memepatheias | TEST DRIVE: August

— 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!
1. 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!
2. 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!
3. 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?
1. 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!
2. 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!
3. 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!
1. 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!
2. 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!
3. 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ unfortunately, shuichi doesn't know maki that well at this canon point but he knows when he can appreciate the help. although she probably singlehandedly gets everything back in order, shuichi tries to at least assist by grabbing new plates of food from the kitchen. he needs to head into the kitchen to wash his face anyway so he might as well of use. ]

[ once everything seems nice and settled, shuichi can't help but let out a small sigh of relief. whew, that seems done... or at least until maki points out that one child is missing. shuichi adjusts his cap out of his eyes to properly glance around. ]

Hm, I didn't see any leave the room...

[ granted, he was kind of busy cleaning his face and running between the kitchen and dining room but he thinks he would notice a little child escaping from the dining room. right as he finishes saying this though, he spots a quick flash bolting from underneath the table and then out the door. ]

Ah, behind you, Harukawa-san--!

[ the child, probably around six years old, is already out in the hall and trying to make a run for it. he makes a high-pitch squeal of laughter as he tries to get as far as possible. you'll never catch him alive...! ]

[ It is a bit frustrating that Shuichi remembers little of their time together, but she can't gripe too much. Just having him around is nice, and there's no killing game threatening him here. She'll get used to him being more formal with her, and he's still the same guy.

… Meaning she doesn't feel the need to hide her athletic prowess, which she demonstrates once she turns and spots the would-be runaway. Maki darts after him, then leaps up and runs along the wall for a few steps before landing cleanly in front of the kid. He tries to sneak between her legs, but she grabs him by the back of his shirt then carries him over towards the table. ]

Good eye.

[ She plops the boy down in his seat and then gives him a Look when it seems like he might take off again. ]

You didn't pick an easy task, did you.

[ shuichi just barely makes it over to the hallway to see maki suddenly land in front of the kid and pick them up by the back of his shirt. he gawks for a moment as she just carries him back into the room and places him at the table. are... child caregivers that athletic? well, he supposes that if you're taking care of a large group of children, you do need to stay fit enough to have a handle on them but that kind of seemed like something else. ]

[ he's in the midst of this thought when maki speaks to him and he awkwardly looks away. ]

Y-Yeah... I don't know why I thought I could handle this. It's out of my league.

[ the other downside of coming from such an earlier time than maki is that he never really quite got that push from kaede or kaito to believe in himself. he lacks that self-confidence or any progress of obtaining it due to never really experiencing those trials and tribulations in a later canon point ]

[ Maki assumes that there will be plenty of trials and tribulations ahead. If he's not up for the task the way he is now, then at least she's here to help him through it. Of course, she's not a great motivator, but there are other ways that she can support him.

For now, she appraises him with her deep red eyes. ]

Not really. If you grew up in the same circumstances I did, then you would be fine. There aren't many people who could handle this by themselves.

[ if there are more trials and tribulations ahead, shuichi hopes that it doesn't involve any more of these kids. give him a lost pet or two to track instead. at least he can handle that in some capacity ]

Mm, but maybe I still shouldn't have picked this task...

[ sorry, maki, your reassurance goes slightly over shuichi's head. he's a bit too pessimist at this point but at least he will move on from this line of conversation ]

But ah, your talent was... the Ultimate Child Caregiver, right? This must be easy for you.

[ She sighs and her eyes shift askance. ]

You really don't remember anything.

[ That's been established, but the words come out in frustration. It's just not easy for her to accept after all they'd been through – and the ways he and Kaito helped her change. Maki then glances down at her nails and makes a fist. ]

… Ignore that. It's not fair for me to say.

[ She forces her gaze up again towards him. ]

The point is, you can learn a lot outside of your comfort zone. That's why it's not such a bad thing for you to struggle with this.

[ when she looks at him after expressing her frustration, shuichi can't help but avert his gaze, pulling down on his cap a bit and suddenly feeling... guilty. even if maki tells him to ignore it, that's easier said than done. he supposes he can't help forgetting whatever memories that maki apparently has but he still can't help but feel awful. ]

[ he doesn't say anything even after she brings the subject back to the task at hand. it's clear that what she said is bothering him and after a few seconds, he asks about it ]

... what is it that I'm forgetting?

[ at the very least, if he can't remember anything, he could at least see if he could get any information from her ]

[ Dammit. It's her fault for bringing it up, and Maki can tell from his body language and expression that he's a least a little upset. She can make an educated guess concerning everything he doesn't know based on his timidity and the fact that he's still wearing his hat – the way he was before Kaede's execution.

Meaning that answering his question isn't so simple. And yet, it's also unfair to keep information from him if he really wants to know. ]

There's a lot.

[ Perhaps "conveniently", a few of the kids are starting to get rowdy again. ]

This isn't the best time. If you have a specific question or two, though, I'll answer if I know. That includes what I really am, if you're that curious.

TEST DRIVE: August

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