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

Irving Braxiatel | Doctor Who EU

[needsmust]

{III}

[Strictly speaking, Brax is not unused to travel. Nor, for that matter, needing to cross a not insignificant amount terrain in search of any of number of things. He is, however, not entirely prepared to deal with the wide varieties of wildlife that can be found across Thedas. Partially because he's never entirely gotten in the habit of needing to protect himself... and bears aren't precisely susceptible to the sorts of hypnotism that he'd usually turn to.]

Wonderful.

[This is offered in a sigh, and mostly to himself, while he considers the merits and embarrassments of simply turning and fleeing.]

This is the last thing I needed today.

{IV}

[Brax is no stranger to crystals that have some variety of power or another, Gallifreyan society being what it is. True, the ones he knows best aren't anything to do with communication - and certainly aren't implied to be magical besides - but as long as he overlooks that it's not so hard to consider it to be a slightly unorthodox version of the communication devices that he is familiar with.

Albeit one that might be more easily lost, or stolen, but just at the moment he's not too worried about that.

The voice that addresses the crystals is warm. Friendly, even, if perfectly polite. The sort of voice one might find on a well-meaning professor or the more affable sort of politician; the voice of someone who is very much used to speaking publicly.]

Well, I certainly can't say that I expected any of this. But - and correct me if I'm wrong - I'd imagine that's not an uncommon sentiment? After all, it's hardly every day someone finds themselves quite unexpectedly translocated.

[gatheringstorm]

[The voice that responds is feminine though somewhat deep, amiable and a little curious.]

Nope, it's not uncommon at all. We have plenty of rifters around here, from a ton of different worlds. I tried to keep track, but honestly lost count a while ago. If you're overwhelmed, well...you'll have a lot of people in that support group.

[needsmust]

It's... not what I'd expected, I'll grant. But I wouldn't quite go so far as to call it overwhelming, just at the moment. Merely... different.

[gatheringstorm]

Good for you, seriously. Some have an easier time adjusting, for whatever reason. Still, if I can make it a little easier, I'll try through answering questions. Fair warning, I'm pretty biased about some topics.

[needsmust]

I suspect it has to do with one's experiences prior to being... unexpectedly relocated.

[A pause and then:]

And I don't suppose you'd have a general idea on the political climate?

III. for all the lovely 'i Don't have a brother, what are you smoking' ness

[not_the_question]

[The Doctor was about gathering berries while he checked some rabbit traps. Though, as high up in the mountains as they were, he honestly wondered if it was worth it. But he liked to eat on occasion, so here he was. His back was to Brax, so he was unaware of the danger he was in. Until he heard someone speak. He turned around and saw the man and nearly dropped his basket of items he had gathered. Looking at the man, a lot of things slotted into place for him. Another Time Lord. Well, now this has gone too far. It was one thing to drag Jamie here and then himself. But another Time Lord? These people clearly had no control over the rifts, or they'd never do such a thing....

That was when the Bear snarled at the other Time Lord. Oh right. Best take care of that first. He set his basket down and frowned at the rabbit. He was hungry today and had actually looked forward to eating it. But... as Davros had said 'Compassion would be his undoing.']

I know this probably doesn't need saying, but just keep the bear's attention for a few moments. I've got something that will keep it busy long enough to let us get a way... When I say run, run.

[He reached into his pocket and pulled out some twine. He tied it around the rabbit.]

Hey! Bear. Here...

[He threw the rabbit at the bear and then ran behind a nearby tree. tugging on the rabbit to make it look alive so the bear would chase it.]

yesssss good /chinhands

[needsmust]

[Eating is certainly a good thing, it's true. Perhaps not something that happens to be on Brax's mind just at the moment, but to be fair, his attention is more focused on the bear. And, somewhere behind that, the fact that he isn't the only Time Lord wandering around whatever world this happens to be. And for all that he's seen his brother run through far too many incarnations as things stand already, it doesn't immediately occur to him that this is yet another of same.

