memepatheias | Test Drive: April

Entry tags:

*test drive

Test Drive: April

— TEST DRIVE: APRIL —

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 March 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on April 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: Arehtei Amusements is a new company in Verens seeking to bring Arehtei themed festivities to the people of the city. This might've not been the best idea as it's not endorsed by the creatures themselves and coming up with festivities for some of them can be a bit of a stretch, but they've already incorporated, so it's a little late for that now. Anyways, first up is Piphron, which might not be the best or the easiest choice, but it's too late to change their focus now. So visitors to the Piphron Party will find a few activities awaiting them:

Catch of the Day: One of the first activities people will notice resembles a game of frisbee. But with blindfolds! What better way to build trust if you can't see or at least that's the line of thinking here. Participants will be grouped together and whoever's turn to catch will be blindfolded and have to rely on their partner's directions to catch the flying disc. Everything about this seems like it was a better idea than on paper, but it's probably too late for that now. Especially if one of them is flying at you!
Leap of Faith: For those who want to try out something with less of a chance of getting hit in the face with a frisbee, there's also a trust fall activity going on. But unlike the regular team building exercise, this one seems to have been taken to the extreme and mixed it with bungee jumping. After a brief lesson in Dunamis, one person will be escorted to a platform to fall off it and work with their partner on the ground to slow their descent using emotion magic. And don't worry, it's completely safe! The area under the platform seems full of what looks like foam padding, so there's nothing to worry about if someone messes up or falls too fast.
Paper Trail: The Arehtei have two sides and since balance is important, they've also tried to incorporate feelings of distrust into today's activities (besides the feelings of skepticism one might have from watching this nonsense and learning the event organizers are planning on more things like this). The organizers were trying to set up a mock murder mystery to try and sow feelings of suspicion or distrust in good fun, but it seems like someone's stolen the sign up sheet listing all the roles! So now they're asking for help to recover the sheet and the culprit responsible! It could be anyone, but odds are they're still in the park somewhere. Or more likely, the wind blew the paperwork away when someone wasn't looking, but they don't seem to be considering that one, so good luck hunting for the mystery thief!

• Prompt E: Whether he finds you on a random street corner, inside a grocery store, or at the library, a butler who introduces himself only as Benson is handing you an invitation and informing you that the illustrious Count Dunnit has invited you to stay at his manor for the weekend with a few other select guests. The Count has yet to name an heir for his abundant fortune, and he apparently has decided to bequeath his estate to whoever he enjoys spending the weekend with the most. How can you possibly refuse? However, should you choose to join Count Dunnit and his other guests at the manor, you may find that this weekend is more than you bargained for...

Curious Cuisine: Upon arrival at Count Dunnit’s manor, all guests will be invited to partake in a sumptuous dinner of all sorts of rare and exquisite Verenthian delicacies. The food comes in all sorts of strange varieties and colors and aren’t the sort of things that one can find at any restaurant in town, though perhaps for good reason. Whether or not any of this is appetizing is debatable. Have you ever tried grilled wyvern tail? How about bat wings? Snakes? Just snakes? Well, if the cuisine isn’t to your liking, towards the end of the meal, the lights flicker out and when they return, Count Dunnit has crumpled down into his seat, dead as a doornail. Things just took a turn, didn’t they?
In the Dining Room with the Candlestick: So, Count Dunnit is dead, and everyone in the room is a suspect. You’re a suspect. Anyone here might have killed him to steal his fortune. So it falls to you and your fellow guests to analyze the evidence and discover who the culprit is! Dunnit was poisoned, ostensibly, so starting your investigation in the kitchen and interrogating the staff may prove fruitful. However, it also appears that Dunnit has a stab wound in his back, leaving you to find a knife. To complicate matters further, there is also an injury from blunt trauma to his head. Anything might have caused that. How will you investigate the murder? And moreover...can you trust your fellow guests?
Goodnight Sweet Prince: As your investigation continues, it becomes clear that there are simply too many variables in this situation for there to be any one culprit, and all clues point to the murder being a joint effort by the members of the staff in an effort to prevent any of the guests from receiving the fortune they feel they rightly deserve. Once the jig is up, however, they release a sleeping gas into the manor and make their escape before anyone can pursue them. These sleeping gas has some extra special properties that make those under its influence particularly cuddly and snuggly when they lie down for a little nap. You may wake up closer to someone than expected. Maybe they’re a complete stranger and you can both agree to never mention this again...or maybe not!

