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 Tuesday, July 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on August 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!
  
  
• Transfer to in-game. If accepted, you can assume threads made on the Test Drive happen in-game if the scenario can reasonably fit. These threads do not count toward AC.

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 citizens of Verens are nothing if not opportunistic, and the new solid rock pillars jutting down to the surface have already had a few people wondering how to make a profit out of them. Luckily most of these entrepreneurs are having to go through copious amounts of red tape in order to ensure their use of the pillars does not endanger the island or the participants. That doesn’t mean these new businesses aren’t EXCITING, though!

1. Rock Climbing. Are you a thrill seeker? An all star athlete? Just looking for a good way to get yourself in shape? Well we’ve got something for you: EXXXXTREME ROCK CLIMBING XXVIV!!!!!!! Now open at the western Pillar nearest the city of Verens! Come one, come all to the most exciting and EXTREME climbing adventure. Dodge fiery and watery hazards while clinging to the cliffs of the pillars! The trip down to the surface is provided, and for those who can’t make it all the way up on their own a rescue trip up will only be 150 sylvs a trip! Take up the partner challenge and tie yourself together at the waist in order to gain extra challenge for your climbs up!
   
2. Tiered Romance. On the pillar nearest the Airship Docks, something much more calm has stakes it’s claim for business. Romantic Getaways, a company dedicated to dates and private moments for all has set up several decks built off the pillars in order to take advantage of the lovey dovey atmosphere the pillars provide. For a low fee you too could have a blind dinner date overlooking the planet’s healing surface. Also hiring waiters and waitresses to deliver food and other services to those who have rented out the decks!

• Prompt E: It’s not an old tradition by any means, but this summer the city of verens is looking for some lighthearted fun in order to help soothe everyone’s nerves after recent events. It seems like it’s working too, considering the turnout! All activities for these games are Arehtei themed, too! It’s all in good fun, and generating some nice peaceful emotions might just be what the doctor ordered for most of the Arehtei.

1. Wisp Capture. Arehtei themed artificial wisps have been set free across the island! Each one glows in the color of their respective Arehtei and the goal is to collect a certain amount in order to win the competition. Specially crafted nets and mesh bags are given to each pair participating before sending them out after the last bit of light in the sky has darkened. Depending on how many of what aligned Arehtei wisp gathered, the items you can win will change! But be careful, you have to catch at LEAST 100 wisps to qualify for a prize, and you only get one. Aiada, Piphron and Sosyne will give out small pouches of gems, while Elios, Peromei, Daimonia and Thras will give out sylvs. A single special silver wisp can be found, which will award both prizes on top of whatever color wisp has the majority!
   
2. Food Competition. Are you really, really, REALLY hungry? Come compete in an Arehtei themed team food eating competition in the name of your chosen Arehtei!!! But there’s one catch: this competition is ONLY done in pairs. One partner eats, the other must contribute by feeding them. Hopefully you’re not partnered up with someone you don’t get along with or you might get more food on your face than in your mouth. Participants are given small rings with gems themed around their chosen arehtei as a prize.
   
3. Ruin Race. In an attempt to boost everyone’s competitive side, the local Parks and Recreation department of Verens is holding a Test of Courage. Drop by the ruins in the outskirts of town to participate. Just remember - the prize of completing this task is coming out of this ~alive~. (So spooky!)
   
   
   1. Partner up. All participants are requested to find a partner to complete a task together. Partners can either be of the same alignment, or have different alignments. The task is to go into the ruins and look for coloured talismans that pertain to each member’s Arehtei. It might be best to screen your partner, because you wouldn’t want them running off on you as soon as you hear some thumping noises inside, right?
      
   2. Secret Ruins. These ruins are dark and like a maze - if you exit and enter again, the paths will be different compared to the last time. There doesn’t seem to be any threats, but there are croaking, flapping, and thumping noises that can be heard every now and then. The only source of light is the lamp that is given to you upon signing up, too. At some point, you might encounter dead end upon dead end. Remember what the organiser told you before entering: Compliments complement the forgotten past. Spread some positivity between you and your partner, and the walls will light up and show you the path to the talismans.
      
