empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

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*test drive

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

How do you turn off your own thoughts? It's basically the same thing. Give it a try. No hard feelings if you break the link. I can if you get too frustrated.

[He wouldn't want Krennic to set something on fire or blow something up next to him. Or whatever negative effect his emotions provide. Everyone's was different in some way. Poe was willing to help anyone until they proved to be dangerous.]

Well, depending on the feeling positive or negative it can cause a certain effect. For me when I'm feeling more happy I can make objects glow. You can change colors of things too based on the emotion you're feeling. But to really control them and not accidentally cause outbursts, you meditate. I haven't been able to fully control things the way I want for longer because of that.

[Poe can't stay still long enough. He wants to be on the move but he has been learning the dunamis so he could better protect himself.]

[There was quiet for a moment but his mind is still a whirl. The emotions were still too fresh, too raw. He hadn't had time to mourn Galen's death, his own death, his failure. Nausea welled up, he hadn't had time to process anything and so now it was hitting him hard.]

Is this some sort of afterlife then? [It wasn't possible that to survive the Death Star.]

Meditate? Is this connected to... [He didn't know much about the Force despite his hours spent with kyber crystals, taking the crystals out of Jedi lightsabers to be used in research. It was said the crystals reacted to the Force but they had been silent and cold to him.] ..mystical Force- life energy - phenomenon?

[For a moment Poe thought that the other had managed to cut the link. But then he noticed that Krennic was still around. The pilot waited for him to speak and when the question of the afterlife came about. It pulled his stomach a little. This wasn't the first person to ask such a question. Poe knew it wasn't an afterlife but...]

This place, it isn't the afterlife. You can treat it as such. But you can continue on living. A relatively normal life here. The emotions and the planet is very strange and odd. After a while of just living you can make your own future.

[Yeah, it probably sounds super upbeat and positive. Poe could only provide what he could about looking towards the future and the good in such a dark place. There's a small laugh.]

It's nothing like the Force, a bit similar if anything. Although, you can think it as that if it helps. It's helped me figure out some of the mechanics. I keep a log of what each emotion does too.

[He does that in order to test them out later in a safer place. Because things can get messy when you don't know what it can really do. When there's more than one person with the same emotion it can get even more troublesome.]

[It may not be an afterlife but he knew he had died. It had been quick, though not painless thanks to the blaster wound.

He wasn't sure what kind of future he wanted here. Galen wasn't here and everything he had worked so hard for and accomplished was gone.]

A second chance then. How fortunate for me. [But he doesn't sound excited, it's something to think about carefully.

The log seemed like a practical idea and it would give him a starting point of something to work on. He was still an engineer and researcher at heart, creating and understanding the world around him was what he did.]

Tracking the results of emotion seems prudent. I would be interested to see your log.

[Another pause then a wary observation as he listened to Poe's tone.]

You know the Force.

[Most people would try to at least make some kind of life for themselves. But that would be up to the other man to decide what path he choses. Poe decided to keep living in whatever peace this happened to be. He would rather keep himself happy, keep helping those in need as well as maybe teach a bit about the dunamis. If he wasn't quite flying anything around here, he can use his other skills. He's already used his more mechanical skills.]

If you have to look at it in that way, yes. It might not be exactly what you wanted but you are alive here.

[He hasn't let anyone else seen his log. Because he does indeed keep a log, but that log happens to be in the same notepad that has some other... personal things. Which was silly because he was keeping separate logs for sometime. He happened to slip and wrote things a few pages after his emotion tracking.]

Sure, I don't mind sharing the log with you.

[There's a small chuckle.]

I know about the Force. [He's going to leave out that he grew up around a Jedi Tree on a ranch. Because not too many people know about that either.] There's plenty of Jedi around here. They would know more about it. I've only heard stories.

I appreciate it.

[Jedi? This could pose an interesting dilemma. He had spent a few nights removing kyber crystals from lightsabers and overseeing extraction from locations taken from the Jedi archives.

But perhaps he could learn more about the crystals from them. Galen could extract some power but neither he or Krennic were Force-sensitive, there was no doubt many more secrets the crystals were holding.

He tried to keep his thoughts and mental tone as neutral as possible.] I've never had the chance to personally meet a Jedi. Who else from our galaxy is here?

Where would you like to meet up? I can meet up at any time as well.

