TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY—

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 Wednesday, January 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Wednesday, January 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: Over two years ago, the ill fated Red String of Fate toy made its debut. At the time it seemed like a solid idea, but as it turned out… it didn’t exactly work as advertised. People found themselves tied together with entirely incompatible people instead of the proclaimed “emotionally compatible” and to top it off, personal, influential and private telepathic communication came out drenched in sap and overly lovey-dovey overtones. It was, without a doubt, one of the company’s least successful product launches ever. And you would think that they would have learned. However, they decided to try again, and… well. It wasn’t exactly all that well thought out the second time around. But third time’s the charm, right? Wrong. Even if this time, it’s in the form of rings that will draw two people together in a “matched pair” rather than a string.

1. There’s not really anything wrong with believing in true love, but trying to formulate a product that can detect someone’s ideal mate is innately flawed. Which only means that no matter how many times the product is adjusted, it’s just not going to work. Those who wind up with the product shoved onto their fingers (by a sales rep or through actually purchasing the product) will find themselves, once again, pulled by an unseen force to the nearest person they are “compatible with”. Same height, same hair color, whatever. It’s not exactly discriminatory. …Unfortunately as poor a match as they may be, the two cannot be separated until they share a meaningful embrace. So settle in, you might be together for a while.


2. In certain pairs, normal conversation is often unintentionally made amorous, simply from inflection in voice, or perhaps a heightened affectionate emotion. Or, on the flip side, anger and aggression is increased ten fold, but it’s kind of 50-50 as to what effect will take place, all dependant on which hand they wear the ring. Left, romance, Right? Anger.

• Prompt E: The inexplicably cavernous sewers of Verens are no place for a sane individual, but here you are anyway—dropped there by some horrible emotional shift that made an entire section of street vanish and then reappear above your heads as if nothing had happened. You and the poor fool you’ve been dumped down here with need to find your way to the access tunnels and climb out, or perhaps go the other way and swim out through the Lake Niras outflow. Or just smash your way out, if you’re feeling destructive. But your own emotions will work against you, as you struggle against the terrible scent, the darkness, and the entirely-justified questioning of why your life has taken this horrible turn.

1. There’s something odd about the way the water and sewage is sloshing around your ankles, almost as if it’s rising. But wait, that can’t possibly be a pair of eyes you see under the oil slick surface… could it? You’ve heard rumors about all sorts of beasties down here but surely your mind is just playing tricks on you.


2. Remember that part about emotions turning against you? Maybe you’ve been trapped down here way too long with someone who’s just not living up to your expectations, or you’ve got something else on your minds—but the smell around you certainly seems to be growing thicker, the scent growing harder and harder to ignore. The water and grossness at your feet also seems to be growing thicker almost as though it’s curing like cement. The cause? Negative emotions. But are they yours or the person you’re stuck here with? Perhaps you should work through those post haste…


3. Escape! You’ve made it out, but not without a great amount of effort on both you and your partner’s parts. Did you manage to find a way out through the access tunnels? Or perhaps you really did travel through all that much to the Lake Niras outflow… whatever it is, You’re certainly stinky, and possibly tired and cranky too.

• Prompt F: Some bandits went and stole another airship, only this time the Enforcers are prepared with a few of their own. Join in for some intense air battles. Just don't make the ship explode—they'd like it back in one piece please. Unless you're actually on the bandit team, in which case you probably want to blow up the Enforcer ship.

1. What's an airship fight without some on deck action? Either the bandits are swinging over to the ship you're on, or maybe you're swinging over there. Whatever the case, it's a full on brawl. Just watch out—those bandits are well-armed with some interesting firearms and weapons. If hit, one of the following emotions will start to take over your senses: unquestionable rage, debilitating fear and panic, and sleepiness. Needless to say, these effects will hinder one's ability to fight.


2. Can you fly or are you okay with climbing up the full height of your airship? Then grab a few sleep and apathy grenades and throw them at the bandits. Just be careful not to accidentally hit your allies. Otherwise they will be the ones feeling sleepy and want to give up. Also watch out for flying nets and bullets. Those bandits will definitely try to bring you down.


3. While the enforcers are trying to maintain the integrity of the stolen ship, the bandits feel no such need to hold back and are freely unloading their weapons onto the Enforcer's ships, forcing them to defend themselves. Other than decapacitating the bandit behind the weapon, it's also possible to overload it with intense emotions. Explode it with rage or clog it with happy, loving flowers.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include bubblegum and/or toadstools.

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

F-1

[oathkeeper]

[That person happens to be Sora just as he lands on the airship. He doesn't need swinging or anything like that because he still has super glide.

He lands just as that little emotion grenade goes off and it explodes in his face in a puff of hazy smoke.

And for a second he thinks he might have heard Kairi...

Sora falls to the ground like dead weight, fast asleep.]

omg Sora no..

[notgoingtowait]

[ Of all ways she could have reunited with Sora in this place? This was not exactly an ideal one.

