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

D1 because this prompt is still hilarious

[scythegun]

[You know, out of everyone Yeager would have expected to show up from home, Duke was absolutely the last person. The hero of the Great War... well, Duke isn't exactly a sight for sore eyes. Duke knows way more about Yeager than anyone here should know, and that alone would make running into him a problem

Unfortunately, the bigger problem are the rings. Yeager had one unceremoniously shoved on him and while he can appreciate the salesman's moxie, he certainly can't appreciate the situation he's found himself in now.

Hi, Duke. Nice to see you again.]

...Well, this is a bit awkward, ja?

[He's trying very hard to remove the ring so he can get out of Duke's personal space (and escape before any troubling questions can be asked), but it's not working at all. It's causing the temperature to rapidly drop and tiny icicles to form in the air.]

[unlikelyend]

[ Duke stared straight at Yeager some more, like because he sort of didn't expect to bump into someone from Terca Lumireis, and if the situation wasn't as ridiculous as it had been, he would've found it a possible... acceptable place to try to engage in normal conversation. But, instead, he would rather forget this had ever happened. ]

It is.

... Removing the ring is not going to be that easy, I see.

[ Duke halts his attempts, but it's pretty upsetting as it is, and quite frustrating. However, he's more distressed than simply frustrated, so droplets of water begin to trickle down from above them. Although, thanks to the freezing temperature they probably freeze into icicles. ]

We are not going to be stuck like this forever, are we?

[scythegun]

[Whoops. Sorry about turning your rain into hail!!]

Probably not! Usually these things last for a bit and then wear off. But unfortunately, I can't rule it out entirely because this place is dreadful like that!

[He's obviously trying to go for his usual chipper attitude and obnoxious demeanor, but he's not quite making it. It was supposed to be a joke, but he genuinely has no idea how long this will last. It shouldn't be permanent, but... Well, as he said, this place is dreadful like that.]

[unlikelyend]

[ Thanks Yeager!! ]

...What do you mean by that?

Something like this has happened before and the results have been... permanent?

[ The hail is probably increasing now by virtue of Duke becoming a bit more distressed by this possible revelation. Of course normally this wouldn't be an issue because a lot of Duke's emotional reactions and occurrences are supposed to be internal, but now it's sort of displayed external. He's trying not to reign in his emotions but it's not working too well.

This is getting uncomfortable. Why. ]

[scythegun]

[WELCOME TO VERENS]

Well, I can't say I know of any cases being permanent and as far as I know this exact situation hasn't happened before... But there's a first time for everything! And this place does run on emotions, so I have no doubts that something like this could stick forever!

[The temperature isn't warming up any, but getting a reaction out of Duke is easing his own irritation a bit. Nothing's better than pissing people off, right!! Surely that will help!!]

[unlikelyend]

[ Duke frowns, looking down at his hand, and his ring. He then looks at Yeager again. ]

... You are not the person I had in mind to spend the rest of my life living with.

[ He sighs. He's given up on trying to stop it from raining... or hailing, whichever it is at this point. He still hates this place; his only solace is that it seems he's not the only one annoyed. But... ]

I just do not understand how you can be so cheery about this?

[scythegun]

Oh trust me, you aren't my first pick either!

[PROBABLY HIS LAST AS OF RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY.]

I'm always this cheerful and relaxed, it's just who I am!

[He had shades of it ten years ago, sure, but it certainly wasn't this obnoxious. Despite the expression and tone, the temperature's getting colder again. They really aren't going to find a solution like this, are they?]

[unlikelyend]

....We're going to turn into two giant ice-cubes if this keeps up.

[ Duke is not very happy with the thought of staying with Yeager like glue, but he is also not happy with the idea of being immersed in such cold. ]

If we begin to make our way back to where the sales individual may be or find them we could interrogate them to figure out an answer to this foolishness.

[scythegun]

That may be our only option, I'm afraid. Be careful not to slip on the ice, ja?

[Seriously, between the two of us we've probably frozen a good amount of the sidewalk...]

[unlikelyend]

Do not worry, I am very cap--

[ Famous last words, because as soon as he moves forward, Duke slips on the ice and nearly falls into Yeager. ]

-- It seems I underestimated the extent of how much ice was on the ground.

[scythegun]

[You are so lucky he's this strong and this good at keeping his balance on the ice!!

They don't go down, but there's an undignified moment where Yeager kind of awkwardly catches Duke's arms and then just sort of... stands there...]

...Well, now you know!

[He lets go immediately and acts like that was totally not weird or anything!!]

[unlikelyend]

[ Yeager is a good luck charm now, it seems.

Duke probably just blinks as he's caught, and then let go. It really was quite awkward, but now he's standing, so... ]

I suppose I do.

...That was a good catch.

[ He'll just say that, as he tries to slowly move forward. ]

[scythegun]

I'm lucky like that~!

[He's trying so hard not to be awkward. It's so difficult. Come on, Duke, let's go find the salesmen and maybe freeze them solid instead!!]

[unlikelyend]

[ On their way, Duke begins to look around. He's internally recalling the image of the salesmen so it won't be too much trouble to spot him. ]

...

[ There is also a bit of a crowd here and he just probably makes a face, trying not to bump into people. Why are there so many people here... ]