TEST DRIVE: APRIL

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: APRIL—

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 Saturday, March 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on April 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: The Flower Festival is soon, and that means that a lot of caterers, cooks, restaurants and anyone involved with cooking are gearing up to participate in the celebration. This means that there’s plenty of places that are offering food at enormous discounts, or running food related events outside of their stores. One particular setup is in the center of the market area, where tables upon tables of food have been set up as a sort of buffet: pick what you want and pay as you leave! Unfortunately, someone mischievous has created a real problem. The buffet has turned into an all out food fight and it doesn't look like it’s stopping anytime soon...

1. Join In. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Might as well join the fun since it’s happening anyway, and you’ve probably already found yourself victim to an errant pizza slice or something already. Grab a handful of whatever is nearest you or pick up a spoon and get that food flying!


2. Pay up. The fun can only last so long, and none of the vendors are happy. While the food fight has been broken up, the place is still a mess. Participants and people caught up in the crossfire are all being blamed equally. Grab a mop and a dustpan and get cleaning. Or, try and argue your way out of being taken to the local enforcers station and given a hefty fine.

• Prompt E: It’s already spring, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who are still interested in a few last minute winter escapades. Luckily, with cores and emotion fueled dunamis, things like this aren’t exactly off the table yet. A small portion of Lake Niras has been turned into a winter wonderland, down to a thick layer of ice that’s almost strong enough to be skated upon. However, this isn’t what it’s being used for. The local Polar Bear club has decided to hold a springtime version of their usual event and currently has open registration for those who think they’ve got the willpower to take the plunge in the icy water.

1. Dive Deep.Strip down to your skivvies or don a bathing suit and jump in! The challenge is to stay in the longest of 4 or 2, or to just beat your personal best. In lieu of joining up yourself if you don’t feel like freezing your tush off you’re more than welcome to lead the cheerleading team!!! ... Who are all dressed as different interpretations of Sosyne...


2. Maintain The Cold. Those who aren't the participating kind might find themselves attracted to the more “Stage hand” like portion of the club event. Those who have practiced dunamis, the art of using your emotions to create all sorts of manifestations under control, might be able to help maintain the frigid temperature in the air that’s causing the snowfall. Or, if you’re just a really negative person you could be unintentionally making it worse. Otherwise, there’s always a need for a few extra hands at rotating the frozen water cores which are helping keep the water particularly icy. Just be careful and try not to get too excited or you’ll melt the cores!

• Prompt F: Ghost tours have become all the rage in Verens, and tonight you find yourself coming along, either willingly or by having one of the organizers pester you into it. But being a guest isn’t the only way to participate—they’re taking volunteers to “assist” as well, to help spice things up and improve the mood. Harness your emotions to make the atmosphere more sinister, or just hide in some bushes or around some corners to surprise someone with an old-fashioned “boo!”

1. Sewers Dark and dank, the tunnels underneath the city are already a good place to scare or be scared. The tour takes characters through a lesser-used portion of the sewers, meaning it’s slightly less smelly, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for spooky stories. Don’t get caught by the mossgator or the restless spirits of its victims...


2. Inside the Memory Tree The giant tree that stands in the city’s square hasn’t always been a safe place, especially the dungeon-like spaces inside. The twisting wood and vines have been home to all sorts of monsters that have been a threat in the past, from moving plants with sticky vines to shadow creatures with sharp teeth—or so the tour guides will say. The tree may not have been around long enough to have much history to it, but that doesn’t stop them from playing it up.


3. Abandoned Buildings
Always a necessity for any ghost tour, this leg of the trip will take characters past and through a few rundown places, including an old warehouse, a creaky mansion, and a set of dirty apartments. Don’t forget all the dark alleyways in between, or the stories of long-past serial killers who choked their victims to death right over there…

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include maraschino cherries and/or knives.

