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

[thatgoodnight]

[Noctis meets his gaze in a sidelong sort of way, keeping his expression carefully neutral as he shrugs.]

It is, but... it also comes with plenty of its own curses.

[Not that he'd trade it. He wouldn't wish the starscourge on anyone, especially not an entirely new world. But at the same time... there's no denying that this one seems to have plenty of world wide disasters itself not to mention its own set of finicky gods. He doesn't know how much Ravus has had a chance to read up or ask around about things, though.]

[glaivekeeper]

So I have heard.

[Though he has yet to understand anything in great detail yet, he has a general idea of the state of affairs here, and how the world below differs so dramatically to Verens' floating island. And yet in a selfish way, Ravus is simply relieved to be in a world where those he cares about do not have to suffer. There are no prophecies and terrible destinies here, and anything that happens seems far more indiscriminate.

He turns away from the task board then to survey Noctis more fully.]

Do you intend to try saving this world, as well?

[thatgoodnight]

[Ravus is no more selfish than Noctis in that sense. Maybe even less so. But at least they can be in agreement on being glad Lunafreya is here and safe!

That question catches him off guard, however, and he blinks in surprise. It takes him a few moments to answer.]

It's... not really my world to save.

[He's not saying 'no' to helping out, but he doesn't really have any more power to help this place than anyone else dragged here from any other world.]

[glaivekeeper]

Even the Chosen King has his limits, I suppose.

[Though there's a slightly ironic bite to his words, he's not bringing it up to taunt Noctis this time. There's lingering bitterness and resentment, to be sure, but he's largely moved past that now.

And if Noctis isn't preoccupied with such heroics here, that means Lunafreya is more likely to stay out of danger as well. She is his priority.] If not that, what will you do with your time here?

[thatgoodnight]

[He narrows his eyes and frowns and almost takes the bait (for so it seems to him), but tempting as it is, he doesn't really want to fight. So Noct looks back at the task board with a shrug.]

Take each day as it comes and enjoy the extra time with the people I care about.

[Maybe it'll be easier to say goodbye that way, in the end. And Luna... he owes her so much, and he wants to be here for her here the way he hadn't been able to back home. After a moment, he looks over at Ravus again ]

What about you?

[glaivekeeper]

[A clawed hand goes to the hilt of his sword. It's hard to tell if it's a casual gesture of habit, or a threatening one.] My only interest is in ensuring Lunafreya has the happiness she was denied on Eos. Wherever is in my power, I will allow nothing to hinder that.

[And that goes for Noctis included. Ravus understands full well how Lunafreya feels about the one who was destined to be her betrothed, but the situation here has changed everything once again. Whatever happens, whether Noctis can bring her happiness or cause her more anguish is something he'll wait to see.]

[thatgoodnight]

[Noctis tenses when he sees Ravus grasp his sword, and he'll remain tense until such time as Ravus lets it go. Habit or threat, he'd rather not be caught off guard just in case.

He knows Ravus cares deeply about his sister, and it isn't that he's not grateful for the ways the man has ultimately helped, but respecting that doesn't mean that Noct has to like him or approve of everything he's done, so he can't quite help but scoff a little.]

As long as that means you won't try locking her up here, too.

[glaivekeeper]

[Ravus is on the verge of an angry response: what would Noctis understand of any of the choices he made in how he was towards Lunafreya, with both of them under the thumb of the Empire? How could he possibly understand when he had not lived such a life?

He takes a deep breath, visibly struggling to keep his composure, before dropping his hand from his sword.]

I understand full well that my sister's will is her own, and I erred in the past to think I could sway it. What she does and where she goes is her own choice.

[thatgoodnight]

[Honestly he doesn't know much about what life was like for them beyond what Luna has told him directly or what he could infer from things she has and hasn't said. But that doesn't mean he isn't going to judge Ravus anyway - and maybe part of him wants to get under Ravus' skin because he really doesn't understand the man.

In any case, he relaxes only when Ravus does, and he nods once.]

... good.

[He is quiet again for a while.]

... she seems happy here. Being just Luna.

[It's not exactly an olive branch, but..]

[glaivekeeper]

[She could have been "just Luna" all along if not for the man before him, but again Ravus has to bite back any scathing remark before it happens. What use is it, to complain of the same old grievances, after everything that has happened?]

I am grateful. [A rare moment of frankness, coming from him.] It has been far too long since she has had such an opportunity.