empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

Entry tags:

*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!

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Prompt D

No I don't believe I need thi-- Hey!

[Strickler's eyes widen as the sales representative pushes the ring onto his finger. This is the last thing he needed. The person selling the item exclaims he should try it out before he purchases. Relationships were the last thing that Walter needed right now.

Once the finger is placed on his finger, his eyes glow a bright yellow color, pupils small slits. It catches thw representative by surprise, but it doesn't last long. After an owlish blink, Strickler finds himself walking down the marketplace. To where exactly, he wasn't sure. Despite his attempts to tug the ring off, his feet continue moving, towards someone nearby.]

Get this thing off!

Prompt E

[The sewers. It is a setting that Walter is familiar with, despite his attire. Clean shaven, dress pants, blazer, navy turtle neck... The makings of a teacher. However, with the raw sewage seeping into his shoes, it's a less than unpleasant feeling.

He catches sight of something nearby. Four legged. glowing yellow eyes. Sloshing through the water. Over his partner's shoulder, he sees the creature rising to attack. A large croc, capable of standing with stronger legs and appendages. Taking in his surroundings, he sees that his body is engulfed in the darkness of the pipe.

In a blink of an eye, the creature roars out, falling to the side with a distinct knife in between it's eyes, lodged deep within it's skull, lying beside Stricker's company. And if his company were to look up, they will see someone quite different standing in the dimly lit surroundings, but a familiar amulet still hangs around his neck.

Green skin. Prominent horns. Claws. tusk-like teeth. Glowing yellow eyes. This was Strickler's true form. He looks at individual beside him and rolls his shoulders, lowering his hand, which looks as though what caused the knife to fly through the air.]

Are you alright?

Wildcard

{{ooc: Open for other scenarios if need be! c: }}

[Being in the sewers is terrible. The smell is rotten and sour, and the--liquid--squelches around Christian's feet as he walks. He's never going to get this stuff out of his jeans. He tries to at least put on a brave face since he's walking with someone else. He doesn't want this guy to think he's weird, right? And then, out of nowhere, there's a roar behind him. Christian whirls around to see a giant croc, still raised mid-strike, right before its body goes limp and it falls back into the murk.

He turns back, checking for the older man, only to find that he's missing and in his place is a horned, tusked monster with glowing eyes. Christian responds to the switch with a yell of surprise and raising both hands to defend himself.

Oh, wait, that was a question.]

What? Wha- Yeah? Yeah. I'm fine. That's a... big lizard.

[Christian can't help but notice the green skin of his new companion. Would it be rude to point that out? Probably. And Strickler seems to have magic knives. Better not test him.]

[Walter should have expected as much of a reaction from, what he can only assume is, a human. The Changeling stands up straight and continues down the sewage path, hoping to find any sight of an exit out of here. His clawed feet slosh through the sewage as he ventures forward. Best not to wait around and wait for another one of those lizards.]

My apologies, it was the only way I could properly attack. Otherwise, I have no means of defending myself, or others, without the use of an external weapon.

We best keep moving.

[Christian hesitates, unsure of how he feels about following an intimidating guy like this, but he decides that the magical daggers are better than being swallowed by a giant sewer gator. So he splashes after the less frightening of his two options, casting repeated looks over at him as he catches up.]

So.

[Because he can't make this any more awkward than it is, right?] So, you're actually a, uh...?

[Toothy nightmare probably isn't what he should say. Christian tries to tamp that thought down.]

Diff... erent.

[He rolls his eyes and looks over at his companion. His mouth twists into a frown, his amulet glowing softly.]

As are you. [Strickler points out dryly, crossing his long spindly arms over his chest. He can tell the other is unerved by this form.]

I cannot traverse in sunlight. The previous form you saw helps me do so. This. [Strickler gestures with one hand to himself.]

Is my true form.

[Christian starts to retort, but then closes his mouth before the quip makes it out. He looks at the Changeling for a silent minute, noting the claws at the end of the arms that are crossed so neatly across his chest.]

So you aren't human.

