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

[justchords]

(he wishes he could accept a helping hand better, not be so awkward about this. but he'll try, for nahyuta. for both of them.) Um. Thanks, Nahyuta. That... really means a lot.

(the liquid forcing this talk out of them aside, apollo is genuinely happy they could connect. they're far overdue for it, in much need of some sort of emotional bonding like this.) I'm extending the same offer to you. I'll always be here for you.

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta doesn't mind the awkwardness at all. He'd resigned himself to never seeing Apollo again a long time ago, as he'd resigned himself to many things, never expecting that they'd be able to meet and talk again like this. Really, he doesn't remember the last time he was able to speak so frankly with someone like this at all, having been separated from Dhurke and the Defiant Dragons for so long, and with having no contact with the rest of his family...

But that's all in the past. Maybe it's the effects of how emotions are displayed in this place, but he's starting to glow a little with joy.]

Thank you, Apollo. I knew I was not mistaken to count on you.

[justchords]

(it's not easy, it's definitely going to be a rocky road at first, and not the good kind involving chocolate and marshmallows, but apollo will put in as much effort as he can to bring their relationship to at least partially what they had when they were children. the number of people in his life has been dwindling the past few years. he'd like to do whatever he can to prevent that number from dropping any more.

the light glow surrounding nahyuta is hard to miss in as dim a place as they are now. though the effects haven't worn off completely, he does smile back, however small it may be. followed by an awkward laugh as he rubs the back of his head.) Ahaha... don't let anyone from the agency hear you say that, they'll tell you stories that'll probably change your mind.

[ephemerous]

I'm sure I have plenty of stories of my own that they might find... illuminating. Would you not agree?

[The benefits of having a year up on Apollo: he can remember more embarrassing childhood things than Apollo would have. Fortunately, he's less likely than Dhurke to just share them with everyone. He's mostly just teasing to try and cheer him up.]

[justchords]

(now see nahyuta, if you wanted to cheer apollo up, you could've given him a hug. or a small gift of appreciation. or a paid vacation to lighten hus current case load back home. this? this is not cheering him up, it only gets him worried for what's left of his dignity.

this is all only made worse by the fact that with nahyuta's serene smile, apollo honestly can't tell if he's serious or not.) Please don't, Dhurke already tood Trucy about the leeches. And got Athena thinking I have the dragon tattoo on my butt. (...) Which I don't!!!

(never mind that nahyuta is the one person who knows this for a fact.)

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta makes a mental note: Apollo is cranky and has no sense of humour when teased. Somehow, that makes this funnier, even if he won't outwardly show his amusement.]

Don't you? Who knows what strange choices you may have made in the States.

I have heard that it is not uncommon in your country to consume vast quantities of alcohol, and then to stumble into a tattoo parlour, requesting body art that is the subject of much later regret.

[Do you really have a butt that never yields, Apollo???]

[justchords]

(he is not cranky, he is just far too tired of being the straight man of the agency!!! which promptly makes him the butf of everyone's jokes, ask anyone who knows him.

thankfully, nahyuta is late to the game, and two years of being around trucy have more than prepared him for encounters such at this one. he gives nahyuta a rather unimpressed look, one that would definitely cause dhurke to get the two of them mixed up.) I take back everything I said. This (he says while gesturijg to nahyuta) is what would really make Dhurke proud of you.

(he hesitates for a few rather long moments because this is apollo, the screaming child who can't let affronts against his honor go.) And I've only gotten drunk one time and that was celebrating Clay becoming an astronaut, and nothing happened.

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta looks proud enough of that comparison, all things considered.] If Father believed such a claim to be true, then it falls to me to substantiate it.

[That's definitely part of his duty in fulfilling Dhurke's legacy. You know, with yet more weird cultural assumptions he seems to have picked up about America. Where does he even learn these?

At any rate, since Apollo no longer seems distraught enough that he can keep up with the banter, Nahyuta goes back to pick up the box he'd left on a table. Since they went through so much grief to get these shards in the first place, he's not about to forget them on the way out.]

Say no more; you needn't justify your drunken exploits to me.