She'd called out too late and winced a little when he fell to the ground, eyes widening as she ran the rest of the way over to where he was lying and knelt down next to him. Great. HE was the actual skilled keyblade wielder here and she'd coincidentally knocked. him. out. ]

...Leave it to you to have the worst timing in showing up, Sora.

[ Kairi doesn't sound mad or anything but since she'd caused this mishap, she intends to stay with Sora until he wakes up. Even if it means fighting any bandits who get close the best she's able to, but she's not leaving his side for the time being. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora's face first on the wooden deck out like a light. He might have a pretty nice shiny bruise on his forehead when he walks up. But don't worry, he won't be worse for wear!

Luckily, the effects of the sleep bomb won't last that long. Sora eventually stirs and groans in pain, sitting up. He blinks his eyes and rubs his head and then looks to see Kairi, keyblade drawn and all.]

Kairi??

[IS HE STILL DREAMING]

[notgoingtowait]

[ In the time that Sora had been knocked out, she'd taken care of at least two bandits on pure luck. As soon as she heard his voice, Kairi almost forgot to knock the little emotion grenade back with her keyblade and only managed to do so at the last second before it went off.

She turned back to him and her expression lit up, kneeling back down in front of him with a smile in place. ]

I'm glad you're finally awake, Sora. I thought you'd be out for much longer than that.

[ In other words, Kairi still feels bad that he'd been hit by one of those sleep bombs on accident because of her. ]

Are you feeling alright?

[oathkeeper]

[Oh he's better than alright! Groggy as he is there is nothing stopping him from pulling her into a hug as soon as she kneels near him. If the hug isn't indication of how happy he is to see her the crackling of light like popcorn around him sure is.]

You're here! You're really here?!

[He pulls back just enough to smile at her. He's pretty much five seconds from crying like an idiot, but he quickly glances about for more bandits that might interrupt the reunion.]

Nothing would keep me asleep that long if there's trouble to beat back. You've got your keyblade too!

[notgoingtowait]

[ With all the craziness that had gone on since she'd arrived, it took him finally hugging her for it to set in that this was the first time she'd seen him in quite some time. Something which made it easier for her to hug him back, the crackling lights around them only adding to the utterly relieved smile she was wearing now. ]

Of course I am. This isn't a dream. [ Sora had set off on his new mission alongside Riku and she hadn't really seen them for some time, Riku being the first to come back to get her and take her to see Yen Sid. So to actually see Sora in person was actually something she was quite happy about. ] I'm really here with you right now. This is real, I promise.

[ O h. It's not hard for her to recognize the look on Sora's face right then, seeing how close to tears he about seemed when he pulled back a moment before. ]

Yeah? It's good to see you haven't changed any since I saw you last. [ A beat. She'd almost forgotten about it amidst this reunion of theirs just now. ] I've been doing a little bit of training with it back home. It isn't much but soon i'll be able to fight and help out both you and Riku.

[oathkeeper]

[It's long for Kairi but even longer for Riku and Sora. They'd been living here on the island for almost 8 months now. A day didn't go by when Sora didn't think about what Kairi was doing and if she was okay at home without them. Riku and Sora had showed up at this place shortly after the mark of mastery exams.]

This is real. You're here and you're okay. I can't wait to tell Riku.

[And Sora can't let his tears stop after that. They're not sad, they're happy tears. Kairi might notice the new pendants that hang from his necklace. A gift from Riku on his birthday-- three little keyblade charms. Sora's, Riku's and Kairi's.]

Really! That's great! Riku and me will help you too, we can all train together just like we were supposed to do with Yen Sid! Then when we get home we can surprise everyone with how good you are at kicking my butt.

[He grins, reaching up to rub his eyes.]

[notgoingtowait]

[ While in actuality she hadn't seen them that long ago, if it ever was revealed that her friends had been here for so many months prior to her showing up here? It'd be enough to have her wanting to make it up to them somehow.

That doesn't stop the touch of surprise that briefly fluttered across her features when Sora mentioned Riku, glad that he was here and was alright. Both of them were. It didn't stop the sympathetic, soft look that crossed her features as she reached up to touch against the new pendants on his necklace that she knew hadn't been there when they'd been at home. ]

I'm glad the both of you are alright, Sora. I know you guys are capable of taking care of yourselves, but there's some times I can't help but worry about you.

[ Which is a lot because Sora was a very brave, headstrong person and she didn't want him to get hurt.

She keeps the touch of her fingers light against the small pendants before drawing back, keeping her smile in place because she's well aware that those tears weren't out of sadness, but the complete opposite. ]

These are really well made. Who made this for you?

[ Kairi had an idea but she couldn't be sure just yet, a light laugh bubbling up and a sort of warm breeze blowing about them lightly in the instance that followed. A direct reflection of how happy she was at the idea Sora had suggested. ]

I'm not sure you'd want to show that off too much, Sora. Though I admit it would be a nice change since normally you and Riku are the tougher ones here.