allthisshitisweird | TEST DRIVE MEME!

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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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Rhys smiled as he took the towel.

"Right you just stand there and let me take care of things."

He did a quick ruffle through Cole's hair. Then he started at Cole's legs and moved up, drying him as much as he could and ended with putting the towel through Cole's hair again. Finally, he ended with wrapping the towel around Cole's arms.

"There we are. Much better."

Cole swayed with being moved, but he stayed still, letting Rhys do what he wanted to get the worst of the water off him.

"Yes." He did feel less heavy. Maybe there would be less cold chill once they were outside again. "Should I show you who you should talk to now?"

Rhys nodded more to himself than to Cole.

"I suppose they can send someone for the armour. And both of us should dry properly."

He made a gesture that Cole should lead the way.

"I'll take your armour to the tavern. I keep my knives and armour above the tavern. You can come get them after you speak to... Leliana? Cullen? I don't know... I'll take you to the war room. Someone there will know."

He smiles at the mention of Leliana. "I had heard she was working for the Inquisition. Hadn't expected to meet her here so soon."

He recognised the name Cullen as well, but only from reputation, not because he had met the man before.

"I would be grateful. Thank you, Cole."

He still thought he should help the other man with his own armour, but then, he also figured that both of them needed a little time to sort out everything that had just happened.

Cole led the way, starting the walk up through Skyhold and towards the War room. He didn't know who would be best to speak to; his natural inclination was Leliana because she and Rhys already knew each other, or to Cassandra, because Cassandra reminded him of Evangeline in a way he couldn't quite explain.

But as they walked, a bit more of the usual Cole showed himself. Whispering to himself, odd thoughts he caught as they walked by, once teleporting himself across a hallway because there were people in the way and it was just what he did, smoke curling in his wake.

It made Rhys smile to see Cole relax into himself. After all, it's been far to long and it helped him to relax some too.

"So how long have you been here at Skyhold? And why did you choose to come here?"

"Um- I came here with everyone, walked from Haven, grief heavy their shoulders, snow blanketing fear. I stayed until I couldn't. Until Adamant. Until- They could make me hurt people. Bind me, blind me, bleed me into Despair... I went to help other places but here is where I'm needed, however scared I am."

He stops at a shelf and picks up a bottle and suddenly veers off, appearing alongside a couple huddled by a fireplace, setting the bottle down and reappearing next to Rhys.

"They know what you can do here? And they haven't tried to make you do anything you don't want to?"

One of Rhys' secret fears about Cole was that someone would find a way to turn him into a weapon. He would never forgive himself if that happened. He smiled when he saw Cole deliver the bottle. He wondered if anyone did anything like that for Cole.

"No one would bind me. I asked me. Begged them. Binding to stop me being bound by them. The Venatori. To hurt. I could hurt so well, I don't want to." He rubbed his arm, shivering slightly with a chill that had nothing to do with the wet.

"People know. Most forget. Some don't. Solas knew, but he went somewhere else. Something important, he wouldn't let me see what."

Rhys reached out and rested a hand on Cole's shoulder. "Did they succeed? In making you hurt others?"

There was no other way to put it. And that was far more important than the rest of what Cole had said.

"Not yet." He looked at the hand and then back at Rhys. "But they could. Spirits can be bound."

"Then we will find a way to protect you."

Even if it means binding him to Rhys, but he doesn't want that. He wants Cole to have his freedom.

Aaand that sent Cole back into Rhys' arms, burying his face in his chest again.

Good thing they're not on a battlefield, then. He wraps his arms around Cole and just holds him. His tunic getting damp from the moisture that Cole's cloths still carry. And his heart breaks just a little, wondering if anyone had given this to Cole in the years they were separated.

"You seem surprised that we'd want to protect you...."

"Everyone told me that binding me wasn't the solution." He moved away suddenly. "Sorry. I'm making you wet again. And then you'll get cold. This way."

Cole coped in a single way; by focusing on someone else.

"It's all right, I'll dry again. I doubt they'll keep me long just now."

He starts to walk again, following Cole.

"I never said anything about binding you. You deserve your freedom."

But if there's no other way, he won't rule it out.

"Why?"

It could be a lot of things, but he was really asking why he deserved his freedom, why Rhys thought he deserved it. Because most people don't.

Oh, Rhys had anticipated that question. It was something he had thought about in the years following the Sewer. But he hadn't actually expected to ever tell Cole directly. He should have.

"Because I believe everyone should have as much freedom as they can. That's why I voted that the mages should fight the Templars. It'd be a bit hypocritical if I said the mages deserve freedom and you don't."

But it was far more complex than that. Those words were just the easiest to voice.

Cole considered this as they walked. "But- I could be chained by someone who means me and others harm. Like the Wardens did. Had done. I don't know. But I don't want to be made to hurt people."

"The Freedom that is sacrificed isn't just yours, though."

Blood magic. It imprisons everyone.

"As long as there are other options, the price is too high to pay."

But that also leaves the option open.

And leaving the option there, even if it was just to mollify Cole... works. Cole seemed calmer that a solution was being found and if it was desperate, there was an option that would work.

He paused at a stairwell. "Up here. Stairs, hall, double doors, wood carved from ancient trees resting in place for centuries, war room up there."

Rhys paused and looked from the stairs to Cole. "You make it sound like you're not coming."

Not that he would blame the lad, but, well he doesn't want to leave Cole so soon.

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TEST DRIVE MEME!

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