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

A

[letteropener]

[Following right behind him is a pony, her serene calm and gentle smile a blatant antithesis to his smoldering, stewing mood. Gentle warmth leeches away the brimstone and sunlight wipes clean the windows he leaves smudged.]

[She knows exactly what she's doing, and her presence behind him is quite literally like walking with a soft spring sun over his shoulder.]

[gr1m]

[I'm walking on sunshine(whoa oh)It was something he tried to ignore, the continued following only appearing to turn his mood all the more sour-

Save the moment he actually glanced towards a large window and caught the faint reflection in it, before it had gone black and the turning was far more transparent. Well.

The presence matched what he'd caught a glimpse of and stopped him, Reaper glanced over his shoulder.]

Want something?

[letteropener]

[Celestia comes to a stop as he does, lowering her head with a slightly apologetic smile.] I am sorry. I didn't think you wished to have anypony try to ease the mood you're in... but I did think I ought to try to help mitigate its effects on others a little.

[gr1m]

You're sorry. [That's a new one, or is she just that... polite.

A hint of irritation in his tone, but not actually from the fact she was more or less 'helping' with what he'd caused. More that they were being caused at all. Reaper thought he had better control than that.

He wasn't one who enjoyed leaving a literal trail like that. Great.]

... It's fine.

[letteropener]

[It's the polite one. She knows how pleasant it must be to have somepony following you about, undoing what you've done.]

If I may ask, are the circumstances of being here what are bothering you so much?

[She is ENTIRELY aware she is talking to a human dressed fully in concealing black and wearing a skull mask, but she is also determined not to assume anything about his nature.]

[gr1m]

[He's entirely aware he's talking to what looks like a rainbow haired horse with wings and a horn and- He's used to talking moon apes. To robots claiming they have souls, to a lot of things.

This feels like something straight out of children's cartoon and there's something entirely out of his element about this, so of course somewhere his mind tries to normalize it. Somewhere.]

Yes. [The two annoyances from home don't help, here he's unable to complete his goals. What is he supposed to do?] I've things I need to do.

Here? Impossible.

[letteropener]

[Nothing wrong with moon apes, Celestia can attest to that.]

That's very true. But if I may reassure you on that score... you will return to your homeworld right when you left it. Nothing you have left undone will suffer for your absence.

[That fact keeps her sane here, and she is certain that is true for others as well.]

[gr1m]

[Unless they are murderous genetically altered moon apes, that's one moon base no one is getting back.]

That so? [It was almost comforting, but still left him more than restless. That much longer still until he could get back to where he left off.]

This place is full of surprises.

[letteropener]

Oh yes, very much so! [Though for her part, Celestia found the surprises quite welcome. Most of them, anyway, and she isn't afraid to let that show in her voice.] Before I came here, I had no idea humans even existed!

[gr1m]

... You're from somewhere with only animals, I take it.

[This is not as strange an idea to him as it could be.]

[letteropener]

We ponies do not consider ourselves animals any more than humans do. But I understand what you mean, and that's correct -- there are no humans in Equestria, nor anywhere else on our world that I am aware of.

[gr1m]

But there are animals, and... Ponies.

[He at the very least makes that distinction.]

[letteropener]

And many other creatures, yes. [It's a pretty long list, after all. Completely strange to humans, who are used to being the only intelligent species on their worlds.] Just no humans.

[gr1m]

Huh. [Genetically altered moon apes, Omnics... The list was a little short.

But then who knew what else the government had going on, what else was being altered and tampered with.] Talk about culture shock.

[letteropener]

To put it mildly. [She's keeping half an eye on the environment around the man, watching to see if further information or at least a distraction is helping to take the sharp edges off his mood.] But it truly is a pleasant place for all that.

[gr1m]

[It's been a good distraction, the cracks around his feet had been slowly sealing, as if anything that wasn't near what had been on his mind was... soothing.

Or was at least knocked off track for the moment.]

Pleasant isn't something I'm used to anymore.

[letteropener]

Oh, well, hopefully we can change that a little while you're here. This world is all about revisiting things you haven't enjoyed in a long while, and getting used to new circumstances!

[In harmony with her calm, she is relentlessly cheerful. The effect is not unlike summer sun, as befits her nature.]

[gr1m]

I've been trained to adapt with most new circumstances. [It was a little offhand, but rather thoughtful. Usually that meant something, well. Life or death in the midst of battle.

That didn't hold here, did it.

He was certainly knocked off his goal, the main point of his anger, but... Well. Reaper could afford distractions here, wouldn't he?]

Sort of like a strange vacation.

[letteropener]

Yes, exactly! [Celestia lifts a hoof, delighted that he understands.] Why, you can do things like sleep in and eat cake as much as you wish here!

[gr1m]

[Something he might have daydreamed about as a kid.

Or during so many days of SEP just to distract from days after seeing the scientists.]

Take in the sights. Mundane but... enjoyable things.

[letteropener]

But there are still chances for adventure and exploration if you wish as well. This world is not entirely safe, of course... but it is very enjoyable if you let it be.

[gr1m]

[No world was entirely safe, and it was almost funny. He'd fought hard to help protect his once, gave everything.

Now he was this thing-]

I'd worry about getting restless if this place was safe.

[letteropener]

No need to that. There is a whole world to explore, and creatures to deal with, and adventures to be had, if that is all your sort of thing. [In many ways the world is like Equestria of long ago, which might account for her fondness for the place.]

[gr1m]

Creatures?

[Color him curious.

That was not a rainbow sheened bubble that popped in and then right back out of existence for a split second.

That was nothing.]

[letteropener]

All sorts. Dragons and giant snakes, hydras, unusually large sheep -- there's reports of something new every month, it seems!