TEST DRIVE: DECEMBER

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: DECEMBER—

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 Thursday, November 24 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Thursday, December 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 in full swing, but like its previous iterations, things aren’t exactly going as smoothly as they should.

1. Bouncing bounties. It seems the locals’ anticipation is affecting their products and grange displays—watch out for any excitable fruits and vegetables that might be jumping around! Or maybe you could help catch them and return them to their displays.
   
   
2. Giant pumpkin vines. Some children wanted a really big pumpkin and hoped and danced with all their might, but that led to not only making a huge pumpkin that's now rolling all over the field, but huge vines as well. But they're mischievous things, aiming not to hurt but just pull pranks, like drag people down or hold them up upside-down.
   
   
3. Smells like feet. It seems some people are rushing to ripen their products to their peak—which seems to be pushing them into overripe and even plain-out rotten territory. Not to mention the fact that if the larger vegetables are moved even slightly, they’ll explode and get slimy, gross veggie guts on everyone who’s around…

• Prompt E: A few intrepid jewelers are interested in the jaded water that can be found in the jungle below, so take a trip to the surface with your fellow Otherworlders while the excursion still has funds and check it out! Just be careful; the area’s rife with negativity and bad mojo, among other things…

1. Plants vs. Everything Else. The vines hanging around are ready to catch on people’s arms and legs, stopping them from continuing ahead… or from going home. This land seems to be mighty possessive after so long of being abandoned and doesn’t want anyone to leave, not again. There’s flowers and giant pitcher plants that’ll do the same thing too, with the latter definitely being more dangerous, seeing as they’re big enough to catch a whole human.
   
   
2. Pools of jade. After a few right turns, there’ll be a wide area of pools waterfalling into each other… or they would be, if they were moving. There’s shards from them scattered near the banks; picking them up will trigger a thought of something you’re jealous of, and if you turn around, chances are the jaded pools are going to be showing glimpses of that, too. If you’re pulled into them, the jade’ll start creeping up on you, so watch out and find something (or someone) to appreciate!

• Prompt F: Stuffed animals have always been popular around the island, especially since they usually respond and move to emotions. The dunamis users of Shaarnath and the perfomancy artists of Theastai would like to combine all three elements to put on a special "puppet" show. But they need volunteers and those willing to learn.

1. Make those furry butts wiggle! One of the greatest challenges is making the stuffed animals dance in a way that doesn't make them look like creepy possessed dolls. Perfomancy artists will suggest channeling fun, positive emotions and perhaps even try dancing yourself. It's more likely the stuff animal will mimic the movement.
   
   
2. Test of flight. There are a few bird plushies that are to fly around the stage. This can be more difficult to achieve and requires great concentration and a free spirit type personality to succeed. The loftier the hopes and dreamy thoughts one has, the higher they will go. But heavy thoughts will just keep the birds grounded.
   
   
3. Not the stuffing! On a less emotionally driven side, these little plushies will get worn from use. They may even limp and seem as if in pain. A bit of new stuffing, needlework, and perhaps a little kiss on the nose will make it feel better! ...And maybe make you look a little weird, but tender loving care, right?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include thumbtacks and/or bowling balls.

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

[lostapprentice]

Third question: apparently answered, if a bit unexpectedly. A few emotions flashed through Ren, showing through his face in expressions that lasted hardly half a second—a downward twitch in his brow for confusion, a searching glance as surprise hit, the slight opening of his mouth as realization set in.

Uncertainty took hold of him, and he hesitated for a few moments before finally replying, needing a moment to decide what to say. He'd dealt with the Jedi Knight, but, well. A Sith Lord? That was an entirely different beast.

"My mistake."

At this point, though, even if there was an edge of nervousness to him, and even if Anakin's restlessness made him continue along, he wouldn't be just leaving his grandfather be. Perhaps he could do better this time, in gaining his favor...

[actualhumandisaster]

Anakin grumbled a mild response without truly saying anything. The dark veil loosened up a little bit, but not enough to not be prominently present any longer. As far as Anakin was concerned, he was about as much of a Sith Lord as he was a Jedi. He may have been given the title, but as of now that was truly all it was to him. he didn't associate it with himself, just as he didn't associate his new name with himself yet either. Much rather did he feel stuck somewhere in between.

Exhaling slowly, he looked around in an attempt to figure out where exactly he was right now. But to no avail.

