empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

Entry tags:

!mod,
*test drive

TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

Welcome to

empatheias' first ever 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 Friday, July 18th and Applications open Friday, July 25th. Game will begin Friday, August 1st.
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!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!

PROMPTS

• Prompt A: Create any scenario that could cause your character to display some kind of emotion, be it big or small, and write out how it changes the immediate area. Are there literal sparkles everywhere because they're so happy? Or is the ground starting to twist and warp due to their anger or frustration? Things exploding? Rain clouds? Since this is a test drive, don't worry about any limitations on effects—just write whatever comes to mind!

• Prompt B: The following are generic task board prompts that characters could have taken up as a job.

You have to collect X number of materials. Find a partner to make it easier!
There's a hostile creature attacking some of the neighboring farms. If you got a weapon, they could definitely use your help!
How about helping around the town? Delivering something, helping patch up a sign, cleaning out some of those rusted gears—the locals would definitely warm up to everyone.
Make up your own task/quest!

• 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 influx of people suddenly appearing, the locals are a bit on edge. So rather than having your character’s emotions affecting the environment, someone else's is affecting them! Maybe they were just passing by and someone had an emotional outbreak of sorts. Now they have to figure out how to deal with the aftermath—or will their own emotions make it worse? Needless to say, NPC godmodding granted 100%.

• Prompt E: Make your own! It can even involve booze and/or cats.

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

Haha, do you think so? I'm sure you could be amazing too, with your powers! Are you a witch too?

[ Even as she asks this, she'll cast another anchor drop. Easy. ]

[ witch

That word makes her flinch, and the air immediately around her gains a gloomy feel. This isn't a word she has good associations with...

She shakes her head and almost subconsciously clasps her left hand over her right, as if somehow protecting the soul gem there. ]

N-no. I'm not a - a witch... [ yet. ever, if she can help it. ]

[ ... She is... very confused by that. But, with a final flourish, making her father's staff appear into her hands, Wadanohara will blast the remaining creatures with Moonlight Bloodshine spell, causing them to literally melt until nothing but a little blood is left on the ground, still boiling. Then she will lean against that staff, so much taller than her. ]

Eh...? Do you not like witches?

[ The simple thing to do would be to say 'no' but that's not adequate enough. How does she even begin to explain?

The area only gets even more gloomy, a little swirl of fog around her feet as she struggles to figure out how to articulate why the answer isn't as simple as 'no.' ]

... where I'm from, witches ... they hurt a lot of people. And we fight them t-to protect everyone...

[ The fog thickens a bit - she hasn't said everything yet, after all, and she doesn't really want to. ]

[ ... There is an odd smile on her face, but somehow, it's hard to tell what it means. ]

Ah... I see. How terrible. You must not meet many good witches, then. I'd love to introduce you to some! Not all witches are bad... but, many follow their own path... sometimes, that means doing bad things to other people...

I don't agree with that sort of thing, obviously. But, it's strange. You have magic, and you're not a witch...

[ Not a witch. She looks down at her soul gem. She's been lucky, here. So far as she can tell, it hasn't gotten any more cloudy than when she arrived. Homura has been trying not to think about what might happen if it does since she doesn't think she'll be able to find grief seeds here... ]

... I don't know about where you come from, but back home... there are no good witches except... except in stories. In real life, they spread despair... and they make people k-kill themselves and others...

[ She pauses, taking a deep breath - she's not quite sure why she feels the need to explain this to a stranger, but ... maybe it's because this older girl is a perfect stranger. The people Homura knew didn't believe her, but maybe.... it might be reassuring if someone did.

At last, she looks up at Wada again, her expression earnest and yet upset. This isn't a happy subject for her, and she's trying very hard not to remember the way her best friend had screamed as her soul gem had shattered and morphed into a grief seed. ]

They're.... they're what magical girls, like me, become if our Soul Gems become too clouded...

[ The fog around her feet has become icy cold, and little weeds growing up in the cracks between the cobblestones they're standing on droop and turn brown. Above her head, there's an ominous cloud, threatening rain. ]

Edited (can't forget emotions...!) 2014-07-14 07:34 (UTC)

[ And for a minute, she listens, contemplating. She's not entirely stupid. She's aware of what she herself is a product of--but she can't BE any other way, anymore, thanks to what HE did to her...

