TEST DRIVE MEME: JULY

[simpathis]

— TEST DRIVE: JULY —

Welcome to empatheias' first ever 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 Friday, July 18th and Applications open Friday, July 25th. Game will begin Friday, August 1st.
  
  
• 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!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!


PROMPTS

• Prompt A: Create any scenario that could cause your character to display some kind of emotion, be it big or small, and write out how it changes the immediate area. Are there literal sparkles everywhere because they're so happy? Or is the ground starting to twist and warp due to their anger or frustration? Things exploding? Rain clouds? Since this is a test drive, don't worry about any limitations on effects—just write whatever comes to mind!

• Prompt B: The following are generic task board prompts that characters could have taken up as a job.

1. You have to collect X number of materials. Find a partner to make it easier!
   
2. There's a hostile creature attacking some of the neighboring farms. If you got a weapon, they could definitely use your help!
   
3. How about helping around the town? Delivering something, helping patch up a sign, cleaning out some of those rusted gears—the locals would definitely warm up to everyone.
   
4. Make up your own task/quest!

• 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: With the influx of people suddenly appearing, the locals are a bit on edge. So rather than having your character’s emotions affecting the environment, someone else's is affecting them! Maybe they were just passing by and someone had an emotional outbreak of sorts. Now they have to figure out how to deal with the aftermath—or will their own emotions make it worse? Needless to say, NPC godmodding granted 100%.

• Prompt E: Make your own! It can even involve booze and/or cats.

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

Sanae Kochiya | Touhou | Aaaaa

[miraculo]

[ Goodness, does this girl radiate happiness. Literally. See those sparkles? There are totally sparkles as she walks around because everything is bright and sunny around her. Sanae has made it her duty to bring happiness and joy to the floating island, because that's what she's been told makes it flourish. Which means if she sees something cracked on the island or nature wilting, she'll wander on over there to attempt to help repair it. With emotions. Granted, she's not an expert with this emotions-effecting-environment thing, so she'll employee others to help out. Take, for instance, this wilted flower in front of her.

What better way to make it bloom but with a healthy dose of positivity? She'll walk up to someone and ask politely, ] Excuse me, but but do you have time? That flower over there-- it's so sad! It should be blooming on a beautiful day like this!

I believe that some happy emotions can make it bloom. Would you like to help?

Couldn't resist throwing a mecha pilot at her.

[infinitejustice]

Wait, what?

[Athrun had been minding his own business when this girl had called out to him. Unfortunately, of all the people she could have picked, she went for one much more jaded than the average person. But oh well.]

Er, hang on. Why would you need my help?

[He's noticing the sparkling.]

EXCELLENT

[miraculo]

Because here, it's better to do things together than alone! [ Yep. ] The flower will be happier with two happy people helping it to be happy!

[infinitejustice]

Two happy people? But I only see one here.

[He's not being sarcastic. He's just a bit out of his element at the moment.]

[miraculo]

Well-- why not you, too?

[infinitejustice]

You can't just decide to be happy, though -- that isn't how emotions work. It has to happen genuinely.

[miraculo]

You can try to think of something that makes you happy, though.

I'm not sorry for this.

[tactlesstactician]

[ The young man (boy? he appears in his mid teens, though appearances can be deceiving) scowls at this request, an annoyed darkening of the air immediately around him. Any sparkles near him are much more likely to be actual sparks. ]

No.

[ It's less the request that annoys him (though... it doesn't help) and more her innane anthropomorphizing the flower... ]

DONT BE

[miraculo]

[ Flails. ] But the flower needs your help....!

[tactlesstactician]

[ Crosses arms across the book he's holding. ]

The flower will be perfectly fine on its own.

[miraculo]

[ Shocked look. How could he say that?! ] Its petals are falling off, though!

[tactlesstactician]

[ Flat look. Why does she care about a plant? ]

And getting upset over it won't help.

[miraculo]

Of course not! But being happy and joyous will make it bloom...! [ She might sound dramatic, but she's being serious. ]

[greatseabitch]

I could try...!

[ She looks determined, at least! ]

It definitely deserves to be happy.

[miraculo]

[ Oh wow, an enthusiastic volunteer! Sanae beams, going up to the girl to take her hands in hers happily. ] You will? How wonderful!

[ Her eyes are sparkling. ] And you're right! No flower should go without any happiness for even ten seconds!

[leteverythingstainher]

[ Always, Wada is one for wanting everything happy. This may backfire shortly, though. But for now, she can't help getting caught up in the excitement-- ]

Of course! I really like flowers, so I'll do my best. If that doesn't work, I could try some magic too!

[miraculo]

[ A happy hum, and she lightly pulls her over to the wilted flower before releasing her hand and kneeling down by it. ] O...Kay!

[ She nods. ] Time to think of happy and joyous things.

[ Which will not be too difficult for Sanae. ]

[greatseabitch]

[ She does as instructed, concentrating really hard...

And the flower DOES perk up considerably, but it ends up slowly turning red when it wasn't before. Of course, Wadanohara sees nothing WRONG with this. ]

We did it...!

[miraculo]

[ At first she's just as joyous and happy as before when she sees it bloom, clapping her hands together and looking at the flower fondly enough as if it is a child of her own.

But then-- ] Er--.... it's. Red.

[ A questioning look at the flower, not Wada. ] How strange...

oops

[fantasynature]

[ Miko's jobs aren't to make people happy, or to make things bloom any any such nonsense. They are supposed to gather faith, get donations, and lay around all day, or maybe just drink some tea. And so, even taken out of her element Reimu does what she does best (likely having accepted that there's no way to get home that would involve beating people up) and is simply staring at her compatriot with her hands on her hips. ]

What's the point of doing that? I doubt anyone is going to pay for it.

ermagahddd

[miraculo]

The flower will appreciate it! [ ~obviously~!! ]

[fantasynature]

Flowers can't appreciate things, they are just plants, Sanae.

[ Good thing there's no plant-loving youkai around who would be annoying and get all up in her face about that. ]

[miraculo]

Then can...!

[ #Shinto ] Just because they cant pay you back with money doesn't mean they don't appreciate water, food, and sunlight. It's important that all living things enjoy a peaceful, full life. [ Youkai excluded. ]

[fantasynature]

It's not even the hanami season.

[ If Reimu were a good priestess, she might have realized she was wrong. Or perhaps, if there was some way to gather faith or get rich, she'd be all about plants and mountains having feelings and singing their praises. But at the moment, she just doesn't really care. ]

People are supposed to come donate at a shrine to wish for those kinds of things. If everyone and everything already had a like that, they'd never come!

[miraculo]

There aren't any shrines here, Reimu. Besides, a plant just can walk to a shrine. [ Faceplaming yet? ]