memepatheias | TEST DRIVE: July

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*test drive

TEST DRIVE: July

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

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 June 24th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on July 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.

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: With Eurus (summer) in full swing, some citizens have decided to combat the heat by staging a citywide water balloon war. Participants are given colored wristbands identifying them as part of the game, and everyone also gets a satchel full of water balloons to throw at each other. There are a number of stations set up throughout the city to get more balloons and some additional events set up in one of the parks in the city.
1. U Mad?: Those wristbands are meant to show who's playing the game and to keep uninvolved people from getting hit with a balloon, but of course it happens. Maybe your aim was off or you just happened to be in the area when it happened, but now there's an angry drenched person yelling at everyone. Work together with your fellow participants to calm them down, but be careful not to get too worked up. Anger might heat the water, and since they're already angry, you don't want to push things further and make them steaming mad.
2. All Ballooned Up: Or maybe you've decided not to go around throwing balloons at people and would prefer to help with one of the many resupplying stations set up throughout the game area. Which basically means handing out badges and filling lots of water balloons. Lots and lots of water balloons. Seriously, by the time today ends, you'll probably never want to see another balloon for the rest of your life. But while you're doing that, there's plenty of chances to converse with people playing the game. Or if you've decided to start a mini water war with the other people at your station, it's not like anyone's going to care about some of the balloons being used. Just leave some for everyone else, okay?
3. Bomb's Away!: For those who want something a bit more challenging, in one of the city's parks, they've set up what appear to be mini catapults loaded with water balloons. Participants are paired off and given a really quick spiel about channeling their emotions and using them to deflect the balloons, but it's not in depth enough to really make sense, nor are the people running the catapults really expecting anyone to actually do it and are really just here for throwing tons of water balloons at people all at once. Do your best to try and figure out how to work with your partner to emotionally shield yourself before you end up bombarded by the water catapult.
• Prompt E: The Verens Research and Technology Centre has published a well-meaning but condescending new initiative: educate the pirates of Briarlan in the ways of science, namely, research and development… despite the fact that they're almost more advanced than Verens. Helpfully, the pirates have decided to play along anyway, since they don't have any plundering to do for now. Any Otherworlder who would like to be a volunteer in the resulting studies will be well-compensated for their time and any trauma they may be on the receiving end of.
1. Walk The Plank: The pirates are very eager to test the buoyancy of people of all shapes and sizes, especially when acted upon by the stress of societal upheaval and banishment from the collective. To put it simply, they want to know how fast it takes a person to walk the plank. The deep end of a pool will serve nicely for this. All anyone needs to do is walk to the end of the diving board—sorry, the plank—and step off the end into the water. The kicker? The water is infused with negative emotions and is likely to dredge up some painful memories. At least the pirates are amused.
2. Medicinal Mayhem: The scientists are desperate for some order after their last adventure with pirates and are conducting something a little more restrained… is what would be the case were they not also desperately in need of a new patent before the end of the fiscal year. With some encouragement from the pirates, they are testing a new medicine to help combat the common cold and are generously compensating any and all guinea pigs. Side effects include temporary synesthesia, unstable hair and eye colours, the inability to speak in anything but rhyme, and believing that no one can see or hear you. Fortunately, these side effects only last an hour.
3. Whodunnit: Thank you, helpful participants! To show their gratitude to all their volunteers, the Verens Research and Technology Centre’s pirate outreach division is hosting a fancy dinner party. Black tie only in theory, but no one is monitoring the door and no matter how many people attend, there always seems to be enough food and chairs to compensate. Turns out, it is actually a murder mystery party, so better pair up! A helpful character card will be included, and will feature something like: “Your names are Rune and Roz Redmond and you are in the import-export business.” Hopefully the next time the lights go out, no one else will have fake-died.
• Prompt F: Duke Barry, one of the wealthiest heirs in Verens, has met the love of his life on a trip to Theasthai. The woman who has agreed to marry him is a popular stage actress, Speghan Sparkle, and thus the wedding has become the talk of the city. In fact, every single person in Verens is invited to Mr. Duke's large estate, and the wedding has a royal theme to go with it, too. Make sure to dress nice, for the whole world may be watching!
1. Joyous Entry: Anybody who enters the large estate will immediately be heralded by a fanfare, and the announcer will give them a made-up title (Lord, Duchess, Lady, etc) followed by their real name. Then, they'll either announce something that they actually accomplished in life, or they will make it up if the visitor didn't provide anything about themselves in their RVSP card (example: "famous for wrestling with alligators!"). Though, in some cases, perhaps the truth will be less embarrassing than the lie... either way, whatever they are announced as, it's what they will be known as for the rest of the evening.
2. Meat and Greet: Before our fake royalty ties the knot, why not take advantage of this ceremony and grab some free food? It's a perfect time to meet all the other guests as everyone enjoys various collections of wine, meat and desserts. Just remember to be polite! Anyone who starts a food fight or even so much as insults a fellow guest will spend a night in the dungeon. Yes, they can put you in there. Not a bad place to make friends either, however...
3. Try Another Castle: A group of less-than-intelligent lizard men have crashed the party in an attempt to steal "Princess Sparkle" for themselves. For some reason they think that this is an actual royal wedding and that Miss Sparkle is an actual princess. They're not very smart creatures, but they come in large numbers and they must be stopped immediately! Did anybody bring weapons to this party? If not, try jumping on their heads... assuming one can jump that high! Save the princess, save the wedding!!
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include red hot chili peppers and/or peanut butter.
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!

