allthisshitisweird | TEST DRIVE MEME!

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I do so hate it when the injured tell me they have had worse.

[ She clicks her tongue and starts urging him towards a bench behind a table. ]

Now sit. At least allow me a look?

[At least he has enough good sense not to argue, as he comes along with her. It never fees as bad in the midst of battle as it does later. Especially given how his power works. He hates when that fatigue finally catches up with him.]

I apologize... I made it quite a ways to get here, so I figured it would be fine. I didn't realize.

[He sits down, grimacing as he does. He knows healers and how persistent they are... he's never won a battle against them. Ever. Not even a certain one he'd left back in the Heartlands. Especially not her.]

Go ahead.

[ She sits on the edge of the table and gives him a quick look. ]

How do you feel about magical healing?

[Kain is actually... glad she asked. He's gotten more cautious about magic in general thanks to an incident he's been through. There's only one person ever allowed to fling spells at him without asking.]

I've no problem with it. Go ahead. [He remembers his manners, and makes himself add,] Thank you for asking.

[He's always got some assortment of wounds going on, it's the nature of how he fights. That definitely can make things complicated when it comes to healing. It might not touch some of the older or worse ones, but at least it can take the edge off.]

[ With the help of a spirit of Faith, Christine gets to examining Kain for wounds and healing what she comes across. Her eyes glow blue as the spirit's energy passes through her, which is one of the reasons she asked his thoughts on magic healing. The sight can be a little unsettling. ]

It is not so bad. Your body is just in need of some rest.

[As her eyes glow, Kain watches intently. He's known a spirit healer before, quite well actually. It's been a while though, and he'd forgotten what it looked like. Definitely unsettling if you don't expect it.]

That's a relief. I can't afford to lay around for very long. [Well, when can he, really? He's gone through some pretty annoying recoveries.] You're a spirit healer, then? That's no easy power to master...

That is what they all say.

[ It's said with a sigh, but she refocuses to lay a rejuvenation spell on him, in order to ease some of his aches and weariness. ]

No, indeed. I studied for a long time before I took my test in the Fade.

That's what all healers tend to say, too...

[He settles back, a little less tense now that he's not as pained. Though he's still drained, the aches are becoming more vague... he'll take it over how it was a few moments ago.]

I've always admired such skill... talent, really, as well. [He gets a wistful look for a moment, before returning his attention to the present.] My thanks, for that. I owe you.

[ Christine looks a little surprised at the admiration coming from him. It's not often a mage hears she's admired. ]

You are welcome. But nothing is owed. Healers simply wish to help the hurt.

[Not often at all, but then not everyone grows up madly in love with a spirit healer. Not that it amounted to anything, but because of those feelings he has a respect for mages that others may not.]

Even so... I always feel I must show my appreciation. Perhaps it's out of guilt. I know I'm not always the best at following healers' orders.

[He probably shouldn't tell her that, but who knows if they'll meet again, right? The Crossroads are filled with people going all over the place.]

I know another healer quite well, she... truly is remarkable at what she does. [He sighs lightly.] I doubt I'd be here without all of you.

TEST DRIVE MEME!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject