TEST DRIVE: October

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER —

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 Sunday, September 24 and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on October 1st. Apps will only be open for four days!
  
  
• 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!
  
  
• Transfer to in-game. If accepted, you can assume threads made on the Test Drive happen in-game if the scenario can reasonably fit. These threads do not count toward AC.

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: With the crystal having been mysteriously stolen, the weather has been nothing but uncooperative, lately. Actually, uncooperative is an understatement. Just yesterday, it was raining frogs! Now, well…

1. In the Sky with Diamonds. You might be walking in the streets or in the safe confines of a building when it begins to hail. It's not just any ordinary hail. Instead of ice falling from the sky, it's little beads and pieces of… you guessed it: diamonds! Some are actually fake, but there are some that are genuine. Only the experienced eye will be able to tell. The catch is, it only rains diamonds for ten seconds. And in this short span of time, people have gone berserk over the stone. Looks like some are eager to sell what they've collected, while some are fighting over what "should be theirs". Are you one of those people opportunistic enough to make money out of this, or are you doing something else of your own?
   
2. One in a Melon. The crazy weather has not only been affecting the people living in Empatheias, but also the flora and fauna. The fruit stands everywhere have been selling all kinds of hybrid fruit, ranging from melons the size of a building to blue grapes that taste like chocolate! The latter sounds oddly delicious, truth be told. The vendors are all for giving free samples to anybody who passes by, too. In fact, there's one fruit stand that seems to be selling really well. Investigate, and you'll be given a slice of pineapple! Take a bite, and it tastes like Hawaiian pizza. Is this heaven or hell?

• Prompt E: It's safer to stay indoors given the strange weather, but you can't help but go out in the streets and explore! You're in a new world, after all. There is so much to see! Of course, when it begins to rain cats and dogs (either literally or figuratively), you look for a place to hide. Somehow, you've managed to enter a building that's dark, only lit by a flame in the middle of the room. There are a lot of hooded men and women surrounding the flame.

1. Welcome! When they notice someone else enter, they all look at the door's direction. "Ah! It seems we have a new arrival. Welcome to the Ortheias. You are now in a world where your magic can change the emotions of people. What is your name?"
   
   It looks like you've entered the headquarters of some roleplaying cult. Try and leave, and they will explain to you that nobody can leave. Nobody even knows why they're here. And then someone will casually whisper to you these exact words: "As an OOC Note, we will all leave in an hour and half from now." Do you create a character, or do you play as yourself?
   
2. Getting Acclimated. With everyone in the room doing their own thing and "gathering relationships", as they so put it, you've been left to your own devices. Do you talk to other people who might be stuck here for an hour and half, or do you practice your "Emanis"? It seems that this fictional world they've created lets each person manipulate the other person's emotions by casting spells. A short display of fire can make someone angry, or making flowers appear out of nowhere might make the other person happy. Of course, these are all fake and the cult just narrates their usage of magic without actually displaying it.
   
3. An Event! Towards the end of the roleplaying session, the "roleplay moderator" announces an event! One of the guardians of Ortheias, the Durathei of fire and ice, Seesonne, has attacked the city of Snerev! A part of the city is now burning, while the other half is encased in ice! What would you do in this situation? People are panicking, so you must stop them from worrying too much!

• Prompt F: While Halloween does not exist in this world, Otherworlders have been present long enough for the natives to slightly change their calendar. For the month of Empta (October), they wish to make sure the Otherworlders are feeling at home by celebrating Halloween! They know nothing about it, but they are going to try and replicate the feeling!

1. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo. For the rest of Exi (September), farmers are asking Otherworlders to help them harvest pumpkins. Thanks to the strange weather recently, these pumpkins have grown to be the size of a car. They're rather big! What's more, they've also grown legs and can run! It appears they don't want to be caught, but anyone who gives chase will be able to get them to stop easily. Just chop off its legs! And to make it inanimate, one has to carve a face on it.
   
2. What's Your Favourite Scary Story? To prepare for what's to come next month, the natives are asking Otherworlders to go to the Welcome Centre every weekend for a meeting of sorts. One will be able to find refreshments and snacks there, and there are a lot of people listening to speakers who rotate every so often. It seems these speakers are talking about their favourite scary stories. Perhaps you're one of the listeners, or you're speaking and sharing yours! Things are beginning to be spooky, though, that's for sure.
   
