TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

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.

Comments

Re: lucrezia borgia | the borgias | native au

[bearstheshield]

i.

[since coming to skyhold, steve has had to familiarize himself with all sorts of people from thedas and beyond. this woman, however, seems to be from tevinter and all that entails. it rankles him. it's not really his style to be bothered by much of anything, really, but excess and injustice are two things that will do it and for tevinter imperium, the two go hand in hand. still, she's making an attempt at politeness and it's not in his nature to ignore that. he offers her a smile in return.]

You're not, I promise. I was just heading to a meeting with some other Templars, is all.

[he offers her a quick bob of his head in reply and hopes that suffices as a greeting and an apology. he's ferelden and he knows that it's there in his every mannerism - his speech, his carriage. he still feels like the stick-thin orphan who'd been carted off to the chantry as a child when faced with a woman like this and he wonders if she can tell.]

Let's just pretend I have some proper icons on this thing

[nosand]

Well. That had worked. Anakin hopped off the bear's back before the animal hit the ground - Along with Obi-Wan. The sight got a tiny smirk from the knight and he moved over to help the man. Using the Force to lift the large body just enough, he offered his hand to Obi-Wan.

"Now don't tell me this was a bad idea. Because it wasn't. I'd rather know what planet we are on and how the Force did we get here?"

Considering he most certainly didn't arrive via space ship.

hush, they're fine

[obi_wanmanshow]

"Maybe not," He allows, in a tone that implies that there's no maybe about his opinion of the idea in question, "But there's no going back, now."

If there's any blessings to be had in the early Ferelden frost, it's that the mud is mostly frozen, and only somewhat sticky. Obi-Wan takes a moment to brush the soil off his robes, as best he can; which isn't much.

"The local population calls it 'Thedas.' And no, I don't know where that is on a star-chart. None of them have ever heard of Jedi, either-- but it's a long story. Where did you arrive? If there's an active rift here, I'll need to let someone know before it becomes a problem."

iv.

[rowancrowned]

No.

[ he really ought not to be talking about the dalish in public currently, or even bothering with the crystals at all (so much to do, so little time.) but this is more of a public service than anything else, and if she? she, orlesian she, falls prey to someone in a more vindictive mood-- what harm are a few words here and now to prevent it?

he's in a generous mood. ]

Though most are of a single clan.

[indocile]

( margaux mulls that over. thranduil - and anyone else listening - can hear her humming, thoughtful, and then (very decisively); )

It's nice to see. A bit past time for a pleasant surprise or two, no?

[rowancrowned]

How they are with one another, or their mere presence?

[ though he wouldn't call anything the asharas get up to as a collective mere. they cause a great deal of trouble for some so small in stature and number. ]

[indocile]

I didn't think I would live to see the day they had a care for the rest of us! ( there's a laugh. it suits her - bright, bold, of a piece with her distinctive voice. you wouldn't need more than that to recognise this speaker in person. ) That's their affair, I don't go out into the woods, either.

Bit nice, though, isn't it? Different for them.

[rowancrowned]

Have you not heard? The world is ending. It is the best time to develop a care for those other than yourself.

[ she speaks prettily as she laughs, and it's instinctual to imagine who she might be. an elf? a qunari? he has never met one with a voice so high. perhaps a human, but to comment so tastefully on the dalish they are for sure a delicate sort. ]

I suppose. I have tasted their cooking, and some contains sugar. One has to trade for sugar.

[indocile]

Does one? You're an optimist, stranger.

( if she's poking fun at him - she is - then it's gently done and without malice. it's a nice thought. maybe it happens in places that aren't orlais. )

Merchants are awfully wary going into woods, all I know.

[rowancrowned]

I consider myself pragmatic and hope others are the same.

[ foresight, he hopes, or at least centuries of needing to consider the results of a plan a hundred years from now rather than ten. ]

And with good reason. There are a large number of frightening things hiding in the forests.

[indocile]

( she laughs again - she does that a lot. )

I'm always impressed what people will cut off to spite someone else.

[rowancrowned]

'Rock bottom' seems to grow permeable the longer I spend in Thedas.

[indocile]

Ah! You're a rifter.

( yes, he knows. )

It isn't so bad. Worth saving, I think.

~<3

[nosand]

"So it's one of those planets..." Anakin said with a suppressed groan. He pulled out his own lightsaber and inspected it briefly, now that he actually had the time to do so. Great. He'd have to dismantle the entire thing later...

At Obi-Wan's question, the Jedi Knight looked up, frowning mildly.

"Master, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm definitely not going back there." With there being accompanied by a dismissive wave of his hand before indicating the fallen bear "There were even more of these creatures back there."

[cestrumnocturnum]

[ Benji says 'oh', or rather-- Benji mouths 'oh'.

Thoughtful.

Then; ]

Later, [ hesitantly, as if there is still a part of her mind being made up. ] I could-- if you wished, we could--

[ Her mouth skews into a rueful smile. ]

I mean, you're a good negotiator.

[magpienests]

"I should hope not too close, for the sake of the innkeeper. I doubt demons have much interest in purchasing food and drink."

The comment comes from a young elf sitting nearby, her voice carrying a heavy Antivan accent. She's dressed simply, in worn traveling clothes, and carries few possessions, but she seems cheerful enough as she sits cocked in her seat to face him.

"Apologies for the interruption, but my curiosity has overcome me, I fear. Do you plan to seek out these... 'rifts?'"

