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

He tries.

[juzubeads]

It's fine. Come on and we can show you.

[He's not sure if hearing more about this place and situation might make both of them relax more or get more tense about things but. It's worth a try. He figures Kisa might overall take to things better than he would anyway. As Kisa's been improving and learning to make friends again and all, rather than Kyo with his efforts to push everyone away in knowing he's likely to be locked away.

None of that is Kisa's problem though. So he shifts, reaching for her hand clutching at his shirt to hold it and lead her over to the Welcome Center. There's others like them around, some new like them and others helping out in explaining or answering questions or what not.]

What do you think?

[rarimatiger]

[Kisa knows a little about the cat but not enough, she was too young to know much besides what she knows about Kyo. She knows Akito doesn't like the cat...but she also knows Akito was cruel to her too. For Kisa, Kyo was her cousin and she loves him...even though he can be scary when he yells and he is a little rough around the edges.

Gently she wraps her fingers around his hand, holding tightly as they walk. Looking around it was more and more clear to her that they were far from home. The amount of people is surprising and she's curious why they are here...]

There are a lot of people? Why...did we get brought here?

[juzubeads]

They said it was something to do with helping out here. With emotions or whatever.

[Or something. As far as Kyo can gather. He's not about to go into his frustrations on wanting to get back home, or the conflict he feels at also partly wanting to stay here if it means he's free from Akito. From the Cat's Room and being locked up once he finishes school.

He idly toys with his amulet, one that almost looks similar in design to his beads of the bracelet he always wears.]

[rarimatiger]

Oh...so our emotions help?

[Kisa isn't sure what type of emotions they might want from them then...This could be good or bad.

Noticing the way he plays with the amulet makes her curious but she doesn't want to ask a lot.]

So do we live here now?

[juzubeads]

Something like that. From what I heard.

[Honestly, if they're wanting happier emotions, Kyo doesn't think he or Kisa are necessarily the best choices. They'd have been better dragging Tohru or Momiji here. If they wanted flailing despair, maybe Ritsu, but...well. He probably shouldn't think too much on it or he'll get a headache at this point. He's just trying to concentrate on helping his younger cousin for now.]

I guess so. At least until we figure some way back home. I'll see if you can stay with me if you want.

[She's younger so she'd probably appreciate a familiar face or whatever in all of this, right? He's still kind of unsure, her reaction to bullying being so different from his more confrontational approach, her being a girl and all. But he's trying.]

[rarimatiger]

[For their family she can only think of a few people that would be able to give...happy emotions? Though she knows a bit of their family is pretty emotional and expressive about those emotions.]

I can?

[Not having to live by herself sounds like a good plan. Honestly, the thought of living alone is terrifying for the tiger, she doesn't want to be by herself.]

I'll be good!

[juzubeads]

Y-yeah. I mean, I know I'm not....actually an adult but. Someone should keep an eye on the kids around here. And we're family.

[So he's. Willing to try, anyway. He'll ask around and figure something, anyway. Even as socially awkward as Kyo can be sometimes, he doesn't want to leave her on her own. At least until she gets to know others and makes friends or whatever, he can offer this much.]

[rarimatiger]

You're still family though.

[That was something she means, she has no hard feelings towards Kyo she knows he's a little rough but he was kind.]

So where do we go now?

[juzubeads]

I guess figure where we're staying. Unless you wanted to look around more first? Not that either of us know our way around much yet, but we won't learn unless we go out.

[When and if she's up for it though. Just having her talking to him like this is something, given Kisa's period where she didn't say a word.]

[rarimatiger]

It might be good to look around, right? I'm okay now so we can look around more.

[Kisa was feeling worlds better just having Kyo here with her.]

[juzubeads]

Okay then. If you're up for it. May as well get a feel for the place if we're stuck here for a bit.

[Even Kyo can't deny that, as frustrating and confusing as this is. So he agrees to play chaperone in keeping an eye on her with this exploration idea.]

Lead the way then.

[rarimatiger]

Okay!

[Leading the way is new for her but she will try her best with the chance. Walking ahead of him she moves down the path, looking back at him.]

[juzubeads]

[For now, Kyo seems content in his gaze wandering, as he follows and also tries to keep an eye on Kisa at the same time. Getting a feel for this place, where everything is. Making note of certain stores or areas he thinks they'd use more.]

Don't go too far. You'll get lost.