TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER —

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 Tuesday, October 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Tuesday, November 1st.
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are 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 Boreas Harvest Festival is fast approaching, and the farmers are trying hard to work through the bleak weather conditions to get their crops in before they go bad from all the apathy. All hands on deck—but there may be too many unwanted hands roaming around.

1. Scarecrows. The scarecrows that have been set up as a festive reminder of the time of year have unfortunately come under the influence of some errant strong emotions from the farm hands that work in the fields. Unfortunately that includes trying to ward off anyone who enters the fields with pitchforks and is one of them carrying a torch? Maybe if they can be convinced that you are trustworthy they will calm down.
   
   
2. Invading rabbits. There are ton of rabbits ravaging the carrot patches. They're easily frightened, but some are more tenacious than others. Beware of the white rabbit with red eyes.
   
   
3. Save the crops! Several batches are already starting to spoil! The only thing that can save them is dumping as much positive emotions into them. Joy of good food, hope for a bountiful meal, love of eating—whatever will work. Just be careful. Too much and those things might grow and explode…

• Prompt E: Aiada, the Arehtei of appreciation and jealousy, has sent a personal request for those who are interested. There is a small island just beneath Empatheias that she has been cultivating over the many centuries. She wishes to contribute to the Harvest Festival with some seeds and spores. However, the recent atmosphere has also reached down there, and now it's all a mess! Giant mushrooms replaced the trees and there's slime and mold everywhere. The cure? Aside from getting a lot of heavy duty cleaners and pushing it off, appreciation will go a long way to help.

1. Goop brigade. Grab that bucket and shovel and clear the goop out! Just be careful not to have too much get on you—jealousy might take over.
   
   
2. Appreciation balls. To help hasten the effort, Aiada has given several tubs filled with light, green orbs. Once channeled with enough appreciation, they can be used as mini-grenades to help explode and wash the area with more positive energy. Those caught in the blast won't be harmed. If anything, they'll just be very thankful.
   
   
3. Watch the ledges. Careful, it's a fairly small island and the goop and slime has made things slick. If you fall… That's not a good way to go, let's just say that.

• Prompt F: Various parties are interested in the emotion shards scattered all over Thera. But this time around, the focus is on the medical laboratory as the equipment and potential research there is also of interest. For three days those who volunteer are sent back to try and gather as much as possible—but of course this won't be easy.

1. Skeletal Scientists. The remains of the scientists who once worked in these rooms are still lurking, ready to protect their work. Fortunately they're relatively weak nerds, so not too difficult to dispatch. Just be careful.
   
   
2. Flying equipment. The various medical equipment has also taken life, scalpels and needles flying everywhere and stethoscopes ready to strangle.
   
   
3. Questionable liquid. Most of the easy shards have already been taken, leaving the more difficult to retrieve ones left. In particular they're found in strange, dark pink liquid. It's mostly harmless—except that upon contact intense waves of grief and suffering will course through. The longer the exposure, the worse it is. So hopefully a bucket full of it doesn't fall on you…

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include feathers and/or confetti.

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

[porte_bonheur]

[She lets out a little giggle.] No, wings would be too gaudy! I did think of adding a pop of feathers for the vest pocket, though. The bowler hat I designed had a subtle feather design to it, so I was thinking of mimicking that throughout the jacket.

[As she talks, there is a flash of said bowler hat that she designed that's sent through that mental connection.]

[porte_bonheur]

What?? Then what are they doing here??

[If he's not causing the scarecrows... but he clearly seems to be in control of the rabbits. She sees the scarecrows coming closer, and shakes her head.]

They're not demon beasts, they're rabbits! And if you didn't call those scarecrows, then you should be running away! They don't look friendly at all!

[ephemerous]

Nrgh!

[He takes a step back, both from the force of that wind and to avoid any of the fire being blown onto him. Rude.]

It-- it is the safest thing to do! Even if I caught the snakes and threw them away one by one, there is no guarantee they would not return.

[tekhartha]

[She's certainly cheery, isn't she? Not that there's anything wrong with that. Particularly when you've been forcibly spirited away from your world.]

I am also from Earth. I call Nepal my home- although from what I understand, my "Nepal" or even "Earth" may not be the same as yours.