[justchords]

(you're a horrible mix of your joking father and composed mother, nahyuta. it's going to give apollo a migraine any second now. even if apollo is glad to see him be pleased being compared to their father.) You know he was the one going around telling people te tattooed my ass, right?

(now apollo is wondering just how much he'll have to teach nahyuta about actual american culture. and then wonders if it'll even stick if he just keeps watching lame sitcoms or something. that's probably where he gets all of his "research" anyway.

the noise escaping his mouth is all too similar to the sort he makes in court. you know, when he gets put on the spot to present conclusive evidence and have his case literally riding on that one bluff? he just drags a hand down his face in acceptance of his fate. he has lost this battle.) Somehow, I doubt you'd believe me even if I did.

[ephemerous]

[Yeah, that sounds like Dhurke. Nahyuta might have been forced out of contact with him for half a decade, but he'll never forget that sense of humour. It's a bittersweet kind of amusement, hearing his jokes repeated back like this.]

Ah, so he was the one that did it. You can be honest with me, if that's truly what happened.

[He picks up the box and heads back over to Apollo.]

But before you tell me any more about your backside or your drinking habits, shall we begin to make our way out of here? There might be more unpleasant surprises waiting in this place, if we linger.

[justchords]

(have you no sense of mercy for this poor boy, nahyuta. can't someone in his life cut him a break and not be the

butt of the jokes.) You've seen my butt, thanks to the incident with the leeches, you know I don't have a tattoo there.

(and the fact that he's had to say that sentence at all and out loud just makes him slap his face in his hands and groan. this is his life, if dhurke isn't going to give him hell, now it's somehow nahyuta's turn. what god did he piss off to get this treatment.

he will, however, begin shuffling toward the door and away from the room with depression juice.) Gladly. Not like outside is any better, though. Once you and Trucy get going, I won't have any dignity left.

[ephemerous]

I saw it on many other occasions as well. I'm surprised we were not half-feral up in the mountains all those years, you and I.

[How they turned out to be functioning adults with professional legal careers, who knows, although their father must've done something right.

Trying not to look too amused at Apollo's facepalm, Nahyuta begins to lead the way out. Hopefully there aren't any nasty surprises waiting for them, but if there are, he'd much rather be the one to go first. Apollo's been through enough for one day.]

For all that you're eager to defend your dignity, you're the one bringing these incidents up of your own volition, Apollo. [Nahyuta smiles at him over his shoulder. Dhurke really must've gotten to him, if he's still riled up about it.]

[justchords]

Forget half-feral, how the heck did we grow up to get law careers and not... hunters or something. Guess Dhurke did something right with us. (hell, they're both wearing half decent suits now, carrying themselves stronger and better than when they were just screaming children.

well, apollo still screams.

in return for that comment, nahyuta gets a very tired, and as much of a "fuck you" look as apollo can muster without actually saying the words. and he won't say them, either, he's pretty sure nahyuta will pelt him with prayer beads.) Because I at least figured you would be the one person in the world to not make fun of me.

[ephemerous]

[For that look, Apollo just gets a pleasant smile in return. Good, Apollo understands not to use foul language around a holy man.]

I would not dream of making fun of you. [He says it innocently enough... Conveniently disregarding all those times he called Apollo a putrid red pepper. Or a patch of mold. Well, he'd had a ulterior motive for saying those things, at least. This time it's just funny.] Perhaps I've simply become too accustomed to Father's outlandish stories to take them too seriously.

[Imagine being a Defiant Dragon all those years and having to listen to Dhurke subject his fellow revolutionaries to all those embarrassing baby stories. All the time.]

[justchords]

(apollo has felt the wrath of those prayer beads a few too many times, he'll take every precaution to avoid dents in his skull.) Then what was all that "putrid red pepper" stuff about, just playful courtroom banter?

(he's far from hurt about it now, more something they can look back on and laugh, because honestly... where did nahyuta come up with insults like that? he really is more like rayfa than he might know, and that's a thought apollo might keep to himself, lest nahyuta start calling people nincompoops.

he sadly can't connect very well about hearing dhurke's stories. he... doesn't know any of them, aside from the scant few he mentioned in passing to apollo's friends.) He's great at exaggerating things, that's for sure.

