TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

I ROLL TO SEDUCE THE BEAR

Tucked between the massive Lake Calenhad and the icy Frostback Mountains in Ferelden’s chilly, hilly south, the Hinterlands are a region covered in patchy forests, small farms, and a bustling fishing village called Redcliffe. The region was recently the frontline of a war between mages and Templars, but the Inquisition’s military presence has restored order and is now focused on helping the locals and influx of refugees rebuild their lives. Whether you’re a recent recruit or a hardened veteran, a Fereldan local or someone who recently fell out of a rift from another world, you may be asked to go lend a hand.

I. FLOODS

A burst of unseasonably warm weather (in no way inspired by real life events) is initially greeted with relief, gloves discarded and scarves unwrapped—but followed within the week by severe flooding across the region. Maybe you’re sent out to help debris from a road or collect the bodies of those swept away. Or maybe you’re less lucky and instead there when the waters come, shepherding refugees to higher ground, or caught riding in the flow on a dislodged roof or log. Maybe there’s a bear on the roof with you.

II. TREASURE HUNTS

Given the lack of banks and lockboxes, when the people here have something they value, they often hide it—under the ground, in a tree, behind a waterfall. So here you are, with a sketch of some landmarks found on a body, trying to find… something. If you find it, it might be useful: weapons, runes, a stash of supplies. Or it might be someone’s box of racy letters and a request to deliver them to a now-married woman who will slap you on delivery.

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

[romana2]

[It had been so many years since she had heard that voice. A voice she was quite certain was no longer living. Well, this place was full of surprises, wasn't it?]

Adric? Is... that you?

[There was no doubt in her tone, though. She was just too pleased.]

I am afraid that I'm from a different time zone than you remember of me. But while the titles may sound odd, surely some of the other names sound familiar?

Re: Private

[romana2]

[She has no idea how to make things private or not, so she hopes, for his sake whatever he had done holds on her side as well. She will start with his question. Because that's clearly the most important thing to him.]

Contrary to what you may believe, you had respect before you allowed your own arrogance get in the way....

I am sorry such has happened to you. It explains your anger and your resentment of me. However. I am not them. I am not from this word. I do not have any control here.

[Though she'd like to. Like the Doctor, she has a strong drive for peace. And in this place, asserting her control might be the best way. It had worked on one of the Galifreys, after all.]

So, why do you treat me as if I am one of them?

[not_the_question]

Yes, I've used it like this before.

[He's relieved when his younger self takes hold of the toy. It's a strong string. and the Doctor grabs hold of it to make sure the weight of his counterpart doesn't tear off his finger. Slowly - carefully, he pulls the other man closer to the bank. It takes a bit, since he's also trying to fight against the flow of the river. But, Finally he can reach out his hand to the other man.]

Here. Take my hand, I'll pull you up.

[firstminister]

['A world'. The Cardinal still thinks this is some elaborate joke that the king has decided to play on him.]

Oh, I believe I know that world. Only I typically call it South America.

[firstminister]

You say that, but how do you know. If you have been misled, you have no way to know...

Misc

[quietblade]

[Bonjour. Pardon the massive horned man, he saw you speaking and the beard isn't big enough for him to miss too many words when he reads lips.]

In charge? That would be the Commander, I think. Or lady Montilyet, if you're a noble.

[mistifying]

As a Sky Pirate, many maps I have seen and none of these maps indicate that there is a place called South America.

But I can appreciate games. What of Viera in this South America of yours?

Re: Misc

[firstminister]

[The Cardinal looks up. And up. And up. And goodness! Horns! He should be used to it by now, but he's really not.]

I-I... I'm the First Minister of France, if that counts as nobility.

[It does in his mind, but he has learned he really knows nothing here.]

[firstminister]

The jungle, obviously. Though we call it the Amazon. Very exotic. And very little is known of it.

[To be fair, very little is known of the 'new world' in general.]

[quietblade]

It sounds fancy enough.

[He smiles, and it's quite kind and sweet for someone who technically looks like a demon.]

I've never heard of France, though.