[divarication]

[If this girl were smart she wouldn't go off with the first seemingly nice stranger who offered her a place to stay but someone should have said that they'd look after her if she needed help. Prove that they were a good person over time. It doesn't how nice the world might look there was always something dangerous out there - especially one ruled by emotions. Riley has to keep his own in check when he gets angry on behalf of the girl standing in front of him.]

My name is Riley, I'm from a world that no one seems to know. I am here with one individual from my world - his name is Aiden. Sometimes he can be a bit stupid but he's a good guy. Smart and kind and curious but likes to tease people he becomes close to. I'll introduce you to him later and then you can say you have two more new friends.

[He says it all in a rush of air - not giving her the opportunity to interrupt but it's been long time since he's actually tried to introduce himself to someone he was making a friend from the very start. The others just sort of pressed themselves into his life with insistence. It doesn't matter if Riley mostly talked about Aiden instead of himself.]

No, I wouldn't. I never had a pet growing up but I think a kid should have one if they want.

[heartsome]

Hm? Oh, this? This is nothing, I'm fine. Just grazes, really.

[Which could be easily tended to and isn't anything serious. She's seen Sora and Riku get hurt worse when sparring or racing together sometimes, over the years. Her knees are a bit scraped up, along with her arms a little but otherwise she's fine. No sprains or anything broken at least.]

[porte_bonheur]

[Marinette can't help but scratch the back of her head at his comments.] Honestly... I don't blame you. I feel the same way. It's so cool being here, but what about my parents, and all our friends? I mean, I'm not sure whether I'm wanting them to be stuck here with us or if I should be happy they're safe at home.

[A bit of a sad subject, but she's glad that at least Adrien shares her concerns. She offers him a small smile.] Yeah, without any Internet or TV, I've been getting a lot of sewing done. I sometimes even do baking when I feel like it. What about you?

genji shimada. ( overwatch )

[cyberize]

PROMPT D.

[ Standing among a small crowd of scarecrows seems to be a cybernetic man who sticks out very obviously. The now given life figures made of straw don't seem too alarmed with him, curious maybe, but they aren't attacking him.

However, if anyone else decides to begin approaching them does the man take notice first, turning and taking a step forward with a voice calling out to them. ] I would be careful if I were you. I do not think they understand the situation.

[ Which is to say they may seem still guarded and not so easily trusting of others. ] But you may be able to try and convince them you mean no harm. [ Though the way his head tilts, the green glow of his visor brightening seems to be judging whether that is actually the case. If he doesn't know them, that is. ]

PROMPT F.

[ An approaching skeleton scientist is easily struck down as shurikens strike right at the head. Effectively knocking it off with an echoing sound. A resounding noise emits from the cyber man's knuckles, shurikens reloading back into the sockets at the back of his hand until he straightens from his lower form. ] Going alone will only allow them to ambush you easier. If you like we can perhaps team up for now.

[ The words are spoken calmly, sounding like he actually wants to help anyone else that has tagged along for gathering supplies. The skeletons may be "nerds" but they seem to be intelligent enough. ]

I can even take the lead if you prefer. [ A chuckle can be heard as if making a joke. Which he wouldn't care really if he's asked to be the one distracting or becoming the target by going in first. He would be the one to flank the opposing team in a battle anyways. damnit genji stick with the payload ]

PROMPT WILDCARD.

[ feel free to toss any other prompts at me or make one up yourself! go nuts. :9 ]

[itsoktolive]

That's what I heard. His name is on the list with everyone else that's been here. [Atsushi frowns. There's so many questions and not enough answers. But the fact is,] If he had contacts I can't find them. Or any leads to where these smuggled goods are going.

[itsoktolive]

A lot. But yes, the task board job. [Now that he thinks of it. It's weird there's not even a rumor of the goods. He's heard people talking about how people talk...but. He really doesn't have enough experience to connect between what he's listened to at the office and the lack of word here.] ... o matter who I talked to they couldn't tell me anything about where the goods are going.

[ephemerous]

He did.

[Nahyuta won't argue that. Countless times he's thought bitterly about how he gains people in his life, only to lose them, over and over. He lost Apollo and gained a sister, was reunited with his mother. He lost them both, then had to betray his father to preserve them. Then he lost the father he betrayed, never able to reconcile with him, and Apollo returned. Now Amara will never be able to reconcile with him, either, and Rayfa will never know the heroic father who gave so much for her kingdom.

