TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

[simpathis]

— TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER —

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 Tuesday, August 25th and Applications open Tuesday, September 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! 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!

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? The following emotions will have more effect than usual: fear, bravery, grief, joy, anger, and calm.

• 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.

• 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: (Taken from the Intro Log) Last month a giant tree overtook the clock tower in Merchant's Square, a place that's usually bustling with social activities and businesses. It still is, but this tree is more than just any normal tree.

1. HELP! Unfortunately for you, you've landed somewhere atop the leafy branches of the tree. If you can't fly or climb down yourself, you might want to call for help, be it shouting at the top of your lungs or accidentally shouting at the top of your mental lungs for all to hear telepathically. Just be careful not to fall—maybe someone will catch you but would you really want to take those chances?
   
   
2. Memory petal. Beautiful petals the size of one's palm continue to scatter about the city, most of them falling around the tower. These petals will start reflecting a memory of the individual closest to it. Memories are ranging from those that display one's greatest achievement to their greatest fears.
   
   
3. In the tower. Did you happen to wake up inside the tower instead? Bet you weren't expecting it to be dark and dreary with rustling vines that move on their own. There are some hostile creatures, ranging from giant insects and snakes, but easy to fend off. It's even easier if you think happy thoughts. However, if you succumb to your fears, then things will worsen.

• Prompt E: The long awaited tournament has finally arrived, and you can be a part of it!

1. In the Arena. Whether it was voluntarily or forced into it, you are now facing another Otherworlder to battle. Fortunately, it's not to the death. Unfortunately, how skilled either of you are is completely unknown. The biggest question of all is—can you even fight? But fear not, there's another secret weapon in your arsenal: your emotions. Whether it's striking fear into your opponent's heart with a bolt of courage, or making the ground break and crumble from the adrenaline, this battle will be unlike any have ever seen before!
   
   
2. Sparring match. Maybe you're not quite cut out for an actual bout in the ring. But how about a spar instead? Or maybe you accidentally walked in on someone's practice and are now the target.
   
   
3. Spectating. Shout louder! Let the stadium ring with your voice! Just try not to create too much excitement to actually cause the stadium to physically ring. Wouldn't want it to collapse on itself.

• Prompt F: The weather is a little hypersensitive at the moment, what with all the excitement in the air. Emotions are in full affect as people talk about the winners and losers of the matches. The results can be quite...interesting. For this in heated arguments, that is definitely a dangerous storm brewing around the area. Or maybe the air is getting so hot, things are starting to melt. Maybe it's the opposite—the air is ice cold and a blizzard might happen in the middle of summer! For those gossiping and squealing about their favorites, the sun seems to cast hotter and brighter rays upon them. The air just seems to be electrified! For those lamenting over losses, it just never stops wanting to rain.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include something that looks a lot like a vuvuzela and/or mirrors.

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!

Comments

E-2

[supbro]

[Okay, so, fun as this was to watch at first, it was starting to lose its charm. Pretty obvious this guy wasn't gonna fight back, and watchin' this all afternoon sounded like a real downer. So hey, Fistrick'd be a bro, and give the dweeb a way out. Mostly just because he hadn't had much luck findin' an opponent of his own yet, so takin' this one off this guy's hands sounded like as good a way as any.]

Hey bro, soon as you get done dancin' with your partner there, how 'bout you tag me in? Listenin' to you try'n talk him to death's about as exciting as watchin' paint dry.

[No, he hadn't suddenly found a new philanthropy streak, really he just felt like hittin' somebody. All this fighting going on was making him real itchy to join in. And the guy hasslin' this weirdo seemed like as good a target as any. Heck, the weirdo did too, but he probably wouldn't be as fun.]

[yuureiressha]

[Well, that seems to have caught his opponent's attention, leaving Ingo with a way out of this seemingly endless "dance."

He looks surprised, looking to his unlikely saviour just before swerving out of the way of another slice:] Ghk— [He looks terrified! That last hit nearly sliced some off the side of his face.]

I'll leave him to you, then! [He's still not sure how he wound up in this situation, but he won't gain anything by refusing help. He might not get another chance!

