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

[bloodyrose]

[Even while he knows it's nothing to question, that trust is all the more important right now.]

We can go somewhere.

[It would just be easier. He's not quite acclimated to the shift in technology yet, here. Not that it's all that difficult, though.]

What would you like?

[gardenboxed]

[For a moment, she thinks on it. She likes a number of different foods, but to narrow it down right now...]

Do you think they have a place with Ginger pork? [It sounds good to her right now. Moving forward to walk more directly beside him, she's struck again by how much taller he is than her now. It's... weird. She still isn't sure how to think of or regard Zero. She thought they were friends before... but now he's older. She's not even sure how best to address him anymore. 'Zero' just seems too informal, when he's her senior by a number of years. He's an adult, now...

Bothered, a determined expression steals across her face.]

I can pay.

[She doesn't have a lot of money in comparison. Just the little she's been given. And the few task board things she's been able to do haven't panned out very well. She thought she could make a little bit by chasing the bunnies away from one of the crops. But she had felt too sorry for them and decided to feed them instead.

. . . Of course it didn't earn her anything. But she doesn't want to be just a child, either.]

I want to pay for both of us.

[bloodyrose]

[He's already very well aware of what she's thinking, and not simply about his appearance or what to call him. He could call her out on it, but right now isn't going to. It would most likely only stir up more questions which he would have difficulties answering.]

Didn't I offer first, though?

[Lightly teasing.]

That's fine, though. If you really would like to.

[He's going to be helping her out, anyway. He would be worried, otherwise.]

I think I heard of a place called From the Hearth. It's supposed to have varying dishes that come from the different worlds we all hail from. Maybe we can check there, first. If not, I imagine there are at least several other restaurants and cafés around.

[gardenboxed]

I do.

[She wants him to see her as a little more adult, too. That she can be responsible.]

What is it you're in the mood for, Zero.... [ . . . . . . . ] san? [She... attempts to feel out how it sounds.]

[bloodyrose]

I'm up for anything, honestly.

[Just not sweets. Of course. He'll take her somewhere that does have them, so long as it's not the only thing on the menu.

He believes in her in the end. She's always been reckless, but the determination has never left her.]

. . .Just "Zero," is fine, Yuuki.

[He said so all the way back then, too.]

[gardenboxed]

Zero...

[But it's so weird now. Maybe he just wants to be considerate of her and the fact that she's used to referring to him that way by now.]

It feels weird to say. [She admits it.] You're around the same age as Kaname-sama now.

[bloodyrose]

Yeah. I can imagine. I've said so before, though, right?

[It's only the truth, really.

He doesn't especially like Kuran being brought up, but he does know (for this) he has to be mindful of what to say. Once again, there's so much that Yuuki doesn't know.

. . .Granted, she did witness his first reaction towards the pureblood.

And in spite of himself, he's more curt. The air around them with a slight, though noticeable chill.]

Am I? I hadn't thought him to be eighteen.

[gardenboxed]

He's a few years older than us, right?

[The chill in the air causes her to lift her hands up and rub at her arms as she walks beside him.]

What am I like at that age?

[bloodyrose]

Maybe fifteen or sixteen. At your time at least.

[Although that's also a bit of a guess.

He smiles a bit after that.]

You're outgoing and kind. Very determined, too. [He pauses.] The Chairman does get the Night Class part of the Academy going, and made you one of its prefects— or, more so, as a 'guardian,' to keep the Day Class from interacting with them.

1/2

[gardenboxed]

[A 'guardian'... and she gets to help make the chairman's dream of peace a reality...?]

2/2

[gardenboxed]

I'm so happy!

[Beaming brightly her excitement radiates from her clearly.] I'm so glad that I get to help out, too! [And that the night class has officially opened up, then. This means that she'll get to see more and even more of Kaname!]

[bloodyrose]

[He can't help the quiet chuckle to her reaction, even if it's exactly as he had expected.]

You do. You play an important role, and work very hard. The Chairman really depends on you.

[She certainly does get to see Kuran more. Even for as complicated as it eventually gets.]

[gardenboxed]

Do you do it with me, too? [Since he also very obviously knows of the existence of vampires.]

[bloodyrose]

Mm. Yuuki and I are partners.

[gardenboxed]

[The revelation merely makes her smile happily. She's so glad that they both get to work together doing something good for both humans and vampires alike.]

I can't wait for when I'm the same age, too.

[bloodyrose]

[He's more than relieved with how well this conversation is going. So very different than their initial meeting, here.]

I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[In the meantime, food!]