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

[harthad_uluithiad]

[ Sam is still half-stunned, hardly able to comprehend what's happening to him. ]

It is you! [ He manages, belatedly, to return Frodo's hug, clinging onto the other hobbit as if for dear life. ] Why I can hardly believe it! It's been so very long - I was sure I'd never see another hobbit ever again!

[ But Frodo, in contrast to Sam, doesn't look well at all, at least in Sam's estimation. His face creases with concern as he looks the other hobbit over, and he shakes his head in dismay. ]

But look at you! Why I would've called you slim before - more so than any hobbit has any right to be - but now, you're thin as a rail and no mistake! Haven't you been eating?

[famousest]

[ how long is 'so very long', though? to frodo's estimation, he'd seen sam only a few days ago, struggling alongside him in the black lands, nearly at the end of their journey-- and quite nearly at the end of their strength. but that sam had been nearly as thin and worn as frodo himself, whereas this sam.. has he simply had time to recover, or--as he suspects--is it that he's from an earlier time than frodo himself? ]

I confess to finding this place a little upsetting. That you might have been here for quite some time and I never noticed that you were taken-- [ oh, it's terribly confusing. and meant, undoubtedly, for greater minds than his.

the alarm on sam's face and in his voice earns a weary smile, though, and he shakes his head. ] I have only been here a few days, I fear. I've yet to regain my strength entirely. [ a beat, and gently: ] But I have been eating. And sleeping. That I can promise you. It is.. not so loud.

[harthad_uluithiad]

Oh, well... [ Sam trails off, gazing down at his hand with its glowing green shard. He'd like to tell Frodo that there's nothing to worry about at all, that they're quite safe here, but the truth is that he's had an upsetting experience or two of his own in Thedas, and he's not always terribly fond of it himself.

His eyes widen, and he leans in close, whispering. ]

You have it with you, then?

[ A hundred questions, and he hardly knows which one to start with! One thing he does know, though; and he shakes his head in what he hopes is a reassuring manner. ]

It's not your fault, Mr. Frodo; that you didn't notice I mean. That's just the way things work here I think: well, I don't rightly know how things do work, I suppose, only that it's...well, it's strange. I...

[ He gives up, and shakes his head again, overcome. ]

A few days, though! [ His expression screws up in indignation. ] Here that long! And no one said a word to me.

[famousest]

[ he flattens a palm against his chest, feeling the hard edges of the ring dig into his chest beneath the fabric. if he looks a little paler when he nods, it's only because.. well, he's so very tired. and now he has no idea how long he'll have to carry this evil thing. ] We.. were nearly to the mountain. Another day or two, I think. And then I-- I awoke here, falling out of one of those rifts.

[ his smile returns a moment later, though, sam's familiar and dear indignation enough to buoy flagging spirits, at least for the moment. he reaches out, gathering both of the other hobbit's hands in his own, pressing them fondly. ]

Don't fret. I'm certain I've been no company for anyone until now. Today is the first day I've felt myself enough to meet others and help. [ he frowns a little uncertainly. ] And I've been mistaken for a dwarf several times since I arrived. It's very odd, you know. Hobbits and dwarves hardly resemble one another at all.

[harthad_uluithiad]

The mountain! Do you mean to say we got that close? All the way into - into Mordor?

[ He drops his voice on the last word, down to a hoarse whisper. They may be far away from Middle-earth and the Dark Lord himself, but some things just aren't meant to be said out loud, even here. ]

Why, then it's almost finished! Just a day or two more. And now you're here instead. [ He shakes his head, his expression sorrowful. ] Oh, but it is a shame, isn't it? If only you'd stayed there just a day or two more, and then we wouldn't have to worry about it at all.

[famousest]

--Do you not remember? [ stranger and stranger. he supposes nothing should surprise him after what he's experienced since leaving the shire, though. ] What do you last recall, Sam? [ he may have a great deal to catch him up on.

his expression falls a little at the reminder that they'd been so close to their goal. if he'd just had.. a little longer.. ]

It is not so heavy here, nor so loud, but it is still a weight. And.. [ he hesitates, mouth pressing thin in uncertainty. ] I.. am a little concerned about the effect it may have on others here. I'm not certain if I'm entirely safe to be around so long as I carry this.

[harthad_uluithiad]

[ Sam shakes his head urgently. ] Why no, not at all! The last thing I remember was floating down the River out of Lorien, in those boats we got from Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. She -

[ He remembers, suddenly - something important, and he cuts himself off, leaning in close. ]

She's here, Mr. Frodo! Lady Galadriel, her and King Thranduil both! You remember King Thranduil - the Elven-king of Mirkwood, right out of Mr. Bilbo's stories! Only he's nothing like he was in the stories, so frightening and cruel; he's wise and kind, and - and nearly as beautiful as the Lady herself! [ His eyes shine, and he smiles reassuringly. ] Don't worry, Mr. Frodo. They'll know what to do about - about it.