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!

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[—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.]

[he had been distracted by the whole "she devours things" bit, and now she mentioned "form." again, he's reminded of Milla and he's getting the idea that despite how she looks, she's not human.

but before he can question her further, he notices the environment around them. immediately his demeanor changes. although he's still concerned, it's a bit lighter.]

Well that would be a shame. I'd hate to see a lovely and skilled woman like yourself going off the deep end. [and have to be "put down" so to speak, but he doesn't say that.]

But hey, I think we've had enough of this serious talk for now, don't you think? How about we grab that payment and head back? You can tell me more about this over some dinner. [a bit of a joking grin.] You do eat normal "human" food, right?

[he's joking now, but he's kind of serious about this, too. and his methods are a bit...strange. but his main priority was to at least distract her and get her out of this place before she really does lose it to her emotions. if that requires him to look like the odd flirt, so be it. no skin off his back about how she might think of him. but he's also giving her a bit of a "lifeline," too. rather than just leaving her, he's telling her that he'll listen to her problems. he's honestly not sure how to feel about it, but at the very least it's something he should probably be aware of both for himself and for others.]

[His words seem to calm her a bit. Maybe that's all they were meant for, empty words to ensure she wouldn't go insane, but it's kind of what she needed to hear. 'Lovely' and 'skilled'. Those words flattered her as she took a deep breath to calm down.

Though his next words do earn him a glare, though more in a 'mad big sister' respect than an offended one.]

I can eat it. I'd prefer things I'm familiar with, though. [She still swore Roland was trying to poison her with alcohol.] But I'll admit I'm new to a lot of food, so sorry if I act weird.

[In the Junkyard they didn't need to 'eat' until they were embedded with the virus. Still, right now it's a distraction she needs. Maybe it will suffice for now.

And don't worry Alvin, she responds well to flirting. She flirts right back!]

[this is good! and the grin widens a bit.]

All right then, what are you familiar with?

[Needless to say...]

Meat.

[As terrible as that sounds, it's all she's familiar with.]

[well he figured that much. in fact he can't help but chuckle a bit.]

Any particular type? Beef, pork, poultry, fish?

["Beef" that's from cows, yes? She's... devoured cow demons before. "Poultry" is from chickens, and she's devoured those kinds before too. She's thinking real hard on this.]

Beef and chicken, maybe?

[somehow, seeing her have to think so hard about this is amusing.]

Both fine choices, but clearly you need to eat out more. Well there's at least one place I've found that should be good.

[now to get that payment.]

If you say it's good, then I believe you.

[They fought together, he has Argilla's trust... for now. She'll follow him to pick up that payment.]

[ha ha ha she believes him. wow that would have meant so many different things just a few short weeks ago.]

Thanks.

[he just gives a small chuckle in response before getting the cash and handing half of it to Argilla as promised. and apparently they'll have some pork, too, though it will be shipped in later after they prepared it and everything. enough for weeks! (yay......)

and now back to town. and he'll be keeping any conversation they have light because yeesh they really went deep back there.]

[Taking her share of the money, she safely tucks it away. She'll need it for supplies and food likely now.]

What else is there to eat that's good aside from meat?

Well us humans are omnivores, so if you want a real healthy and balanced diet you'll want a good dose of fruits, vegetables, and even a bit of seafood. Grains like bread and rice are also a staple that we eat.

I'm familiar with the terms and know what they are. [She's more or less talking to herself here at this point.]

Is it really necessary to eat a balanced diet?

If you want to be healthy, but not everyone follows those rules. Some will just live off junk food and cakes while others will eat whatever they can find. But you're not exactly human...right? So I'm not sure what kind of diet you'd really need or be fine with.

I don't really need anything. [Aside from meat and she gets hungry and weakened if she doesn't have... that.]

I mean, I'm just data.

[She says this like it's common knowledge...]

[...what.]

Data?

An artificial intelligence, though I feel plenty human.

[She laughs here.]

If I wasn't told that I was this, I'd swear I was human just like everyone else.

Edited 2014-07-24 21:33 (UTC)

Wait—hold on. So are you like...some kind of machine? [he's familiar with automaton, but they weren't human-like in the slightest.

he's having difficulty trying to grasp the concept that she might just made up of pure data because isn't data some kind of...intangible thing??? what is she like a spirit then, maybe!?!?]

No, I'm not a machine. I'm just data. Then again, according to Roland, we're all data or something.

[She's trying to recall his conversation about how people are made of molecules, then atoms, then even smaller than that is data.]

But I'm definitely not human, though I bleed like one.

[She places her hand on her chin, thinking on this.]

And die like one, too. Even so, we're considered 'data' by those we encounter.

Edited 2014-07-24 21:45 (UTC)

Uh...huh.

[yep, slotting her with Milla.]

I think I'm just going to think of you similar to a spirit. If you ever meet Milla, you'd probably get along in that regard. [hum, should he elaborate further?] She's similar in that she's currently in a human form and due to some circumstances, she had to adapt living like us.

So it's not a unique circumstance then. [How would Gale think of all this? Probably with 'I do not comprehend' as per normal.] What's a spirit, though? I'm assuming it doesn't mean a soul of the dead.

Not quite, but some folks believe that when you die you turn into one. NO idea how true that is.

But the spirits are just beings that are made of up mana and basically provide the energy the world needs to sustain itself. Like I said before, without them, the world would die.

I don't know if I would call them "living beings" like human and animals, but they are alive in a sense and have their own forms. They also don't really make themselves visible to humans.

(no subject)

teradyne - 2014-07-24 22:57 (UTC) - Expand

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selfmotivations - 2014-07-25 02:18 (UTC) - Expand

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