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

[Voice]

[lukeim_yurlin]

For those who stay here more than a couple of months, potentially.

[A beat.]

That said, I've already become visible to a few humans who couldn't see me initially.

[Emotional bonds are a "two to tango" kind of deal for sure and it helps if one person involved is rather emotional and wanting friendship. Makes it more difficult for Dezel to keep them at arm's length where he's the other side of it. And while a hugger he is not for the most part, he is learning to apply friendly physical contact in certain situations with good friends. It's a slow process, but it's a working process nonetheless.]

A little research will get you that kind of information on the Arehtei. And "guardians" and "representations of the emotional spectrum" are more accurate.

[Voice]

[griefedlightning]

Hey, that's great progress for sixty days! [That's faster than Oliver. Achievement unlocked.] I think you'll be surprised how many people can be willing.

[Not an ounce of sarcasm because, well, it's Barry. Bless this angry shark dog for almost learning to cuddle.]

Huh. [Give him less than a second. He's going through that pamphlet and a couple of other fine reading materials at the welcome center, where he's arrived a second ago.] Yup. So your guy, or girl, Elios is a love/hate combo.

They align us with them because their whole spectrum deal relates to us?

[Voice]

[lukeim_yurlin]

[There's a mere low "hmph" in response to the part about people being willing. Though Dezel has yet to run into anyone who has issues with him based on what he is, he figures sooner or later it will have to happen. Thinking otherwise is far too optimistic for someone like him.]

Elios is male. And yes... Love and hate.

We do seem to fall into alignment with whatever Arehtei suits us best, based on the emotions we're most familiar with since they're taken in by our crystals.

[Voice]

[griefedlightning]

[Luckily Barry's too happy to share that optimism he has for Dezel as a telepathic answer for his grumble. Barry Allen trademark smile free of charge.

His acquaintance isn't a bad sort, just rough around the edges. So far anyway.]

Hm. [Blargh. He kind of wants to just lie down after reading about Daimonia since that entry's right by Elios.] Yeah. Starting to see that.

[He's just gonna slide the book back in place.]

You know I think I should look into that Enforcer's job before getting too deep into this stuff.

[Because it's kinda heavy.]

Mind if I put you as a reference?

[Voice]

[lukeim_yurlin]

[Fortunately, Dezel is more than fine with letting chatter about the Arehtei alignments die off for now as he's not eager to share the how/why of why his own. Seems the same might be true for Barry and Dezel's not one to push in regards to others' alignments, either.]

If you want. Fulbright and I are on good terms. Just be aware that you'll need to be here a month before they'll put you on the payroll.

[malignans]

[It's a sharp enough edge that the flowers at the edge closest to Dio's feet begin to wilt. The buds that were closed begin to shrivel as the stalks bend and fold under the weight. Vibrant leaves turn crisp and brittle, a few even falling off with even the slightest movement of wind.]

[And yet, if one were relying solely upon Dio as a metric of his mood, it would appear to remain relatively unchanged. The only tell that something in his mood's shifted is the way his eyes narrow. If Giorno had stopped, left it at pointing out the hypocrisy in concerns what anyone else might thing, he might have remained entirely even and calm. But it's the dismissal of Dio's opinion that pricks at Dio's pride and sparks the irritability that almost always serves as a gateway to his temper.]

Every boy cares what his father thinks of him, whether he wants to or not.

[Dio certainly never did, and yet . . . Anyway, Dio won't allow Giorno to mark him as irrelevant or unimportant, and simply discard what Dio may or may not have to say without another thought. He can't rely on his usual tricks because his son adopted so many of them himself, but Dio's confident that he'll figure it out what it takes sooner rather than later. There's never been a single person he couldn't charm at any rate.]

In any case, you value the truth, don't you? I'd think you'd be delighted that I see no reason to lie to you.

[justchords]

(he's silent as nahyuta speaks, patiently and politely waiting for him to finish, give apollo a chance to collect his thoughts on the matter. he held no grudge against queen amara or rayfa, they were as much victims of ga'ran's tyranny as anyone, even more so. and he just couldn't bring himself to be upset at people who were like him, dragged back into this situation because of dhurke.

it takes him longer than a few moments, allowing nahyuta's words time to sink in, fists clenching against his sleeves in a small part of dislike at his own actions.) I... I don't hold it against them, I swear. Queen Amara and Her Benevolence were dragged into this as much as we were. No one is at fault, and I don't want to feel like this, but... the first thing he did after sending me away was have another kid.

