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

[oligomania]

[When faced with someone who isn't terrified, well, it's not unusual considering her normal companions but recently that title has been causing quite a stir in her world. The stories about her are absolutely ridiculous. She should not expect the same in this one considering the strange sort of individuals who have been brought here but it works fairly well on some of the people who've come out tonight.

This particular man is actually looking to touch it and Velvet jerks her hand back before he can make contact. It changes back to normal, the bandages in place as if her entire arm hadn't grown three sizes bigger.]

Careful or I won't be held responsible for what happens next. [Touching in general was not something she was fond of but that arm of hers was more deadly than the rest of her. As for the name, she shrugs.] A name I was given in another world.

[vengefulness]

[Whatever that arm is made of, it can't be worse than what already lurks inside of him. He's slightly disappointed she pulls it away. Ardyn lifts his gaze from where her hand just was back up to her face, smiling placidly.]

Wouldn't you be the lady of calamity?

[She's making her sex incredibly obvious with those hanging out for the world to see. She's even worse than Aranea — kids these days.]

I must admit, now you have me curious. What do you think would happen if I touched it?

[oligomania]

[Could be considering it devours anything and everything - even the other big nasties. Maybe someday Ardyn will get a chance to see it though it might be a little too up-close and personal for his liking. Though she doesn't intend to go around eating everyone, it's saved for those who get in her way.]

You'd think so but maybe that was too kind of a title. Might give people the idea to be sympathetic if they thought a woman was behind all the chaos.

[Funnily enough, people don't seem to care about her style of dress unless she's standing around just like this in a snow-filled town.]

Same thing that happens to every other living being that touches it - eaten. [There's no sign of teasing or acting. While the simple act of touching it isn't enough for a life to be consumed, Velvet is not generally in the mood to be a plaything for someone's curiosity.]

[vengefulness]

Ah, yes. People can be soft-hearted when it comes to women. Regardless, that arm is fascinating. There really are all sorts here, aren't there?

[It's almost enough to make him feel young again. He still wants to return home as quickly as possible of course, but it's the little things like this that make his stay here almost enjoyable.]

Well, I shan't keep you any longer. I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for anyone else.

ngl, I don't know much about FFXV but I laughed at that gagtag

[oligomania]

They probably do it out of fear of making a woman angry, not out of kindness. [Women can be terrifying - she acknowledges that. This man, though. In a way he reminds Velvet of Magilou. Being more interested in the woman with a monster arm than anything.] Unfortunately you can't take the good without accidentally grabbing the bag and that seems to be what happened in this case.

[He isn't the only one who wants to return home as soon as possible but seeing as how no one has found a way to actually do that yet, Velvet will just have to deal with it. Not that she'll stop looking considering all the things she has do back in her world still.

Both arms cross over her chest and she shifts her weight to one leg.] You aren't going to stick around to watch the show?

[Like Magilou would. If he didn't come out here to be scared, then he came to be entertained another way.]

I don't know Berseria (yet) either so we are in the same boat

[vengefulness]

[He would have been content to saunter off and find a good hiding place to peek at the proceedings, but Ardyn is not one to turn down such a kind offer. His lips tug upward, eyes taking on an eerie golden glow.]

If you insist... why, I can even lend a hand if you like. That arm of yours is intimidating, but I'm afraid your pretty face spoils the effect somewhat. May I?

[Ardyn takes a step closer.]