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

[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.

[razzledazzles]

[Hmm, a hat doesn't hold as much, but it will hold a lot more than their hands! So, he holds out the few he's already got in his hands, smiling at Hazel.]

Can we? [Use the hat then?? Come on, they can pile it full.] I have an idea that will make this go quickly.

[churchbelle]

[His poor hat, used for something so dumb... Alright. He takes it off, holding it upside down for Jae-Ha to drop literal grenades into.]

I'm gonna want it back, y'know, so be gentle.

[razzledazzles]

I'm gentle in everything I do.

[That's a lie, but like, he'll be careful with a borrowed item, he always is! He starts to fill it up carefully with the little grenades, pausing once it's full to the brim.]

I could use your help with this, actually. [He holds his arms out like Hazel is supposed to understand this means he wants him to fly with him and throw grenades while he jumps around.]

[churchbelle]

[God, goodbye hat, it was nice knowing you. Hazel just watches Jae-Ha fill the hat up, looking up at him with blank confusion when he asks for help. Help with... filling the hat?

What does it all mean??] Beggin' your pardon?

[razzledazzles]

I could carry you while I fly. [Since Hazel is so small, it shouldn't be too hard.] That way, you could focus on where to throw the grenades while I find the right places to land without slipping.

[churchbelle]

[bruh]

Don't ya just jump? Is that really flyin'?

[razzledazzles]

Jumping, that's what I meant.

[He totally flies, jerk, you saw how high he went!!] What do you say?

[churchbelle]

[Hmm... Hmmmm, looked like jumping. Hazel is still really not sold on this flight jumping thing, but does he really want to stand around in the muck waiting? He's between a dork and a gross place.]

Well, what'm I meant to do?

[razzledazzles]

Hold onto your hat.

[He passes it over to Hazel now, waiting for him to take it in his hands before he loops one arm around his shoulders, and the other scoops him up from the knees easily. That was permission, right?]

And throw where you see slime. Ready?

[churchbelle]

[Was that supposed to be clever, or is he just a loser!! Hazel will wonder this as he's abruptly scooped up, jesus, good thing he's a professional at holding onto his hat.

He is Not Ready. But.]

As I'll ever be, I reckon.

[razzledazzles]

[And... he jumps!

Flies. Well, it's more like flying once they're in the air, at least, with how much he can just go without needing to come down. So, they can admire this gross ass island.] It seems there's quite a lot that hasn't been cleaned.

[churchbelle]

[Jae-Ha is trying to have a conversation, but Hazel is far too thrown off by being a passenger on Air Dragon to pay attention, holy shit—]

This is some new kinda spring-heeled. How are ya doin' this, really? Be honest.

[razzledazzles]

[It makes sense to ask about. That's what the village of the Green Dragon was always so worried about, wasn't it? That he wouldn't be able to hold back his power, that people would ask, and that the people who weren't accepting would lash out in some way. That whole chain. He expects the questions, even when he tries to avoid them. He causes the questions, really, but it's not like he can stop himself from jumping around... It doesn't feel right!

At the very least, he can answer it simply.]

It's an ability I've had since I was born. My legs are incredibly strong.

[churchbelle]

[What kind of truly unfortunate ability is strong legs?? Hazel mercifully does not say this, or think it too loudly, but he does make a vague "huh" kind of noise and look down at the slimy scenery instead.

Fascinating.]

You're a regular jumpin' bean. Where should I be throwin' these while you're goin' this fast?

[razzledazzles]

[Shut the fuck up his legs are beautiful.]

Didn't I already say? At anywhere with slime. If you really can't tell, go on and aim anywhere. Most of the island seems full of it.