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

[justice_is_blond]

[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.]

[romanticamnesiac]

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.

[justice_is_blond]

[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.

[romanticamnesiac]

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?