empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: January

— TEST DRIVE: JANUARY —

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, December 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on January 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: As the holiday festivities end, the expectation of charity and giving back will be rearing its ambivalent head. Namely, Verens' very own Community and Otherworlder Assistance Centre will be recruiting for its many charitable projects and drives! Like all non-profit organisations of that nature, the expectation is for people to contribute and give without expecting anything in return - so roll up those sleeves and pull out that wallet, because this is going to cost in both time, money, and dignity!

Mr. Top Hat J. Roomba: Looks like you're one-half of the lucky pair who got recruited to go door to door, selling chocolate bars and magazine subscriptions. The money earned doesn't go to you, of course. At the end of the salesmanship, it all goes right back to the charity foundation! Sounds easy, right? Well, not so much. You see, the foundation has had an undue number of thefts lately from its volunteers - and while they're no accusing you, of course! - they are no longer financially comfortable leaving the volunteers unsupervised. Each pair will be followed by a watchful roomba-like device that will belt out situation-sensitive commands deduced by careful monitoring of the situation. It also wears a snazzy top hat.
100% Organic: The Community and Otherworlder Assistance Centre also spearheads an innovation of its very own making: the emotion-sharing program! There are two ways to participate. The first is assisting in imbuing donated cosmetic products with the very essence of happiness and cheer. Having trouble summoning that up on the spot? Not to worry, because you'll be doing it inside The Puppy Room! (Puppies 100% organic. Please, try to keep animal hair out of the bottles.) The second way involves randomly assigning two individuals together for a more traditional approach to emotion-sharing. In this, there's only one rule: don't make the other person cry. And yes, you may also have unrestricted access to The Puppy Room.
It’s The Furry Hour: Lastly, there is the culmination of giving back to the community by putting a smile on each and every child’s face. The best way to do that? Put on a costume, say, this one or this one or even this one, and wander through the streets! Be careful, though -- the costumes are sensitive to Dunamis and any symptoms of emotional distress, regardless of whether or not they’re highs or lows. There are strict fines levied to anyone who dares damage a costume, or you might just end up mopping floors for a month to pay it off.

• Prompt E: Dunamis magic, emotional effects, crystals... one can live in Empatheias without ever really understanding the basics of it. However, it's encouraged to take at least a few courses as it will make adjusting to this new world a lot easier. At the Welcome Center, an eccentric new instructor is offering advanced classes (with a twist!) to new and old attendants. Interested natives can also join the classes as well, and the ones that are available are:

Think Positive! One of the most common types of emotional effects comes in the form of flowers. The most simple example being if one feels overwhelmingly happy, then flowers will start to bloom around them. In this class, Otherworlders will be learning exactly that! To be precise, the class takes place inside a botanical garden, and the exercise is to think positively so that more flowers can bloom. Think negatively, and the flowers will die, or they'll entangle you, or grow poisonous. Easy, right? No! This is an advanced class and controlling one's own feelings is KEY. Because there's also a tiger on the loose. Wait, what? Don’t worry - it only preys on fear and anger, so remember your lessons!
Think Negative! It's also important to know how to harness one's negative emotions, because such feelings are just as valid and useful as the opposite. In this exercise, two students are locked in a meat freezer, and the way to pass the test is to make each other seethe with rage until their fiery emotions bring the place down to room temperature. Make sure to insult each other a lot, and don't hold back! Maybe talking about a painful past can help? Alternatively, what the instructor did not account for, is that passion can be fiery, too. Maybe a kiss will do the trick? Otherwise, somebody will get the students out of there in 40 minutes and give them a nice cup of hot chocolate along with an F.
Think… Neither! Lastly, apathy! It's just as important to know how to harness. This class is a little more traditional, in the sense that everyone is sitting at their desk and watching a slide show. Students can talk amongst themselves in class, but they must not show any emotion! It's a little difficult, however, as the slide show gets more and more outrageous the longer the class goes on. At first it's a series of tasty food, then it's cute animals, and then some scary monsters. After that it moves on to more provocative imagery, such as poverty, graveyards, and... male and female models posing naked. Close your eyes! Or leave the class with the person sitting next to you? Otherwise, just try not to react to anything that comes up on the screen. Knowing when to be apathetic can save your life in Empatheias, too!

