empatheias_ooc | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ if only Kaden understood the shounen life... instead, he's staring awkwardly at Rider while he explains himself, his proposition causing Kaden's ears and tail to sink lower. and lower. and lower.

especially because something dawns on him and it's causing the tiniest of rain clouds to pop around his ears, like little grey smokey plumes around fox-ear volcanoes. ]

Well, I hate to disagree with you, especially hey're really nice and all. But don't you think the value the thief may be looking for is... well.

[ and now his cheeks are turning pink. ]

... whether they've been worn or not?

[ Kaden now feels a different kind of death and hopes it'll come to take him soon. ]

[SCANDALOUS KADEN

Well, that explains the rain clouds over the fox-boy. He must be inexperienced. Rider laughs, and loudly at that.]

Look at you, flushed with embarrassment. But, I suppose you're right. We'll have to take measures into our own hands. Here you are.

[He hands Kaden the underwear. Someone's gotta wear them.]

[ IT'S ONLY LOGICAL!!! ]

... w-wait. Hold on a second.

[ okay so maybe he didn't mean HE should wear it? then again, imagining Rider wearing them instead... would it even be possible, these things aren't meant for guys of his size, right?

at least these, anyway. ]

Fine. Don't laugh at me, okay?

[ and he puts them on, RIGHT IN THE OPEN, RIGHT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE TO SEE

he puts them on his head. after all, they have ear holes? kind of? ]

I will do my best not to.

[There's no telling that it won't be hard to do so, though. Which proves even harder when Kaden does the exact opposite of what Rider was expecting and just

puts them on his

head

There's a second where Rider's eyes widen a bit in disbelief before he breaks into a full on chortle. He can't help it.]

Hahahahahahaha!!! Not entirely what I was expecting, but you do seem to be wearing them! Hahahahahahah!!!!!!

[ WTF HE SHOULD HAVE TRIED HARDER

as the clouds gently drift away from his head, he gives a low, agitated grumble under his breath. quickly taking them off and looking around, it looks like Rider's the only one who has been actively watching him. those who pass by seem to double-take but keep on moving while the kitsune eyes the delicates now in his hands... ]

You don't expect me to REALLY put these on, do you? Don't you realize how uncomfortable they'd be?

[ and before Rider gets ANY FREAKING IDEAS: ]

No proper hole for my tail!

[He sees his point. They, in fact, have no opening for a tail. Well, as far as Rider is concerned, he's just the right guy for the job.]

Now, if I try to put them on, they will be shredded to pieces. They wouldn't even fit around my waist no matter how hard I tried. You must be the one to do it! And if they would be so uncomfortable for you, well, I can certainly fix that!

[He goes to pinch the fabric of the panties between his thumb and forefinger to try to take them away from Kaden for the moment being.]

[ ... how can he refuse such a polite offer to make them easier to wear! of course, Kaden isn't really thinking about the appropriateness of it all and lets it slip away from him.

also pretty sure if Rider really wanted it, he could easily take it? ]

Uh... I guess. You could just wear them one leg, if you wanted.

[ what is he even thinking though. ]

But maybe we could find someone else to put them on? Or... uh, maybe the thief won't actually know. Maybe they're just that dumb.

[ OR KADEN IS TRYING TO ESCAPE A LACEY AND EMBARRASSING NOT-DEATH but his pride man. his pride! as a fox! ]

[Rider takes them, inspects them by turning them over until he rights the pair. Yes. That was the front. Turns it. This is the back.

While Kaden is talking, he stretches the fabric out and...puts his finger through it.

Just puts it through it

The fabric tears under the pressure, leaving a thumb-sized hole in the back of the panties. Satisfied, he begins to tear it further apart, until there is a decent sized hole. Possibly big enough to get one (1) tail through.]

No need for someone else. Here you go.

[Hands them back.]

[ his ears immediately perk up as soon as it's taken from him. maybe he should escape while he can? but... no, he's firmly rooted to the ground, just watching and waiting and---

YEAH HE DEFINITELY SHOULD'VE BOOKED

--- but that's a little too late as he slowly and pitifully accepts the underwear. holds it in his hands. stares at it.

and then an idea forms! a great idea! one that immediately causes him to laugh and bubbles start to float around him, reflecting a very effervescent and pleased kitsune. ]

Alrighty! Let me just go somewhere private and I'll take care of this.

[ he's gone in an instant and returns with the same happy expression on his face with no lingerie in tow! he's definitely not hiding them on his person anywhere. no pink in his scarf or anything. nope. ]

[He waits patiently for the kitsune to return, and when he does, he looks for the underwear. Where...are they?]

Well? Where are they, boy? You're still wearing them?

[He doesn't see it in his scarf...yet.]

Yes. I am definitely wearing them. Wow, they feel so much better with the hole in them! You certainly are the greatest.

[ if the stilted way he's talking doesn't give it away completely, the sudden breeze revealing the silk fabric certainly might, though he doesn't see it. it starts to slip and dangle, intertwined with the navy blue and yellow fabric that firmly wrapped around his neck and on his shoulders. ]

Man, that thief won't know what hit them!

[ sweat... ]

TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

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i'll never regret this thread

this thread has purified me, i can breathe again

i'm glad i was worried that you were going to suffocate

well... i probably did for a little but

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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