3. It Leaves a Good Taste in Your Mouth. Children are selling cookies door-to-door, and the only type of cookies they're selling are maple leaf cookies. It's only 10 sylvs a box, and taking just one bite will send one to heaven! It's so delicious that it might make anyone who eats it react in a strange way (the video is just an example, not the exact reaction). Spectate at how people react to these maple leaf cookies, or be the one that gathers a lot of attention!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include cat ears and/or nail polish.

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

Era Ra ☘ Final Fantasy XIV (Warrior of Light PC)

[astralera]

☘ Prompt A

It was curiosity that brought Era to summon her Emerald Carbuncle and see what effect this newfound ability with her emotions might do to her longtime companion. She had seen someone pass her by with something that changed colours based upon one's current emotion, so why wouldn't the same concept apply to her Carbuncle? It was created with her aether, so it only makes sense that her emotions might impact it as well.

She brings the faces of some of her dear ones to mind: Alphinaud, Aymeric, Y'shtola, Haurchefant...

Emerald Carbuncle goes from a beautiful light blue to a shade of red not unlike a Ruby Carbuncle, followed by a light minty-green, a strong navy blue, and a very dark pink.

Further curiosity causes her to think of Zephirin and immediately her Carbuncle turns black, startling her enough that it suddenly turns a dark shade of gold similar to an Amber Carbuncle. Unnoticed by her, the foliage in her immediate vicinity was impacted by her intense flash of anger; once a lively, bright green now a few shades darker, as though left out far too long in direct sunlight.

"...Strange," she muses, voice soft and low. Era drops the intense focus she had on her companion and watches as Carbuncle shakes itself until it's the lively shade of blue she's accustomed to from its Emerald form. When it looks to her its gaze is almost accusatory, prompting her to offer a scratch behind the ears in apology. "I shall refrain from doing that again."

☘ Prompt D-1

Era isn't exactly worried about her finances for the time being, but having worked with diamonds quite frequently - both crafting with and mining for them - she has a hard time simply ignoring the fact that they're raining from the sky. She notes that there are a fair amount of fakes floating around now that the rain has ceased and is quick to gather only the genuine artifacts, leaving behind the fakes.

She isn't sure what she'll do with them, but she's always been somewhat of a hoarder. Mayhap she could trade them for spare currency to spend on some new fashion items...

☘ Prompt D-2

Perhaps it wasn't the best idea she had ever had, but despite her stomach's protests Era can't regret trying all the strange new kinds of fruit available to her. Her favourite so far has been the plum she currently enjoys - every bite allows her to blow a brightly coloured bubble from her mouth, which she then delights in popping with a childish glee.

☘ Prompt F-1

Era decides it's rather fortunate that she has her trusty hatchet and scythe on hand when she's tasked with helping a farmer harvest their pumpkins. She hadn't expected them to be more like Funguars than the pumpkins she's accustomed to, but a quick chase and a swift hack incapacitates the large gourd she targeted.

Supposedly carving a face into it will make it inanimate, but Era finds herself at a loss for ideas of what sort of expression she would like to give it. It's the season of All Saint's Wake here apparently, and a frightening face would be well suited to the holiday...

☘ Wildcard

{{ I'm open to anything! Feel free to PM me on this journal or froakie. All character info can be found in this journal.

Also, I'm aware that there's already another WoL PC in-game! So if possible castmates wanted to go with parallel universes, memory-block shenanigans, etc., I'm fine with whatever and have no preference toward her either being recognized or not. }}

F-1. I'll tag you with who I'm more likely to app since you treated me to a nice tag. c:

[torsion]

[ Jill's been here a while and it's been a nice little excursion to keep her cardio game tight, but she'd much rather be throwing more of a fight into it. She thrived in situations like that, although admittedly she's also tired of them. There's no fighting for survival or escape, it's leisure (and pleasure) here. The lack of responsibility tacked onto it was refreshing in a way and has led to her thinking new and more creative tactics, using moves she wouldn't normally bother in the the heat of battle because they weren't as tried and true.