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

Azura | Fire Emblem: Fates (Revelation)

[lazuline]

Prompt D-2
[Azura might not have been involved in the food fight, but that doesn't mean she didn't somehow get wrapped up in the cleaning crew. Instead of her lance—which had been taken from her— she's holding a broom while standing in the middle of the mess, looking just slightly perturbed. If she was going to get stuck cleaning up a mess like this maybe she could have AT LEAST? Gotten the chance to participate? ...Hey, it could have been fun.

She turns to sweep up some muck, but a misstep lands one of her mostly bare feet slap in a pile of some kind of casserole. She exhales sharply and re-positions her steps. Gross. Even though her sudden shock and disgust seems to have kicked up a cold breeze around her, she does her best to focus and sweep up some of the muck. Eventually she turns to the nearest person with a dustpan and asks with her usual quiet tone]

Excuse me, would you mind helping me for a moment, if you don't have a cleaning partner already? [She's got quite a pile of food muck swept up together already. ...If they work together maybe they can leave sooner?]

Prompt E-1
Oh... I don't know about this. I think I'll have to pass... [It's the middle of a conversation that Azura seems to be having with one of the Polar Bear members. Listening in further, it sounds like whoever it is is trying very hard to convince Azura to participate in the actual swimming part of the event. Azura is standing at the edge of the lake rather hesitantly, but seems to be standing her ground despite how insistent the club member is being.]

I really am not interested, but thank you. [It's now that she catches sight of someone nearby and she turns to them] It seems like they're short a contestant, and I'm not really interested in participating, would you mi— [mid sentence, a particularly large, BEAR LIKE member rushes past Azura and your character, shoving the songstress strong enough to unbalance her and send her falling towards the icy water if no one steps in.

Either she falls in, or perhaps your character can help her before she takes an unwanted icy bath?]

Prompt F-3
[It seemed like a strange idea at first, but Azura isn't one to avoid something a little scary, considering she enjoys a good scary story herself. So despite not looking the part she was curious enough to join one of the tours. In particular, the Abandoned Buildings part of the tour seems the most rife for mischief.

Unfortunately for them, Azura didn't come alone, and somehow, one way or another they've wound up separated. It seems pretty innocent, but perhaps it was by design. Azura is anything but a malicious soul, so whoever she's currently planning to pop out and surprise, she must feel at least a little bit of fondness for them. She waits quietly, half crouched around a corner of a building, just behind a bush with a hand over her mouth. In the dark, her bright blue and white color scheme is probably harder to spot, so when her companion rounds the corner (looking for her, or aimlessly wandering) she pops out, hands splayed in the air playfully]

Boo! [listen, even Azura has her playful moments.]

Wildcard
[if none of these work, hit me with your own prompt!]

F!!

[hellfire_gouka]

[It seemed like a good way to pass the time and get his mind off of things, when he heard about it, and even if he was a little daunted by the idea of going down into the sewers (ewwww), the rest of it seemed fun enough. This way he could take a look at the unique architecture of Verens, too—and things are better with friends, right?

At some point he notices that friend has vanished from sight, though—probably after he got too invested in examining the buildings and thinking about their construction—and while he's not too worried at first, thinking she may have simply lagged behind the crowd, his concern eventually starts to grow.

It's when he's really starting to worry (and the atmosphere around them has gotten more dim thanks to the collective emotions of the tour group) that Azura finally springs up, and he lets out a yelp, practically jumping out of his shoes as a crystalline crack echoes in the air.]

Waah-guhh!

[But then the blue hair registers, and though his heart is still pounding in his chest, he chuckles weakly with a nervous grin, a hand over his chest as his shoulders slump. He's trembling slightly thanks to the burst of adrenaline.]

Haha... Geez, you really got me... [W-why... Now everyone is staring...]

F it is!!!!!

[lazuline]

[Oh, she does feel a little bad. Just a liiiittle. But not bad enough not to giggle from behind a hand. She notices the staring from others however, and steps over to set a hand lightly on Shinu's arm.]

