empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

— 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.

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?
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.
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!

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!
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.
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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Chandelure, now hovering beside Ingo, waves a flame-bearing arm at Pansage. Remember their battle?

Ingo is not one to miss a detail like that and he frowns slightly, studying Cilan as if hoping to uncover whatever he left unsaid with a mere look, but only for a brief moment, then, he carried on amiably:]

Then, we have two of this three-car train of heroes here. Excellent!

[While we can't promise Ingo might not laugh (although he's usually so restrained, it wouldn't be much of a laugh), he does still respect you and your friends, Cilan. He would love to hear your stories (and possibly get to the bottom of whatever made you so reluctant to talk about your own state).]

Shall we find somewhere to sit and talk? You'll have to lead the way, this time. This station isn't a familiar one, I'm afraid...

[Yep, of course Pansage remembers it! Even though we lost, it was still a lot of fun getting to battle with you and Eelektross. Seeing Pansage wave back to the other Pokemon in return, and Ingo's own smile gets a more genuine one from Cilan now too.

Also, wow, referring to us and our friends as heroes, how flattering. The air might be sparkling a little now...]

Of course! Just follow me, and I'll do my best to show you the way! [And sure enough, Cilan will do just that, turning on his heel to start leading somewhere a little more private where the two of them can sit and talk. He even seems more like his usual self now thanks to the way the air around him seems to continue shimmering and sparkling like that...

(And no, you're not imagining them either, those sparkles are in fact real, have fun with getting used to seeing them during your stay here)]

Please do!

[Well, it's good to see a real smile on Cilan's face again, but the sudden sparkling in the air immediately puts Ingo on the alert, and once Cilan turns around, Ingo is still anticipating an attack from either side only with far less discretion, glaring at thin air, while Chandelure prepares to fight back against... nothing? This, this isn't some sort of Stun Spore or...? They don't seem to have any ill effects, but don't they seem to be crowding Cilan?

Hesitantly, he reaches out and flicks one off to the side to see what it might do, quickly pulling his hand away, Chandelure closeby in case it needed to attack. Will it go off? Cause some sort of ailment? What is it?

There's no attack Pansage can learn that could result in this sort of thing, is there...?]

[Nope, it's not Pansage's doing, but the Pokemon does notice that Ingo and Chandelure are looking rather tense, so it now nudges Cilan to get his attention.]

Hm? [Now he's turning to look back, seeing that something's up now too... well, with our companions, and not with the fact that there were sparkles hovering around him.] Is everything alright?

[Ingo and Chandelure are emitting a very dark and suspicious aura all about them as they stare down little specks of light with comical seriousness.

They snap out of it, dark aura disappearing with a pop when Cilan asks.]

Oh, it's these— lights...

They're troubling.

[Chandelure nods, making a sound in agreement.]

Lights? [...Now he looks and notices the sparkles that are beginning to fade now.]

...Oh. [And here, he holds up a hand in apology.] I'm sorry, I probably should have said something sooner about that... this taste is a little hard to explain, but I'll start by saying that those lights aren't dangerous. Things like that tend to appear when...well, usually when I'm really happy about something.

Beg pardon?

[Identically confused faces from both trainer and Pokemon. He seems to have willed the lights away, so, there's no reason to doubt the veracity of his statement, but....]

... was it something you developed on your own or is it a... feature of this station? [Should they resume walking?]

TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

no subject

no subject

[In which we're VERY VIGILANT about these potentially threatening sparkly things]

oh my gosh Ingo they're just sparkles...

[??? what are these sparkles of which you speak, people do not sparkle.]

[unless you are cilan, in which case SPARKLES. SPARKLES EVERYWHERE..]

[If we ever get in trouble somewhere dark, promise Cilan another battle! He'll shine the way ~]