in Verens, if you choose to resume it at all?

[ a ]

[incremated]

May I suggest an alternative arrangement, in that case?

[ dogma, expression as downturned as always, hovers over kantera's sitting place. he'd just come by to check on kantera, mostly out of habit; his priestly duties seemed much less effective in this new setting, after all.

not that it has sopped him carrying his bible around, though. ]

It is both a waste of cups and a waste of tea, at this point.

[happydreamed]

I suppose so. I thought perhaps, if I was motivated by the prospect of hot tea to get my practice right, that would help...

[But, obviously, it hasn't helped at all.]

[incremated]

Hmmm. Do you mind if I go and fetch you something from inside?

[ he asks, but he's already a few steps toward kantera's doorway. ]

[happydreamed]

Not at all.

[Since Dogma's already made up his mind, far be it from Kantera to oppose him.]

[incremated]

[ and in a flash of black, he's in and out, now with a solid metal tray (and one of the dwindling supply of teacups) in hand. ]

Put your cup inside this. I can't solve the disintegrating cup issue, but we can at least save some perfectly good tea.

[happydreamed]

Ah! Clever. I only was concerned with keeping the tea from making a mess on the ground.

[This towel was an old one that wasn't going to be clean again anyway, no loss there.]

Have you been having any more success with this type of magic?

[incremated]

Erk- I can't say I have, no.

[ though his failures have been somewhat more... explosive in nature. ]

I-I feel for now that there is no harm in keeping to the spells I am already familiar with. The Goddess can still grant protection even here, after all...

[happydreamed]

Oh, certainly. I simply thought it might be fun to branch out while I have the opportunity. Magic catches my interest better than most things do.

[It's time he isn't sleeping, so. Dogma should approve, lost teacups or not.]

[incremated]

You always have been a talent with charms, doctor. The desire to expand your magical horizons likely comes naturally.

[ he says, staring at the tea-stained towel. ]

Perhaps you need to focus just a little, er, less.

[happydreamed]

Focus less? But then my mind will wander to what a good place this would be to take a nap and nothing will happen at all.

[incremated]

...I was going to offer to do a reading to help placate your mind, but considering your predication for falling asleep in my sermons, you may be right...

[ ...sits down across from kantera ]

You have a natural affinity to ice spells, correct? Is that why heating is of particular interest here?

[happydreamed]

[He would be out like a light before any magic happened, honestly.

Kantera nods at the question.]

Since it's something I cannot accomplish with the magic I have now, I thought it would be an excellent place to start.

[incremated]

[ curse his ludicrously relaxing voice!!

--ahem. ]

If you don't mind divulging, of course, perhaps you could tell me where it is you find yourself... well, disintegrating things. Talking it out may help, although I don't intend this to be a confessional of any kind...

[happydreamed]

[It's not that Kantera doesn't know the answer, because he does, instantly. It's not that he doesn't trust Dogma, because of all the people here, he certainly would put his faith most in him. In fact, he's second only to Russell in terms of people Kantera would rely on, if he were going to express this to anyone at all.

But it still takes him a few moments to answer: one word, with a dark expression.]

Guilt.

[incremated]

[ it's not an unexpected answer, but the way kantera's face changes makes dogma wish he'd thought the situation through a little more. of course, it was the same distracting emotion that was setting things on fire in his own attempts, but when it came to kantera's guilt...

it felt wrong to pry. ]

A-ah. I suspected as much, considering- that is to say, it is an understandable distraction, and not one easily overlooked.

[happydreamed]

[A tiny nod, almost imperceptible. Kantera tries to put on a smile again, but it still doesn't seem quite right.]

...Father, do you suppose that we deserve to be here?

[There is so much he has to feel guilty over, but if he could just tackle a tiny piece of it, perhaps he wouldn't be so easily distracted.]

[incremated]

[ dogma breathes in, slowly, his eyes closed. this felt... oddly familiar, like a creeping sensation over his scalp, some kind of warning--

he takes a moment to choose his words carefully. ]

Kantera, my faith compels me to believe that God and Goddess plan for us and around us, regardless of whether we 'deserve' to be here or not. Guilt is one step taken to assist them in their plans, and you cannot allow questions like that to distract you from that purpose.

[ ...a cough ]

On a much more personal note, however. I genuinely believe us worthy, yes. Sins are not absolutes.

[happydreamed]

...I thought you might say something of that sort.

[Kantera's voice is a little lighter.

He's faithless, at least when it comes to the God and Goddess Dogma speaks of. But just hearing that Dogma personally believes that they deserve to be here is... nice, in its own way.]

Let me try that teacup once more. If it breaks, I shall give up for the day.

[incremated]

[ EXHALES. mood diffusion successful. good job dogma u did it.

he places the cup in the tray and pours out a cold serving of tea. it's probably getting a little strong, now, having sat for this long. ]

Don't go pushing yourself, doctor, or you'll sleep through all of next week.

[happydreamed]

Would that be so bad?

[Nonetheless, he focuses on the cup again, and this time allows his thoughts to wander naturally. Dogma worries too much, and he's always been that way (by a certain definition of 'always' - he doesn't linger there), but that's one of his best qualities. Really, he's lucky to be in the same place as someone he knows...

Steam starts to rise from the teacup.]

[incremated]

[ if kantera would care to look up at the exact moment the spell's success becomes evident, he might see the corners of dogma's mouth rise just barely upward. maybe. perhaps it was a trick of the steam. ]

Congratulations. It seems you have a nice cup of tea waiting for you.

[happydreamed]

[Dogma, smiling? The very thought is absurd.]

I couldn't have done it without your guidance. [Kantera picks the cup up by the handle and blows on it. A little too hot, there.] Will you not stay awhile?

[incremated]

I'm sure you would have succeeded without me eventually.

[ dogma looks briefly to the sky, considering the time, then nods. ]

I've no business to attend to this afternoon. I'll appreciate your hospitality.

[happydreamed]

Wonderful. I'll prepare you another cup of tea - normally.

[That's the more reliable method, so it's better for a guest.]