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

Preeeeetty much!

[fifthreplacement]

You were here before. It's something that apparently happens in this world, people come, they go, they return and sometimes don't remember ever being here.

[You can hear how bored he is right now in his tone]

[lefthandedchirality]

[A bored Sync is better than a Sync bent on murder, really.]

[Maaaaybe it's for the best Luke doesn't know where he actually is.]

...was it actually me, then?

[...can you even make a replica of a replica? What would be the point?]

Did we fight, when I was here before?

[fifthreplacement]

[Don't worry Luke. He's already done the bent on murder thing with one of your companions]

Short red hair, annoying as hell attitude, spent a lot of time around the Necromancer and the Fon Master's guardian. Pretty sure it was you. Like I said, normal here.

[He snorts at the second question]

Why the hell would I fight you? On your own, one on one, I'd destroy you. And there's no point here. What would it even be a fight over?

[lefthandedchirality]

[Okay. Luke can't really contest that.]

[But he does have to wonder what's happened to Sync. Or... how long it's been, maybe.]

...I guess there's no Score here, huh.

[No Van. ... he hopes. Wait, that means they can potentially all live peacefully. That's-- that's great!]

I haven't been here very long. A couple of days ago I was still on Eldrant.

[Luke's not going to argue the destruction part. He glances around where he is, like Sync is going to magically appear, and subsides again.]

[fifthreplacement]

No Score, no Lorelei.

[No reason for him to care about fighting anymore unless you're Jade because gdit Jade]

I realised. [Dryly] If that's your subtle way of asking how long I've been here, it's been several months.

[lefthandedchirality]

[Yeah, okay, that makes sense.]

[It's probably too much to hope they could be friends, isn't it.]

Huh, okay.

[Luke really isn't subtle. But that's good to know.]

I'm... glad we aren't going to have to fight any more?

[He's making a face at himself as he thinks, fully aware of how stupid this sounds, but what else is he going to say?]

[fifthreplacement]

[Way too much to hope for, Luke]

Yeah, whatever. Maybe this time you'll be smart enough to leave me alone. But that might be too much to ask from you.

[lefthandedchirality]

[...It might be.]

...hey, Sync. Do you have friends here?

[Is he leaving you alone alone, or do you just hate Luke specifically?]

[fifthreplacement]

Why do you care?

[Can you hear the suspicion in his 'voice'? He doesn't like where he suspects this is going]

[lefthandedchirality]

[Oh no, his utterly less than cunning plan has been seen through.]

...why shouldn't I care, if we're not fighting?

[For once Luke has enough good sense not to follow that up with the actual emotional reasoning. ... Yet.]

[fifthreplacement]

Because we might not be fighting, but that doesn't mean I'm going to suddenly be okay with you butting into my life, idiot.

[lefthandedchirality]

I'm not butting in, I'm asking if you have friends or not.

[...wait. That might be Sync's definition of butting in.]

[fifthreplacement]

And if I were to say no, you would probably do something dumb like suddenly declare that you would change that.

[Hero types. Ugh]

[lefthandedchirality]

Uh.

[...okay, maybe he is that optimistic.]

...you still didn't answer my question.

[So guilty.]

[fifthreplacement]

[Luke you are ridiculously predictable]

And I'm going to continue not answering that question.

[lefthandedchirality]

[Hey.]

[...it's true, but hey.]

Why not? Friends aren't a bad thing.

[Although most of the God-Generals seem to think 'friend' is a dirty word, Luke guesses.]

[fifthreplacement]

Because it's obvious what's going to happen. I say no, and you decide to make it your personal mission to fix that. Or I say yes, and you want to know who and make a big deal out of me actually having friends. Neither of which I particularly care for.

[Spoilers, the answer is actually yes, he has friends. But getting that out of him will be like pulling teeth]

[lefthandedchirality]

[...Okay, so obviously Luke can't do either of those things.]

I mean, it's not that I need to know who your friends are, but...

[Also he wouldn't put it past Sync to lie about it to make Luke go away.]

...it would be nice to know you're not... alone. What if I leave you alone for now if you do have other friends?

[fifthreplacement]

I spent my life being alone. It'd be no different if I was here too.

[He's suspicious, because he doesn't really trust Luke to hold to that at all. It's Luke's nature to interfere, from what Sync's learned]

I'd rather you left me alone, period. You're irritating.

[lefthandedchirality]

You don't even know me!

[...wait. The other him. Sync does know him. Luke spends a few moments hurting his brain trying to figure out where the boundaries of 'self' lie on this one before he shakes himself and thinks back at Sync.]

...anyway, you were the one who said things were different here. If there's no Score, and no Lorelei, why can't you do something different here?

[fifthreplacement]

Hero type idiot who tries to help everyone even when they would rather you didn't. Pretty sure that's all I need to know.

[Don't overthink it too much Luke. You don't want your brain to explode. Messy business, that]

Because things being different doesn't change who and what I am.

[lefthandedchirality]

I know sometimes people don't want to ask for help, but--

[How is he supposed to not help people? Especially if they're right there in front of him and he can do something about it.]

...I guess I can't always help, either.

But people can change. You could do anything you wanted here, couldn't you?

[fifthreplacement]

Not surprising.

Assuming there was anything I actually wanted to do, probably.

[That requires him wanting to do something though. Something he is having trouble with currently]

[lefthandedchirality]

[A deep huff of a sigh. Always the insults. They're starting to not mean anything, you know.]

Then why don't you?

[fifthreplacement]

[He's not really trying. If he wanted to insult Luke, Luke would know about it]

Because there's nothing that I actually want to do, maybe?