So, here, she will... offer the gentlest smile she can. But the plants and other living matter around them slowly tints itself red, even what appears from Homura, as her thoughts wander to this, seldom spoken, but still expressed, in a strange way. ]

That... doesn't sound very usual of the witches I know. I mean, we have an entire school on land dedicated to teaching young and older girls and women alike magic, or helping them hone theirs. And although they don't monitor anyone, and it might be possible some witches could go on to be like that, most don't...

That's... unfortunate. So your... soul gem, has anyone tried using magic to keep it clean...?

[ And the corruption within her wonders if it could be tainted another way, if it could be used to spread itself, but what is left of the young girl, the sea witch, who loves all people in and out of her home equally, pushes the thought aside, but more things dye themselves red at her feet now and she can't quite help the way the eyes on her hat and ribbon all seem to narrow. ]

[ A school that teaches magic... That really does sound like something out of stories Homura has read.

But she shakes her head in answer. An uneasy gust of wind eddies around her at the way those eyes shift and that spread of red... it makes her think of blood, somehow. ]

Using magic is ... it's what clouds it, little by little... you need Grief Seeds to cleanse it.

[ And now that she knows what Grief Seeds really are - it all seems so horribly twisted, now, and she still doesn't even know why Kyuubey is doing it. What purpose it all serves. ]

But here - [ Well no, she was going to say there weren't any witches, but that's not right is it? This other girl had implied that she was one - just... not the sort of witch Homura has fought. ] um... here, I haven't noticed it changing at all.

[ She isn't sure what that means just yet, though. Is it simply tainting more slowly now? Does the emotional energy of this place help somehow? Or is it frozen, somehow? ]

Hm...

[ It wants her. She recognizes that burning urge to make this girl happier. She's... ｊｕｓｔｓｏｖｅｒｙｓａｄ. And she could do so much. So... much...

She'd learned how to be happy.

But Homura has a good eye. Because it is blood. Her entire magic was polluted by it, of course, because she herself was... not much else. A lot of blood, a lot of pain, and maybe just the scraps of a young woman who was horribly torn apart and stitched back together into something else that would serve a better purpose, for the Red Sea. ]

Maybe outside magic might work? Truthfully, it's not... the first time I've heard of something being corrosive like that... but, in my case, it turned out that... the corrosion was actually a good thing! Still, I'd like to be able to do something...

[ Corrosion doesn't sound like a good thing to Homura, and knowing more of the truth of the price of her own magic, she's not so certain she wants to risk it. Especially not with the way this girl's own powers seem to be - and that creepy bloody red...

She tightens her hand over the soul gem and shakes her head. The wind blows a little stronger now. ]

N-no. I - um... thank you for the offer, but I think I'll, um... I think I'll be fine for now.

[ As easily as this all occurred, it seems like she's just as bubbly as before, little bubbles as if they were underwater seeming to come from above her, floating slowly upward... yes, she feels at peace. Thinking about her red, red home, and how happy it is now. Peace... ]

It's okay if you don't really understand. Some people don't! That's okay. I hope you can meet one of my friends, though. Chlomaki is a really talented person, and her familiar is really cute, too. She kind of reminds me of you, actually... you should meet more nice witches, rather than bad ones. But, if you're close to getting worse, or hurt, don't just... do things alone. I'd be happy to help! ♪

[ Homura thinks that this girl doesn't really get that Homura's witches and her witches are probably entirely different things (or at least she's pretty sure they're entirely different things, anyway), but she doesn't think it's worth it to press that point. And more to the point, Homura also isn't sure she herself wants to understand the corruptoin this other girl speaks about.

She attempts a brittle, nervous smile that falters as she nods and replies. ]

Ah - I will -- keep that in mind. Um, thank you...

[ She pauses, here--yes, she quite GETS actually what Homura means, but to acknowledge this would imply something that awful (her) could exist and look just like a person.

... She is not a person, you see.

She is the Red Sea Witch.

... As much as she lies otherwise, there is no other identity... ]

... Looks like the assault is over, at least. I'm glad no one's hurt!