The unruly opponent turns the serrated blade towards Fistrick now, prepared to strike, waiting for him to make a move, a clear (if unvoiced) challenge.]

[supbro]

[Oh, oh, he is all over this. A chance to show off, and knock some loser to the mat. Or, ground. He hadn't been paying too much attention really, the whole "fight" thing sort of took up most of his attention. But he will happily step in, even embracing the overdone cliché of stretching out his neck with a series of loud cracks in the process. Course, he's just going to adopt a defensive stance, fists up, and try to bait the guy into making the first move, rather than rushing in himself.]

Come on bro, don't just stand there. Make a move. Or are ya worried that butter knife's too much for ya?

[Yeah, appearances aside, Fistrick wasn't an idiot. He wasn't going to run headlong into a freaking knife. Leave that to the dumber fighters. Better to play it safe 'til he could catch this guy in a mistake.]

[yuureiressha]

W-wait, are you unarmed too?

[Really, impressively muscular and large as he was, the other man had a blade, what was he going to do? Ingo couldn't just leave, even if Fistrick seemed confident...

Because Fistrick would not make a move, his opponent came rushing in, leaping to try and slice him diagonally (aiming for the neck or possibly the shoulder), to make up for the difference in size and height and assuming Fistrick's rather top-heavy and will come down easily if he hits him from above!]

[supbro]

Just watch 'n learn, little bro. And the path will be revealed!

[Fistrick what in the actual hell- oh look the guy made his move. That'd work. Fistrick abandons his defensive stance and lunges forward an instant later, closing the distance once he realized he was dealing with a slashing attack. Just to be on the safe side, he even reached up to grab hold of the guy's arm to prevent it from coming down. He even reached around behind the guy's head to try and pull him in closer while he was at it. Sure, a slash wouldn't work anymore, but if he had any decent skill, he could change his grip and go for a stabbing motion easily enough. And Fistrick couldn't have that.

Just like he also couldn't resist fighting a little dirty. Nothin' evened out an unfair fight like a well placed blow right between the legs. Which was exactly where Fistrick's knee was headed. And just because he bulked up his upper body didn't mean he forgot to pay attention to his legs. A good workout regimen trained the whole body, after all. Despite all the upper body strength, Fistrick could still kick like a mule. Or, in this case, throw a rising knee like one.]

[yuureiressha]

L-little— [Ingo repeats, incredulously. He was used to being addressed as the older brother and only by his twin. This felt a little embarrassing, but he cut himself off. It probably was rude to talk back to his saviour, but also, didn't this feel kind of like he unwittingly partnered up with someone shady?! Would he have to call him "bro" or "boss" like in a mob?! <-(a surprisingly overactive imagination.)]

Still, should Ingo help or just watch... Fistrick seems to have things under control and it looks like he's enjoying the fight, but, he'll reach into his pocket for a pokeball just in case it becomes necessary to stop the fight.

Yes, the caught arm is enough to stop the attacker and he does turn the blade's hilt in his fingers to hold it in his fist, prepared to stab, but for now, trying to wrench his hand away before he could drive it in or hope to slice him in the process of escape.

The rising knee seems to have been expected, because he jumps to avoid it, taking advantage of the forced closeness, and alights on his thigh— but with his arm still caught, this move might've made him easier to take down, curled in as he was, unless he can manage to land a kick from that precarious position that will likely last only a second or two.]

[supbro]

[Surprisingly accurate overactive imagination, really. But hey, Fistrick calls everybody bro. It's his thing. So Ingo would at least be safe from being drafted into said criminal element. Well, that, and this place felt very much like an unwelcome and forced retirement on Fistrick's end, so there wasn't even a criminal element for him to be pressed into.]

Heh, nice moves bro. Guess you're not as stupid as you look- no disrespect.

[Yeah that arm wasn't going to move anytime soon. If Fistrick had a hold on you, you weren't going anywhere. He may have been fully human, but he was anything but an ordinary human. He was the kind of human who could throw down with aliens. The kind of human who even managed to KO a Tetramand for crying out loud.

