memepatheias | TEST DRIVE: March

— TEST DRIVE: MARCH —

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 22 February and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on March 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.
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!

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: Self-proclaimed knight (and actual millionaire) Vermouth Pennybags has heard a local legend about a the infamous Chalice of Wisdom, an ancient relic said to be hidden somewhere within the city and only attainable by the most valiant and quick-witted in all the land. Of course, Vermouth Pennybags is not valiant or quick-witted, but he is very rich, and so he has enlisted the help of the Otherworlders in following the clues to find the Chalice. If you are successful, you will be rewarded handsomely...but only if you find the Chalice.

The Knights Who Say...: The first task that Mr. Pennybags sets forth is for you to find a...shrubbery. Yes, a shrubbery, that supposedly, when its leaves are used to make tea, will leave behind dregs with another clue once the tea is drunk. As such, not just any shrubbery will do. You will need to fetch a shrubbery from a certain glade in the Ferril Mountains, where you will find a number of nice-looking and not-too-expensive shrubberies. The question is, which is the one the legend speaks of? One has golden leaves near the base, and that’s the one you’re looking for. However, it may take some time to find it! Did you bring your garden shears?
A Vicious Streak A Mile Wide: Once the shrubbery is obtained and Mr. Pennybags drinks the magic tea, his next clue will lead him to conclude that you need to capture a...deadly bunny rabbit. What exactly makes a bunny deadly remains to be seen, but fortunately for you, there are plenty of farms nearby that keep bunnies around. There is indeed one very violent one among the bunch, but it won’t be so easy to find it. You will have to focus your own feelings of anger and hate to find the bunny in question, and even then, you will need to be careful. Once it’s been found out, the bunny will attack! Defend yourself against nibbles and wrestle the unruly beast into submission. The Chalice is on the line.
What is Your Quest: Mr. Pennybags decides that what he must do with the rabbit to determine his next steps are to...set it free, because it keeps biting him, the little bugger. Instead, he conveniently finds a map at the local library that purportedly leads to the Chalice’s location! Following the map will take you deep into the woods on the far side of Lake Niras, where you will find a bridge across a ravine. The bridge is rickety and old, and a fall from this height will surely kill you. If you dare to cross, only bolstering feelings of confidence and courage will see you safely across. And should you make it to the other side...you will find Vermouth Pennybags himself there, snapping a picture of you and informing you that this was all just an elaborate set-up for a story in tomorrow’s newspaper. What a con. Well, enjoy those fifteen minutes of fame!

• Prompt E: An engineering society in Briarlan named The Beta Alpha Engineering Society or B.A.E.S. recently developed a new entertainment system called Crystal Simulation. The Crystal Simulation is a means to create a four-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with on a seemingly real or physical way by a person using a specific equipment: a pair of bulky transparent rimmed eyeglasses made from the same crystals that can be found in the mines. This is a huge step in forwarding technology in all of Empatheias, and Verens is more than lucky for the B.A.E.S. to have decided to use the city as their testing grounds. Put a pair on and let the B.A.E.S. teleport you into an alternate reality through telepathy.