It looks like I might have been too good. [You gonna hang in there, new friend?] It took you a while to get here, you must have gotten distracted by all of the buildings. Did you find anything interesting?

[talking about his interests will help right? RIGHT?]

[hellfire_gouka]

[No no, he's fine, he's fine... really...]

M-maybe. [Okay, so Shinju was a little spooked. But now that Azura is safely located, his anxiety starts to fade in earnest, and the touch on his arm helps, as well. Even if she's also the cause of more flipping out. What a good friend she is...

His left hand goes to scratch the back of his neck as he tucks his chin against his chest, trying to ignore the heat in his face.]

Yeah, I uh... got a little lost in thought. Some of the buildings around here are so weird, I have to wonder how they can stand in the first place...

[Magical steampunk buildings do not logical sense make.]

[D-2]

[kyuzen]

[Using food as projectiles wasn't very befitting of royalty - and Takumi's somewhat glad he came in right towards the end. Because he probably would've joined in from the start; his title as second prince of Hoshido didn't matter in this world.

...Not that he would've partaken in a food fight. It was so childish, he'd never do something like that...

...The spatters on the back of his shirt may indicate otherwise.

Takumi finds himself with a mop hand, a gift bestowed by a rather displeased vendor. He wanted to argue his way out of it, but they were unwilling to take 'no' as an answer - and he really didn't want to be stuck in the enforcers office that night.

He's already viciously jabbing at a stain with the mop (gods, what type of foodis this?) when a voice cuts stabs into his concentration. Takumi doesn't want to be bothered right now, so he turns to face the speaker, annoyance sticking to his face-

-and he feels his stomach drop, expression twisting into shock.

A-Azura?!

[lazuline]

[Oh. This is the last place she would have expected to run into Takumi...though perhaps she's not all THAT surprised that it looks like he might have participated a bit. It makes the corners of her lips turn up ever so slightly in a sort of secret smile.

Overall, however, it's good to see him.]

Takumi. You look surprised. [It's better than the annoyance that was on his features before.] It has been a while since we spoke last, hasn't it?

F-3

[strategyguide]

[It was the folklore that had attracted him more than anything else. Robin's love of books and literature naturally transferred itself to folktales and ghost stories as well-- in part because a fragment of truth lied at the heart of every story. He had made fast friends with Azura during this tour due to their shared interests, and was keen on the idea of exploring some of the abandoned structures on their own.

There were no Risen in this country, after all. No Shepherds either, but the lack of obvious signs of danger were encouraging.

This could be an innocent little ghost tour after all.

--That is, until he lost track of Azura after they separated from the group. He suspected that Azura was likely fine, from what he had deduced of Azura's manner of speech and movement. Despite her polite tones, it was obvious from the way she moved and the calluses on her hands that she was skilled in combat.

No war stories were shared. It was a fact that was written clearly in her eyes.]

--Azura? [He called softly, not wanting to make their location known to the rest of the party who still followed the main portion of the tour with their guide. Time spent with other mischief makers had taught him much about avoiding trouble with the powers that be...

--

He visibly jumped when she popped up, eyes widening in alarm and hand lifting to cast a spell before he saw who his 'assailant' was and burst out in laughter.]

There you are! I was starting to wonder if you were eaten by a ghost!

[lazuline]

[Oh good, she had been worried, initially, that the little joke wouldn't go over well. It was a calculated risk, but as it turns out—thanks to the laughter coming from Robin— it had been a good one to take. It wasn't too long ago that she wouldn't have dared come out of her shell with someone she'd only just met in such a way.

But she felt surprisingly comfortable with her new friend. They DID share an awful lot in common.]

Eaten by a ghost? That would mean we'd have to run into one first. I don't believe we've come across one yet the whole tour. [she was pretty convinced there were no ghost scares to be had, hense her improvisation.]

[strategyguide]

[Between their mysterious pasts, dragon lineage politeness, friendliness, and shared love of stories, it was a no brainer that they would get along nicely. A sense of mischief also did wonders for moving relations along.]

