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

[duskbloom]

I'm sorry for your skull. [Syrlya smirks and leans his hip against the counter as he reaches for Trahearne's cat ears.] I don't think there is much here that is the same. Perhaps it is not all bad! It must be quite the change of pace for you.

[thefirstbloom]

Oh, yes. [Trahearne chuckled, holding out the ears more than willingly.] Rather than boisterous soldiers coming to me in their time of not so dire need, there is quite important mewling instead.

[He lowered his hand from his head, and with both of them free, decided to stoop and pick one of the kittens up to set down on the counter.]

[duskbloom]

I've actually come to miss that just a bit, believe me or not. [Syrlya turns the cat-ear headband in his hands before he affixes it right on his own head. With his hands free he immediately plucks up the kitten and cradles it in his hands.] Are you going to adopt any of them yourself?

[thefirstbloom]

[Trahearne paused, but chose not to reply to his statement. He did miss the Pact. He missed Fort Trinity. He missed his cats.

He shook his head, choosing not to linger on it any longer.] No, I... I have not saved enough sylvs to care for one quite yet. [He glanced back to the other kittens wandering aimlessly, walking away from the counter and returning with another one against his chest. Though he would have caved to impulse eventually, it was there now to keep him from thinking any future on what he missed. He smiled more.] But I hope to very soon. I've started buying the items I am selling myself.

[duskbloom]

[Syrlya holds the kitten up in the air and smiles before snuggling it to his chest where he attempts to restrain its wiggling. Before it falls, of course.] That sounds like a nice thing to set your mind on--there is less... well, there is less action for us here, compared to before. It's nice to have something to help the days pass.

[Syrlya was still looking for that thing, but the constant learning was at least giving him something to do as he tried each new experience.]

[thefirstbloom]

And what do you intend to do to help the days pass...? [Trahearne glanced back up to Syrlya briefly, though it did not take long for the gaze to return to the cat in his arms. He occupied himself with stroking its fur, the creature eventually settling in its defeat and starting to purr against him.]

[duskbloom]

[Syrlya rolls his eyes up as he considers the question.] Well... I haven't settled on anything specific yet. Right now I am simply bouncing from task to task for some funds while researching this place. I've acquired a journal for my notes!

[He smiles.] I was in the middle of something very important and I need to find a way back, I'm really unable to settle.

[thefirstbloom]

[Trahearne listened through his cooing down at the cat, though he perked up as he heard he was researching. He smiled, his attention captured and his gaze remaining on the other sylvari.]

I'm pleased to hear you are recording your findings. I had intended to take my own, but... I have had distractions. Perhaps we could go over your journal together...?

[duskbloom]

Oh, yes! I'd appreciate your input on any theories for the function and reason of this place--and why it seems to draw so many strangers in. I've never heard of a portion of the mists that act this way.

[He sets the kitten back on the counter as it mewls and struggles to get free, stroking its back.] Most of the others have never even heard of Tyria, I'm not certain their worlds are anything like it.

[thefirstbloom]

I have not contemplated a new land since our Mother first sent me to Orr... And I have not felt her nor the Dream since arrival. [Trahearne closed his eyes briefly, only opening them again when it'd only confirmed that no amount of attempts would help him hear the Pale Tree again. He saw the other kitten placed on the counter, and set down his own to pet his in the same manner.]

I am certain the portal to this place as has disconnected all residents from their homeland... but for what purpose?

[duskbloom]

I haven't, either. I mean, we are just so distant now, I think, and there are so few of our kind... [Syrlya shakes his head. He was trying not to dwell on the emptiness in his head.]

That I have yet to figure out, but I assume it must have something to do with the crystal in the sky.

[thefirstbloom]

Yes... The crystal in the sky, and the amulets we all arrived with. [Trahearne nodded, casting a glance down at his own. He took his hand off the counter to pull it out from behind his leaves, then looked across to see Syrlya's.]

They must be connected. I have had many come in with many different colors, and... they have varying looks. They seemed to be filling up with a strange substance, or magic.