memepatheias | Test Drive: January

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*test drive

Test Drive: January

— 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:

Pre-Intro Log. For the Test Drive, we are using parts of it as a "pre- intro log," which means not only can players go ahead and use the prompts as if the character is arriving into the game for the first time, but this setting will be adapted and continue in the official Intro Log. For TDM purposes the prompts are a little more generic and vague than what will be on the actual Intro Log, but they're relatable enough that can be easily transferred to the official log with a few minor tweaks. For those who do end up applying and entering into Emp, these threads are considered "forward dated" to the Intro Log.
Date reminders. Reserves open December 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on January 1st. Apps will only be open for four days! Because we're on a bi-monthly schedule, the next app cycle after this is MARCH.
Emotions are key! Empatheias's 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. 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 to collect their emotions and serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic, but it works basically the same as most other network devices.
First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. If you have a preference, be sure to specify. 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.
For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're 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!

PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try? Is your character feeling particularly wound up upon finding themselves in a new place? Or perhaps they're finally getting to live out the fantasy dream and are overjoyed! Or they just stubbed their toe and are in a lot of pain. Whatever it may be, this prompt is your catchall "let's try these emotion effects out" for any miscellaneous situation you may think up.

• 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: It's winter in Verens, and the festivities are alive with some new gimmicks. As always, emotions come into play, so be careful where they take you! Try not to destroy the city.

Beware the Snowmen: Do you wanna build a snowman? All snowmen are affected by the emotions around them, and it doesn't take too much to make them come alive. They have imbibed different emotions around them, so you'll find lovey-dovey snowmen who have no respect for personal space, snowmen jumping up and down with joy, sad melting snowmen, and irate snowmen trying to lob their coal and carrots at you. A few snowmen have managed to get hold of murderous tendencies and will now try to kill you when you pass by. Good luck? It's kill or be killed.
Bittersweet Chocolate: For those looking for a way to warm up, many cafes have begun to offer hot chocolate which is said to be the best in all of Verens. It tastes delicious, with the right amount of sweetness...except to those who hide their true attitude or personality behind a facade. To people who aren't true to themselves, the hot chocolate will taste terrible depending on how much they conceal, not feel. It'll also burn their tongues pretty quickly no matter how long the chocolate has been sitting around.

• Prompt E: Candles of Remembrance for Selenium, a holiday for mourning and grief, are always going through different changes for each year and the prototypes are distributed to see if it works. Normally, when lit, the candles create an image of a person sorely missed, whether they are dead or still alive. But something went wrong with the candle-making process this time. Various scents and aromas were infused into the candles to help improve moods, but the complete opposite is happening.

Well, This Stinks: No images are produced from the smoke and flames, but instead, they exude horrible and disgusting smells from memory. They can range from recent events like burned cookies from last week, or the stench of a bloody battlefield from years past. The scent of the candle depends on the character lighting it, so everyone will be able to smell whatever they smell from it. It's very strong, so it's possible someone could actually feel nauseous either immediately or from prolonged exposure. But that's not all. The aroma will elicit varying feelings of regret, disgust, hatred, rage, and overdramatic despair.
Counter Whiff: On the other end, a different kind of aromatic candle is producing far more pleasing scents, but it's way too strong. It's like getting a bottle of strong, "mature" perfume shoved up one's nose. The scents from these candles have even stranger effects, such as actually knocking someone unconscious; soothing them to sleep right on the spot; or even have strange hallucinations believing that the person in front of them is the one from their memories. The candles also make those affected strangely happy with extreme exuberance, and the emotion effects from their displays of joy are just as extravagant.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Both candles have a troublesome side effect: their scents attract a variety of wildlife from the woods. Deer, skunks, chipmunks, foxes, all sorts of birds, you name it, they've begun to invade the city and zero in on those lighted candles, lingering around them or worse, actually taking the lit candles, which can (and will) potentially start fires. The fires can be put out normally, but strangely enough, after they go out, it is as if the affected structures and items were never burned in the first place. Now they just reek of candle scent. Attempts can be made to remove the scent, but it'll take either a lot of scrubbing or somehow creating emotions that produce a more pleasant scent.

• Prompt F: Boreas, or winter, is in the air and this month the city suffered from a number of wintery effects, partially due to the Arehtei Peromei. Some like the blizzard and mistletoe could be considered typical holiday fare. The werewolf flu sweeping the city, not so much, but that still hasn't stopped the citizens of Verens from celebrating the holiday season. [Note: Scenarios pulled from our current event, and the full details can be read here. Due to the timing, these threads cannot be carried over into the game.]