[ Liar liar liar liar she loves seeing pain and inflicting pain and CAUSING pain... because physical pain is such a good tool for happiness. If you can handle the worst pain, you will never, ever, be unhappy. ]

I'm Wadanohara, by the way. It's nice to meet you! ♪ While we're here, it might be prudent you get a weapon that doesn't need ammo...

Ah - My name is Homura Akemi... [ Out of sheer ingrained habit, she bows slightly. ] It's nice to meet you.

[ Weapons, though... ] I.. I know... but I'll figure something out. [ She did before - first bombs, then guns. She can figure out something else to use here in time. She had begun to research how to make her own shotgun shells and other ways to make munitions before showing up here, so.... Well, even without the internet here, there are books she can scour. ]

[ Wadanohara will shake her head, frowning, but offer a curtsy. Courtesy, and all. ]

No no, I mean, maybe start looking at alternative weapons. A blade or something conjured by magic would be a lot less difficult to use, you know? But then, I conjure anchors a lot, so maybe I'm not the best judge... still! Alternatively, you could try a different source of ammo? Hmm...

[ She feels like she should think about this. She doubts this girl's the only person who'll use a gun... ]

Oh... I'm ... not very good at conjuring things with magic... and I'm not very strong... [ Hence the need to use more traditional weapons to augment her abilities! ]

But I might be able to find alternate ammo. [ She's already thinking about it - and some of the nervous shifting air around her melts instead into thoughtful bubbles. She's had to change her plan of attack twice already - and after the nerve-wracking first few times she'd started putting together her own pipe bombs, the thought of investigating new and different ways of attacking seems considerably less daunting - if still a bit disheartening. Nonetheless, eventually she'll figure something out. She's sure of it! ]

[ Wadanohara gives a small laugh, here. ]

Noooo, silly! I'm saying I can help! I could probably teach you better magic, heehee!

H-huh? Really?

[ The little shifting of nerves returns, though. Would Wadanohara's magic even be anything like her own? . . . did Homura want to learn something quite like that? ]

[ Wadanohara, on the other hand, is all confidence--it shows in the little bright lights floating around. ]

Of course, it wouldn't be a problem at all! I could probably just spell your guns to work on magic projectiles, even! And then you could vary the ones used to suit the enemy--it'd be a lot more useful than just force and metal. If your enemy's aquatic, for instance, that's not gonna cut it underwater.

But... I don't really have a lot of magic... how -- would - that work?

[ Mami's guns fired magic projectiles - Mami had shown her them once. They were cheery yellow and round and had flowers on them. But everything Mami did was with magic. All Homura has been able to really do with her own magic (besides, of course, stop time) is make a temporary shield around herself and heal herself somewhat. ]

Ah, but! You DO have it. So!

[ She holds out a gloved hand, now, and a little gun with a cute bow on it appears into it. ]

We combine our powers~! I could make you a weapon that could function just the same as what you're used to using, but could run off of your magic. I'd have to get a feel for yours, of course, but it definitely has to be possible.

I'd be a pretty terrible insult to my father if I couldn't do half as well with magic as he did, after all! I'm a witch!

[ There's still a slight flinch at the word 'witch.' Sorry, Wada. It will take her a while to get over the images it puts in her mind.

But that gun -- it's so cute! Almost a bit too cute for a gun... ]

Um... does it -- need to have the bow?

[ She can just imagine getting laughed at for it.... Oops she is blushing now! ]

[ Pausing briefly, she'll frown, but the bow will disappear. ... Yes, a little frowning smiley face bubble floats away from them as a result. ]

... No, I just think it'd be way cuter with it. ... Anyway I think it'd be best as something you could hide until you needed it, kind of like my staff! That way people wouldn't freak out. I mean, they're gonna, if you walk around with guns all the time... heehee. So you don't like bows, well, what sort of accessories DO you like?

Edited 2014-07-20 09:14 (UTC)

o-oh. I don't ... I keep them and the bombs put away so no one, um, freaks out...

[ She's still blushing a bit and fiddling with the hem of her top now. ]

But I.. I don't really... wear accessories.

Awww, you should, though! They'd suit you! You're really cute, you have nice hair, and I bet something cute and red to match those glasses would do wonders!

[ She adores Homura's glasses, honestly. Red is a wonderful color. ]

How about a nice necklace? Or some cute shoes, one for each gun?

TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

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