memepatheias | Test Drive: May

— 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You left once. You can do it again.

[ Noctis realizes that Ardyn doesn't ruin worlds for the sake of ruining them, but the idea that he can take away what Noctis has worked to build is more horrifying than he cares to admit. ]

You don't have kingdoms or armies backing you up here. Nobody that held you before will help you now. So, I can't make you leave, but you'll have it easier if you stay low.

Did I?

[If only. He'd like nothing more than to leave every world, but here they are.]

You say that as though a man just wakes up one day with a kingdom and an army at his back.

[He can rebuild, can't he? After all, the one thing he does have, is time.]

You fed off a power-hungry kingdom. You won't find that here.

[ Though, Noctis knows better than anyone not to underestimate Ardyn. This man has caused him more pain than he ever thought possible. ]

The people here don't have the kind of darkness you exploit.

It's awfully rude to make assumptions and speak about things you know nothing about.

[His tone is far less jovial, actually. But then he lightens up.]

Humans are the same, young king, no matter where you go.

You think I don't know about the kingdom that was at war with Lucis my entire life? That took Luna's kingdom? I know what he wanted, and I know how you twisted that.

[ Noctis understands that he doesn't know everything, but he feels like he gets a little. ]

But you're wrong. And I'm not going to let you twist this world.

That is exactly what I know, yes.

[As if the young king blames Ardyn for the twisted monstrosity that Niflheim became. No, he helped his own position, but they were so far gone long before he appeared on the scene. Take charge, or be prisoner, and he was tired of the latter. One wonders why that was.]

You know very little and it would do you well to remember that, and not make assumptions.

It's highly amusing to me that you think I am the one who brought the scourge down on the world. If only I had such power.

You're some innocent now?! Don't even pretend like I'm somebody you're going to fool!

[ Noctis has done well to keep his patience until now, but he snaps. He's tried to become more diplomatic, but Ardyn brings out the worst. ]

You helped destroy Insomnia, which got my dad and everybody else killed! You killed Luna! You're the entire reason I have to die!

[He smirks slowly.]

Why should you get anything when you took everything from me? Make no mistake, I am not the entire reason you have to die.

Your naivete is making me weary. The things you don't know could fill encyclopaedias.

Nevertheless...I am waiting, ever so patiently.

Everything I took away from you?

[ The idea is ridiculous. Noctis was born into this role and has suffered loss since. No, Ardyn wasn't behind all of them, but he's the reason for the most recent. ]

Waiting to die? That won't stick here. That'll happen in our future, but it's going to be a while.

I would tell you to read a history book, but since my dear brother decided I didn't exist, well that is only the beginning. You will just have to live with the sins of your forefathers, won't you.

[He's more than happy to lay blame on the current Caelums, but an itemized list of what he lost is hardly something he's willing to share. He'll sneer, and offer insults to deflect from anything potentially painful. Noctis can't have that.]

Unless you have sought the full force of the gods to face me, I'm uninterested in facing you. It's them I will prove I can defeat.

[And if he can't defeat them, he'll finally see his rest. Win/win.]

You don't.

[ Normally, this news is hard to deliver considering the cost, but in the moment, with Ardyn so proud and sure of himself, it became a little easier. ]

You get the rest you wanted, but you don't defeat anyone else. Your time for victory is over.

[He scoffs a little bit.]

Do you ever remind me of Somnus. [That, dear nephew, is not a compliment.]

If I get my rest, I still get my revenge.

[At least there is that. Their fates are intertwined.]

You can pretend I don't exist, but it doesn't make it true. Even the damned Astrals know I exist.

We're past pretending you don't exist. You made sure of that. But this isn't Eos. Are you really planning to keep it going here? What will you gain? The Astrals didn't come with me.

You ruined Lucis. Leave this place alone.

There's hardly any point if the Astrals aren't here. Are you insinuating this conversation is far too much for the delicate king of light?

I don't believe you get to dictate to me what I must do.

[He doesn't really have plans to ruin anything, but making Noctis bristle is a wonderful pastime.]

I'm handling it. And I don't care what you do as long as you can hold yourself back from destroying everything around you.

Find a normal life here. Don't cause trouble.

Oh good, I'd hate to make you uncomfortable.

[He would very much like to make him uncomfortable.]

A normal life? Highly unlikely. That opportunity has come and gone.

Test Drive: May

he's Noctis' only uncle, and he's still not the favorite

How harsh. Whatever happened to family ties?

you destroyed the family house

He prefers to call it redecorating

he doesn't like the decor

And here he was planning his next career move as interior decorator

what was his last job title?

He was an innocent healer of course!

'innocent'

So judgmental.

it's only bad if it's wrong

You must know what happens when you make assumptions.

I have proof (but also, I do feel bad for past Ardyn)

He got a raw deal. Doesn't mean he's not a garbage person though.

Both a and b are true

We're all in Bahamut's game together.