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

Apple White | Ever After High

[unfairest_ofthemall]

D-2

[Of course she volunteered to clean up, but she doesn't plan on doing it alone.]

All right, my little friends! If we work together, this will be done in no time! Ready?

[No, she's not talking to you. She's talking to the birds, mice, deer, and other forest creatures that have apparently come to her. She hums... and they... do nothing. Well, they do animal things, like sniffing the mess and grooming themselves, but they don't exactly help Apple out.]

... Oh, no. Um, please? Pretty please? We can whistle while we work! It'll be fun! ... Did I hum in the wrong key?

F-3

[Being helpless and frightened is essential for a damsel in distress. It's great practice for a princess! So Apple is touring the place while trying to work her best 'eeks'.]

Oh nooo! It's sooo scary! Where is the brave one who will rescue me?

[...except she doesn't sound scared. like at all. more like reading off a script. Instead of making the place scarier, it becomes kind of brighter and more cheerful]

Aaaaah. Whatever shall I do?

Wildcard

[Make your own prompt!]

D-2

[notsolomon]

[Cleaning duty isn't William's thing, but he was also caught up in the middle of this, so he has no choice but to go along with the whole mess.

Of course there is this strange girl here who is making things complicated with her animal friends and the idea that she can talk to them. Granted, the latter isn't strange since he knows an individual like that back home. But being a half demon has that perk. This girl doesn't seem to possess anything like that.]

...maybe they are just lazy. I know I would pretend to not comprehend if I was that bluebird there.

[unfairest_ofthemall]

Oh, no, I'm sure they'll get into it, they just need a moment!

[After a bit if nervous laughter, she tries to sing.]

If we work together~
We can make it better~
Just me and you and you~
And you and you and - H-Hey! Don't eat the tablecloths!

[That's a hungry goat.]

[notsolomon]

[Wow she's really singing to them. Wow. And it's highly ineffective.]

Perhaps they respond to instrument instead?

[He'll try to be kind. And also give the goat a napkin to chomp on instead of a tablecloth.]

[unfairest_ofthemall]

That's not how the story works!

[Ugh. She sighs, and smooths down her dress.]

I can make them come to me, but I can't make them do what I ask. I guess I need more practice.

[notsolomon]

The story?

[He shakes his head, focusing and taking the poor, chewed tablecloth and folding it, making a mental note to send it in for mending.]

Well no, trust me, none of us thought the story was going to be about how we would all live in magical emotions land.

[unfairest_ofthemall]

[Another huff... but then she puts her hands on her hips.]

All right, if they can't fix the mess, then it's up to me! I can do this all on my own.

F-3

[egophile]

[ It hadn't hit him quite yet. It hadn't hit Daring that he was far away from home, away from his comfortable life. Yes this place was different, and he has yet to find a good place to gaze upon his reflection, but it just hadn't hit him that this was real. Well not until he heard the calls of a maiden in distress!

That. Was familiar to him. That. He knew how to deal with! So he came running as quickly as he could, with all the charm in the world and came to a halt. ]

I heard the call of a beautiful maiden and I came to your aid...! Apple?

[unfairest_ofthemall]

Oh Daring, you've...

[Wait. Daring Charming? Her act, if you could call it that, is quickly put aside.]

Daring! When did you get here? ... Wait, am I actually getting rescued from this place now?

[egophile]

[ Ah.... now he's starting to feel a tiny teeny little bit pathetic. ]

I'm not... really sure how to leave?

[unfairest_ofthemall]

Oh...

[A brief moment of disappointment - but she easily perks up again.]

Well - that's okay! It's better to be stuck somewhere with a friend than being home alone! It's still really good to see you!

[egophile]

[ nope. Nope nope nope! He represses those negative thoughts waaaaay down. Nope. He isn't going to deal with those, not today. ]

So my lovely Apple, what may I help you with today?

[ He holds out his arm for her to grab. ]

[unfairest_ofthemall]

[An arm she'll gladly take. What negative thoughts? NOTHING'S WRONG. EVERYTHING'S FINE. MY MOTHER IS DEFINITELY NOT LIVING HERE AND 14 YEARS OLD AGAIN.]

Well, I was asked to help out something called a "ghost tour"! It's my job for the day to make this place seem scary. So I've been practicing my "oh no"s and "help me"s!

[...yeaaah and the fact that they're not. genuine. at all. might be why it's not working.]

F-3

[heartofalioness]

[Allura had been dragged along on the tour by one of the paladins, saying being scared on purpose was a form of entertainment. This girl, though?]

... What are you doing?

[No. Seriously. What the quiznak are you doing child, this is not proper ladylike behavior.]

[unfairest_ofthemall]

[Excuse you, this is Damsel in Distressing 101. Literally that's a class she's had.]

I don't suppose you feel scared at all? Should I have added a few "Eek"s?

[heartofalioness]

[Take her to your teachers, she needs to give them a few smacks upside the head and maybe run them through some combat drills a REAL princess needs.]

Are you one of the actors for the tour?

[unfairest_ofthemall]

Yep! They needed volunteers, and I was more than happy to help. Since I don't have my usual classes here, I figured something like this would be like...extra credit! Or summer school!

[heartofalioness]

Your... classes? You mean this... pretending to be helpless is something your world teaches you? Why?

[No, seriously, why would anyone do this?]

[unfairest_ofthemall]

It's all a part of the fairy tale destiny experience! Ever After teaches you everything you need to know, if your destiny is a princess, villain, fairy godmother, and even one of the three little pigs!

[Proudly, with a bit of flourish - and again, her attitude is making the place brighter and more colorful, like pastel - ]

I am Apple White, daughter of Snow White. I need to be ready when the huntsman chases after me and I cry for my life.

D-2

[onebadapple]

Oh no, it isn't that, you didn't introduce yourself first. [Snow White said behind the young girl, her own permanent entourage of animals in tow.] You have to say hello before you can ask a favor, after all!

Now then, let's start from the beginning, shall we? Start with "hello," and "how do you do?"

[unfairest_ofthemall]

O-Oh, right, of course.

[She clears her throat, trying again. She glances at Snow - huh. She's... familiar looking. But she dismisses it.]

Hello! How do you do?

[That does seem to get them to look up, at least.]

[onebadapple]

[Snow White smiled as she placed a gentle hand on Apple's shoulder.]

She said, hello and how do you do! [She placed her other hand on her hip and the animals were quick to come to full attention for Snow.] There we are. You just need a firm but gentle hand.

Now then, everyone! Whatever this nice young lady asks of you, I expect you to do, a little cleaning up never hurt anyone, after all. And she even said you could whistle while you work! Of course, you can always hum a merry tune as well!

[unfairest_ofthemall]

[There's a bit of envy, but she's not letting that show through.]

Wow, you must have aced Beast Training and Care! I guess using it outside of class was just the tiniest bit harder than I thought.

[onebadapple]

Beast Training and Care? Goodness no, they're just my friends! [She giggled.] Is that what you're learning in school? How wonderful! Learning to take care of our animal friends is wonderfully important! [She held out her hand and a bluebird was quick to fly to it.]

[unfairest_ofthemall]

Huh? You mean... you can do this just all on your own?

[Okay. Jealousy is a little seeping through here.]

I... I guess I just have to work much, much harder.