What cruel irony is that?]

Yet you have helped him more than any other, in twenty-three years. All of Khura'in knows his innocence, and now his soul has departed to everlasting peace. So please-- [Nahyuta has to stop again, feeling himself shaking, his raw grief surging up and up with each word. He turns away from Apollo, his plea taking on a note of desperation.] --I beg of you, do not torment yourself over this. I could not bear it.

[Perhaps it's the effects of this place, but that last part slips out before he can stop himself. It feels selfish to express such a personal sentiment. Yet everyone has suffered enough, without Apollo forever bearing guilt he doesn't deserve to carry.]

[gr1m]

"If you left I'd doubt you'd get far with these attachments."

A few tools and clean cloths were dropped on the coffee table as Reaper passed, not necessarily what was proper but he'd had to come up with less during a few missions- Forcing thoughts to stop there before they went further. That life was gone and passed, and he was only doing this because by the time anyone else found the ingrate he'd need more help than he did now.

Finally, finally, Reaper sat down at the table himself and hesitated for just a moment. Talon gloves were tugged off and set aside, taking a breath as everything held together. Fingers flexed- "I'm cleaning your arm, you need to hold still. Soon as I'm done you can leave, I won't follow." Lifting a hand as he pulled off the mask, setting it aside and pulling his hood forwards to get to work.

Already cleaning the gun off the surface so he could get off pieces to get further in and do the same. Knew what he was doing well enough to do that.

[gr1m]

More my reputation than yours, at least amongst those from home.

[Things were... strange here. A clean slate in a way, one he never wanted or asked for, and yet there it was. Instead of hunting down people he took jobs from the task board, going out on hunts or simply removing beasts from where they'd endanger people; the pay was good.

Strangest of all, people liked him. Card nights, visiting to talk—]

We'll see.

[againstdespair]

[He isn't at all surprised by the implied threat; regardless of reasons, 'Kamukura' was still part of Ultimate Despair, and violence was inevitable in their presence.

But referring to their struggles as boring still has a way of rankling his nerves.]

You, who have been reduced by your own choice to such apathy, would advise against despair now? I don't believe it. Through action and progress, there is hope. And what greater progress than the deaths of Ultimate Despair?

[He sees 'Kamukura' reach into his pocket and mirrors the action--but instead of a harmless accessory, his fingers wrap around the hilt of his collapsible katana.]

All you want is your continued survival. But all you breed is more despair.

[ephemerous]

Wait--! [PLEASE DON'T THROW THE SCALES AT HI... oh okay it was a joke. He crouches down to pick them up, testing their weight in his hands. They're pretty heavy, which means they'll be a good blunt force weapon.

Just don't do that again, Maya, this unholy place is frying his nerves as is.]

I am ready. [He reaches down to the table, still blocking the door, even if the pounding on the other side is growing harder and harder.] Once I pull this way, prepare to strike whatever comes through.

[And with that warning, he pulls the tables away. Three skeletons burst through the door all at once, tripping and clawing over each other in their haste to get to them.]

[dyedsnow]

If you are sure... So, there was this time I was cleaning up the headquarters, and then Munakata-kun...

[And then she started to blather on enthusiastically about all sorts of tales involving people named Munakata and Sakakura, plus some students of hers. Maybe she'll only stop once Shinya says something to that effect.]

no apollo in general is a beautiful work of art end of story ok

[magicpanchira]

[ She never dreamed that a zombie situation was going to be a real thing, and yet, here they are, facing off with the undead. She's certainly going to be avoiding creepy labs for the next forever or so.

Her gaze falls on the little notebook that he pulls out, and she shifts her own weapon enough to take it, before dropping the larger book all together. She's got her fists, and these nerdy undead go down pretty easily, after all, and so she nods her head at him. The task he's giving her is simple enough, all she has to do is read the directions in reverse to get them out of here. ] You're so smart, Polly! Okay, no problem, I can do that. I don't think it'll take us that long to get out of here, and if we're quiet enough, we may be able to avoid any confrontation all together.