Pros and cons, like everything else she supposed.

There are some seeds plastered to her shirt and pants, stuck thanks to dried pumpkin innards that she should pull off but she plans on sticking around a little longer. They're bound to only get messier as time goes on. It's when she decides that she's earned herself a break that she finally spots someone else. She'd caught a few others doing the job, but they all seemed pretty busy with their own speedy terrors to chit-chat.

Her light jog comes into a comfortable pause when she's a distance behind her. ]

Never seen 'em this big back home, how about you? [ She tries not to be too chatty, figuring since it's not running off that this must be a recent capture that's ready to be stilled. ] If you think you'd have an easier time with a knife, I don't mind lending you mine.

[astralera]

I have not. Though it would not surprise me if something similar existed someplace I've yet to visit.

[ Era has been lucky so far in that her clothes are free of gourd guts, but given the ominous squelching sound she heard when she first buried her hatchet into it... Well, she's just glad her botanist gear is easy to clean. ]

I think my hatchet will work well enough, but thank you. [ She has already settled on basic triangle eyes and square teeth - all easier to do with the long, straight blade of her trusty hatchet. ]

[torsion]

Don't usually run around where I'm from, either. I'd like to say nothing surprises me anymore but this was pretty unexpected!

[ This is an entirely different breed of "monster" than the BOWs from back home. No infecting, no sharp teeth or claws, no real maliciousness at all... they just seemed content running free like any wild animal might. Looking at them as livestock made a little more sense to her. ]

No problem, figure you're not too far off on that assessment. Never was too good with a handaxe myself, but my partner's pretty handy with one. [ That doesn't even qualify as a joke and yet here she is, laughter in her voice though not a single one manages to slip out on its lonesome. ] They didn't exactly specify what kind of "face" to make to you, did they? Wonder if just a few chops here and there wouldn't just do the trick...

[astralera]

I am accustomed to trees and fungi that move, but have never encountered a gourd.

[ It's really quick interesting, all things considered. Especially how hacking out an eye followed by a tooth almost immediately made it go still - she had been expecting more of a fight (though still not enough for her to change into full combat gear), so that was somewhat of a surprise. ]

It is nearing the season of All Saints' Wake, so I imagine something spooky would be the preference.

[torsion]

That's a little bit of a stretch for me, but I'm sure someone is out there in a lab right about now trying to make it happen.

[ Maybe not, she couldn't really think of the effectiveness in battle especially with bodies that aren't quite as durable or mobile (assuming they could move, of course) as others. It wouldn't be a great investment, but she can imagine something like that happening on accident.

She's not one to believe in magic, but she's here and there's plenty proof of it so it seems the logic behind it all is just that. ]

Not familiar with that. [ She pops a squat, legs completely still and her body comfortable with the strain that comes with it. ] We've got Halloween in October, but I haven't heard anything about either. We do have a tradition where we carve pumpkins where we're from, but they don't move at all -- or have legs.

[ One thing to be thankful for. ]

[astralera]

Halloween?

[ She's heard the word referenced here and there throughout the day but hadn't quite figured out what it was. A holiday, she's fairly sure. ]

Would you explain what it's like? This Halloween where you come from?

[torsion]

[ Oh boy, did this poor girl get the wrong person to explain a traditional holiday to her. Jill has to pause for a moment, still crouching without any effort to change her stance or stretch, it's a little awkward when she takes to clasping her chin like she's settled much more comfortably.

But she's up to the challenge. ]

Hm, well, it takes place on the last day of the month and typically it's a fun "spooky" holiday. Not really sure about the origins but I've heard things like it's the day when the veil between worlds are thin. [ You can tell by how she says it that she doesn't believe in that. ] But also dedicated to remembering the dead and being alive originally, I think. Mostly, now, it's a time to enjoy seasonal change and dress up in costume and go to haunted houses. And hand out candy...

[ Jill realizes it sounds weird, weirder still coming from someone like her when it could just as easily be explained as an unimportant holiday about having fun or something. Still, she seems to enjoy talking about it and is plenty enthusiastic. ]

It's... I guess, kinda weird. But it's nice to have a day just to enjoy yourself and treat kids.

