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

[oathkeeper]

Don't rain on Cloud, little cloud! Sora will do his best to make it a happy rain cloud instead.

Sora has to laugh, he could really put this guy to sleep with one spell. But he doesn't know how kosher that would be if the Enforcers showed up and he's not too keen with getting Cloud in trouble.

"A little better than you, I think!" He points at the angry cloud above the blond's head.

He follows where Cloud drags the guy and then gives the angry person a sound look. "Maybe if you weren't causing trouble around here so much Cloud wouldn't need to kick you out, huh?"

[sonicblade]

Cloud glanced up and sighed at the angry cloud. Is this what his time here was going to be like? He tries so hard to hide his emotions on the daily and now everyone gets to see it in some fashion. It only made him drag the man a little harder as Sora chided him, finally at the border of Shaarnath where he pulled the man up to his feet and shoved him forward.

"Yeah, well, this won't be the last you hear from me!!" And then the guy stalks off. Pretty childish but at least the rain cloud lightened to reflect the mood.

"That should do it for now," Cloud said, ignoring the man as he steered Sora away from the border for now. If they come back, no doubt Cloud would deal with them. He didn't mind that this was going to be paid in a recipe book, he wasn't exactly looking for cash right now. "So how long have you been here? My memory is a little fuzzy after I went off to fight Sephiroth back at the Dark Depths."

[oathkeeper]

Yep, welcome to the island, Cloud! Where all your stoic coolness is not going to be enough to hide all of your feelings (tm).

As the guy is shoved off on his way Sora merely sticks his tongue out at the guy and then waves goodbye. Shouldn't have been such a jerk! Goodbye!

Then he follows along with Cloud, lacing his arms behind his head and smiling up at the other. It's a relief that Cloud remembers him, it seems like forever since anyone he knows from home actually has aside from Donald. "Ummm... Let's see! I think I've been here for almost a year. Yeah, it'll be a whole year next month. Crazy how time flies!"

Sora is indeed already sixteen now. A little taller than Cloud might remember (not by much though... forever short) and a little wiser (also not by much more).

"But this place is sort of like a second home now! I think I'd be just as sad if I had to go home as I was when I was swept up here in the first place!"

[sonicblade]

But Cloud was known for is stoic coolness! Fine.

"A year?" Wouldn't he have remembered Sora being gone for a whole year? Although, he was gone himself for a time before having made his way back to Radiant Garden (read: Cid hauling his ass back) so maybe it was during his absence? He decided not to think too hard about it. "Guess so."

Staying in a place for a year could do that, especially someone like Sora who made friends easily. He a huffed a small breath through his nose, small smile showing once more. "You would. But I suppose that's what always made you an exceptional Keyblade wielder, hm?"

[oathkeeper]

Sora makes a pffft nose with his lips and grins at Cloud. Getting praised by Cloud is pretty much the best thing in the entire universe to Sora.

"I guess it does make me pretty exceptional, doesn't it?" What, turn down the compliment? No way!! He's going to rub his nose in pride.

Then he laughs, a warm bright sound that makes a few little orbs of glowing light erupt around Sora and float around to follow him.

"A lot of people that show up from home don't really remember me. It's kind of confusing, but having them here is way better than never seeing them. Leon is here, but he doesn't remember anyone from Hallow Bastion! I think this place messes up all sorts of timelines."

[sonicblade]

Cloud shook his head in amusement, although the glowing orbs of light were new. Everything in this place was going to be new to him, at this rate. He sighed a bit at that thought.

"He doesn't?" That had him pausing in surprise. Why wouldn't Leon remember? To his knowledge, he had never lost his memory. "I guess. But even so, aside from when Radiant Garden fell, Leon's never been to another world. There's no reason not to remember."

Guess he would have to figure this out himself at some point, it would continue to bother him otherwise. But he'll also deal with it when the time comes, Cloud wasn't the type to go looking for that sort of thing. Actually... now that Sephiroth was gone (or at least dormant for now), what was Cloud supposed to do? He didn't any anyone to look for anymore. "Sora? What exactly do you do around here?"

[oathkeeper]

Right. The concept behind the island pulling people from all sorts of different timelines and alternative universes all really makes Sora's head hurt. They can sit down another time and try and hash that all out maybe. After all, Sora's actually already met Tifa here once upon a time... But still, stories for another day.

Because what does he do here?! That's a very, very loaded question, Cloud.

"Well, since there's no real threat of Heartless around here it's a whole jumble of stuff!" And Sora could go on for hours and hours. "I do a lot of monster hunting for the hunting guild because there's a lot of weird and aggressive monsters around that we need to keep under wraps. But when I'm not doing that with my teams I'm also helping out with the excursions on the world below the island."

