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

[She watches the man from afar through her scope to see if he needs any additional assistance, though it seems like he had gotten it on his own. Before she had noticed he had used magic -- she'd grown a little more accustomed to seeing people using magic without turning into demons. At the very least, she's glad to see these people don't have the same fate as her.

Even so, she's still apprehensive about showing her demon form, though she fears one day she may have too. Luckily, there are no demons here to devour, and she can only hope she won't go insane from the 'hunger' either.

Waving back to him, she gives a bit of a smile, more open with her emotions than she was before.]

You weren't too bad yourself.

[She laughs a little, giving him a wink.]

[he extends an arm and gives a mock bow.]

Thank you, thank you.

[he grins before pulling out his sword and jumps down, swinging the blade to have the blood and gore fly away and sheathing his weapons as he walks back.]

But only because I had a pretty good partner.

I just wanted to help a comrade.

[Comrade is not exactly a term Argilla uses loosely, but the way they worked together, it felt that way to her.]

I don't want to see someone suffer because I couldn't help.

[There's a slight teasing tone in her voice, but she's serious at the same time.]

[a grin.]

I don't think I would have suffered too much, but it's appreciated all the same.

[a small commotion by the inner parts of the field catches his attention, and that grin turns a bit more wry.]

But heads up—it's about to get crowded.

[indeed, all the farmers and villagers who had stayed away to watch were now making their way over to the two, cheering and applauding as they ran.]

Is it-- oh...!

[She's not really sure how to deal with this kind of reception. It's not bad, but usually she's not applauded for this kind of mission. Usually it's something she does to survive... not something for a reward from others.

But, it's not a bad thing. Eventually, she smiles more sincerely, appreciative of the acknowledgement they've been getting.]

Do you think this is how people are supposed to be?

[Happy and simple... carefree and not worrying about God's will.

A true Nirvana in her mind.]

[yes, yes, ladies, he appreciates all the gushing. there is certainly a very charming air about him at the moment before he looks up at her.]

How people are supposed to be?

[that sounds like a certain someone he knows.]

What, you've never had people cheer for you before?

No, I haven't. Not for killing something before.

[Maybe there was something like this kind of reception when they freed the Lokapala from prison, but... nothing like this.]

It almost seems inhumane. But we did save them.

[Haha, she never thought she'd see the day where she wanted to say 'I do not comprehend'.]

[chuckles.]

Well when it's come to kill something—it's kind of circumstantial. If it's for saving the town or in an arena, you'll get cheers at least.

Why in an arena? Is fighting really considered a spectator sport?

[She kind of looks disgusted at that.]

In some places. Where I'm currently staying in, the people hold a tournament every ten years. It's a competition between the clans to see which is the strongest and originally it was a fight to the death. Nowadays, however, it's just a sport and doesn't go that extreme. The opponents can be either monsters, humans, or both, too. Either way, people get pretty pumped when watching and cheering for their team.

[shrugs.]

Personally I think it's pretty fun, but I've only really participated once. Kind of had to, but that's a different story.

[She doesn't even hide her disgust when she mentions a 'fight to the death'.]

I guess I can understand. We did that in the Junkyard. Our tribes fought and the last living tribe would be the one to reach Nirvana.

[She laughs bitterly.]

Though that turned out to be a true hell.

[There, she has her reasons out in the open now.]

I'd guess most places aren't like the Junkyard.

[there's a slight arch of the brow.]

The Junkyard? Nirvana?

The Junkyard was a program, I guess...

[It's not easy finding out you're an AI... oops.]

And Nirvana was the paradise we sought. I'd imagined it'd be filled with beaches and the ocean... and neverending peace. We fought and killed to reach peace.

A program?

[while there are computer programs where he's from, he's assuming she means more of like some kind of organization program.]

No offense, but it sounds more like hell to me. I guess calling a program like that "Junkyard" kind of fits.

[he could pry into more, but this is the first time he's met the woman. so he'll remain polite instead and will only ask more if she seems willing to share or if she asks about his world. he'll just say a few more things.]

