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

[explodewiththerage]

[He just waggles his eyebrows cheekily in response before moving his head away from her reach~]

[celestial_wizard]

[ She burst into giggles even more; cheeky bastard. ]

Give me that! Spit it out, bad dragon~!

[ Seizing an idea, she reached out to grab hold of his scarf and pull him back towards her with one hand, the other reaching out to grab the pillow. HA! NOW what will he do? ]

[explodewiththerage]

[That...actually catches him totally off guard as Lucy pulls him in by scarf to the point that he almost trips over and onto Lucy!]

[celestial_wizard]

[ ... ... ... where did things go so horribly horribly wrong? She squeaked when he nearly tripped over her, her hand loosening on his scarf quickly, a blush rising in her cheeks. ]

A-ah...

[ Just... gonna... grab for that pillow in his mouth yeah... don't mind her. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Who could even tell at this point? Certainly not the two people involved since it was just too much fun ]

Mrrr

[He's still holding on regardless.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ What th... was he seriously fighting her on the pillow? She sputtered a little, tugging on the pillow. ]

W-what are you doing? Are...are you growling?

[ In spite of herself, she sputtered a soft giggle at his ridiculousness, as she tugged on the pillow again. ]

Too bad! You... can't have it...!

[ Who knew dragons liked pillows so much! ]

[explodewiththerage]

He can't really talk while holding on to the item with his teeth you know. Even so the item in his moputh starts to slip off]

Mrrrr

[celestial_wizard]

[ That's true. Although as much as she was tugging on the pillow, and the way it was slipping, she didn't want it to overbalance him ...again. So she tugged once more, and then... let go! ]

Fine, you can have it, you crazy dragon~!

[explodewiththerage]

Hahaa I win!

[he declares triumphantly finally taking the item out of his mouth and holding it over his head victoriously!]

[celestial_wizard]

... Ahahahaha, you're so -WEIRD- Natsu~! [ She giggled. ]

Fine, you have the pillow. And it's probably got your toothmarks and spit all over it too~! Gross.

[explodewiththerage]

Totally worth it~

[ He huffs smugly before finally releasing the the pillow and taking hold of it rather proudly.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ She shook her head. ]

It better have been, you weirdo. Were you actually growling just then?

[explodewiththerage]

Takes one to know one.

[IT's pretty damn natural in his books.]

So what if I was?

[celestial_wizard]

[ She 'hmphfs' at the 'takes one to know one' response. The nerve. ]

If you ... do you know how weird it is to -growl- at someone?

... actually you probably don't. It's probably perfectly normal to you. [ Sigh. His upbringing, dat weirdo. ]

Hmph! Maybe I should growl back at you next time~!

[ THAT would be funny. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He has plenty of nerve. And sadly not all that much foresight to choose his words any more wisely.]

Oh you think you can? Then go ahead and try~

[celestial_wizard]

[ She eyed him oddly. ]

Wha... seriously?

[ There was no way she'd be able to "growl" the way he did. But hey, what's the worst that could happen, right? He'll just laugh at her, and he deserves more laughter in his life. Still, it was a little embarrassing! ]

F.. Fine, I will!~

[ After all, she can't just leave a challenge like that alone. So after a moment to consider, she leaned forward with a playful grin. ]

Grrrrrrrrrrr..~...

[ Though the way she rolled the r as she pronounced her 'growl' it sounded much more like a purr. Or a weird mix of the two. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[He's standing by his challenge to the end. Digging his own grave most likely. Only to reach the maximum depth when she unintentionally leans in his face while making that....sound. That doesn't really count as a growl but still manages to ensnare Natsu's complete attention.]

...

[celestial_wizard]

[ She was so embarrassed, she couldn't help but chuckle - though getting Natsu's attention like that was an unexpected side effect. And she was -way- too close to his face. ]

... ... ...

[ She should say something. She cleared her throat, trying to speak, fails, tries again. ]

...w...well I um... can't...really make noises like a dragon after all...

[explodewiththerage]

[Close enough to feel her scent...and to hear even her heartbeat. Why did that make him feel warmer than usual? Something that start translating in the cozy atmosphere that starts to emanate from his body.]

U-Uhhh well it was a ummm good try...

[celestial_wizard]

[ Wow, was it her or did it just get warmer? She reached out to push herself away, though from her nerves, she gave herself a shock just from touching him. She flinched in surprise, snapping her hand back with a blush. ]

Ah-- you... you don't have to say all that, ahahha...

[explodewiththerage]

[Totally not her. Even he can feel it a bit. Though in his case it feels way more comfortable than it should...]

N-No no I mean it.

[celestial_wizard]

Y-yeah? [ Surely he was just being generous. ]

Um... I...

[ ...uh... what ...was she saying again? She's totally lost track of her train of thought, just from being that close to him. And being that close to him just put images in her head. She quickly shook her head. ]

I think I'm going to open the window a little...!

[explodewiththerage]

Huh? Oh uh okay if that's what you think you need.

[He very very reluctantly moves off of Lucy to let her go get the window open. Though eh does watch Lucy as she goes.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ She hurried over to the window, keenly aware of his attention as she struggled with the window. ]

Mmph~! Stupid..thing must not have been opened in a while.

[ Or...she could just be so flustered she forgot to ..y'know...unlock it.... ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Seeing her struggle, gets Natsu to quickly pad over and unlock it for her.]

Here let me get that for you.

[And lean over you while doing it. So about that getting away.]