Empatheias Events (
empevents) wrote in
memepatheias2019-01-19 07:15 am
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TEST DRIVE: February
Welcome to
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- Date reminders. Reserves open 25 January and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on February 1st. Apps will only be open for four days!
- 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. For new characters, these threads do not count for activity check. However, these can be supplementary threads for players already in-game.
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: Years ago, there was a short lived collectible card game fad in Verens called Magical Arehtei EX, combining Empatheias lore, the Arehtei and a convoluted rulebook to bring joy and confusion to Otherworlders and locals alike (the convoluted rulebook might be a reason why it fell out of fashion). And the brains behind it have decided now's the perfect time to relaunch it, both bringing back the card game itself, as well as a bunch of merchandise to go with it since even if the card game's confusing, maybe people will buy cool looking toys of the Arehtei and other various fantastic creatures (most of which are basically two or more animals combined together such as a sharkraffe or crabbear).- The Gathering: Like before, there will be demos of the game in the city's parks. Anyone around will be invited to try out the game with a partner. Marvel at the artwork, stare in confusion at the still confusing rulebook (simplifying things was not part of the relaunch), or just do whatever with the cards. The event runners want this to be a success so they're not going to frown on people for making up their own rules (it's possible they don't understand the rules either). So long as people are enjoying the game, it'll get people to buy cards and assorted trinkets or so they hope. Either way, emotions are sure to be all over the place as people try to figure this one out!
- Bug Catcher 1, 2, 3: As mentioned there are toys of the various creatures in the card game (with some artistic liberties taken to make sure the Arehtei aren't going to file suit about their likenesses used). And they've even partnered with a reputable Verens toy company, responsible for such hits as the FeelSpring and other toys from the city's past that had a habit of coming to life. And this is no exception as the toy creatures are now running amok through the city! Instead of being asked to continue playing cards, Otherworlders will be given nets and asked to go collect the wayward toys from all around the city.
- Pedometer GO: Once all the figures are collected, the event organizers realize they have a way bigger hit on their hands than their weird card game, releasing the creatures into the park again and branding it as their newest hit, Magical Arehtei EX Go! As in go out there and get them. Otherworlders will be paired into groups of two and given a time limit to recover as many of the toys roaming the park as possible and trade them in for fabulous prizes! Which turn out to be a bunch of unsold cards from the relaunch.
• Prompt E: Arumon, a renowned keychain designer, has promised the public that he plans on releasing one more design before he retires for good. If anyone hasn't heard of him until recently, it's because he made that promise 3 years ago, and most of the public has either forgotten about him or just accepted the fact that the final keychain design is never going to be released. Now, after years of delays and being side tracked with other projects (he's also a zipper designer!), he's finally ready to unveil the ultimate keychain! Naturally, the hype train has started to pick up at full-pace again, making this an event not to be missed. All accessory enthusiasts as well as security detail have been invited to the keychain museum, where Arumon's final keychain design is going to be unveiled at 9 o'clock. Are you HYPED?!- Passion: Although it's called a keychain museum, tonight it serves more as an event function, encouraging all guests to mingle with one another. Aside from having Arumon's previous keychains on display, there are also free snacks and drinks being served, as well as merchandise shops or even stations where one can create their own keychain using various arts and crafts. Those who arrive will also receive a free random keychain of their own - did you get one that you like? If not, trading with each other is encouraged! And that's not even the best part... the keychains are infused with special crystals, which supposedly act as a compass to your heart. If someone is at the party who is destined to be your friend (or more?), your respective keychains will react to each other by glowing. This is not scientifically proven and the glowing might just be the cause of something else... but hey, who doesn't believe in friendship?
