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

Fiona | Dragon Age

[magerebel]

I. Floods

If anyone were to ask Fiona whether or not she expected to be winding her way through these lands without a watchful eye fixed on her every move, she would not have dared to hope. Ferelden…the Hinterlands, in particular, had taken some of the heaviest damage in terms of property and lives lost on both sides of the mage and templar conflict. That she had been one of the leaders in the mage uprising only sharpened her regrets, but she would not change one line of what was done…after all it was done…and it would have happened in some form or other she was certain. Still, the devastation was beyond what she could have imagined and she owned her blame in what happened…but mages were only a single wedge in this toxic pie. The Templars and the Chantry were equally responsible, not that her opinion on the matter was particularly objective…but she was doing her best to set things to rights, and with so many other things on her mind she was surprised that she wasn’t reeling from the pressure of it all. Her resilience, steadfastness, and tendency towards reactivity made her both the best and the worst of leaders…she knew this, even while she sought out the position of Grand Enchanter…but things had to change.

Fortunately her involvement with the Inquisition left her little time to dwell on the matter, but what drew Fiona from her present thoughts was not the next assignment, it was the roar of rushing water and the panicked sounds of her traveling companions. A few had been caught in the current and swept away, lost to her, she was certain, and it took every ounce of control not to react to the situation as her instincts would have her do. She was inclined to pursue them, hopeless or no, but there were others beside her, still standing, that needed her as well. Shaking off her pain and her frustration she held her ground, they would soon have their own problems as the flood threatened to come their way promising the same fate. Tearing herself away from what she wanted, she focused on what she needed to do and she needed to do it quickly. Raising her staff a wave of magic shook loose enough rock and debris from a nearby crag to hold off the rushing water, but only temporarily as it was coming with such swift ferocity that nothing could hold back such a brutal show of natural force. Looking to her remaining companions she commanded:

“Go!” Their hesitation, while it was natural and mildly touching, received reproach that was quick and sharp, “I cannot concern myself with my own safety if I’m too busy worrying about yours, now go!”

Her remaining followers were reluctant to leave her, but did as they were told, heading to higher ground while Fiona attempted to buy herself more time.

IV. Sending crystal

It seems that my exploits as a Grey Warden have somehow transcended my infamy as leader of the rebel mages somehow…though not by much. After all that has happened I expected a bombardment of the usual line of questioning, the why’s, what’s, and how’s of the rebellion…I have grown accustomed to having my brain picked over the matter…

[Now here’s a voice that has been absent for quite some time, soft Orlesian tones refined by years spent away from her homeland and underscored by weariness.]

…Grey Warden business is something that I have not had my hands in for quite some time, but the past is ever waiting beneath the surface of the present I suppose? I guess it should not surprise me and if there are any pressing questions you might have of me concerning the events that took place in 9:10 Dragon I can try to elucidate some of the vague details, preferably in person. Now that I have returned I find myself available in a way that is unsettling…

[She doesn’t particularly enjoy periods of respite, at least in her experiences anyway, it’s so inactive, passive, it leaves her feeling open to the unexpected. She’d much rather be primed for the next disaster, it makes the transition easier.]

With that being said, it would be remiss of me not to warn you that it may not be the most satisfying conversation, this is not to say that you should be discouraged. You may find a kernel of knowledge in whatever information I am able to provide, it could certainly happen, but try not to set yourself up for disappointment.

[Though the flexion quality that her Orlesian accent happens to take on at this point suggests that there are things she cannot or will not discuss.]

On a less weighty note, I’ve not returned empty handed, I’m under the impression that when one travels extensively they should return with something and food is always appropriate. I’ve more candied fruit, cheese, and cured meat than I know what to do with…the cured meat in particular looks like a weapon for clubbing rather than something I would be inclined to eat. If you are feeling exceptionally fearless I invite you to take these curiosities off my hands.

IV

[circleprodigy]

[Grey Warden business always gets her attention, so have one curious mage.]

Ah, we have the Grey Wardens in common? Or did, I suppose. I would be interested in hearing whatever news you were willing to share, of course. More perspectives are always welcome.

[magerebel]

Sadly, beyond the amusing anecdotes, there really is not much to tell, though as of late there has been a growing interest in how I was able to rid myself of the darkspawn taint. I have few answers in regard to this as there are a number of extraneous factors involved. I suppose the second most popular inquiry is "what was Duncan like?"

[circleprodigy]

I admit to curiosity regarding the removal of taint; that is a highly significant achievement. If it could be repeated...but then, I suppose it would have happened by now. Even so, any information is better than none. What made you unique in this instance?

