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Empatheias Events ([personal profile] empevents) wrote in [community profile] empatheias_ooc2015-12-18 01:12 pm
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TEST DRIVE: JANUARY

— TEST DRIVE: JANUARY —


Welcome to [community profile] 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!
canach: (☽ 10)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-25 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
Which is to say, you have no real plan. [At least it doesn't really sound like one to him at any rate. A sigh.] This is why I prefer to work alone.

[But he's not. He's here. And he knows just sniping at the younger Sylvari won't really get them anywhere, so he'll actually help.]

You should check smaller alleyways and the impoverished. It is more likely that they were hit the hardest.

[The more populated areas would have had plenty of people on hand, but Canach has been quite thorough in his explorations to have a fairly good grasp of its layout if needed. He is also quite aware of the class disparity, not unlike that of Divinity's Reach.]
duskbloom: (startle 🙧 one)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-25 09:22 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I must act on short notice or else it will be too late! I've seen frostbite and I do not think it would be a pleasant way to go.

[Syrlya stops and turns to his left to stare straight down a crooked, dark alley. He can almost feel the way the storm seems to warp into it, like it's responding to something deep within.]

Mm, I think you are right about that. And I think we may have found our first victim. [He doesn't stall long before he marches straight for the alley.]
canach: (☽ 14)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-25 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Of course he's right. But Canach only follows, eyes narrowing slightly as he watches the wind and snow actually curl into the alleyway. It certainly is responding to something, but to Canach it seemed more than that. As if something was actually drawing it in. A result of someone's anguish and despair of being trapped? Or something more sinister? With this place, one can never know.]

Allow me.

[With his shield strapped along the length of his forearm, that same hand raises the lantern high as he steps forward, the other resting on the hilt of his sword. Boots crunching against the hardened snow, even the naturally crafted leaves of his armor curl and wither inward, as if retreating from the sudden blast of dark coldness that brews within the darkness.

But it's not a bad move for Canach to go first. For one, he's more heavily built to take the brunt of any unnatural force. For another, his hardened and stalwart personality seems to create an invisible shield, buffeting against the cold and winds.]
duskbloom: (startle 🙧 nine)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-25 09:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya opens his mouth to protest--it wasn't usual for him to be the one in step behind when facing dangers unknown. He was always the leader, protector, and he wants to swear that he needs not to be overstepped--

But as he's reaching out and the cracking of chaos magic fails to manifest at his fingertips, he's reminded how vulnerable he really is. His whole life he relied on his Mesmerics to carry him in battle, and now he has only the force of his blade against enemies he doesn't understand.

He lets the words die on his lips and the air around him begins to freeze until a fine mist of ice is wafting around him.

He falls in step right behind Canach, using his advantage of height to look ahead.]
Hello. Hello? Is someone there, able to respond?

[Nothing answers back except the whisper of the wind.]
canach: (☽ 13)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-25 10:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Yes, that is the downside of being a caster, isn't it? All the more reason to allow one who can better adapt without magical augmentation and fallback on actual physical skill to go first. Perhaps Canach factored that in. Or maybe he just wanted to one-up the Commander. Hard to say with this one.

He continues moving forward, arm raised and feet braced as a large cold wind suddenly cuts through. It surprises him, actually, and he wonders what could cause such a thing. But when he moves the lantern, the light casts over to where the source of at least this portion of the storm seems to be coming from—a dark mound, a boot just barely protruding from the snow.]


Over there! [But why is the storm so bad here? Could this person really hold that much...power to affect the weather so?]
Edited 2015-12-25 10:11 (UTC)
duskbloom: (startle 🙧 seven)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-25 10:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya perks and just about leans over Canach to see what his lantern sheds light on, likely dusting him with the mist before he attempts to squeeze between the alley and Canach to get closer.] They're buried! We need to get them out now.
canach: (☽ 02)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-25 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Stop crowding you overgrown pine tree.

Or so he would say something to that effect, but instead he just moves, setting down the lantern and moving to the other side to start pushing off that snow.

At least he's being cooperative.]
duskbloom: (startle 🙧 four)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-25 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya sets his shield upright in the snow and plowing now off the figure, tossing it about haphazardly as he attempts to free their face.

His concentration at least allows the fine mist around him to evaporate, and instead his determination to free them seems to partially melt the snow his fingers touch as he clears a path.]
I hope we are not too late, where is their face...
canach: (☽ 05)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-25 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[This is definitely a lot of snow, more than he initially imagined. But then eventually—]

I think I got an arm—damn it's iced over. [It's as if an ice elemental had started to encase the person.] Dig out higher—here! [Although he maintains his calm, even Canach has a sense of urgency in trying to help save this person. He may not be the most generous, but he does have a legitimate sense of will to help those in real need.

If they're quick enough, they may be able to save this person, and—was that a muffled, moan? They must hurry!]
duskbloom: (startle 🙧 one)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-26 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya is already on the hurrying part. The moan at least gives him a part of the snow to focus on and he plows through it with vigor--perhaps too much as he likely smacks their poor, frozen face knocking the snow away.

Once he clear enough he tries to cradle the back of their head to lift it just enough out of the snow as he dusts more away.]
Hello? We are here for you--oh, they look terrible.
canach: (☽ 09)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-26 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
Lucky enough to be alive, but that won't last for much longer. [More snow and chips of ice are removed.] Did you bring any blankets or anything to wrap him with?

[There were already signs of frostbite, but perhaps if they're quick enough they may still be able to save the man. Again the man moans, teeth chattering, but there's otherwise no movement.]
duskbloom: (startle 🙧 four)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-26 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! [Syrlya pushes enough snow that he can rest the person's head on his legs as he fishes through the bag for the blanket.] Have you got their legs free? Perhaps we can pull them out of the snow now and wrap them up.
canach: (☽ 13)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-27 08:04 am (UTC)(link)
Almost. The snow and ice seem thicker here.

[And when he finally manages to get it all free, there's a sharp intake of breath and a hiss.]

Thorns, his legs. No wonder the bloke didn't get far, they've been bashed in. [As if he had been attacked either prior to the storm or during it. Hard to say given their current situation. But this is going to make carrying the human even more difficult than it already was.]
duskbloom: (grief 🙧 seven)

[personal profile] duskbloom 2015-12-27 08:14 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya looks down and purses his lips at the sight. He doesn't make any accusations yet as to what caused it.

He begins to wrap the human up in the blanket as best as he can manage.]
Do you think you are capable of handling the weight? They look large... but I'm sure I could manage if not.
canach: (☽ 09)

[personal profile] canach 2015-12-27 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll be able to manage, you need not worry about that. However at this rate it may be better if I take him on my back instead. [A two person carry would make it easier in general, but with the thick snow and now a delicate situation at their hands, perhaps one person carrying and other guiding would be better.]