Still, he does turn at the sound of another voice, and offers a brief nod, both in thanks and as an indication that he's understood.


It's only once he realizes what the plan actually entails that things start to slide into place - there are only so many people he knows who might be willing to actually attempt a plan like that. Still it does work, even despite Brax's muttered 'good heavens' that sounds like it wants to be something nearer to profanity, and the bear does turn to chase after the rabbit; a small mercy, but one that Brax is prepared to make the most of.]

XD

[not_the_question]

[When the bear goes after the rabbit the Doctor calls out:]

RUN!

[And once the bear is satisfied with the rabbit, the Doctor runs too. In another direction. Once he's certain the bear is well entertained, he'll loop back around and catch up to Brax. He grabs the other Time Lord's hand and pulls him around a boulder. Panting heavily.]

Far enough! Let's catch our breath then we can hike over that ridge there back to Skyhold.

[The Doctor has about a million questions, which he will ask once he can breathe a bit easier. Billions of years old - running takes it a bit more out of him than it used to.]

[needsmust]

[Fortunately, Brax doesn't need to be told twice: as soon as the Doctor calls out, he's off and running. And perhaps thanking his lucky stars that he does get more exercise than is often customary among those who have shared his position. As well as the fact that the Doctor's plan actually worked, but he figures there's no need to mention that just at the moment.

(There is a brief flicker of annoyance at having his hand grabbed, but he figures it's probably better to not register that at the moment.)]

I presume that's something like a base of operations?

[Be that in the form of a town or something else, he's not about to complain particularly hard, especially if it means that there aren't any more bears in the immediate future.]

IV

[romana2]

[It was a voice that Romana had never expected to hear again. And in spite of everything if her eyes glistened just a hint at hearing it - well, they're crystals, not videos. No one would ever know.]

Brax? Is that really you?

[needsmust]

[No one indeed, for all the same can't entirely be said of the way Brax's tone has shifted out of his 'public speaking' register and into the one he tends to reserve to speaking to his friends when he answers.]

I can hardly imagine I'd be anyone else.

[Well. Save Pandora, maybe. But that's a specter that's soundly behind the both of them, and good riddance as far as he's concerned.]

[romana2]

Oh Brax!

[She might have sounded entirely too pleased. She clears her throat and recomposes herself. Friend or not, she'll not lead him along.]

I take it you haven't been here long? I hope you are well.

[needsmust]

Quite well, thank you. Perhaps a little confused about what we're meant to be doing here, but well enough all the same.

[He's almost certainly noticed that almost too pleased tone in her voice. But he's not about to mention it either. It simply isn't the sort of thing one does.]

III

[wontforgetyou]

Aye, well, there's not too many people who actually need bears.

[The somewhat dry comment is courtesy of a young man dressed in a rather unlikely combination of a kilt and a set of armor that appears to have been made from some rather large scales. Despite the tone, however, he has a sword drawn, and his attention is firmly fixed on the bear, watching it to see if it's actually noticed them or not. It's far enough away that there's a chance it might not have. A small one, but as he doesn't particularly fancy having to try and fight the beastie, he'll take it.]

That's just a wee one, though. You should see some the size of some of the ones around here.

[needsmust]

I'm sure there are some people who might. Anyone meaning to make something out of their fur, for one.

[Of which he most certainly isn't one and he doesn't suspect that his be-kilted companion is either. But that doesn't make it any less of a point all the same.

Fortunately, the bear itself doesn't seem to have noticed them, just at the moment. Brax isn't yet ruling out the possibility that it might yet do so, but beyond that he's quite in agreement with Jamie. If they don't end up needing to have to fight it, so much the better. Especially as he's currently unarmed.]

And I think I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you.

[wontforgetyou]

[And it's a fair point on Brax's end as well, but since he's not planning on making anything out of their fur and Jamie's not planning on making anything out his fur Jamie's more than happy to let it go in favor of leaving instead.]

Aye, well, then let's get out of here before one of them turns up.