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The fun of it.

[Kevin needs no other reaso -- alright, fine.]

...and, this time of day, the streets will be awfully crowded. We can get around a lot faster where there aren't so many people walking all about. Anyway, to get a good view of the city from above will help you place things a little more easily, right?

I see.

[Strange. But, his following reasons do make more sense. Krolia shrugs a shoulder then.]

If that's your preference, you're the tour guide, so I'll follow. I shouldn't have any trouble keeping up at least.

Excellent, excellent, off we go --

[And so the swordsman spins on his heel and saunters off towards an alleyway without even thinking twice about it. One particular alleyway, out of all the alleyways nearby. This is undeniably a little sketchy! However, if Krolia at least follows him to the mouth of the alley, she'll see him scuttling up a fire escape attached to the side of the building. He knows where all the best ones are, an essential awareness for traveling the rooftop roads.]

I know just where to take you first! [He calls this over his shoulder as he climbs, easily maneuvering around the sword hanging at his hip.] When we get there, I'll be able to point out all sorts of things. Then, if anything catches your fancy, we'll go and get a closer look.

[Strange, strange man. But. Krolia follows along anyway. Because well. Apparently this is how the tour will be conducted. Krolia pulls herself up the fire escape behind him.]

Sounds lovely.

[Her voice is flat, but she honestly means it, for the most part. She's been a bit caught up in her reaction to winding up here to really learn anything about the place, so she does appreciate the insight into it. She should know the place that she's going to be living, whether or not she has a choice about it.]

You do this often?

Right from the start.

[Kevin pauses when he reaches the rooftop itself, turning around to see if Krolia will want a hand up. Given what he knows of these tall purple people, he doubts very much that she will need one, but it's polite to offer. Chivalry and all that.]

I'm one of the few Otherworlders left who arrived with the very first group of us to be pulled in...actually, almost exactly four years ago now. Back then, I was a dour, wounded thing. To be up here where it's quiet suited me well. [The swordsman can talk about such things easily, even with strangers, because he's obviously a long ways away from that period in his life, now. His bright, flashy colors and sparkly baubles are deliberate on his part, a visible way to pull himself farther from those old days of hurt. Hardly anyone who meets him these days would believe him to be the same person, and that's just the way he likes it.] Although I have plenty of reasons to stay on the ground these days, it's still pleasant to be up here, instead...and much faster during emergencies, so I keep in practice.

Four years in this place?

[A startled question, only because Krolia hasn't exactly stopped to ask how long people tend to be waylaid here. Though... her own hurry to leave has been tempered by the information she's gotten about time being held and by Keith's presence here.

If her being here won't put Keith and his father in jeopardy in her own time, what motivation does she have to leave her son again? Even if there's so many years in between them, it's Keith and he's here and alive, and grown and it hurts to even think of losing even a shred of him again.

She follows along after Kevin, considering.]

So it's still useful to you, if not always preferable. I can understand that. ...I think.

To be here so long is a bit of an anomaly, I assure you.

[He says it with an amused drawl. There are only two others from the first group still around, last he checked. A handful who've been here three years and longer, which may as well be almost the same thing, the more time passes. Far, far more have come and gone, some in the span of a week. Maybe sometime later, he'll take her to the Wall of Names.]

But, a great many of us have wars at home that we've no real desire to go back to, so -- to wish to stay here is a common enough sentiment. And, there's plenty for the workaholic hero types to get up to here. On or off the rooftops.

[Well. That certainly strikes home hard and she sighs, frowning.] I've had more than enough war for a lifetime, but... I chose to go back to it for the sake of my family, to keep them safe. Somehow... somehow winding up here rather than fighting the battles I had to give them up to ensure their safety... it feels unfair to them.

[She left them. She left Keith and his father because she wanted to protect them, was terrified of the Galra finding their way to Earth and the Blue Lion and therefore her small little family. So she chose to return to the Blade and the war and instead she wound up here. This strange place out of time, far from that chaos and carnage.

It doesn't sit right with her. The only thing that changes that equation is having found Keith. And the others she knows from her world here.

It's confusing, and she's frowning to herself as she tries to untangle it in her mind.]

And what type are you?