But it sounds like you haven't reached this Nirvana yet.

No, I haven't.

[She's looks up at the sun. Does God exist there too in this place? At least this place is far from the hells she's lived so far.]

I take it there's nothing like that where you're from. I guess different worlds have different beliefs.

[small pause.]

No, not quite like that. But there's still fighting for a different kind of belief, I guess you could say. More of an energy problem, but I got a deity involved and there are beliefs tied into it.

If you don't mind me asking, what beliefs are those? What do you fight for?

[She tilts her head, honestly curious. What does this man fight for?]

[~~selfish reasons that are now made pointless but he has new ones now??~~

there is a bit of a rueful smile.

What do you fight for?

a question that had no easy answer, at least not back then. now however...

despite his thoughts, he continues on casually enough.]

There are beings called spirits where I come from, but only in one isolated island. This was by design—a deity called Maxwell basically created a haven for them to protect from the outside. In my world, humans have a mana lobe in their brain that allows them to channel these spirits to use different artes—or spells and skills. Handy to help daily life, and spirits benefited from it as well. Humans produce the mana, spirits consume the mana, humans get to use the arte. So there was a type of cooperative symbiosis between humans and spirits.

Outside of this place, however, the concept of spirits was replaced by a different tool called spyrix. Rather than give mana, it basically duped the spirits into thinking they would get some, but instead they were destroyed upon activating the arte. But the notion that spirits actually existed had been forgotten since the separation two thousand years ago. We also lost the ability to use our mana lobes and forgot about everything about Maxwell and the spirits, except for in legends and beditme stories. But spirits also help the land, and basically that side of the world started to die off. Without another energy source, we were doomed. [yes, a "we" sneaks in there even though he had tried to keep himself unidentifiable as to which side he was on.] So after realizing that spirits did exist and this place Maxwell sealed off existed, plans were made to tap into the land that was once believed to be a legend.

The deity I mentioned was protecting the spirits and her duty was to destroy any spyrixes and any other threats that managed to cross over onto their side. So you had a group trying to take spirits to save their land with another group trying to protect spirits to preserve theirs.

[well that's a bit of an exposition piece. there's a small pause afterward before he tackles her next question.]

As for what I fight for... Back then, it was to get back home. But now it's to help figure out a way to help both sides to work together. There's a new energy solution that won't hurt the spirits and still allow those without mana lobes to channel and use artes, but it's still a work in progress. It'll be a while before it's completely accepted by both sides, especially spyrix users.

[People who wanted power, that's the story she heard too as to why the place they wound up was in an apocalyptic state much worse than the Junkyard. People sought the power of God, and in the end doomed themselves. They can't even go outside without turning to stone, thus the demon virus was invented, and the AIs of the Junkyard were their guinea pigs. Guinea pigs that had to each each other to survive. Sad to say, but Argilla would much rather live in the world he described, even if it sounds just as dreadful as hers.

But they have a solution in that world... Argilla's world? If only they could talk to God to spare their world...]

So by trying to gain power, you guys only ended up bringing destruction. But your people survived two thousand years without them, right? Why would they threaten the other side to preserve theirs? Isn't that selfish? I understand the want and will to live, but why make others suffer?

[She shakes her head when she remembers he mentioned that they were seeking a solution. That part... it just hit her hard. People harming others to survive. Not that Argilla was any different from them.]

Do you think it'll work? I hope for your sake it does.

Edited (html (fuu)) 2014-07-23 18:51 (UTC)

It's...complicated. [he sighs as he leans against the wall and looks up to the sky.]

The place that doomed itself...Elympios. All it ever knew was spyrix and didn't realize the damage spyrix was doing until it was too late. Like I said, we didn't know about spirits or how they worked. The spyrixes used spirit fossils, which are basically the remains of spirits, but we just thought them magical rocks. [a dry laugh. that was putting it very simply.] And we couldn't just stop using spyrix, either. Everyone depends on spyrix these days. It's used not only for our technology, but also to help people actually live, like those with disabilities or illnesses that can't be treated by other means. The moment spyrixes could no longer be used would be the moment everything would start crashing down, maybe even literally. We barely have any trees or plant life, so living off the land would be impossible. So Rieze Maxia, the land with spirits, was our only answer.

