TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

Guess.

go on, guess.

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.

Lately the Hinterlands have also been full of mages and templars and rifts, all threatening to turn once-peaceful countryside into a dangerous warzone. The Inquisition has set up several camps and sent personnel 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.

1. BEARIED ALIVE

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?

2. NICE PLACE FOR A SPOT OF CAMPING

If there were an inn, which there's not, there wouldn't be room for you in it. Traveling with the Inquisition means carrying your own bedrolls, putting up your own tents, and sleeping alongside whoever you've been told to share with--no matter how much you hate them or how loud they snore. If you really can't stand it, the alternative is sleeping outside. On the ground. With the bears.

3. A BIG CRAZY LIGHT IN THE SKY

Not everyone thinks the Breach was a bad thing. In the southeastern mountains, a burgeoning cult has taken up residence in Winterwatch Tower to wait patiently for the Maker to reach through the tears in the veil and gather the faithful to his bosom. They're a little kooky, maybe, but harmless, and they're happy enough to share their wine and lager with travelers in the area. The demon-spewing rift behind the Tower, on the other hand... Too bad the Herald didn't close that thing before she bit it. Watch your step.

4. TROUBLE IN THE DEEP

The Carta is everywhere, but it's here in force, occupying dwarven ruins in a chasm behind a waterfall. Inquisition forces have already cleared most of the smugglers out of the hold, but there's still a vault to break into, bodies to loot, and old texts to search through for anything worth adding to the Inquisition's growing archives. Also: darkspawn. Sorry.

5. 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.

Comments

Henry Mills(Swan) | Once Upon a Time | Native Mage Au

[truestheart]

1) It's like Brave, except no ones actually a bear.

[ Why is it always the damn bears? What is it with this place and wanting to Maul a young mage to death? Honestly, what's with everything and wanting to maul mages to death? And people for that matter? Ugh.

Henry has of course found himself up a tree, his staff is on the ground and he's hanging up there as the bears are watching him hungrily. ]

Look! I don't want any trouble can you just, go or something? Do other bear things? [ Nope, bears are not leaving. ]

Of course not. [ He could sure use a rescue right now. ]

2) Trusting a teenager to cook. What could go wrong?
[ The moon and stars are out, it's a crisp night and the campfire is roaring. It's almost peaceful and serene if you can ignore the screams of demons in the night. Henry is sitting by the fire, stirring what appears to be soup...or is it porridge. You know, he can't quite tell anymore but it looks...edible? Regardless, he spoons a bowl of it and heads over to his current companion and offers it out. ]

You look like you need this.

[ Dare you eat? ]

4) RESEARCH! and Later a darkspawn attack or something.
[ It's an opportunity in disguise! So what if this place was home to former murders, smugglers and bandits? It's a chance to look around an old ruin, take some notes, read a few old texts draw. The skies the limit. Henry rummages about, gliding his fingers over the surfaces of the stone walls. He focuses hard on them, trying to make out their story the best he could. The look on his face is so intense his nose is literally pressed against the wall. ]

It's a shame this place went into such disrepair and used for this kind of stuff. Maybe if those smugglers had taken better care of it we could've gotten into that vault sooner.

[ But, later there's darkspawn. There is always f**king darkspawn down in these places. Henry's ready for it though as arrows seem to flying this way. He swipes his hand across the ground quick and ice erupts forth to block the impending projectiles. ]

I thought we made sure the darkspawn COULDN'T get back in! Any ideas?!

5) Wild card!
[ What's happening here? Helping people in Redcliffe? Stopping blood mages? Who knows! ]

[ ooc: will match writing style! ]

4

[gatheringstorm]

[Ugh, darkspawn. Likewise having hoped to see the last of them for a bit, Korrin scowls as she adds to their defenses with a Barrier spell, Then she blurs closer, ready to fry them all with Chain Lightning when they step withing range.]

We must have missed an opening! After we take down these assholes, we have to search for it.

[The carta assholes got what was coming to them, but unchecked, the darkspawn could reach more than just the usual lowlifes.]

[truestheart]

[ Henry retreats backwards towards Korrin. Far too close to the icewall that the Darkspawn are about to beat against. He catches her words and the realization was almost instant. If they left the caves they could go into the Hinterlands. With all those people there already defenceless.

Another spell to give them the advantage, that's what they needed here. He spins his staff and points it in Korrin's direction and casts. A sigil of a clock appears beneath their feet and spins, they'll feel faster, move faster as he Hastes them.]

Here they come!

[gatheringstorm]

Let them! They can't stand against us!

