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

[hugeinorlais]

Varric was pretty used to people just sort of announcing his arrival with a put upon (moderately drunken) slur, but for some reason he hadn't even imagined that Carver Hawke might be at the other end of it. As he strolls into the bar, as one does when one is a triumphant, returning hero, he throws up his arms and beelines for Carver.

"Junior!" He calls and drags up a chair before waving at the barmaid. "Fancy seeing you again, and in the old dive! What have you been doing since I got arrested and dragged to the ass end of Thedas?"

[unshadowing]

Though he had hoped his sister would be tagging alongside of Varric, if he's being honest. A small, distant hope, but one that was there. But he doesn't mention it. Instead, he snorts before taking a drink and settling himself in for a long talk - and getting his ear talked off.

"Darkspawn and Deep Roads." For way too long. He wound up missing the shitfest in Weisshaupt and even the brunt of the Inquisition's time in Skyhold. Carver Hawke, always showing up late to the party. "Just got back a few months ago. Where have you been?"

[hugeinorlais]

"Where haven't I been?" Varric asks in response, his own tone caught halfway between a groan and a sigh. "Well, anywhere tropical...or generally pleasant. Mostly dealing with red lyrium, red templars, bandits, snow, climbing mountains, swamps, more snow, some slush, sleet, hail, and snow."

Norah arrives after a few moments with a beer for him and he grins broadly at her as he takes it. When he turns back to Carver, his expression is back to utter flatness.

"Did I mention snow?"

He takes a long drink off his beverage.

"I mean, at least it's not the Deep Roads, but that's a pretty low bar."

[unshadowing]

Carver has yet to see any of these red templars, though he's heard the stories. Chilling to think that, if things had gone differently, he might have joined the templars, and maybe wound up as one of them. He'd never admit it, of course, as he wants to think he's smarter and stronger than that, but in the back of his mind, he knows it could have happened.

"You might have, but I think I blacked out somewhere between red templars and mountains." He smiles a little as he takes a drink from his tankard.

"Think I've had enough of the Roads to last me a lifetime." Or what little of one he has left. "With Weisshaupt being useless and a fair amount of Wardens being here, there's a good chance I won't have to go back for some time." Which works just fine for him.