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

[conductingwars]

[Jude's half-awake state is amusing in its familiarity, making it that much easier for Rowen to smile at his young friend when his attention turns to him.]

Good morning, Jude. The order for the morning is glutinous rice flour bread, freshly baked and and then toasted. [Despite the attention on his food, he also has a cup of tea. And more than one empty seat at his table.]

Would you care to join me?

[spyrited]

And peanut butter?

[but despite the confusion over condiments, Jude is happy enough to have someone to talk to over breakfast rather than sitting alone.]

Of course, I'd like that.

[he takes a seat across the table, carefully laying his papers down away from the eating area.]

[conductingwars]

A time-honored combination with jelly. [He chuckles at the lingering confusion, taking a moment to sip his tea while Jude sits down.] Unfortunately, I had to settle for grape without any porange available.

[Once Rowen sets down his teacup, he tackles Jude's unasked question.] Despite its lack of elegance, there is something nostalgic about a simple meal. Surely you can relate.

[spyrited]

I think so, yeah.

[His own tastes have always run to the old-fashioned side, at least according to Leia. Peanut butter isn't exactly the same category, but he understands the feeling.]

It really is too bad there aren't any poranges here, though. It seems like they're unique to Rieze Maxia.

[conductingwars]

Indeed. The barista was rather befuddled, asking more than once if I meant 'orange.' [He sniffs delicately, achieving a thin layer of pomposity for all of three seconds.] But I suppose it cannot be helped; such are the trials of those who wander from familiar territory.

[Well, "wander" might not fit their situation, but the analogy should fit.]

Has your time here yielded any interesting discoveries?

[spyrited]

Do you mean about food, or just in general? Because Milla is the expert on restaurants.

[since by now, she's probably visited literally every eatery in the city.]

[conductingwars]

In general. [The comment about Milla is worth a broader smile; their time together, from his perspective, has been disappointingly short this time around, so it's nice to hear Milla is as ... eclectic as ever.

Rowen motions over to the folder of papers Jude had set down.] I would hazard to guess those are not about restaurants.

[spyrited]

[having gotten to spend, by now, an extra two years with her, Jude can confirm that Milla is indeed still very much herself.]

No, they're not. I've been studying how emotions affect people's health, among other things. When your environment can change your mood, and your mood can change the environment, it creates a lot of things to consider in terms of medicine. The mind affects the body much more literally than it does back home.

[conductingwars]

It sounds like a natural evolution your studies. [Rowen nods his approval, brushing at his beard in thought. While he is still quite new to the idea of one's relationship with the environment, he can follow Jude's basic summary.]

Does this 'Dunamis' tie into your research, then? My understanding is that Dunamis is controlling those physical aspects of one's emotions. [Which seemed to tie into what Jude just described.]

[spyrited]

We only learned about Dunamis relatively recently but I do want to study it more. To be honest though, I've found it difficult to learn myself just because the technique is so similar to spirit artes. If I can use it to enhance my artes, though, it could be really useful. I already know it can be used to treat illnesses.

[and from his perspective, anything that could help him bypass the limitations of his mana lobe and strengthen his healing artes would help. There's a shortage of people with both medical training and magical healing abilities. being able to go longer without getting exhausted would help a lot during a crisis, which has happened before...]

[conductingwars]

Difficult? [Rowen arches a brow curiously; though he only has passing knowledge of Dunamis, the comparison to their spirit artes gives him pause.]

Are they similar to the point you cannot tell where one technique ends and the other begins?

[The comment of enhancing artes also catches his attention, and he silently ponders whether it would be similar to, or compatible with, his Arte Tuning.]

[spyrited]

Something like that, yes. The source of the power is different but the method for controlling it is very close. I just find it difficult to switch from using mana to using emotion. Though to be honest, I wonder if our artes are actually powered by emotions here as well. This world doesn't have any spirits. So either we're still somehow communicating with the ones back home, or there's something else that's converting our mana into artes instead.

[.......] I'm probably overthinking things, but I still can't help but wonder about it sometimes.

[conductingwars]

It is a natural thing to wonder, especially as a researcher. Once you notice something amiss, you cannot help but prod and question. [Jude's curiosity flourished under such conditions, even if frustration came hand-in-hand with those unknowns.]

I cannot say I have had much reason to use spirit artes here, but I would be happy to add my own insights to those you must have compiled already. [Considering those from their world already in Verens, he presumes Jude has a good pool to gather data.]

[spyrited]

Thanks, Rowen. I'd really appreciate that.

[having a larger sample size of data is a good thing.]

I know what we learn here probably won't translate back to our world, but... I still think we're here for a reason. I want to make sure we give the people here as much help as we can.

[conductingwars]

[Rowen smiles into his teacup, speaking over its lip.]

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries." What we learn here may not translate to our world, but that should not keep us from doing our best to improve our situation.