[Poe wouldn't know anything more about being Force-sensitive. He was just ordinary. Although, he was trying to ask questions about meditation. That was a skill he was trying to get a better handle on. Be better about sitting on his hands for the moment. It wouldn't be forever.]

I hadn't met one personally either until coming here. I met something not Jedi. [A man in a mask too. That was a subject he would rather avoid and he was going to focus on other things now.] There's a lot of names to list now. I've at least told you mine, you can share yours. [Before he gives out more information that he can give out in person.]

I am free now and can meet you anywhere.

[Poe's answer was intriguing and there was a long pause on his end.] Something not Jedi?

[Most likely a reference to Vader. He rubbed his throat, remembering that encounter. He had gotten what he wanted, though.]

I don't mind a list. [He didn't expect any recognition, his name was associated with secret Republic and Imperial research or his public projects as an architect.] Of course, it's only fair. My name is Krennic.

[Poe is actually at home for once, does he ask him over? There was plenty to drink and eat.]

I am currently home so I will give you directions. Do you mind if I give you a mental link to it? It's easier sometimes than to say it aloud. [He pauses for a moment.]

I wouldn't refer him as one. I'm not really sure what to call him other than by the name I know him as. [Krennic can rub his throat. Poe can't really rub his own mind. That kind of pain, he suffered twice, once there and once here. He wouldn't want it on his worst enemy. Not even on Hux as much as the other man made him angry at times.]

I'll write one up so you can have it when you get here.

Send me the directions.

[The telepathic link will take some getting used to but better sooner than later.]

Perhaps this is something to discuss in person. [He needed to know if Vader was here, it would complicate matters but despite the Sith Lord's...eccentricities, it wouldn't be the worst thing. He had survived being Force choked once before.]

[Shortly after that, Poe sends him an image of the home he's staying in, plus a way to get there on foot. A visual map in a way.]

You will get used to this over time. I agree with that. I'll wait until you're here to continue.

[Poe will cut of the telepathic link so Krennic wouldn't have that frustration too. So he should have silence at least from Poe. He needs to find the journal with the logs and look at whatever other personal information could be with it.]

[He appreciated the silence- relative silence at least. There was a great deal he needed to sort out on his own. The fact that he would have a life without Galen was sinking in, he hadn't had time to truly process it but here he had no distractions, no other immediate demands.

There was just a heavy grief.

It didn't take long for him to find the house and he loudly rapped on the door with his knuckles. A project would be a nice distraction, give him something to work on since the technology here was lacking.]

[Poe had moved quickly around the little home. He found his log journal which he put under his arm for the moment. There was a need for a pen and a piece of paper. It was quick writing down of everyone's names plus which timeline he thinks they all come from. He'll try to break that slowly to Krennic.

There was a spot in the home that he didn't mind if it got hurt. The pilot came out of the room being followed by his astromech. When the knock came, he was glad that it didn't take the other too long to find the house. His housemate wasn't home probably out working his deliveries.

He opens the door and BB-8 makes a few quick hurried beeps. Poe felt that urge to slowly let go of the door and watch it close. That uniform certainly was old but recognizable. He, on the other hand, was dressed with the clothing this planet offered. Only that he was in a long sleeved button down, a dark brown vest with copper buttons, it looked dusty but it was the fabric. A pair of work pants and boots, there's a pair of gloves sticky out a bit from one of his back pockets.]

[There's a bit of silence as his mouth is a bit parted open. It was a bit surprising but he can be civil. As long as the other man stays that way too.]

Come on inside.

[Because he still could let go of the door, letting it close on Krennic, it would be really rude. Poe would probably feel guilty afterward because he already said he would do something. So, he can't go back on his word. He steps aside so that the man can step in. Once he does, Krennic will notice that the living room area is open, no chairs, maybe a few bookshelves and a plant in a corner. There's no couch either. Poe really wanted his housemate to help him with that or at least give Finn to pick something else for their current home. Progress was slowly going and maybe once more people started coming over he'll finally settle on getting it himself. There is sitting in the kitchen though.]

[His eyes fell on the droid as soon as the door was opened, it seemed a little different to the astromech droids he had seen before, perhaps it was a newer model. He looked at Poe then, noticing his expression.

There was no need to ask if Poe recognized his uniform, the Empire's influence over the galaxy was extensive. He didn't notice any insignia on Poe's clothing, however, but he wasn't concerned. He had worked with smugglers and others who were quite a bit out of Imperial circles, this wouldn't be the first time.]

