TEST DRIVE: MAY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: MAY —

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 Monday, April 24th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on May 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: Elios’ land was a great place to hold this year’s festival, but it’s always best to leave a place as you found it. This is especially important for the surface, as there’s a lot of work put into trying to heal the different domains that span the land down below Verens. Anyone who volunteers for cleaning duty is getting paid, and vouchers to several of the cafes up in Verens as a reward! For anyone not interested in cleaning but interested in a new closing ceremony of sorts, they can instead attend a fireside dance that will be held for the next few nights at the site of the festival once things are tidied up.

1. Cleanup Ordeals. Not too much mess was left around luckily as most people who helped organize the Festival understand the importance of cleaning up the mess you make, but it looks like the tent areas have a lot left to clean up and take down. Removing flowers and string lights, packing up fabric and blankets, and generally picking up trash here and there left by festival goers is the main job. It’s a big job, and the festival organizers encourage anyone with special skills or dunamis practice to use whatever they have at their disposal to speed things along.
   
2. Fireside Dance.It’s a small, simple gathering done once the sun has gone down and the sky is dark. The fire is stoked hot, surrounded by worn black stones painted with Elios’ symbol in red and orange tones of paint. The dance is a quick one, requiring two circles, an inner and outer one. Partners on the outer circle travel the inner circle and wind up dancing with each person in turn. Luckily it’s pretty quick to learn and everyone spirits run warm to match flushed cheeks. At the end, each participant is asked to throw a small twig into the fire and express a moment of love or hate, in the pursuit of balance.

• Prompt E: During the festival this month there was a curious prize at one of the game booths. Some of the Elios plushes from the bobbing for ducks booth seem to not have been plushies at all! After a few days of having one in your possession, The plush will engulf in non spreading flames and burn completely out, revealing one small egg, white or black. Depending on your mood the past few days, the egg will either hatch a leathery or feathery winged creature. Hopefully you’ve been in a good mood! Luckily, the creatures are only around long enough to perform their duty before winking out of existence again.

1. Bad Egg. Negative emotions have lead to a sour and dark winged creature who is up to mischief. They will not listen to their “owner” and instead are quite often out to make things difficult for them. 3 misfortunes or specific instances of bad luck will happen over three days to their possessor while they run amok. A claw shaped trinket is left behind as a reminder to try and enjoy life and not get caught up in bad moods.
   
2. Good Egg. Positive emotions will lead to a happy, bright and angelic feather winged creature. They’re mischievous as well, but often in gentler ways, and sometimes try to play cupid for their owner. These playful creatures will grant 3 small wishes over three days for their owner, such as desires for better weather, tastier food or small trinkets. No wishing for a million sylvs here! Once it poofs out of existence in a puff of glitter it leaves behind a small pearl as a reminder to value the things they have and experiences they get that make live worth living.

• Prompt F: A small ring of Circus performers from Thesthai have traveled up to Verens and set up a tent out near lake Niras. It’s a small Circus performance, a prelude to something that might be bigger in the future. All performances are done by the Circus members themselves, from acrobatics and magic tricks, to displays of fearless daredevilry with the help of Verens steam-punk inspired vehicles. Overall it seems to be garnering a lot of attention, causing a several day repeat showing of the activities. Performancy plays a central role in some setups, and they seem to be the most popular...

1. Animal Experience.Enjoy the animal menagerie, all sorts of creatures are here. They’re all well taken care of, and seem to enjoy the food and pettings they’re getting from the attendees. Happy animals make for happy animal loving customers afterall! There IS one catch.. mischevious circus performers will cast performancy on those who aren't paying enough attention to their surroundings, and circus goers in the menagerie area may find something new if they look in a mirror. Animal ears and tails and a host of other features! Don’t worry. It’s temporary and all in good fun.
   
2. Carnival Games. Carnival type games have been set up outside the main tent, including a lot of familiar games that may have been seen during the Zephyras Flower Festival. Ring Toss, water laser races, darts, and the good old fashioned strong arm competition are all part of the setup. The prizes here range from simple small toys to bigger 4 foot tall plushies. Careful though, some of these setups might actually be rigged. The house has to have an advantage, in the end. Where would they make their money?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include geese and/or potatoes.

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

Mipha | Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[fisherwife]

[Task ST0410]

[The lake seems largely undisturbed right now, but this is clearly the place people are being sent to take care of the furradiles, right? There's movement, suddenly, and what looks like a bright red fin breaking the surface like a shark, racing towards the shoreline.

Suddenly, the water breaks and out pops a... girl? A shark?? Sharkgirl??? And lavaboy? Blood circles out around her in the water and she withdraws, pupils blown wide as she deposits onto the shore the body of a furradile from the tip of an impressive looking spear.

