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

Romanadvoratrelundar II | Doctor Who Universe

[romana2]

III Bears
Romana had been President of Gallifrey far too long. She's a bit out of practice with the whole 'running for her life' thing. (Spats with the Daleks not withstanding.) She had taken to exploring the forest, but had gone in deeper than she expected.

That was when she stumbled upon the bears. Well. Bear. One. And clearly a momma bear recently coming out of hibernation. Probably with cubs still in the den.

"Oh, this is very not good at all. Where's K-9 when I need him?"

She hadn't said that very loudly. But the Bear still heard her and roared at her. Romana gulped, did as much as she could to gather her robes into her hands so she wouldn't trip and started to run.

She found a type of pine tree and she tried to climb into it, hoping the bear would get confused and leave her alone. Unfortunately, it was now stalking the tree and waiting...



IV Crystals
I am Romanadvoratrelundar, former President of the Supreme Council of Gallifrey and all her Dominions. Holder of the Wisdom of Rassilon. Preserver of the Matrix. Guardian of the Legacy of Omega. Keeper of the Rod and Sash of Rassilon. But you may call me Romana.

If anything I just said makes any sense to you at all, please respond.

[And that's really all she has to say about that.]

IV

[justice_is_blond]

What if none of it makes sense to me?

[Because why not.]

[romana2]

Simple. Then it tells me you're not from my universe.

[Which, frankly is all she cares about right now. She wants to know how many people from her universe are here.]

[justice_is_blond]

Has it worked? Are there others from where you are here?

[romana2]

I don't know yet. Given what was happening in my universe, though, it wouldn't surprise me.

[And that sounds like something she'd rather not talk about. It's difficult to watch your universe be plunged into a war that could destroy the entire thing.]

[justice_is_blond]

I see. Well, while you wait, I'd assume you don't know everything you need to know about this universe. If you've questions...

[He might sound a little self-assured and pleased with himself.]

[romana2]

You're right, I don't. And while I am used to having advisors consult with me about such matters, I have not allowed myself to grow overly complacent as president.

['Unlike some people' could be heard in her tone.]

So, let me phrase my question like this: I the leader of my entire world in my universe. What knowledge would be most beneficial for someone like me?

[She's challenging him. He's sounding a little too pleased with himself. It reminds her a bit of the Doctor. The Doctor was arrogant. Romana? Was actually just that intelligent.]

[justice_is_blond]

[He just likes being needed. And proving that he's useful or needed. ...And a bit arrogant too.]

The first thing to know is that your position there carries no weight here. In fact, a lot of people don't like those who come from other worlds, the Rifters. If you're too open about being a Rifter in places other than Skyhold, you could be attacked, so I'd keep that bit quiet in person.

The second... Your entire world? Maker, what a mess that must have been. One person ruling a whole... Right, sorry. I got distracted. The second is that you're going to find there are a few groups that are popular to dislike. I'd suggest ignoring that. Unity among the peoples who are looked down on is far stronger than greater division. Rifters, mages, Dalish, elves, we're all people, no matter what some think or do.

[romana2]

[Her tone grows solemn. Not quite sad, but it could go that way.]

If you knew all the things I've faced as president... All the things I've done... you would show a bit more respect. I have yet to see anything here that is as bad as anything back home.

[Daleks aside. The Free Time Virus was down-right terrible. Basically Red Lyrium for Time Lords. Only worse - forced them to regenerate into the equivalent of Zombies.]

I have travelled the whole of my universe with... my friend. Different cultures are not a problem for me.

[Magic, yes. The person themselves? No.]

[justice_is_blond]

Nothing here as bad as it is back home.

[He snorts.]

That's the arrogance I'd expect of a leader, to be certain. Suffering is suffering, and you've just entirely dismissed that of my people. All I know is what you do and say here, all that matters here is what you do and say here, and you've dismissed all I've faced as a mage.

Different cultures may prove a challenge for you after all if you ignore that they have their own struggles.