• Prompt F: As the years go on and more people begin to get a grasp of their Dunamis magic, Mr. Bubbly, a man with a vision wants to start training exceptional children to become the island's first official superhero group. He believes that by teaching them to harness their Dunamis by an early age, as well as instilling in them a strict moral code, they'll be ready to defend us from anything in the future. The name of this class? The Umbra Academy. Meanwhile, another man with a different set of ideals, Lord Saline, wants to begin his own program, The Astra Academy. While his school teaches young minds to control their Dunamis as well, he is viewed more as an extremist who wants to tear down the wealthy. While the schools are aware of each other, they have agreed not to clash directly.

First Class: As both academies officially begin class, they are going to need both students and teachers. Anyone aged 17 and under is welcome to join either group, be it as a student or a teacher. Anybody over that age will have to apply as a teacher/guardian, as the students are largely made up of ten year olds. Either way, whether you're a student or a teacher, you are tasked with standing in front of the class and introducing yourself. Talk about your world and most importantly, what it means to be a hero! Be prepared to take questions, too.
The Clash: Astra Academy's first mission is underway! Lord Saline has tasked both students and teachers to break into the vault of a museum, using only Dunamis and non-lethal methods when disposing of guards. Ideally this is meant to be a stealth mission, so it's best not to get caught at all. The target? A pink diamond, belonging to a corrupt owner, which Lord Saline intends to sell and distribute to the poor. Meanwhile, the Umbra Academy has a mission of their own! Their students and teachers are to stop an ongoing burglary of a popular museum. If it wasn't obvious so far, it quickly becomes clear that both groups are sent to the same location, with the goal to prevent the other from succeeding. Looks like it's the clash of the academies!
The Last Stand: Eventually, it's revealed that Mr. Bubbly and Lord Saline are in fact the same person, a legendary con man known as Jet. He created both academies and pit them against each other so he can steal the pink diamond for himself, which he succeeds. Now, even though they're officially disbanded, it's going to take the full force of both academies to catch this criminal mastermind before he gets away. Jet commands a luxury airship full of well-paid guards and mercenaries, which is easily tracked down by our heroes. Using your lessons of stealth and combat from either class, it's time to find your way around his cronies and get that diamond back!

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include spiders and/or capes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh calm your tits, lady. Freaking out about this is only going to let the culprits get away.

[He says ever so casually while languidly resting a leg on his knee, sighing while rubbing his stomach.]

Ohhhhhh, I feel bloated. Probably should have passed on that steak.

[ Steak?!

Sheryl was not freaking out, she was furious and disgusted at this person's lack of respect. ]

Hmph. Nevermind, you are probably useless anyway.

[She takes out her amulet and began to try contacting someone from the outside. It might not be much, but it would be a start. ]

That's rude.

[He gives her a sideways glance at her remark.]

And what are you going to do? Call the cops? It'll be too late, the knife they used would have already been cleaned or disposed of by the time they get here.

[He looks at the body again from where he sat, noticing the bulge of trauma on his head.]

Oh? It looks like he could have been bludgeoned too. Hmmm, interesting. This might be worth my time after all.

Only because you are quite rude too.

[ She was still on the phone, determined to ignore him and his remarks. What else could they do? Nobody is coming forward as a doctor and they needed the body study before it decomposes ---- wait. What is he doing? ]

I thought you were going to eat dessert.

I was, but given that the murderer or maybe murderers is someone among the servants, I'd rather not.

[Bishop says while stretching in his seat.]

Wouldn't want a second body to deal with after all. Though, I suppose me stating this out loud also makes me a target I suppose.

[A smile suddenly appears on face, a hand idly placed on the table near the dinner knife.]

I'd be interesting to see what happens after this though!

HUH?!

[ She was looking at him with a confused expression now, while the amulet --- again fails to connect outside. A second body?! What was he talking about? Someone was going to die?