[Darting a grin over at him for that boost, Korrin then turns her attention to their ice-barrier. When the first of it begins to chip away under the darkspawn assault, she readies her staff in one hand and spirit blade hilt in the other. With herself on the front lines and more of Henry's own magic from behind, she's not overcome with anxiety. Not overconfident, just not paralyzed with fear.

As ice shatters, Korrin's ready for them, unleashing that lightning blast on the nearest before closing in to slice at them with her glowing blade.]

[truestheart]

[ Well, that's one reason to hang with a Qunari. They make good frontliners, mage or not. He swipes his finger through the air, pulling the mana that resided about them and drawing it into his staff.

Now to give their offence more power. He directs his staff once again at Korrin and he unleashes the energy from his staff to surround her. It invigorates, strengthens and empowers, now giving her more fatal power to inflict with her sword swings. ]

Keep holding them there! I'll prepare a static cage! [ He just needs a bit of time, that's all. ]

[gatheringstorm]

Will do! Over here, assholes!

[Always enjoying the results of that spell, whether she's the one casting it or not, Korrin will hold the line and give him the time he needs. That energy he bestows on her definitely gives her a much-needed edge, and she seizes on that opportunity to cut down as many darkspawn as she can. Fortunately, that barrier is holding and their blood doesn't reach her.]

[truestheart]

[ He prepares it. Pulling the energy from the fade, from the very air itself to gather it and direct it. He pushes out the sound of combat as this spell is still something difficult to grasp onto.

It pools into him and he pushes it towards the end of the staff and when he see's Korrin's in the clear he points it just ahead of her.

The cage of electricity is unleashed and the darkspawn caught inside. The bolts of lightning surge through them, the smell of brunt and tainted flesh on the air as the electricity is merciless. They try to escape but are merely pulled back in. ]

2.

[hyarrrgh]

[The offered food doesn't seem to give Link any pause when it's offered. Although it's probably questionable to just about anyone else practical, the elf seems completely unconcerned as he takes the bowl with a nod and just starts shoveling it down. No words spoken, just eating now, though he does look incredibly grateful.

Someone is clearly hungry and not caring how good or bad it is. Though his stomach may disagree later.]

[truestheart]

[ Never has he seen such hunger so ravenous before. At the circle he never really knew hunger and since finally being out in the world and seeing it all? He's realizing how good he had it...for some parts anyways.

He watches for a few moments before he starts taking bites out of his own. Well, best to make conversation. ]

Sorry, I'm not really the best cook. I think I need to take a few lessons first.

2.

[dragoon_pride]

[Does he really? Kain takes the bowl, at first grateful, afterward... more than a bit unsure. Though he's undoubtedly had worse, cooking has never been his strong suit either. Usually he goes for the "shove it on a stick and into the fire" method.]

My thanks. Is this... some native dish?

[Ok. He kind of wants to know.]

[truestheart]

It's supposed to be lamb and pea stew.

[ though by it's texture and look, it definitely does not look like that. He pours some for himself, poking at it with a spoon. Henry admits to himself that this is definitely not tasty looking. But, to save face he'll take a bite of it.]

It's the only food we'll get until they pass the rations out again tomorrow.

[dragoon_pride]

[It certainly is better than nothing, and Kain doesn't want to seem ungrateful. In fact, as he considers it...]

I've had worse. Don't worry.

[Much worse. At the end of a long day's journey, it basically comes down to sitting over a campfire and eating whatever's there, being so hungry that anything is appetizing. Kain tries a bit of it then. It looks worse than it tastes, so there's that going for him!]

Actually... it really isn't so bad.

[truestheart]

[ Henry gives a little crook of his brow and a smirk. ]

Thanks. [ Even if he'd be okay with being told it's terrible.

Henry's not much of a fan either. He takes another sip of it. ]

If it's one thing the circle needed to teach people, it's how to cook.

Spells to set fires, sure. Potions? Have to teach that.

Cooking? Oh no, it might result in blood magic.

[dragoon_pride]

Trust me, I really have had a lot worse over the years. So much burned food...

[He got kind of used to it, for some reason he just has a really bad tendency to overcook. He smirks a little at the jesting about the circles though. From what he's found out about them in his time here, that's all that can be done sometimes.]

Yes, god forbid you learn the dangerous art of cooking. Terrible. A shame they apparently don't teach some survival basics, though.

[truestheart]

Were you the one cooking or was it someone else?

[ Because note to self: Don't let dragoon warrior man cook at all.

The statement isn't lost on him however, as he just shrugs.]

I suppose the Chantry and the Templars never thought it necessary since they expected mages never to leave the Circle.

Probably makes it easier to catch them that way too.