[firstminister]

[Richelieu had tried to stay his opinions of horned beasts, enough to have conversations. But, the distance he kept between the creature and himself is in response to the ingrained sense of fear. And that smile. Don't do that. That just tells him that perhaps there's devil-work going on.]

I've been hearing that answer a lot since I've arrived here. I'm still not entirely sure where here is. Nor why my hand is in pain and glows such.

[There's a scripture passage about parts of your body leading you to commit sin and therefore you should cut it off... He's considering it.]

[quietblade]

I'm sorry that you got stuck with one of those. Some Rifters do, if not all.

[He gives a slight shrug. Explaining the 'other world' stuff wasn't really his strength, but he could deal with the simpler stuff.]

If it hurts, you should probably see a healer. They could give you something to numb it.

[circleprodigy]

I'm afraid not...though the power of the shard you bear can be honed and other uses than closing rifts can be made available, with practice. I would recommend seeing another shardbearer for such details.

I make the attempt when I can, though it is not my focus. Grey Warden duties demand much of my time, though in Skyhold it is easier to educate when free time is available.

[circleprodigy]

Three times as long...that's quite a trade. Elves were supposedly immortal in ancient times, but now they match the lifespan of every other race native to Thedas. Supposedly, that diminishing is the fault of the humans as well; I cannot say for certain, given that was well before my time.

Are you their ruler? It's a strange trend, but more than a few rifters we have encountered seem to be kings or queens.

[firstminister]

[He frowns.]

Healers. Are there any that don't use... magic?

[Because witchcraft.]

[quietblade]

[He almost looks a little concerned at that, even if his features gentle a bit afterwards. Even Rifters had problem with mages?]

There are several apothecaries and at least one surgeon that can help you without any magic used. Ask for some elfroot potions or salves, that should work.

[firstminister]

[This one in particular. Spanish Inquisition and all... He nods.]

Thank you. That is... most helpful.

[Since it would go against his God to do anything else.]

I notice you don't have one. Does that mean you're native to this place?

[There was a slight hesitancy on 'native'. The Cardinal isn't sure if that's the proper term or not.]

[quietblade]

You're welcome.

[Taas keeps his eyes on the man's lips as he speaks, making sure he's following the right words.

There's a slight chuckle from the big man, and he nods.]

That's right. I'm qunari, one of the people native to Thedas.

[gatheringstorm]

That stupid grin prompts a knowing smirk from Korrin, who isn't at all shy about such things. Why should she be? It's not her fault other people have such weird hang-ups. She couldn't care less what the dwarf imagines; he may be a sleeze, but he's an entertaining sleeze. Anyone who can down some maraas-lok with barely any reaction is pretty awesome in her book.

"Yeah, yeah. At least the lady I'm with now likes my horns right where they are."

[mistifying]

[Fran give a soft, indulgent laugh, there is no malice in her.]

Golmore is the name of our jungle, viera is the name of our race, though I suppose the exotic part is fair enough.

[mistifying]

How can one's mortality be so drastically impacted by humes unless there was a source for immortality I wonder? [she doesn't expect to receive an answer, it is more rhetorical than anything else.]

Not I, far from it. I went against the Green Word and left the Wood of my people to become a sky pirate - I am viera only by the identification of my race now. My elder sister Jote is the leader of our clan, however. Viera are few and spaced out into clans, there are clans for the male of our species and clans for the female of our species and we remain separate.

[firstminister]

Well each language calls things slightly different names. It's possible we are speaking of the same place.

[He's dreaming. Or maybe hoping. He feels very out of sorts here.]

[firstminister]

Qunari.

[It's repeated softly, more to ensure he's pronouncing it correctly.]

And do all of your kind have...

[He makes an awkward gesture to his head, to indicate the horns.]

[mistifying]

Perhaps, or if you saw me then perhaps you might have a change of heart.

[Or a heart attack, one or the other.]

[justice_is_blond]

I... You...

[He's having trouble answering that, mostly because he feels the answer should be self-evident.]

Because I don't commune with evil before I heal, or before I take out a bandit group? Because I simply... do it? I'm not... It's not... I'm acting, the same way anyone would.