faderifting: (Default)
Fade Rift Mods ([personal profile] faderifting) wrote in [community profile] allthisshitisweird2016-09-15 06:33 pm
Entry tags:

TEST DRIVE MEME!

Surprise, Beartch
Bet You Thought Etc.

Maybe the Inquisition sent you, maybe you came seeking the Inquisition. Maybe you fell out of a rift into this world last week and are still just trying to find your feet. However it happened, early fall finds you in the Hinterlands. Tucked between Ferelden's massive Lake Calenhad and the icy Frostback Mountains, the Hinterlands are a hilly region covered in patchy forests and small farms trying to eke out a living between the boulders. Though somewhat remote, the area is rich with game and minerals and home to Redcliffe, a bustling town on a busy trade route.

The Inquisition has set up several camps and sent personnel to try to restore order to the region, unwilling to let it slip into chaos. There's a lot to be done, some of it straightforward killing bad things, some of it weird and nebulous morale-building.

I. DRAGONS

There is a dragon in the Hinterlands. Everyone knows this. It's difficult not to notice when a dragon flies overhead with a mouth full of screaming sheep (alas, the poor dead sheep) or scorches your fishing boat and makes you swim for it (alas, the poor soaked fishermen). But she's only rarely sighted, and her lair is as of yet unknown, if "yet" is defined as "the moment before this exact moment, right now." Because you've found her. She is, at this very moment, screeching so loud it rattles the cliff sides that are trapping you in her territory and raining fire down over the only clear path of escape. She and her two dozen children don't care if you only wanted some elfroot and spindleweed. They also don't care if you have a sword. You look way more delicious and less woolly than a sheep.

II. CROSSROADS

In the year since the Inquisition's formation, the Crossroads have changed. Most of the refugees from the Mage/Templar War have moved on--if not back home, to new places--and there's been some progress rebuilding the homes and fortresses ruined by the war. Very few people are still living in caves. But rather than quieting down, the Crossroads have begun to bustle. Between the Inquisition's locally stationed forces and the increasing number of travelers and merchants now that the roads are safer, there's enough business to support a tavern with a few rooms for rent, and the Crossroads are becoming a trading post in their own right rather than a dot of houses on the path to Redcliffe--a great place to stop for a drink, to buy basic weaponry, or to unload all of the bear skins you've collected.

III. BEARS

You have turned the wrong corner, forded the wrong stream, crested the wrong hill, entered the wrong cave. Maybe you are far from camp. Maybe you are in camp. Whatever has happened, wherever you are: you are being chased by bears. Did you provoke the bears? Are they huge? Babies? Fade-touched? Mage-controlled? What are they chasing you away from? What are they chasing you into? What do you plan to make out of their hide if you kill them? What do you think they'll craft out of your hide if they kill you?

IV. CRYSTALS

Members and trusted agents of the Inquisition are given access to one of the Inquisition's stores of ancient, mysterious sending crystals, allowing them to communicate instantaneously by voice. It's magic. And a magical excuse to ask everyone what their favorite constellation is in the middle of the night.

Or to call for help because you've been treed by bears.

Either way.

V. MISCELLANEOUS

Choose your own adventure! Hunt game, kill demons, gather herbs, track bandits, haggle over the price of armor, fall off a deceptively tall rock, get lost circling the same hill ten times trying to find a way up to the weird glowing skull on a stick you can see is up there, climb trees or abandoned towers, rummage around in empty homes, run from a dragon, cry over how cute that fennec fox you just shot was, set up camp and chat around the fire, knock yourself out (figuratively, or even literally if that's more your speed)-- the Hinterlands are your Frostback Mountain oyster.
youwonscience: (God created the heavens)

2b sorry not sorry

[personal profile] youwonscience 2016-10-22 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Cosima bursts out laughing, which was probably not 100% the reaction he was hoping for.] Oh my god, has that ever actually worked? I'm seriously curious.

[She's adopted a more Thedas-influenced style of dress, but her boots, hair and glasses still give her away quickly as a rifter. She gives him a quick once over, not at all flirtatious, though not unkind.] Pisces, if that's your next option.
Edited (Brackets, yes) 2016-10-22 16:32 (UTC)

[personal profile] galvanist 2016-10-22 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Excuse you, [ Whale can't help respond, as he raises an eyebrow. He's not too put out with Cosima making fun of him. After all, he is 100% used to rejection. ]

I'd ask you if I could buy you a drink.
youwonscience: (no lies)

[personal profile] youwonscience 2016-10-22 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, probably going to get you a little farther than astrology, but still not getting you many points for creativity I'm afraid.

I'll still take the drink though, if you're serious. Being a rifter pays about as well as being a grad student, I can't afford to be picky.

[personal profile] galvanist 2016-10-24 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, strange new world and all that. I've got to see what works here and what doesn't--after all, if those elf ladies haven't heard 'come here often' before then why should I retire it?

I am serious about the drink, by the way.
youwonscience: (let there be light)

[personal profile] youwonscience 2016-10-25 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
Alright, well, the drink is welcome. Thanks. I'm Cosima.

[He made her laugh, even if not on purpose; she figures making conversation is the least she can do.]

[personal profile] galvanist 2016-10-26 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
I'm Dr. Whale. Pleasure to meet you, Cosima.

[ Gesturing towards the bartender, he asks for two beers. The likelihood that this place has any sort of cocktails is pretty darn low. ]
youwonscience: (God saw everything)

[personal profile] youwonscience 2016-10-27 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Medical doctor?

[This is, in fairness, the first real spark of interest she's shown that wasn't laughing at him.]

[personal profile] galvanist 2016-10-27 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Technically I'm a surgeon but I ended up doing a lot of general practice work—small towns and all that.

[ And he notices that spark of interest ] Know anybody who needs patching up?
youwonscience: (in the beginning)

[personal profile] youwonscience 2016-10-27 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
No, no - I mean, there are plenty of people who could probably use it, but I'm more interested in a conversation with someone who knows what an antibiotic is. It's hard out here for a biologist. Especially when someone waves their hand over you and then it friggin' works, it's crazy. Amazing but totally bonkers, you know?

[Yes, yes she is a giant geek, hi.]