[ Except it's Apollo and Trucy, and they're never quiet enough for anything, honestly. She flashes him a genuine smile this time, because as frightening as this all is, she's feeling a little more confident about the situation now, and she gives his hand a light squeeze of reassurance. ]

Okay, then. We're definitely goin to be fine! Here we go! [ With that statement, she lightly pushes the door the rest of the way open, and out into the hallway they go. She peers down at the notebook, squinting, before looking up and down the dark corridor. ] Down this hallway and to the left, Polly. From there it looks like we'll be taking a right and backtracking through that examination room we looked through earlier again.

[magicpanchira]

Of course.

[ Doing as she's told, she hangs behind, keeping an eye out naturally for any signs of trouble or undead that may be attempting to jump her from any which direction. On her end, it's silent... but apparently not his. Blue eyes widen, but she stays in her spot because she does trust him.

She can't really make herself wait for that long, though -- because she's not going to chance him getting killed, either. So it's only after a few moments does she silently creep down the hallway, keeping close to the wall, to start following his tracks, peering quietly into the room she thinks he may be in. ]

...Prosecutor Sahdmadhi? [ Her voice is a whisper as she peers into the darkness, ready to jump on whatever may be lurking within the room that isn't Nahyuta. ]

[dyedsnow]

[She did feel a little insulted at the jabs to her intelligence, but nonetheless, Yukizome just listened quietly with a blank, if a bit bored, expression.

Junko's take on things was interesting as per usual, but she did miss the grandiose despair the other had an inclination towards. While Yukizome was all for bonds and making the most out of one's time, it certainly was disappointing to learn that the fabled Junko Enoshima has fallen to that particular low.

Though on hindsight, she did concede the act might have been despairing in one sense or another., so she decided to let it go... for now.

That, and she did mention a "long term thing", and she did employ a similar tactic when she got her former classmates to kill each other.

It's with those thoughts that she clapped her hands, putting on one of the fakest smiles in her arsenal.]

As expected of Enoshima-san! You get a gold star for paying close attention to my lessons!

So, who are these lucky people you've been forging bonds with? You get bonus points for each one you name!

[magicpanchira]

[ Trucy can't help but laugh good naturedly, because it's always amusing when people jump at Mr. Hat's entrance. ]

Well, when he wants to come out, he enjoys making a flashy entrance, you know? Say hello, Mr. Hat! [ The puppet in question seems to have a life of it's own as it tips his -- or rather, her hat at Dhurke before 'speaking' to him. ]

"Hello, pleased to meet your acquaintance! Oho, and who is this handsome fellow?" [ Mr. Hat's attention is now on the scarecrow, staring at it with his own beady wooden eyes. Clearly, they need to be best friends! ]

[dyedsnow]

[It was the only invitation Chisa needed to blaze a trail through the fields, the plants seemingly parting to make way for her as she pulled Phoenix along.

She did, however, skid to a halt when a large pile of slime barred her path, inadvertently letting go of Phoenix's hand then. At first, she frowned at it, as if willing it to disappear. But when that did not work, she turned to Phoenix, giving him a bright smile as she folded her arms.]

Well, Mr. Spiky Head! It looks like it's your time to shine! Could you try cleaning this up?

[She could probably get it done in no time flat, but she was admittedly curious to see what the other was made of.]

C

[followthehearts]

I'm sure everyone can hear you at that volume.

[Even with a small 'ow' at the end, she can't help but laugh a little at the sheer amount of enthusiasm. She seriously hopes she wasn't this bad when first using the amulets, too.]

[ooc: I'm not a part of her prospective cast, but she has CR with a few Ultimates, and I know all the spoilers. Feel free to use them all you like!]

[dyedsnow]

[She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should bother Hinata with that certain detail. But well, given the horrors he had witnessed in this particular world (and well, their home world), maybe an additional depressing fact wouldn't hurt.]

Well, dying. It wasn't very pleasant, so I was very surprised when I ended up here without any injuries...

[againstdespair]

[He watches with vague interest as Nakajima reverses his transformation with seeming ease; the best comparison that comes to mind is Kimura's enhancement drugs, but he doesn't think her medicines would move through the blood system fast enough to revert so smoothly.]

Understandable. I have seen something similar in the past. [Perhaps the source of the transformation was different, but reactions were likely exceedingly similar in their negativity.]

The sooner we are out of here, the better. Though I doubt the rabbits will be deterred for long.

[divinable]

... [ she mumbles a few words, mostly complaining about the situation she's in now. moments later, though, it seems rayfa has calmed herself down. ]

Braid Head. Proceed.