Test Drive: May

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: MAY —

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 24th of April and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on May 1st. Apps will only be open for four days!
  
  
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are 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!
  
  
• Transfer to in-game. If accepted, you can assume threads made on the Test Drive happen in-game if the scenario can reasonably fit. For new characters, these threads do not count for activity check. However, these can be supplementary threads for players already in-game.
  
  
• 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!
  
  
• For any concerns or questions, head over to this top level.
  
  
  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: Perhaps one may have heard that Verens used to be a floating island, and it was! When the island then ended up on the surface, creatures which explorers have called "Dinosaurs" (quotation marks included) were discovered inhabiting the plains and the mountains in a far off area. It's time to go back to the jurassic world for a very important mission: gather as many Amaranthus Rubus, red pearl-shaped fruits that heal any and all wounds on one's skin. The hospital needs it! As such, one needs to prepare.

Explorers do not wish to harm the "Dinosaurs", as they are afraid the "Dinosaurs" would go extinct should any danger be placed unto them. This means that one's option when encountering volatile and aggressive "Dinosaurs" is to run away. A fun run is now being held in Verens a few days prior to the trip to the "Dinosaur" plains, where 50 sylvs and a t-shirt that says "I successfully ran away from a 'Dinosaur'!". The colour of the shirt is random, though, but there are as many as the colours of the rainbow. Maybe trade with somebody else who's finished the run if you don't like yellow so much.


• PROMPT E: Once the preparations have been made, it's time to set forth into the land of the “Dinosaurs”. As you enter their domain, it may be difficult to resist the temptation to interact with these rare and unusual creatures, and some of the “dinosaurs” are indeed tranquil and herbivorous. Go ahead and feed the long-necks leafy branches and if you're feeling daring, climb up on their backs for a ride! However, many of the “dinosaurs” are quite a bit more dangerous, and they are very territorial. If you cross paths with the a pack of raptors, prepare to run, fight, or distract. All explorers have been supplied with strips of alluring jerky to placate the beasts. Who knows, you might even make a friend! Be careful not to lose and hand, though.

The Amaranthus Rubus is thickest near the home of the most terrifying “dinosaur” of all, the "Tyrannosaur", and if you are daring enough to approach the lair of this creature to reap the fruits, you may not even have the chance to run away before the creature corners you, roars, and...wiggles his sad, little arms. It seems poor old "Tyrannosaur" just wants some kind of tool to extend his reach! Help him out and he will let you go. Or refuse, and he'll eat you. Sounds reasonable, right?


• PROMPT F: It seems like the land of the "Dinosaurs" isn't so bad after all! Perhaps "Dinosaurs" and man can co-exist, but for that to happen, much research will have to be made regarding a "Dinosaur"'s way of life. Now aboard the ship to head back to the city, researchers are talking about another excursion in the future that's solely for researching on "Dinosaurs" - various species, what they eat, their excrement, and the like.

The trip back to Verens is a little long. Perhaps you're just resting in one of the rooms when there's an explosive sound that can be heard. Oh no! It looks like the engine's running out of steam! Luckily, there's a steam generator in the ship, but steam can only be made through cooperation, anger, and sadness. The entire ship needs your help to get back to the city safely, and if you have to hold someone's hand, slap them, and yell at them to get them to manifest their emotions tangibly, then do so!


• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include swords and/or stones.

Comments

A

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Iris had experienced plenty of impossible things in her life. Particularly as of late. So when she noticed the young woman panicked and the subsequent effects it was beginning to have...]

[Thought frightened herself, she steeled her nerves and took a step forward.]

Excuse me? [Even then, her voice was soft. Almost demure. Shoulders slumped downward in a humility reflected by her attire.] Miss? Are you...alright?

ahhhh iris!!!

[veracus]

[She's hyperventilating, her hands clutched in her scalp as the wind picks up speed, growing faster and faster with every second. Her sketchbook falls to the ground, its pages flapping with the violent breeze like an animated picture book.

But then a woman speaks over the nose of the wind, her voice incredibly soft. Incredibly soothing. She looks up at the woman, panic still in her eyes, but her hair falls down and the wind calms somewhat.

Still, she does not speak. Not a word. She's too frightened to.]

i could say the same about violet!

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[At first, Iris doubted her actions. Wondering if her presence was only going to make things worse.]

[Then...eye contact. Panicked eye contact, yes, but there was no visible increase in said panick. In fact, the world around them gradually started to settle. The fear was still there, but perhaps...]

It's alright. Take it one breath at a time.

[She lingered back. Arm's length at a minimum. Not yet raising a hand to the young girl's shoulder, though it was tempting. Instead, she knelt down right there so that they would be closer to eye level. Keeping her own demeanor calm. Patient. Letting the frightened girl set the pace of the conversation...or lack thereof.]

You're safe. I won't hurt you. I promise.

GETTING TO PLAY WITH AN IRIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE

[veracus]

[She breathes in and out, slowly but surely. With every breath, the wind begins to slow down, until it is only a light breeze. The clouds stay thick and twisted above, but there is no sign of anything worse happening. Not yet.

