TEST DRIVE: JANUARY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: JANUARY —

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 Friday, December 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open Friday, January 1st.
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are currently allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
  
  
• 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?

• 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. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• 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: A new card game is sweeping through the streets of Verens: "Magica Ex Arehtei." Players take on the role of an Otherworlder and form battle decks out of minions, monsters, dunamis, and even the Arehtei themselves. It’s insanely complicated in its details, but this hasn’t stopped a seller from handing you a starter deck and all but pushing you into a chair to face an opponent… who may have just been conscripted themselves.

• Prompt E: After a long period of quiet (something about ‘emotional and physical harm to Empatheias’ and ‘manufacturing plush weapons without a Class E(X) license’), toy manufacturers have flooded merchant stalls and storefronts with a new offering, the hyper-cute stuffed Thras. No negative emotions, they promise! Plush Thras is so full of bravery, he’ll inspire anyone who holds him to new heights of courage and valor!

Naturally, magiscience has gone too far, and picking up the doll instills you with vigor, energy, and fearlessness past the point of recklessness.

• Prompt F: Thundersnow! A phenomenon in which a snowstorm is accompanied by lightning and thunder, and not a terribly uncommon one in Empatheias. But today’s thundersnow is more like an apocablizzard -- lighting lashes through the sky and lances down to catch buildings and trees with its fury, all hidden behind whirling sheets of billowing snowflakes that have blanketed the city in a foot of snow with no sign of stopping.

The outside is cold, windy, miserable, and potentially dangerous. Are you trapped in a building you didn’t expect to be in? Or perhaps you’ve joined up with an emergency emotion squad, trying to impose calm or cheer on the raging storm?

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include lumps of coal or moose.

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

[celestial_wizard]

[ Definitely had its perks. He was warm- it might be her imagination but the room felt even warmer- for one thing. And she got to see so many sides of him that others never did. Lucy's giggles subsided, as she nodded. ]

Yeah, I did at-- [ Oh. ] that. [ That grin. Turn off the grin, turn it off! Or well, don't, but don't point that lethal weapon at HER like that especially when you're so close. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Nope not an option just yet. Still need to let Lucy soak in it a little longer.]

So think we should go take a look around this place for a bit before it gets dark?

[celestial_wizard]

[ Soaking in it... soaking in it... soaking in-- ]

Ah! Wha..? Oh! OH! Yeah! Y.. [ She practically jumps off of the couch, flustered. ]

That's a... a good idea. Especially since that storm early passed. Guess we were lucky it didn't actually start raining.

[explodewiththerage]

[He tilts his head a little seeing her explosive reaction before getting up from his seat.]

That was really weird though. It didn't smell like any normal rain now that I think about it.

[celestial_wizard]

[ She clears her throat a little, making her way to the door. ]

Maybe that's normal for this place? We can ask around outside; a native - or at least someone who's been here longer than we have - might have an idea what's up with the weather.

[ BOY will they have an idea. Lucy will end up having to keep a tight rein on her emotions, and .. that will be very very difficult when it came to him. ]

[explodewiththerage]

Sounds like a plan. If we're stuck here might as well get to know some people.

[And naturally he assumes his place right by Lucy's side. Not knowing yet how much that is going to make things a little harder for his partner.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ It just felt normal- right to have him at her side. She almost reached for his hand, but managed to focus on opening the door instead. She chewed her thumbnail absently. ]

When I think about it, I should have asked the person that told me about this place, about the weather patterns. But I guess it just never occurred to me.

[explodewiththerage]

[That might have gotten his attention too. But in the end since she didn't go through with it, the possibility is irrelevant.]

Well that's not something you normally ask anyway. So can't be helped.

[celestial_wizard]

[ The last thing she wanted was his attention while she was trying to calm her frazzled thoughts down. That would just make them more frazzled. ]

Yeah, I guess so.

[ She locked the door behind them, rubbing her arms and mental noting to get a coat first thing. Well. Second or third thing. It wasn't high on her priorities since Natsu kept her warm when they were outside. And..well... ]

So.. food last, I think. We can get that on the way back. [ She was keeping an eye out for other people on the street though. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Well before they went shopping they have to find out what's used for money and other such important details. Until then she just has to stick close to him and bask in that warmth that is now returned to his body.]

Yeah that sounds like a solid plan. Kinda curious what they eat around these parts actually.

[celestial_wizard]

Hopefully it's the same kind of thing we had and not stuff like...

