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Fade Rift Mods ([personal profile] faderifting) wrote in [community profile] allthisshitisweird2017-12-20 08:53 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME!

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!

insatiably: (02)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-09 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
"I figured you may as well make the best of it," he replies with a grin. "And I find I like you as well. I never expected to meet an Avvar warrior, but I'm all the more blessed for it." In Antiva, women are rarely warriors. Oh, there are some to be sure, but ordinarily their station in life is to remain dainty and pleasing to the eye. Julian's never seen a problem with this since his sisters enjoy being dainty little things, but it's good to get out and see how others live.

"We must share a drink, you and I, when we make camp. I would enjoy an exchange of stories."
iceblade: (1)

[personal profile] iceblade 2018-01-09 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"As would I! I told one, so I believe it's your turn. You know, I've never actually been to Antiva. The closest I've been would be an island off Rivain, and that's a tale that can wait for my own turn." Still, she's heard some good things about Antiva. The wine and the charm already meet with her approval, even if their land would be far too hot for her blood.
insatiably: (03)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-09 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, you must go someday! Antiva is a beautiful nation. The air is fragrant with flowers and the wine flows freely. I'd say we are a far more relaxed land that some others. Orlesians? Terribly uptight and snobbish. Nevarrans? Far too dour and focused on corpses. In Antiva we party, we have a good time, and we love life." If Julian must give his heart to anything, it would be to Antiva itself.

"It's too bad Satinalia is past us now. We celebrate for at least a week."
iceblade: (2)

[personal profile] iceblade 2018-01-09 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"D'you have hangovers for a week, too? I hear that's a common fate, for lowlanders." Skadi flashes a grin, unable to hold back from teasing. Antivans may love their wine, but she's outdrank everyone her size or below. Getting lowlanders suckered into drinking contests might just be one more source of income.
insatiably: (13)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-09 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Julian laughs heartily at that. "Indeed it is, but Antivans have turned it into an art form. You would be amazed at all we can do through a hangover. It's a natural state of being." And now he sidles up closer like he's about to reveal something that no one else should hear.

"But we also have a great secret: you can never be hungover in the first place if you never stop drinking." He touches a finger to his nose and winks.
iceblade: (12)

[personal profile] iceblade 2018-01-10 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
That gets a chuckle out of her. "I like the way you think, though wine is one thing and Avvar mead...quite another. I once saw a Tal-Vashoth sway, after trying to hold our brew down, during a drinking contest. It ended in a draw, since they both passed out. If that isn't a compliment, I don't know what is! Did you ever try their own drink? I forget what it's called, but it's on the level of ours."
insatiably: (05)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-10 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
"I can't say I have, but only because I don't know who a Tal-Vashoth is! Would you be so good as to enlighten me on the subject?" He offers her a charming grin to make up for his ignorance.
iceblade: (11)

[personal profile] iceblade 2018-01-10 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Skadi's eyebrows raise at that. "You know, the big horned folk that left the Qunari? I though they were more of a presence in the north. Finding one as far south as our hold was a big surprise."
insatiably: (09)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-10 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah, I have yet to have the pleasure of moving in the same circles as them," he says with good humor. "A failure on my part, as I admire those who have left that life. I didn't know they had a special name either. The things I have learned today!" He commits the name to memory, knowing it's something an Antivan such as himself should be aware of, but simply never having met one before, he had no idea.

"And what was the Tal-Vashoth doing that far south?"
iceblade: (6)

[personal profile] iceblade 2018-01-10 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah, he had become a trader and came to us with items we couldn't get on our own. Usually, we trade with dwarven merchants acting as a middleman for Orzammar. Still, this was a chance to see some more exotic wares. He left on good terms, so here's hoping he makes a return visit."
insatiably: (01)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-10 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"And here's hoping he's learned to better hold his Avvar mead, hm?" Julian chuckles, knowing full well that if the stuff is as strong as she says, he wouldn't be able to handle it the first time around. Still...

"You wouldn't happen to have any of that mead with you, would you?" He'll try anything once.
iceblade: (14)

[personal profile] iceblade 2018-01-10 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alas, no." Skadi sighs, as clearly this is the most tragic thing ever. "What I have left is stashed in my room back at the Gallows. I plan to send for more, but it'll not be cheap or convenient. When it does happen, I can look you up, though."
insatiably: (08)

[personal profile] insatiably 2018-01-10 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"If I might donate any funds to help the acquisition be any easier, please let me know." He doesn't mind handing out coin like this, and if a person takes the money and runs, it's simply a lesson learned to not give to that person again. Julian is luckily wealthy enough that lost funds aren't a great blow to him by any means.