She takes a breath and wipes the water from her face, blinking up at whoever's approached.] O-oh. Hello. I'm sorry, I've nearly taken care of all of them here...

[Prompt D: Fireside Dance]

[She's done her best to follow along with the dancing, laughing gently and smiling all the while. It's not her usual sort of scene, but she couldn't resist after being near-dragged in.

She takes the twig as it's offered and stands around for a moment, trying to sort through her memories. A good one or a bad one? She can think of both, and while she's sure she'd rather focus on the a good memory, she is aware there needs to be a balance. When she thinks about Calamity Ganon, the twig seems to start turning black and brittle, flaking off. But when she thinks of Link... The warmth of her feelings cause the twig to bloom in her hands, ab beautiful array of flowers. Mipha smiles lightly, twirling the twig in her hands before turning to someone else with a twig]

Excuse me? Are you-- That is, can I ask... What kind of moment are you going to choose?

[Prompt E]

[The fluffy ball of feathers seems set on playing matchmaker here, despite the fact Mipha desires no such thing. But who cares what she wants in the pursuit of comedy love?? The creatures zips through the crowd with Mipha desperately chasing after it, and it zips to land on anyone it deems interesting enough. Maybe it tries to hide in your hood or up a sleeve, or just land on your shoulder! Either way, it's there, with a slightly out of breath fish-girl coming up behind him]

I-I'm terribly sorry! Ruta, please-- [She looks exasperated and flustered, trying to reach for the creature, but 'Ruta' just flies out of her reach to the other side of the person, which elicits a deep sigh.]

[Prompt F: Animals]

[Look, you'd probably be forgiven in thinking that Mipha's been hit by one of those circus performers magic things, given how she looks, but no, the fish-head and everything are quite natural and normal.

Mipha can be found cupping feed in her hand which some chicken-like animals are gently-but-eagerly pecking at. A few people are pointing and whispering, wondering if the performancy got to her, but she...tries to pay it no mind.

Tries.

It's not like Zora are terribly rare where she's from, even if some people still react with awe and surprise when seeing them, but this was... Uncomfortable. She curls her fingers uncertainly and pulls back from the chicken-things, arms resting on her knees and glances at the whispering people, who hastily make an exit upon realizing she's heard them]

...Is there something on my face?

F

[frederick]

( Sol isn't the sensitive sort, but this fish girl's situation is one that isn't too difficult for him to feel sympathy for. He was initially lazing about in the area when the girl caught his attention. At first, it was idle curiosity--this place is overwhelmingly human dominated most of the time, so she stuck out--but he picked up on the whispering. )

Not sure where you're from, kid, but you'll want to get used to it. That's how humans are.

[fisherwife]

[She looks at the man, a bit surprised, and smiles sadly]

I suppose my kind--or ones like us--aren't very common here... [She's figured out by now that Hylians and Humans are pretty much interchangeable minus the ears things, but either way it doesn't feel so great to be the odd one out.]

My kind did not venture far from our domains often enough, but the response was never quite like this. [She rests her hands in her lap, laughing a little when a couple of the chicken-creatures try to climb on her to get the feed still held in her hands.]

Well, these ones don't seem to mind how I look so much. [She holds a handful of feed out to him] Would you like some?

[frederick]

( He looks from her to the animals. This is...giving him a very strange sense of deja vu. He doesn't get how anyone can be calm about being in such a sore situation.

After a moment, he yes the feed and he waves his hand, dismissing it. )

Sorry, pass. I'm more of a steak man.

( That is...an attempt at a joke. A very lame one. )

You're taking this a little too well. Don't say you're not pissed about your treatment.

( No one can just let this wash over them, right? She has every right to clobber them. )

[fisherwife]

I didn't mean-- [She looks startled and confused, before realizing that he's making a joke. Her expression softens and she laughs a little.] I see. I'm afraid I didn't bring the shawl with the steak in it this time.

[Or whatever you'd call the weird blue cloth thing she wears. She frowns a little and tilts her head, perplexed by his questioning of her reaction]

They're just words, just born from ignorance. People will always fear what they don't understand; if I act violently, then they'll just find validation in fearing me. I want them to see through my actions that I mean them no harm. In time...In time perhaps I will just be another person on the street to them.

[frederick]

( His face softens as he listens. Yeah, he has had this conversation more than once. This girl's rationale is the same one his own daughter uses. But he isn't convinced. Humans are assholes. )

That sounds good on paper and all, but it ain't that easy. Humans prefer to latch right onto their ignorance for as long as they can. It'd be easier to knock their heads around until they start acting how they should.

