Empatheias Events (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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memepatheias2018-07-19 07:19 am
empevents) wrote in memepatheias2018-07-19 07:19 am
Entry tags:
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 July 25th and Applications (Canon | OC) open a week later on August 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: Helisium, the upcoming festival, is a celebration of daytime games and ballroom dancing. However, the sad truth is that not everyone knows how to dance, or how to play certain sports. To kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, a certain section of the party-planning committee has come up with a new sport that incorporates the best of both worlds. The name of the game? Footloose Ball, and it's the latest craze! Why not join and learn something new? There's even a tournament being held, with a big prize on the line!- Training: The rules of Footloose Ball are simple, it's a combination of rugby football but with a twist! The player in possession of the ball must constantly be dancing as they try to reach the goal. But there is plenty of time until the game, so the coach has instructed everyone to go out into the city and dance for a whole day. Going grocery shopping? You must dance! Waiting in line for coffee? You better dance! Talking to someone else? Get them to join!
- Otherworld Cup: It's the day of the finals game, and now it's do or die! Literally! Maybe. What the rules forgot to say was that the player in possession of the ball must dance, or the ball will shock them with a high voltage! Can they get to the goal and score a point for their team? As for those NOT in possession of the ball, they don't have to dance until they have the ball, and they get to use whatever skills (or magic?) they know in order to stop the other player. Anything goes!
- Victory Pose: The winners of Footloose Ball Cup have been declared! Now all that's left is a traditional team photo with the trophy. Make sure not to blink! Just kidding. The method that the group "photo" is taken by isn't with a device, but a traditional painting instead, which means the team will be posing there out in the sun for a while. You can't rush art, as they say, so make sure to stand still as the artist does their job. The good news is that players are allowed to talk to each other as they stay still, so why not get to know another a little better now that the game is over? As for those who aren't posing, they are allowed to interact with the players, too. Why not get them a drink? Or heckle them? That's also an option.
• Prompt E: Helisium is the highlight of the summer and every restaurateur in Verens is eager to see their establishment become one of those selected to cater for the festivities. Of course, there are only a few slots available, which means the only way to settle who’s the top chef in town is through some rigorous cooking competitions! These teams of chefs are going all out, and need all hands on deck, so they will be seeking volunteers to help them win their way to the top! Do you have what it takes?- A Pizza the Action: One round of the cooking competition asks teams to cook rather traditional dish: pizza! However, nothing is as simple as it seems, and the hosts soon reveal that teams will be required to cook their pizzas with some...unusual (and dangerous) secret ingredients. Are you given a spiky, smelly durian to work with? Are those lobsters actually alive? Or are you asked to serve your pizza while it’s on fire? The more creative you are, the more points you’ll earn your team. Things are sure heating up!
- Piescraper: Any chef worth their salt will tell you that presentation is key, and in this event, presentation is the only key. Really, it doesn’t matter what you use so long as it’s food, but the judges want to see the most impressive food sculpture you can come up with! Just bear in mind that these creations must stand on their own and be created entirely, 100% out of food products. Your team may earn extra points for making the tallest sculpture as well. Start building!
- The Great Verens Bake-Off: Desserts are almost as important to Helisium as the regular food is, though the judges for this event seem to be a little less...intense than the others. For this competition, participants are asked to bake and decorate a beautiful, tiered cake with sweet, edible flowers. These flowers have certain emotional effects on those who handle them, and such individuals will find themselves feeling very pleasant and agreeable, no matter how prickly they may ordinarily be! They may even try to assist other teams with their bakes. Oh, well...at least everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. The judges will be making their decisions based on which team had the most camaraderie, so play nice!
• Prompt F: The roleplaying cult of Ortheias seems to have become more prominent lately, having taken in new members from Briarlan. Today, they seem to be playing a "murder game" called Syndicate! They are also inviting people who aren't members to participate… will you join them by picking a role from the purple hat the men in cloaks have to offer, or will you just watch? It's confusing and anger inducing, either way. For those who want to play the game, the objective is to catch all the Syndicate members before they "kill" all the innocents in the game!- I Put On My Role and Wizard Hat: Perhaps you are forced by a man in a cloak, or perhaps you voluntarily pick a role from the various strips of paper in the purple hat. The roles are for the Syndicates are: blackmailer, consigliere, boss, and framer. As for the innocents, the roles are: janitor, spy, veteran, doctor. There seem to be neutral roles, as well, such as the survivor, the witch, the amnesiac, and the fool. The game moderators don't seem to intend on explaining what the functions are of each role (thanks, mods!) so go ahead and make up your own backstories and abilities. Of course, they key to this game is to figure out who the other person is without letting your own identity slip. Good luck!
