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

Issaqundaar | Dragon Age OC | Native

[thesteelwolf]

I - Making Friends

"Move or Die." Not a threat so much as a warning- Common is something she struggles with now and then and when facing a charging bear in a crowded street anything between her and the bear? Is not safe. It roars and rushes, Issa rolls out her shoulders, almost bored as vendors and other bas scatter. Unstoppable force and immovable object this is not, but close enough for concern. Anyone yet in the immediate area that has not taken the time to run and is still within arm's reach is nudged or taken by the scruff and moved aside.

The safest place for any would be directly behind Issa, not that the bas know that. Not that Issa has the time or patience to tell them when she is preoccupied by the upcoming fight. Feet planted she braces herself against cold stone, odd spikes in the soles of her boots offering greater traction, as she leans in and slams her forehead into the oncoming skull of the bear.

Things only become more chaotic from there.


II - Pretty Birds

Bas or no, imekari are the same the world over. Even if these are more like the tropical bird of Par Vollen than actual children: brightly colored, self obsessed, and screeching. Issa looks up from where she had been picking through a journal she had purchased to note the commotion. Thievery of gold that had been tossed away? If the elf had been provided for in the first place this would not be a problem. Still. The shrieking continues and that is grating enough to warrant her standing (looming) over the weeping child.

"Is it still your gold when you throw it away?" Reasoning with bas is not her strong suit- but if the gold was to be wasted, how was it theft? Of course then there is screaming about an ox-woman but at least it is slightly more familiar screaming and less likely to see the thief caught.


IV - The Hinterlands

"Move." The 'or die' is implied this time, as whoever has wandered in front of Issa has caught her in the middle of her most recent field test. Braced on one knee, cannon locked against her hip she has taken aim at a distant bear. "Or stay. I have no tested charge on close quarters yet. Would be messy, but useful."

It might be in your best interest to move.

IV

[gatheringstorm]

Searching around for anything of interest near camp -and keeping an eye out for those ubiquitous bears- Korrin stops short as she looks over. Okay, that cannon has her attention. She has a staff on her back and an empty sword hilt at her hip, but she's never seen anyone fight a bear with that. So, the Vashoth woman steps aside.

"...that's okay, I'll just the bear be your sole target. Have at."

[thesteelwolf]

"More." A soot blackened hand gestures to a spot well to the left of the barrel. "Toh eb Vat. Will be blow back."

Because why shoot only projectiles when you can also burn something at a distance without calling out the Saarebas? Once the Vashoth has stepped aside Issa squares her shoulders and squeezes a lever on the underside of the cannon. A spark, a hiss, a thunderous crack of force as something spirals in an arc while wreathed in flame. As she'd said a faint cone of fire belches out of the muzzle, singing the grass.

In the distance the charge envelops the bear in white hot fire, sparks shedding as it burns to death. "Nn. Too slow."

[gatheringstorm]

Left of the barrel, it is. Korrin puts up a Barrier spell just in case, grateful that she learned techniques to extend its duration. When the cannon is discharged, Korrin's eyebrows raise as she watches the spectacular -and spectacularly loud- result. She'd almost feel sorry for that bear, if its brethren hadn't harassed her more or less all day.

"...wow. Slow or not, that was awesome."

[thesteelwolf]

"Needs a short fuse." There is a sharp, metallic clank as Issa unhinges the rear of the cannon and taps out the ash. "Anything else on that hill need burning?"

If there is a target she does need to test this, trimming the wick at the back end of a different charge by an inch. "Next one will be louder."

[gatheringstorm]

"Loud noises don't bother me but if I'm going to be deaf for a while because of it, let me know so I can step back." Shading her eyes from the sun, Korrin stares ahead. "There's a smaller one, not a cub but about half-grown? Large enough to be a problem for the locals." And seeing the adult (mother?) on fire doubtless has it agitated.

[thesteelwolf]

"Eh, not deaf. Ringing? Yes. Deaf? No." She pauses for a moment while she slides the charge in place before lifting a hand and wobbling it back and forth. "Fifty-fifty not deaf."