( Doing things the patient, friendly way is much too difficult. )

E

[sasschamp]

[If the creature's looking for a comfy landing spot, there's a mass of fluffy orange hair walking by that'll be perfect, especially for burrowing in. Green jerks and pats at his head when the thing drops down and settles in.]

What the-?! [And there's an...interesting-looking person running up to him.] Did you do something to me?

[fisherwife]

[She slows, a bit startled by the question.] No, not at all! I'm afraid the-- The creature, in the egg from the festival? I believe he's, ah...

...Burrowed into your hair? [She winces apologetically.]

[sasschamp]

[Well, that would explain why whatever's-in-his-hair feels like it's moving. Green starts digging deeper before the creature can burrow all the way to his skull, and manages to get a grip on it.

Aha! He yanks it out, then winces when the movement also takes out a few strands of hair. Stupid bird.]

Ah, geez - keep a better eye on this thing, will you?

[fisherwife]

I deeply apologize. [She winces when he does, though not for his hair so much as the animal in his grip. She reaches out to quickly take it back, cradling it gently in her hands.]

It seems many people have one of these... Or their opposite kin... [The leathery ones don't seem nearly as friendly though. She glances curiously about him, silently wondering if he has one too]

[sasschamp]

Glad I skipped picking one up. [Even though he doesn't want the creature near him, Green will still lean forward to get a better look at whatever it's supposed to be.]

You should learn how to handle it better.

Prompt E

[vahmedohpe]

[Misfortune #1: his gale isn't working. Misfortune #2: what should have been a warm drink was ice cold. Misfortune #3: he fell flat on his face just a moment ago. Revali is rubbing his beak as he walks when a familiar voice calls a familiar name, and then a ball of feathery fluff lands on his shoulder.]

This isn't a Divine Beast. [He scowls at it and turns to look at Mipha. (No one is surprised he got a leathery-winged little guy.)] And yet you've named it after Vah Ruta. Will this creature be even a fraction as helpful?

[fisherwife]

[Is it better or worse that the person it's zoomed to was Revali? Mipha honestly isn't sure, though she can guess that most of his agitation is just being taken out on her, rather than her and Ruta being the cause.]

I didn't know what else to name it, and it needed a name. [She keeps her patience at least, though her frown is disapproving.] We don't really know what it can do yet. I'm sure it has a hidden potential, other than being cute.

[vahmedohpe]

[It's true, Mipha has done nothing to offend him, and the feathery thing is a smal annoyance. In fact, if anyone were to be mean to Mipha, he'd likely be the first to defend her. She is a Champion, his teammate, and a highly skilled healer. It's not like he thinks of her as a friend or anything!!]

Perhaps 'Fluffball'? [He's not even trying...] The little keese-like creature I got served solely to bring me bad luck. I'm glad it's gone. Such a crearure seems born of Malic, if you ask me. Yours, likely being its breathren, might have a similar purpose.

[fisherwife]

[Maybe that's why he's in such a bad mood? (You know, more than usual).] Is that what they did...? [She'd seen the leathery siblings of her feathered one here and there, but hadn't put much thought into what they were doing] Maybe these ones are the opposite, then?

[She can't say she's had any terrible luck at least. But back to the subject of names...] ...It has feathers too, maybe I could name it after you. [She's not serious though, and really just hopes Revli's offense to the idea of this creature being named after him will be more funny than damaging to their surroundings.]

[vahmedohpe]

[He's always in a fowl mood. Grumpy is pretty much his default setting. Arrogant and grumpy. What a mix. It's not usually enough to affect his surroundings, but her suggestion that she could name this thing after him--!

He scoffs, and a gust rises up from beneath his feet, ruffling his feathers and sending his scarf into his face. Clearly his bad luck persists! Revali yanks his scarf back into place, smoothing it and his feathers back down as he speaks.]

The very thought. I'm the most skilled archer among all the Rito. I have the greatest mastery of the skies. I've developed a new technique that I might one day find a worthy student to teach it to. And you would think to name this small, winged abomination after me!

[How very dare you.]

E

[posidon]

[Even if she tried to reach out towards it, she probably wouldn't be able to reach it. The small feathery creature lands atop of Sidon's head and seems to have some interest with the feather adorned to the accessory on his head.]

And what exactly are you, strange thing? How odd.

[Sidon lifts an arm up to poke at the small creature; curious as to what exactly it might be. He drops his arm and turns his attention to a familiar voice saying a familiar name. Both things are alarming to him. The name, Ruta, he could imagine existing outside of his realm. The voice being familiar was what really throwing him off. Surely it was just a coincidence.