- Face My Fears: Later in the evening, an unfortunate side effect is discovered from having all of these keychains infused with emotion crystals. Anyone who harbours any negativity in their hearts, be it malicious or the more personal kind (fear, anxiety, sadness, etc), that negativity is fed into the crystal of everyone's keychains. The more the negativity festers, it in turn begins to affect their owners, influencing their behaviour in an even more negative way. Eventually, some crystals become so full that they start to come to life on their own, which results in pet-sized shadow creatures running amok. They're not strong on their own, but a group of them can make them very dangerous! Only those who don't have malice in their hearts can defeat them - if someone doesn't fit the criteria, their options are to either run or hope someone with a good heart helps them.
- Don’t Think Twice: With the shadow creatures largely dealt with, it's now time to unveil Arumon's final keychain! It's been a long wait, with many years of speculating what it could look like. The crowd couldn't be more ready! Unfortunately, the shadow creatures have spooked Arumon's confidence in his design, not to mention it's infused with the same type of crystal as the one that feeds on negative energy. He can't in good conscience release this to the public, which means he just announced there is going to be another delay. Naturally, the crowd feels cheated and disappointed for letting themselves get hyped up over a keychain. The whole function now starts generating negative energy, which is all being channeled into the box that contains Arumon's final keychain. Anyone who realizes the real danger here is quickly called to the stage and put on a different show for the crowd. Can you dance? Tell jokes? Put on a two-man improv show? Anything will do as long as it keeps the negativity in check! And should you fail? A large shadow creature emerges from Arumon's box... it looks like his final keychain has taken on the form of a boss battle! Once again, rely on those who have good hearts if you plan on fighting it!
• Prompt F: Yet another unusual craze is sweeping over the city of Verens this month, spawning from a popular play that has taken Theasthai by storm. It involves blindfolding oneself and trying to accomplish everyday tasks successfully, and, as usual, people are getting carried away with the idea, creating entire events and gatherings around the phenomenon as its popularity grows and spreads. Known colloquially as “The Puzzle Box Challenge”, everyone seems to be getting in on some of the action, whether that’s participating, or attempting to stop others from getting themselves killed stupidly. After all, this has the Enforcers quite concerned! Which side of the line will you fall on?- Password, Please: In the city park, Puzzle Box Challengers have gathered to play an unusual game. Participants are, of course, blindfolded, and are then led at random around the crowded park by event organizers to stand somewhere well away from where they entered and told a secret codeword. Once the bell sounds, participants must find the one other person in the park who has the same codeword as them. Only then can they remove their blindfolds! To make this a bit more difficult, however, participants are only allowed to whisper. Move about carefully, find your partner, and win the game!
- Anything You Can Do: Certain groups of Puzzle Box Challengers have formed rivalries with one another and are mostly concerned with one-upmanship, to the point of putting themselves in extreme danger. At their next public demonstration of superiority, one group plans to fly an airship while blindfolded, while the other group is aiming to build a barn while blindfolded. Both ideas are ill-advised, of course, and the Enforcers plan to try and stop them, and in response, both groups are recruiting new members to help them complete their task efficiently. Where will you end up? Helping one of the rival groups, or putting a stop to all this nonsense with the Enforcers?
- Senseless: Yet another extreme group of Puzzle Box Challengers have decided that blindfolds alone are not enough. The real PBC endgame is wearing a blindfold and earmuffs at the same time. Of course, most people aren’t crazy enough to try this without some incentive, so the group is offering a thousand sylvs to anyone who spends a day with both their ears and their eyes covered. And it won’t count if you just stay home, either. Get out there, go grocery shopping, trip over everything and most of all, have fun! Assuming you don’t get yourself killed, anyway.
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include a baseball cap and/or getting the wrong order at a restaurant.
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! - The Gathering: Like before, there will be demos of the game in the city's parks. Anyone around will be invited to try out the game with a partner. Marvel at the artwork, stare in confusion at the still confusing rulebook (simplifying things was not part of the relaunch), or just do whatever with the cards. The event runners want this to be a success so they're not going to frown on people for making up their own rules (it's possible they don't understand the rules either). So long as people are enjoying the game, it'll get people to buy cards and assorted trinkets or so they hope. Either way, emotions are sure to be all over the place as people try to figure this one out!