[As if that needs clarification. It doesn't, and Christian smiles a little to convey that was meant to be a joke, but that still doesn't really tell him what his companion is.]

It's not a bad form. I mean, you did just save my life.

[He's definitely still cautious, but he has to be. Things with big teeth and claws generally use them.]

And you talk like a stage actor.

I'm a Changeling. [He finally corrects him before he finds a split in the path in the sewers, looking down each side. Only to see darkness down either side.]

It has it's uses. But in order to function while most people are awake, human form is best.

[Walter glances over at him.]

And I'm a principal, not an actor. [Well, he was a history teacher, and the last title he held was "principal"... And back home, he wasn't sure where he was going. Both literally and metaphorically.

But those were just details.]

Now. We need to decide which way to go.

You mean like a fairy?

[Despite being unnerved by Strickler's true form, Christian does grin at the idea of calling his new friend a fae. He's far too large and imposing for that.]

Of course you are. [He pulls a coin out of his pocket and holds it up in his palm.]

I can find us a way.

[Christian looks down at the coin, his compass, and concentrates. It can point him toward... Well, things, anyway. Granted, "exit" is a bit vague. It can point toward sources of magic, though, and maybe a living being outside of the tunnels counts.]

Uh, can you stand back a little? I keep finding you.

[...trudging through the sewers beneath Verens is not at all how Dezel intended to spend his day off. How this had even happened is a bit beyond him, which in his book is not a good thing. He's been on Empatheias for a year now and he's seen a lot of strange occurrences, but the entire street practically vanishing and displacing people into the sewers below... That's a new one.]

[He can't say he's feeling too confident regarding the man sloshing along behind him, either. For one, Dezel is far too aware of some of the dangers lurking in these kinds of places and his current company doesn't look like the sort who's ready to fight at any given moment. For another, it would seem this fellow is able to see him and that means one of three things... Either he possesses enough spiritual insight to perceive the supernatural, he's aligned to the same Arehtei as Dezel, or he only appears human but is actually something else. Though really, while it could be any of the three options, Dezel is willing to bet it's likely the second, possibly the first. Still, his current train of thought on the matter is enough to distract him and keep him from detecting the sound of something nasty rising up out of the sludge behind them. It doesn't help that the air is stagnant and stale, heavy with nasty odors and limited in overall flow, causing Dezel something of a minor handicap in terms of general perception, especially in such a dimly lit area.]

[But sound... That he can pick up once his focus snaps back, suddenly sharpened by movement behind him and the sense that something within the space has shifted. He turns just in time to see the sharp object fly, embedding itself between the two eyes of a crocodile-like creature. Dezel moves as quickly as he's able while caught in now more-than-ankle deep, filthy water, just in time to avoid getting too much sewage splashed on him as the scaly body collapses, dead on the spot.]

Tch, Maotelus dammit...

[There's little time to regard the corpse, however, as his attention shifts to his current company...who no longer looks human in the least. Dezel takes another couple of steps back and the air around both of them stirs in an almost wary fashion.]

[Well, that certainly explains this one's ability to see and hear him.]

The stench down here aside...fine. But what the hell are you?

[Blunt? Yes. Rude? Possibly. But Dezel has never been much for social graces, not that he feels he needs them in a situation like this.]

[Strickler stops and glances over his shoulder at his companion. A thick brow perches itself on his small forehead. Ah, humans and their attitudes. Well, he could only assume he was human. The Changeling walks past him and kneels down beside the fallen abnormal croc.

The air around Strickler was a little irritated, a small tremor as his amulet sways and glows softly, but it soon relaxes as Walter focuses on pulling the knife out from the monster.]

What does it matter? You're alive, are you not? [The knife slides out along bone and muscle, in one hard tug. He twirls the knife in his hand, flicking off the blood before he places it back inside the "plumage" of his cloak.]

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TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

Stricklander "Walter Strickler" | Trollhunters

E (omg trollhunters!)

c: Ah someone knows it!

Yes, I'm so excited to see Strickler!

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E... and hello again! couldn't resist tagging your excellent Strickler in a game setting thread

Ah hello again! c: Oh gosh you're too sweet, thank you ;;