Those are fair enough odds, yes? Yes. Issa flips up a small ring and lens attached to the barrel, peering down as she adjusts the trajectory and seals the back end. "Say when."

[gatheringstorm]

"Andraste's tits, what have I gotten myself into...." Muttering as she takes a couple of steps back and covers her ears, hoping to keep her hearing intact as much as possible. Taas has begun teaching her sign language, but she'd really rather not rely on it full-time.

"When!"

[thesteelwolf]

"Testing!" One of her new favorite words in Common, that. This is a test, they are testing, this test should be successful- the flame this time is a bright blue, blinding to look at when the click and hiss thunder through the wild. The reaction more immediate, a pull of the trigger rocketing the charge in a mesmerizing spiral to envelope the second bear.

"Much better!"

[gatheringstorm]

"Holy shit...." Used to flashy spells taking down her opponents, Korrin nonetheless can't help but stare when something outside magic manages a similar effect. Even with her ears ringing, it was worth it to stand there and watch the display.

"Those bears ought to be shitting themselves now. If that doesn't keep 'em away from camp, I don't know what will."

I

[fledglingenchanter]

Move or die were not the words Sadira expected to hear as she stood to face the oncoming bear. It was enough to catch her off guard so that her attentions shifted briefly from the bear to the moving mountain making death threats. Any and all indignation died however when a large arm swept her to one side, thoroughly moving her out of the way.

"Maker!" She gasps as the ox-woman crashes her horned head against the bear. The sound reverberated in the air even over the panicked screams of other people as they continued to flee. Others peered down from balconies, muttering behind masks and fans alike at the show beneath them.

Sadira still doesn't move; she is not frozen in panic, not hesitant or stunned. Instead, she is determined and waiting for an opening. Lightening crackles, barely contained in her hand as she channeled her magic. The staff she normally used as a focus was elsewhere, left so as not to draw attention. The spell will not be pretty, and it will be exhausting to cast, but she was ready-- THERE! As the other woman moved far enough away, she lashed out and struck the bear with a lightning bolt.

[thesteelwolf]

Saarebas. And none of the southern armored Arvaarad to control her? Issa spends a moment to glance at the mage before diving back in, meeting the meaty swing of flesh with another decisive blow of her fist. This thing is large and angry and dangerous, but it need not be put to a blade if it can be calmed.

If it cannot? She can break the neck of this thing as well as she might any other.

[fledglingenchanter]

She also had not desire to kill the bear; merely stun it until it could be captured or subdued. As the Qunari continued to fight the bear bare handed. It was an impressive and slightly daunting technique. It also meant that Sadira couldn't attack again for fear of causing the other woman harm. Instead, she took a few steps back, crouching down to wait for her next opportunity. Her biggest concern was making sure no one got hurt.

[thesteelwolf]

The grapple does not last- the bear busy burying teeth in Issa's shoulder, Issa busy trying to twist it away from vendors and their wares. Why do they not flee? They find this entertaining? Such things she had heard of southerners that she put no thought to for how foolish it made them seem. Perhaps she ought to have paid better mind. She tears herself away and shoves the bear back with a spiked boot to the ribs, gesturing to the Saarebas. "Adaar, vinek kathas!"

Common, she must remember to use Common. "Shoot it!"

[fledglingenchanter]

Sadira needed no other invitation as power once more surged through her body, causing small arcs of lightning to spark and crackle along her skin and over her clothes. She did not dare to try another bolt so instead flexed her hands and envisioned a cage made of lightning to surround the bear to keep it immobile. Sweat beaded on her brow as she wove her magic forcefully into shape with will alone. It took seconds, but to her, it felt as if an eternity passed before her fragile creation of energy snapped around the bear, imprisoning it in a static cage.
"There... that should hold it!"

If the bear were truly enraged, this would not last for long, and she was loathe to see what might happen then.

