Test Drive: AUGUST

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: AUGUST —

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 25 July and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on August 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!
  
  
  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: Mystery boxes have begun to turn up not only on people’s doorsteps but also anywhere they go - at their workplaces, dropped off on their cafe tables, even falling out of trees or windows right in front of them. There is nothing special about the boxes themselves - nothing is written on them and they are made out of generic cardboard - but they may contain items such as a set of cute furry animal figurines, a ring of old tarnished keys, or a fancy but stained secondhand fedora. Others, however, have more sinister, mysterious contents, such as a black coat with a muddy hem, a blood-spattered kitchen knife or even what looks like a severed bloody finger. Ask around about who has been leaving these boxes all over the place, and you will get conflicting reports. Otherworlders lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a person suddenly in a hurry to leave the scene will learn that this person behind the mystery boxes can appear as a man, or a woman, or neither.

• Prompt E: Receiving a mystery box has its pros and cons. Some items give so much emotion and energy to a person, exaggerating everything they feel and think. It's a good thing at times, because when one is happy, they truly are HAPPY! When one feels like they're on top of the world, they may end up floating! However, there are instances in which the other person feels like they're drowning due to sadness, in which case, they may feel like they're underwater and need air to breathe. Don't worry! In times like these, all you need is a slap in the face to make you feel better! Or if that's too physically hurtful, others have discovered that crying stops the hyperbole of emotions, too.

• Prompt F: Investigations eventually lead to the founder of the cryptocurrency EmoGold who goes by the pseudonym "Sato" to be the one sending out mystery boxes to people. It seems the emotional currency has taken a dive in terms of exchange rate between EmoGold and Sylvs that he thought giving out mystery boxes to people would make them want to learn more about EmoGold and mining… sadly that didn't work and only proceeded to creep people out! "Sato" is now under custody of the Enforcers, and all the furniture in his house (strange and unique as they may be) is now up for auction! A lamp that looks like a cow and shoots light out of its eyes for 5,000 sylvs going once… going twice… SOLD!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include forks and/or snow.

Comments

[drizzle]

[It's strange. The way her partner's words rang, almost like clicking to her consciousness. She never once considered the possibility of the monster hunting for more children. The fog that was over her head will now begin to disappear.]

...it'd be a pain having to return here weekly, wouldn't it?

[But more than anything, the logical way her partner spoke to her reminded her a little of the way Livi would speak to her. Just without yelling and adding any insults. Her green eyes will turn to him, getting a better look at her partner. He didn't look nothing like Livi, and yet they felt similar to her. A more determine smile will appear at the thought.]

But you're right. We should resolve this issue entirely. For the sake of preventing future victims.

[As much as she hates the idea of bringing harm to others, she hated the idea of innocent families suffering the same way as the mother of this lost child has. Nodding her head, she'll turn to Ash.]

Okay, while we're on the subject. Maybe we should trade info quickly before charging ahead. What skills do you possess? What do you feel most confident doing?

[jadedlynx]

[ Ash can and likely will add insults soon. She shouldn't miss them too much already.

For now, her questions are fair. They're working on a team so she'll need to know their added strength. She's much smaller than Ash, though Ash himself is proof that size doesn't always dictate skill levels. For a moment, he wonders if this is what kids facing guidance counselors feel like.

Reaching behind him, Ash pulls the gun from the waistline of his pants. It's not his preferred style, but it doesn't seem to exist here. ]

I'm a good shot. I'm also trained in hand-to-hand. I can shoot energy without the gun using the dunamis. Your turn.

[drizzle]

[The sudden appearance of something that looks like a pistol will appear. Nike recognized it considering her fiancee and many noblemen used them. Personally, Nike found them interesting, but not something she would toy with.

When Ash explains his abilities in handling it along with his other skills, her green eyes will be directly at him, noticing he wasn't someone to take lightly. His outfit was ill fit for a nobleman, and yet he had the appearance of one. A small snort will be given after hearing his curt way of almost wanting to know her own abilities. It was almost surreal to find someone so similar to Livi while being so different. Ash looked more related to Bardwin than Livi ever would, for one.]

You and I have a lot in common. With minor differences, of course. Other than you being better looking. [Whenever it comes to self-defense, she has always had decent skill in it. She's never seen Ash in a fist fight, but it was clear he was in good shape.] My magic is usually used for long range defense and support. I don't use a pistol like you do, but my voice...or, rather, emotions in this case. However, I can't summon the wind underground but I can use it to guide us to any nearby exits, and I won't dare summon the rain unless it's to manipulate the element of water into other forms. I can also use hypnosis. So if I instruct you to cover your ears and ignore me, it may be for the best to do so.

[With that said, she will be thoughtful for a moment, realizing.]

It's funny. Now that I think about it, having you act offensively while I support you may be the best way to go around this. We just need to time things. Don't be afraid to let me know if you need me to switch with you on the last second. I'll do all I can to lessen the load. Does that sound like a plan?

[In the end of the day, she had no intention of allowing the monster to strike him nor the child. No one is getting hurt under her watch. It'll be odd having an active partner like this though. It was tough to tell if Ash felt the same about teamwork.]