[astralera]

It sounds similar to All Saints' Wake, though our festival runs for longer than a day. It's a time where the Twelve are away rather than watching the mortal realm, and the imps and other Voidsent are able to roam free and cause mischief.

[ Era's become rather fond of their antics despite herself. They are quite entertaining. ]

The previous All Saints' Wake the imps made a rather enjoyable haunted house and handed out cookies.

[torsion]

I'm not familiar with those things, but it sounds a little familiar in some ways. We don't really have many long celebrations like that where I'm from, but other countries do.

[ She figures they're also more metaphorical where it could very well be that Era means something more literal. Seems a lot of people around these parts are more literal about it all -- not that she's complaining. She just likes the weirdest thing about her life being when she fights giant naked mutated men or snakes or whatever.

Things were so much more simple back home. ]

I guess it sounds like we have some things in common in that case. Adults indulge, too, but a lot of the activities are specifically designed for children. Wonder if there's anything like that planned here?

[astralera]

The Twelve would be our realm's pantheon. Voidsent are beings from the Void, a realm devoured by Darkness, that often find ways to sneak into our world.

Celebrations are the same across most of Eorzea regardless of city-state. Across the sea they have more unique festivals, however.

[ the Naadam was probably one of the most enjoyable celebrations she was ever a part of, though she's always enjoyed fighting alongside companions so perhaps that was the reason why. Though it would be unfair to relate anything to the traditions of the Azim Steppe, unique as they are. ]

If nothing is planned I am sure I could make time to tell some frightening tales to interested children.

[ For all that she's not the biggest conversationalist outside of knowledge-sharing she does rather enjoy indulging in the whims of children. It's been a while since she made time to tell stories of her adventures to the children of Idyllshire, so it wouldn't be an unwelcome task...

She finishes hacking out the mouth of her pumpkin and moves on to carve a small nose to complete the look. ]

[torsion]

You're definitely better at explaining these things than I am. [ It really does sound sort of like the same thing, just with different words. It's interesting, though, and she has to wonder if people from other places had a cohesive tradition (religion?) like this and how many were like her own world, with many different ones? Though she wasn't inclined to believe in any of them, maybe there were places where just as many were real? ] Eorzea... that's the name of your planet, then? I'm from Earth from the country of the United States of America -- met a few from my planet, but they seem to be from... different versions?

[ She has to wonder what entails "unique," though, considering all of this is pretty strange to her. At least it sounded like they knew how to party. ]

I'm a little too direct to tell a good story, myself. [ She tells them by way of facts rather than embellishes; Parker or Chris would probably be better at setting up a scene, especially since the latter played parent to his younger sister for so long. ] Guess I've got some good stories, but none are fictional and... well.

[ She really isn't good at the story thing. Jill can get by in a conversation, sometimes with a few stumbles, but she usually preferred things to be a little more natural. That's the hardest part about being here and meeting new people -- you had to open up. Moreover, the emotion thing... she wonders how transparent it makes her? ]

Cute face. Wonder what these'll be used for, anyway? Seem too big for the farmers to move.

[astralera]

My planet is Hydaelyn, named after the deity who created it. Eorzea is the region that comprises most of the continent Aldenard.

[ She absorbs this new information, tilting her head in thought. ] ...It seems as though parallel worlds are common here.

[ But that's something to consider another time! For now she'll perch herself on the now immobile giant pumpkin, tail extended in a way that allows her to keep her balance in such a precarious position. ]

The stories based on truths are often the most enjoyable, though storytelling is not for everyone.

I imagine we'll uncover their purpose soon enough. It will be interesting to see what others have carved into their pumpkins.

[torsion]

I see. Well, as much as I can without a map. Is your world particularly large? I've heard others talk about regions, but not many others talk about continents specifically. [ Half or less the population of earth seemed to be more common, but that made sense when she thought about how a lot of them seemed to be more in harmony with nature. Maybe in time over-crowding will be a problem for these places, too? ] I've heard enough about them to think that's the case. At least it's interesting.

