Empatheias Events (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
empevents) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
empatheias_ooc2016-09-18 12:53 pm
empevents) wrote in empatheias_ooc2016-09-18 12:53 pm
Entry tags:
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!
• 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.
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.
• 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!
leo valdez | heroes of olympus
So how much can these things pick up, anyway? Like, it’s not going to accidentally pick up your grocery list or whatever and broadcast it to the whole world, right?
[ Not that he’s got anything to worry about. No embarrassing thoughts here, no way, none at all. Like that time he walked out of the forge in just his underwear because he forgot they weren’t fireproof…
Please tell him it didn’t broadcast that. ]
Or if you’ve just come up with the world’s greatest joke! What if it gives away the punch line and ruins it?!
Prompt D;
[ Alright, alright, who thought playing with rotten food was a good idea? The smell is so overwhelming that Leo wants to run away screaming, but that would mean never returning to the shopping district ever again, and he needs supplies.
Supplies that are now generously covered in gourd goop. Wonderful. At least monster dust eventually went away. ]
This is so gross, [ he groans, trying to gingerly step around the stuff, but no matter how hard he tries, there is no stepping around it. His shoes are already coated in the stuff. ]
Where’s Percy when you need him? He could just wave a hand and wash all this junk away.
[ And probably the entire shopping district with it, but beggars can’t be choosers. Leo is not looking forward to cleaning this up, and he knows for a fact that his tool belt doesn’t carry the sort of cleaning supplies to handle this kind of mess. Or nose plugs, apparently. After a little digging in the pockets, however... ]
Aha! Air freshener! This is perfect!
[ You know, aside from the fact that it’s one air freshener versus the entire shopping district. Better than nothing right?
Except that no one seems impressed with his helpful addition. And since he doesn’t have anything else to do until he gets those supplies, Leo sighs and resigns himself to cleanup duty. Which is totally unf But he still doesn’t have the supplies, so he flags down the next person he sees. ]
Hey! Cleanup in aisle five! Got any idea where I can find a mop? Or maybe a water hose?
Prompt F;
[ There’s something about street performers that always catches his attention. It’s not that Leo’s into acting or whatever (he’s not, even if he does show a flair for the dramatic when the moment calls for it), but it doesn’t hurt to stop once in a while and see what show they’re putting on this time.
That is, until they ask for volunteers, and he’s immediately out of there. Except that they’ve already picked him out of the crowd, and ugh. ]
Nope. No way. If I’m getting dragged into this, I am not going alone.
[ He is definitely not sorry for whichever poor soul happens to be standing next to him. Once they’re given their cues - something a heroic battle between good and evil. He can’t even get comedy? - he flashes them a grin. ]
Lucky for you, improvisation is my specialty. [ Time to put his game face on! Reaching into his tool belt for an impromptu weapon, Leo brandishes a screwdriver and falls into a battle stance that Coach Hedge would be proud of. ] Come at me, bro!
wildcard;
[ go for the gold! ]
C
[But he does roll his eyes a little bit.]
Either way, I wouldn't worry about it ruining the punchline to the world's greatest joke. Or a grocery list. Who's going to care about those things?
no subject
[ Protip: if you have to ask, you're probably one of them. ]
no subject
[Yes, he is one of them.]
Maybe it's because we're in a completely different world and not by our own choice and lots of other things to be serious about?
no subject
[ Totally tempting fate there, but you know what? It could be worse. Even his own world is way, way worse. ]
I dunno about you, but I’d take the emotional roller coaster world over gods and monsters any day.
[ Even if it’s super weird. ]
no subject
Gods and monsters? Your world has gods and monsters?
[Didn't catch himself fast enough.]
I mean, I hear there's that here too.