She puts down her amulet and goes towards him, wondering how anyone could be so nonchalant about someone dying.

Slamming her hand on the table in front of him, she made sure to get his attention. ]

If you are so sure, why aren't you doing something?

Jesus, lady! I said keep your cool. Damn.

[Gosh she is wound up tight. He grabs her free hand and yanks her down until she's sat down on her chair.]

First thing, this isn't my problem. Second, even if it was and I went after the - [He looks around to see if it's safe.] - perpetrators, how sure are we that they're not going to use the guests here as insurance to get away, hmmm? Do you want to take that risk?

[ Sheryl quickly takes her hand back when he forced her to sit. Normally, she would get angry at something like that, but not now.

She, unfortunately, couldn't argue with his sound logic as much as she disliked it. Maybe, just maybe, he was right and those risks were involved. ]

We have to do something. Is there any way to protect the guests at least until help arrives?

Edited 2019-03-26 14:56 (UTC)

Yeah.

[He relaxes back on his chair.]

Sit down. Shut up. And don't do a damn thing.

[Despite his glaring apathy for the situation, he does have a plan of action. He just doesn't feel like sharing.]

Edited 2019-03-26 15:02 (UTC)

[ Sheryl had to count from 1 to 10 to keep herself from exploding again. What kind of plan was that after all?

If she thought about it though, what other option does she have? No one was picking up from the outside. Not even her friends. If he had a plan ... and could save everyone here, she could do what he says.

She leans back and crosses her legs, not at all looking very happy. ]

This is not sounding to be a very good plan. [ This time, she was speaking much more softly and only enough for him to hear. ]

Well, my other plan was to sneak out, snap the neck of the guard, toss the body in the bushes, and leave you all to whatever fate these people had in store so I think my current plan of giving the bad guys a head start and making sure everyone else is alive is the better one. Yeah? Yeah.

[Obnoxious and has a lip on him. Bishop is a treasure, but amidst his sarcasm his eyes haven't stopped moving around. They dart from one person to the next, appraising each one in a matter of seconds, and taking note of the servants walking around. He even makes use of the glasses at the table and positions his in way that he can see the reflection of what's behind him on it.]

Don't look. To your right is the main entrance, there's a servant going from table to table picking up used silver ware. I think he has the weapon used, or can at least point me in the right direction. Can you act?

You are just utterly charming, you know that?

[ She forced herself to smile and again, her voice was oozing with sarcasm. He was really not bothering to make himself even remotely likable. Admittedly, he may be a horrible person, but at least he now seems to at least attempt to be useful.

Her attention was piqued when he directed her attention to the servant. She didn't even notice him earlier. To be fair though, she rarely did pay attention to servers and such.

She was still not convinced by the deduction. How did he come up with it? Did he fancy himself a detective? But what was there to lose? They were sitting ducks not doing anything. ]

Who do you think I am? Of course I can.

[He dips his head to the side.] I don't think you want me to answer that.

[He angles his glass for a glance to check how far he was from the entrance.]

On my signal[He says, raising the two fingers around the neck of his glass then bending them similar to making air quotes], tell me that you're not feeling well and want to leave. Take my arm then head to the door, but let me lead the pace. I'll take care of things then. Ready?

[He says, less a question and more as a notice to get ready, then gives her the signal. Strut your stuff, Sheryl.]

[ Sheryl was biting back another sarcastic remark. His opinion of her didn't matter anyway. She had a lot of confidence in her acting abilities. This would be easy, but what was it for?

She was going to have to trust him and wait and see. ]

Alright. I will hope your acting skills don't drag me down.

Don't worry about me.

[He looks at the waiter make his move, slow as to not attract attention, but it was clearly a beeline for the entrance. He looks to Sheryl and gives the signal to go. While she does her thing, Bishop reaches into his pocket and readies his garrote wire. He was really hoping he wouldn't have to work tonight.]

[ As she waited for his signal, Sheryl had to quickly decide on a character. This was tricky because she didn't have a script, so she had to make one up on the spot.

Finally deciding on one, all that was left was to wait for the signal and it was not a long wait at all.

She wraps her arms around his and leans her head on his shoulder. ]

I'm not feeling so good ... maybe I've had too much to drink.

