allthisshitisweird | TEST DRIVE MEME!

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.

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Tea! I must say it's been some time since I've had a decent cup. Besides, never say no when tea's offered, I always say.

[He laughs as well at the mention of the cat.] Throw in a good book and you might find me staying for an afternoon at least. You certainly know how to make a new arrival feel welcome.

[Fortunately it isn't very far before the Doctor is parting the entrance of the tent with long fingers to peer inside curiously.]

I believe there's someone willing to share some tea and magic somewhere around here?

[Anders smiles at the new arrival and waves him in before nodding to an older chair that at least still looks sturdy enough to hold someone.]

That would be me. Welcome. I'm... I'm Anders.

[His name is probably safe to say to a rifter.]

Have a seat? The cat's under the table, her name is the Hero of Purrelden, or just Purrelden for short.

[Sure enough, there's a black cat with white boots, a white ear tip, and a white mark on her chest that almost looks like a heart under the table, batting away at the bootlaces in an old boot. In the meantime, Anders places a cup of tea in front of the guest and scoots a small honey pot and spoon over.]

I don't suppose you've any scrapes or cuts? That'd be the easiest way to show off the magic I'm best at.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Anders, I'm the Doctor.

[He takes the offered seat immediately, falling into it bodily and sprawling out almost like a cat himself.]

The Hero of Purrelden, is it? [The name gets a laugh, the context enough for him to hazard a guess about what it might be a pun of, and the Doctor draws himself up enough to accept the cup of tea with one hand, the other digging about to draw out a length of string from a pocket and start teasing the cat with it.]

So you're a healer then? Do all people with magic specialise?

[Purrelden promptly abandons the bootlaces for the string, batting at it and dancing around in her attempts to catch it. Anders smiles down at her before taking a seat himself and sipping his own tea.]

Every mage has a school they're strongest in, and a school they're weakest in. Often they're opposites. I'm a spirit healer, the strongest sort of healer there is, but I'm also good with the elemental schools and so on.

[He holds his free hand palm-up, and a small fireball appears above it, hovering.]

On the other hand, I couldn't cast an entropy spell if my life depended on it.

Fascinating.

[He watches the fireball with wide, curious eyes, almost so entranced that he forgets to keep moving the string. It's captured by Purrelden rather quickly and the Doctor lets her tug it from his fingers for the moment, knowing he can reclaim it later and continue the game easily enough.]

Entropy, the opposite of healing? Interesting balance.

[Taking a sip of the tea, he set the cup down and added a touch of honey to the mix before flicking those bright, curious eyes to the man before him.] I think I might take you up on that offer to take care of a few scratches, if it's still open. I'd rather like to get a feel for this magic myself.

[Purrelden mews when she's beaten the string and Anders clicks his tongue at her. A moment later she's jumping up onto his lap, and from there to the table. The teacup gets set down in favor of scratching behind her ears as he lets the fireball vanish.]

Creation is the school that healing falls under. There are other creation spells, but calling myself a healer is the easiest way to make it clear what I am and do. Entropy, then, makes more sense as the opposite. The other two schools, generally speaking, are Spirit and Primal. And of course.

[His hand now glows green as he holds it out, over The Doctor's hand. The Doctor will feel warmth spreading through him, starting at his hand and going outward as Anders seeks out whatever minor injuries he can find and mends them quickly and easily. He blinks, a little surprised, when he finds the dual hearts, but that's all the reaction he gives.]

Creation and Entropy, Spirit and Primal. Interesting how they balance each other in that respect.

[He has to wonder if it's innate to the magic or whatever it is in this world, or if people simply find it easier to think of it that way. But the demonstration of healing magic is rather more interesting for the moment and the Doctor's hand reaches out immediately to take Anders' one as it glows and he feels the warmth spread through him.]

That's amazing! You didn't even need to see where I was injured, it just sought it out. And more importantly it doesn't seem bothered by species at all either.

[He's a little startled at the hand-grab, but Anders relaxes right after.]

Species can matter, but you're close enough to what I'm used to. You're not... demon, or golem, or something out of the ordinary. Rather, you've the two hearts, but the rest seems to be mostly familiar.

[Once he's done healing, Anders leans back a little in his chair.]

Once you know what you're doing with a spell, using it is instinctive. More or less. Enough, at least. I don't have to think when it comes to healing minor wounds anymore, it's reflex.

Two hearts, a bit different in other areas as well, but still. Not even having to focus on it is very impressive. You must be rather talented.

[He's a touch reluctant to let go of the hand as Anders leans back, still curious and wanting to investigate the magic and it's apparent source. But he'd noticed as well the reaction to the touch, and while Anders had relaxed quickly he doesn't wish to make the other man uncomfortable either.]

Do you know how it works? [He asks instead.] Speeding up the body's own healing processes perhaps?

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