(it stung. it stung and prodded at his heart more than he thought it would, more than he wanted it to. none of this was fair to anyone, and yet he was being selfish in his reasons.) When I first found out about her in court, I... I'd be lying if I.. if I said I didn't feel... (replaced.)

... I'm sorry.

[oratorical]

If that's meant to be a hint, it seems you've traded both modesty and subtlety for your speed.

[Which is to say, she's not sticking behind and letting him do the work. Sorry Barry. With a nod of her head, Leia is back to leading the charge toward some dilapidated drawers or lab station. Something along those lines. There may be bones littering the area around the station, but for now, the skeletons are in hiding.]

[seasaltkeys]

Yeah, we can at least get started. It's kind of a lot for two people to take on.

[forcelightning]

[ Luke? Wasn't that the name of the kinda dorky guy who helped him with the rabbits? ...Probably a coincidence. Totally. ]

I used to think that too. I still do a little.

[ His voice sounds strained, conflicted. He struggles so much now. Life was simpler when he blindly followed his Master. Not that he wished for that again. This was... better. Harder, but better. ]

I'm afraid though. Hating him will just send me tumbling back down a path I don't want to travel anymore.

[hamnation]

[So, it was her after all. He crossed his arms, ready to deny any weakness on his part.]

Hmph... It would take much more than that to startle a being of my stature! You may shatter all the glasses that you like, so long as the shards do not cross the path of the Dark Devas of Destruction!

pmuch everyone from aa4 is gone forever now

[magicpanchira]

Ahaha! They sure do! Except if it's a zombie apocalypse, there wouldn't be cops, right? Everyone would be... dead, so to speak. So you'd have to take matters into your own manly hands! And by that, I mean get a weapon and go to town! [ Much like he's doing right now! She blinks at his little question, because for her, affection and things related to it just sort of come naturally. At least towards the people she's closest to. ] Well, yeah. Of course!

[ Duh, Apollo. She listens to his nervous rambling, using her free hand to pat his shoulder, because she's pretty sure nothing is going to catch up to them at this point. As a matter of fact, she gently stops him for a moment and turns to look over her shoulder, pointing down the hallway. They're being followed, alright, except it's not very threatening at all.

These things are literally wheezing and trying to push one another out of the way and have actually gotten themselves stuck in the hall. ]

Polly, I... think we're safe. [ She stares at the nerds for a moment, and the one that he knocked and half suddenly crawls out from the crowd. ] Hey, look, he's back!

[ It's at this point, the half-nerd reaches for their ankles, and she just sort of reaches down and takes his glasses off. And tosses them off to the side.

....That was probably super mean, and if zombie looks could kill, she'd be dead herself right now. He whines and just kind of flops over, and now she finds herself casually tugging Apollo back down the hall. ]

Anyways! Yes, we're going to be just fine! No worries, Polly. Two more rooms, and we're done!

[ephemerous]

I was simply trying to convey that Rayfa was never planned, given the circumstances.

[He can't feel angry at Apollo even if he did feel some kind of resentment related to Rayfa, not after all he's been through. Maybe Nahyuta's explanation isn't convincing enough... So he thinks of another avenue to explore. Then it occurs to him: evidence is everything to a lawyer.]

...Apollo. You still have Father's badge, do you not? Why do you think he gave it to you, and why do you think I allowed you to keep it?

[If Dhurke really had just tossed Apollo aside and forgotten him, Nahyuta can't imagine he'd ever give away something so precious. He'd sooner die with it pinned to his chest or torn away from him by force. Or else, he might have simply given it away to Amara or Nahyuta instead.]

He entrusted you -- no one else -- with his very heart and soul.

[invigorates]

It can be somewhat... overwhelming at first, but is is more than worth the effort. I have learned so much in my time here - about this world, and so many others.

[ she nods and takes the offered seat beside him, her voice low as not to disturb any others that might be seated nearby. ]

You said you had questions, yes?

[heartsome]

Well, none of it will get done if nobody gets to it.

[They can at least manage to clear some of this stuff out of the way for everyone to get by and not trip up like Kairi. So she does get started, giving Roxas space to as well as best she can manage.]

[ephemerous]

I do, about yourself and your world, if you would like to share a little of what you know. Likewise, I am happy to divulge information about mine.

