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

[nanoscope]

[She hadn't meant to startle him, but his reaction does cause her to chuckle. Despite his rowdiness, he'd always had good manners around her.]

Don't worry, I'm not offended. If anything, I consider it an honour. [He had even picked out a cup she would have chosen for herself. She comes forward, looking over the little shrine before turning to McCree. She rests a hand on his shoulder.]

It's good to see you again, Jesse. I hope you've been well while I was gone.

[tacticalvisor]

Maybe getting ready to have them, then. [He doesn't know. Doesn't think it matters in the long run. He rolls his neck, a soft crack coming from it.]

On your mark?

[justchords]

(apollo understands more than anything the suffering nahyuta's been holding inside. his life completely changed fourteen years ago, taken away from everyone he knows and loves, holding onto a false promise that he would come back someday. he lost a mentor he thought he could trust, his best friend to help him through the worst, and now his father after they'd finally reconnected.

after apollo finally wanted to be back in his life.

he wishes the effects of the liquid would dissipate, so he could handle this properly, have a talk with nahyuta where they both aren't just barely keeping it together. while apollo has been trying to forget his old life, nahyuta spent most of that time suffering, under someone else's control. he still hurts, apollo still wants to burst into tears and curse the world for everything it's done to him, but somehow, in the face of his friend, of his brother, falling apart like this.

his arms wrap about nahyuta tightly again, this time in an effort to offer him some peace he do rightly deserves. his voice is shaky, pained, ready to cry, but he speaks with conviction. his words will not be doubted.) He was always thinking of you, too. He wanted to help you more than anyone, and I know if he saw you now, he'd be so proud of you, Nahyuta. He'd be happier than all of us for you.

[unyieldingdragon]

Oh, don't worry about that. I'm still repaying you for what you did for me.

[She let him remain for such a long time, more than a day even, just so he could spend all that time with his son. It was more than he could have asked for and it brings a smile of gratitude on his face.] I never really got to thank you for doing me that favor. We were strangers, you could have just taken my offer to free yourself and be done with it, but you still allowed me to see my son. For that, I can't thank you enough for giving me that chance.

[For a man who is known to yield to no one, he will actually bow his head out of respect for Maya.] And let me just say, that was some impressive channeling from you, young lady. Never seen a spirit medium channel a spirit for as long as you did. [And it took a toll on her, he learned that much when he was brought back through Amara and he feels a tinge of guilt from it.]

[hamnation]

I cannot explain all of the mysteries of the cosmos to you! [He says smugly as he watches on.]

Hmph... Tanaka the Forbidden One will flee from no adversary! And beyond that, I am certain that their only quarry is you. Are you prepared to face their wrath?!

[nanoscope]

[Well, it looked like that bear was more hardy than it looked. She lets out an impressed hum, considering the bear. A drunken bear was pretty amusing.]

[As impressive as it was, Winston had a point. She loads another dart and takes aim, before firing it again. This makes the bear wince, roar out, and... drop to the ground.]

[nanoscope]

[She wasn't sure either, but it didn't matter; they had to get it under and loaded, that was all that mattered.]

On my mark. [She lifts the rifle, taking aim. She counts down, before firing, the dart finding its mark in the bear's flesh.]

ngl that song is still my favourite surgery theme in the series, next to Judgement Day

[porte_bonheur]

Well, I do try. It's fun making all kinds of clothes. [She takes pride in being able to make many different types of clothes. When he flashes the image of what he normally wears, she perks up.]

Oh! Are you a doctor?

[gr1m]

[Of course there was a bite, a snarl of he refused to see what was right in front of him! Much of his sudden turns of anger were like that, very sudden as if he'd heard otherwise too much for his taste and had swallowed it down one too many times. A man told he was wrong when he knew he was right and it had been proven he was far too late.

Things had gone out of control, even as he'd tried to do his best to keep it under control on his end. Suddenly not having the support system he'd always had- neither of them had it and of course they fell apart. Their friendship fell apart as they did.

Overwatch was doomed from the start as soon as it was taken from their hands and others were provided with the strings.]

It wouldn't matter if I did.

[maten_sutra]

First time I've seen it.

[He shrugs, but it's difficult to be nonchalant when things like that happen.]

And fighting a youkai is one thing, but fighting a- [Wait. Did he really want to be telling Hazel what happened in the future? Did that fuck up time or something? It just ends up being an awkward cutoff instead.]

[churchbelle]

[...Well, that's. Noticeable. Hazel raises an eyebrow, looking away from the feathers to give Sanzo a quizzical look.]

Fightin' a...? [spoil him, he can take it!!]

[goesbananas]

[Winston grins and starts forward immediately, grabbing the animal by the midsection. The air brightens around him, taking on an almost...peanut-buttery scent as his delight takes shape around him]

Nice shooting. Go ahead and get the transport's gate opened and I'll get our friend in there.

[Heave, ho, heave, ho! Bears are heavy, man.]

[fulltimeheroine]

I have third degree black belts in Aikido and Karate and a fourth degree black belt in Judo. . .

[ She isn't bragging; it's simply fact. At the sight of his change in position, she enters a fighting stance as well. ]

There is no need to hold back; this is not the first time I have faced an armed opponent. Come!

[heartsome]

Hi. [Hi? Well. Okay, yeah. It's instinctive for her to say it in return. Greetings and all, but. How.....?

At his question, she blinks again, looking down at her legs.]

I'm fine. But, Roxas, you....

[How does she even say it? Does he even remember returning to Sora and all? This whole place is taking enough adjusting to without all the headaches from home on top of it.]