Hunk | Voltron: Legendary Defender
Hunk had missed this card game fad by the time he had first appeared in Verens. Now that he's back and established once more, he is extremely hyped up about finding something new to sink his teeth into. What better than a ridiculously complicated card game about the Arehtei? The collectible toys are definitely not the main reason he's excited about this.
Running around the city with a sparky yellow butterfly net, Hunk is taking the job of capturing the toys quite seriously. You might catch him attempting to jump up, swinging the net, aiming for a precariously perched toy on the gutter of business. Or perhaps you've come across him on his hands and knees trying to gently coax one out from under a vendor's stall. Either way, Hunk is doing his best to get as many as he can.
D-3
If you thought Hunk was going to miss out on capturing more of the toys in the park for prizes, well, you clearly don't know him well enough. He is there, eagerly searching out a partner to join him on this part of the chase. When he spots someone standing off on their own, net in hand, he approaches them with a big, warm smile.
"Hey there, do you have a partner yet? I know they're gonna start this final hunt soon and I need a partner myself if you're looking for one!"
F-2
Hunk hadn't heard a whole lot about the Puzzle Box Challenge thanks to being busy at The Golden Afternoon, but as he made his way through the park one afternoon he was certainly about to learn what it was. Apparently one team was short a person, and suddenly Hunk found himself being integrated into a group of people and having a blindfold tied over his eyes. Trying to listen the directions was tricky thanks to his focus being on keeping an earthquake from starting. His emotional control was still not great, and he didn't want his nervousness freaking other people out.
So, assuming he looks like a complete idiot, Hunk stumbles forward with his arms out at the sound of the bell. With some very quiet whining, Hunk's fingers brush over what feels like a soft fabric. Keeping his voice to a whisper he "calls" out to what he hopes is the person he's supposed to be looking for.
"Hello... Are you the passcode person...?"
no subject
Pat pat pat pat -- ah, Hunk's shoulder. Kevin clamps his hand on it gently, for sturdiness.
"Mine is -- definitely, definitely."
That's not the passcode Kevin was given for this at all. It is, however, the one he is using. Either the total strangers he meets will reject him for having a different code, or people he likes will recognize him instantly by his little verbal tic and they can all move on. He is up to some shit, you see, being an Enforcer in a crowd full of morons encouraging stupidity and all.
no subject
"Kevin!" Hunk says all too loudly, and there are some hissed shhhhhushes come from various directions. A soft, much more quiet little chuckle escapes him as he moves a hand to squeeze what feels like Kevin's elbow.
"What are you doing out here? Did you get roped into this weird mess too? Cause I was just minding my own business when some locals dragged me into this. I'm not really sure what we're supposed to be doing."
no subject
Dandelions in his mouth, glugh. Oh well, at least this is definitely Hunk for sure. Kevin fumbles around a bit until he manages to link their arms in proper Victorian fashion and then scuttles them off to the side a bit.
"Yeah, I got roped in, too," he answers, sounding deliberately casual. And not Victorian. "It's kinda fun, I guess." Then, Kevin lowers his voice back to a whisper. "I'm undercover. The Enforcers are trying to put a stop to this nonsense before people hurt themselves, but the organizers just keep relocating and starting harder challenges. Would you believe that when I turned up, they said to me -- 'hey, aren't you that Enforcer?' And I frowned at them and said -- 'no, you're thinking of the other one. I'm Keith.' And they bought it? Good gravy!"
