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

[lostapprentice]

The violent outburst continued for several more seconds, leaving raw streaks of charred wood and stone and a smell to match it. But eventually, it did end, Ren's chest heaving with each breath until that, too, calmed. He straightened, taking a deeper breath as he stared at his handiwork, not bothering to look at the general.

Opening his left hand, he levitated the crushed, unrecognizable memory petal he'd been holding the entire time and lifted his blade to it, watching it burn in the red light.

With his anger vented and the origin of it destroyed—at least physically—the cracks in the ground ceased forming, and his deactivated lightsaber returned to his belt. He felt better now, much better, even if the memories themselves could not be erased so easily. With the petal gone, he could return his focus to more important things.

[huxceptional]

As Ren focused his anger on the tree, Hux managed to completely compose himself, the air around him turning to an almost cool state. Not freezing, but uncomfortable if one wasn't wearing a jacket. Oh yes, he was definitely used to these displays of anger. Perhaps he should be grateful that he wasn't on the end of that lightsaber right now, but all he could feel was irritation at the sight.

Kylo Ren was volatile, through and through. Not only that, but he operated outside of Hux's neat chain of command that he prided himself in. All because of those Force abilities that he possessed. Sure, they made him undoubtedly strong and he was useful at times, but Ren had an embarrassing lack of self-control and faced no real consequence for behaving like this. Then he had the gall to question his men and the training they went through since birth?

He hated him.

None of Hux's thoughts showed, although he didn't really notice the fact that a couple plants around him were slowly dying. Why would he look at the ground right now? Instead, he quietly observed him, noting that Ren seemed upset because of the petal that was now disintegrated. So, one of those memory petals. Guess he saw something he didn't like-- although Hux neither cared or was curious enough to ask.

It wasn't like Ren would answer him anyway. So no point wasting his breath on that. Besides, they needed to go back to business and Hux could be professional by trying to make things somewhat manageable between them.

"As I said, I'll keep records of any important information that this tree might leave." Because he couldn't trust Kylo to keep his calm around a tree that had the ability to show memories of people close to it.

[lostapprentice]

Ren turned to Hux as if he'd just been conversing normally instead of lashing out in a terrifying outburst, regardless of the lingering effects of either of their emotions. The general could ignore the burned streaks his lightsaber left behind, and he could ignore the wilting plants nearby. It was all too easy—especially when neither of them cared about what the other was feeling. It was a distance they both took care to maintain, in order to stand working with each other at all.

"Memories of the Arehtei," he replied, his posture upright and confident as usual. Pieces of those false deities' past were the only thing of worth that came from this tree. "See that you do. They may very well be our key to returning to our galaxy and the Supreme Leader."

[huxceptional]

Hux looked at the tree with an impassive expression for a few seconds before he returned his attention to Ren. His irritation was still there, but it was at least dying down overall. It would be easy to berate the other man right now, but Hux knew when to choose his battles and getting into an argument with Ren after he just calmed down wasn't going to be useful or helpful in the slightest.

"Scavenging for every piece of information will be necessary here." The only good thing about this planet was the fact that no one really seemed to recognize them. It made it easier to go about their business without someone trying to kill them every passing second. Hux just hoped that Ren would keep it that way and not make enemies with everyone he meets.

It would just make his stay on this backwater planet even worse.

"Interrogation might eventually be needed-- I'm assuming that you're able to draw information still." Hux wasn't quite sure how much this place affected Ren's abilities with the Force. This was something he needed to know, even if he had no personal interest in those mystical abilities.

[lostapprentice]

"As strange as the energy is here, I've adjusted to it well enough," he replied frankly. It wasn't the Force, which made it sub-optimal, but the emotional energy could function in the same way, strangely enough. A couple of weeks was enough for him to adapt.

Still, he didn't appreciate being doubted by someone who wasn't sensitive to it at all. With the kind of power he had, of course he could still maintain it. But Hux would never understand. Ren could see the look in his eye whenever the Force was brought up. A certain amount of venom made its way into his tone, indicative of the disdain he felt for the question.

"Would you like a personalized demonstration?"

[huxceptional]

At the question, Hux just sent him a very unimpressed expression. He didn't look or feel intimidated, just almost exasperated by the whole exchange. Clearly Ren was incapable of answering any of his questions without some sort of threat to his personal well-being. But he wasn't worried about Ren attacking him right now or using his Force powers on his mind, which helped to contribute to his current calm.

"You don't need to."

He turned his back on the other man, his coat flapping behind him. Hux figured that their conversation was mostly done and he didn't want to spend time around the Force user any longer than he needed to. "A report will be sent to you by the end of this week."

Hux liked to keep up weekly reports, even if there weren't any major changes. Normally he wouldn't even bother to send something to Ren, but he was the only other person here from the First Order. It counted for something, even if he hated him.

[lostapprentice]

A weekly report? The idea was almost humorous—getting a report from Hux as if he saw Ren as a superior. They both knew he was much more powerful, but the general had never given him the respect he felt he deserved for that. He wondered how far he might be able to stretch Hux's willingness, because honestly, having him as an underling was a satisfying thought.

"You'll have a better chance gathering information by blending in," he said to the departing man. "Your rank and uniform won't get you anything here, General."

[huxceptional]

YOU WISH KYLO

At the advice, Hux stopped and looked back at Ren over his shoulder. He had a point, although he would never admit something like that out loud. No, he wouldn't give Ren that kind of satisfaction. Perhaps it was petty, but Hux didn't care about that.

Especially since Ren was still dressed in his robes. Although, he figured that blending in wasn't really in his interest to begin with.

"Yes, and I suppose that you just want to attract attention everywhere you walk." He couldn't stop the dry tone from entering his voice this time. Attacking a tree in the broad daylight pretty much summed up Ren's ability or care to blend in.

[lostapprentice]

"I'm not the one gathering information," the would-be Dark Jedi replied smoothly, grasping his wrist behind his back. "I've no intention of pretending I'm anything like these simpletons. That's something you'll excel at, I'm certain."

Would he ever go more than a minute without insulting Hux? Only time would tell.

[huxceptional]

A simpleton? The more reasonable side of Hux, the part of him that was usually in control, just told him to ignore Ren's nonsense and just continue on. But... he just couldn't let him get the last word in, not this time. What would it say about him if he just allowed this to continue? Worst case scenario, Ren would think of it as a weakness.

"And I thought you'd fit in so well." Hux sarcastically replied. "You have as many outbursts as one."

[lostapprentice]

If Hux thought he could get a rise out of him for such a sub-par retort, he was—well, the suddenly uncomfortably warm temperature was a sign of his success despite Ren's attempt to keep his calm, snow rapidly melting in the area around him.

"The locals here are rightfully afraid of what I can do," he replied, able to keep the ire in his voice to a minimum, though he was speaking louder enough to be noticeable. "You'll do well to follow their example."

Threatening the general wasn't his initial intent, but his anger was getting the better of even his words. He'd never been very good at controlling himself, and without the Supreme Leader's orders hovering over the both of them, he had even less restraint than usual over his temper.

[huxceptional]

Hux noticed the change in temperature and the fact that snow was melting around him now. So, Ren was affected by what he said. Good. It was a very satisfactory thought. He stopped looking at the former Jedi from over his shoulder, intending to leave him alone very soon.

"I am exceptionally aware of what you can do."

He didn't mention anything about being afraid though. Instead, he began to walk away from him.