(he's quiet, for a few moments, weighing his questions in his mind, and... it's nahyuta. he can be open with him at least, can't he?) Did he... ever talk about me?

(did he remember me?)

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta stops in his tracks. He understands how Apollo must feel, how hurt he must have been, to be taken away to the States and reassured Dhurke would get him again when things settled down. Yet they never did, the fate of Amara and Rayfa soon after only proving the dangers were palpable. Nahyuta had thought he had the best chance at fixing things, at enacting change, but then...

He sighs, quietly, and looks at Apollo.]

... Yes, but only to those he knew he could trust, like myself and Datz. Protecting you by keeping your location and connection to him a secret was always his highest priority.

[Which Apollo might think of as the same thing as forgetting about him. Realising how hurtful it must sound, Nahyuta continues,]

But I know that not a day went by that he did not think of you. You saw the picture of us he kept in his offices, did you not? I know he missed those peaceful days deeply. [Which is probably why Dhurke loved to reminisce on them so much, no matter how embarrassing it was to Apollo.]

[justchords]

(it's hard, if he's being honest, for him not to think of dhurke's actions as just sending him away and forgetting about him. things only got worse in the time he was gone, proving that dhurke... might never have gotten a chance to ever return for apollo. the darkness in his heart always stings when he thinks of how things could've been, how happy they might have been if he stayed, how brighter the world could've been if dhurke just let him stay and help.

he keeps silent as nahyuta speaks, staying as such even longer after he's finished, his gaze more focused on the ground than anything else. he wishes he could understand, accept how things were, get rid of this stinging pain he feels at fourteen years without his father.

it's harder than he thought it would be, especially combined with the fact that dhurke only came back for him when it was all too late. when he was already gone for good from this world. he doesn't look up when he speaks again.) I... wish I could understand it. I want to accept that he did what he did for me, so I'd be okay. But... I can't. I don't know if I'll ever look back at his actions without thinking he abandoned me.

(and this is what will always sting, always make him flinch in pain at the very thought of it.) He didn't come for me until he was gone.

[ephemerous]

I can't speak for Father; he can only be answerable to you. But... For my part, I am glad you did not have to suffer the hardships you would have in Khura'in, that you were able to live free of tyranny after all. Better yet, all that you learned under Mr Wright helped to free us in turn.

[Ultimately, Nahyuta agreed with Dhurke. As the eldest, Nahyuta had responsibilities Apollo did not need to bear, and he instead should be protected -- and later Rayfa, by extension -- even if it meant a long and painful separation. Even if it meant taking all that hardship and responsibility on himself instead. Those were the kinds of sacrifices the revolution involved, and those couldn't be forced on innocent people.]

Sending you away from all that you knew was cruel. But equally, it would have been cruel to keep you, a mere child, at the side of a wanted fugitive, risking incarceration, capture, and even death. He chose what he thought was the lesser of two evils.

[And given the persecution Nahyuta and Dhurke suffered all those years, he still doesn't think he was wrong in doing that.]

[justchords]

... he's not here to answer for it. (he shouldn't have said that, and he knows it. it's not fair to any of them, for a stabbing reminder of their father being gone forever. apollo's thoughts regarding this are far too conflicted, the talk he wanted to clear the air, repair their relationship never happened, leaving apollo with nothing but bitterness and the unending feeling of being alone and forgotten by his father.

even if it was ultimately for his own good, the fact of it was no one asked him. he was just sent away with a hollow promise of returning home, and that was it. that was his goodbye to dhurke, fourteen years ago, never a letter or call or an offer to visit, nothing. dhurke had successfully cut ties with him and left him in the care of strangers.

and there's one point apollo just can't let go of, there's one thing he always has to question above all else. a fist clenches, the bitterness in his heart seeping into his expression.) So I was sent away because it was too dangerous for a child to be around Dhurke with how things were. That's what you're sticking to?

[ephemerous]

[The reminder hurts, but Nahyuta lets it go. He can't begrudge Apollo for feeling as he does, and he will be as patient as he needs to be while Apollo gets it all out in the open.]

