TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: NOVEMBER —

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 Tuesday, October 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Tuesday, November 1st.
  
  
• 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!

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: The Boreas Harvest Festival is fast approaching, and the farmers are trying hard to work through the bleak weather conditions to get their crops in before they go bad from all the apathy. All hands on deck—but there may be too many unwanted hands roaming around.

1. Scarecrows. The scarecrows that have been set up as a festive reminder of the time of year have unfortunately come under the influence of some errant strong emotions from the farm hands that work in the fields. Unfortunately that includes trying to ward off anyone who enters the fields with pitchforks and is one of them carrying a torch? Maybe if they can be convinced that you are trustworthy they will calm down.
   
   
2. Invading rabbits. There are ton of rabbits ravaging the carrot patches. They're easily frightened, but some are more tenacious than others. Beware of the white rabbit with red eyes.
   
   
3. Save the crops! Several batches are already starting to spoil! The only thing that can save them is dumping as much positive emotions into them. Joy of good food, hope for a bountiful meal, love of eating—whatever will work. Just be careful. Too much and those things might grow and explode…

• Prompt E: Aiada, the Arehtei of appreciation and jealousy, has sent a personal request for those who are interested. There is a small island just beneath Empatheias that she has been cultivating over the many centuries. She wishes to contribute to the Harvest Festival with some seeds and spores. However, the recent atmosphere has also reached down there, and now it's all a mess! Giant mushrooms replaced the trees and there's slime and mold everywhere. The cure? Aside from getting a lot of heavy duty cleaners and pushing it off, appreciation will go a long way to help.

1. Goop brigade. Grab that bucket and shovel and clear the goop out! Just be careful not to have too much get on you—jealousy might take over.
   
   
2. Appreciation balls. To help hasten the effort, Aiada has given several tubs filled with light, green orbs. Once channeled with enough appreciation, they can be used as mini-grenades to help explode and wash the area with more positive energy. Those caught in the blast won't be harmed. If anything, they'll just be very thankful.
   
   
3. Watch the ledges. Careful, it's a fairly small island and the goop and slime has made things slick. If you fall… That's not a good way to go, let's just say that.

• Prompt F: Various parties are interested in the emotion shards scattered all over Thera. But this time around, the focus is on the medical laboratory as the equipment and potential research there is also of interest. For three days those who volunteer are sent back to try and gather as much as possible—but of course this won't be easy.

1. Skeletal Scientists. The remains of the scientists who once worked in these rooms are still lurking, ready to protect their work. Fortunately they're relatively weak nerds, so not too difficult to dispatch. Just be careful.
   
   
2. Flying equipment. The various medical equipment has also taken life, scalpels and needles flying everywhere and stethoscopes ready to strangle.
   
   
3. Questionable liquid. Most of the easy shards have already been taken, leaving the more difficult to retrieve ones left. In particular they're found in strange, dark pink liquid. It's mostly harmless—except that upon contact intense waves of grief and suffering will course through. The longer the exposure, the worse it is. So hopefully a bucket full of it doesn't fall on you…

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include feathers and/or confetti.

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!

Comments

[hopedout]

[ His gaze doesn't shift in the slightest bit, nor does his expression, completely serious. Then again, this is important to him, so he needs to play his cards right. ]

No, that's wrong. I can't speak for all of them. Because I don't know what they've experienced as Remnants.

[ A near immediate rebuttal. ]

However, I can speak for myself. And I can speak for the missing memories that the rest of the rest of the 77th class does not have. What I want to speak to you is not about the crimes that happened. I don't care about that. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Because what I say is something that is unbelievable.

[ If Munakata doesn't want to believe him, that's fine. He doesn't expect anyone to. ]

It's all something that's happened in the past. But I want you to know the truth. [ Even if he's already decided to bury it all by taking on the role of 'despair', He feels that they at least deserve to know. It's only fair. ] The entirety of the 77th class... they were all brainwashed by Enoshima Junko, their teacher included.

