empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

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*test drive

TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

— 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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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!

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Eh?

[out of instinct Zoro is rubbing his head even though it doesn't hurt at all. If anything, it would be his ass since that was what cushioned his fall, but pain is for the weak.]

What do you mean, something else?

I mean that I felt something brush past my leg.

[She holds out her hand again, this time more insistent.]

We need to get out of the water and onto something solid, now.

All right, all right, geez. Keep your pants on...or, well, whatever you're wearing. [Bariss do you even have pants under that outfit?] Are you sure it wasn't just a fish?

[he lets her help him up, might as well, though he's more concerned about being soaking wet and kind of gross than he is about things in the water. He's a pirate, he's seen worse than whatever's down there.

As soon as he's on his feet, though, Zoro turns his head slightly and stretches out with his haki to sense living creatures around them. There's more than there appears to be, but most of the auras around are small, like rats and frogs. For now.]

...where'd it go?

Positive. Fish don't have hair. [Excuse. She is totally wearing pants underneath. They're just short pants, because hello, coming from a jungle planet.

Her eyes narrow as they sweep along the surface of the water, drawing deep on the Force and joining him in looking for a sign of danger.

Except...no. Rats, frogs, a few fish...but nothing large.]

I...I don't know. I know I felt it. I'm not imagining things.

[Her feet shift, moving towards a raised walkway out of the water. Pressing her palms against it, she starts heaving her way out, robes soggy from the fall and body sore from the cold.]

Let's get out of this gunk at least. Maybe it left when it realized there were two of us.

Edited 2017-01-20 05:21 (UTC)

[Ew, hair? Yeah, no, that's not a fish. Zoro lets her go first and then springs up out of the water with just one hand on the rail, the other curled protectively over the three swords at his right hip.]

Maybe, or it might just be biding its time. [he wrinkles his nose] Probably not good eating if it lives in a shithole like this. Damn, how the hell did we end up down here? There's not even a hole in the roof...

[Once she's up and out of the water, she's equally wary. Her hands reach to her belt and unclip a long silver cylinder, during it over in long, green fingers reflexively. No damage. Whew.]

I...don't know. There's a lot about this city that doesn't make a lot of sense.

[She looks up at solid brick, the sounds of city-life filtering down through cracks and drains...]

For a second I thought the ground just disappeared. Either way, we're definitely down it the sewer. Do you see any way up? Ladders or drains we can climb out?

[good warriors always check their weapons first, yep. Zoro can't help but lean over to peer into the water, even though it's murky and all roiled up from their wading through it]

Ladders...

[oh wait that requires looking up. He scans the tunnel as far as they can see in either direction] No, doesn't look like it. Sewers usually have an outlet though, so if we follow the water we should come out eventually. Right? Water always flows toward the sea...

[Great, just great. Not only is it smelly, there's no way out that doesn't involve a seemingly endless walk through sewers.]

Then I suppose we should get moving. It's flowing down this tunnel. And hopefully we'll find an access hatch before then.

[She starts to move, but a motion in the water makes her stop, her Force senses positively screaming in panic. Barriss opens her mouth, but not fast enough to warn about the enormous furry tentacle that slams into the wall right where she would've been.

Stone cracks, and a burning smell fills the air, heat from the appendage melting into the wall.]

By the Force! It's here!

[A second attack comes, this one aimed at Zoro, the same tactic...one big galumphing swipe at him]

[the sense of movement hits his haki a second too late as well, but it's definitely there now, something alive that is much larger than a mere fish. Zoro leaps back and dodges the tentacle, and though both hands go for swords, he can't draw them in time and it's probably good that he can't. The melting wall is a huge alarm point, he does not want that to happen to his blades]

What the hell is that?

[he doesn't stay boggling in surprise for long, though. He's a man of action and here he goes, finally drawing two swords and concentrating a moment to send a solid black coating rippling from his fists down the length of the blades. Just in case. Rather than wait for it to attack again, he curls his arms over his back and unleashes a spiraling slash at this distance, a cannon-strength rush of cutting air that should (hopefully) be just as effective as making contact with his swords.]

[The attack's blast (presumably all 72 pounds of it) smashes into the offending appendage like a wrecking ball. It sends the thing wide, tearing through flesh and shearing it off and into the water with a wet smack. Dark ichor oozes from the stump, and an ethereal shriek echos in the chamber.]

I don't know! Some sort of local thing, maybe?!

[Barriss skips backwards, that cylinder appearing in her hand and igniting in a flash of blue, an electric hiss nearly drowned out by the monster's screams. It thrums in her hand and she swipes it down, rending the tentacle a snapping pop. It drops to the ground, severed cleanly, hissing as it burns through the stone. More tentacles start flailing around in the water, churning and spiraling together as they prepare to attack...]

Move! Now, this way!

[Barriss leaps over the fallen bit of creature and starts running, trying to get some distance. The air around her heats up as adrenaline starts to flow, steam rising from her emotions. They really don't want to get caught in that attack...]

[well yeah, 108 pounds would be overkill. Zoro is satisfied that he can still cut from a distance, but it doesn't appear that the creature intends to let them get any distance.

He flinches at the appearance and power of the lightsaber, having never seen anything like it before, but he gets over it quickly and leaps down at her call, catching up to her and keeping pace. At least so long as the tunnel has no branches off to one side or the other he shouldn't get lost, but this being a sewer, that sort of luck won't hold out for long]

Even after you cut it, it still melted straight through solid rock. I don't want to wait around to see what it can do to flesh.

[The creature shrieks and surges after them, giving chase, at least two more fuzzy tentacles flailing out of the water, but they're just out of reach. And something about that makes Barriss think it's better they don't try and fight it. Not in an enclosed space like this. Her weapon winks out with a sucking sound and she picks up the pace.]