[indulgentia]

Oh! [ she says, a sudden sigh of delight. ] Then you are a White Templar. [ she's never met any before in her life, and has heard the strangest things about them from all three of her brothers. the veracity of the tales may vary, but she still makes sure to stand and execute a perfect curtsey as she would for any imperial templar. ] Please do not let me stand in your way, kind ser.

[ and neatly, she steps to the side as her ladies adjust their skirts, all of them leaving far more room on the path than is needed for the man to pass by. ]

[bearstheshield]

Steve hasn't had much exposure with elves outside of mages in the Circle and certainly not Antivan ones so the accent startles him for a moment. When he'd decided to seek out the Inquisition, he'd known it meant running into races and people he'd find very different from his own sheltered existence among the Templars and apparently this is going to be his first exposure to that. He gives the woman a quick smile, polite even if it's a little shy.

"I was making my way to Skyhold. I wanted to see if they had any need of a Templar. If anything else, I imagine they probably need able-bodied men who are capable of wielding a weapon and defending the people under their protection. I've always been capable of that if nothing else. What about you? Are you headed that way yourself?"

[bearstheshield]

[The curtsy puts Steve even more out of sorts than he would be normally and while he doesn't blush, it's a very near thing. He would have possibly, as a younger man, but he's got more experience in the world now even if he doesn't have much (any) experience with women like this.]

You don't have to curtsy, my lady. I promise, I'm not anyone worth that kind of trouble. I'm just passing through.

[magpienests]

For a moment Thea is silent, her expression sobering a bit, before she answers, "I am. My home, you see, was lost in all this warring, but I have heard that this Skyhold is a safe place for people such as myself to stay for a time."

She tilts her head slightly and drums her fingers against the table. "Then again, I have heard other, less flattering rumors about the order who rule it. I suppose I will find out for myself soon enough what is the truth."

Twelfth Doctor | Doctor Who | Rifter

[not_the_question]

I. Dragons

Dragons, like magic, didn't exist in the Doctor's universe. At least not that he knew. But that doesn't mean he didn't know the legends and stories about them. But this... this was unique and different. This was about as close to being a real dragon as the Doctor had ever encountered.

"You're still not as scary as the things of my nightmares."

The dragon swoop it's gaze in the Doctor's direction when he spoke. Oddly enough, he wasn't worried about mummy. The kids. They were fast, and there were a lot of them, and they could get into places mummy couldn't.

He would say he's been in tighter places than this before. But he'd be lying.

Luckily, it's a cave, so there are lots of nooks and crannies. For now, the Doctor finds one and squeezes into it in the hopes that they'll get bored and leave him alone.



II. The Crossroads

The Doctor was confused. Not so much by how he got here - it's always easy to travel in time and space through dreams, but because of that he's conflicted if this place is even real.

It has all the components necessary for it being a dream. And on top of all of that, it was primitive. How these creatures would ever survive to evolve, he didn't know. It was painful to think about.

He had been on Darillium long enough to - not get bored, but to need a bit of adventure. He had wished for something to happen. Now that he was here, all he wanted to do was get back home. He had years ahead of him to spend with River. A part of him wondered if he'd feel the same if River were here with him. He decided he would.

This Doctor didn't mind drinking. And now he understood the human concept of drinking to forget. Drinking to escape. He approached the barkeep.

"A pint of something strong."

He'll probably need another, but this is a good start.



[OOC: I'm canon blind to Dragon Age, so if these prompts suck, feel free to prompt me. - Also, being canon blind, I'm sort of combining the dragon film lore that I know.]

I.

[wontforgetyou]

Over the past year or so, Jamie's seen his share of dragons - and fought them, as well, which might explain the dragon scale armor that he's got on over his kilt. And the fact that he's running full tilt for that entrance that leads into that little section of cave that the dragon is currently swooping towards, because even if it was a different dragon, parading around in it around any dragon isn't really such a good idea.

Swooping is bad, but fire-breath is worse, and just as he gets to the entrance, it opens its mouth and breathes, sending a gout of flame down from the sky. Jamie does the only thing he can think of to do, which is to dive in in an attempt to get out of the way before it hits him. If he happens to crash into the man who sounds vaguely Scottish, he'll apologize later. Not getting roasted is a good plan, as far as he's concerned, something he'll pass along to the other man, even though with his luck it's probably someone from Starkhaven and it just sounds like he's from home. He'll worry about that later, too. First things first.

"Get back!"

:D

[not_the_question]

The voice sounded oddly familiar to the Doctor, and if he had a chance to see the lad's face, well, he would be very shocked indeed.

Instead, the person was coming at him full-speed and the Doctor wasn't sure what was going on.

"Back where? I'm already against..."

And just then he saw the flames coming at him. So he followed the directions the lad gave. He formed a ball, to make himself as small as possible, while pressing as close to the side and as far away from the flames as possible. He hoped that any flames that made it into the nook would dissipate quickly.

"Please tell me the wee ones can't do that!"

'Wee ones' weren't all that small, but substantially smaller than mummy, so it worked.

[indocile]

( did benji intend for this to result in margaux linking their arms? that is what's happening. it's slightly awkward, with the height difference; margaux settles for tucking her hands at benji's elbow. )

That's a good idea. I can get us a good place.

( she's heard skyhold is crowded. also, it occurs to her, it would not go amiss to show up with a tall human instead of just on her own, even if -


well, a more strapping one would probably be more effective, but she was going to do all of the talking either way. a human might lend her a bit of being-taken-more-seriously is all, even if not, she thinks, much in the way of useful protection. )

[rowancrowned]

I am, my lady. A shard in my hand and all that entails.

[ she's not before him, so the curious lilt to his mouth isn't visible. ]

Saving from Corypheus, I assume.