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

Donald Duck | Kingdom Hearts

[quackmage]

[D (1 or 2)]

[Well, this is certainly the predicament, isn't it? One minute some pushy salesman is ignoring all of Donald's protests (He doesn't need to find his true love, he already has one!) and shoving some ring onto one of his fingers.

The next minute he's being compelled to walk in some random direction, making a determined b-line towards something. All the while, Donald is quacking angrily in protest.

Let's hope whatever poor sap ends up colliding with him is prepared to handle an angry little duck]

[WILD CARD]

[Have another idea for a run in with Donald? Go nuts!]

D1

[princesswhatshername]

[Minnie had been minding her own business, taking Figaro out on a walk, when she hears some very angry quacking.

... Is it her imagination, or is that noise familiar?]

Figaro, do you know what that is?

[Figaro - not the adorable black and white kitten from Pinocchio but the slightly less adorable black wyvern - growls. This person is moving too fast! They might hurt Mama! The wyvern growls, crouching in front of Minnie, ready to open his mouth and fire... well, fire.]

Eek! Figaro, no, bad boy!

[quackmage]

[Donald notices the Wyvern and his eyes go wide. In any other circumstance, he'd turn tail and and run the other way, but there's that little matter of the enchanted ring, compelling his legs to carry him forward.]

WAK! No! Stoooop!

[He yells aloud, the final world devolving into a series of quacks, trying to command his feet to stop.]

[princesswhatshername]

[Figaro's readying up a nice fireball, when Minnie suddenly slams her heel down-]

FIGARO, IF YOU DON'T STOP IT, I WILL MAKE YOU WEAR NOT JUST A SWEATER BUT ALSO MITTENS!

[...And apparently Minnie's knitting is in fact so amazingly ugly that makes Figaro snap his jaws shut right away, lowering his head in shame.]

Honestly, you were going to fry poor Donald just for -

[hold the phone.]

Poor...?

[quackmage]

Watch out!

[Because he finally collides with the mouse. Thankfully, wasn't to bad. At worse it just knocked the Duck's hat a bit askew and left him slightly dazed. At least that seemed to have fixed the matter of his legs having a mind of its own.]

[princesswhatshername]

[Minnie's crown is knocked off and rolls on the ground. Figaro growls, wishing he could have cooked this goose. duck. whatever.

But the crash makes Minnie grab a hold of Donald's shirt, and she stares at him. The clothes are different - but could it be...? On the other hand, Scrooge spoke of alternates... She swallows, a little worried.]

Sir Donald...? D-do you know who I am?

D2

[oathkeeper]

[Good thing it's Sora that happens to collide with the angry little duck. Sora considers himself somewhat of a professional when dealing with his friend.]

Huh?! Ow! Donald!

[Why's he walking into things, though?]

Geeze Donald, where're you going in such a rush?

[quackmage]

I don't know!

[Why do you think he's so angry right now?

...Don't answer that.

But still, at least running into something has made his legs behave.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora looks confused and curious.]

You don't know? You're just walking off in a huff for no reason?!

[He kind of starts laughing a bit under his breath.]

Maybe you made someone mad?

[quackmage]

No, it's this ring!

[He holds up his hand, showing a simple ring around one of his fingers.]

It made my feet have a mind of their own!

[seasaltkeys]

[It's probably Roxas's fault for stopping. He didn't usually window shop, but something had caught his eye and he'd stopped to take a look. This distraction has prevented him from paying attention to the rest of the street. And the Duck making a beeline for him, at least until it's too late.]

Woah!

[quackmage]

Hey!

[Donald ended up on his butt, his hat knocked askew by the collision.]

Watch where you're going ya big palooka!

[seasaltkeys]

Sorry.

[Roxas shakes his head, trying to get his thoughts back in order. He reaches down to help the duck...]

Donald?

D1

[onebadapple]

[The poor sap in question is also someone who already has a true love. Still, when the little duck runs right into her (and her entourage of animals) several birds chirp and flutter about in worry, the giant buck that has become Snow White's most stalwart protector stomped his hoof.]

OH! [She crouched down.] You poor thing! Are you alright? Did I hurt you? You poor little thing. [She gently stroked back some feathers.]

[quackmage]

[There are certain things that are guaranteed to make Donald instantly carefree.

A cute girl being nice to him is pretty high up there.

He laughs as she gently strokes his feathers.]

I'm fine, toots. You didn't hurt me at all.

[onebadapple]

Toots? What's a toots? My name's Snow White! [She giggles as she finishes fixing all his feathers.] Well, I'm glad you're alright, I'd have hated to hurt such a nice duck! And what might your name be?

[quackmage]

Oh, Snow White!

[He thought you seemed a little familiar.

He chuckles.]

I'm Donald Duck!

d1

[tradedvoice]

[While Ariel herself has someone - or someone she wants to be with, back home, that apparently doesn't spare her from the salesmen either. Or rather, at the least, being the one Donald ends up bumping into.

She stumbles a little, but manages to right herself and instinctively look and reach to steady him if he needs it too.]

Are you okay?

[quackmage]

I'll be okay...

[He seems a little dazed, but, wait a minute--]

Ariel! Boy oh boy, am I glad to see you again!

[tradedvoice]

Again? Oh! It's like with Sora, right? How he said he knew me before. You must be....is it Donald, or Goofy?

[She's heard of Sora's buddies. Ariel just doesn't actually remember meeting them herself yet. But her voice over the amulet is glad, amused and curious in spite of that. Relieved if only for Sora's sake that he might have more friends from home around here.]

[quackmage]

[He deflates slightly, it's kinda painful when a friend seems to not know him, but.... well, the prospect of getting to talk about himself makes him perk back up.]

It's Donald, Donald Duck.

Wildcard

[moneymatters]

[He was walking out of a shop, having just completed another job from the task board. Raising his hand in a wave to the keeper, he started back out to mingle with the crowds. Several heads, Scrooge's among them, turned at a sudden explosion of noise from a few blocks over, though he continued along his way a moment later.]

Huhm. That sounded like-

[He stopped midstep as just who that sounded like actually sunk in. Staring off in shock and, of all things, a bit of fear, he suddenly whipped around and took off toward the source of the noise, nearly bowling over someone who'd been about to walk around him.]

[quackmage]

[The explosion of noise in question? Sudden, furious quacking.

It's not that easy being three feet tall in a crowd of people unused to dealing with someone that short. The driver of the cart certainly didn't mean to nearly run the duck over, but once Donald was set off, he was set off.

It wouldn't be too hard for Scrooge to find his nephew, the crowd was giving him a wide berth, leaving Donald in an empty circle.]

[moneymatters]

[The crowd was giving Donald a wide berth but that only closed their actual grouping in thicker. At least, until a ripple of change started from the back and moved inward, people shouting and flinching back in pain in either direction. The reason for that was clear as Scrooge came to the empty middle of the circle, having been using his cane to knock elbows and knees, and get people out of his way.

Breaking through, he pulled himself up and straightened his hat, looking on with a sharp glare. He knew full well who it'd be by now, as that quacking was unmistakable.

As, too, was this: ]

NEPHEW!!

[quackmage]

[The air around the duck was crackling with energy, like it could explode at any minute.

When Scrooge's voice gets his attention, crackling energy suddenly and sharply loses potency, but doesn't fully dissipate.]

Uncle Scrooge?!

[Let's all be thankful that Donald's attention span is so short]