"...I need something to do." he said, more to himself than to the tall, dark stranger. To Anakin, the conversation with Kylo Ren was over and he was back to figuring out what to do with himself.

[lostapprentice]

Although Ren had a few things he'd certainly like to say, the other man's admission made him decide to set those aside for now. He knew exactly what that feeling was like—the need to focus on a task, particularly a strenuous one, in order to push out all thoughts of the situation or any inner conflict. He'd already seen a bit of how similar they were.

And besides, he wasn't just going to stand there and be ignored.

"There's no shortage of that, if you know where to look," he said, moving past some of that anxiety and stepping forward. "The task board always has a number of things posted, from more inane things like finding pets to more... interesting sorts. I've yet to see a month go by without requests to kill dangerous beasts."

[actualhumandisaster]

The attention of Anakin returned to Kylo Ren when the other man spoke again. A task board... There was a part of him that reminded him that he had another task that he should be focusing on right now. He had to mentally shake the thought off, reminding himself that eventually he'd return. And his mission would still be there, waiting for him to finish it.

Until then he had to make due with this place.

"Fine." he admitted after a moment, but not without the trace of a sigh "Where is this board?"

[lostapprentice]

In response, Kylo motioned in the opposite direction, indicating that Anakin should follow him as he turned to head towards the city's center. He had a feeling the other man would try to leave him as soon as he could, so Kylo wouldn't give him that option just yet. He wanted to get a better sense of this Anakin before their connection ever came up. It would be much safer that way.

"If you want to get rid of those effects following you," he remarked, glancing towards the darkness that still hung over him, if less intensely, "they teach a skill called 'dunamis' at the Welcome Center, which supposedly helps to prevent them."

[actualhumandisaster]

He followed after a moment, but it was true that Anakin would simply leave if it were up to him. Right now, however, he had been given a reason to move along, if only it was due to vague hopes of finding a brief distraction from his own thoughts and something to do about his own restlessness.

At the information he was offered, he raised a brow "You say supposedly. I take it you haven't bothered to learn said skill yourself."

i return from the hell known as family holiday trip

[lostapprentice]

"I haven't found enough reason to," Ren replied neutrally as he continued to stride forward. "I have no issue with most of the effects. My time is better spent honing the skills that are not dependent on this planet."

Most of the effects. The occasional flowers were definitely a bit annoying, but those hardly showed up anyway, since he wasn't exactly a positive person. (And he may have liked the whole burning and cracking things when he was angry. It added to his intimidation factor.)

o/ - Hope you had fun

[actualhumandisaster]

"Dependent on this planet?" The words were echoed back at the other man "What do you mean by that?" Could there possibly be ways to leave this planet and go elsewhere in order to escape these effects as well as this place in general?

True enough, Anakin would rather return to Coruscant. But getting away from the effects caused by his own emotions was a start. He had been scolded more than once for being too impulsive or had been called a slave to his emotions as to not be surprised by the intensity of some of these effects. But he disliked how obvious they made him.

[lostapprentice]

"As far as I can tell, dunamis depends on this planet's energy in order to function. People who had no power before they came here can learn it, regardless of their potential."

It made this place a little more unpredictable, since there were doubtless several otherwise "normal" people who decided they'd like to even the playing field. Kylo isn't a fan of that.

"It's the same as these effects. I doubt that shroud ever followed you back in our galaxy."

That would be pretty cool, though. Darth Vader being able to summon literal darkness at will... Not that he'd need to, but still.

[actualhumandisaster]

He stopped at those words and turned where he stood, contemplating the darkness that still stuck about his person with a frown. His confusion caused a few stray sparks to flicker across the dark.

"No." he replied, but he didn't sound entirely certain of it. He could well imagine it settling over the Jedi Temple in the most literal way and Anakin wasn't sure he liked that mental image.

"...but it very well could have." he added as an afterthought before making to continue following along.

[lostapprentice]

"... perhaps," he conceded. But the fact remained that it would have come from a different sort of energy.

It didn't take them long after that to reach the task center, the building which housed the bulletin board full of things to do—from the most boring things like picking up litter, to bizarre things like unruly furniture, to actually interesting tasks such as taking down enormous beasts putting people in danger. Kylo preferred the latter, though he... was a bit limited in what he was technically allowed to do.

He motioned towards said board, allowing Anakin to go up to it first.

"There should be something worthwhile," he remarked. "Or at least something to keep you occupied."