Tutorial: The moment you open your eyes after putting the Simulation Glasses on, you find yourself in a desert. There's sand everywhere, even in your shoes. At least, it definitely feels real. Even the heat of the sun is scorching hot despite it being winter in Empatheias right now. You find that your clothes have changed, and you feel like such a beginner with your light clothes and small dagger. A long rectangular white box floats in front of you, and above it reads: ENTER YOUR NAME. The first word or name that you think of ends up being your name in this reality. You think of your actual skills from your home world, and these thoughts are transmitted to the B.A.E. in charge of your simulation. They sent you a mental image of a row of empty boxes in front of you, and on top of it reads: LVL 1, AMATEUR. At the very least, there seem to be other amateurs around you - in fact, all their names are floating above their heads!
Level Up!: After finding out that this 4D reality is something similar to a "game", you find that in this reality, there are missions to accomplish. Unfortunately, you cannot accomplish anything while you're still an Amateur. Thanks to your trusty dagger (which needs to be re-sharpened every time you kill a monster), you can chop up the many cacti all around, kill Fluffy Bunnies, or head to the nearby oasis and make a fishing rod and catch fish. Doing these tasks add to your EXP, and once you reach level 5, you'll be prompted to change your class. You've been promoted, and it comes with new skills and a neat costume change! Although… if your B.A.E. thinks you're amusing in a bunny costume, then they won't hesitate to put you in one, instead. Nobody said this simulation was perfect!
The Desert Dragon: Once enough players have reached level 5 and have changed classes, the desert will suddenly get dark. Winds will blow and howl until the sandstorm blinds everyone temporarily. Then, a roar. Once everyone's regained their sight, they'll find a white dragon with eyes glowing. It reeks of hatred and anger, and each claw is gripping a large gold ball with a giant star emblem on it. The dragon flies around the desert wreaking havoc and destroying the settlements in the oasis. Your job is to defeat this creature. Use your skills, your emotions (perhaps love and happiness will counter the dragon?), and try to pop those balls. They seem to be giving him power! Once the dragon has been defeated, the simulation is over and everyone who participated will be given 100 sylvs for their trouble. Thank you!

• Prompt F: Every year at Lake Niras, a group of fishing enthusiasts host the annual Iron Fish Tournament, in which everyone can compete as individuals or as a team in order to catch the rarest fish. A winner is determined by the size and rarity of the fish, but most of the veterans are here for only one prize: to catch the legendary Demon of the Lake. What is the Demon of the Lake? Well, nobody has really seen it with their own eyes, but there is definitely something in the water, but those who managed to get it to nibble have never been able to reel it out. Maybe this is the year that the demon is conquered?

Fishing 101: The nice thing about this competition is that everyone can borrow their own gear and boats, which is welcoming even for those who just want to have a relaxing day fishing. There is an instructor teaching a class the basics of fishing just near the water, but if someone already knows their way with a fishing pole is encouraged to take a novice on board and teach them the ways. Who knows, whether you're both beginners or one teaching the other, you might just make a great team!
The Game is On: Once people are out on their boats, they'll quickly learn that Empatheias isn't your typical world and conventional fishing wisdom may not apply here. For example, aside from using the correct lure and bait, one must be in a right emotional state in order to attract the fish they want. This is all explained to any of the newcomers, of course. Talking about happy things will attract small exotic flying fish, while experiencing negative emotions will attract the heavier fish, although they're not as rare as the former. Remember, winning results are based on both size and rarity! There is also a third type of fish, although they're not attracted to any strong emotions nor are they part of the competition. Why is that? Well... that's because these ones explode if they're not thrown back into the lake quick enough. They can be identified by a small unicorn-like horn on their foreheads, so watch out!
Catch Me If You Can: Those who are persistent enough will eventually feel a strong bite, although most attempts at trying to reel their prize will end in their rods being yanked out of their hand. Those who are less fortunate will probably fall into the water, too! Perhaps this is a two-person job. Those who are strong enough to actually hold on to their rod will only have it be broken, too. Surely this is the legendary Demon of the Lake! Unfortunately, there is no way to catch it... but hey, the fish is the friends we made along the way, right? As for those who are frustrated enough to dive into the water, it'll be too hard to see the figure of the demon, but a giant tentacle will catch them and their partner and throw them out of the lake!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include goldfish and/or carrots.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Joker follows the kid's eyes.]

It's your name. In the game.

To... identify you, I guess.

[He has no real idea what any of this is, but what he's picked up from Futaba is enough to let him bullshit an explanation to a fifteen year old. It's got to be, right?]

Obviously.

[ duh, akira. he shoves his hands into his pockets and quirks a brow higher at the taller boy. ]

I meant “Joker”. What’s that about? That can’t really be your name.

[His brows furrow beneath the goggles, pretty much immediately, and his posture stiffens a bit. It's weirdly defensive, for an obnoxious but genuine question.]

A name in a video game doesn't have to be the name your parents gave you.

[ it’s not that he feels dumb for this oversight. not at all! he just isn’t sure how to respond. embarrassed, his cheeks turn pink and he looks away. dumb dumb dumb — ]

Can you change it?

