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

[gotyourselfapilot]

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.

[vergeofgreatness]

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.

[gotyourselfapilot]

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.]

[vergeofgreatness]

I can share what I know, I served the Republic before the Clone Wars. I am an engineer and architect so Kenobi and Skywalker would be able to tell you more about the battles than I could.

[He fell silent as Poe spoke of the Death Star, closing his eyes.

They were able to blow it up. So the Rebels were able to use the plans after all. The lights around him started to dim, a green tinged cloud around him. He clenched his fist tightly, resting his thumb just below his bottom lip as he bowed his head.

For a moment, he couldn't breathe. His accomplishment that he and Galen had built together, destroyed. All he could picture was Galen laying in the rain, lit by the fires of the attack, dying. He had lost his dearest friend and now, their life's work.

There was nothing left.

Water drops tinted with green started to fall around him but he didn't react, not seeming to notice. Galen was truly gone, having betrayed him even in death. The pain was unbearable.]

The first Death Star? There was a second? [he asked quietly as he opened his eyes. He couldn't hide his emotions anymore, the grief was still far too raw.]

I don't suppose you ever heard of Grand Moff Tarkin or know what became of him. [He hoped Tarkin had been punished severely for losing the Death Star. He hoped Vader had made Tarkin's death slow and painful, crushing his windpipe bit by bit.]

A planet sized superweapon-[There were many projects in the Imperial records but he recalled that particular one. It had been deemed impossible, something that was more fantasy than reality. Somehow, the First Order had managed to give those impossible plans life.] I would never have thought that would have been possible.

[gotyourselfapilot]

You're an architect? [There was question within that because it came out as a surprise. Poe hadn't ran into many of those but he was mostly surprised to be talking to an Imperial architect. He was gonna ask if he had anything to do with the Death Star.

As he opened his mouth though he noticed the fall of the green tinted rain. There was definitely something going on with Krennic. His question could hold off for now as he wanted to get more information. Plus the rain needed to stop in the kitchen, but Poe would be able to take care of the wetness later.]

Yes, that's correct. The first one was destroyed in the Battle of Yavin. The second was the Battle of Endor. The Empire didn't last very long after that. In fact, there was peace for some time. [He looks down at the table top before over at Krennic.]

There's no mention of him after the Battle of Yavin. One can think he was aboard the Death Star.

[He gives a small shrug.] If you want any information regarding Starkiller base, you would want to talk to Hux. [He points down towards the end of the list of names. Because that's where Hux belongs. But he's still before Kylo Ren, because he just hates that guy.]

[vergeofgreatness]

Yes, I am.

[The rain continued, dripping down his face and uniform, water pooling around him as he leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table, head bowed. But it began to slow as he opened his eyes at the mention of Tarkin, his lips twitching upward.

Tarkin had wanted the Death Star so much and it had been his death in the end, just as much as it had been Krennic's.]

Let's hope he was on the Death Star then. [It would be the perfect ending for the miserable old governor and suitable that in the end, despite the betrayal, Galen had ensured Tarkin's death. Thank you, old friend.]

I will ask him then, later. [There was a lot he needed to process, he had never had the chance to come to terms with Galen's death and now the destruction of their Death Star.

He took a deep breath, only then noticing the rain as he looked up.]

The Empire is gone but you mentioned a new Republic. Is the Emperor dead, then? [He wasn't too upset, however, his loyalty to the Empire had been for power and the chance to work for galactic stability instead of a singular devotion to one man who wasn't Galen.] That is a pity.

[gotyourselfapilot]

[Poe normally would judge a person on how they held themselves in person. Krennic held himself rather well on the outside.]

I don't mean to pry... but, the rain is making it hard not want to. Also, clarification would be good to hear. Did you help build the Death Star?

[Because that's no easy thing to do. A lot of things were kept secret. Starkiller was too, not many of them knew about. None of them knew it would be able to take out an entire system. Poe knew that the First Order couldn't be trusted. Not after what he had seen.]

I'm sure he'll be more open to tell you things. [He gives a small shrug because he wasn't going to lie about that. Hux wouldn't talk to Resistance or anyone else that was here. Most of which were Jedi.]

Yes. That was the Battle of Endor. [Poe tilted his head a bit at that.] The galaxy did have peace for a while.

[vergeofgreatness]

[The Death Star had been a secret project but there was no reason to deny what Poe already knew about.

After a moment he nodded, trying to rein in his emotions but all he could think about the late night talks with Galen, when it was just the two fo them. Seeing Galen's excitement when there was a breakthrough.

That was how it had it had supposed to be. That was when he had seen Galen happy, that was when he had been happy. He had been helping Galen do what he love and realize his potential.

The Death Star had been a product of their work but it had always destroyed what they had once had, in the end.

Perhaps it was for the best that it had been destroyed after their deaths.]

Yes, I helped build the Death Star.

[His voice was heavy with grief and even though the rain was coming to a stop, the room grew darker. He had to pull it together but the thoughts kept flooding in despite his best efforts.

He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.]

Well, at least there was peace for a time. [But his tone isn't happy or relieved but simply resigned.

He knew this was a chance for another shot of life but he wasn't sure what he was going to do. The Republic was gone, the Empire was gone, his Death Star had been destroyed and most likely had the rest of what he had built.]