• Prompt F: It's out with the old and in with the new! Winter— no— it's not winter that is coming, but rather, the Notus season. Which is winter, technically, but the lovely citizens of Verens and natives of Empatheias call it differently. The season brings about snowfall and occasional storms, which means activities outdoors are limited due to the weather. The various sports teams in Verens have become even more serious with their training. The coaches refuse to let their team members gain weight due to the cold, which is why they're opening their training sessions to the public. Challenge them and win a prize! Make sure these players are given hell, because they won't shape up otherwise.

Hit 'Em High. One of the less formidable teams who play Verens Hoop Ball (patent pending) are the Champsters. Nobody truly knows how the Champsters are in the league when their plays are so awful. The sport itself, the Empatheias equivalent of what Earthlings would call basketball, had only been founded close to ten years ago. There aren't any "legends" yet, but the Champsters are players who will likely never be found in the hall of fame. In any case, they've opened their gym to any contenders who wish to take them on; 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, or even a full-on game. The sad excuse of Hoop Ball players are a sad excuse, needless to say. They play and cry like newborn fawn, and their coach will give anybody who makes them cry a heavy slap on the back and a 500 sylvs gift cheque at Steambucks. Thanks for showing the Champsters how much they suck - maybe they'll get motivated to do better because of this!
There's No Crying in... The managers of the Verens Football (soccer) team are inviting everyone to enter their gym and join their training for the day. All participants receive a 500 sylvs gift cheque to be used at Steambucks! And as soon as one enters the indoor pitch, they will hear the coach of the team screaming his lungs out. "THERE'S NO CRYING IN FOOTBALL!" - and the phrase might strike you as odd. Isn't it supposed to be baseball? And then you hear the muffled sobs of some people at the end of the goal line. . . wait, what? Anybody nearby is going to get yelled at, as well. "Fall in line and add some emotion to each kick!" the coach shouts. And with the intensity of each kick and the added emotions to it, it's no wonder the goalkeepers are getting beaten up. The coach doesn't seem to care, though…
You're on Ice. Apart from the indoor sports being promoted even though it's winter, some Verens officials have frozen the lake just by the outskirts of town for ice hockey and ice skating purposes. There are even cones and other obstacles lined on the ice for people to pass, and the officials are giving out a 500 sylvs gift cheque at Steambucks (AGAIN?!) to anybody who can clear the obstacles. Just watch out for the pucks that are flying every so often. If it hits your head, don't worry! Be comforted by the knowledge that the ice hockey team is doing their best and are making sure they're strong enough for the next tournament.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include crayons and/or pompoms.

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

B
[The voice sounds unsure and what might have been a bit on the sarcastic or bubbly side sounds unsure and disbelieving.

This can't be something that's going to work. There's no sound logic to it at all.

Give her a computer, phone or tablet, and it totally makes sense, but a crystal and thoughts? Yeah, that's just weird.]

The people at the Welcome Center said I could, contact, people through this thing.

If that's truuuue, I'm looking for anyone who knows my voice. Or the name Felicity Smoak. Or knows where to find a decent computer. Actually, I'll settle for a non-decent computer at this point. Anyone got a Commodore 64?

D2
To be fair, her first thought upon coming here was to invent the steampunk computer. Once she'd done that there was an internet to invent. So she had a hectic time ahead of her. Also, she had to learn this whole emotion controlling thing. That was pretty important ... apparently.

The idea of harnessing your emotions to cause something to manifest in reality seemed pretty fanciful to her. As if someone glanced at a fantasy book (probably an Ann MacAffrey book at that. Or one of the Xanth series.) and thought 'What a great idea for a world'. She didn't buy it. Not really. Things were still too weird and confusing for her to just take everything at face value.

Then again, this could conceivably be an alternative Earth ... a weird one, but one all the same.

