TEST DRIVE MEME: OCTOBER

[simpathis]

— TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER —

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 Wednesday, September 24th and Applications open Wednesday, October 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! OR write a prompt where they're the ones being affected by someone else's emotion.

• 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: How good is your character using an elemental core? They're magic-like rocks that have one of the three following elements: fire, air, and water. On their own they're not too bad, but they are quite sensitive to emotions. Be careful or that little handwarmer could suddenly create a small blazing inferno!

• Prompt E: Steampunk technology is a lot more advanced than basic medieval technology, but still inferior to modern day devices. No electricity, no cars—just this strange magitech, steam, and clockwork gear systems. How "tech savvy" is your character now?

• Prompt F: BONUS EVENT BASED PROMPT! You were just minding your own business when suddenly you and another person swap emotions. Were they upset and you were calm? Well now you are upset and they're the one trying to calm you down! For this prompt, you can either just have your character a target for someone else to swap with, or you can already have them experiencing some kind of emotion to be swapped with.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It can even involve bulls and a bucket.

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

[bromato]

[ Hope there isn't a cat or something in there, Ludger. Big brother is watching to make sure nothing jumps out-- yes, he's paranoid, but he's Julius. It comes with the territory. ]

Check the shelves, the higher up the better. It'll probably be out of reach.

[ Though that does bring back memories. ]

I remember when that kind of thing used to work on you.

[ Still does, what with him being taller and all. ]

[choicedriven]

[ Nodding, he shifts to move a little closer to extend one of his arms up to try and reach up to the top shelf in the closet to move some things out of the way incase it was up there. Only stopping short when Julius spoke up again, causing him to stiffen up slightly as his cheeks flushed a light pink.

Indeed his brother brought that up now? He could remember numerous times his brother would keep things on the higher shelves to stop him from getting at them when he was younger. However he then can't help but smile pretty smug one i might add at the thought that crossed his mind after. ]

Yeah. That was until I started figuring out ways to get past that.

[ Unless Julius started taking pity on him and let him think his little creative methods work..?! As he says this he looks over his shoulder at his brother, missing the surprisingly sneaky and well-hidden cat that really had been hiding in the closet, watching them rather contently. ]

[bromato]

You learned how to climb shelves pretty quick, huh?

[ Julius chuckles, but his face falls as soon as he notices the cat. Oh, crap. Somehow, he doubts it'll be too happy about strangers in its home...! ]

Ludger, look out! Behind you!

[ It's a cat, not an assassin, geez. ]

[choicedriven]

[ Of course he looks a bit smug after that statement, nodding and definitely feeling proud of himself and the fact that he really had actually started learning how to climb shelves solely for the reason that he would be able to get all of those off-limits things that had been too high up before.

Nonetheless, the warning surprises him and he quickly turns around to face whatever it is that WAS behind him just in time for the said cat from before to jump from the closet and land on his head. Not moving from there, mind you.

Just... sitting there, perched on his head so he can't really move, the cat's tail in his face as it just growls lowly in the back of it's throat as it looks at Julius with ears folded back against of it's head. Also ow. Claws sort of getting lodged in his scalp about now. ]

...agh..! ow... I... don't suppose you want to try and get this one off of me, would you?

[ Spoken quietly because ow. pain and the fact he's sure his brother will probably be clawed if he tries to touch the cat. ]

[bromato]

[ If it were anything but a cat, Julius would be so, so worried right now. Instead he's kind of-- well, don't laugh, Julius. Don't. Laugh. ]

Lemme see... [ He approaches the cat carefully, approaching it slowly with his gloved hand. At least if the cat can sniff him and see that they're not gonna do anything drastic. ] Come on, boy, we're not here to hurt you...

[ I mean, it's probably a boy, who knows. It's a cat, and it's angry. Too bad Ludger's the one who's generally better with animals. ]

Here, come on. Let go of Ludger's head, okay?

[ He tries to make clicking beckoning sounds, but. Wow, big scary Julius being gentle to this cat, it's kinda cute. The cat on the other hand, looks completely suspicious about this whole thing. But it does sniff his hand. And bites it. Good thing Julius doesn't flinch. ]

Come on, boy. You can attack me instead. Just... get off Ludger, okay?

[choicedriven]

[ Normally he would have dealt with this, but it's really hard to handle a cat who was perched atop his head with claws starting to dig into his scalp. He's trying to stay still as much as he's able to, green eyes glancing back toward his brother as he slowly advanced, trying to pacify the cat to actually let go of him.

He's aware his brother's not the best with animals but he's better than him trying right now. Watching - and hearing - him make those little sounds and actually being kind of cute, it's hard not to smile a little because it's in these instances where it's nice to see this kindness; such gentleness from someone like Julius who could come off as more than a little intimidating sometimes.

However, when he swears the cat bit his brother's hand, Ludger instinctively winces a bit because that had to have hurt a bit, right? ]

...Julius, be careful. Please.

[ Yeah he knows his brother is capable of handling himself but that bite still had looked like it hurt, even if Julius didn't flinch. He only said what he had out of habit, not wanting him to get hurt too much in case this cat went ballistic or something.

Though he swears the cat's claws are letting up so does that mean that Julius' was actually getting through to it? ]

[bromato]

Shhh, it's fine.

[ Julius smiles. If it's cats, he can handle it. Plus he kinda can't feel much in that hand anyway, but Ludger doesn't need to know that. The cat, for its part, seems to be a little less wary of Julius now that he hasn't freaked out. Instead Julius approaches with his other hand, slowly, and manages to successfully coax it off his brother's head and into his arms.

And hey, it let go of his hand, too. That's even better. Julius just offers Ludger a smile. ]

There you go, see, nothing to worry about.

[ Let's just hope the cat doesn't change its mind, as cats are oft to do... ]