   3. Talis-MAAAAAAN! In the off-chance that you pick up the wrong talisman, you’ll start to feel different. Pessimism will seep through your veins, and so will anger and fear. It will deter you from making the right choices, following the right path, and working with your partner. Fortunately, the effects wear off in twenty minutes. You won’t be acting crazy all night!

• Prompt F: With all the trial and tribulation around Elios, the summer job boom was almost missed. But somehow, there just seems to be an overabundance of summer jobs this time around! From waterpark jobs to babysitting and dog walking to monster culling, there’s an abundance of jobs looking for anyone to take them. It’s created a worker’s market where pay is going through the roof!

1. MANY MONSTERS. The Yekar Wobbler population is OUT OF CONTROL! The strangely cooler air during the last couple of months has prompted a more active than usual breeding season. The small cotton ball looking creatures look quite similar to Aiada’s sprites, but they prey on farmer’s crops! You can either rush in and help bag them up immediately, or you could be one of the lucky group to go down to Elios’ Domain to gather the Lalri Flower. This flower has strong attracting properties that the Yekar Wobblers are especially weak to. It’ll make bagging them up a lot easier! And it’ll keep them from swarming you—or your partner and chomping down into your arms and legs! (Don’t worry, their mouths are too small to do too much damage, but boy does it smart like a bee sting!)
   
2. Babysitting Blues. There’s a definite shortage of babysitters, though for some reason the families that need sitters need at least two for their troublesome tots. No two sitters will have only ONE child to look after but at least 3 troublesome, toddling, terrifying children to look after. Keep them out of danger, and do your best with feedings, and good luck if you decide to go out to the park!
   
3. Waterpark Angels. A waterpark has opened up outside of the city to take advantage of the warming temperatures and it needs many hands on deck. Check for swimsuit appropriateness, lost items,and make sure people are queueing properly. Bonus? On your time off you get admission to the park and rides FOR FREE! Bust out some suntan lotion cause you’re going to need it.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include talking frogs and/or bubblegum flavoured pizza.

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

[purrtagonist]

[NO HE REALLY WAS CURIOUS!! and once again he isn't batting an eye even when she refers to her husband as a female]

Sovereign of the. . . ah! Was she there for the moon landing?

[w. why is that, out of everything she just told him, the question he asks???]

[castrationfist]

... The what?

[purrtagonist]

The moon landing, in 1969. The first time humans ever walked on the moon.

[castrationfist]

... I see.

This might seem to be a digression, but have you ever heard of the Harway family? Or the Asian rebellion? The loss of magic?

[purrtagonist]

Nope.

[finishes washing the dishes and shakes the water from his hands]

Those must all be very important things where you come from, though.

[castrationfist]

Hm... I suppose you might say it means the history you're from isn't distorted.

It's the late 2030s, and no human has set foot on the moon yet. Anyone who tried would likely be shot down.

[purrtagonist]

[oh. well. that's strange. but he's learned to roll with these sorts of oddities]

It sounds like your husband is very protective of her kingdom.

[castrationfist]

Could you please not blame my husband for the stupid things you Earth-dwelling humans do?

[purrtagonist]

Technological advancement and reaching for new horizons isn't stupid.

[castrationfist]

Yes, but you're missing the point.

The ones who attack anyone who reaches for the Moon are those who live on the Earth.

[purrtagonist]

[well how was HE supposed to know that!1]

Ah.

You said she was the sovereign of the moon. I assumed she was some kind of king, and the moon was her kingdom she had to protect.

[. . . okay maybe he shouldn't have assumed that]

That's my bad.

[castrationfist]

You're not wrong, but there's no need to protect it from the Earth.

Rather, at the rate humanity's going, there may not be much left of the people on Earth at all in a few generations.

[purrtagonist]

Because of the "Ultimate Ones" you mentioned earlier?

[castrationfist]

No, no. That's merely one possible future.

Before they have to get involved, humans are going to wipe each other out themselves.