[Really, he wants to understand what she is and whether she's human, first of all, but it seems rude to just come out and say it.]

[invigorates]

[ thankfully, he won't have to. she's just so used to people not knowing that she just assumes at this point. ]

I am going to fathom a guess that Dark Elves are not a common sight in your world. Such seems to be the case for most - so I suppose I can start there. [ she would be surprised if he corrected her and said there were elves at all. ] We are creatures born of magic, and we depend on it to sustain ourselves. [ she holds out her hand to him, fingers splayed to show each glowing line that curves around them. ] It flows through my veins like blood does in yours, keeps me alive and helps to fuel my own magical abilities. Though mine are mostly used for healing purposes.

[ephemerous]

I see... How fascinating. I once prosecuted a magician who used stage magic, but those are little more than illusions and misdirection.

[Not actual magic, in other words. He leans forwards to inspect her hands more closely.]

How are your abilities made manifest?

[invigorates]

[ Prosecuted? was he some sort of law official? she'll have to ask more about that later.

she turns her hand over, showing the swirling lines along the back of it as well as the few that curve around her wrist. they seem to rest right above her skin, pulsing faintly with energy. ]

When a spell is cast, the corresponding amount of energy comes from my body and can be manipulated how I see fit. It can also be used in tandem with other elements - like water, or fire, to create different affects or to enhance the spell. When I am healing, I am simply transferring my energy to another.

[ephemerous]

To be able to both heal and call upon the elements... Your people are blessed, to be able to use such abilities.

[Particularly healing. Perhaps if humanity had access to healing abilities like those, there wouldn't be nearly so much need to prosecute murders as he does, when saving lives would become so much easier.]

[invigorates]

They were gifts from those that created us, sacred things we hold dear and protect at all costs. There are other forms of magic the other races use, but none quite like ours.

[ she smiles, propping her chin in her hand. ]

I am curious though - you said you prosecuted a magician before. What exactly did you mean?

[ephemerous]

I mean that I am a prosecutor in criminal justice courts. I present the case indicting accused suspects of a crime, and seek to prove their guilt, so they may receive due punishment. Is this a process familiar to you, in your world?

[Maybe elves are more enlightened and don't need a criminal justice system, who knows.]

One such case I prosecuted recently was a magician, who was accused of murder using a magic trick.

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas nods, and gets to work. After a period of silence he pauses and takes a breath.]

You know that both Sora and Riku are here, right?

[justchords]

None of it was planned. We couldn't do anything about it, that's why it hurts so much. (that they were both just kids, powerless in the face the greater powers around them to do anything at all to help their father. nahyuta was taken advantage of, apollo was thousands of miles away and unable to even know the situation of his own family. there's still a smidgen of guilt in his heart for trying to forget them, keep them all out of his mind.

it's the mention of dhurke's badge that gets a reaction of him. his face turns to nahyuta, almost in scared wonder. the thought bubbles up in his mind, slowly at first, that yes, dhurke gave him his attorney's badge before the trial began.

it hits him with the force of a falling piano in mere seconds what that notion meant. even nahyuta wasn't able to pry it from dhurke at the detention center, he of all people knew just how important that badge was, possibly even as much as apollo protects his own badge. he lets it sink in, allowing the meaning behind his father's action to really set itself in his mind to understand what it means.) You know... there's a lot of things I would change if I could.

(he turns away from nahyuta again, and at first glance, apollo appears fine. but the fists clenching his shirt sleeves, coupled with the cracking strength in his voice. turn just the right way and you'd be able to see him crying, a slow, steady stream of tears as he looks at nothing in particular.) But... not him. I couldn't have asked for a better dad.

(this time, much quieter.) ... he really loved me, didn't he.

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta watches as the penny drops for Apollo, and finally -- finally -- Apollo understands what he's been trying to convey. The badge had been the thing in court that had stopped Nahyuta from giving up his final shred of hope after learning of Dhurke's death, and now it was Nahyuta's turn to help Apollo too.]

He did. [He sets the box aside he'd been carrying, and moves over to Apollo, resting a hand on his back. He knows Apollo well enough to tell when he's crying, even if he won't openly show it.]

And even if he was not able to give you the happiness he wanted for you in life, he was at least able to pass onto you all that you needed to grasp that happiness for yourself. That is what the badge represents.