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

[tekhartha]

I have met an enormous variety of people here, many of whom I am sure I would have heard of had we existed in the same world, and vice versa. My order and I are reasonably well-known in my world. [Somehow, in his voice, it doesn't sound like a boast.]

[fivenotewhistle]

[Well, isn't that something. Even if his order was a novelty, it piqued his interest. Granted, he wasn't sure it would be for him, but that an order of monks? Possibly all robots? Something he thought he'd never see.

Still, he gives a small, reserved smile.]

Well, that's the right assumption. Name's Proto Man. A pleasure.

[fivenotewhistle]

A few, though it was mostly just about seeing the world. Though if you want really interesting stories, it's my brother that has them. He's the truly exceptional one in my family.

[There was an honest fondness in his mind when he thought about his younger brother. A certain pride, really.]

What about you, Axl? Who are you, and what do you do?

[againstdespair]

[That exclamation, followed by that pout, comes across so disturbingly normal that Munakata can't muster up anything in reply. She was right--the dream would end if he continued that train of thought.

And reality was a terrible beast that threatened to swallow him whole.

That was why, despite his misgivings, he still reached out to Yukizome when she cried. Though he doesn't embrace her, he brings one hand up to her two.]

Forgive me. I have yet to fully reconcile this whole situation. I'm still living in two worlds.

[And the one without her also condemned her to a role he had trouble accepting.]

[scrapture]

[A little stab of uncertainty hits then. Where is Roadhog? Junkrat hasn't been here very long, but he's getting nervous without the accompanying bodyguard around. Junkrat's always been reckless and stupid, but with someone protecting his arse, he was able to be more reckless and stupid.

Not to mention the guy is his only best friend!]

Whaddya wanna know? I'm not the keeper of that big lug's life story or anythin'. He's more like a clam than a hog, if ya must know. Ah, hell-- don't tell the omnic bastard all your secrets-- ! DON'T LET HIM HEAR THAT--

[scrapture]

[Junkrat leans back a little, free hand placing itself on his hip as he seems to relax a bit in Soundwave's presence.]

Yep! Guess you're one of the fair dinkum 'bots, Scrappy! Gotta say I prefer your type if I'm to be stuck in a room with you, orrrr an omnic.

Though that'd give me some unprecedented access to their core. More specifically: blowin' it up.

slightly younger than Riley's sister

[divarication]

[At least this world isn't terrifying like his own. It isn't dark all of the time, there don't seem to be sections of the city where someone might kill just to get their hands on food or money. Though to someone who grew up cared for by an older individual, being alone is scary on it's own.

Honestly, Riley is the biggest and slightly grumpiest teddy bear who ever lived. He doesn't bother talking about himself because well, everything he said about himself could just be a lie in order to get her to trust him.

An eyebrow raises.] You're named after the academy? [Then he nods.] Once we get the bunny, we can go see him. Or I could call him hear to help, Aiden's good at finding things.

[After all, he found Riley three times in the last year. It helps that Aiden has the ability to mask his presence and could sneak up on a rabbit.]

I'm sure if you tell him that it came from another world, he'd let you keep it. [Though he isn't sure that Yuuki will get to take the rabbit back to her world anyway.]

[againstdespair]

[Munakata keeps his sword leveled at the robot--or, well, whatever mechanical race this creature was supposed to be--for a moment longer, then lowers it back to his side. His frown remains, tinged with suspicion.]

As you say. [His gaze averts to Soundwave's hand as he recalls that extended offer.] I will have to decline; I don't make a habit of allowing strangers into my head. [Does he have to worry about telepathy in this world, too? That was what it sounded like, coming from this other newcomer.

After a short silence, he decides he needs to say more in the face of his mistake.] The offer is appreciated, though.

[fivenotewhistle]

[Proto Man watched as his comrade removed a piece of her, and wondered if it would really work as something of a peace granting collateral. ...Might be worth a shot. He didn't have much to give away, or much of anything he'd want to part with for very long, but it seemed like a good idea to follow her lead.