- Activity Check: Everyone is safe while the sun is still up… Do you have your role and have you gotten to know the other participants of the Syndicate game? Good. Because the game moderators now want you to participate in an activity! You now have to think of a lie about yourself and convince two other people that this is true. Basically - just lie to as many people as you want! Be sure you're convincing… but remember - the moderators are watching you. No unruly business!
- The Trial: After a day has passed in the setting of the Syndicate game, a trial happens. Why? Because you've lost one person to one of the Syndicates. This person is now dead in the game and cannot be revived. It seems that everyone is suspecting you - whether it's your clothing, the way you're dressed, or just the fact that you're breathing the same air as they are, you are now the primary suspect for the "murder"! Prove your innocence to all players involved, try to pin it on the nearest person, or maybe even get into a fight with everyone? The world is your oyster.
• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include raisins and/or a skirt with holes in it.
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! - Training: The rules of Footloose Ball are simple, it's a combination of rugby football but with a twist! The player in possession of the ball must constantly be dancing as they try to reach the goal. But there is plenty of time until the game, so the coach has instructed everyone to go out into the city and dance for a whole day. Going grocery shopping? You must dance! Waiting in line for coffee? You better dance! Talking to someone else? Get them to join!
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There’s more than one?
[The words were barely out of her mouth, however, before realization dawned. If Gohan was asking, then that meant he knew. And there was no point in dancing around the subject any longer.]
I meant...the one from your Future...I guess you would call him.
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Hold on... How do you know that Trunks?
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We’re from the same Future. [Not just the Future, but a Future. One that...must not have come to pass in Gohan’s timeline, at a speculative glance. He still looked strong, yes, but did not carry the same seasoned soldier look.] We fight together. We have for...some time now.
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He'll just choose not to think about that for now, and instead focus just on this piece of information. So she's an ally of Trunks in the future?
Gohan offers a smile, but there's a tinge of sadness to it.]
Trunks actually still has some friends in the Future timeline, that's good to hear. I was worried he's been struggling alone all this time.
[And if she's Trunks' friend, there's a piece of information he feels he owes her, then. He's not sure how much Trunks would have told her about his timetraveling.]
Trunks traveled to my time seven years so he could prevent the Android attacks. He wanted to change the future, but it didn't really work out that way. Instead, what he did created an alternate timeline, my timeline. So... Thanks to Trunks, I have a future now.
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[It was just as well; there were still some things about her past she hadn’t even told Trunks. Although she couldn’t help wonder if Bulma ever let any details slip.]
I know. [She gave a confident nod.] And I’m glad. For the both of you.
[That Gohan has been given a second chance at life. That Trunks had been able to give it to him.]
It wouldn’t be the last time he’d go back. Although I suppose you must not remember, or be from that point in time.
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[The air goes cold and stale, almost stifling. The wood of the table Gohan had been leaning on begins to discolor, aging in appearance.]
He told me about what was going on in the Future. ...And about Black. [There's a lot of disdain and anger to his voice as he says that, and it should be no mystery as to why that is to Mai.]
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[A chill ran down Mai’s spine at the name, even now. Especially now. With the heavy burden of knowing what all their time traveling, rule-breaking endeavors would get them. Losses Trunks had yet to suffer.]
...he’s not Goku.
[She had no idea whether or not Trunks had conveyed that sentiment to Gohan or not, but Mai knew it needed saying.] Black might wear his face, but not his heart.
It was...someone else. Someone who stole Goku’s body.
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That just makes it worse. [The wear on the table only increases.] Dad... died. Seven years ago. He sacrificed his life to save everybody on Earth. So the fact there's this monster wearing his face, disrespecting his legacy...
[It pisses him off.]
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[Not that she blamed Gohan. He had every right to be pissed.]