1

[aceso]

[ Oh, Christine knows this story well, mostly because she's been the mage in the tree before. Of course she'll come up to help where she can. With a few movements of her staff, she casts Force Field on the bear to hold it in place. ]

You have around fifteen seconds before the spell ends! Hurry! There is an Inquisition camp not far from here.

[truestheart]

[ To be saved by a fellow mage is not unwelcomed nor is he ungrateful. But, from many of the mages he's met in the hinterlands a lot of them do not seem keen on helping anybody. Just murder.

Regardless, he has a way of escape now. Scrambling down the tree as quick as he can, he hits the ground and grabs hold of his staff upon the ground. The forcefield like it still yet holds so he makes his way towards the woman. ]

T-thanks for that. I thought I was going to be up there forever. Or at least until it got bored.

[aceso]

[ She waves for him to hurry, and once he's closer, she starts jogging quickly in the direction of the camp. ]

It takes time for them to lose interest. Sometimes they are protecting their young, but others just want a meal.

[truestheart]

[ He keeps pace with her, stealing glances behind them to be sure the bear was either trapped or not following. ]

Blighted bears. If it's the last thing I do I never want to come back here. if only because of the bears.

[aceso]

[ Despite huffing and puffing from the exertion, Christine exhales a laugh and nods. ]

The Hinterlands are the favorite place of few. But at least it is not the Fallow Mire, yes?

[ Really, as an Orlesian, Christine is bound by blood to dislike all of Ferelden. Unfortunately, it's produced some of her favorite people, and the Arl of Redcliffe did offer her people refuge when they had none. She's grateful for that. ]

Still trapped?

[ She glances back for a second. ]

Yes, it shall expire soon. Let us be quick.

wanders in ten minutes late with starbucks but also a wildcard

[eviscerates]

( Ruby's rolling her shoulders as she walks, trying to limber up her upper back and her shoulders, loosen up her arms and gently stretching her neck. Her cloak hangs from her back, bright red brocade that has, miraculously enough, managed to recover from the mud and dirt that was ground into yesterday and the day before, and the day before that-- if she didn't know better she'd think that Granny got her amazing cleaning methods from a wizard.

There's a quiver hanging from her shoulders, some rabbits slung over the other; Wolf or not, when it comes to putting food on a table for other people arrows are generally a better method than letting the Wolf out. Her back still feels like a mess, and she can't help but wonder if maybe she's been pushing too hard, lately.

At the sound of something behind her and the scent of someone unfamiliar on the breeze, Ruby turns. An arrow is notched with alarming speed, trained in the direction of the sound, and she frown as she tries to look for them. )

Come on out. I'm with the Inquisition.

[truestheart]

[ This wasn't what he was planning on when he went out today. He just was looking for something to eat. Anything. With the Hinterlands in such disarray supplies were hard to come by. The only thing tiding anyone over was hunting.

A rabbit, a deer, anything. He just needed something to fill his stomach.

He hadn't expected though coming across a hunter who apparently was not what he'd call subtle. Henry could attack, throw her back with some magic if need be, but when the Inquisition is brought up...well..

okay. That won't earn any sort of violence from him. He steps out slowly, hands in the air and his staff clearly strapped to his back. He's a boy, roughly sixteen, though he could pass for a fourteen year old. His robes are ragged and he's not what you'd call clean, but he's not making any sort of move.]

Look, I don't want any trouble. I was just looking for food.

[eviscerates]

( As soon as she sees its a kid, mage or not, Ruby eases her hand off her bowsting, pointing it to the ground. )

Sorry, ( she starts, though there's a long pause before she says it. He's just-- he's familiar enough to remind her for a half second of someone from home, to inspire that doubletake, before she realises that it's not him. Ruby smiles, then, apologetic and she hopes reassuring. ) Get attacked by a Venatori or two out here and it puts you a little on edge.

( Another pause, then, and she slides the arrow back into her quiver and takes a step forward. ) I'm Ruby. Are you alone out here?

[truestheart]

[ There's a sigh of relief at that when the arrow isn't pointed at his heart anymore. He was kind of fond of that. He does raise a brow a bit when she gives him that look, but says nothing on it. The smile is enough however to put any fear or doubt aside. ]

I can imagine. They're not the most friendliest of people. You know, with the blood magic, demon summoning and working for evil incarnate.

[ He approaches as well, offering a hand. ]

My name's Henry and uh, yeah, sort of.

[eviscerates]

And the weird hats.

( Conspiratorial, that, that moment of seriousness before she grins. And, kind sir, she will accepts that hand.

Henry, huh? Go figure. The familiarity was strange and kind of nice, at the same time. Maybe he liked cinnamon, too. )

Sort of? ( Her head cants to the side. ) Is that teenager code for "yes but I don't want to say it because you're a stranger," or..?