TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Maybe you’ve been around for a while, or maybe you’re new to the Inquisition. Maybe you’re new to Thedas, having recently fallen from a tear in reality and been collected by uniformed rescuers. Whoever you are, you’ve been sent to Kirkwall, to an outpost where many of the Inquisition’s members and allies work on some of the biggest mysteries and problems the organization must solve if it’d like to keep the world from ending, where “ending” means “falling under the power of an ancient powerful corrupted being who wants everyone to bow to him as a god.”

And just to be clear, it would like that. It would like that a lot.

I. THE GALLOWS: The Gallows is an island fortress in Kirkwall’s harbor. It’s been home to, in order: Tevinter slaves, a Circle of Magi, a lot of creepy red lyrium, and now the Inquisition, which has occupied the fortress with the provisional Viscount’s blessing. There are walls that still need rebuilding and corners that still need dusting, but for the most part the Inquisition has gotten down to business. There’s space in the stone-floored courtyards to train or spar; or, if your skills don’t lie in the realm of hitting things, there’s a large library and several offices supporting the Inquisition’s areas of research and diplomatic efforts. If you don’t know what to do with yourself, then by all means, ask; someone will definitely be able to put you to work.

II. KIRKWALL: A quick row across the harbor will take you to Kirkwall proper. The city is built into the cliffs, from exclusive and wealthy Hightown at the top to impoverished Darktown in the abandoned mining tunnels below. In the middle is Lowtown, home to taverns, merchants, and plenty of trouble to keep anyone looking for it happy. You’re welcome to spend your free time and your money here—but try not to annoy the locals too much, please, in case their welcome runs out. It’d be a shame to have to pack again so soon after arriving.

III. QUESTING: Barely had time to make yourself at home, did you, before you were sent away from Kirkwall again—but this time on a mission. There’s a rift outside of Markham, pouring demons into the fields, and the Inquisition has been asked to lend a hand. Maybe literally. If you have an anchor embedded in your palm, you’re needed to close the damn thing. If not, maybe you’re here to fight demons or guard against bandits on the road, or to gather samples and take notes on the rift’s location once its closed, or to speak to Markham’s nobility afterwards to make sure that they fully appreciate the Inquisition’s efforts. Regardless, it’s a long trip, so we hope you like campfire cooking and sharing a tent.

IV. SENDING CRYSTAL: Joining the Inquisition gets you access to the very latest in barely-understood magical communication devices—namely, a crystal, small enough to wear around your neck, that will allow you to communicate verbally with anyone else who has one. Or everyone else who has one. Say hello.

V. WILDCARD: The whole of Thedas is yours to explore, from coast to uncharted wilderness. Choose your own adventure!

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Garahel barks happily and Inessa strokes his head to quiet him down, chuckling. "He tends to think everyone tastes good, though I'll try to discourage him from your nug. Coco won't have anything to fear from him."

And that last comment provokes a smirk, her eyes glinting with good humor. "A fellow Fereldan is always welcome company, of course. Right, Garahel?" The mabari wags his tail with all due enthusiasm. "I can't say I was always patriotic, but having a mabari brings it out, I suppose."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"Well good, because Coco is a lover, not a fighter." Adasse stated with complete mock seriousness, as he rubbed Coco's ears again, before he slipped Garahel another stroke across the ears. "Still, Garahel looks like a gent. I trust 'im."

Now, he brightens, "Dog Lords of the Inquisition, unite. We ought to have a social club, if there isn't one already." He takes in her staff, "Circle girl before you were a Warden or Warden hand-picked as soon as you flashed a fireball?"

[circleprodigy]

"There isn't, yet, but I wouldn't resist if you formed one." Why not? Garahel certainly seems to like the idea, letting out a pleased huff at the compliment as well. "Oh, I taken from the Denerim alienage at a very young age. Most of my life has been spent in the Circle; it's only the last few years that I've been a Warden."

If he lines up the timing and realizes it's about the time when the Circles fell...well, it's not an incorrect conclusion. "I sought them out, when I could. Overall, it was the right decision."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"Good, the rules are - imbibe a lot of wine, talk about how amazing Fereldan is as much as possible, and possibly get into a fist fight with an Orlesian. That's about as Fereldan as you can get, outside of loving dogs." He nodded his head solemnly, before his dark eyes widened a bit.

"I was little when we ran from Fereldan -- but I heard later on that it got ... pretty hairy over there."

[circleprodigy]

Her eyebrow raise at mention of wine and she smirks a little. "I can be patriotic as need be, but drinking and fist fights aren't my forte. I'll leave that to those capable, if you don't mind." She's under five feet and thin as a rail, and has no delusions about doing anything physical and winning.

"...and it did, yes. But I'm here, alive, whereas others are not. I can't complain, in light of that." Garahel huffs and leans on her in a show of support, then looks up at Coco again, wagging his tail.

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"All right, I'll drink and fight and you just yell 'FERELDAN' really loud." He tapped his nose wisely, as Coco chittered in his ear. He stroked his ears, looking thoughtfully at his fellow elf, before he nods. "Sometimes, that's all we can really ask, isn't it?"

He smirked down at Garahel. "No complaints from you either, eh?"

[circleprodigy]

Garahel barks happily in response, running around in a circle. Inessa chuckles and strokes his head. "Hardly. I think he likes it here better than Skyhold There are many more things to sniff at and people to befriend. And random items to retrieve. I still don't know where you found those pantaloons, and I'm not sure I want to know."

The mabari just looks innocent, because who doesn't want a pair of dirty pantaloons at some point in their life?

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

He tipped his head to the side, looking at Garahal, before his lips curved up into a smile, then a laugh. "Pantaloons ... no kidding, you really got pantaloons?"

He looked up at Inessa, clapping his hands together. "Your mabari is in fact, the best now and forever."