Yes. You saw Father's condition; the years after you left were not kind to him. [Losing an eye, injuring his arm, the countless times he was captured and tortured, risking life and limb to free fellow Dragons or others imprisoned unjustly. Nahyuta's not sure how much detail Dhurke went into on any of those points, but he can't imagine he'd talk about it a lot. He never did.]

Was it wrong to wish to spare you from all of that? [Maybe he's playing devil's advocate here more than anything, but maybe seeing things from Dhurke's perspective might help, at least a little.]

[justchords]

(ah. that's what he was afraid of. maybe he really is the only person making such a big deal of out of this one small detail, this one little fact that's been sitting and stewing at the back of his mind ever since he dragged the truth of it out into the harsh light of the world. he didn't have time to focus on it in the midst of the heat of the trial, but now, having been given time to let it sink in and the true meaning behind it...

he realizes his heart tightens, an emotional clamp placed around it and squeezed far too tight for him to handle. a sad smile sprouts on his face while his eyes pinch in pain. far too like someone about to begin crying once again, but he's shed enough tears. why is he only voicing his heartaches now, when they did no good? no one was here to help, nahyuta certainly didn't deserve to hear any of this after all he'd put himself through.

and yet...) Just tell me how Rayfa fits into your reasoning.

(because for all of the so called dangers he faced, they sure didn't seem that bad if he had another kid.)

[ephemerous]

[Nahyuta has been calm so far, but mention of Rayfa is enough to make him uncomfortable, and he frowns. She's a sensitive subject for him at the best of times, so he's taken aback at having her brought up so suddenly.]

Her Benevolence? I'm unsure of what you're driving at, Apollo.

[Is he implying that his father and mother were irresponsible for having his younger sister, under Nahyuta's own logic? He won't jump to conclusions first, though, waiting for Apollo to elaborate, but his reaction is enough to warn Apollo to mind his words.]

[justchords]

(there's a brief second only glance over to nahyuta, a silent notice that he's taking heed of the tone nahyuta spoke with. it makes him falter, but not only for the reason of the warning. what is he even doing? he knows for a fact rayfa is a delicate matter in the grand scheme of things, and for a childhood friend, apollo's doing a pretty shitty job at being one. none of them had any say in what happened, they were all victims of unfortunate circumstance, he's just dredging up the past they couldn't control.

except for...) It's-- Never mind. It's nothing. I'm sorry for bringing it up.

(apollo isn't the only one still coping with the last fourteen years, and he's hardly being fair to his family by forcing him to listen to matters he hadn't brought up ever before. what business did he have voicing his emotions now? he may not hold any resentment towards rayfa, and in fact he understands her situation. losing two fathers is almost destructive to a person. no, he's still holding negative emotions towards the circumstances. and.. maybe dhurke, in a sense.)

[ephemerous]

No... It's all right. If you still hold doubts, perhaps I can explain.

[Nahyuta closes his eyes and forces himself to calm. After all those years of having Rayfa held over him, his reaction to her very existence being called into question is one of kneejerk defensiveness. Those wounds are still fresh. But Apollo is not Ga'ran: they're having this conversation in the first place because he wants to understand Apollo, and why he's still hurting so much, even after everything they've done and will continue to do for Dhurke. It's nothing against Rayfa herself, not really.

Once he's managed to calm enough to set his own feelings aside on the matter -- something he has more than enough practice on -- he begins.]

You should understand that, at that point, my mother never expected to have a second child. It was not a thing that can be explained rationally. She loved Father with all her heart, but she suspected him of the blaze nine years prior, and she had not been convinced to the contrary. Yet she was not unhappy that she had fallen with child, and she was overjoyed when Rayfa came into the world. Perhaps, if things had gone on that way, Mother would have come to trust Father, they could have deposed Ga'ran peacefully, and all would have been well. You could have come home.

[Nahyuta is trying to keep his voice even as he explains. Recounting what is simultaneously one of the happiest and one of the most devastating years of his life isn't easy.]

But it was not to be. Confirming the very fears Dhurke had held for you, Rayfa and Mother were taken hostage, and our family torn asunder once more.

[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.