[purrtagonist]

[LONG. . . LONG PAUSE. she can probably tell the gears in his brain are turning, clicking together and trying to work things out. but whatever he's thinking, he keeps to himself in favor of asking a simple question:]

Why?

[castrationfist]

[She shrugs lightly.]

Who can say? I am but a humble wife who died over a thousand years ago.

But to hear the others who have come into the SE.RA.PH... The Earth is dying, having lost its mana. One despotic family now rules over sixty percent of the world, and terrorist organizations rise up to fight it. The Earth's surface is now either a stagnant land devoid of progress in the past sixty years, ruled by the Harways, or a barren wasteland where people kill each other for scraps, in anarchy.

Though, I've only heard that. I've never experienced it for myself.

[purrtagonist]

[holy shit]

[he can just feel his hackles raising, and this isn't even his world she's talking about. a dying planet, devoid of magic. . . a despotic family, oppressing sixty percent of the world. . .]

[it sounds like the kind of society he'd rise up and fight against without hesitation]

And what does your husband on the moon do about any of this? If she is capable of doing anything.

[castrationfist]

My husband rules the ever-expanding lands of the SE.RA.PH and helps protect it from the Umbral Star wiping out the Earth. Those who wish to leave the Earth and their bodies behind and come to the SE.RA.PH are welcome.

But why should we do anything about the Earth? It is humans who have destroyed the world to that extent. You who ended the Age of Gods once before now wish for a gods' miracle?

[purrtagonist]

[there's something derisive about the way he snorts in amusement, and he pulls away from the sink to fetch his tub again so he can start clearing tables for a second time]

Hardly. I wouldn't trust any miracle pulled out of a box owned by the gods. Too many terms and conditions, too many restrictions.

[waves a hand]

I was just curious if she was doing anything.

[he has more to say on this subject, b u t. he has to admit he doesn't know anything about her world beyond what she's told him, so the rest he keeps to himself so he doesn't make any incorrect assumptions. . . perhaps it's his own personal experience with gods, with society, with humanity. . . perhaps it's his faith in the adults of his world that he trusts to take over where the Phantom Thieves left off. . . that colors his perception. but, while humans may have destroyed her world to the extent she describes to him now--]

[he has no doubt that there will be those who will rise up to repair it one day]

[castrationfist]

[She'd almost feel sympathetic for him... if it weren't for that derisive snort.

She hates herself, of course. No one hates her as much as she does. But to be so derisive towards Hakuno.... Anger boils inside her.]

Could you not talk about what you don't understand? My Husband should no longer have to do anything. She is no god, but a human soul. Her fate has been cruel enough. If you dare look down on her again, then... Heavens me, I don't know what I might do.

[purrtagonist]

[his glasses slip down on his nose ever so slightly as he peers at Caster from the corners of his vision. he's busying himself with clearing off tables again, tossing glasses and silverware into the busboy tub with perfect precision even though he's not really focused on what he's doing]

[after a moment. . . he exhales, and the tension leaves his own shoulders]

You asked me if I'd wish for the miracle of a god; I just answered honestly. My words weren't directed at her, specifically.

If she isn't in a position to help those on your Earth, then that's not something I look down on.

[castrationfist]

[She sighs.

She stopped working when he spoke before, but she resumes now, though she still isn't looking. She'll just help set more dishes in the tub.]

She is the kindest human I have ever met. Moreso than any when I was alive. She is the only one who gave me a chance.

As a goddess, I have never seen any human like her. As a mortal, she is the only one who cared. I will never, ever forgive anyone who speaks ill of her.

[purrtagonist]

For a minute there, I was sort of worried that my head wouldn't be attached to my body for much longer.

[SO]

[HE NOTICED]

But based on that description, I hardly blame you.

[castrationfist]

It was a near thing. To be honest, it very nearly wasn't.

[she's a little bit yan.]

But it's good you understand.

[purrtagonist]

[nts don't piss off the fox goddess]

[ever]

[or, if you do, be armed at the time]

. . . scary. . .