Which is how she found herself in the puppy pit, as she was mentally calling it, puppies of all shapes and sizes rubbed against and bounded to her. Yipping as if she were the best thing in the world. It didn't take long for her to fall in the puppy stampede's wake; several of them bounding over her, but several also choosing to stay and lick her face. Trying and failing to move without the puppies whining because their new favorite salt lick was moving she finally closed let her eyes close lightly.

"And this is how Felicity Smoak dies. Covered, in puppies."

F3
Wandering had led to following the groups around town. Following the groups had somehow turned to finding her way to the ice rink outside of town. With the weather as cold as it was, Felicity was glad for the jacket she'd been wearing while on the field with Oliver and the others. At least her upper half was warm.

If she were going to be stuck here, she'd have to see about getting a pair of pants and some better boots for this kind of weather. For now, she wanted to observe though. To learn more about the place she'd apparently gotten stuck in

Edited 2017-12-22 04:54 (UTC)

"There are worse ways to go," Oliver said, with the straightest face he could manage, but was failing miserably. Oliver looked around at all the puppies, crouching down to put a pug or two that hobbled over. He picked up the pup, looking him square in the eye.

"What do you want?" He asked as a giant tongue licked his stubble, cocking its head at the feeling before doing it again. Oliver laughed softly.

"So you conjured puppies? Does that mean we're getting a dog?"

The sound of Oliver's voice was a relief. Not because she was worried, she wasn't worried while covered in a pile of puppies, but because Felicity was in a strange world with nothing she was familiar. People using their emotions to make things happen, no computers. This place was a steampunk dream, but a tech geek's nightmare. So Oliver's voice and the sight of him filled her with more relief then she thought she could have.

"I haven't ..." She started, but then a puppy appeared at Oliver's feet. She wasn't expecting that. Then again she wasn't expecting to be making random thing random things appear at all. It wasn't exactly something in her wheelhouse.

"Ok, that one, yes." She has to own up to it, it kinda looks like Oliver. She tried to push herself up, only to be forced back down by the passel of puppies that were all over her. "A little help?" She was pretty sure she wasn't getting up without help at this point.

Oliver couldn't really help the gasp of a laugh that came out of his mouth as the new puppy appeared. He crouched down and petted the new addition to their brood.

"You think I look like a puppy?" He asked, grinning at her. His amusement lasted only a moment before he could see his wife was in trouble. He stood and put his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle.

The puppies scattered at the sound of Oliver's whistle. Not afraid, but startled. It gave Felicity enough time to push herself back up onto her feet. A far less dangerous position then being prone on her back.

"I feel like it's better if I don't answer that question." The straight face curves into a slight smile because really, sometimes Oliver does seem a little puppyish. Not that it isn't an endearing sometimes. It is. It's just funny when the thought is about someone like Oliver.

"They threw you in the puppy room too?" She could kind of see why if they had.

I've got an old Nokia N97, but the battery is running pretty low and funnily enough, I didn't bring a charger with me.

[There is the longest of pauses as she digests that.]

That, that's old. But useful. I mean with the right pieces I could probably rig something up with it. Are you as new as I am or are you ... you know, old?

Because I could totally use a hand here. Or a brain and a hand.

Uh yeah, I'm new as well. I've been here for a couple of days. I'm still trying to get used to these amulet things, to be honest... it's not easy to use.

[ he's terrified of a stray thought manifesting on the network. ]

What could you do with my phone?

I know what you mean. I put my foot in my mouth enough already. I don't need my brain talking to some magic amulet to help me do that.

[There's a small laugh that's trying to hide a lot of nervousness. Here, alone, nothing she's used to, and the man she loves being indited back home. There's a lot to be nervous about right now.]

With your phone and mine, I could probably make a passable computer. Which, I realize is useless here because who has ever heard of a place with no computer knowledge?

Sorry, I ramble when I'm nervous ... or, all the time really.

Edited 2017-12-31 17:57 (UTC)

TEST DRIVE: January

Felicity Smoak ||DCTV

D2

Re: D2

Re: D2

Re: D2

B

Re: B

no subject

no subject