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

[romanticamnesiac]

So there's no chance of learning it? That's a little disappointing I must admit.

[But there is the opportunity to learn and the Doctor brightens at the answers.]

Nothing would make me happier than to see a demonstration. You're quite right about knowledge being important, and while it saddens me to hear that there's bias against those with that gift, I'm rather pleased to hear that you plan on fighting it by educating people than anything else.

[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.

[romanticamnesiac]

Other uses? That sounds promising. Certainly worth looking into later.

So I take it then that you're not a... shardbearer yourself then?

[circleprodigy]

No, I have thus far avoided being struck by rift energies due to timing and sheer luck. Perhaps one day, that luck will change, but...not yet.

[romanticamnesiac]

You make it sound like a fate you'd prefer to avoid. Not a fan of green hands, I take it?

[circleprodigy]

I mean no offense. It's more than I'm wary of unknown magic. These shards are unlike anything we've previously had in Thedas and not much is known about them, even now.

[romanticamnesiac]

Being a little cautious isn't so bad, I'll grant you. Though them being new and unknown seems all the more reason to find out more about them, wouldn't you agree? Surely people are trying to find out as much as they can.

[circleprodigy]

Oh, indeed on both counts. There are mages and scholars doing what they can to research the shards and their evolution. More questions than answers remain, but I like to believe we might find them yet.

[romanticamnesiac]

But that's good, don't you think? What would the universe be like if we had an answer for everything? Rather boring if you ask me.

[circleprodigy]

Overall, I completely agree. But answers regarding the shards are rather important. I'm concerned for the welfare of those who possess them.

[romanticamnesiac]

That's rather kind of you. Has anything in particular happened to make you worried about our welfare?

[circleprodigy]

A woman -a native- with a shard was able to open a rift with hers, somehow. It nearly killed her, though her own is located in her chest. So far, that seems to be a rarity in terms of location.

[romanticamnesiac]

They open the rifts? That is interesting. But I'd think the better idea would be closing them, wouldn't it?

Although I suppose if it were possible to find a way to trace them back to where people were taken from, it would be an easy enough matter to return everyone home and then close them, wouldn't it? It's a pity I don't have my sonic screwdriver...

[circleprodigy]

The rifts lead into the Fade, and nothing about the Fade is easy. It is the home of demons and spirits, designed to confuse all others. Even mages -who know it better than any other mortal- are at risk.

[romanticamnesiac]

Demons and spirits you say? I've had a bit of experience with those before, though usually they never turn out to be what they pretend. They're usually not too much trouble.

[Because the ones here shouldn't be too hard either, right?]

[circleprodigy]

That is...decidedly not the case here. Even spirits have the potential for harm, but demons thrive on it. They can possess a mage, and the resulting abomination is easily capable of destroying villages on its own before felled.

[romanticamnesiac]

Is that all they try to do? Destroy places? Has anyone tried to reason with them, or is it just straight to the killing?

[circleprodigy]

Once their bodies have changed, there is no reasoning. Whoever they once were is gone, and only the abomination remains. Even before, a demon never leaves of their own free will. It requires killing the demon in the Fade to free the possessed...and that is the best of circumstances, not easily done.