Don't discount it completely, [Robin chided playfully.] The rules of this realm completely differ from what we know. Anything is probable here.

F

[sweetcarnage]

[Learning about the stories of serial killers and their gruesome murders was certainly interesting. She would rather be the one doing the killing, sure, but hearing about other people doing the killing is fine too!

It was during a particularly in-depth tale of blood and gore Peri realises she's lost the friend she came along with. Peri breaks away from the tour to go see where Azura could have gotten herself.]

Azura? Azuuuraaa? Come out! Didja get all scared or what?

[She's squinting through the dark, trying her best to find the other woman. When she rounds a corner and Azura pops up at her, Peri quickly draws her spear and points it in Azura's direction. Of course she brought it along.]

Aaaaaaaah-- Azura!! Did you have to jump out at me like that?! Why are you just so mean?! [Oh look, here come the waterworks.]

[lazuline]

[Oh she probably should have known better than to scare Peri, just from what little she knew about the lancer. The lance being pointed at her was expected, at least and Azura is wise enough to step back when it's jabbed in her direction.

But upon seeing the big, wet tears on the other girl's face Azura immediately feels her stomach sink. Any laughter that had been on her lips is gone and quickly replaced with an apologetic frown.]

Oh, Peri... I'm so sorry. I had only meant to play a little joke. I wouldn't actually want to be mean to you. [she pauses, her expression still solomn.] Would you forgive me?

E(YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY)-1

[chooseyourownfate]

[-but Corrin's reflexes are faster, and she's got an arm out around Azura's shoulders before the young woman has the chance to plunge into the icy depths.]

Easy does it, Azura. I've got you.

[She doesn't waste another moment, pulling Azura up quick before they both end up slipping into the water after all that.]

Are you okay?

EEEEEEYYYYY

[lazuline]

[Thank goodness for Corrin's reflexes. A small gasp escapes Azura's lips as she turns back to glance at what could have been a very icy doom.]

Corrin...thank you. [she feels a little silly, honestly, but thanks to Corrin's help she's found her feet again.] Perhaps I should have been paying better attention...

But yes, I am unharmed. Thank you again. [honestly, all the hustle and bustle about a icy swimming competition...]

E

[blackparagon]

Azura!

[Immediately, a black-gloved hand shoots forward to reach out toward one of her arms. Xander manages to grab hold of one of Azura's wrists, clenching tightly and straining against gravity.]

Azura, quick! Give me your other hand!

[He reaches out with his free hand, as well.]

[lazuline]

[Xander if nothing if not intense, and the shout is certainly one that grabs the attention of the other event participants, as Azura reaches up for her rescuer's other hand and uses it to carefully pull away from the water.

Fortunately, the only casualty thus far seems to be the bottom of her skirts, which will dry eventually despite the cold temperatures.]

...Thank you, Xander. I think that would have been a very unpleasant swim, if you hadn't been here.

E-1

[keatoff]

Azura!

[Keaton notices she's about to fall into the water, so he dives towards her and grabs her to hold her back up. He doesn't want her to get all wet, so he tries to help her out here. One hand on her back, he pulls her to stand straight up and down. Breathing heavily.]

Geeze, you okay? That looked rough...

[lazuline]

[Thank goodness for dogs with quick reflexes. Azura is spared from an icy bath just barely, and despite her reserved demeanor she'd wound up grabbing onto Keaton's sleeve as he pulled her up.

Now that she's on her own two feet again, safely far enough away from the edge she releases him with a somewhat embarrassed expression.]

Keaton, thank you. I'm fine. I could have been experiencing an extremely cold bath if you hadn't been here.

is D ok?

[ofelectricsheep]

[ Unlike most of those on cleanup duty, Natsu wasn't even in the market at the time of the food fight, and no one asked her to do this. She just volunteered herself. After all, she was made for this kind of thing! Like, literally made for it, in a factory. It's just kind of her thing is the point here. And since she's ever eager to lend a helping hand, when Azura turns to her, she's all too happy to help. ]

Not at all! Actually, could you just stay right where you are for a minute?