[romana2]

I never said they have not experienced their own suffering. But unless you are prepared to tell me that you are facing the destruction of the whole of time and space, then the challenges faced her are not as dire.

[Her tone is sad, not angry. She doesn't actually hold anything against him.]

[justice_is_blond]

And yet... they are.

[He's a little vexed, personally. But he has a habit of getting vexed easily, and mixed in with that is sadness as well.]

A challenge to one's survival in one universe is the same as a challenge to one's survival in another. It's still people facing uncertainty and death, pain and fear. Your point of view is too... backed-away. Too distant. People, lives, matter. Individuals matter. We are facing a being that wants us all dead, and that is just as dire a threat.

[romana2]

[Romana is tempted to explain just how different such challenges are. But she'll let it pass.]

Look, I have no desire to argue with you further. You clearly are not from my universe, nor do you have any understanding of it. You more than likely do not know anyone from my universe, or if you do, they've kept quiet about their past.

I just need to find them, if they are here.

IV

[timeforgotten]

[ !!!

Adric takes a minute or two to keep from replying with nothing more than a knee-jerk shout of Romana's name. That would hardly be useful, for starters, and it would likely be a bit embarrassing besides. He can't just go around making it obvious that he's missed her or anything. Goodness, no. Not to mention the time it takes to sort through the titles she lists off. They don't line up with the last he saw of her. Not even close.

But it's definitely her.

So respond he inevitably does. ]

At least one of the things you've said makes sense to me. Of course, I'd be impressed if anyone else manages as much. It's a long list to listen through.

[ ... okay, and he can't quite stop the smile from bleeding into his tone beyond that. ]

Hello, Romana.

[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?

[timeforgotten]

Yes, it's me. And yes, some of them sound familiar enough.

[ All things considered, the inconvenience of being brought here aside, getting to hear from Romana again can just about balance out most of the negative points. ]

So you left E-Space and became President of Gallifrey? What happened with the Tharils? Has K-9 been doing well?

[ He is here to ask only the most vital questions with little to no care for their being from different points in time. ]

[romana2]

Well, after some years of proper leadership and guidance, they hardly had need of me any longer. And that experience actually prepared me to become president of Gallifrey, so it was all for the best, in the end.

[Oh K-9. Let's not talk about K-9.]

He is a very good dog. The best, in fact.

[timeforgotten]

It is good to know things turned out well enough for you. [ Without having to wait for anything linearly. Something tells him... waiting linearly isn't his best bet. ]

I'm still not certain if I'm glad you're here, though. This planet is a bit far out of both our ways.

[romana2]

Adric, we've both travelled with the Doctor. I'm fairly certain, whatever this place is like, we've faced worse.

[That was only so that Romana didn't have to talk about how bad thing had gotten on Gallifrey - all the Gallifreys.]

[timeforgotten]

You always were difficult to disagree with.

[ Logical and quick-thinking. And very very brave. He's missed Romana. ]

It's a shame you can't meet Nyssa. I think the two of you might get on well.

[romana2]

[She chuckles softly.]

Well, then it's a good thing I became president.

[It actually does make it easier.]

Nyssa? I assume that's another companion?

[If Adric met her, it didn't take the Doctor long.]

[timeforgotten]

Yes. She came aboard sometime after we left E-Space. There wasn't really anywhere else for her to go. [ that awkward moment when your whole planet dies. ]

But she's friendly and she's quite intelligent.

[romana2]

Ah so, someone to keep the Doctor in check, rather than to egg him on?

[That's probably for the best, since the Doctor needed to be kept in check more often than encouraged.]

[timeforgotten]

Well, you say that as though he doesn't egg himself on. I know I've been trying not to. [ It carries an amusement. Though the second statement is probably a lie by most definitions. Whether it was the Doctor with the scarf or the one he's gotten to know most recently, there's almost always a degree of egging on to be done. If for vastly differing reasons between the two. ]

[romana2]

And how about you? Do the pair of you get on as well?

[Because Romana will always be fond of Adric. Always.]