Neither do I! Let's go, this way!

[Fortunately for both of them, Barriss can guide the two of them. A Jedi's intuition can lead the way, provided he doesn't wander off.]

Left at the fork! That's the way the water's flowing!

[Oh Barriss. So sorry.

Zoro's looking over his shoulder to make sure it isn't catching up to them when she says left, so of course he goes the wrong way. Fortunately, there's a huge metal grate about ten feet up the tunnel blocking the way, forcing him to screech to a halt and backtrack.]

Dead end, not this way! Wait...where'd you go? Shit.

[back on the right track, and none too soon, because Mr. Flaily is wriggling closer]

[Save her from fools and idiots. Please.

She skitters to a halt when she hears him shout and whirls, unwilling to leave him to his flaily fate. Barriss reactivates the saber and leaps back after him, one hand extended to hammer at the monster with a telekinetic burst.]

THIS WAY! Stay with me!

[The Force smacks against the creature and makes it roll backwards, revealing it's true form. A pudgy ball of tentacles, fur, and teeth. Not huge, but...definitely acidic.]

[He can feel that ripple across his senses, his haki picks it up as a signal of power and strength. Between a sword of light and that, he's totally interested in finding out more about this girl. Or fighting. Probably both. But later.

Zoro zips past the creature and catches back up with Barriss, and then forges on ahead]

Warn me before you do that next time!

[right like it's her fault. Ahead of them is a three-way juncture, and their thrashing about has roiled up the water so it's harder to tell which way it's flowing. Zoro pauses to look up and down each one in case there are any other grates barring their way through, and then just...goes to the right. For no reason at all.]

[Barriss whips after him, feet pounding on the walkway, but this time keeps her weapon ignited and ready. With the water churning like it is, she can't tell either, and concentrating with this much adrenaline going is hard. So, she goes after him, turning right. The monster's howls echo down the corridors, making her wince.]

I'm seriously hoping we haven't found a dead end...

[The tunnel continues, curving slightly and she notices something. The water is picking up, moving faster...and just like that, she realizes why. A chasm, going to a lower level of the sewers. Skittering to a halt, she looks around wildly for another way to go but the only paths are forward...down the hole or across it to a narrow catwalk that seems to lead to a service tunnel, or back towards their fuzzy friend.]

Okay! Okay. So, out of options. Think you can make that jump?

[It's at least 40 feet...maybe further. She can make it, she's sure of that, but this guy?]

Hmm.

[Zoro runs through the options in his head, hastily judging the distance and the footing. He'd like to think so, but at least if he misses and plummets straight down into the hole he probably won't die. Probably.]

I'll sure as hell try.

[he sheathes his swords first, because he needs his arms for balance and leverage, and then backs up a bit to get a running start. He'll give it his best shot before she does just in case he ends up another level down.

It's pretty clear the instant his feet leave the ground at the end of the tunnel that he's going to be a hair short, but he stretches out, trying to grab the catwalk on the way down]

[The instant that it becomes apparent that he's not going to make it, or realistically about a second before it, Barriss reaches her hand out and catches him with the Force. Just enough to boost him up and grab the catwalk. He'll make it just fine. No deaths, that would be a really bad start to her life here.

Now, of course there's the matter of the monster bearing down on her from behind too, but she's ready to move. Her body sails forward and she lands on the catwalk just as Mr. Fuzzy comes around the bend. It can't stop moving, and it's not got the reach to get hold of the catwalk though, so all that momentum just carries it down, down to undertown, where it hits somewhere in the darkness with a meaty squelch.

Sighing in relief, the Padawan smiles at the human with her.]

Well that was bracing. Are you unharmed?

[well now, that's different. Zoro grabs hold of the catwalk and dangles while the fuzzy mess goes down the shaft and makes what sounds like an even bigger mess below. Note to self, don't follow.

In the moment after it vanishes, he breathes a sigh of relief and looks up at his unexpected friend]

Yep, none the worse for wear. Thanks.

[he manages to crawl his way up to stand beside her, brushing himself off and then stretching out a leg to see just how soaked and grody his pants and boots are.]

That definitely was no fish. Good call, uh...you. [oops there hasn't been time for introductions, has there?]

[Barriss sighs in relief, slumping onto the railing a little. That was quite the experience, indeed. A part of her just wants to sit down and rest, but they're still in a sewer and...oh...right...]

It's Barriss. Barriss Offee. What about you?

Roronoa Zoro. [with a manly nod] That's quite a sword you've got there, if it's really a sword. Maybe when we're out of this shithole I might wanna take a closer look at it.

[Barriss lifts an eyebrow.] It's not a sword. And I'm afraid I can't let you pick at it. It's delicate and this world likely doesn't have the materials to repair it.

What says I meant actually handling it? [with the cockiest grin ever] Your stance, your bearing. It's got swordsman written all over it.

[that can wait, though. Zoro taps a heel on the catwalk, feeling the ooze squelching in his boot, and then looks around in all directions.]

I don't feel like hangin' out here forever. Let's get moving.

Oh. Oh! I...guess I am? At least, a little bit.

[She grins somewhat awkwardly and starts walking towards what looks like a ladder tucked into an alcove at the end of the walkway.]

I bet this is some sort of access hatch. Let's go up and get cleaned off. This gunk is...disgusting.

We should be so lucky. [he really hopes she's right, though. Luck serves him well, if they can find a shaft leading upward faster than they can navigate the sewers out to the drainage outlet. Since she's closer, Zoro lets Barriss go first and then follows.

Now if they could come out right by a public bath or something, even better.]

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failinglight - 2017-01-23 05:22 (UTC) - Expand

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