[heartsome]

A doctor? Oh....well, it's nothing serious. But I guess if you don't mind.

[If she were more experienced with her Keyblade and using magic by extension, she'd probably easily Cure it herself. But she doesn't seem to mind taking a break if he's willing to look at her grazes and ensure they don't get infected or anything.]

[scrapture]

Yes. And yes, probably. [He says quite casually, as if they're discussing the weather. No definition for 'fair dinkum' for you, Scrappy. He just assumes everyone already knows what his slang means.]

Brings out my eyes, I've heard. [Nobody has ever said that to him.] If you'd like, I can give ya the same treatment! [And he aims his launcher Soundwave's way with a maniacal little giggle again.]

[bewrightback]

[Well yes, there is that, but that's different than being the victim of precious animals!

But as the bunny is cast away, Phoenix's expression does look serious as he glances towards the exposed bruise.

DAS GROSS AS FUCK]

Apollo... I don't even need to use my Magatama or look for any tells to know that's not exactly alright... [He stares for just a moment and then takes some steps towards Apollo.]

[backstory]

[The shock of nearly striking an unintended target amplifies tenfold when he realizes just who he had almost hit to begin with. Frozen, he stares in dumbfounded shock for a moment as blue eyes take her in. The familiar red hair, and that clear, penetrating gaze, sincere but full of surprise in turn ]

Princess...?

[The princess! He had almost struck the princess. As though burned his claw tears backwards, shrinking back down to it's ordinary height and size. His stomach feels sick to realize he might have hurt her.]

Princess! When did you arrive here!? [Reaching out carefully and oh so gently, his hands fall to either side of her shoulders. He had possessed no idea up until now!] Are you all right? You are not hurt, are you? I am so sorry to have lifted my claw against you!

[SOMEONE PLEASE BURY HIM BENEATH THE GROUND AND END HIS LIFE NOW]

[malignans]

I'm not a fool, [Dio says, casting a look over his shoulder at Doppio for the remark. His tone is more warning than it is offended, and his expression matches. He's well aware of the likelihood of finding someone who can best him in one of these fights, and doesn't take well to even the slightest hint of his intelligence being questioned.]

[Turning back to pull on his coat next, he clarifies,] There's nothing wrong in desiring a true challenge.

[porte_bonheur]

[Tanaka the Forbidden One? That was some dramatic weirdness going on with that one, and that included fighting themed bad guys on a regular basis. She shakes her head and turns to the approaching mob of scarecrows.]

Well, if you're not going to flee, then don't get in the way! [She's dealt with mummies, knights, and possessed civilians. She can deal with some scarecrows.]

[malignans]

[It is a rather dangerous game to play, but not just for Polnareff's sake. The surrounding environment creaks under the pressure of Dio's tenuous grasp on his temper.]

And what would I possibly have to discuss with you? [he drawls, as though they truly have no reason to bother with one another, let alone any mutual interests.]

[Normally, Dio doesn't mind when Polnareff is around and he has no trouble with prolonged conversations with him. He doesn't enjoy the man's company, mind you, but he does enjoy getting under his skin and has it almost to an art form at this point. What makes this time different is that Polnareff managed to get under his first, and he finds it far less entertaining. With his temper beginning to flare, he lacks the patience to flip the conversation in his favor.]

[backstory]

[It would be a useful ability for a project like this. To fly. He has his claw, which is his prized possession, in a way. But glancing down at his hand, there's little it could have done to prevent him from having become covered in the uncomfortable goop. If he had the ability to fly as she does, it would have made a huge difference. Not to mention, such a feat should be part of the dragon legend. How is it that so many people here possess such fantastical abilities?

The area about him is mainly clear, but the small dregs of slime that reside around him churn a deep green. He fights with himself.]

It must be a convenient ability.

[Which isn't what he meant to say. With a frown, he shakes his head and speaks on determinedly.]

That is-- I will be sure to hunt down these doughnuts. You can count on me. [A plant of some kind? Or... food? He'll find out. The people of this place possess a number of things that they don't have at home. A great many things... he'll have to ask someone about it.]

I thought to lend a helping hand as well. [With his claw. Surely his claw can compete with flying. If he works faster he will clear twice as much as an ability that allows someone to fly!]

Have you managed to settle in?

[nanoscope]

[To her credit, Ana doesn't recoil too much when his anger flares up. She responds with equal fervor, voice raising only to emphasize her point because he ended up being played as a fool, just as you were! Because though she had disappeared before things went pear-shaped, she could see the signs of things changing, becoming too political for her liking. But they were doing their best to keep their integrity last she'd seen.]

[Apparently, their best wasn't good enough once she was struck down. So many things had went wrong...]

How do you know that? Things are different here; there's no politics, no public image to uphold. There are Overwatch agents here, but they are just as displaced as you and me.

We are alone here, Gabriel. Do you really want to face being in a world like this without any help?

[againstdespair]

[Where's his sense of adventure? He scoffs, especially in the face of the stranger's smirk. Such whimsy was so far removed from his reality that there was no way he would consider it.]

You talk in fairy tales. Why? Does it help you deal with this situation? I can't begin to fathom your logic.

[And that was what he dealt with. Logic.]

[gr1m]

They want to further spread Overwatch, banding under a name instead of just a cause.

[The name and symbol had never been what was important, clinging to it as they still were- the fact even Jack was clinging to it again despite protests. It didn't sit well with him, heavy as the amulet around his neck was whenever he thought of it.

Politics or not, they were still acting as if there was a public image-]

I have been already.