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

1

[intruthandlove]

It's not the strangest thing she's ever seen, but it certainly surprises her enough to shock a soft laugh out of her. Diana is in slightly better shape than Varric, in so far as the bit of wood she's trapped on is a bit more solid and still, being the roof of some poor farmer's washed out cottage. Still a bit too weak to trust herself to the unstable currents of the flood and gods knew when she might try a bit of flying. Company might not be amiss tho.

So she calls out as the dwarf on the log floats toward her, cheerful almost despite herself: "Ho, friend! If you're not bound somewhere, would you like to share a roof with me?"

[whatcouldgowrong]

A beautiful woman standing on a roof asking if he wants to join her? Where's the question in that?
"Is it seaworthy?" he asks, eyeing it over, but he lowers his manuscript to tuck it under one arm as he feebly paddles with the other, trying to direct himself. "How'd you get stuck out here? You look capable."

[intruthandlove]

"It does will in a pinch." It did not collapse out from under her when her powers failed her and she fell out of to land on it, which she feels is all anyone can want from a roof. Even if it did knock the wind right out of her.

"I certainly am," she says, little need to be modest when it's true, "but it seems fortune doesn't favor the brave or the capable today. I can't offer you much help at the moment, but here! Catch!" Aching bones and muscles do not stop her from throwing the golden lasso with unerring accuracy to the man. Not something she might normally do, but the lasso is not at home here. It has not lost it's beautiful shine or it's strength, but it's powers impossible to tap into. Still, like the roof, it works in a pinch.

[whatcouldgowrong]

"It at least favors the charming," Varric remarks as he catches the lasso, grunting lightly with the effort it takes to reel himself (log included) toward the rooftop. "Never seen a trick like that before. You're not from around here, I take it?"