He had been aware that people saw them as Keith-and-Kevin the unit, but he hadn't known they were that clueless. What, did they forget which one of them was here first?
no subject
Lowering his voice back into a whisper as well, Hunk leans in to reply, "How do you plan on finding the organizers blindfolded? Why not just take it off now and hunt them down? They gotta be in the park after all, right?"
no subject
Ah yes, this sounds reasonabl --
"Anyway, I'm rather making it up as I go as it is. Nobody ordered me to do this or anything. Hanging out with the others while they kept trying out dumb ideas was just making me crazy, so I walked out on them." There it is. There's the red paladin part. "Don't worry, though. My speciality is hunting people down under the cover of darkness."
Nothing about this situation is okay and nobody will fault Hunk for it if he decides to leave Kevin to his own stupid shenanigans at any point for the rest of this thread.
no subject
"Gotcha. Sounds logical enough. Would you like some help? Can't say how good I'll be, but I wouldn't mind putting an end to this sort of thing."
Especially after the way he was literally dragged into it himself. He also doesn't want to see people get hurt over such a foolish game. Thankfully Verens isn't full of cars and other fast moving vehicles the way his own home is. Hopefully nobody in his time would be stupid enough to do this sort of thing!
no subject
Hunk is not trained to handle Enforcer business in any capacity, but he does have what Kevin thinks of as "generic paladin competence", which means that he will be an ideal addition to Kevin's disguise! Some clearly non-Enforcer rando tagging along with him, who will absolutely be of use if there should be a crisis. In his special Hunk sort of way. He may not be the paladin with the fightiest instincts by a long shot, but Keith thinks the world of Hunk and his abilities and that is good enough for Kevin.
He sparkles fiendishly.
"Then, let's go find the next part of the puzzle. Now that we've found each other, we get to graduate to the real stuff."
Nevermind that the people Hunk and Kevin were actually supposed to partner up with are still shambling around out here. It's fine, that's good. They've saved them from an embarrassing fate, no doubt.
no subject
Kevin could probably easily feel the way Hunk has tensed up, his classic sign of rising anxiousness. Being blindfolded wasn't his ideal sort of anything. Well. Maybe there was one or two situations he'd be up for it, but this was definitely not one of them!
D2
"Hunk? Is... everything all right?"
no subject
"Hey Allura," Hunk replies cheerfully enough despite the pain. "Are you familiar with Magical Arehtei EX?"
no subject
"Sorry..." But ah, that explains it. "Those new toys? I've heard a few of the school's students chat about it between lessons. Is that what this is about?"
no subject
It grumbles at them appropriately though. Hunk just smiles at it.
"I've been hoping to collect all of the toys. They'd make a great addition to the plushie team we have in the living room!"
Keith has not been consulted about bringing more stuffed things into their apartment. Let alone living stuff toys at that. Gordon would probably be thrilled though.
Oh my gosh, Hunk caught a Shiny Kyogre!
After all, there are a few other people in her social circle that might like a plushy. ... And maybe herself, if the Peromei toys don't ooze like their model.
no subject
"I've gotten a fair amount so far. Although the little Sosyne there is the first actual Arehtei toy I found. The rest are just various critters."
While Hunk is explaining this, one of said critters decides this is a perfect moment to make an escape. The shadow hound looking toy uses a spider creature as a launchpad and jumps towards the pack opening. Hunk registers the movement too late and in a frantic attempt to stop the creature he pulls on his new dunamis skill.
Right as the shadow hound leaps into the air it's suddenly encased in a somewhat translucent topaz crystal. Hunk grabs it before it can fall to the ground.
"Phew, that was close."
no subject
"Very nicely done, Hunk. You certainly haven't gotten rusty, have you?"
no subject
"And I'm still having trouble controlling my more natural emotional reactions. Just the other morning I flooded the kitchen with a flowers! Like, a ton of them!! All because I was watching Keith play with Gordon and I just felt so happy to be seeing that. It was maybe a ten flower burst moment. Not a biblical flood of petals moment, Allura!"
While Hunk begins to explain his problem, and his stress about this particular issues starts building, little rocks appear to cling to Hunk's shoes, and ankles.