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

[followthehearts]

( D )
Aqua may still be relatively new to this city, but that didn't mean she had no need to pick up the weekly assortment of groceries. Thus she was browsing a cabbage stall's selection, debating on making coleslaw or a type of salad for after her usual exercise routine when something seemed... amiss.

Fortunately the sound of quite a few what she recognized as Fire-based magic in the distance tipped her off, to which she quickly called her Keyblade as she generated a Barrier spell, holding it perfectly so as to not hit others with the ricochet. Unfortunately personal magical shields do not cover the scents of rotten fruit or vegetables, nor protect everything from the blast. Gourds were no exception to this rule.

"M-my cabbages!"

"I'm so sorry!" Desummoning her blade, the barrier fell around her, yet she couldn't help but try to console the merchant, intending to still purchase at least one head, but... Oh. Oh man this was overwhelming. "Oh light, this stench--"

There went her appetite for the rest of the day...

( C )
"This works via telepathy? Well, that isn't so odd..." came a voice over the amulets. Though it isn't long before she realized that it likely picked up that stray thought. "Oh! I'm sorry, hello, everyone. My name is Aqua, and if you would pardon my asking so, what is it that is so different about dunamis, and why it seems so...volatile?"

"Also if anyone had any good home remedies of removing the scent of rotten gourd out of cloth and leather, I would greatly appreciate any tips." The shudder was likely easy to pick up on the thought alone without any aid of mental images, if it was needed to begin with.

D

[princesswhatshername]

I don't understand why so much of the food here is so smelly.

[Siiigh. And she liked this dress too. She pinches her nose, and digs around in her purse.]

Let me see... I think I can help pay for some of this damage, if you'd like.

((OOC: feel free to play this as 'known for a while' or 'first meet!'))

Let's go with "known for a while"! :D (Oh gosh a princess Minnie <3)

[followthehearts]

Your guess is as good as mine, Your Highness. Though I think it's more that it has gone untouched for so long that it's begun to rot...

[Oh no, the poor dress... Perhaps there was a way to salvage it? Somehow? Had she seen the princess, she would have cast her barrier over her instead, and now feels slightly guilty. Just enough that a stratus cloud is beginning to form over their heads. ...She really needs to look into that further.]

I think I may manage, though... thank you.

[Was that a stratocumulus cloud beginning to form as well?]

okey dokey! (ain't she a cutie)

[princesswhatshername]

[Yeah, she spots those clouds. Bad enough she's got stains on her dress, her hair doesn't need to be ruined in a downpour! Time to cheer up her friend, and fast!]

It's no trouble at all! I love helping out my friends. And besides, I always enjoy seeing your magic!

[greatcleavage]

"...These things happen. Alarmingly frequently."

Roy had been trying to deal with these incidents all damn day, but that? That right there? That had put his patience past the limit, in large part thanks to the three-quarts of a gourd that had crashed onto his head and now clung to it in a supreme example of indignity.

Faced with this, Roy fell back on instinctual behavior -- to wit, complaining about the situation to someone who appeared to be a fellow warrior also attempting to put a stop to all this.

[followthehearts]

"I see..." She remarked quietly, pondering the logistics of the magics at play. She'd heard of it not long after she had arrived, but hadn't really thought of trying it herself--magic based on the emotions of the wielder would not be very stable in the first place, and this confirmed it.

"Are you alright? I have healing magic, if you require it." That had to hurt, the gourd to the head.

[greatcleavage]

"Huh?" Roy glanced down at himself, wondering if he'd taken a wound somewhere he didn't realize. It occurred to him, a moment too late, that she'd been referring to the gourd impact -- which hadn't exactly been a gentle caress, he'll admit, but was vanishingly small in the grand scheme of things. "Oh no, I'm fine -- I just need to get clean, I suppose. You managed to avoid the worst of it..."

Don't mind his very understandable envy there. Sometimes a magic shield would sure be nice.

C - What a hypocrite

[boundbynaught]

"Something about giving people who've never used magic before the power to make stuff happen purely based on their emotions. That's why." It's all said rather dryly, in an of-course sort of tone. Not that he's actually had much practice with dunamis yet. He's mainly going off of personal experience and what Sora's shown him. But seriously, who thought giving people magic and no training was a good idea?

Re: C - What a hypocrite

[followthehearts]

"I heard of it not long after I arrived, but I didn't expect it to be so...comical. Or property damaging." There's a bit of amusement in hindsight, but oh man, the stench stuck with her. Especially her clothing.

Re: C - What a hypocrite

[boundbynaught]

"It's just what's going to happen when they give a bunch of rookies powers. They don't know how to use them without missing their targets and hitting everything nearby."

Clearly this is not something he would do, accidentally or otherwise.