[magerebel]

I do not consider myself to be particularly unique, so much as an accident or some variation of a fluke. I was exposed to an artifact that accelerated the taint...and I suppose the only other thing that made me unique at the time was the fact that I had been pregnant.

[Not that a Warden getting pregnant was entierly unheard of, it was just exceptionally difficult.]

[circleprodigy]

Pregnant as a Warden...I can even begin to imagine what that must have been like. That it could happen at all, taint considering, is a minor miracle. Wait, an artifact accelerated it? Is it still available? Who would create such an item?

[Surely not darkspawn; they don't create, only destroy.]

[magerebel]

I suppose if you could imagine the most wonderful and miraculous thing and then give it a living form, then that's what it was like. Brief, too brief. [Fortunately they are segueing into a topic that she can navigate without being too cautious.] These artifacts, brooches, were being kept in Weisshaupt when last I saw them...and I could not say for certain if it was First Enchanter Remille or if it was the Darkspawn Emissary, The Architect, that created them. Regardless they are a darkspawn creation.

[circleprodigy]

...ah, now that makes sense.. [Perking up as she suddenly remembers earlier conversations.] It seems almost a contradiction in terms, intelligent darksapwn, but I have spoken with those who swear to them as a reality. And yet, intelligence doesn't beget benevolence, not with the taint. Why were these artifacts not destroyed? Normally, I would understand the value of research, but....

[magerebel]

I cannot tell you what the Architect was...unique, certainly, dangerous...without question. It was motivated to end all Blights forever...something that it thought should appeal to every Grey Warden. That is what those brooches were for. [It might have been so long ago, but her memories are as vivid as if it had been yesterday.] I cannot say if they have been destroyed or not, it has been a long time since I last inquired about them...but I suppose, if they have been kept for research it might be in an effort to understand how the taint works.

iv.

[elegiaque]

( gwenaëlle makes her response private, for reasons that will become clear; )

Do you know if you're still subject to Corypheus's ability to influence the Wardens and their Calling?

( 'their'.

this little orlesian voice did not get their secrets from joining. )

iv.

[magerebel]

The simple answer to that is no, everything that made me a Grey Warden, including the side effects, was stripped of me long ago.

[Though how that happened she cannot truly say, not with absolute certainty.]

[elegiaque]

No you're not subject, or no you don't know?

( the distinction there is very important. )

[magerebel]

The former. I would certainly know otherwise I imagine.

[She's heard the calling before, it was at a time when the Architect had accelerated the taint within her and her companions.]

[elegiaque]

( a thoughtful hum on the other end of the crystal. gwenaëlle's voice gives away her youth - the shape of her words, her wealthy upbringing. not the sort of voice typically associated with someone snooping about the wardens.

still; war makes strange bedfellows. )

I don't know that you would,

( at length. )

Visited Corypheus lately to check?

( dryly. she finds herself hilarious, thanks. )

[magerebel]

I was under the impression that the Wardens were under the influence of his false Calling and that was the reason for some of their more...peculiar movements...as of late.

[Fiona certainly was not hearing that.]

[elegiaque]

You're very up to date on their affairs for someone who hasn't had anything to do with them.

( that's not common knowledge, after all. )

[magerebel]

Alexius was collaborating Corypheus and I still have some contacts, so one does hear things. Whether they are trying to or not.

[But they are rabbit trailing now, aren't they?]

[elegiaque]

You're not quite as cautious as you said.

[magerebel]

Is that what I said? I'm not so certain I recall.

[elegiaque]

About with whom you discuss secrets of that Order.

( patiently. )

[magerebel]

The Grey Wardens?

[elegiaque]

Were you in another highly secretive group of idiots?

IV

[justice_is_blond]

I think most information would be satisfying, really, but a little cured meat would go just as far. Where would I find you? And while I head over, I'm not certain I've heard what roll you had in events in 9:10.

[It's the rebel mage leader thing he was previously most interested in, but now he's curious about this.]

IV

[magerebel]

It is not my usual haunt, but I am in the Herald's Rest, it seemed appropriate after a long journey. [That, and she could certainly drink with the best of them.] I suppose not every Grey Warden would know...it has been so many years now, but a group of Grey Wardens, myself and Duncan included, went in search of another Grey Warden who'd been captured by Darkspawn in the Deep Roads and held prisoner in Kul-Baras Thaig. He had sensitive information about the location of the Archdemons and it was imperative that we find him.

[justice_is_blond]

I've not heard that story before. If I buy the drinks, will you provide the entertainment?

[There's a short pause as he realizes he should... probably let her know who she's talking with, considering where their positions have put them.]

I'm Anders, by the way.