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

[halfbetter]

Only if they mean it personally.

[He's done Tevinter Circle politics. Everyone is trying to kill you just as a matter of course. To take it all personally invites indigestion.]

I don't think I'd be able to sleep with candle-lit bear eyes staring at me from my own floor. Especially if it had reason to want revenge.

[elegiaque]

( it's not wise in orlais, either, even if orlais is a kitten cafe compared to the magisterium, but - well, gwenaëlle isn't built for that level of intrigue when she rather likes a gordian knot solution.

breezily: )

I keep it on my bed, it looks out.

[halfbetter]

[He gives a rumbling, honest chuckle.] You've defeated it in honourable combat, and it has now rendered its allegiance to your superior strength?

[elegiaque]

( she gives this some thought.

the pelt came to her on the back of two dwarves stacked like trouble-making children, who collapsed on her rug under the force of not knowing what to do when she politely let them in rather than shrieking like a banshee at being presented with some sort of deformed bear monster-- )

Yes,

( very decisively, the lazy satisfaction of cats the world over, )

that's precisely how it is.

[halfbetter]

[Well, colour him charmed. He always has been a cat person. And if this civilized-sounding young lady is in fact a fierce huntress of bears that are, apparently, just as civilized, he does not wish to get on her bad side.]

I hope the Inquisition knows to make appropriate use of your gifts, my lady. I'm sure they could use an army of wildlife in honourable service.

[elegiaque]

( if the inquisition ever needs something annexed in a hurry - just toss gwenaëlle into the fray. she won't solve the problem, but the small standing army of people prepared to draw swords, magic and spiders on her behalf probably will. )

Oh, I'm not a member. They have to ask me nicely, if they want things.

( they do not ask things of her, generally, and the anchor-shard embedded in her hand means she does not get to go home -

still. )

[halfbetter]

[She is providing an ample distraction from the bear under tree and branch up robes situation, which counts for much in his books. He's a big fan of those magical little crystals.]

Or pay your wages with - what? What tribute to the lady who fells her own bears?

[elegiaque]

Do you know, I think the only thing I can think worse than being paid wages here would be the moment before, where I'd be in need of them.

Now, tribute, I accept in the form of poetry, jewels, and handsome individuals with broad shoulders.