Hibernation: A despair filled blizzard has taken the town by storm, bringing a strong urge to hibernate with it. Characters with strong negative emotions will be hit the hardest, but most everyone will feel the urge to take a nap right then and there at some point. There are ways to ward off the emotionally induced drowsiness though as roving bands of carolers seek to keep people's eyes open and spirits light. In addition a number of hope infused lanterns have been strung throughout the city to guide travelers to safety and keep them from dozing off in a nearby snowbank.
Mistletoe:t's not just the snow either, the town is also plagued by a particularly invasive species of mistletoe brought to the island by Peromei. To citizens' dismay, it isn't ordinary mistletoe or even ordinary magic mistletoe. No, instead this awful plant that lurks in corners and on ceilings is influenced by a combination of Peromei's and Elios's influences to make it aggressive and mobile. It now prefers to slither around and attach itself to moving targets. Once attached to someone, it induces a terrible longing for the sort of love and affection one secretly hopes for the most -- anything from a simple hug to a mom to fuss over you to a new friend you can always have lunch with -- and it won't let go until its victim has found someone who can fulfill that longing.
Wereflu: In addition to the mistletoe and blizzard, there's also the aforementioned werewolf flu sweeping the city. Thanks to a foolish researcher, the infected are suffering partial or in some cases full transformations into wolflike creatures. The main cure for it is positive attention as like the mistletoe, the afflicted will be driven to seek it out and the more they get, the sooner they'll be back to normal. If left unchecked, it can lead to more feral aggressive behavior, so Otherworlders and natives alike have been warned to be cautious when attempting to help those affected.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include paper snowflakes and/or cinnamon.

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[What what why the wait what? What??

She cocks an eyebrow along with tilting her head at him when she gets that look back, with her wincing slightly as the breeze blows right through her. Good thing she kept on the shawl, which she clutches around her a little tighter now.]

Bzzt, no, that's the wrong answer! You're meant to ask "what about a name though" or "I'll need to find him a bed", not shut the idea down from the start.

[She pulls her arms back under her shawl, crossing them as she walks around the bench now so she can look at him properly and not just talk to the back of his head.]

So why, what's not possible about it? [She doesn't work in "not possibles", it's just. Impossible.]

[There's a stretch of silence even after Korwa moves, long enough that it might seem as if he won't answer. But eventually his lips begin to part and he speaks in his usual methodical way.]

Taking in a dog requires time, space, and responsibility I don't have. I'm often out on extended missions, which would leave it alone for long periods of time.

[His gaze drifts back down to the dog, hand at some point returning to gently stroke the top of its head.]

It deserves a warm, loving home and family. I can't offer that.

[His words are a little quieter, expression bearing a hint of somber. Even if he may be thinking more about his usual lifestyle back in their world since he can relax a bit more in this one, he does often take on difficult jobs and he still thinks he would be unfit for this particular child. There's also the matter of his own residence which may be too small and inadequate. Surely it needs at least a yard...]

[... It's a good thing he starts explaining otherwise she would have nudged him again for a reply.

She listens to his response, expression unchanging. True, dogs and all pets deserve warm loving homes. But who better to provide that than Eustace? Dogs are His Thing, she can think of no one better.

The being away is a problem though. Thankfully she has a solution.]

I'll take it while you're away then.

[Korwa kicks out one of her legs, folding it over her other as she sits back on the bench. Has she ever even owned a pet? Or taken care of an animal at all? ... Does Vyrn count?]

It's nothing I can't handle, giving it the attention it deserves while you're gone doing this and that. And did you know? Dog clothing is a thing. Talk about a great chance to take a stab at a whole new market.

[He gets to do his missions, she gets a model. It's perf. What's the worst that could happen?]

[SEE THIS FACE. This is the face of extreme disapproval at her idea about the dog clothing, or at least using this one as a model.]

[There is definitely some frost in his glare, his words harsh as the biting wind gathering around them.]

The dog is not for your entertainment. Do you even know to take care of one? And you have your studio—is such a place acceptable?

[In truth her offer had been surprising and he might have considered, but everything that tumbled out of her mouth made those iron gates go up.]

[Why that face?! She was so sure he would love hearing about dog clothing! The clear disapproval, the cold glare-- It's too much, she needs to look away from him for a moment.]

I'd never dream of owning a dog or any pet just so they'd entertain me, come on! You're making it sound like I'd run some pathetically cruel dog circus.

[Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But his tone, what he's saying, it's not the best and it doesn't sit well with her. She bites her tongue and avoids snapping back, even as her shawl gets whipped by the wind and she visibly shivers.

She could keep things lighthearted. Say she could bring the dog to her studio, it could be her personal assistant in dressmaking-- Eustace would only get mad though even joking about this. Ugh.]