With that in mind, he slipped off his helmet, a pair of sunglasses still covering his eyes. ...Yes, he wears sunglasses under his visor, oddly enough. But with his helmet off, he looked... pretty human overall, with black hair and a well-crafted design that would fool most people casually looking at him.]

Yeah, I'll do that too. But I'm gonna want this back when we're done here. Thing's got a lot of value to me.

[He held out his helmet, hoping in the end that the scarecrows would see finally that they weren't bothersome threats.]

[gardenboxed]

[A little embarrassed, she lifts a hand up to her cheek and nods while she scratches it sheepishly. Usually, she doesn't try to share her relationship to the academy, but her name alone makes it obvious.]

My adoptive father is the chairman of the academy. It's named after him. [So she has the same last name too.] I stay in one of the dorm rooms with my new roommate. But I also have a different residence with the chairman privately on the academy grounds too.

[Holding the carrot in her hand tight, she bends down, wondering if she can find another bunny better at a lower vantage.]

Do you think your friend would be good at catching a bunny? I've never tried before until now.

[peacewithouttyranny]

[Soundwave also relaxes. Junkrat may look like a crazy person, but at least he's not Galvatron crazy.

Hopefully the omnics won't appear in this world. He doesn't want another war to happen, especially in this new strange world, and would like some peace and quiet in his life right now.]

Dinkum?[What's up with organics with their weird and never-before-heard words? Also, he can't help but notice this.] Is your hair on fire?[Should he be worried?]

[tenimuho]

I don't have any contacts here either...

[Hm.]

The mafia's usually on the other side of the smuggling. But I'm not involved in those kinds of deals, so I don't know where you should look.

[fistfulofbullets]

He's hunched over double, hiding his face so Reyes can't see the red in his eyes, the trickle of water down his cheeks. His gloved hand slides back into his hair as he waits, patient, waiting for the arm to be put back together.

"Maybe not in so many words." He replies, quiet, ignoring how the ghosts are starting to fade as he lets it all out. Like wisps of fog disappearing in the light of the dawn, or shadows extinguishing with a lightbulb's incandescent.
"Might have just asked when you were retirin'. Tried to see if you'd come with me. I keep replayin' that conversation in my head but after all these years the words have changed, you know?"

A pause, and then he looks up.
"But there's one thing I know I wanted, and that was you to come with me. To leave Blackwatch before we had to cross another line we couldn't."

[herpath]

There are so many yummy things to eat and drink here. Zeno's been showing me lots of them. He's been teaching me to cook too.

[peacewithouttyranny]

That is understandable. Not many are comfortable when someone gets into your mind.[He knows that feeling when unwanted thoughts is in his head. But that's when he has no control over his own power; not because someone is deliberately trying to get into his head.

Now that he's here, might as well help fix the window and maybe that way he can increase his relation with the locals in this world. He is given a second chance to improve the cybertronian-human relation and he will make use of it. This time for real instead of just using them.

He looks back at the shattered remains then back to Munakata] You do not need to concern yourself over that broken window, human. I will help fix it instead.

[gr1m]

"Never expected to live long enough to retire." Leaning back once he was done with the arm, knocking the cloths he'd used off the table and into the nearby trash. Wasn't going to bother washing them, they'd just been one thing he'd kept around, could get more easily enough. Scraps from something else, really. "Guess I was right."

Gabriel Reyes was dead and there was only the Reaper left behind. All that was left, the ghost of a man left to suffer and die.

He stood up slowly, pointedly ignoring what was left of those shadows as the room was otherwise normal once again. The effects of his own flare of mood all but gone, even the cracks in the floor resealing themselves. "You'd have ended up dead if you had stayed, or worse." Finally deciding that.

[forcelightning]

[ She really didn't know. The Leia he knoew... there was no way she wasn't aware, though he hadn't had a chance to speak with her since it all came out.

It'd be easy to lie, to come up with some tale. Maybe he was going soft but the thought didn't sit right with him. ]

...Can you keep a secret?

[ For just a moment he looks very young. He's barely seventeen though his maturity causes most to think him older. But for just that blink and you'll miss it moment he looks like the lost and confused teenager that he is. ]

[sobored]

Oh come on, you think I can't see through that phony act. You're totally disappointed. Probably thinking something like what is this, has Junko Enoshima gone soft? Is this really the same girl who took your students away from you, brought Hope's Peak Academy to its knees, and made the world a living hell for your beloved Kyosuke Munakata?