[Kevin listens quietly, trotting easily up and over this roof and that roof, jumping to the next whenever they reach a gap, entirely sure of where he's going. He hadn't actually been sure when he approached Krolia that she'd want to talk at all, and he'd been prepared to spend this walk prattling on harmlessly while she grunted at him, if she was that sort. That she's so willing to open up, even just a little, is both pleasing, and....ehhhnnn.

Well, she's got that nasty looking space cloud following her around for a reason. He feels badly for her, having so many heavy things on her mind. Family is important to him, too. So important he marched himself straight into hell and had time rewritten over it, once.]

I'm one of the lucky ones, actually. I came here between one life and the next. There's a war of sorts waiting for me when I do go back, but several people have come here from timepoints ahead of mine and told me how it goes. Because of that, I've had no trouble building a different life entirely here...away from the things I'll be devoting my life to there.

[He spins leisurely as he crests another roof, so he can watch Krolia's reaction.]

Perhaps it's unfair of me, to be so willing to forget that the place I come from needs me to be there if it's to be saved. However, this world is in need of healing, too, and as far as we can tell, it's the emotional energy the Otherworlders are providing that's helping it along. I figure that must be why it calls us here in the first place. [The swordsman tilts his head a little.] Since that's the case, because this world has been so kind as to give me a great many people and places to love that I'd never be allowed to have otherwise...it's only right for me to live this different life as hard as I can, right? The rest of the story will wait patiently.

[Krolia follows along, listening as he goes on. It's... well. It's quite a story of someone who's been here as long as he has. She frowns faintly as he continues. A war waiting for him, is it? Another life on hold.

As for helping this world. Krolia isn't certain what she thinks of that. Her own universe needs enough help, doesn't it?

But Keith being here changes that narrative. Kolivan being here, the others. It changes the story. And what choice is there anyway?]

So make the most of the moment, is it? That's very... serene.

I don't know that "serene" is truly the word I would use.

[Kevin lost his entire household in the span of an afternoon, once, some time before he was pulled into Empatheias. It's made him sensitive to the way beloved people are so prone to vanishing in the blink of an eye, in this place. Sometimes they never return. Sometimes they do, but with no memories of their previous time here. It stresses Kevin out, makes him feel like he's got to be on the ball and spoiling all of his loved ones at all times.]

Regardless, several wise people that I've come to trust very much gave me that advice, in the beginning. Since it's worked so well for me, of course I'll pass it on to you.

Perhaps not. What word would it be then? Or maybe the exact word isn't important.

[Krolia thinks she understands what he's saying anyway. And she ducks her head in a nod. Strange as he may be, he's a friend of Keith's, and what he's saying certainly has the ring of sense and truth to it, even if it's rattled off while they make their way across the rooftops.]

Thank you, for the advice. I imagine I'll have to try to put it into practice if I'm going to make it here without twisting myself up into knots.

"Bittersweet", perhaps.

[He spins around to face her for a moment, walking backwards up the slope of another roof. Although he only has one eye exposed, he blinks at her in a way that's obviously a wink before he turns around to face forward again.]

You could probably literally do that here, you know. Tie yourself into knots. I met a fellow in this place once who'd been a magician his whole life. However, after we discovered dunamis and "magic" became more commonplace, he felt so useless and looked over that the force of his own emotions rendered him invisible. He was actually reported missing to the Enforcers, although he'd been about the whole time.

That sounds horrifying.

[Krolia remarks, even if her tone is fairly level, not quite as horrified as well, perplexed. The whole manifestations thing is still daunting. But she'll manage it. She's a Blade. She's used to rolling with whatever comes along as a matter of life or death.

Her months on Earth haven't changed that.]

Maybe even more so, considering the way I feel. [Conflicted, torn apart by the choices she's made and their consequences. Suffocating.]

It can get pretty terrible! [Kevin's agreement is chipper and cheerful.] However, it is something you can learn to regulate, and perhaps even control. Have you been told of dunamis yet?

[He pauses, standing on his toes to glance around at their whereabouts, and nods to himself. They've been moving at a quick pace, and they're almost where he wants to be.]

A few people have mentioned, yes. Some way to channel the energy into something useful.

[She continues along, conversing casually as they hop along rooftops. Why not? Stranger things have happened in her life.]

It certainly sounds useful, in theory anyway.

[But her own ability to learn and handle something like that is another question. One that she may have to face.]

Sometimes it's useful. Sometimes it's merely pretty. Sometimes, something that only seems pretty turns out to be really useful, in the end.

[The showman in him wants to pause and give an immediate demonstration. Kevin's been working at his own skills for years now and they've evolved enough times that he's incredibly proud of what he can do -- which is important, given how disappointed he was in what he could do initially.

The sensible creature lurking somewhere deep down in the depths of his fluffy white head reminds him that most of his best tricks have to do with light, and it is fairly bright today, and they are on the rooftops. The impact will be better if he waits.]

Remind me later, and I'll show you some of the critters I've learned to make.

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TEST DRIVE: July

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