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

[spiritedafey]

Hiiiii...

[Maya stares at him for a moment, and the silence feels a lot longer than it actually is before her face visibly droops into a fit of exasperation. What is he even doing?]

Uh, Apollo? You can get off me now.

[88dbs]

Ack-- sorry. [He finally manages to apologize at least partway properly, and... he tries to back up to a respectable distance. He really does. The effort is obvious. But he can't seem to get more than the smallest bit of space between them.

Hm. Not ideal. Don't freak out, Justice.]

...I don't, uh. I don't think I can, actually.

[spiritedafey]

[Maya raises an eyebrow at him, staying perfectly still as she watches him make all the effort in the world to move away from her, but the distance he’s managed to move before he stops isn’t very impressive.]

I wonder what Nick would have to say about this! [Maya gives her chin a thoughtful tap and then takes a few steps away from him.] I know we’re friends and all, but… [She’s only teasing, and her grin only serves to further prove this.] Are you okay?

[She takes a couple steps away from him to give Apollo (and her) some space.]

[88dbs]

Please don't bring Mr. Wright into this.

[He wants to keep the remaining scraps of his dignity, though this situation is burning through them rather quickly. Maya moves away, and Apollo follows before he can stop himself, giving a shrill noise of dismay as he becomes reattached to her.]

I'm fine! I think!!

[spiritedafey]

[Another few steps back when he follows (!?!?!?), this time her pace a little bit quicker than before.]

Apollo!! You're not fine! Stop being weird! What's going on!?

[88dbs]

Gah--! I'm sorry!!

[Apollo tries to keep himself from following again and meets with only a minimal amount of success. He thrusts a hand out in frustration, so that Maya can see the ring (the obvious offender), and the atmosphere around him crackles a little in response to his stress.]

It's this thing!

[spiritedafey]

[Well, looks like there’s really no escaping him, is there? She blinks when Apollo follows her again, so Maya leans in and stares closely at the ring, then up at Apollo, then back to the ring.]

What is it?

[She’s been here long enough to know and understand that there might be something more to it than being just a ring. That, and Apollo sure doesn’t strike her as the type of person to suddenly latch onto someone the way he’s doing right now, especially her (no thanks).]

[88dbs]

I don't know!! There was this pushy salesperson and then suddenly there it was and then suddenly here I was?!

[Not the most detailed account of events, but it'll surely get the point across. Maya's right, Apollo is definitely not the type to indiscriminately attach himself to other people. She's cool and all, but there is no way he'd be doing this of his own volition.]

[spiritedafey]

So, what? It just makes you follow someone? Can't you just take it off?

[Knowing Apollo's streak of excellent good luck, it's probably not going to be that easy.]

[88dbs]

I tried that. [Why wouldn't he?] I don't really know what the deal is. Something about ideal partners? ...but, uh. Not that you're-- I mean, no offense, but--

[Continuing to nail it today, Apollo.]

[spiritedafey]

You wound me, Apollo!

[Her hands find their way to her hips, and Maya pouts her lips out while she thoughtfully hums.]

So, how are we gonna get ourselves out of this predicament? If taking it off didn't work, then looks like we gotta figure something out, unless you wanna be stuck with me forever. Did the man who sold this to you tell you how?

[88dbs]

[Apollo looks at the ring, brow knitting as he tries to remember all the things the salesperson told to him (as quickly as possible, it seemed, considering how little of it he recalls).]

I don't think so, but there has to be a trick to it. If it led me to you, then... I don't know, there's gotta be something like... some kind of requirement that has to be fulfilled before I can get off you.

[spiritedafey]

For not being here very long, you’re catching on pretty quick. Guess all those investigations weren’t for nothing, were they?

[They weren’t for nothing for Maya either... maybe... She holds her hand out to Apollo.]

Can I see it?

[88dbs]

I mean, I did go to school for this kind of thing.

[He offers his hand over, feeling... a little maidenly, but that's dumb and this is for science. Or something.]

Take a look.

[spiritedafey]

[It definitely is a little maidenly, but Maya takes it gently in her palm all the same, and stares at the ring up close. It looks like your normal, every day ring, that's for sure... well, a little cheap but... whatever. That's neither here nor there.]

Well, if I've learned anything about this place, it's probably got something to do with emotions. So, maybe we just gotta feel a certain emotion and we'll be freed!

[88dbs]

[Apollo would like his hand back, but he won't move it until Maya seems done inspecting the ring. Maybe she'll see something he didn't?

However, her suggestion not only sounds correct, but also sort of ominous.]

...if it had to do with ideal partners, I don't think I like where this is going.

[spiritedafey]

[It's okay Apollo. Maya shoves his hand back to him and nods along to with his thoughts.]

Aw, you don't think I'm an ideal partner? One shot to the heart after another, you're on fire today Apollo! [How is she even supposed to take this seriously!?] Don't you have a saying? Something about being 'fine'? Well, we'll be fine. We just gotta figure this out. Is there anything about us that might make the ring think we have something in common?

[88dbs]

[Apollo's only taking this seriously because he can't go about his business like he wants to. He frowns a little at Maya, not sure how to feel about his trademark phrase being used against him in such dire circumstances, but doesn't harp on it, instead focusing on the problem-solving aspect of the situation.]

Um... well, we've both worked with Mr. Wright...?