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

[canach]

[If Canach noticed the change, he makes no sign of it, instead maintaining his cool demeanor. Of which he maintains despite the kitten starting to bat at the loose, curved roots and leaves of his boots. He leans down and grabs it by the scruff of its neck.]

While you earn money by playing with cats—[And holding it straight out to Trahearne.]—I have been taking jobs that allow me to learn the lay of the land and its creatures. Tell me, Trahearne—have you even been out of this city?

[thefirstbloom]

[Trahearne let out a little soft gasp at Canach's handling of the kitten, rushing forward to take it in both of his hands immediately. He shot him a look of disdain and stepped back with it, wincing as it stuck its claws into his chest to settle there again.]

Before I took the job of ensuring their safety from the likes of some people, I have indeed been out of this city. [He huffed indignantly.] I arrived here just days ago. I had wandered this land alone for over a week, scavenging and studying nature and its inhabitants. I found it difficult to keep a sound mind and concluded I need to gather my bearings here. It has given me more time to study these amulets and limitations on our abilities. It also has given me time to see many Otherworlders and ask their origin.

So no, I have not just been playing with cats. I have been gathering information by other means. [He paused.] ... Perhaps working together would get us further.

[canach]

[Trahearne really should have expected no less from Canach. He wouldn't have harmed the kitten, but he wasn't going to be gentle with it, either.

The sylvari's recount of his time here does little to "impress" Canach, but it does at least make him seem less "useless" as initially perceived. Then again, given who is doing the perceiving and on whom, it would have happened regardless.

Which is why Canach just scoffs at the suggestion.]

You mean the two of us? I think I'd tear my roots out before I'd manage anything useful.

[Implying that while logically it would make sense, in Canach's view they two are incompatible and he would have more difficult with than without.]

[thefirstbloom]

[Trahearne sighed and averted his gaze to the mewling cat, taking solace in the fact it was much more welcoming to attention than the other sylvari. Canach's were rebuffs expected, but no less disheartening. He usually would have kept his calm demeanor and had a retort at the ready, but the former Marshal was both exhausted in mind and body. With a deep sigh, he mustered up the energy to return his gaze, stroking the kitten's fur.]

Perhaps if you set aside your resentment for Firstborn for the sake of your return, it would be much less strenuous on you. I have no qualms about your capabilities, Canach. You have had a lapse in judgement, but I have heard you did well under noble supervision. I will place no restrictions on you. I will not judge you. I only ask that the courtesy be returned.

[canach]

Yes, I am well aware of my mistakes and have no intentions of repeating them. I may not be as noble as you, but I will agree that we are on the "same side" so to speak. [This is what makes Canach rather...contradictory. He's a good guy (and at the heart of it, always has) and seeks to redeem himself. Yet unlike most, this "turning over a new leaf" does not come with being nice.

And as he is somewhat loathe to admit—the Firstborn is right. He wants out of this world and hearing that some have been around for over a year does not please him in the slightest. He also has to admit that Trahearne does have skills that he lacks. Whether they are better he will not say, but he'll admit they exist.]

But it would seem I have little choice in the matter. [It's clear he is not particularly happy by this, both by his voice and the way the air darkens, the leaves of their armor curling and retracting as if to hide away from Canach's dour mood.]

[thefirstbloom]

[Trahearne exhaled in relief when he heard Canach reluctantly agreeing, knowing very well that it was a rare thing to get past his stubbornness. Though it had been exhausting to persuade the other, Trahearne could not help but gain a small smile of triumph. He amended his posture to stand taller, his confidence in moving forward solidified. His voice, though perhaps would annoy the firstborn further, was returning to his knowing tone of a Marshal.]

While I cannot say you will not regret making this choice at times, Ventari has bestowed teachings of perseverance, no matter the terrain. Despite our disconnection from Tyria and the Dream, I will apply them in this realm to ensure you return to your home.

[If he would be capable of returning himself, given the... circumstances he had left Tyria on, he did not know. He only knew that if he hadn't spoken to Canach, no matter how unpleasant the conversation, he would not have thought of the possibility. And that was enough to keep him from faltering again.]

[canach]

[Canach notices the changes, and his own posture shifts, a light smirk playing on his lips.]

Ah. Now you sound more fitting of your stature. [ie, 'bout time Trahearne seemed to act like a Pact Marshal and Firstborn. Not that Canach's opinion of him changes any, but seeing and sensing the sylvari more like a withered, useless weed probably annoyed him more.]

Of course it would be more persuasive if you weren't wearing those ridiculous ears and a kitten wasn't trying to tear off your leaves.