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

[unshadowing]

A privacy function? That's... something, I suppose. [Wow. Here's a reasonable person in Kirkwall. That's not something he expected.] But exactly. These things are begging for trouble. Where'd they come from? At least tell me someone knows that.

[circleprodigy]

To my understanding, a cache was discovered in Skyhold. The Formari among the Inquisition have since dedicated their time to unlocking and refining their potential.

[unshadowing]

[Formari. It's a term that rings a distant bell, one his father had used at some point. Augh, but he never paid much attention to his conversations about magic and the Circle. That had been more for his sisters than himself, anyway.]

So they found a bunch of weird crystals in a hold that I understand was abandoned for ages. [Right. He's been on enough (mis)adventures with his sister to know how well that goes.] Of course they used them before fully understanding them. Why wouldn't they?

[circleprodigy]

I had not yet joined when that happened, so I cannot say as to their exact reasoning. More time to research would have been a wiser course of action, but perhaps there were extenuating circumstances. Regardless, they are in circulation now.

[unshadowing]

[Fair enough, he supposes. It's not like this woman's singlehandedly at fault for that poor decision.]

Let's hope their convenience winds up outweighing the possible danger. There's been enough fool decisions made without knowledge in the last few years.

[circleprodigy]

[A slight noise that's caught between amusement and a sigh.]

Isn't that the truth. I am a Grey Warden; trust me, I have witnessed my share of 'fool decisions made without knowledge'.

[Thanks, Warden-Commander Clarel.]

[unshadowing]

[Well hello there, fellow Warden. Even if she can't see it, that's earned a raised eyebrow. No wonder she's sensible.]

I've heard there were other Wardens here. Are there many of us?

[circleprodigy]

There are...about a dozen of us, I would say? Wardens Alistair and Nathaniel Howe are our commanding officers. Some were a part of the Inquisition almost from the beginning, while several of us were rescued from Weisshaupt and joined afterward.

[unshadowing]

[He knows both those names. Well, who doesn't know of Alistair? And he remembers traveling with Nathaniel for a time.]

Rescued? I've been... away for quite a while. What happened with Weisshaupt?

[circleprodigy]

[Sighing, she speaks up after a moment.]

This is now private.

First, I need some answers of my own. Who are you and how long have you been away? I ought to know how much I must backtrack.

[unshadowing]

[Sigh. His name is going to raise eyebrows, but it seems it can't be helped. At least she's a Warden and isn't just looking for gossip.]

Carver Hawke. I've spent the last several months in the Deep Roads on an extended assignment.

[circleprodigy]

[Well, that perks her up.] Ah, I see! Bethany will be very pleased to hear of your arrival, I'm sure. It's a pleasure to meet you, Warden Hawke. Or Warden Carver?

[Not sure which he prefers.]

I'm Inessa Serra.

[unshadowing]

[But of course. He's always known because of his sister. Though, granted, it's usually the OLDER one, not Bethany. Nice change of pace?]

Carver's fine. Hawke's for my sister.

[Said eldest one. She's the one who really made a name out of it.]

Warden Inessa. I don't believe we crossed paths before. Last I heard, there was something the Orlesian Warden Commander was planning involving the order's mages. Nothing good. Bethany warned me the last time I saw her. What came of it?

[circleprodigy]

Ah, yes. Warden-Commander Clarel.

[She sighs, not bothering to hide the bitterness in her tone.]

She was right to warn you. As it turns out, Clarel was deceived and manipulated by Corypheus. The Calling that we all heard? His work. An agent of his, a Tevinter magister, convinced Clarel that blood magic and demon summoning would enable them to slay the remaining archdemons before the Calling took our order. Many of our comrades were sacrificed...and those mages who completed the ritual became mindless slaves to Corypheus.

Some of us protested the plan as we saw it unfold. I was raised in the Circle, taught of the evils of such magic all my life. And then when I refuse, I am the traitor? [Yeah, that will never not sting.] We would have fled, but were forced to remain at Weisshaupt until the Inquisition rescued us.

Suffice it to say, our rag-tag band of Wardens...has some trust issues.