Nah. He's going to stare at Mipha like a gaping fish. His mind is rebooting. Give it a moment.]

that username is amazing and i'm jealous of it

[fisherwife]

[Mipha slows as she approaches until eventually she comes to a stop, staring up at Sidon with a look of wonder. It's not as though she could ever forget him, but it's so strange. Sidon towers over her now, and her heart... Hurts. It's an ache both wonderful and terrible, that deep-seated longing for what used to be and what might have been.

She clasps her hands in front of her. She won't cry, but she blinks a few times as she looks at him.]

...Look how much you've grown. You're not really a 'little' brother anymore, are you.

Thank you!!! I wanted a shark pun but couldn't think of one. Alas.

[posidon]

[A lot of emotions probably reflect in his eyes as he regards the other. That was definitely his sister standing before him. How could he forget, after all. He had stared at the statue of her likeness back at Zora's Domain every night. The statue, beautiful as it is, could never really replicate the true beauty that came from Mipha's gentle heart.

It's only for a moment before he grins rather broadly and approaches her. The way he stumbles a bit is probably an indication that he really wanted to hug her. He mustn't get too excited. Give her room before he drowns her in hugs or something.]

Sister! It really is you. I thought that I may have heard a ghost when I heard your voice! It was very shocking to hear the name Ruta uttered by you. I had heard it so many times before that I thought that my mind was playing some jest, but here you are! You...You are here and well.

[Can he hug her yet? He won't crush her. Promise.]

[fisherwife]

[It's not a laughing matter, it really isn't, but the hundred years that separated them now seemed nonexistent in the face of his raw emotion. He hasn't seemed to change much at all, just bigger and a little louder, and Mipha feels the tension release.

A ghost, well...] I'm certainly not a ghost any longer. [At the very least, she seems alive and solid as ever right now. Somehow. But she won't question it right now, not when it's given her the opportunity to see Sidon again.

And he might as well have hung a big neon sign begging for a hug, honestly. Mipha just laughs and spreads her arms welcomingly. IT'S HUG TIME]

[posidon]

[His smile seems to brighten when she speaks somehow. As though her speaking solidifies that she is here and that it isn't some trick.]

You are not! That is certainly true. And I will be honest that I did not ever think that I would get to be face to face again with you. This is truly a wonderful turn of events.

[He isn't sure how things work here still, but he finds that this place is quite nice! The people are, for the most part, polite and kind. The place itself is certainly interesting. There was no way he'd be upset that it could even have him being able to speak and physically touch his sister again.

Speaking of; he's most certainly pulling her into a hug. Hopefully she doesn't mind being lifted up so he can hug her tightly. He's gotten tall and she's certainly much smaller than him.] I have missed you so!

B

[melioristically]

[ Yeah, he'll just be -- jumping back a little, because oh. Wide-eyed teenage boy at twelve o'clock, Mipha. Lelouch is quiet as she deposits her... trophy, but the softness and apologetic tone with which she speaks does a fair bit to relax him. After a beat, he pushes his hair lightly out of his eyes, and offers her a smile. ]

You've nothing to apologize for. [ He understands why she's apologizing, but only because he's scoured the task board every day since he got here. ] I didn't come here for these unfortunate fellows. And if I had, I can assure you I'd have already adjusted my plans.

[fisherwife]

[She rests the butt of her trident on the ground and rests against it, watching him curiously.]

May I ask what you came here for, then? Is there another task in this area? [She's really only curious, and hey, maybe it's something she could help with!]

[melioristically]

[ His gaze follows it, not completely by choice, and he takes a beat to just absorb the full picture; the size of the furradile, the number of them she's already dispatched, the fact that she doesn't seem particularly winded from the effort.......

But it's a quick analysis, and then his attention is back fully on her face again, and her questions. ]

Reconnaissance. [ Said easily, and he removes a small, tightly-rolled sheet of paper from one sleeve. Unfurled, it appears to be a hand-written copy of several tasks in the general vicinity. ] I wanted to make a personal assessment of each of the tasks available, before I decided where to expend my resources. [ Nodding slightly at the lake. ] I have [ oh so many words he could use, shouldn't use ] ...an associate who would have handled this particular task, had it made the 'cut', so to speak.

[ A fluid gesture taking in Mipha and her catch, ] Skilled direct competition aside, I don't think this task would have been my first choice.

[fisherwife]

[Mipha listens quietly and then smiles, slow and amused. He sure does talk smoothly, doesn't he?]

I see. More of a businessman than a fighter, I take it? [She looks to the creatures on the shore and then back, expression gentle] I apologize for taking the choice away anyhow. Though there may still be quite a few left roaming around--I wouldn't mind leaving them for your... associate to handle.

[Of course, he did say it wouldn't be his first choice and she tilts her head in silent question of that]