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]

Not that extreme.

You could just always put whipped cream in my shoes. Or call me late at night, and wake me up from a deep slumber.

[castrationfist]

Or I could curse you. To wake up as a pillbug, or eat moldy bread and get dysentry.

[purrtagonist]

[INTERNAL SCREAMING??]

I'm not really sure which one of those is worse.

[castrationfist]

Or perhaps to fall down the stares... Or to have your pants fall down when you're in the middle of something important. The possibilities are endless!

[purrtagonist]

Ah. . . now I'm starting to be a little genuinely terrified.

[castrationfist]

As you should be!

[purrtagonist]

[GOD HE WANTS TO SASS HER??? SO MUCH??? GOD]

Nevermind. Brief moment of terror gone.

[castrationfist]

Shall I fix that for you?

[she's sounding very serious]

[purrtagonist]

Nope. I'm good.

[castrationfist]

Do you think you have a choice in the matter?

[purrtagonist]

Yes, actually.

[he says, as though challenging her to prove otherwise. holy shit his mouth is going to get him in trouble]

[castrationfist]

I see.

After nine hundred years, my reputation has fallen this much? That someone would dare to talk back to me this way... Foolish boy.

[purrtagonist]

If it makes you feel better, I talk back to most everyone.

[that's true]

[castrationfist]

I'd advise working on that if you wish to survive.

[purrtagonist]

. . .

[another spark, another pop of electricity. he closes his eyes and sucks in a deep breath]

I did. For a time.

[castrationfist]

And you abandoned your will to live?

[is she doing this on purpose]

[purrtagonist]

[HE IS FAIRLY CERTAIN SHE IS]

Nah.

I just decided I was tired of doing what other people told me to do.

[castrationfist]

Even though that's happiness, to humans?

[purrtagonist]

It isn't.

[wow that the sharpest reaction she's gotten out of him yet. the spark of electricity is more than a small pop this time. it's a full on miniature lightning bolt, streaking through the air above him, leaving smoke and burnt ozone in its wake. he isn't facing her, but his shoulders are hunched as he grips a glass a bit too tightly, and dark shadows are starting to form around his outline]

It's imprisonment, not happiness. It's a cage.

[castrationfist]

... You don't know cages, little boy.

[Sunlight radiates from Tamamo. But it isn't the warm, gentle sunlight, but the harsh shine that outlasts all things.]

I have received worship. I have observed humans since you first walked this Earth. And I know... It is devoting themselves to another that makes humans happy.

[purrtagonist]

You'd be surprised what I have and haven't experienced, Caster-san. For an NPC, my life is pretty busy.

[the shadows around him turn cold and icy, frost staring to form on the edges of the glass he's holding. with a breath, he puts it down. the ice doesn't melt, even in the wake of Tamamo's harsh sunlight]

You don't know humans very well if you think devotion is what makes them happy. Perhaps, for some, it does. But what's even more important than that is the freedom and choice to decide that fact for themselves.

[castrationfist]

["You don't know humans very well."

It burns. The sun burns, the words burn, the leftover wounds burn, her heart and soul and mind all burn.

She'll kill him. For his insult, she'll kill him. For his rudeness, she'll kill him. For having the audacity to talk back to her, she'll kill him. For having the audacity to be right, she'll kill him.

Devotion is what makes people happy. She's certain. It has to be. Because if that's not the case, then... If it's wrong, then her thousand years of suffering, her death, her damnation... Wasn't it all pointless?

With a shout (a scream, a yelp, a wordless cry of anguish and anger), she's charging forward to plant a kick right in his gut, with far more strength and speed than she should be able to muster with her body.]

[purrtagonist]

[being a phantom thief means Akira's reflexes are sharp, quick, and impeccable. it means he can usually see attacks coming, can predict where they'll land and where they're coming from, and avoid them as necessary]

[but the emotionally charged nature of this conversation was distracting. the way her words-- the words of a god who believed humanity was at it's best best when being told how to live their lives by a higher being-- bound and choked him just like the Holy Grail's had back home. and that's why he doesn't see the kick coming until it's far too late]

[she gets a solid hit to the gut, a hit that knocks the wind clean out of him and sends him reeling backwards. it's by some miracle that he manages to hold onto the tub of dishware he was clearing from the tables, but he nearly drops it as he regains his footing. his free arm wraps around his stomach as he heaves for breath, pain already radiating from his stomach to his sides and up his ribs]

[. . .]

[he doesn't know what button he pushed, but. . . ah. so this is how things were going to be. quickly, he slides the rubber tub of dishes across the nearest table and hops back away from her, hand shooting to his belt where his knife is hidden underneath his busboy apron. he doesn't transform. not yet]

Caster-san-- [he manages to strain the words between breaths] -- is this really how you want to handle this?

[castrationfist]

You don't know what you're talking about.

[She takes a ready stance, mirror wheeling around her.]

I will show you what it means to cross one of the Three Great Youkai.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . well, if he wasn't sure who she was before, he sure knows now. only one of those three demons is a kitsune]

[his hand closes around the handle of his dagger, but he doesn't draw it. he stands straight, shoulders squared, eyes locked on Caster. he's acutely aware of their surroundings. they are totally in public and probably interrupting some sappy couples' romantic dinners]

I don't want to fight you.

[he says evenly]