[jadedlynx]

[ This world is something else. Ash has experience calculating risks, but that was before magic and other elements came into play. A girl who can hypnotize. To what extent? He wants to question more of her abilities but considering the endless possibilities, Ash can't interrogate everyone. Instead, he has to develop his own abilities to better match the world he's in.

He didn't expect hypnosis. So far, this girl seems to be open enough. Maybe it's a trick, but he doesn't think so. He usually has a good read on people.

It sounds like Nike can hold her own. That's good. Ash is used to leading a gang, but he's coordinated with other leaders before. The better she can protect herself, the easier it will be for Ash. He won't expect Nike to protect him, but it's much more simply if he only has to look after himself and the boy. ]

You're right, that's the simplest way. I'll lead the attack. When we find the kid, grab him and run, but go the way we came. If we're split up, it's only going to make the mission take longer.

[ No matter his reputation, Ash never wants innocents to be hurt, but something about her makes him worry a bit more. Maybe it's her innocent but energetic energy. What has Eiji done to him? ]

[drizzle]

[His response is all she needed to know! He was the type to work well with others. Which was different. To be able to do that off the bat without having to prove herself or whatever other ridiculous excuse was refreshing. Her smile will become more determined as she nods confidently.]

Okay, that sounds like a plan.

[Although she was against the idea of leaving Ash behind, but their priority should be the lost child. For now, Nike is more than willing to repay his willingness to trust her by trusting him in kind. If anything, she will figure out a plan when the time came...but for now.]

We should begin the mission, now that we have a better idea about our capabilities and positions. I trust you're ready?

[With that said, she will rise to her feet and begin to head towards the hole that will lead them to their destination. All she can do is peek her head into the entrance, trying her best to use the gust of wind to warn her of any incoming danger but...] The cost seems to be clear so far...I don't sense anything. This underground cave is definitely deeper than a bear's den.... [All she can hope is for there to be a water source available to get a better feel for the cave, but as far as she knows the air inside isn't as oppressive as the underground caverns of the Sun Kingdom. Which is a very good sign.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Unlike Nike, he has nothing to give him the sense of danger aside from instincts that come from the need to always be on guard. He can't even call his feelings toward a stranger 'trust' so much as he trusts himself to help her out if there's a need. However, if Nike is as capable as she claims, Ash realizes she'll be more of an assist than anyone he's worked with.

After pausing at the mouth, Ash steps inside. Though he'd given her a list of his skills, he immediately displays another as the cave swallows all light: he shines. Or, more accurately, he projects a light that gives him, and her, the ability to see, even in the thick darkness. This allows him to move with his hands free. ]

Be careful. The light is going to let me see, but it's going to make us a target, too.

[ Truth be told, Ash has a lot of skill in the darkness, but he doesn't think Nike does. If she falls and gets injured, no one wins.

His steps crunch on the floor, the stones breaking beneath his feet. ]

If you sense anything, tell me. Even if you're not sure.

[drizzle]

[The appearance of the sudden glow into the dark cave after taking a few steps inside will be beyond helpful, in her eyes. She can't summon fire nor had any material to create a torch neither. She doesn't mind so much the idea of him having concealed it, if he even did. For all she knew, he didn't consider the glow of light to be a good skill to use in battle. Taking a few steps closer to him, but leaving some space between them, Nike will shake her head a bit, trying not to snort at the idea she just had; after all this wasn't the time for jokes. Instead she'll make an impressed sound.]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep it mind while I continue to scout our surroundings. Don't worry, I'll warn you if anything stands out.

[So far, all she can sense was the air flow was getting slightly weaker the deeper they went into the cave which was normal. It was better than feeling tired and heavier. Somehow, she had a feeling there will be multiple tunnels appearing before them with most of them leading them to different exits. She needed to concentrate on the air flow, and only the air flow to keep her wits together and not get spooked by the sudden appearance of giant bugs. Which there weren't except for smaller bugs crawling on the walls and floors.

Just as predicted, the sudden appearance of three tunnels will appear, in different sizes, however she can sense there are more tunnels ahead, but the air flows felt different between them. An impressed smile will appear as she looks through each of the tunnels.]

Interesting. This creature is smarter than your average monster. No wonder the air flow felt so comfortable up until now. They made sure almost every tunnel had an exit of some kind. [Her gaze will turn to the tunnel with the least amount of air flow though which she'll point towards.] Except for this one. This one is odd. [Other than the least amount of air flow, there was just something about it that made it feel very off. It was hard to explain the exact reason for it.] ...it feels perfectly normal. [.......turning away from the tunnel, she will pull Ash's sleeve and point to the very first tunnel instead.] I sense water over there. Wanna check it out? I think it could be a very good clue to investigate.

[jadedlynx]

[ Multiple exits. Escape routes? Or entrances from various points so that the monster can take children from different areas? Ash doesn't plan to interrogate, but he keeps the thought in mind. There's a possibility they're facing more than a single enemy, too.

Her ability is useful. Ash has his instincts, but he isn't psychic and there's no way to use strategy to determine which tunnel is correct without additional knowledge, knowledge Nike provides. ]

Normal, like there's no exit?

[ Which would be a good place to set up a base. While it's good to have multiple exits, it also means multiple entrances for your enemies. If you have one way you, the opponent has to funnel in and you can be ready to take them out, one by one. ]