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

[churchbelle]

[Hang on, he just touched a tree to keep his balance stepping over something gross and the tree was also gross. Spare him from this fresh hell.]

—Hazel. [why are we talking about this now my guy,] It's a pleasure.

[razzledazzles]

[He can greet someone late, this is fine!! He only smiles at that as he walks along, glancing back occasionally to check that Hazel hasn't slipped over something or who knows what else. Ah, that tree sure is gross, though—]

You should avoid touching that too much. [He says, as if Hazel is trying to touch this nasty slime all over...] I've heard it has side effects of some sort.

[churchbelle]

[Well it's not like he wanted to touch this goop for very long, but he still pulls his hand away and shakes the stuff off with extra emphasis. He believes it, after that weird explosion...]

No foolin'? I'm not about to find out. [Carefully stepping away from there, ew, everything is horrible.] How are ya doin' this so easily?

[is that magic jealousy??? no it's just regular jealousy]

[razzledazzles]

I haven't learned first hand or anything, but it's what I've heard.

[So, he doesn't very much want to touch a bunch of goo and find out. There really is goo everywhere, but he's somehow able to slide rather gracefully, all things considered.]

Hmm? Doing what? [He asks this so innocently.]

[churchbelle]

Walkin' on this slimy— [He's cut off then as he slips, wobbles, waves his arms away from any trees this time, and manages to not fall down after making a complete fool of himself. Great. Cool. Love it.]

...So y'see how well it's goin' for me.

[razzledazzles]

[Ah, look at this guy slip all over. Jae-Ha moves just barely closer, one of his hands sort of hovering up like he's not sure if he should reach and straighten Hazel or not. But it looks like he's got it, for now.]

It's not easy, but I'm used to balancing my weight. [Balancing on a boat through stormy waters was probably a thing he did, too, aside from all the leggie stuff. He goes ahead and reaches out with this hover hand, an offering.]

Would you like some help? [Hold his hand, he's like a tree without all the slime.]

[churchbelle]

[What's his secret... What is the secret of his jumping legs?? Hazel moves his hand like he might be about to swat Jae-Ha's offered hand away, but his petty abruptness makes him wobble again and he compromises by grabbing Jae-Ha's sleeve.]

Make no mistake, we're both goin' down if ya lead me into even worse muck.

[razzledazzles]

[Don't excite him with threats. Jae-Ha only looks amused, if anything, and accepts the sleeve grabbing over hand holding with ease. Alright, fine!! They're moving forward, though, and he still kind of hover hands just in case he has to grab him. His sleeves are a little long to rely just on those.]

Did you forget that I helped when you slipped the first time? [He's not going to let him fall, gosh.] All we're headed for is that bucket of useful tools. It shouldn't be too far.

[churchbelle]

I could hardly forget ya bein' the reason I almost fell in the first place.

[That's his story and he's sticking to it. He's less fussy after a few more successful steps of not falling on his ass, at least, and they will make it to the bucket without more embarrassing incident. Then Hazel will be able to let go and slide himself over to peer down at all these weird ball things.]

Do ya think they do the same for things besides the slime?

[razzledazzles]

[Okay, he can't help if he's so gorgeous that he steals the gazes of strangers. He doesn't even argue that, simply chuckling under his breath and leading them along. He takes careful paths just to avoid most of the slime, even if it takes a little longer to get from point A to point B. Eventually, they make it, and that's all that matters.

Jae-Ha immediately picks up one of the things, turning it over in his hand.]

Things beside the slime... like what? Are you looking to do some house cleaning? [It might work on dust or stuff...]

[churchbelle]

[Don't put words in his mouth with that dragon ego. Hazel picks up a few of the balls, comparing them to see if there's anything noteworthy about them... at all. How do you even make these??]

Sure, I could. [is he listening.... not really] Maybe they'll do somethin' different dependin' on the things around.

[razzledazzles]

[What is he even thinking of, goodness. Jae-Ha walks over to pluck one of the balls cheerfully from Hazel's hands.]

Like, perhaps, removing everything from a space that isn't beautiful?

[He's not serious, but he likes this light mood. Anyway, he's going to chuck this one a good distance away and watch it blow.] These work so well, I wonder why they didn't drop all of them from the skies themselves.

[churchbelle]

[That?? Was his???? What a rude boy.]

Perhaps they're sufferin' from powerfully bad aim. [He picks up another ball to replace the one Jae-Ha STOLE, looking at this new one instead. Hmm!!] Well, they'd certainly clear out a room.

[razzledazzles]

Is there something in particular you're trying to clear out?

[This time, he'll go to the bucket to pick up another instead of stealing. See, he's behaving!!]

[churchbelle]

No, nothin' comes to mind. [Look at him, what a good boy... How many of these can Hazel take home with him, meanwhile, good question.]

Just somethin' to consider. They'd be handy, don't ya think?

[razzledazzles]

Very much so. There are many things here like this! Have you seen those little devices where the arm moves to tell the time?

[Clocks... amazing.] Adding on top of it all of these emotion effects, it really is something else. I've heard there are real love potions here.

[churchbelle]

[He's just casually pocketing some of these appreciation things, no big deal—]

Potions, huh? Sure, that's real interestin'. Say, do ya know— [Wait. Wait...]

A clock? You're talkin' about a clock like it's some real piece of art.

[razzledazzles]

A clock, yes! That's what it was called!

[So he has seen them!!] Some stores are filled with them.

[churchbelle]

[Is he being punked...... no way...]

And ya can wear a lil one what's called a watch. Amazin', ain't it?

[razzledazzles]

Is that true? [He is not being punked, look how genuine Jae-Ha is as he slides over, reaching for one of Hazel's hands to clutch in his excitement.] Do you have one yourself?

[churchbelle]

[Look at this guy... he's so excited about basic things, it's endearing. Hazel laughs, glancing down at his hand being held like he's not sure what to do about that. Ah-]

No, I'm afraid not. They look just like the big ones, only on a strap, I swear.

[razzledazzles]

[Ah, that's too bad. He won't have to wonder what to do with his hand for much longer, since Jae-Ha drops it gently at that news, snapping the fingers of one of his own hands instead.]

I'll have to find one once we're finished here.

[churchbelle]

[Never washes this hand again, just kidding. Now he can steal more toys.]

Take a look into any store ya find, honestly. They're peddlin' watches like they're goin' outta style.

[Hazel does not understand steampunk.]

[razzledazzles]

[Stop pocketing LITERAL GRENADES.]

It does seem to be a theme, here. That and those little wheels with the teeth. [Gears. Anyway, he picks up a few of these things himself, glancing around.] You don't have a bag, do you?

[This would be way easier if he just jumped around throwing bombs, he swears.]

[churchbelle]

[No, he likes them.]

Wheels? Alright. [That's not as obvious as clocks, but give him like twenty minutes and he'll abruptly figure it out. And he doesn't have a bag, but...]

I've got my hat, I s'pose.