[ Her voice was loud enough now for most people to hear. She also managed to fake a blush as she stands up, then trying to lead him to the direction the server went earlier. ]

I want to go home ...

[Well his opinion certainly has changed. Who is this chick and where did she get these acting chops? Questions for later.]

I told you to watch the alcohol tonight, hun. Let's get you home.

[He made gestures to check her while noting the glances of the people who were just as quick to dismiss them. Perfect. He helped Sheryl to her feet and headed towards the entrance with her in tow.

By the time they reached the opening, like clockwork, the waiter he was tracking was just arms reach away. He reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder, the young waiter around his late teens, jerking in surprise as Bishop turns him around.]

Hey. [He tosses the kid a set of keys.] Mustang. Deep blue. Hop to it.

[The kid looked confused but shortly understood the valet service quickly went out into the parking lot out front as Bishop led Sheryl outside.]

Stupid kid, doesn't even realize those were house keys that I tossed to him. No matter.

[He let her go and went after the waiter without further word as he disappeared into the shadows. Seconds later there's the sound some something getting hit against a car, should she go to investigate Sheryl would find the waiter on the ground with Bishop kneeling beside him. The kid was a bit blue in the face and a garrote wire is around his neck with a big red bump on his forehead.]

[ Acting like lovers to someone you think was vile is a lot harder than people think, even with Sheryl's acting chops. She had to bite her lip to keep smiling when he called her that endearment. Instead, she mimicked a drunken giggle and allowed him to guide her, acting like it was necessary due to her drunken stupor.

It was effective enough, the other guests didn't bother giving them a second glance. They continued to go about their business even with the dead body in the middle of the room. She could hear some people talking about wanting to follow suit and go home, but most of them didn't drive here and had replied on the host for transportation.

When they got close to the waiter, she pressed herself tighter against Bishop and gave the boy a flirty giggle for the boy's viewing pleasure. ]

Sorry. Someone is just impatient tonight.

[ Confused and maybe a little embarrassed by the blatant show of intimacy, he quickly lead them outside.

When the waiter and Bishop disappeared, she pretended to stay near the entrance to pretend that she would be waiting for them to bring the car around. Another reason was also because she wasn't sure what the plan was after this.

However when he heard the struggle, she couldn't hold back her panic. Did whatever plan he had in mind get exposed? When the noise died down, she decided to go to investigate ... and what a sight it was. ]

Who are you?

[ She demanded quietly. She knew neither his name or what he was, and because of this scene he was beginning to look suspicious. He certainly looks capable enough. ]

Edited 2019-03-28 14:07 (UTC)

[He gave her a passing glance when she showed up. Normally he'd "take care" of her too but since the kid was only knocked out, maybe a little groggy at most, he had no reason to see her as a loose end. If anything, she's an accomplice.

The sight of her questioning his identity was entertaining, now better understanding Knight's love for theatrics and a crowd, as a sly smile creeps across his face.]

Former shadow intelligence division special operative, call sign Bishop. [A beat.] Not that any of that matters. You can call me Bishop.

[He reaches into his coat, retrieving a bizarre looking black gun then cocking it. He whispers the words "water" and "non-lethal" to the gun and a part, something that resembles a revolvers cylinder, right above the trigger glows a dull pale blue. Bishop points the gun at the kids head and pulls the trigger a few times but, instead of the flash of gunfire, the gun shoots water akin to a toy.]

C'mon. Rise and shine, greenhorn. I need you awake for this next part.

[He says as the waiter slowly comes to, groaning in pain and surprise.]

[ Bishop? As strange as this was, she supposed this was a late introduction. Though doing this while holding an unconscious person that she did not even want to imagine what he did to. ]

Sheryl ... Nome.

[ What was a man like him doing here then? As far as Sheryl knows, this party was only for the rich and well-connected. At least that was what their host told her when he invited her and since she was looking for investors for her concert, it didn't seem like a bad idea. At least, it wasn't bad until he thought it was okay to try and touch her lower than her waist earlier.

So how did he manage to snag an invitation?

She should probably still be suspicious of him. Logically, it probably wouldn't make any sense for him to be the murderer. He had plenty of opportunities to kill her, especially when they went outside. With this young boy unconscious, there would be no real witness.

