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

[luftgitarre]

[ For his part, Klavier is also not nearly as Apollo-proof as he would normally be. Spending even this long in a world governed by emotions has proven to be taxing on Klavier's defenses and the current situation is pushing them to their limit, if his own outburst wasn't proof enough.

Klavier makes a little half circle looks up at the stones above them, doing his best to remember the scene before he and Apollo got flushed. ]

If we assume these follow the layout of the streets then if we go this way we will start to move away from the city. I would say we are more likely to find a way out by going that way.

[88dbs]

[Apollo frowns a little, not the most pleased with this solution, though he's actively trying to keep his attitude in check now. No point in getting snarky when they're stuck here together.]

Away from the city? Wouldn't that take us toward a water source or something?

[luftgitarre]

[ Oh, Forehead. Klavier just grins because it's the easiest, most natural response. There's very little real happiness under it, though; the sense of knowing better than Apollo is pleasantly familiar but his question is disproportionately frustrating. ]

Probably, but it is also the direction most likely to lead us to an escape. These tunnels must flow to somewhere and it doesn't make sense to send this [ He gestures toward his feet. ] back toward the center of the city.

[88dbs]

[Apollo folds his arms, shifting a little uncomfortably. He doesn't want to shoot this idea down for the hell of it, because it's not a bad idea in and of itself, but he also can't just not say anything.]

Look, I'm not asking just to be obtuse, all right? I'm just verifying that the plan involves ending up in some body of water somewhere outside the city, ostensibly to swim back to civilization, so that I can regretfully inform you that that plan is not going to work.

[luftgitarre]

[ Klavier takes a deep breath then immediately regrets it, the disgusting smell compounding the irritation he feels at having his idea dismissed. He sets his hands on his hips and scowls. ]

Not the entire way back to civilization, Forehead, just to shore and then a certain amount of walking will be required. I agree it's not ideal but it is still viable. So please, let's be off.

[ It's a sincere please because he can tell Apollo's trying but the longer they stand still, the tenser Klavier is getting. He needs to move, to do something other than stand here and hear how bad his ideas are. ]

[88dbs]

[Apollo feels bad about this. He really does. He's not trying to make Klavier angry, but he's got his reasons and saying them is hard.

The atmosphere feels physically oppressive by now, as if the air is literally getting thicker, but Apollo just ignores it and kind of hunches up his shoulders, turning away a little.]

I can't swim.

[luftgitarre]

[ Klavier's entire posture just deflates in disbelief. It's a strong enough feeling to dampen his irritation, at least temporarily, but on the other hand... ]

What.

[ It's soft, deeply confused, but also exasperated. This cannot be happening. ]

[88dbs]

[Awesome, now this inability is a failure that affects someone else negatively. The tunnel seems to darken further, and Apollo folds himself up a little more tightly.]

I can't-- I can't swim, okay. And I don't mean that in the sense of modestly underplaying an ability to doggy paddle. If I can't touch the ground, I'm as good as drowning.

[luftgitarre]

[ He doesn't hit the wall again but Klavier's hands do make fists where they've fallen at his sides. Of course. In a way this is classic Justice: why not throw a wrench in the most obvious solution in order to ensure his own, more convoluted position can triumph?

That said--Klavier takes another regrettably deep breath--Apollo is being far too earnest about this to be lying, plus it's Apollo.

On some level, though, Klavier would almost rather be down here with a stranger. At least then he could just walk away. As it stands, he doesn't, but he does send the ball squarely to Apollo's court. ]

If my idea is now rejected, then what do you suggest we do?

[88dbs]

[He's not trying to one up Klavier (for once), but obviously the plan couldn't work out and he had to say so. So the reaction here is-- well, he can understand it, but it's like some depressing cousin of 'annoying,' where Apollo is sort of irritated but also feeling guilty and kind of attacked.]

I'm not just trying to shoot down your ideas for the fun of it! [So stop making it sound like that's the point, you jerk.

But he sighs, looking around, up-- ah.]

Wait, if we keep in the area under the city, we'll probably find... manholes or something? We might be able to get out through one of those if we find one.

[luftgitarre]

When I'm forced to make suggestions without all the information, of course they will be rejected. It's only natural.

[ Sulk sulk sulk. There's no reason Apollo should have offered up the information about not being able to swim before this, of course, but that hardly matters right now. Klavier got shot down and he's grumpy about it.

Not so grumpy he's not listening, though. He does see reason in what Apollo's suggesting even if it's not as surefire a plan as his own seemed to be. ]

All right, but I still think we should gradually move away from the city center if only so things won't be so... fresh.

[ The idea is legitimately nauseating. ]

[88dbs]

[At least he's listening even if he's obviously not happy about it. It's very slightly relieving, but not enough to substantially lessen the tension in the air.]

I agree with you on that, yeah. I guess we should get moving, then.

[luftgitarre]

[ The air seems to ease around him when they reach an agreement. Klavier notices but he's still too preoccupied to really appreciate it. Instead he turns and starts down the tunnel, hands shoved in his pockets and shoulders rounded down. He's not going to see any manholes this way but he's still not totally free of his sulk. ]

I still don't understand why our own negative feelings could not simply reopen the ceiling. There's no sense to it.

[88dbs]

[Apollo follows, arms still folded, trying not to pay too much attention to anything that isn't a ladder or something.]

Because that'd be helpful instead of troublesome, I guess. I don't know.

[luftgitarre]

[ It's rather subtle but Klavier's bad mood is starting the cycle over again; it may seem like just a change as they're walking but the air is in fact gradually getting more oppressive. At least he's lifted his head but it's a wonder his glare isn't cutting through the stone. ]

I also don't understand why a place where things like this can happen is not more prepared for it. If your streets can open up and swallow people, maybe have somewhere other than straight into sewage for them to fall, ja? It's just bad planning.

[88dbs]

[Apollo can feel the change in the atmosphere, and everything feels darker, smaller, and clammier. And truly, this is a bizarre role reversal. Apollo is the one keeping something of a lid on his frustration, even if it's a struggle, and Klavier is the one failing to keep his composure.

Frankly, it's kind of unsettling.

He's seen Klavier throw little tantrums over things before, but he typically seems quite capable of keeping it together under pressure, so it's surprising to see him really just getting completely stuck in his own negativity here.]

I guess. This kind of thing probably doesn't happen very often, it was probably just an oversight. I don't know if there's somebody we can write strongly-worded letters to or anything...

[luftgitarre]

[ Klavier's reactions are happening almost in spite of himself. He's doing his best to stay calm but the air is disgusting, his feet are squishing in his boots and he knows what they're squishing in, his perfectly good idea got shot down so now they're just wandering, and truly, this situation is terrible. Certainly it could be worse and he doesn't want to invite trouble, but that doesn't mean his feelings (disproportionate as they are) just go away, either. ]

Nothing's getting written until we are back above street level anyway but you are undoubtedly right. If there were anyone who would listen, this would not have happened.

[ So instead, sulk sulk sulk and walk walk walk. Every breath down here just makes him feel worse and that's so unfamiliar that it just exacerbates the problem. Why did this have to happen? ]