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

Winter Quertis | OC

[softariel]

[Cish]

[ It's not deliberate, not precisely; it's just that sometimes, one spends one's entire life where telepathy is a completely fictional thing -- it's barely even utilized in stories -- and a few days of having to deal with it is not enough to undo a whole lifetime's worth of running your mental mouth. Winter certainly isn't used to it yet. ]

It's awfully crowded today, isn't it? I wonder if there's something in particular going on; I wish people would be a little more considerate about -- oh, hello, please be more careful; there is more than enough room on this sidewalk, thank you -- I wonder what they're off to in such a hurry? Maybe there is something going on. I should have been paying more attention. I should have been -- where does one even get the news in such a place? I wonder if there's a paper. Would they have something like that, in a place where magic even exists? Oh -- oh, wait, magic--

[ You might catch, under that rambling, there's a faint ringing noise. It's small and it's irritatingly persistent, exactly the sort of thing where once you notice it, it's hard to ignore. Winter's expression, however, is completely neutral as he ducks his way down a crowded sidewalk. Surely all of that isn't from one small rabbit of a boy, right? ]


[E1]

[ As a child, Winter's nurse had liked to tell stories about monsters that lurked under the bed, or in the dark spaces under the stairs. They'll come and they'll gobble up naughty children, young master, you'd best be careful.

At the time, they'd never particularly bothered him; even at a very young age, he'd been entirely practical, much to the old woman's dismay. Monsters only existed when people misused magic, and therefore the idea of them in his own home had been laughable. And even as he'd aged, stories about ghosts and other terrible things in the dark had never particularly bothered him.

Now, though... Oh, his nurse would laugh to see him jumping at small sounds, walking with his shoulder practically dragging against the wall. His fine jacket is going to be ruined, but that's something to worry about later. Right now, he's creeping along, with a icy cold trailing in his wake. His own breath is steaming faintly. And there, up ahead, what was-- ]

Wh-- is someone there?!

[ Please, let it be someone friendly. ]


[G]

[ A bookstore! Thank the Holy Mother, something familiar and comfortable. Everything else around him might be strange and awkward and take some getting used to, but some things are thankfully universal. And Winter's always happiest when he's surrounded by books.

Though there's a slight hitch in this case, because he's staring at the top shelf in one aisle, which is sadly out of reach when you barely top five feet. He does make a few gestures to get up onto his toes, though he never quite brings himself to reach out -- and then he looks around hopefully. Spotting someone nearby, he clears his throat politely. ]

I -- um, I beg your pardon, but could I trouble you for some help...?

G

[circumstellar]

Uh... okay?

[ Hei is pretty unassuming the vast majority of the time, when he's out and about. A bookstore is the last possible place he'd expected to be called out, even so innocently, a couple of books in hand; one is about the history of this place, and one is something he thinks Yin might like, some kind of romance thing. ]

What is it?

[softariel]

[ It helps that he's nearby, and also that he's a pretty decent bit taller than Winter himself is. Surely, someone like that can reach the higher shelves!

Still. As casual as the request is, it's better to be polite to a stranger, so Winter draws himself up as politely as he can: formal attention, back straight, shoulders squared, head high. ]

There's a book I'm interested in -- I can't quite reach it. If I could trouble you for a moment to get it down...?

[ The way he says it, you'd think he was asking for something a lot more important. ]

[circumstellar]

[ It's strange but not so much so that he feels the need to comment. Well, isn't like he would probably comment anyway. He's good at sticking his nose in people's business when he has to - but he would try to be discreet. ]

Sure - which one is it? I don't mind taking a look to see if I can grab it.

[softariel]

It's. Ah.

[ That's the part that Winter hadn't thought through: asking someone to help him get a book means admitting which book he wants.

It's not anything salacious, but it's definitely enough outside of the usual area of what Winter's ever been allowed to read that it feels kind of scandalous. So there's a definite too-long pause as he dithers through trying to figure out how to say it. ]

It's, um, it's a -- an adventure novel, the one with the blue spine...

[ It is some schlocky 80s style fantasy novel. Like you do. ]

[circumstellar]

Oh, okay.

[ He glances at Winter but focuses his attention on the shelf. ]

Blue spine... Here we go.

[ his index finger runs along the shelf until he sees it, finger moving to pull it out by tilting it from the top.

He flips it over in his hand, taking in the cover. ]

Might be an interesting read. Never thought to look for something like this.

G

[furrytailprince]

Ariel looks up from the piles of books that make a veritable fortress around him. Can's these people see he's very busy right now. He has much to learn about this world and its apparent powers. He's of the mind to tell off his interrupter when he notices his pathetic attempt to reach what must be his desired text. His next thought is why this person has turned to him, considering that his height isn't that much better. That's one thing his change had never brought with it, any improvement to his physical stature.

All that said, admitting that there is something beyond his capable has long been a hard pill for Ariel to swallow. If this person truly believes he can be of service, he needs to make sure not to prove that faith false. There has to be some way he can manage this task.

"You certainly picked the most difficult one, didn't you?"

[softariel]

"Not on purpose," Winter says. He's only mildly embarrassed -- given the amount of books that the stranger has accumulated, he's obviously found some way to reach things that aren't in immediate range. Maybe he has a footstool hidden somewhere behind all those stacks or something like that. "I'm still trying to get used to the organization of this place."

Which would have been easier, certainly, if he didn't get distracted reading at least halfway whatever he picked up before remembering that there are still more books to find.

[furrytailprince]

Honestly, Ariel has just been climbing. His natural agility helps a lot with that. He hasn't really attempted a climb this high though.

Ariel snickers behind his hand at that protest. There's a dainty quality to the gesture that's almost impossible to miss.

"What makes that one so special anyway?" Before Ariel puts his full effort into this task, he wants to know what he's going out on a limb for.

[softariel]

"It-- ah."

Ah. Ah, this is the part that's going to be more embarrassing to admit. Winter ducks his head for a moment, then untucks one of the books from the crook of his arm and holds it out.

It's... a rather pulpy fantasy story. The sort that has overly dramatic covers with stiff-faced models and lots of flowing hair and clothes.

"The last book in the sequence is up there..."

[furrytailprince]

Ariel doesn't bother to lean since he can make out the title easily enough. Wait, is this fiction? This person is all up in arms over fiction? He gives Winter a skeptical look.

"You're going through all this trouble for a fairy tale? I thought it was something serious."

[softariel]

It is fiction, and Winter frowns at the look he earns for it. Out of automatic instinct, he shifts his body language, going from politely open to strict, his back straight and his shoulders squared. His chin lifts slightly and he folds the book he's already got a little closer to his chest. There's a faint buzzing noise, annoying and annoyed.

"And who says that fiction cannot be serious? Isn't it an admirable thing, to create an entire world from nothing? Not everything in life must be a remark upon the world around us."

It's not anything he'd be willing to argue with back home, not with everything expected of him, but here? Here, he's allowed, and he's allowing himself.

[furrytailprince]

Ariel recognizes the shift. He's pulled something similar when people challenge his own capabilities. So he does his best to at least attempt to look less judgmental.

"There's no need to get all philosophical about it. I didn't say you couldn't enjoy it. It just seems a lot of work for something trivial."

That's a long way up for us shorties, okay.