You mentioned a list.

[he held out a hand, he wanted to know who he was dealing with.]

[The droid certainly was a newer model and one of a kind. BB-8 was orange and white, Krennic can make a fair guess which side Poe was working for. Even though for now and here Poe only wanted a peaceful living. No fights, no wars. That's all he wanted and hopefully it'll continue that way.]

Brooo! Boooo Beeep?

[Poe glances down at BB-8 with slight amusement, his lips tug upwards.] You're right little buddy, they don't seem to know the word please.

[Krennic was very straight to the point and Poe takes out a folded piece of paper from a pocket as he closed the door once the man was inside.]

I do want to warn you that you'll see a rough timeline on there. This place is a bit weird in that matter. You might not even believe when I'm actually from. That is a very unique uniform.

[He gives it over to Krennic. The first name he'll see on it will be Anakin Skywalker with it being connected to Darth Vader but it won't say before Mustafar, it'll say sometime after the Clone Wars. Yet, Poe knows about the events of Mustafar, because of seeing Obi-Wan's memory. Everyone else will have either Battle of Endor dates, while everyone from the future will have a much further date or some others with questions that he doesn't have answers for.]

[He didn't seem to hear Poe as he took the paper, looking it over. His eyes widened as he looked it over. Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader? Of course, he knew of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker from the Clone Wars but he would have never made the connection between the Sith Lord and the Jedi.

Did Tarkin know? He wasn't sure about that. He wondered why Anakin chose to attire himself in the black get up but he wouldn't ask that question.

He glanced over Obi-Wan Kenobi and Leia Organa's names, frowning. He knew of the Organas, supposed Rebel sympathizers. Alderaan had always been under some suspicion and he knew Tarkin had been forming plans to bring the planet under firm Imperial control once and for all.

But there were other things on the paper that he didn't recognize. Yavin, Endor- he didn't understand the significance of either one.]

When you are from? [He looked at Poe, raising his eyebrows. ] Explain.

Edited 2017-01-31 21:30 (UTC)

[He watches Krennic's expression as he glances over the piece of paper. Poe wasn't going to be shy about giving details. But if he had known that the other was an Imperial he wondered if he would have provided those details. It would make sense to warn others that Anakin was here. He would have been edging close to becoming Darth Vader.

Poe wasn't going to give out those details of a burning young man. It wasn't pleasant, Obi-Wan Kenobi was a man that you didn't want to get into a battle with either.

There was silence from the pilot and droid as he started to walk toward the kitchen.]

Most of everyone else that shows up is from the past. I'm from the much more distant future. The Leia Organa I know is much older and a General, she doesn't go by Princess anymore. I can't really explain why this place decides to bring people from different timelines. But it does happen.

How distant? [He asked slowly as he looked up from the paper, glancing at the droid for a moment. There were so many questions he wanted to ask. Had his Death Star managed to survive the imminent Rebel attack? Did everything he had built still survived?

He let out a breath as he sat down, closing his eyes before Poe mentioned Leia Organa.]

I never met her before but I know she's a member of the Imperial Senate. Or at least, was. What is she general of?

[Given her connection to the Rebel Alliance, he doubted very much that she would be given any position in the Imperial ranks.]

I would say that there's been plenty of Galactic wars. Decades of them. [He steps over to the side of Krennic where he choses to sit. The pilot points to the names toward the bottom of the list. Among Kylo Ren, Armitage Hux (because he did hear Ren shouting his first name), Rey and Finn.] I would be down here with these names. All of the ones before it are before them and so on and so forth.

She's the General of the Resistance in my time. Before I was with the Resistance, I was with the New Republic Defense Fleet, in the Navy Starfleet. [He walks away a bit to give him some room the droid would be nearby to observe Krennic.]

Would you care for anything to drink? [There's a small pause before he asks the next question.] Where do you fall under on that list?

New Republic? [Krennic slowly looked over the list, down the timeline of events he had never heard of. Endor...Yavin...the names of where Poe pointed too were entirely unfamiliar.

There were so many questions he didn't know where to start. Vaguely he heard Poe mention a Resistance, frowning. He wanted to ask about his Death Star first but there was also the matter of just where the Emperor and the Empire went.

He only hoped that Tarkin died in disgrace if the Empire had fallen.]