[ ... actually she's not even sure. ]

Shoe leather.

[ ... she was already facepalming at that random suggestion. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He gives her the most incredulous look possible.]

Shoe Leather? Why did you pick that of all things?

[celestial_wizard]

Don't look at me like that! I panicked!

[ She giggled. ]

Hold on, I think I see someone.

[ A gentleman tending to his lawn, from the looks of things. Lucy was all too quick to dart away from Natsu before he could poke fun at her response, even though he was -well- within his right to do so. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He just shakes his head with a faint smile as he watches Lucy run off. It's best if she does the talking since with the bandage on his face he's probably not the easiest one to talk to right now. For a moment there is a shadow over his eyes but it vanishes instantly if Lucy happens to meet his eyes at any point]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Oddly the man looked rather suspicious when Lucy approached - that wariness only intensified when he glanced at Natsu. Of course Natsu could easily hear the conversation, from Lucy trying to reassure the guy they meant no harm and only had questions. At which point Lucy is informed that there is a lot of distrust between the 'outsiders' and the natives, since there was an incident when natives were being murdered by outsiders.

That aside he is helpful (sort of) enough to give directions to answer the other questions Lucy had. Including the question about the 'weather', at which point both of Lucy's hands clap over her mouth. THAT'S why the weather was acting so weird? And why Natsu was in such darkness? She cast another glance towards her partner, missing any shadow across his face, mortified. Oh god how the heck is she going to guard her emotions? ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He naturally hears the entire conversation and his expression shows just as much shock as Lucy's. Now that he heard the explanation he realized what kind of effect he was having before Lucy found him. That is...quite terrifying.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Once the conversation was concluded, Lucy padded back over towards Natsu, watching him carefully. ]

Are you all right..?

[ What else could be effected by their emotions, she wonders. ... facepalming abruptly. She owes the library some lightbulbs. And the observatory. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He sees her coming so he's not nearly as startled as he could be.]

Y-Yeah just a lot to take in with what that guy told you.

[celestial_wizard]

Mm... yeah. I wonder a little, ... [ She fell silent, not mentioning what it is she wondered, though her fingers touched the amulet that allowed telepathic communication between its users. Between emotions and -that- ... ]

I may be in trouble...

[ She sighed. Money would be an issue, but at least they have some leeway for a little while. She glanced down at her torn sash briefly, then stepped closer to Natsu. ]

Do you still want to get some things? [ Foodwise, of course. They still had plastic plates and cups for temporary use, until they got their own money. Of course after saying that, she regretted even giving him the option. She didn't want him to go back and brood or something. ]

[explodewiththerage]

Hmmm what do you mean?

[Did she really think he wouldn't hear that murmur? Natsu does take a moment to think over the answer.]

Well we should find a place that sells food at least before going back. Better know what we got to work with.

[celestial_wizard]

Uh!! I.. um, nothing!

[ Again, she'll damn his hearing. ]

Okay, sounds like a plan. WE'll just have to be careful, with the... you know. [ Emotions. Gah. ] Um, I think that guy said the Market Square was that way, off to the left.

[explodewiththerage]

[She can damn it all she wants. It's not going away and will continue to play a part of who Natsu is.]

Yeah though getting all scared about it isn't gonna help any either since that's an emotion too right?

[celestial_wizard]

Right.

[ Absently slipping her arm around his, because she wants to keep him close in case he relapses. Yeah that's... that's the only reason. BESIDES there's nothing strange about friends linking arms! ]

And understanding how it works will make it less unnerving when it happens, I guess. Or at least we won't jump if a lightbulb pops or something, ahaha...

[ Yikes. It was a bit further to the Market than she initially guessed though, but it wasn't that bad - they got a nice scenic look around, and Lucy piped up every now and again with a tidbit she overheard. ]

So- you aren't feeling ill or anything, are you?

[explodewiththerage]

[He doesn't bat an eye when she joins arms with him. If anything it helps calm his nerves even more so than before.]

Hah yeah that would've been pretty scary if we didn't know. But now we do.

[The short trip is definitely an enjoyable distraction too as they get acclimated to their new surroundings.]

Ill? No I feel pretty normal right now.

[ANd that is in no small part due to a certain mage locking arms with him.]

[celestial_wizard]

Yeah, no kidding. [ She grinned faintly. ]

So I bet you wouldn't have ever guessed that we're on a floating island right now.