You know I don't just make offers without putting at least some thought into what I'm saying, right? My studio has rooms in the back and a space outside too. I'd take regular breaks to walk it, feed it, show it love. [...] But hey, maybe you're already thinking that I'll have the poor thing performing tricks for my customers.

[She was in a perfectly fine mood until now. Who knew dog clothes would end up causing such a hassle? Korwa draws her legs up onto the bench, frost flaking from her heels as she covers herself from the chill of the wind.]

[Eustace likely views people putting dogs in clothing for their own entertainment rather than any real purpose, so it naturally doesn't sit as well for him. Perhaps in certain situations or occasions he could be persuaded, but for now, at least, he has a frostier outlook.

However, it will only last a few seconds more before it starts to recede a bit. Perhaps he's noticed that he's caused the burst of chill around him and is reflecting a little. And...maybe he was a little harsh in judgment. It doesn't help that he doesn't know Korwa all that well, but he does know she's a responsible person.]

I didn't think that far.

[Somewhat of a curt, almost grumpy answer.]

[Curt and full of grump is better than his last response, so she'll take it. Even if she's not completely happy with him still.

She shuffles about a bit under the shawl. She looks like a big lump of fuzzy cloth with an Erune head sticking out the top of it. Not a look she'd ever choose to go for, but wow, it's cozy.]

Well it's good that you didn't. [She sighs.] Maybe I got a little carried away. But my idea is still there you know, this little one deserves a happy ending after all. Just without clothes.

[Just going to quickly clear her throat and avoid him even having the chance to comment on her bringing up the clothes again. Besides, now she has a better idea.]

I could give making a collar a try. Or maybe a ribbon. A little something with some love sewn into it.

Collar...

[...Were it a female, he'd allow the ribbon, but since—wait. He hadn't been able to really tell from where he had been sitting, but is it a male or female...? Distracted by this sudden question, he leans over to try and verify, but the dog is beneath him and on its belly so he can't easily tell. Hm.]

What if it doesn't want to live with either of us? Regardless of what we think, it's still up to the dog on who it chooses to be with.

[Such a Eustace-like answer.]

[Yeaaah she couldn't really tell from the glance she had at the dog before what she was working with exactly. Easier to just cover all the bases.]

I'd say since the dog is still hanging around, even through the cold? That's a pretty big sign it's happy to stay with you. Why not ask it and see what it thinks just to make sure?

[If Korwa knows dogs, say anything to them in a happy voice and they'll be all wagging, all panting, 100% excited. They might have no idea what you're saying but that's fine, it's the reaction that's important.]

[Eustace gives her a rather dry, cold look... But he then looks down at the dog. Would it even understand the meaning behind such words? For that matter, should he really even be considering this at all? It's clear he's still wavering, something that is rare for the Erune.]

You're reading too much into it.

…Why are you so insistent about this?

[Pushing him to take in a stray and essentially meddling into his life.]

[In these conditions, every look is a cold look-- She just gives him A Look right back.]

A step towards a happy ending is right here, and it's a whole new chapter for the dog. I'm just here to see if you'll take that step or not... And maybe see if a couple of pokes and nudges make you go in the right direction.

[Newsflash local nuisance Korwa meddles in the lives of others stop the presses.]

[Just another second or two of that frosty look before he finally sighs and glances away. Really, what a meddlesome woman.]

"Happy ending," is it?

[He's heard her say it before.]

Before I can take it in, it needs to be taken to a vet and have its health checked. There's also the possibility that the dog could have a previous owner—it seems too well-behaved to have been born a stray.

[Not that it's impossible for a stray to still be friendly to humans, but the dog does seem docile. The thought that it could have ran away or gotten lost is still a possibility, and if it's true, reuniting it with its owner could be another kind of happy ending, isn't it? Assuming the owner exists and isn't a piece of trash.]

You do have a point. I hadn't thought of there maybe being a previous owner.

[Well that throws a spanner in her plans. But it is another sort of happy ending there, reuniting the poor lost dog with its owner.]

How about instead of a collar or anything that far forward thinking I put together some posters? While I'm doing that you can see to its health. There, teamwork.

[Eustace nods at this compromise. It would be a lie to say that some part of him wasn't a little disappointed, but truthfully he really did hope a well-mannered dog like this did have a loving home waiting for it.

With a plan now set in his mind, he hands the bag of untouched pastries to Korwa.]

Here.

[She takes the pastries with a tilt of her head. Before she really stuck her foot in it and now he's giving her baked goods. Well, she's made a good turn around here that's for sure.]

You're giving all these to me? Oh, that's a little dangerous. [There's a soft laugh from her as she nods.] Thank you.