At the words "I won't hurt you," though, she immediately gets a thousand images in her mind of all the ways someone, this woman included, could hurt her, and she flinches, staring at her nervously. She's heard those words before... from Kristoph, from her would-be kidnapper. She doesn't trust them.]

OH NO I ONLY HOPE I CAN DO HER SOME *JUSTICE* FOR YOU...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Right away, Iris knew she had said something wrong.]

[Her own body language began to imitate the young girl's. Recoiling into herself, head dipping down. Eyes flickering away. Her own memories--those of past failures--echoed in her mind for a time. Wondering if this was going to be one more thing she screwed up.]

I-I'm sorry...

Whatever I said, I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought...you looked so frightened...

HAWTHORNE MORE LIKE D'AWWTHORNE

[veracus]

[Just as quickly, Vera feels bad for the woman in front of her. The woman speaking to her seems so kind, and trustworthy, and now she seems so hurt and vulnerable, and it's all because she got frightened. She doesn't know how to express those thoughts, so she goes for the next best thing.

She gathers her slightly dirty sketchbook and her pen and very rapidly draws a sketch before displaying it to her. It's of the woman in front of her, smiling softly - "Please don't be sad," in other words.]

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[The sound of shifting paper and some sort of writing utensil making quick strokes along the surface page drew her attention. And when Iris looked up, she saw...her.]

[Eyes widening, she stared in awe for a moment until she realized her expression had come to mirror that of the drawing.]

You're very talented. It's beautiful.

[veracus]

[She doesn't smile at the compliment, but she flips to the next page and draws a big happy face before displaying it to the other woman. Her actual expression is completely blank.]

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Eyes flickering back and forth between the neutral expression of the girl, and the bright, happy face of her drawing...Iris was beginning to get the picture.]

[Ace Pun Intended]

I see...

You find it easier to draw than speak, don't you? It's alright...you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I'm only sorry I don't have the ability to draw something for you in return.

[veracus]

[Now she doesn't know how to express what she's feeling in drawings. Gratitude that someone understood, a "yes" to her question, and a reassurance for her apology. Those are all things she wants to say, but can't. Not in a picture. Not even with a nod or a shake of her head.

So she speaks, very timidly and very quietly, her eyes closed:]

It's... alright... thank you...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Again, understanding the moment as well as one could, her smile warmed at the significance of such words. The fact that the young woman would speak at all, even as it seemed difficult for her.]

May I ask your name? Or, if it's easier for you, you could write it down.

I'm Sister Iris.

[veracus]

[In response, she takes out a business card and hands it to Iris. Written on the front of it is the words "Vera Misham," over a drawing of a palette and paintbrush.]

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[She accepted the card with a gracious bow of her head, taking care to note not only the name, but the design choice.]

Vera Misham....it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Misham.

I should have guessed you were a professional. [Her eyes softened with a hint of remembrance.] I wonder if you would have enjoyed a visit to my Temple. I was told by a few individuals it was a place of inspiration for true artists.

[And Larry Laurice.]

[veracus]

[Her... temple? She dresses like one of those Kurain villagers she sometimes sees in older paintings. She supposes that makes sense, if she follows a... what was it called... a religious order? She's never seen a temple or anyone from Kurain in person - she doesn't even know what belief system the Kurain villagers practice.

She nods slowly in agreement, to hopefully express that she would have liked to visit the Temple very much, and also that she's happy to meet her too. In a quiet voice, she then adds:]

Are you... from Kurain...?

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[!!!]

[Her brows rose in genuine astonishment.]

You know of Kurain?

[veracus]

[She flinches at Iris' surprise, not realizing why Iris would be surprised. Did she say something wrong...?]

...I have... heard of it... of the village...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Not wrong, no. Just...unexpected. In fact, the only reason why it took Iris a moment longer to answer again was that she tried to think of how that could possibly be. Her home village...well, it wasn't really a secret, she supposed. Especially after...]

Oh! The...newspaper article?

[She remembered feeling so sheepish about posing for that picture, but Sister Bikini had been so enthusiastic!]

[veracus]

[She nods slowly.]

...Yes... and my... paintings...

[Well, more accurately, her forgeries.]

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Again, assumptions were made:]

You painted Kurain?

They must be so lovely. From what I remember of home, it was a very beautiful place.

[veracus]

...I painted... paintings... of Kurain... I've never seen it myself...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

But you must've at least seen picture in order to pain it.

[Sadnessed tainted her smile then, and she looked away so Vera wouldn't think she was the cause.]

I haven't even really seen those since I was a child.

[veracus]

[She closes her eyes. She doesn't blame herself, but she feels bad for the poor woman. To not be able to see her home sounds sad.]

Oh... I'm sorry...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Iris shook her head.]

You don't need to apologize. It's not your fault.

And besides...I don't regret my upbringing. I was in the care of someone who loves me very much and taught me well. In some ways, it was the most fortunate thing to ever happen to me.

[veracus]

[Vera smiles a rare smile at that.]

I had... someone like that too... my father.