empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: AUGUST

— 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!

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!
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.

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!
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.
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!

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!)
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!
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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Prompt B: Task board.

[ Trunks tossed a strange crystal to the nearest person that looked capable of catching it; it flashed briefly as it caught the light. His face was all a scowl, though a stranger would have no way of knowing if this was out of threat, a general bad mood, or complete and total embarrassment.

Spoilers it was C ]

Two artists couldn't settle their dispute.

Prompt E: Ruin Race.

[ Trunks looked around the ruins uncertainly, then back to his partner. He wanted to participate in the event, of course -- anything called the Test of Courage had to be pretty terrifying, right? As the scion of a fearsome warrior race, he was practically obligated to prove himself worthy, right?

There was only one problem: he wasn't really sure how to do this sort of thing. They didn't exactly have haunted houses (or spooky ruins) in post-apocalyptic hellscapes. Was it time to be scared? Or did that come later?

He shuffled his feet, looking oddly shy as he turned to the entrance of the ruins. ]

Um... I've never done something like this before. I'll be in your care.

[ You're in luck, Trunks, because neither has the Warrior here. Consider it a learning experience for the both of you?

The Warrior stands there clad in armor, sword at his side along with his shield and it's when Trunks speaks up that he glances over to the boy, blue eyes blinking slowly as he takes notice of how... apprehensive? Shy he's being? ]

Then I hope I do not disappoint you when I say that I have also not done something of this nature before.

[ A glance back to the ruins, the Warrior seems calm- focused before his attention turns back to Trunks. ]

So long as we work together to find the talismans, I am sure we will be able to finish this task.

I've heard not everyone makes it out alive.

[ Although it had been a man selling lanterns and making spooky gestures with his hands who had told Trunks this. Afterwards, he had added a WOOooooOOOoooOO!' for good measure. Still, the thought of a real challenge was

somehow

...kind of exciting?

Maybe Trunks was getting a little too used to not being subject to a constant stream of bad news. That was the kind of thing his father would say. In any case, he pulled his talisman out from under his shirt, revealing a pearlescent stone. ]

This is the color I'm looking for. I'm aligned with Peromei, the Arehtei of hope and despair.

[ Boy, he sure could say all that with a straight face. ]

[ Looking to the crystal that is a pearlescent sort of cream colour, the Warrior nods then. Ah, so they fall under the same alignment then. ]

Then we are comrades in that regard as I am also aligned with Peromei.

[ His own amulet is tucked away under his chest piece of armor, safe from any possible mishaps given how physical some battles can turn with others. From what he's heard, these amulets are rather precious and to have one cracked or even destroyed... well, it's something he'd rather not find out what happens.

With a nod towards the ruin, he looks back to Trunks then, blue eyes curious since- ]

I take it you're a fighter yourself then?

[ Well, that made things simple! He just had to be on the lookout for white talismans. ]

Yes. I don't have a weapon any more, but I should be fine without it.

[ Actually... he didn't have any armor, either? But he was still walking to the entrance like it was all cool ]

Let's be careful. They didn't really tell me what to expect.

[ Boy, hmm. now that he was inside, the ruins were a little creepy. And quiet. There was the occasional sound of a small fall of rocks coming loose somewhere deeper into the ruins, and the lighting from the lamp wasn't really great. Was something supposed to attack them? Ghosts, maybe? ]

[ The Warrior decides to take the lead (as always) while relying on the flickering from the lamp as a source of light within the ruins. Perhaps he was a little overdressed for this? However, it's better safe than sorry and it's not as though he has anything else to wear so, clad in armor it is. ]

The unexpected is usually what they want you to expect.

[ He glances to Trunks, ensuring that his partner is fine before they continue on, listening idly to the various crumbling of rocks and scratches against walls. It's... not something that he's accustomed to himself but he shows no signs of fear or even apprehension as he continues to walk.

When they come to a fork in the ruins, he stops. One path seems to lead down a rocky pathway where the sound of wind whipping through open spaces almost comes off eerie in the darkness. The other path leads down a more lit trail with the sound of water slowly dripping can be heard with the occasional rumbling from... something.

Looking to the other, the Warrior blinks. ]

What do you think?

I'm not really great at orienteering, but...

[ He pointed in the direction of the wind. ]

I'd prefer to go that way. The other way sounds like the structure might be unsound.

[ Besides, the sound of the wind was kind of comforting to someone who was used to the feel of flight. Open spaces, desolate landscapes... they were nothing to be afraid of. In his hands, the glow of the lantern brightened slightly; the air seemed a bit less heavy. There was nothing to worry about!

Probably. ]

[ An unsound structure is probably right and so, with a nod, the Warrior decides to take the path pointed out by his comrade here. ]

Then we'll go this way.

[ He decides to go ahead of Trunks, sword and shield at his sides and already the rocky pathway proves just how rocky it can be with the jagged rocks sticking out from both the walls and the floor, making it a little more difficult to continue through. Impossible? No. But it would most certainly need some maneuvering if one is to get to through this path. ]

Do you recall how many of these talismans there are to collect?

They didn't say. But I figure that we'll know when it's enough.

[ He looked up to see a large spiderweb, with a big, fat arachnid sitting insolently in its center. Were there even that many insects around here?

Someone else might have been compelled to simply destroy the web, but Trunks duly ducked under it. ]

If it's a test of courage, maybe there's some kind of challenge along the way. That's how these things are supposed to work out, right?

...So why are you doing this?

TEST DRIVE: AUGUST

Trunks | Dragon Ball Z

Prompt B: Task board.

Prompt E: Ruin Race.

E

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