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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

B – ST0207

[Even without the generous reward offered, Allura would’ve taken Samantha’s request in a heartbeat. Considering her own still-too-fresh losses, she’d do anything to keep someone else from feeling the same. Hopefully the poor girl’s mother could still be found.

And it’s that hope and her warrior’s calm that Allura tries to focus on as they make their way through the swamp rather than her pangs of grief, so that the sky stays clear and bright and the moon’s glow strengthens just a little bit more, all the better for her and her company to see by. Her crossbow is pointed to the soggy ground trying to suck at her sturdy knee-high boots. It’s no bayard or blaster, but the weapon’s been serving her well so far. When she speaks, it’s not quite a whisper, but still softly spoken, in case there are things here that are sensitive to noise.]

I can’t say I know much about these Farlyne Swamps, do you? What should we be expecting?

D-1

[As much of a warrior princess as she is, Allura does like nice things. Especially jewelry. Which is why the salesman at the little RSoF kiosk in the square pegs her as an easy target-- I mean, potential customer.

“Excuse me, miss, that’s a LOVELY circlet you’re wearing!”]

Oh! Thank you, sir. I got it at--

[“And I bet you’d look lovelier still with this gorgeous ring!” It’s a simple-enough rose gold band with a single large ruby. While it clashes a touch with her current denim-blue outfit, it certainly piques her tastes. Sure, why not? She’d just gotten paid after all. A little trinket wouldn't hurt her budget TOO badly.]

Oooooh that is rather pretty. How much--

[The salesman interrupts her AGAIN, making a slightly miffed Allura warm the air around them by just a few degrees.

“And it’s not JUST a pretty face either! Yup, this Red Ring of Fate is 100% guaranteed to lead you straight to your perfect match!”]

Wait, my WHA--

[And the salesman uses the confusion to sip the ring onto one of Allura’s fingers, and almost immediately her hand starts pulling her out in some odd direction, like a VERY big dog on a leash breaking into a run. The static cling in the air goes up quite a bit and follows her as she starts getting dragged away.]

Wait nonononoNOOO!

[“Come back and pay when you find your soulmate, alright~?”

Can you help slow her down at least? Or maybe you’re the poor unfortunate soul the ring is drawing her to. Either way, HELP!]

Wildcard

[Got something else in mind? Then feel free!]

[[Note: Season Two spoilers are a-okay! If you haven't seen Season Two of Voltron: Legendary Defender yet and would like to stay spoiler free, let me know via journal messaging and we can come up with a strategy!]]

Edited 2017-02-03 01:28 (UTC)

[It's a rather pleasant day if you ask Alice. The air may be a little crisp but she's had a good morning of sword practice and she's in an upbeat mood. And naturally this is when she hears a sound. It seems like it's off in the distance for now and Alice tilts her head a little to try to decide what it is. It doesn't sound like any of the steam-driven things in the town, it's more like--

A shock runs down the back of her neck and Alice jerks her gaze slightly off to the right, just in time to see a figure coming her way. One moving at a fairly good clip by now.]

That's a very energetic morning jog.

[She squints a little then.]

... That's not really jogging though, is it.

[No, it's definitely not. For one, joggers don't usually keep one arm stretched taut out in front of them. And usually the have a bit more care, or at least CONTROL, over their course. The poor lady is trying to weave through the square and avoid running into TOO many people, but it's quite the challenge. Not to mention her shock over the situation is quite literal at the moment, sending out enough static to affect the hair and clothes of any bystander she bumps or even runs too close to.]

Sorry! Please excuse me! Does anyone know how to take off these rings?!

[It's a literally shocking atmosphere and at this rate Alice is fairly sure the poor woman is either going to induce mass static electricity in the streets or eventually run over an older native. So Alice does the first thing that comes to mind which in her opinion is the only sensible solution.

When Allura passes her and inevitably does dodge, the blonde does a quick whirl on her feet and more or less lunges. She hasn't got the time to grab her in any sort of close combat maneuver but she certainly can wrap her arms around the other woman's waist. Alice adopts a wide stance, trying to dig her heels into the hard street so she can stop the other woman.

Of course Alice is all of five foot so whether this works well or not is up for debate.]

[Weeeeell considering that Allura has a good few inches on her AND comes from a race of super-strong aliens? Hope you like water-- well, cobble-skiing, Alice. And frizzy hair days.]

OOF! What-- what are you doing?!

Princess Allura | Voltron: Legendary Defender

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Keeeeiiiiith!

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I'm sorry...

Oooooh this gonna be gooood~

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sdkjfhdkgh i keep hitting the wrong icon

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