Not saying the methods were the best, but when you have an entire civilization on the verge of dying out in a few years, you get desperate.

[it really was a mess.]

But the new solution should help. Like I said, it doesn't kill spirits and instead makes one from the spirit fossils, forming a new being called a spyrite. The catch is you need someone who has a mana lobe to use a booster to help give it mana and create it. That's why we need both parties to work together, and that is going to be the real challenge. After all, Elympios did manage to break through the barrier and start invading Rieze Maxia, so it didn't really start off on the right foot. But Maxwell also removed the barrier to allow spirits and mana back out to Elympios. This will buy us a few years, and hopefully there will also be enough spirits as well as an increased use of spyrites.

It's only just begun, though, so who knows what will happen. I'm hoping for the best, though.

I can understand that. People get desperate and don't realize what they're doing is hurting themselves and others. But just to live requires them to take desperate measures even if it destroys everything. The place we call 'Nirvana' lost all it's plant life and the sun is dangerous. People are forced to live underground unless they have the demon virus implanted in them. But... having that virus means... it means we have to devour others with the same virus to live. It's disgusting and I hate it. I hate eating them.

[Her hand goes to cover up her mouth. The blood of the countless demons she's eaten... she can taste it. There's hardly any hope for their society unless they can ask God to please not destroy the world. It's up to Him now. People can do no more...]

I hope your people will pull through and your deity won't try to destroy your world and hard work. It sounds like there's hope yet for you. [You -- your people and your world.]

[—hold up.

the moment she said "devour others" is the moment the record got off its dramatic yet melancholic track of backstory exposition. in fact, as if to reflect his surprise something does make a sound. some farm tools that had been leaning against the side of a nearby fence falls, causing a loud clatter.

he. he didn't hear that right, did he? but she said it. devour. eating.]

No...I don't think she'll do that. [now he's talking about someone else, though that would be because he left out a little detail in terms of "deities." then again, it's complicated. but his voice is distracted and then after a moment he straightens so he could back at her properly.]

Okay, sorry, but did I hear you right in that you devoured...others? Others as in people?

[he's. trying not to jump to conclusions here. she did say something about a virus, but uh. yeah. although he's trying not to, there is certain a bit of a tense air now. even the grass at his feet had gone a bit more rigid.]

[The clank causes her to jump just a little bit as the air around her begins to thicken. Sadness, melancholy, hatred for what she's done, it envelops her. It's literally hard for her to breathe now. She tried not eating others, but... that didn't end well. They went insane...

...and she had to eat against her will.]

Only those infected by the virus. I can't devour humans. [There's an unspoken 'thank goodness', but that doesn't forgive her actions. She'll be the first to admit she hates herself for it.

But it's why she's remained human while here. It's safer that way. Prithvi may have been more effective than her human form when fighting the boar, but it's still not a chance she wants to take. Not without Sera and her song.]

I'm sorry. I guess I should've kept that to myself.

[However, she can't hide it forever. She's not even human, after all.]

[he's silent for a moment, processing this. well at least it's not people. really he can't imagine it. but it's still quite a bit to take in.]

No, it's—[well it is kind of a bomb shell considering they basically just met and all. but it's not like his closet is clean, either. just...not quite to that degree.]—just not something I expected.

[or anyone, probably.]

But I do have to ask...how is that working for you here? I mean if the virus isn't around, then it's nothing you have to worry about...right?

Edited 2014-07-23 20:24 (UTC)

I... I honestly don't know. It's why I've remained in this form.

[Human, she means, but fear... panic. Even if her facade is trying not to crack, her surroundings aren't doing a good job at hiding what she's trying to. Grass dying, the earth slightly shaking around her. A demon of mother earth, and here she is allowing it to die.]

If worse comes to worse, I might go insane.

[And she'd probably be forced to be killed... just like she had to kill Jinana... and Lupa. Good people who went insane from the hunger.]

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