empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER

Entry tags:

!mod,
*test drive

TEST DRIVE: OCTOBER

— 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 Thursday, September 24th and Applications open Thursday, 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! 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: The weather is beginning to turn, which means the trees of Verens are beginning to shed their leaves much to the displeasure of one of the more "upper class" residential areas of the island. They certainly don't want to do it themselves so they're hiring out otherworlders and locals alike to do it for them -- but at a pittance of what the work is actually worth. This has lead to some pretty sour attitudes by most of the hired workers -- possibly including yourself.

Might as well get it done with as little grumbling as possible since it seems that the negative emotions of the poorly paid workers just cause the leaves to turn colors and fall faster, undoing any work they've done. At this rate, everyone will be here for hours.

• Prompt E: With fall comes the desire for all things reminiscent of fall. Including anything and everything pumpkin. One coffee shop is so popular for their special Spiced Pumpkin coffee and tea, that they're having a hard time keeping the ingredients in stock despite the long lines that are weaving out the door and into the sidewalk. Grumpy customers waiting in the fresh cooling temperatures outside are less than pleased, and some even grumble about the wait openly.

It all gets completely out of hand when one poor, lone employee walks out of the door and clears their throat -- explaining that they would be out of the in demand drinks until the day after next. An explosion of irate emotions cause the formerly crisp winds to pick up and wrap into miniature tornadoes! Mostly inconvenient, but perhaps a little destructive to things that are light enough to get tossed around. Looks like right now, finding somewhere else to get an afternoon pick-me-up is a good idea.

• Prompt F: Some shops are beginning to switch out their summer wares for things that are more friendly for the upcoming fall weather. This means quite a few of them are looking for extra hands. Perhaps you wouldn't mind lending a hand for some extra pocket money? One shop in particular is trying to give away their least popular products -- sunglasses that give the wearer a more sunny and welcoming personality.

Why were they unpopular you ask? Probably because of the slight and barely noticeable malfunction that seemed to make the enchantment on them work completely incorrectly. Instead of making the wearer much happier and receptive they only magnify the current emotion the wearer seems to have! Or worse, completely turn it upside down. Of course, this is all explained (very quickly, and barely understandably) as a representative swiftly places a pair in your hands!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include something like raging bull and/or cart full of loose buckets.

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

I'll believe it when I see it. [ Not that he doesn't trust you (these days) but little Hakuryuu is a completely different matter. ] I guess that's not too bad an idea. [ As if he can say that Ouryuu had a good idea. ]

Oh, so she's worth having around, then. [ Of course the brat would do that. He jumps back up in the tree, to get a better view. ] So if you're looking for Ouryuu and don't have our ability to sense where you are, just go to a forest. Or something like that? [ Then he drops back down, and makes a motion to the north with his head. ] The closest one is over there.

I dare you to ask him. It's a pretty cool feat~ [Small victories are still victories!]

I guess she is. Too bad Abi never trained his bird for interesting things like that. [He looks up and shows a toothy grin.] That's a fine guess and all, but Kouka is mostly woods and mountains. Needle in a haystack and all, you know? Here, however, I'd say the ice cream shop is a better bet! [He raises the cages with enthusiasm.] Then let's go, let's go!

Maybe I will. [ Don't gloat. ]

Aaaah, I bet we'd never know even if he did. He's that kind of person, after all. [ You know, the type of person who provokes. But that's just Shu-Ten's fault. ] Heh, both in Kouka and here, they just have to follow the sound of your stomach.

Yeah, that's Seiryuu to you. Although... Well, what if he did train birds and we didn't know? Imagine if Abi had this secret network of bird spies, passing on messages? [THE BIRD WHISPERER. He fakes a pout.] Says the man who can be found in a bar when he's not jumping around.

So you mean he'd have them spy on us? He's already annoying, he doesn't need to be creepy too. [ Of course, even though he says that, he still cares about Abi. He shoves a hand into Zeno's head, and leans down to his level. ] That's less places than "anywhere where there's food", you know.

...I was thinking about the enemy lines, but hahaha. Yeah. Of course you'd find that creepy... Hahahahaaa... [Because it's not like he knows someone who stalked an spied on his comrades for about two months. Nope. Much less being that guy. Absolutely not Zeno. He's not sweating nervously as he laughs.]

You got me there, Shu-Ten. [This feels so nostalgic, to be considered a kid again. It's strange to be now older than his brother now.] But you know, as awful as this place can be sometimes, it is a blessing there's so much food for everyone, not just the rich. When you've felt the hunger or shared a meal with people who have nothing, it's easier to be thankful even if it's not something you want or need.

Ah. Right. At least that would be useful. [ Zeno would be called creepy without hesitation if Shu-Ten were to find out about the stalking tendencies Zeno has developed.

And Shu-Ten would always treat Zeno as a kid even if he's actually older than him now. ] Yeah, [ He straightened up again. ] that's at least something. And there's new places to see, too. [ More places to jump around at. ]

Are you holding on to that properly? [ The cage. ]

...I guess you'd need smarter birds than that. [HE'LL NEVER TELL IF POSSIBLE.]

[That's probably the one thing both of his Ryokuryuu brothers have in common: absolutely forgetting Zeno's age. Well, that and ponytails.] Yup, this place changes fast so at least it shouldn't bore you quickly.

[He raises the cages carefully, but still with energy.] I am, I am! They're not heavy and I won't drop them.

Yeah, probably. [ OH COME ON, tell big brother everything. ]

[ And Zeno really was his younger brother in his day, of course he'll still treat him like he's the younger one. ] I'm looking forward to being constantly surprised, then.