[ She sprints off to grab the nearest clean chair, then jogs back to set it down next to her bucket. ]

Here, we should probably get that foot clean before anything else. Don't want to go spreading the mess around where we've already wiped up, do we?

of course!

[lazuline]

[Wait here? Azura frowns a little, but does as requested albeit a little awkwardly. The experience of stepping into whatever that was had been unpleasant, but Natsu was right, there was no sense in dragging mess along with her as they tried to clean.

Once Natsu returns with the chair, Azura hesitates, then carefully steps AROUND bits and pieces of food turned garbage and sits down in the chair with the intention of cleaning up her poor bare foot.

Honestly, it's times like these that makes her choice in attire seem even more silly than normal.]

...Thank you. Though I didn't mean to make more of a chore for you by asking you for help.

[E-1]

[lostinthewaves]

[Shigure would prefer not to take part in this particular contest - swimming is not his forte. The insistency of the club members does little to ease his patience, and he may have already left, but he's unsure of where to go...

The sight of his mother falling back into what could-be a rather icy bath snags him from his thoughts.]

Mother-! [he grabs her arm, panic sliding into his movements and a bit part of him worries he wasn't gentle. But he manages to tug her from the edge, so it's fine.] Are you okay? Did I hurt you?

[lazuline]

[Azura had NOT expected to run into her son here, of all places. Much like her, she can't imagine that he'd be all that interested in taking an icy dip in a lake. But she's thankful for the rescue, gentle or not.]

Shigure! No, I'm fine. If it weren't for you I would be in a much less pleasant position than a sore arm. Thank you, dear.

[with eyebrows raised in concern, she offers a subtle smile.] But I have to ask, how did you find yourself in the middle of all this?

F-3!

[lilypup]

Eeeek!

[ Elise lets out a startled scream when Azura suddenly pops out, even leaping a few steps back on instinct. Once she's mostly managed to compose herself from her fright, she glances up at whoever just jumped out at her, her eyes widening briefly in surprise when she sees who it is. ]

--Azura?! [ Elise's relieved that she found her again after they got separated, but she still pouts indignantly at the girl. ] Geez...you really scared me!

AH, NO! You beat me. Hopefully you'd be down for two threads? ;D

[lazuline]

[Perhaps it was just a LITTLE mean to pick on poor Elise like that. Azura does her best to hide the laughter she'd bubbled up with, and offers the young princess an honestly apologetic smile.]

I'm sorry Elise. It was a little mean. I can make it up to you later. [she pauses, and adds, just so Elise doesn't feel picked on in particular.] I used to tell Sakura scary stories back home.

[so... teasing is a sort of sisterly way of showing affection?]

F-3

[hairkink]

[ Let's be totally honest here — 90% of the reason he even wanted to go on one of these tours was for the potential to have cute girls clinging to him. The other 10% was probably because he actually enjoyed it; being that it was good, harmless fun.

So far though, there's a severe lack of cute girls and clinging, and whole hell of a lot of harmless fun. He's not particularly scared by the cliche horror effects, nor most of the people that try and pop out and scare him, but he's a good sport and he's certainly not going to discourage them for trying. So when Azura pops out with her - admittedly hilarious - boo and ominously wiggling fingers, Koujaku jumps back, hands up. ]

Ah — you got me! [ He's really trying not to laugh, because honestly Azura is the least scary thing he has ever seen. ] Geez, thought you were a real ghost for a second.

[lazuline]

[Koujaku, you're not convincing in like, the slightest. It's not the reaction she had been going for, but her mouth shifts into a ghost of a smile as she lets her arms drop to her sides.]

Is that so? To be honest, you don't seem to be that frightened. [not that that's a bad thing, at least he seems to be having a good time.]