[Because that's a very real possibility around here. Bears paying attention is, too, because even as he starts to point towards a clump of trees, the bear lifts it's head and starts to sniff the air. It's a point that's not missed by Jamie, and the pointing rather suddenly turns in to something rather more urgent as he makes an attempt to grab at Brax's sleeve.]

Come on, let's go!

[needsmust]

[Leaving is definitely a good idea, and one that Brax is more than willing to do. Especially when the bear seems like it might have caught scent of them. Of all the things he's had in mind, getting chased by a bear is certainly not one of them, and he doesn't complain when Jamie grabs his sleeve.]

Lead the way!

[Jamie is, after all, the one who knows more about this place than he does, and while he's certainly more than willing to make a run for it (and able to keep up) he'd much rather not end up running into worse trouble, if he can at all help it.]

III.

[battleswan]

[Yeah but Svanhild was tracking that bear. And now there's a person in the way between it and her clean shot she was hoping for. Doesn't seem like the guy's made up his mind if he's going to battle it like a man or running screaming away like some pansy milk drinker. He doesn't look armed in any way. Either way, best for her to take it down before it can slaughter the man.

She creeps around for a better angle without so much as a rustle of grass to alert either of them that she's there. Arrow is loosed and there, right into the heart of the bear. Clean shot. It drops to the ground with a strangulated roar.

Brax can thank the woman in the fur armor just inside the treeline for the save.]

[needsmust]

[He doesn't look armed for the simple expedient of the fact that he isn't armed. Not that he's unwilling to carry weapons, but for the most part he hasn't really had the time to find any; something that's a bit of a problem when he hadn't had much reason to carry one previous to his arrival.

(And that's leaving off the fact of how a staser might be taken, in a world that certainly doesn't immediately seem to have quite the level of technology to at least make it not stand out like a sore thumb.)

He doesn't realize that there anyone nearby until an arrow pierces the bear's heart, and only then does he left his eyes in the direction of where the arrow had come from.]

Nicely shot.

[For now, it doesn't matter whether or not he can see her. There's clearly someone there, and he figures a little politeness can hardly go amiss.]

[battleswan]

[She exits the treeline to stand with her bow in hand to examine the man she just saved. There's a nod from Svanhild for the compliment and little else. She's awkward with people at the best of times. Moreso when she's contemplating the sanity of someone roaming the Hinterlands without an obvious weapon with which to defend themselves.]

Are you alright?

[Clearly he's not maimed or bleeding, but she does quite wonder about the rest of him.

She continues over to the bear and drops to kneel beside it, pulling a knife from her boot. Hope he's not squeamish, she's about to start cleaning her kill.]

[needsmust]

[He's better than most Time Lords are about self-preservation, at least. Not that this is necessarily saying much, nor is he likely to mention it, but it's something, perhaps.]

Well, I can't exactly say I expected to be accosted by a bear. But quite apart from that, yes.

[Nor does he appear to be particular squeamish. He doesn't draw any closer, mind. But not neither does he so much as bat an eye at the sight of her cleaning the kill. In fact, as far as he's concerned, better that than simply leave the corpse to rot.

(Which may be something he wouldn't have thought before meeting Leela, but this too is nothing that he's about to speak of.]

IV

[in_death_sacrifice]

Welcome to Thedas, where the unexpected is typical. No, you won't be able to return home... at least not for the foreseeable future. I'm sorry to bear such bad news.

[By now, that's become a rather regular occurrence, though. Kain has to wonder what will ultimately become of all these displaced rifters one day...]

[needsmust]

Ah, so business as usual.

[He's... only half-joking, but there's a flicker of a smile around the edges of his expression all the same. Enough to suggest he isn't particularly put out by it, at least.]

[in_death_sacrifice]

[Huh! Definitely an odd thing to say... it makes Kain pretty curious.]

Business as usual? Are you saying you've experienced something like this before?

[needsmust]

In a manner of speaking, yes. I take it that isn't commonly the case?