Good. [ In that case, it's completely alright for him to pick Zeno up under an arm. He might not be a Hakuryuu, but he still has strength in his arms. ]

Probably a crow's smart enough, but I can't see Abi with such a grim friend. [Let's not, or how your future village will become an abusing disappointment might pop in.]

Even in the bad ways? When this place goes bad, it goes bad.

[Suddenly he's appreciating Jae-ha's gentle piggyback rides much better.] Hey now, I'm not a sack of potatoes.

You sure? They might be just about blue enough. [ He would be absolutely furious if he found out about the way his village has become. ]

Ah? How bad do you mean with bad?

[ He could fling him over a shoulder, if he would appreciate that more. ] I'm unconvinced.

I don't know enough about color combination! But a crow might creep an enemy out even more.

Making you feel bad emotions kind of bad. City destruction kind of bad. Monsters kind of bad. Disasters in general kind of bad. There are good things as well, at least!

[He sighs.] Fine, be careful and don't let me go. It doesn't matter if I fall, but these buddies will get hurt.

Edited 2015-10-17 02:30 (UTC)

Not what I meant. But I don't imagine you'd get it. [ Because Ouryuu's primary setting is "cheerful". ]

That's a lot of different of kinds of bad. Does the good balance it out?

[ He snorts as he starts to jump off tiward the forest, Zeno safely under his arm. ] As if I would. [ Hiryuu might be dead, but Shu-Ten still doens't want to upset him in the afterlife or... however that works. ]

Try me. I'm useless, not dumb. [A-AHAHAHAHAHAHA... HAHAHA... HAAAAAH. You have no idea, Shu-Ten.]

I would say so! But I'm biased because this place has been more or less too nice to me. [He was able to see his cute Kaya and one of his Dragon Big Bros, and that's made him so happy.] For others, it might be hell on earth despite the good. As usual, it's a subjective answer.

[Even in Zeno's timeline, Hiryuu's reincarnation might cry as well. Regardless of that, the sight from above is lovely. It had been quite some time since the last time he had cruised somewhere with a Ryokuryuu, long green hair swaying in the breeze like the foliage below. It's surely a fun power.]

Are you sure? [ He loves you BUT he doubts your intelligence a lot of times. And how should he have any idea? He doesn't know what Zeno has been through after they parted ways. ]

So it's not that different from how any place can be. [ The world is what you make of it, and all that. As long as he can jump around freely, he's sure he can deal with most things. ]

Just say it or I'll let the chipmunks chew on your ponytail when we're down~ [It's true that he wasn't the cleverest of the four back in the day. But while he still won't think of himself as smart or wise, things have changed and he wants to believe he's polished his cunning after all those years of ~~trolling the court~~ advising the next king.]

There's the tiny little part about the world getting constantly altered by emotions, but besides that detail you'd be right. People are people, no matter where.

[ He scoffs but also grins at his friend. ] Just you try, brat! [ Zeno would just have to show his elder brother how he's grown, or he won't believe he has grown up. After all, he still looks the same as ever. ]

Oh yeah, there's that. But if people were not people, what would they be.

[He just laughs. Of course he wouldn't do that. The sky is so lovely today, just a few cotton white clouds on a blue more vivid than the hair of the Blue Dragons. A flock of strange-looking birds judge the soaring men as they hover over them. Even in such an uncomfortable position, it's a lovely moment for Zeno. He chuckles some more and wonders how Shu-Ten feels when he jumps, and how Jae-Ha feels as well. Are Ryokuryuu used to it, or is it always a thrill? Zeno can only jump when he's too badly hurt, and by then he has no joy for it.]

That's a good question. And only around more people and feeling emotions we get to keep our humanity.

[...] Do you miss the others? Do you miss him?

I suppose so.

[ Shu-Ten pauses for just the briefest second longer than usual before he takes off again when he lands, and he turns his eyes to the high sky above them, pushing off harder than before. ]

That's a dumb question. [ His voice is more serious than usual. Of course he missed them, and him. That was obvious. But being honest was hard, and he did suck at expressing himself properly. ] You don't need to ask that.

Getting away from all people can really mess you up. I tried it for a while. Just me and tiny animals.

No, I suppose not. After so many years with those presences bonded to yours, you feel like you're missing a limb.

Did they live in your hair and made it into the animal nest that it looks like?

[ When you don't want to talk serious shit, don't take things too seriously. And really, Zeno's hair can be such a mess. ]

....yeah. [ Stop trying to make him upset, you big moron of a squirt. ]

Maybe a few birds did once or twice, but I've always had unruly hair anyway. Not a good nest choice, though. Too close to land and easy to climb for any predator. [Sorry, he just killed your joke.]

It's good to have yours, Ryokuryuu. [Some normalcy, even if we're incomplete.]

[ Seriously bro. ]

As if you'd let some animal eat another animal on top of your head.

[ He bumps the knuckles of his fists into Zeno's head. Stop being so damn sentimental. It's awkward as hell. ]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! [Time to picture a Zeno with a bird nest on his head, running away from a hungry bear with his short, clumsy legs.]

Oh, that seems like a far enough spot! [He points at a forest clearing.]

Who says that's what I was going for? [ Yeah, pretty much that image is one of several that pops up.

He follows the direction of Zeno's finger, and aims for the clearing, soon dropping down on the ground. ] They should keep in mind not to get caught next time they cause trouble.

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so this never showed up in my email....

No worries~

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