TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

TEST DRIVE: ORLAIS EDITION

I. EVERYBEAR I GO

Believe it or not, there are bears in Orlais, too. Stuffed ones posed in noble salons casting intimidating shadows as lords tell unlikely stories about how they bravely stared the great beast in the eye before they slayed it with a single shot. One comtesse keeps bears as pets in large pens on her estate, much to the distress of her nearest neighbors. But most common are the dancing bear acts found on street corners here and there. Perhaps there is some sort of special bear communication network that has passed on a message, because it seems like the presence of the Inquisition has inspired these bears to finally make a break for it out of servitude, and that is how you find yourself being chased by a bear in a belled hat down a narrow cobbled alley lined with street vendors.

II. OUI OUI MON AMI

The Inquisition's efforts are currently focused on Orlais, where a civil war is raging and intelligence indicates Corypheus seeks to eliminate Empress Celene, while the oppressed elven population's discontent threatens to bubble over into a second rebellion. The Inquisition's activities here are mostly political and designed to gather influence and information: endeavoring to make a good impression at the ball of an influential comtesse with ties to the Council of Heralds, or assisting with the reconstruction of the alienage district destroyed by fire. There are rowdy soldiers in taverns to eavesdrop on, and restless crowds listening to streetcorner speakers preach Celene's virtues, or Gaspard's, or lament the end of the world.

But honestly, who cares about any of that? Halamshiral also offers great high-end shopping. Priorities. Gowns, tunics, fur-trimmed cloaks, sleeves slashed and puffed with layers of bright-colored satin. Tall boots with gold spurs to clink as you walk. Veils, lace-trimmed smallclothes, perfumes, necklaces worth your weight in gold. If you have the coin, the shopkeeps have time for you. The slightest whiff of poverty will leave them cold toward you. They might even pretend not to see you, but hey: they work on commission.

Even among decadence and finery, there are signs of unrest. In an out-of-the-way village square, little Orlesian children gather to throw thick gold coins in a gilt fountain, with whispered wishes and giggles. All at once, a thief pushes his way into their circle, breaking the idyllic scene. He leaps into the fountain and grabs a handful of coin. Thin, dirty, ragged, hollow-eyed and, under the hood of his cloak, elven, he scans the now-screaming children -- and then takes off running.

“Stop him!” howls one precious Orlesian cherub, her rosy cheeks streaked with tears. “That dirty knife-ear took my money!”

Kids are just the cutest.

III. SKYHOLD

Skyhold is where people who don't like fun accents and life being a constant masquerade hang around repairing walls, filling out paperwork, and, on rare occasions, engaging in elaborate, color-coded team snowball fights.

That last occasion? Totally over. Now the Inquisition will see you work, work, work, work, work. Working to save Thedas is not all fun and games, and there are plenty of things to keep you busy in Skyhold. See that roof over there? It has a hole in it. Climb up, someone suggests, and fix it. See that hole over there, in the wall? Some drunk from the tavern fell through it yesterday, and it needs repairs. See that floor over there? It’s dirty. And here’s a mop.

If these tasks seem too menial and demeaning, perhaps you’d like to head up to the library and reshelve some books. Perhaps you’d like to meet a special friend there? The stacks are warm and cozy, and at least a little out of the way. Secret spaces are at a premium. But be careful: you aren’t the only one in Skyhold, no matter how many people shipped out to Orlais.

If warm ovens are more your style than warm books, try the kitchens. They could always use a helping hand - especially because one of the baby griffons has made its way down there. A sharp-beaked competition for your plans to pilfer snacks, but you’ll prevail, right? The griffon loves chicken, and the taste of your blood. Get her outside before she gets too comfortable.

Or just feed the dogs, you dirty Fereldan.

IV. WILDCARD

Thedas is a big place. Do something else in it. Maybe in the Hinterlands.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Ugh, this city. Taking note of that belled hat, Korrin narrows her eyes. Some stupid noble must have gotten the grand idea to bring it to civilization, nevermind that they're wild animals and not in any way suitable for Val Royeaux. This wouldn't even be the first time she'd seen a wild creature, clearly miserable, caught because they were currently fashionable.

"Bears are not fucking pets!" She says that more as a general gripe than at the unfamiliar woman, backing away after that first swipe which didn't dig very deep thanks to the bear's thick hide. The bear swipes back, but she's just that bit faster, and gets just close enough to the unfamiliar woman with the strangely familiar blade, casting Barrier over them both. When the bear swipes again, it holds, Korrin not coming to harm as a result.

"Then follow me! You're headed towards another square." At least her knowledge of the city is good for something, and Korrin will use it to help guide the angry beast down the shortest route possible out of the city. So she makes another swig, this time more just to keep the bear's attention, before darting to the entrance of a less populated side-street. At least getting the bear to follow is not a problem.

[provenforce]

Somewhat relieved when the horned woman decides not to kill the bear, Rey nods her head, sweeping her lightsaber around and scoring the earth nearby, directing the bear before following as she was told.

"You know where you're going?" she called to the woman, trying to keep the bear in mind and not let it lag too far behind and lose interest. Making noise probably helped direct it's ire.

[gatheringstorm]

"Yep! There are open fields this way." That's all the breath Korrin can manage at the moment, or she'd probably come up with some sarcastic quip about being a native in this very human land. Her long legs and ability to blur ahead keep her from the bear's claws, but she takes care not to get too far ahead in order to keep the bear's interest and ire. Every time she thinks that might happen, Korrin will pause to swing her glowing blade, getting the creature's attention. So far, the ruckus seems to work towards keeping people off the streets as well. If there were any inhabitants on this side-street, they're keeping themselves sealed inside for now.

[provenforce]

With the horned woman doing the work ahead, Rey positioned herself so she was running wide of the bear, keeping it from deciding it wanted to turn off down another alley. Lightsaber in hand definitely made her feel a little bolder, and even as the other woman was lashing her blade Rey was swinging her own, keeping the creature from getting any ideas.

This would be fun if it wasn't so absolutely terrifying.

[gatheringstorm]

That's right, look at the shiny blade and lightsaber. Ignore the people trying desperately not to become bear-food. At least attempting this with another is possible, so far; alone, she'd just have to kill the damn thing before it could do the same to a civilian. Recalling a city map in her head isn't as easy while trying to simultaneously encourage and fend off a bear at the same time, but she does her best for both their sakes. The sound of the river ahead is encouraging and the Vashoth mage gains confidence, taking them down the winding street in hopes that it will open up to the wider one that will ultimately take them out of the city.

"Move it, people! Haul ass!"

[provenforce]

Rey catches sight of a wide-eyed vendor pushing a cart as they run past one open alley and even as she's swinging her lightsaber again she hollers at him.

"You don't want to come this way!" when he looks as if he might actually be considering just continuing on his way with the damn bear in the vicinity. She hears rushing water ahead, but that's misleading to her, in this place. She'd seen fountains everywhere, and she's unfamiliar enough with the sound of moving water to not know if she can trust that as an indicator that they're heading in the right direction. All she can do right now is trust this other woman.

[gatheringstorm]

If looks could kill, that man would certainly be dead. Maybe not by Korrin, but the agitated bear could easily finish the job. If their situation wasn't so urgent, she'd stop to lecture him. As it is, if he doesn't move fast enough, she'll ungraciously shove him out of the way. He can complain to the Inquisition later.

"That's the river ahead! We're almost there--" And that bear is getting just a little too closer for comfort, so Korrin renews that Barrier spell. If Rey's close enough, she'll get protected again, too. Otherwise, Korrin will just have to hope that the bear doesn't lose interest in her glowing, waving blade.