So you are a member of the Rebel Alliance. I can't say I'm surprised at Leia Organa's involvement with the rebels, however. [But what Poe was telling him about the future made him unable to truly process it. Of course, he knew that life would go on after his death, decades would pass but it seemed a great deal had changed.

He glanced back at the list thoughtfully before answering.]

Nearly 20 years after the end of the Clone Wars.

That is correct. [Poe knew that it was going to be a lot to talk in. It normally was for everyone that came from the past. That was one of the main reasons he typically didn't explain a lot at once. But he had tried to warn the other man. This place didn't make sense with it but maybe it didn't need too.

Krennic asked if it was an afterlife. Poe wasn't dead back on his time but others who may have been dead in their worlds showed up here too.]

I hope you're okay with that. [Because certain other individuals might not be.] I didn't know that you were with the Empire. Your uniform gave that away at the door. But, I already said I would show you the list of names and the log as well. [It was only polite to continue with business, he pulls out the journal putting it on the table for when Krennic was ready to give that a look.]

That's a really early time still. You would be after Obi-Wan and before Han Solo on that list. I can answer questions, but, I would like to know if you really want to know future events.

[Sometimes it might not be comfortable hearing certain things. Poe had kept things quiet about events in the future until it was necessary to say to others. He wasn't sure how they would react. Negative feelings were scary to witness but he could stay as calm as he could.]

We'll see. [Poe was useful right now, he wasn't going to shoot him merely because he was a rebel. He had used the Rebel Alliance to his advantage before, he wasn't going make any hasty decisions.] That is indeed gracious of you.

[He looked at the log, but he wasn't ready to look at it yet. He set the list down on the table, taking a deep breath.

The galaxy was a new place and he would just have to adapt to that.]

I suppose I will find out eventually, so you might as well tell me. [He couldn't bring himself to specifically ask about the Death Star but the air is heavy around him, his emotions on edge as one of his hands tightened into a fist.

He had to know, he couldn't hide from the truth.]

I'm sure you'll explain who these people are, as well. [He pointed to the list of names around Poe's. He wanted to know what to expect.]

I do know how to protect myself if needed. [He'll find a way to push Krennic out of his home too. But for now that wasn't necessary. The other man seemed to be fine for now. Until he poses as a threat.]

What do you want to know first? I can give quite a bit information. My parents fought in the war before the Empire fell. I know stories and history. But certain things beyond that, it's secondhand knowledge. You might be able to fill in some other things.

[He glances down at the names Krennic had been pointing towards.] I can. Kylo Ren and Hux work for the First Order, trying to destroy the galaxy. Or at least striking fear back into it. I still know very little about Rey but she is Force sensitive. Finn was a stormtrooper for the First Order. I have a pretty crazy story to go along with that.

I will see what I can fill in or not. [Krennic knew he could provide no insight into events after Scarif. But he was sure that Tarkin and the Imperial command classified Scarif as an unfortunate attack, similar as to what happened on Jedha.

His death would have been covered up and forgotten. Tarkin would have seen to that.]

Start with Yavin. You indicated it as an event just after where I am from. [Yavin was a system that was fairly unremarkable, there was a moon there as he recalled but there wasn't anything to fight over.]

You mentioned a new republic- is the First Order a successor to the Empire?

[Trying to destroy the galaxy? He was going to have to learn more about this. Perhaps his Death Star had survived, after all, unless Imperial researchers somehow managed to make progress on other projects. But he knew much would have been lost on Scarif, it would take decades to put it back together again.]

Suppose they would have to start from somewhere.

Well, I wouldn't mind hearing about your stories. As much as I don't mind learning histories, it's nice to hear it in a more personal way. If you've been in the Clone Wars itself you must have plenty you can talk about.

[He gives a small nod while pressing his lips together. There's a moment of silence as he wanted to word the next few things carefully.] Alderaan got destroyed by the first Death Star, which then once finding out about the Rebels being on Yavin they went over there. The Rebels knew about the flaw and took advantage of it. They were able to blow it up before it could get Yavin.

[Poe shuts his eyes while thinking back to a moment where he had a similar conversation. The First Order wasn't anywhere as evil as the Empire. They didn't come close, that was before the Hosnian system being taken out. He had always compared them in that way.]

They built a machine that was a giant planet, blew up an entire system and was coming for another. You can call them however you want. I'll keep calling them the First Order.

[He's going to pause so that Krennic can take all of that in. Poe will sit up while opening his eyes to observe him.]

TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

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