"I bet some people are doing it on purpose. The people who don't want to be here, anyway."

C.

[onebadapple]

Yes that's right! Hello there! [Snow White's voice comes in crisp and clear over the amulet.] It's wonderful to meet you, Aqua, my name is Snow White!

I can't help you very much with the dunamis, but I can certainly help with the smell! There's nothing like vinegar to get a bad smell out! You can also use lemon juice and orange juice, though that will perhaps stain the clothes, there's also oils like lavender oil or sage oil that you can add to some boiling water and hang the clothes over it to absorb the steam! Or as a very last resort, several washings in freezing water would do the trick!

[followthehearts]

[!!!]

[At first, she almost fumbles the amulet, surprised at the voice and name. A bit of relief likely leaks through as she responds.]

I-It's great to speak with you, Snow White! [That's right, she didn't really get to speak before she was off to the next world.] I will have to try the vinegar. I believe there is still some left over from...

[She cuts off that thought right there. Don't mind her, really! She's just grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, writing down the other tips. Thus, she may be repeating them back quietly as she does so.]

...never had to deal with rotten vegetables or fruit stains when I was still only an apprentice. Thank you.

[onebadapple]

You as well, Aqua! Try the vinegar first. You soak the clothes in vinegar and water, than wash the clothes like you normally would! After that, if it still smells let me know.

As for getting out bad smells, I admit to being very used to it. When you live with seven little men who mine, you practically have to perfect it!

C

[seasaltkeys]

It's emotion-based. You have to have the right amount of control for it

[At least, that's Roxas's understanding. He has never felt that comfortable trying it, given his general emotional state.]

Re: C

[followthehearts]

That would explain the exploding rotten vegetables in the shopping district...

[Did she... dare to hope? His voice sounds so familiar, and yet--]

He sounds so- May I ask your name?

[seasaltkeys]

Huh? I'm Roxas.

But yeah...that can happen. You kinda have to be careful here.

C

[eyeswideopen]

Actually, I believe you might be mistaking an emotional reaction for Dunamis? [It tends to happen a lot. He probably should stop working himself to near exhaustion so much and actually write out that paper for the welcome center.]

Dunamis is controlling the energy that physically affects the environment around you and releasing it in a less harmful way. But there's not set standard or pattern for Dunamis casting because it's unique to the individual.

[followthehearts]

I might. [She isn't afraid to admit she may be mistaken, nor her curiosity.] I admit, I am not as familiar with the magic of this world yet, though I could definitely sense magic behind it...

[A paper would certainly be helpful, especially for someone like her who wants to know as much as possible. As such, she is listening attentively.]

You sound as though you have been here a while.

[eyeswideopen]

I've been here for a year and a half. ...yes, it's been about that long. [He almost loses his train of thought but snaps right back to it.]

It would make better sense to start with what you know. What feels different to you from what you're familiar with?

C. For 'couldn't resist'. Clearly.

[windslept]

"W-wait, Aqua?!"

Is it really her? How had he not -- well. Okay maybe it isn't too surprising that he hadn't yet found her after already being around here a few days, but still. Ven's relief is evident in his voice over the amulet he himself is still figuring out. But when he heard that voice, that name, he had to try.

s c r e a m s <3 <3 <3

[followthehearts]

"Ven?!" Well, Ventus, you have your confirmation. The relief is mutual by the tone of her own voice as well, and she is likely as inept at these amulets as he is, don't worry. "Thank goodness, Ven... Where are you?"

She might even be shedding a single tear of joy.

C

[oathkeeper]

Yep! Telepathy! It's a little weird at first but you get used to it. I used to ramble on and on by mistake until people told me to stop. You'll be fine with some practice!

[There's a happy laugh over the connection. Sora used to be terrible at not-thinking with the connection on.]

Also, dunamis can take some people a long time to learn, some people pick it up really quick. It's trickier magic because you gotta use your emotions to control it!

Sorry I got nothing on the laundry tips though.

Re: C

[followthehearts]

That is definitely going to take a bit more concentration, huh?

[She laughs politely, but is very amused by Sora's response. Oh, how she's trying not to imagine him rambling...]

It's alright, thank you. Though after this afternoon, I think I'll stick with my own magic for now.

[S-so much gourd...]

C

[tookupthesword]

"Different about dunamis from... what, exactly?" Sayaka really, REALLY wanted to comment about the name. Maybe make some horrible joke about water. But she resisted. She also easily resisted the desire to comment on the last part, mostly due to the fact she doesn't want to imagine it.

Re: C

[followthehearts]

"I'm considered a mage where I come from. Using emotions to fuel spells in my world is considered very...dangerous." To put it mildly, and completely oblivious to any desire to mention water puns.