[The rustling of the bag ends up grabbing the dog's attention, and sure enough it perks up enough to be suddenly all ears, eyes and nose. Sniffing Eustace, sniffing Korwa, sniffing in the air at the bag-- Food. There is Food in the bag.

When Korwa reaches into the bag she takes out what looks to be a chocolate croissant... And immediately shoots the dog a sorry look.]

Sorry, I know for a fact this one isn't for you. But maybe if you ask nicely there'll be something else in this bag you can have a little of?

[... Eustace the woman with the food isn't handing over the food and now the dog is doing little tippy-taps. Tippy-taps for more food.]

[He had intended to stand and take the dog to a nearby animal clinic, believing the topic now over. But as he was starting to do so, the dog had its attention back on the food and...

...Yeah, he also knows that chocolate isn't good for the dog. But those tippy-taps...

...Tippy-taps...

...

As if unable to take Korwa's teasing, he reaches into the bag and pulls out one that had a bit of cream filling in it. Wordlessly he pulled off a large enough piece with minimal filling it before shoving the rest of it back into Korwa's hands.]

Edited 2020-01-14 08:52 (UTC)

[Korwa watches entirely enthralled as Eustace crumples in the face of eager doggy tippy-taps. He's always so serious, seeing this side of him is so refreshing! Even if he did just shove the bad back at her-- Whatever, she'll take it back quite happily.]

This is just completely precious.

[She's looking between the dog, who makes a little half-bark half-growl kind of noise, and Eustace. Who's she finding more precious here? Hard to say. But overall the dog and Eustace together are way too adorable.]

[Eustace only shoots her a glance, another burst of frost and snow swirling past before he turns his attention back to the dog. It's still a bit frosty, but there's some immediate warmth the moment he looks at it.]

I'm taking it to the clinic.

[With those curt words, he bends down to pick up the dog to carry it in his arms. It really does seem like he's ready to just leave, with or without Korwa.]

[Oh what a shame, Korwa suddenly is far more interested in looking elsewhere and misses that glance. Shame she still feels it with the frost and all. Eustace stop being so cold.]

Sounds like a smart move.

[Korwa stands and dusts herself off, frost falling from her clothing as she tugs the shawl tight around herself again.]

I should go with you. The clinic might have had someone come in asking about their lost dog for all I know. They might even know the owner just from looking at the dog.

[And then they wouldn't need posters! See it's a good reason to come along. It isn't just an excuse to see how things end. Or to give Eustace company.]

[Ice is his thing and he'll never let it go.

He'll just look over at her before he begins to walk.]

Do what you want.

[He has a feeling she'll tag along no matter what he says, so just might as well.]

[I thought it was earth and dark.]

It's decided then, I'll accompany you.

[She decided. But hey, he had a feeling she'd come anyway.]

Let's stick things out together from this point on and see how this story pans out.

[He next element is water when they finally get to his backstory, just watch. Becomes Tundra Wolf.

There's another glance and another noncommittal sound of acquiescence, but there is a slight sense of warmth around him as the dog wags its tail and reaches up to give him a few licks on the chin. Yes there is the faint quirk of a smile.

Hopefully the dog will have happy ending.]

[Tundra wolf is acceptable. This is fine. ~~Meanwhile Korwa exists in Wind forever~~.

THAT SMILE THOUGH that smile though. He can smile! Alert the press. Korwa lifts a hand to her mouth to her her own smile at seeing Eustace liking those chin licks.]

... I'd say we're in for a happy ending.

[Just a general comment. She wanted to say it's cute or sweet but that might ruin his smile if she aims something at him specifically! So yup, just thinking out loud that they're going to be okay.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive: January

holds forever!! ... or until this thread ends!!

guess this is never ending...! or I drag you down

starting 2020 with an Infinithread. or being dragged by lae. i'm down

1/2 you knew your fate by appearing within my grasp

2/2 also puppy eyes

oh no not the puppy eyes... im weak

can you resist the euspuppy eyes... 👀

no i cant!! but thats not fair ;w;

cuuute little pupstace~~

pupstace was the best I wont even lie, 10/10 would kiss again

Nothing stopping her from doing it again 👀

NICE TRY EUSTACE she isn't kissing you. here. in this thread.

but eventually. somewhere. more suitable~

like his house after he literally destroys hers?

it's to uh. make...up for it? eh-heh?

hah. hah hah hah. hah. he's buying her a new house or she's staying.

...........welp he's not that rich. GUESS ONLY ONE ANSWER.

he's getting a better paying job?

kind of.....

good enough

this is the dog.

they're perfect and i love them. the dog is cute too.

it's their future child

precious little furbaby for the two of them