But hey, this guy wanted to put up a fight? That's fair. He could respect that. That's just not going to stop him from hoisting this guy off the ground. Or turning to send him flying through the air toward a nice little stand that had been set up to keep everyone hydrated. Which, y'know, may or may not be populated at the moment. He didn't pay attention to these things either.]

[yuureiressha]

[Ingo would be further terrified if he confirmed it! He's had rather bad run-ins with organized crime before (terrorizing his city, cutting off all transportation and communication, tampering with his precious subway system, all very awful things). ... then again, he did save him, so he'd still be grateful...

Fristick's moves would be met with no further resistance, the fighter, for all his determination, would not be able to contend with any of that and was sent flying, well, not quite majestically towards the stand.

Ingo throws out the pokeball he already drew out to call upon some strange... purple, chandelier-balloon monster? Something strange, at any rate.] Psychic, please, Chandelure!

[And the very second the flying blade-wielder's body connected with the stand, knocking the drinks tottering on edges and sending everyone around the table scattering, a blue glow surrounds him and the refreshments to stop their movement. Perfectly motionless (if also looking terribly confused), he was set back on his feet, everything on the stand returned to balance, and then, the glow faded.

(All of this would have been very useful at the start, but he was probably too concerned with avoiding bodily harm to consider it...)]

[supbro]

[Alright, so, two things. One, he's kinda disappointed you just stepped all over his stage here, bro. Not cool. Or even a little bro-like, alright? That's some straight disrespect right there.

Two, and this one was kind of a big deal, what the heck was that thing?! Granted, what with them weird powers and an even weirder look to it (though still pretty sweet, he's not gonna lie), it looked like the sorta thing Tennyson could turn into at some point. Which meant...]

Whoa, that some kinda freaky alien?

[The downside here was probably that due to actually coming from a place where aliens were not only real, but there were a whole freakin' lot of them, this was a very real and not crazy possibility as far as Fistrick was concerned. But there was a pretty good chance it'd just make him seem crazy to anybody else not used to that kind of thing.

Speaking of crazy, totally ignoring the man with the knife right now, he kinda wants to see what this thing's deal is. Pretty solid chance he's ignoring Ingo now, too. He is way more interested in the freaky thing he just tossed out, to the point he's just walking right on up to Chandelure and and tryin' to have an actual conversation with it. Chandelure, not the trainer who could actually communicate back. That'll go well.]

Diggin' those flames bro, but they make you look like one o' them old-timey fancy lamp things- no disrespect.

[...alright, so, he was actually kind of a genius on some things, but this? This is a great example of the areas where Fistrick's kind of an idiot. And the sad part was, he'd heard the damn name and still couldn't piece it together.]

[yuureiressha]

[But it was unnecessarily dangerous! He couldn't watch him fling the man right in the middle of all those people.

His opponent has apparently decided he's had enough of this nonsense and ran off. He forfeited, it seems!

Chandelure blinks and stares at Fistrick, looking stunned, then half-amused, half-exasperated. Didn't pick up on the name, did he...?] Sh-shaan... [It's a rather high, girlish voice, presently sounding quite bemused.
The blue fire gives off a very eerie, ghostly impression.

Ingo answers from behind, closing the distance.]

I doubt you'll offend my partner, a chandelier is Chandelure's namesake after all. My partner is a Ghost Type Pokemon, not an alien at all.

— shifting gears, it seems we've missed our stop. [The man speaks in train metaphors, I'm sorry.]

Firstly, I must thank you for taking on that ruffian— honestly, he was quite unreasonable! We're indebted to you. You displayed admirable strength... although you might benefit from practicing some restraint, hm? There is nothing quite like getting swept up in the heat of battle, but it is no excuse for endangering ininvolved bystanders. [It might be a bit uncalled for to lecture someone who, whether intentionally or not, just saved him, but he can't excuse that reckless behaviour just now! Enjoy the stern lecture (or, you know, admire the cool ghost some more and ignore its goody-two-shoes trainer, that works too.)]