They're near Shaarnath right now which is already under the island of Empatheias. But there's many uncharted areas of the world below that no one has ever stepped foot on before.

"You see, when we all got here the island was the only place that was green and full of life! Down below, it was all dead or hurting... So, we're trying revive the world with good emotions! And exploring it while we're at it."

There's a spark in Sora's tone. The sense of adventure and the chance to protect the city from monsters, it really makes Sora happy.

"Aside from that I work part time for a Wedding Planning business with Usagi Tsukino and for Scrooge McDuck's Saloon."

... aka, Sora is a very, very busy child. He doesn't do well with sitting still.

This is probably the most Cloud has spoken ever. LOL

[sonicblade]

He should have expected all that. He really should have. Cloud sighed to himself, shaking his head ruefully. Ah, well.

"Well, I guess there's things here to keep you busy enough," He said mildly. "Reminds me of how things were before Radiant Garden fell, you know? It's good, though."

The sense of adventure was definitely something that would interest Cloud too, along with helping with the hunting. He was a swordsman by trade, after all, he'd need to do something like that.

"Scrooge is here too?" Of course he'd had his own business too. Probably already had millions by now. "Didn't peg you as a wedding planner though. How'd you fall into that?"

100% Sora's blabber mouth at fault!

[oathkeeper]

He hasn't listened to stories about Radiant Garden in such a long time Sora almost wants to drag out stories from Cloud right there on the spot. Tell him more about those times, more about Cid, Yuffie and Aerith... He misses them a lot.

"You're welcome to come with me if you ever get bored, Cloud! Just like the good old days, smashing monsters up and taking names? How bout it?"

Then he laughs and gives Cloud a cheeky grin. "Yep, he is! Donald too. And trust me, I'm not the planner... I'm more of the grunt doing all the heavy lifting."

Usagi Tsukino- Or in other worlds, Sailor Moon, is quite the party planner. Sora is just always caught doing all the run around for her. It's okay, he does it because he cares.

Most definitely! But Cloud secretly doesn't mind.

[sonicblade]

Maybe later, Sora. Cloud would like to know more about this world first since it's going to be his new home for the foreseeable future.

"You don't have to ask me twice," He replied with a shrug, but clearly more than okay with it. He would have probably asked himself or just joined in without asking. In that Cloud way of his.

"Seems like you do that a lot anyway, keyblade wielding aside," He commented lightly, a small tease. But he'd heard of the errands he would do for others in Radiant Garden, and quite happily too. No job was too small for Sora, it seemed.

[oathkeeper]

Sora ends up bouncing a little in his step and clenching a fist in success. "Yes! Alright! We'll kick so much monster butt the city will never have to worry again!"

And that's because if Sora and Cloud team up all those aggressive monsters should be quivering in their little monster boots.

Then he chuckles. It's too true, Sora tends have the uncanny ability to complete all the side quests ever. If his friends are in need they can count on him.

"I still get plenty of keyblade wielding in around here though. But what about you, Cloud? Anything you wanna do aside from beating monsters up with me?"

[sonicblade]

They will soon enough once they were through with them. In the mean time, Cloud will continue to be quietly amused at Sora's enthusiasm. But at his question, he frowned slightly and crossed his arms in thought.

"I... never quite thought about it," He admitted quietly. "I'd been so consumed with wanted to defeat the Darkness in me that I guess I never thought what I would do once I did."

Maybe he thought he never would, in some way, that he'd be eternally running after Sephiroth or something. But now he was free of that burden. What to do...?

"I guess... I'll just have to wing it for now."

[oathkeeper]

The little orbs of light that are still following Sora start to glow a greenish blue. He remembers well the struggles that Cloud went through when trying to defeat Sephiroth. Sora had helped give the guy a run for his money but in the end it had been Cloud's battle to fight and he'd been successful. Sora is pretty proud of Cloud for that.

Now that that's all over... "I guess enjoying life one day at a time, right? Maybe pick up a new hobby? The world is at your fingertips, you can do whatever you'd like to. Verens and the whole island... It's great for really living life to the best each day. I think you'll like it here, Cloud."

If only Aerith and the others were here too... It would be almost perfect.

why did I do this to myself, I can't choose between Cloud and Goofy aahhh ;~;

[sonicblade]

His own mini cloud turned in varying shades of gray, but never too dark, showing that he was a little troubled but not too much. Instead, he uncrossed his arms and nodded to Sora.

"I suppose I could," He said quietly. "And... maybe I will. It's hard to imagine a life that isn't doing the same thing over and over these days. It might take some getting used to."

But at least Sora would be there, along with whomever else was here.