[When she puts it that way...yeah, she's sort of been slacking. She knows that, and Chisa's not wrong for thinking that brings her despair. But with how this world works, it sort of works out. All that despair goes somewhere, her despair from trying to play fair, her despair from knowing she'd rather do a lot worse, her despair from knowing she could do worse, her despair from knowing someday she'll get bored of it and it'll all be over. Just thinking about it's causing all of Chisa's hard work to become undone as the mushrooms and slime start to reform all over again. Which is fitting, isn't it?]

In fact, I bet you think you can do better, can't you?

[Her eyes narrow, like she's actually thinking about it. She's not, of course, but whatever, she'll play with the idea for now.]

Yeah, that's it, I mean shit, what do I know, I didn't even finish high school, so you being the teacher and all probably think you can do a way better job than someone like me. Man, if I'd have known sending you back to your friends would go to your head like this, I totally would've done something different.

C

[peacewithouttyranny]

[Being a natural telepath, Soundwave is used to receive some transmission himself. But the sheer enthusiasm and loud volume is a new one.]

I can hear you just fine, human.[He assumes that the person speaking is human.] I recommend that you put less... enthusiasm and lower your voice next time.[A beat.] Please.

[ooc: I'm super fine with spoilers. Just finished it a few days ago.]

[sobored]

More like baffled by the lack of it. Seriously, you guys look like you escaped from an 80s glam rock vid. And that's so not a compliment.

[She doesn't particularly care if he knows what that is or not.]

How much are you getting paid to shill those things anyway? Because we all know nobody would be caught dead on that crap if they weren't getting something out of it.

[againstdespair]

[The shift from a peaceable approach to one promoting a degree of violence is so unexpected, and yet enthusiastic, that Munakata reacts with silence. How often was he put in the position to react to such respectful request for a spar? He could probably count those occurrences on one hand.

So he doesn't decline immediately. She has his attention.]

You would make such an offer to someone who is using a weapon? You must be confident in your abilities.

[He couldn't say he was unfamiliar with being thrown around; a number of people in the Future Foundation were exceptional martial artists, such as Sakakura and Tengan. Even as he slides into a middle stance, sword poised forward with two hands, he speaks in acknowledgment.]

If you are certain, then your opponent is Kyosuke Munakata. I welcome your attempt.

[bewrightback]

[Phoenix trying to be sympathetic. He hasn't been here long, but he's seen how easily emotional reactions can get out of control. His sheepish expression shifts into something more thoughtful as he pokes at his chin and looks towards the broken window.]

Not personally! ...But with how often emotions seem to cause accidents like this around here, I wouldn't be surprised if they have the windows insured or something.

[seasaltkeys]

Yeah...hi.

[How does he even begin to explain...]

You okay?

[nanoscope]

I saw something horrible that was inflicted on you, but Jack is not the one to blame for this. He is as much a victim in this as you are.

[Considering how violently he had attacked and how quickly he left in Egypt, she's actually surprised how long he's stayed to talk, even ordering himself a drink. The more he talks, the more she reminds him of details he seemed to forget and the more she watches how he reacts to those details, the more she starts to get a better picture of things; the man who she had known before is still in there, somewhere, just buried under hurt and pain.]

[She does her best to not look away as he tilts that mask up, catching the barest glimpse of patched, decaying skin beneath. It was unsettling, yes, but she had to remember that he hadn't asked for this. None of them had asked for the tragedies that they went through when Overwatch fell.]

[Eventually their conversation lulls a bit, and she looks into the remaining dregs of her empty teacup.]

Things do change. I've seen that much. But maybe it's time you did some changing as well.

[tacticalvisor]

[76 grunts in response, adjusting his rifle on his shoulder. Fair enough. The other's clearly seen experience, and just in case was paranoid that he'd been watched for some time-] Just saw the end of it.

[Everyone's supposed to be on the same side, but if they're remotely as paranoid as he is - well, the assurance couldn't hurt, in any case.]