But he came back. [Steeling herself, she turned until her body was fully facing his. Angry half-Saiyans were not something she feared. Not after fighting alongside them so many times. She knew that Gohan wouldn’t hurt her, and that she could only try to remain calm. Less she risk provoking him any further than the truth.] I don’t...know if he came back by your time. But he will. I know because Trunks brought him and Vegeta to us. To our timeline. To help. To...make things right.
[It was her turn to betray her darker emotions, as a slight ping of despair tightened her chest. Goku should have been the answer. The plan should have worked.]
[...but the chair beside her shouldn’t have splintered so suddenly, sending it crashing to the ground.]
1/2
He lifts his hand off of the table, and clenches his fists tightly. The section of the table he'd been leaning on starts to crumble into dust due to the decay it had suffered from him.]
I just wish I knew why. When Dad died, he made the decision to stay dead because he felt the Earth was safer without him, and that we'd be able to handle things. So... What could happen to make him change his mind?
[He could think of numerous possibilities, and he hated every single one of them. Why couldn't you just decide to come back because you missed your family, Dad?]
2/2
S-sorry, I shouldn't be dumping all this on you. We just met, after all.
[These were his problems to deal with, and he's sure Mai's got her own share of issues to deal with in the future.]
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[...just in time to turn back to Gohan and hear the end of his own musings. There were...so many things that confused her. In a world where Goku died of heart disease and could not be revived due to the death of Kami, it was almost unthinkable for him to choose not to be brought back. Even if the danger in his timeline had passed, there would always be more. From the most unexpected of places. Or timelines.]
[By the time he settled down and began apologizing for his behavior, Mai was able to muster a sheepish smile. Shaking her head to dismiss his concerns.]
No, it’s alright Gohan. Sometimes it’s better to vent your frustrations allowed rather than hold them in.
[And Kami knew she was used to being vented at. As may or may not be evident by the hint of amusement in her eyes.]
But when I said that Goku came to us, it was to reassure you that the people of our time saw him. They saw his face, and they saw the type of person he truly is.
No imposter would take his legacy from him.
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Gohan was starting to calm down, thanks to a combination of Mai's reassurances and him being able to recognize when he's letting his emotions get the best of him. His eyes drift to the damaged table, and then to the splinted chair. Whoops... He's going to have to issue a formal apology to this place later. And probably do something volunteer work to help with the repair bills.
He nods to her, understanding what she's trying to convey.]
Right... [A showdown then between his dad and this Black fella, then? That'd be a fight to see, for sure...] There's a lot I still don't understand about this Black situation you guys have going on in the Future, but if my Dad's on the job, you've got nothing to worry about. He's got a penchant for finding a way to pull off miracles.
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[Her thoughts made it that far before she caught herself, lightly shaking her head to clear it.]
[Gohan wasn’t the only one who would need to make amends; she eyed the splintered wood with a small frown. She had prided herself for being able to keep her emotions under control for so long—for being able to stay level headed in the most dire of circumstances—that to be so exposed was...one of her least favorite things about this new world.]
I also suppose...there’s little point in worry right now, is there?
[She forced a smile. It was impossible for her to not worry on some level, but she knew too well that worrying alone would solve nothing. And there was nothing she or anyone could do here.]
Especially when there are other tasks at hand.
[Like that story she was supposed to be writing.]
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But what was certain was that they got massively derailed from their original intention here.]
Yeah. Looks like we got a little sidetracked, huh? Haha. How about we take a look at that story now?
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[...and what a task at hand, since it seemed he was still willing to offer his input. With that in mind, Mai gave a nod at his question and reached for her sheets of papers, gladly passing them over so he could get a better look.]
The biggest challenge of all is the fact that it's one of those readers' choice stories, so I'm not always in control of the narrative.
That's what this is here. Some of the first few choices, and the paths each of them could take.
[Mai was far from a seasoned storyteller, so she had done what any beginning writer would do: use her past experiences.]
[Not that Gohan might pick up on that quite yet, although the occasional parallel to their home world might be evident. The beginning seemed to focus on a group of three friends. Mia, Kyuu, and their "leader", a boy named Pongal. They were going on a treasure hunt, and had many different encounters with dinosaurs, other kids--(another boy and a girl riding a scooter who seemed to be after the same treasure)--forest creatures, and different villages which would either give them the answers they needed or get them into more trouble.]
The problem starts when they're at the marketplace, here, trying to find a replacement part for their broken-down bicycles. Every idea that I can come up with, I already used here, at the cave entrance.