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

[birdbrainemperor]

If caging them and simply throwing them off the island doesn't take care of the problem, then why not find some remote location to take them? Some place where humans aren't settled where they will have a hard time getting back to Verens or Shaarnath.

[The gun is tucked against his chest as he slips his hands into the opposite sleeves of his robe.]

I'd hate to resort to killing them outright just yet but allowing them to feed in such a populated area will only increase exponentially their numbers. If we relocate them to some place far away we decrease their chance of breeding too quickly and give ourselves an opportunity to explore other solutions by buying us time.

[thegreatpain]

Then your plan... should we lure them out and with this... strange weapon contain them for now until we can find a place far enough away? Hmm... It does seem more helpful than just tossing them down carelessly.

[birdbrainemperor]

It may be all we can do to truly ensure they're not a pest for the people below at this moment. Should it become a problem in the future, we may have to trim their numbers down.

[He's not sure how many there are lurking in the field but so far they don't seem to be swarming everywhere in Verens yet. Or even if there are others who will agree to this line of problem solving except for his current partner

But for now they have another decision to make. Soo-Won smiles cheerfully at the other man.] So, would you prefer to be the bait or shoot them down?

[thegreatpain]

[ Shinou looks back at the younger man with an amused look on his face. Already walking toward the field as if he decided he'd become the bait.]

I think the real question should be who trusts the other more to use the weapon correctly.

[birdbrainemperor]

[That makes him laugh lightly, following a few steps so that he can slip between the rows of corn in order to hide.]

My aim isn't terrible but I've never handled a weapon like this one before. Thankfully it's non-lethal.

[He adjusts his grip on the gun so that it's somewhat comfortable.]

[thegreatpain]

Then I hope your mind doesn't wander elsewhere young one.

[ There was a playful hint in his voice. He was serious about getting rid of these bugs, but life wasn't as much fun if you kept a serious face all the time. ]

Tell me when you're ready. At my age you carry a lot of emotions around.

[birdbrainemperor]

["Young one". Hahaha, he might only be 18 but that's not extremely young.] Don't worry about that, I'm focused on the task at hand.

[Soo-Won isn't all about serious faces, half the time people think he's very odd for an emperor or misjudge him from the start.]

You'll have to forgive me if I'm wrong but you don't seem much older than I am.

[After slipping between the stalks, he crouches down and lifts the gun - ready to fire at a moment's notice.]

Whenever you're ready.

[thegreatpain]

[ Shinou gave the other man a playful wink before turning back around. Taking a deep breath, Shinou starts trying to focus on a strong thought. What would attract the bugs more, happiness or sadness. Perhaps anger? It probably didn't matter as long as it was very strong.

He closed his eyes and let memories cross his mind. The wind started picking up around him and it seemed in mere minutes a storm cloud was storming right above him. He might have thought a little too hard, but Shinou was always a fan of dramatics. It seemed to work too, because soon a group of those bugs were started to approach Shinou. ]

[birdbrainemperor]

[While his partner was picking a memory - an emotion - to hone in on that would draw the bugs to him, Soo-Won was doing the opposite. He shuts his emotions up inside of a steel box, incapable of escaping until he allowed them to. The storm brewing overhead has nothing to do with him and is solely due to the other man.

He waits as those swirling emotions catch the attention of a small grouping of insects, waits for them to get closer. When he said that his aim wasn't terrible it was a complete understatement. The first shot doesn't catch just one bug in the sticky webbing but two. It's quick work to dispatch the rest of them, not a single shot was wasted or went astray despite the fact that Soo-Won has never held a gun in his life.]

[thegreatpain]

[ When it seemed like all the nearby bugs were caught, Shinou seemed to calm down and so the rain storm quickly died down and then poofed out of the way. Pushing his hair back, Shinou crouched down to see just how that strange weapon worked. ]

Trapped but not harmed... modern technology sure is something else.

[ Then he turned his head toward his partner with almost a child like excitement in his eyes. ]

Nice work. The warrior spirit is strong in you.

[birdbrainemperor]

[It's amazing to see a storm disappate so quickly, nothing like that would have possibly happened back in Kouka. Then again magic isn't exactly something that is seen either so it's all quite fantastic to witness.

He steps out of the foliage to join the other and look down at the bugs they've successfully captured, shaking loose what's caught on his robe.] It would be nice to have such weapons where I'm from. Nothing we have could do quite such a good job at capturing an individual.

[Once more he's all back to smiles now that they've been succesful.]

I'm pleased you think so. There wasn't much call to wield weapons in Kouka growing up but I still practiced despite that fact.

[thegreatpain]

You say that, but there's something behind those eyes that tell me a different story~

[ He doesn't continue on his pressing and instead tugs off his cape to gather the captured bugs inside of it. It's better than trying to juggle these sticky balls of gross. ]