[ he’s gesturing stupidly to his own floating name that very clearly says “y-plisetsky”. if it’s good enough for instagram it’s good enough for this. ]

...Dunno.

[He can't stay too mad when a kid looks that distressed, honestly, so he forces himself to smooth out his body language.]

I just got here. I don't know everything.

Here? Or here?

[ listen, mister! he isn’t that much younger than you. he and futaba would make quite the pair. ]

[Maybe it's just because you act like a child!!!!! >:(]

...In the game.

Are you new to Verens?

[ SHUT UP KURUSU. ]

... Yeah. Sort of. The other day.

[ he kicks the sand, still weary of this guy. ]

So you're thrown in there, and thrown in here a few days after.

[Yikes.]

Well. Maybe figuring this place out will help you figure out the rest of Empatheias somehow.

How am I supposed to know?

[ he shrugs, frowning at all the sand. before he lightly kicks it again. ]

This sucks. I don’t care that I’m alone here but, ... Potya isn’t even here.

Potya might show up later. New people come at the start of every month, like clockwork.

[Damn. Y. Plisetsky is kind of cute, in a pouty way. Joker won't say this out loud, though, because if he's gotten a good enough grasp on the kid's personality, he would take it the wrong way.]

Who is Potya?

[ WHO IS HE??? ]

... my cat. She isn’t used to being alone.

[ mutter mutter. he’s annoyed and blushing as he fiddles with his name ticker again. ]

[Hey, uh, what the fuck? This is adorable?]

She'll be okay.

[Joker knows exactly nothing of what happens in the real world when people head off for Empatheias, but Yusuke was here for like a year apparently but while also being at home in Tokyo? So there's probably some version of this kid still at home to take care of the cat.]

[ no one has fully explained the “time” aspect to him. or he hasn’t listened long enough. there’s irritated panic and yuri pivots to “glare” at akira. ]

Bullshit! I didn’t tell Grandpa I was going anywhere, and that stupid idiot is off with his little piggy god knows where and Yakov is allergic to cats.

[ no he isn’t about to cry??? ]

[Is he going to have to explain it? Here we go. It's not the first time he's had to lay it all out for a newcomer, so even though it's mostly guesswork, he knows the script by now.]

A friend of mine, who was at home with me, told me when I came here that he'd been here for like a year.

There's probably a version of you at home to take care of the cat, or something like that.

[ ...... bzzzzt. yuri frowns and stares down at his feet, the panic and fear slowly dissipates. ]

... I don’t get it. This whole magic thing. This place doesn’t make any sense.

It makes a weird kind of sense.

[Like the Metaverse.]

But it's not the kind you get immediately.

[ that’s moderatelt reassuring. yuri reaches out and immediatly tries to poke akira’s chest. ]

Then it’s your job to show me. [ HE HAS !! DECIDED!! ]

[That elicits a raise of his eyebrows.]

Well, only since you asked so nicely.

[...But he goes back to something approaching a smile shortly afterward.]

I can do that once we get outta here, because I have no idea how this game works.

[ he considers it, considers it... ]

All right. Deal.

[ yuri nods sharply and steps back, crossing his arms. ]

... Tell me your name. It isn’t fair you know mine and I don’t know yours.

[ that’s half true. ]

I know your last name, and you know my other name. Seems fair to me.

[He shrugs, like that's the end of it... but then opens his mouth again.]

Akira Kurusu. What's Y stand for?

[ ha ha ha. yuri’s brows pinch together but his expression softens when akira finally relents. sweet. ]

It’s Yuri.

[ he blinks, processing akira’s name. ]

Is that japanese?

Yeah.

[He doesn't know off the top of his head where Plisetsky is from. Somewhere in Europe, maybe? Er.]

M'from Tokyo.

Do you all wear glasses or something?

[ he mutters it to himself but then he realizes— ]

Wait. Does that mean you know what katsudon is?

[Akira hears that, and he's about to respond, but as usual all trains of thought stop and are redirected when Yuri brings up things that go in his stomach.]

Of course I do.

(no subject)

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