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

[Kurogane does mind to some degree, if only because it leaves him wondering for a split second whether the metaphor was literal and there are actual passengers somewhere around here. ...Where would they even be going?

Bah. What nonsense.]

Endangering...! Tch. Like it's my fault this place is messed up and reacting to emotions! If this is the kinda bullshit this tree shows people, there's no way I'm the first person to cause a ruckus. Hell, I'm surprised this place is still standing at all...!

No, you are not, but a precedent of violence is no excuse.

[This person seems quite upset, Ingo figures he won't be very likely to be concerned with the state of other people, let alone other living creatures and the world housing them, so he decided to approach him from a slightly more personal direction.]

—change gears, switch tracks. Approach the station from another route.

This world is already damaged. We were brought here, regrettably unwillingly, to fix it. Others have been sent home. If you should damage it instead, who's to say you won't be punished by staying in this half-ruined world forever?

[Forever? That's a pretty awful concept. There's a reason he's still traveling to other worlds. There's a reason he left his own Japan after all the trouble he went through to get back there. Several reasons, even. To lose it all because he's stuck in a place like this... It'd be pretty counterproductive to whoever or whatever decided to punish him, that's for sure.]

Yeah? If I'm supposed to fix this place by being happy, it should give me a reason to be happy. [Spoilers: he's hardly ever happy to begin with.] 'Punishing' me for not accepting a shitty situation isn't gonna help squat.

[His previously stern expression gives way to something gentler, more understanding.] ... I never said the situation was ideal— to be honest, I'm not happy about our situation either. It's... disturbing, to be cut off from all things familiar. I don't know if they're doing all they can to help us— or, if they can even understand our own wants and needs.

But the least we can do is make things a little easier on one another, hm? We're all strangers stranded here, so we have that much common ground. This is where our lines intersect, our crossroads.

[He offers a hand for a shake. He really does want to help, all the chastising and vague threats aside, he just wants to keep the peace, really.]

I can't promise I can make you happy, but I will promise you that I will do whatever I can to make your stay more pleasant and safe if you'll please stay calm. The comfort and safety of the passengers take precedent, a change in scenery will not change that!

[While the speech sounds well-rehearsed and strangely insistent on the train metaphors, there's no way to deny it's also genuinely earnest...]

[It's earnest, alright, but Kurogane has no idea what to do with that. Being the stubborn, prideful guy that he is, kindness tends to leave him flustered. Which, by extension, just kinda rubs him the wrong way. People who know him better would say he's easily embarrassed. Kurogane, in turn, would tell them to shut up.

Needless to say, he doesn't shake that hand. He'll acknowledge it with a stiff nod, but he won't do anything else.]

One for all and all for one, is that it? Tch, fine. Do what you like. Just remember that butting into other people's business won't make anyone's stay more pleasant.

TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

[I AM HOME NOW! \o]

[Welcome back, I hope it was fun!]

[SO much fun!]

[That's good, I'm glad! ^^/]

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