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]

[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.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Eep! S-she would have figured it out! Now he's all close and helpful and stuff. ]

A-ah..! U-um... y-yeah, t..thanks.

[ Dangit, now she's trapped. Though at least the cool air outside was helping keep her cool because she was thoroughly, thoroughly flustered. C-could he not lean over her now? ]

[explodewiththerage]

[Trapped and warm and all surrounding in his very presence. How horrible it must be for her.]

You're welcome.

[And he stands back straight though still probably too close to Lucy than she's like.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Truly terrible! Worst thing ever! She fixed her gaze out the window, entirely too aware of his presence there. ]

...

[ Geez, not she was worrying that what they learned about emotions and stuff was legit - did that mean he'd be more aware of her mood and emotions and stuff? THERE's something to panick about. It was fine for her to be aware of HIS moods and emotions because she wanted to help him if he was feeling down, but...! ]

[explodewiththerage]

Huh? You've gone quiet, Lucy. SOmething wrong?

[Does she want him leaning back over her. Because htat's what he's about to do.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Meep! Yes and no! But mostly no. Right now. ]

H-huh? O-oh. No..! No, nothing's wrong...! I was just...thinking.

[explodewiththerage]

About?

[He's just way too suspicious about that stammering and evasion.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ GAH! ]

U-um. Nothing... in particular...

[ She edges away from him a little bit. ]

[explodewiththerage]

Oh really?

[Narrows his eyes still. He's close to dropping it though.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Stop looking at her with those accusing eyes! She avoided his, nodding. ]

Yeah... yeah! Not thinking about anything in particular. Ah... [ She pushed the window closed again, locking it. ]

W-well... I guess I should turn in for the night if we want to get an early start to check out the task board and things tomorrow...

[ Despite this awkward moment though she's ...definitely going to listen for him if he ended up having a rough night in his own room. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[well she's not giving up. In that case it has to be him especially once she decides to mention turning in for the night.]

Hmm yeah I guess were both pretty tired after....everything.

[celestial_wizard]

[ Y.. yeah it was his imagination! Yeah! She glanced at him with a soft smile, nodding slowly. ]

Yeah that's... a lot has happened today. You especially should get some ...sleep.

[ Her gaze flicked towards the scar on his cheek pensively. He'd definitely gone through a lot more than her today. Her eyes shifted to look towards his, and she slipped an arm around him to tug him along. ]

And you're not allowed to sit up brooding.

[ She'll make sure to see him to bed before turning in herself! ]

[explodewiththerage]

He felt her eyes and the wound on his cheek throbbed faintly under her gaze. It's going to leave one heck of a scar. He knows that. A not so great medal for him to wear but one he wouldn't do away with anyway. Just as he didn't do away with the scar on his side from his fight with Future Rogue.]

Haha nothing gets past you huh. OKay okay. Though...ummmm...Maybe if you stay close....

[celestial_wizard]

Not after all the time we've spent together, no. [ She grinned, reaching for his door first. Her hand flinched slightly as she glanced at him. ]

Ah w...well I'll just be in the room across from yours....

[ Her voice kind of trailed off halfway along that sentence. Her room was close, but... not really at the same time. ]

Umm... w-well I... guess I could sit up with you till you fall asleep...

[explodewiththerage]

I'd....appreciate that.

[His own voice trailed off when admitting that. He just knows he doesn't want Lucy all that far from him.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ That was telling enough of how he felt, not wanting to be alone their first night. ]

S-sure, no problem. What are friends for ... right?

[ Even with that said she was hesitant to opening his door, only entering once he stepped in himself. ]

[explodewiththerage]

That hesitation was a little troubling. He didn't want to force Lucy to do anything she didn't want to. But right now it's kind of impossible for him to send her off.]

Friends...right yeah

[That word doesn't feel enough and that uncertainty dims the lights in the room ever so slightly.]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Poor Natsu. That was hardly the reason she hesitated! She glanced at him for a moment - was he picking up on her awkwardness? That really wasn't going to help in the long run. She smiled, walking over to his bed and pulling his blankets down. ]

Come on, it's nice and cozy and waiting for you.

[ She patted the mattress lightly, determined to not bring the mood down with her embarrassment or awkward. The important thing was that he felt comfortable enough to get some sleep and she worried how well he'd even be able to sleep after all he'd been through. ]

[explodewiththerage]

[His mind is still gripped by some darkness no matter how much better he might appear on the outside.]

Mmmh yeah. Looks really inviting.

[He says and quickly slips under those covers even if he doesn't need them truly.]

Sorry...