[ He feels like he should apologize, but... how could he? He can't take back what's happened. ]

I want to be open with anybody from our world that comes here, especially since Enoshima is here. Which is why I'm willing to answer any questions.

[againstdespair]

[He doesn't move as 'Kamukura' continues speaking with that dour tone, slow to accept that a fight wasn't about to break out between them. Every meeting with despair inevitably became a battle.

The battle that followed showed in how all emotion drained from Munakata's face. Fire freezes into spines of ice, jagged and protective, as his mind spins with the weight of the revelation.

That long ago?

Despair--Enoshima--had wormed its way in that long ago?

Tengan couldn't lie under the game's circumstances. And now here was one of the (other) Remnants, confirming those words independently.

For a moment, he can't speak.]

[hopedout]

So you...

[ He brings his hand to his chest, fingers grasping at the fabric of his shirt tightly, shaking his head. ]

I'm sorry. If I was myself when I saw Yukizome-sensei get brainwashed. I would have stopped Ikusaba.

[ But he didn't. He feels immense guilt for that, as he is now. But he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't stop it and he can't change it. ]

If... there's anything you want to ask of me, or if you want to punch me, I'll take it.

[againstdespair]

And what will that do? None of what you have said changes anything.

[It was difficult to find any truth in those clipped words, considering the growing frost at Munakata's feet. His expression doesn't seem much different from a moment ago, save for his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

The revelation has him rethinking so many interactions. So many reports. So many collaborative decisions. So many smiles. So many kind words. So many tears.

Ice helps him form barriers against upset and betrayal, no matter how strong those feelings were.]

My resolve remains the same: I will eliminate despair, no matter what.

[hopedout]

[ His red eye flickers a little, his voice losing any of the serious emotion it bad carried when he said that. While he appreciates not being punched, Hinata had given the offer - given the choice regardless. Because he doesn't want people to be left without it. ]

Do you still plan on killing us, then? As well as the so called "traitor" to the Future Foundation?

[ He already knows what they were planning on doing to them, and to be honest, it's kind of boring. ]

If that is what you want, I will not allow your plans to come into fruition.

[ He is serious. Hinata's own voice is tinged with anger, one that allows the shadows around him to manifest, the tendrils looking ready to strike, but does nothing. ]

Eliminating despair will not bring about the hope you seek. Instead, you will bring about the chaos that Enoshima Junko wanted all along. And that is boring. [ His gaze lowers as he shoves a hand into his pocket, fingers messing with the hairpin that lay there. ] Is that what you truly want?

[againstdespair]

[He isn't at all surprised by the implied threat; regardless of reasons, 'Kamukura' was still part of Ultimate Despair, and violence was inevitable in their presence.

But referring to their struggles as boring still has a way of rankling his nerves.]

You, who have been reduced by your own choice to such apathy, would advise against despair now? I don't believe it. Through action and progress, there is hope. And what greater progress than the deaths of Ultimate Despair?

[He sees 'Kamukura' reach into his pocket and mirrors the action--but instead of a harmless accessory, his fingers wrap around the hilt of his collapsible katana.]

All you want is your continued survival. But all you breed is more despair.

[hopedout]

No, that's wrong!

[ His voice now floods full of genuine emotion, cutting off the act in its place, a massive text flying right behind him as he says that phrase with knitted brows. While he can see what Munakata is trying to do, hr doesn't prepare to defend himself. Not yet. ]

It's true. I made the choice to become "Kamukura Izuru". I tossed away everything that was "Hinata Hajime" in order to obtain talent. To become hope. I was angry at the school for hiding the Reserve Course deaths. For saying that all of us without talents were replaceable. I didn't know that I was being used. Being pushed into action. I know better now. But even if I didn't become Kamukura Izuru... someone else would have. That's just how Hope's Peak operated.

But of course, Enoshima Junko used me. She pushed all the blame of the student council murders onto me, when I hadn't killed anyone. My greatest sin isn't killing. It's doing nothing to save anyone because I thought it would be more interesting.

In the end, I sought to find out which would be more predictable: hope or despair. In the end, I found out that neither were wrong. But neither were right. But... I digress.