[ That's putting it mildly. Some might be the future or past while being different... or maybe some are the same? It's fascinating and something she's kept track of a bit in her free time, partially because she knows she has a tendency to start an explanation like the other person already knows most of it.

She doesn't stare at the tail, but she does watch the movement with a certain curiosity. She's interested, but it's not really that bizarre or anything. ]

Sometimes the truth can be a little overwhelming. I like my entertainment... lighter, I guess. [ Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, basically. To her feet now, she twists an ankle with a bit of a grin. Nothing like a good stretch after relaxing. ] Guess mine are kind of basic -- smiling with square teeth and others with pointy ones, triangle eyes and nose. I've made cats before and things like that for much smaller ones back home, but I didn't want to test what defines a "face".

[astralera]

I cannot say. Large in relation to what? We have Aldenard, Othard, Ilsabard, Meracydia, and the New World as large land masses. Vylbrand is a large island on the coast of Aldenard in the La Noscea region. Thavnair is an island region near Othard. There are likely more undiscovered lands. The New World was only recently found by Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn and I've yet to have the opportunity to ask her about it.

[ Her voice wavers near the end and she clears her throat quietly. Excuse her, please. Her voice can be temperamental at times during long conversations. ]

The children in Idyllshire always enjoyed the stories of my adventures... Though admittedly I tend to leave out certain gory details. My world is very unforgiving compared to many of the Earths I've heard tell of. Or perhaps 'antiquated' is more apt?

[ Era gestures at her own pumpkin's face - it looks like what Jill has just described, which gets giggle out of her. ]

A.

[purreptitious]

Don't show off that rainbow carbuncle, or Alphinaud will get jealous. But here he was taking a break from another job when there was an arcanist doing something odd to their summoned familiar. For a moment, he looked to the compaction discs storing his turrets. Maybe he should look into color-changing lights-

He was up off the bench at a start when the greenery seemed to twist and wither. He didn't know how he could turn it back- he still needed to do something about that Dunamis stuff people talked about it- but the least he could do was stop the poor plants from dying entirely.

"H-hi!" He waved as he made his approach. Thank the Twelve she seemed done with the experiment, but he'd broken windows and caused unfortunate (albeit minor) property damage in his short time here thus far.

He pointed to the shrubs. But then he tapped his temple, pulling the hand away with the splay of his fingers like a burst of something or another.


[ ooc: Howdy! I'm fine with parallel stuff or 'possibly grouped together for major missions sometime in the past'. Whatever's best for you! ]

[astralera]

((ooc: parallel stuff definitely works best! i'm trying to keep her as authentic to MSQ as i can, and it's heavily implied there is 1 wol during that c: ))

Era turns swiftly as she hears someone startle near her, her Carbuncle shifting to a defensive stance on reflex. They both relax once they see it's just a young Miqo'te, and it takes a few moments for Era to interpret what he's trying to say. Cheeks flushing almost imperceptibly she offers a quick bow.

"My apologies, ser." She hadn't meant to frighten anyone, or cause damage to any plant life. Unfortunately she is unsure of how to fix it, but a cursory inspection tells her that plenty of water and shade will be enough for the bush to recover.

[purreptitious]

He waved his hands dismissively, the color darkening over his face. It was fine, h-he was no 'ser' in the slightest, and no further harm was done. He'd seen worse, all told, where plants and windows would never recover. He'd heard of volcanoes formed once...

He took a breath and patted his chest with a fist. "...Yuki'to."

Then he dipped into his own bow. Seeing her made him wonder how the Raen were getting on. What was it like being raised under the sea? Did she come from there?

Well, that sounded like an idea. He thought of one of the great barriers beneath the Ruby, housing one of many humble and lovely villages. This he would transmit to her in query. Was this familiar?

[astralera]

"Era." She responds in kind, more than happy to have a conversation with minimal words. Given the circumstances she's had to speak more than she's accustomed to, though she supposes when it comes to sharing and gaining knowledge it's a small price to pay.

The mental communication is something that Era is still acclimatizing to. She isn't fond of it yet, for all its usefulness - she's never liked the idea of anyone else being privy to what's inside of her head, Mothercrystal aside. Thankfully it doesn't seem to be as invasive as she feared originally.

"...Sui-no-Sato?"