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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TDM FEATURES SNOW.

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, currently covered in snow and ice; 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, currently very cold. 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. In the snow!

II. KIRKWALL: A quick row across the near-freezing harbor will take you to Kirkwall proper. The city is built into the cliffs, from exclusive and wealthy snow-dusted Hightown at the top to impoverished Darktown in the abandoned mining tunnels below, where discarded waste is presently frozen into slushy brown ice. In the middle is Lowtown, home to taverns, merchants, and plenty of trouble to keep anyone looking for it happy. And a lot of snow. You’re welcome to spend your free time and your money here—but try not to annoy the locals too much, please, in case the Inquisition's welcome runs out. It’d be a shame to have to pack up and leave in all this snow.

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 Denerim, in the snow, pouring demons into the snowy 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 snow-covered road, or to gather samples out of the snow and take notes on the rift’s location once its closed, or to speak to prominent locals (in the snow) 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. And snow.

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.

There is no snow on the crystal, unfortunately.

V. WILDCARD: The whole of Thedas is yours to explore, from coast to uncharted wilderness filled with bears, and did we mention that there is snow? Anyway: choose your own adventure!

Comments

[extraverse]

He's grateful that she's asking first. He still bristles a bit at being touched without asking first, unless it was someone he was used to and trusted.

"I admit I'm not going anywhere specific at the moment. What I need is to better memorize the layout of the area. I'm afraid that might be dull work for someone else, but if you are willing to walk with me a bit to keep me oriented I wouldn't mind the company."

If she had something to do, he wouldn't burden her but he had learned not to turn down the offer for help.

[dashing]

“I’m bound to no particular duty, and would be glad to join you.” If she were on guard patrol she might hesitate based solely on the desire to dedicate her full attention to her orders, and the equal desire not to neglect someone deserving of care. “Though I must confess there are those that would pity you the company.”

She is not unaware of her reputation as cold and difficult; she is controlled, not oblivious. Still, the words have trace amounts of humour in them. Very, very trace.

“Would you prefer to walk as you are, or take my arm?”

[extraverse]

"Well," he starts, with a causal, comforting sort of tone to his voice. "I've never been one overly invested in allowing others to form my opinions for me." It's a gentle way of saying that even if he has heard anything of her reputation, he doesn't plan on letting that color the way they interact.

Though, he isn't exactly sure who she is just yet.

"Ah, your arm would be lovely." He tries not to show any signs of how much relying on others can bother him at times, in this moment he's not too prideful to accept the help. He's in a foreign world so he should take the help where he can.

He is careful to hold his arm out rather than reach for hers though, letting her make the final decisions for physical contact.

"My name is Ignis. It's a pleasure to make your aquiantence."

[dashing]

And there she goes, taking the offered arm. It's strange, she's really not much of a casual contact of any means sort of person, but its okay. This is to help someone, she can live with it.

"Well met. I am Herian Amsel, a Knight Enchanter to the Inquisition." Of the White Spire, she means to say, but the White Spire is no more, and her service has been long bound to the Inquisition. The change is uncomfortable, does not sit well with her, but it is perhaps the less confusing thing to say.

"Have you been in Kirkwall long, Ignis? It can be an unforgiving city, but I've found a good many here to be more than kind."

[extraverse]

He is aware by now that 'Knight Enchanter' means mage and that mages are feared by the populace of Kirkwall, but as he has very little experience with that fear he doesn't react to the title. In fact, he relaxes a bit at how easily she aligns herself with the Inquisition. The members and leadership of that organization have made him feel welcome since he arrived, as much as they can anyway, and they had taken care of Prompto while he was here alone. He does have a positive opinion of those who consider themselves a part of it at least.

"I arrived with the newest batch of 'Rifters' - or so I'm told we're to be called." He offers her a cautious little smile. He is also aware that people have mixed feelings about those who arrived through the Rifts. "A strange thing, to be dreaming one moment and to find yourself in an entirely unknown world the next. Usually one has to travel some distance to experience such a foreign affair."