[thesteelwolf]

That is a new trick. Then again when she spends most of her time around Saarebas having them work with her rather than watching them fight it may not be that new. Within the cage the bear thrashed and roared helpless against the binding of light and power. Not so bad a tactic so long as it can hold long enough for the bear to tire. Issa stands at the ready, waiting for the bear to fail or the cage.

Whichever came first.

[fledglingenchanter]

Her magic continued to sing through her veins and bleed off in small pops and crackles from her person as she was charged both literally and figuratively with energy still. The static cage would not hold for long, especially as the bear lashed against it then recoiled. Meant to hold smaller, more humanoid creatures, it was already beginning to fray at the edges.

"if you're going to do something, do it soon. It will be free soon." Sadira could conceivably hit it with another lighting bolt, but all this casting without a focus was draining her faster than she would ever care to admit.

[thesteelwolf]

"Do not zap me." It has happened before, in the forge, and she did not care for it then, she certainly would not care for it now. Issa circles around to the flank of the bear and reaches through the cage- or rather swings through, punching it in the back of the skull.

The first blow seems to daze it. The second? Knocks it out cold.

"We are finished."

[fledglingenchanter]

"I've better control of my magic than that." Sadira huffed, crossing her arms over her chest to show that she had no intention of doing so. Little flickers of lightening continued to bleed away from her, dissipating harmlessly into the cobblestone street while she watched the ox-woman and the bear carefully.

Once the bear was out she nodded to the other woman curtly, "You're welcome."

iv

[solveiginvictus]

"No!" Solveig isn't just in the way, she's intent on startling the bear in hopes of making it run. Why the stranger would go out of her way to kill a messenger of the gods and draw their anger, Solveig didn't understand. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately especially for the bear, she'd stumbled upon Issa and her cannon, and now she couldn't just stand idly by or she'd be just as much at fault for the bear's death as she would if she were the one firing the shot. No doubt, her path had been no mistake, and Sigfost had guided her in this direction to save the creature.

Quickly drawing up a bit of magic, she hurls a small fireball past the bear, alerting it and startling it enough to send it lumbering into cover.

"Setting up a target would be just as good," She turns her attention to the qunari, expecting that her actions would come at a price. But it was better to anger this stranger than to anger the gods. She'd deal with the consequences.

[thesteelwolf]

"As-eb vashe-qalab!" And there goes her target. A perfectly good one for distance and rate of burning, startled off because of a strange, painted Saarebas. Issa sighs and flicks a latch in place to prevent the lever on the base of the cannon from squeezing and setting the whole thing off. Now she must wait for another suitably large creature to test the charge on.

"Target of wood does not burn the same as target of flesh and bone. Set tree on fire I know I can burn wood. Set fur on fire? I know I can burn armor. Set stone on fire- I need to adjust charge."

[solveiginvictus]

She relaxes slightly, now that it's obvious she's not about to have to defend herself. She's never actually seen a qunari in person, though she'd heard descriptions of them from traders who ventured into the Frostbacks. Between Issa's accent and grasp on Common and Solveig's, it's a miracle they can even understand one another.

"Don't you know it's bad, ehmm, örlög -mm, luck- to kill a bear without cause?

It still seems wasteful, but why not use a goat if you must test it on flesh. Or just use a prisoner..." She reconsiders that option, "You probably don't have any of those here."

[thesteelwolf]

"Testing charge is cause. I would not waste it on bear." Guess which of the two is more important to her. Guess. With the way she handles the hammered steel of the cannon as though it were spun glass and even now rubs small circles behind the trigger as though that might sooth it? The answer ought to be obvious.

"Goats burn too quick, waste of charge. People scream and flail, spread Vat too much." It is unsafe.

[solveiginvictus]

"Testing charge is not cause enough," The Avvar woman quickly counters, crossing her arms. The qunari's quick dismissal of her perfectly reasonable alternatives is making her feel more argumentative and stubborn than usual.

"Vat?" She narrows her eyes as she tries to substitute in words that might make sense, but she can't come up with anything, "What is that? Describe it to me."