If you plan on killing us in this world, don't. [ It's a warning, but it's one with meaning. ] Anyone who kills in this world will be subject to punishment. Both by the police... and the Reaper.

I'm sick and tired of death. Death only begets more death. Even more so if it's murder. If you kill us, what are you proving?! That you're better than despair? Enoshima killed herself because it was a win-win situation for her, you know! Killing off despair won't solve any of the world's problems -- it'll only prove that the "solution" that the Future Foundation has in mind is murder!

Sure, it might be a temporary solution, but you don't see the bigger picture: there are people who weren't inflicted by Enoshima that have done horrible things even before the incident!

munakata has no chill right now and I am sorry

[againstdespair]

[The sudden, passionate declaration doesn't cut cleanly through Munakata's rage, but it does stay his hand; it's so unlike the earlier tone, so emotionally-charged that it literally shoots through the air, that he can't react any other way.

So he listens. He afforded Naegi the same luxury, and as he listens to 'Kamukura' spout out what basically amounts to more of the same, he finds a cold chill running down his spine.]

You talk like him. Not precisely the same, but enough. [His voice is peculiarly flat as he refers to Naegi. He had stated his beliefs to Naegi before and the possible planned outcome of their killing game, but to hear 'Kamukura' speak so much like Naegi is in itself terrifying.

Despair disguised as hope. Here it was, right before his eyes. His only solace was that they were in this different world, and not their own.]

Every path forward requires sacrifice. That is the ugly truth of the world. While you stood on the sidelines, doing nothing, many people laid down their lives to combat despair. While you watched the world burn, others tried to pick up the pieces and safeguard what was left. You think they turned to killing out of some sense of superiority? Do not insult them while you bemoan your inaction.

[Every sentence was like its own lance of ice, gleaming and defined in the frost around him.] You seem to think that I am blind to the chaos outside of the despair Enoshima and your kind wrought. Ultimate Despair exacerbated the problems of the world. Increased them dramatically. Do you deny that? Remove it from the equation and the rest will once again be manageable.

I do not have to kill you and yours here to know you are condemned; this world may not care about what you are, but ours does. Simply by being alive, you are symbols of all that is wrong in the world.

Do you see? Ultimate Despair would be better off dead.

it's totally fine!

[hopedout]

You speak of Naegi Makoto.

[ He knows immediately the who whom Munakata speaks of, speaking in the calmest voice that he an muster. No, he's not angry, but there is a tinge of frustration, mixed with regret. An emotion that manifests as shadows manifest. ]

You're right, though -- but only about one thing. While it's true that they made things faster, that doesn't change my feelings on the matter. I don't plan to die. And none of us plan to die, either.

We plan on disappearing from the world to allow it to recover from the murder game that occurred, but dying is not an option.

[againstdespair]

Disappearing. [He scoffs, making no attempt to mask his disgust at the idea.] After everything that has happened, you somehow believe you are allowed to simply disappear?

[The fact that they both feel frustration is likely obvious, even if it's for entirely different reasons.] But that sounds like what Naegi wanted. As if one can simply forget despair and all its repercussions.

[hopedout]

And I'm not saying that you should forget about it.

[ Hinata has to take a breath, calm himself down. Even if the frustration still lingers on his tongue, he knows what it's like to lose memories. To keep them on lockdown. But he never had a choice in the matter. Not the first time, nor the second. That's why he has so many regrets. ]

Disappearing and forgetting are two separate matters. If you forget what's happened... it will only become a cycle.

[ His voice quiets, and the wind in the air is cool. But he doesn't look away. He told himself that he wanted to become someone with confidence. He won't run away anymore. ]

That's what I think. The reason why we decided to disappear was our way to atone. Not so that people can forgive us. Besides, nobody would even believe the truth -- because of how crazy it is, in reality.

[ After all, it's brainwashing! Who would believe such a thing? Only a small amount of people. ]

The best that can be done about it is to move forward. Not looking back. We can remember our past mistakes by not repeating them.