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empatheias_ooc2017-09-18 08:09 am
empevents) wrote in empatheias_ooc2017-09-18 08:09 am
Entry tags:
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!
• 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…
• 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.
• 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!
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include cat ears and/or nail polish.
• 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…
- 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?
- 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.
- 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? - 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
no subject
[Luke's startled enough by this he just yields when Asch shoves at him, managing barely not to trip over his own feet. He touches his lip, mystified -- oh, yep, definitely bleeding.]
[...He's not sure he gets it, though, and after a moment to mentally shake himself and try to process, Luke hurries after Asch. It's not like Asch is all that fast right now.]
I don't get it. Isn't knowing the situation and seeing what people are going to do before you act, a good thing?
[...jumping into things without that leads to things like Akzeriuth.]
no subject
[The thought occurs not to respond -- but before the thought can become action, Asch is already talking, his tone scathing.]
Stupid. That's not even what you're doing! You're just afraid of stepping wrong. It's pathetic, you coward.
no subject
Of course I'm afraid of stepping wrong! I don't... want to make another mistake I can't undo.
[He's ashamed of what he's done, but not of being careful not to do it again.]
no subject
[Snarled, not quite over Asch's shoulder, because that hurts his side. But definitely snarled in Luke's general direction.]
Doing nothing is still making a choice! How many people suffered and died in that month you sat lazing around in Baticul? How many days was Lorelei's freedom delayed because you were too afraid to think for yourself, to do anything?
[Asch had been the one trying, the one hunting for solutions, the one doing what he was asked with the time that he had left. How could someone so pitiful be him? How is it that his replica could still get everything, by doing nothing?]
no subject
[Luke swallows down something like I didn't know, because that's very, very close to it's not my fault, and these are things he has to think about.]
[He doesn't stop trying to keep up with Asch; but he does fall silent for a bit.]
...I didn't know what to do. We thought Master Van was dead. And we didn't know about the Jewel, since I... didn't receive it properly.
[Too stupid to, his recollection of Asch helpfully adds. Luke grimaces.]
I know not knowing isn't an excuse, I just-- I don't know what I was supposed to do, either.
no subject
You heard Lorelei speak and did nothing. When you don't know what you're meant to do, you don't sit around waiting for someone to tell you -- you figure it out. If you're going to --
[Emotion makes his throat close, so his voice comes out raspy and furious. Around them, weeds blacken.]
If you're going to have my life, you could at least do something with it. But what did you do instead? You sat around -- doubting your right to live! You were already living. You had a life, my life, and you squandered it!
no subject
[But Asch never stopped to explain anything, either, and all Luke had to go on was cryptic clues from Lorelei and Asch's general yelling judgement.]
[What was he supposed to do?]
[Frustration wells up, making the blackened weed-husks shiver and crumble. Luke knows that's the refuge of someone who isn't willing to take responsibility, and he is, he knows he hasn't done as well as he should, it's just-- Asch never tried the opposite, either.]
You could have come back. It isn't your life I have any more, it's mine. You have your own life, right there. Mother, and Father, and Uncle, and Natalia-- everyone wanted you back. But you just-- kept going off and trying to die alone!
[His voice cracks, oh no, this isn't the same argument any more.]
no subject
[It's almost screamed, while Asch shoves Luke -- more forcefully than he'd managed earlier, after their fall. Stone cracks underfoot.]
I go back and then what, you dreck!? I force Natalia to watch me fade away into nothing, and our promise with me?!
[Another hard shove.]
I force Mother to sit by my bedside while I waste away and disappear?! You didn't have to be dying, you fool! They could have grieved one son who they hadn't even known for seven years, and now because of you, they also have to grieve the one they have!
[His voice cracks and his vision is blurring, and he shoves Luke again to hide that fact.]
You're the one who did that! If it was your life why did you refuse to live it?!
no subject
[Somehow, Luke's always thought-- at least, if Asch could come home, there would be something more. He stumbles. Absently brings a hand up as though to catch at Asch's wrist. Still staring.]
I didn't--
[Think.]
That's not what I--
[Luke swallows hard. Rallies.]
They were going to grieve for you anyway, whether you came home or not. They wanted to know you--
[He's off-track, maybe. It's true, though. Luke shakes his head.]
I didn't... I didn't think I was refusing. Maybe you're right.
[He feels lost, adrift. Confused. What fight was in him is mostly gone.]
no subject
[Another snarling shove. Being told he's right -- it doesn't make him feel any better. He doesn't want to be right, he just wants ...
[He wants to not have been kidnapped, not get manipulated and basically tortured for the sake of Van's grand ideals; he wants to have been able to stay in Baticul, to fulfil his promise to Natalia, to not die --
[But if he couldn't have any of that, he'd just like for -- for --
[For WHAT? With a noise somewhere between a growl and a wail, Asch spins, gripping his side, and walks on. He can't even find a substitute, something to settle for. Even his death isn't going to be his own.
[I just wanted to be able to CHOOSE!]
no subject
[Because Asch is right, it's his fault. Even if he was manipulated into Akzeriuth, even if various heads of state pressured him into the Tower of Rem, it's still Luke who did the acting.]
[It's his fault.]
...I'm sorry.
[It's all he has. It isn't enough. Luke... stops following, biting his lip.]
Just... please go see someone for that injury.
[Please? :c]
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[Asch keeps walking, fuelled mostly by stewing anger and frustration, and that awful feeling of being trapped, and if this is the one direction he can choose to walk in, well --
[That's what he's going to do. Even if it's away.
[Especially if it's away from him.
[So Asch doesn't say anything else, or turn; he just keeps walking, hand pressed to his side, and teeth gritted against the throb.]
no subject
[...This doesn't mean he's giving up. Even if they don't ever like each other, that doesn't mean Asch has to be miserable. Maybe Luke can at least make sure he's... okay. ...Even if that's a reach.]
[Or maybe Luke should just leave him alone; but he's not sure how to live with his original in the same city and not at least try to make some kind of a peace.]
[He stands there for a long several moments and comes to no conclusions, only watches Asch's back and his limping pace until Luke can no longer see him.]