Maybe for now, she could trust him. That didn't mean she was letting her guard down one bit though.

She watches him pull out a ... water pistol? A strange thing to bring to a dinner party. ]

[The rich and powerful are always after the best, Bishop being invited was no difference. The host was trying to get him to become as his body guard, and while he's completely capable, that was all on paper. Truth is, he wanted Bishop for more nefarious purposes, but he wasn't interested and the only reason his invitation wasn't revoked were hopes he would change his mind.

Not that she needs to know any of that.

Bishop whispered into the gun again, the keywords being "trigger" and "silencer", and the cylinder change from blue to blood red. The waiter looked at him while trying his best to look defiant however, Bishop pointed to the side and pulled the trigger and the ground next to the kid head burst as something hit it while the gun let out a soft dull thud. Clearly, this isn't a water gun anymore.]

I'm only going to ask my questions once, and if I don't like your answer, I'm going to take a kneecap. If you lie, and I will know if you lie, I'm going to take a kneecap. If your answer sucks or I don't like it, guess what I'm going to do? That's right junior, I'm taking a kneecap. When I've taken both kneecaps-[He reaches into his coat and retrieves a jet black serrated combat knife.]-I'm going to take a finger, and just as a reminder, you have ten of those and I have a lot of questions. So.

[Bishop crouches then points the gun, as he promised, at the waiters right kneecap.]

Miss Nome, you may want to be somewhere else right now. This will not be pretty.

[ That was not a water gun. What in the world was that?

This man was dangerous. Despite the 'polite' offer, she knew he would still not hesitate to kill her if he had to. However, she did not like the thought of killing or hurting someone more than necessary. And, this was a boy. Probably only a bit older than her.

Maybe the waiter had sensed that from her at first because he was now looking at her pleadingly, still believing maybe that they were together. He was making one last attempt of rescue before the torture began. As if she had the power to control this monster of a man. Despite the name, she wondered if even a god could.

She dashed his hopes though by giving a bright smile, as if this sort of torture was just another day at the office. ]

Alright. I am going to need to touch up my make up anyway. Don't make me wait too long.

[ Her only hope to help the boy was encourage this fear. The more afraid he was, the less he will have to endure.

She leaned over, angling her face to look like she was giving him a kiss on the cheek and whispers to Bishop's ear. ]

He is a boy. Please do not kill him.

[ With that, she gives another giggle and walked away. Once she was out of earshot, she had to wrap her arms around herself to keep from shaking. She was afraid for the boy ... but most of all, she was afraid of this man named, Bishop. ]

[She has every reason to fear Bishop, a lot of people have a reason to. The waiter paled and beads of tears swelled in his eyes as Sheryl left, and a grin creeps on his face.

When she left, seemingly abandoned the boy, a long moment of whispers and nervous chatter Bishop emerges from behind the car. He put away his gun and knife as he approached.]

Well...my instincts were right. [He reaches behind him and recovers some object covered in a handkerchief. He unfolds the cloth and reveals a bloody kitchen knife.]

He was carrying this puppy out and he was gonna toss it in the creek back there. [A beat.] He's alive and unharmed by the way. I put him to sleep so he won't remember you or me.

[ Sheryl made no effort to take the weapon but simply breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that they had the murderer and the smoking gun, she hoped this meant that the danger has passed. He was murdered by a boy. Maybe not so unbelievable. Sheryl was much younger when she agreed to become a spy that would inevitably kill thousands. ]

Thank you.

[ As grateful as she was, she still didn't understand why. Why did he decided to kill his employer? She composes herself and turned to go back inside. ]

We should go back in and let everyone know what happened. You can also tell me ... why he did it.

[He gave her a sharp inhale and an awkward look.]

Yeeeaaahhhh....The kid isn't the murderer. Well, not the only one.

[He covers up the knife and tucks it into his pouch.]

He confessed that the servants worked together as a whole to kill the Count. Apparently they're not to keen about him giving out his fortune or something like that. The hall we were in was also booby trapped, but from he told me it's not anything lethal. Just hinder anyone who tries to stop them.

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