Test Drive Meme!

[faderifting]

'Tis The Season...

...To Still Be In The Hinterlands

Maybe the Inquisition sent you, maybe you came seeking the Inquisition. Maybe you fell out of a rift into this world last week and are still just trying to find your feet. However it happened, early fall finds you in the Hinterlands. Tucked between Ferelden's massive Lake Calenhad and the icy Frostback Mountains, the Hinterlands are a hilly region covered in patchy forests and small farms trying to eke out a living between the boulders. Though somewhat remote, the area is rich with game and minerals and home to Redcliffe, a bustling town on a busy trade route.

Lately the Hinterlands have also been full of mages and templars and rifts, all threatening to turn once-peaceful countryside into a dangerous warzone. The Inquisition has set up several camps and sent personnel to try to restore order to the region, unwilling to let it slip into chaos. There's a lot to be done, some of it straightforward killing bad things, some of it weird and nebulous morale-building.

NOW WITH ADDED SNOW.

1. I CAN'T BEAR THE COLD

You have turned the wrong corner in the snow, forded the wrong stream in the snow, crested the wrong hill in the snow, entered the wrong cave in the snow. Maybe you are far from camp, in the snow. Maybe you are in camp, which is also snowy. Whatever has happened, wherever you are: you are being chased through the snow by bears. Did you throw a snowball at the bears? Are they huge and snow-dusted? Babies burrowing through the snow drifts and coming for your ankles? Fade-touched in addition to snow-touched? Controlled by cold mages who are hiding in the snow? Popping up out of the snow like a game of whack-a-mole? What are they chasing you away from in all of this snow? What are they chasing you into, other than more snow? What warm things do you plan to make out of their hide if you kill them in the snow? What do you think they'll craft out of your hide if they kill you in the snow? P.S. It's snowy.

2. GIVE ALL THE TOYS TO THE LITTLE RICH BOYS

Winter came. The villagers are freezing. Recruit Whittle totally saw this coming. Now he might have sent you haring (get it) across the countryside in search of supplies that apostates or bandits may have hidden in caves and crannies. He might have handed you some sticks and told you to build a fire. He might have eyed your nice coat with a contemptful gleam that suggested you'd better find some blankets if you didn't want to have your own clothing requisitioned. Nobody's freezing to death on his watch--except maybe you, if you're really bad at finding hidden caches. In the snow.

3. DON'T SHOOT ME SANTA

The sky is beginning to darken and white snow continues to fall, but you and the supply wagon you're protecting should make it to the little Hinterlands village before sunset. The wagon is laden with food, blankets, and other sundry supplies, and so it's important to stay sharp and alert as you make the trecherous journey. And for good reason: an arrow is fired from the tree line and topples an Inquisition soldier from his horse. Beset by bandits, will you manage to fight them back? Or do they overwhelm your troupe and you are forced to flee? Or, perhaps, you could attempt a negotiation, knowing they could be as hungry as the people you protect.

4. DOES THEDAS HAVE FIGGY PUDDING?

It is not only snowing, it's blizzarding, and the tavern in Redcliffe is the closest and warmest place to duck into to wait it out. Unfortunately, half of the Hinterlands had the same idea. The Gull & Lantern is so packed with thawing visitors that it's hard to walk from one side to the other, the owner has given up on telling these Fereldens they can't bring their dogs inside, and that lady in the corner is almost definitely someone you've tried to kill before, or vice versa. But there's a fire going, and the bartender seems to think that giving everyone half-price drinks might prevent a brawl instead of causing one, and there aren't any demons indoors, so it could be a lot worse.

5. WILDCARD

Hunt game in the snow, kill demons in the snow, dig under the snow for herbs, track bandits through the snow, deal with someone charging extortionist coat prices now that it's snowing, fall off a deceptively tall rock into the snow, get lost circling the same hill ten times trying to find a way up to the weird glowing skull on a stick you can see is up there in the snow, climb trees or abandoned towers covered in snow, rummage around in empty homes to get out of the snow, run from a dragon in the snow, cry over how cute that fennec fox you just shot in the snow was, set up camp and chat around the fire because it's snowy and cold, knock yourself out (figuratively, or even literally if that's more your speed)-- the Hinterlands are your Frostback Mountain oyster, topped with snow.

Comments

[aintwejust]

Don't need to tell them twice. He tacks his way up the hill, Jayne barreling up with the meat dragging along behind till he's somewhere he can hide behind the nice zappy lady with her zapping fingers.

That dog is gonna be the death of him.

"Better not to fight at all-" He's coming up fast and doesn't mean to stop- snaps a hand down for her to grab.

[serannas]

"That is preferable-- oh!" Ellana quickly extends a hand and latches on to his, spinning to face the same direction as him and grab hold of him to pull herself up behind on the horse.

"Are you sure the horse can outrun it?"

[aintwejust]

"IF it's worth what I paid for it, damn well better-" Up and on the back and Jayne playing scout by running through the drifts, guiding them down the other side of the hill. "Failing that I hope you can do that fancy spellwork from horseback."

[serannas]

"I'll do what I can." Magic isn't as refined when done without a staff, but she really can't be messing with it here on horseback. Ellana likes to think she's disciplined enough that her spells won't go haywire. Risking a quick look behind them, she sees the bear charging after them, growling and snorting as snow flies up into its face. It really looks too close for comfort, and if the horse slips or bucks them off, they'll be in trouble.

Winding an arm tightly around him so she doesn't fall, she twists around and lifts a hand in the air, casting an immolate glyph on the ground just in front of the bear. As flames erupt, the bear is rushing into it, then howling in pain. She winces, but watches it jump back before collecting itself and moving forward again. At least she gained them a little more distance?

[aintwejust]

"This damn dog and his damn stomach I swear-" He trails off into frustrated Orlesian, hooking around the next turn in the path at speed. A lesser rider would fall right off but all he needs is to reach back to steady the mage as they hit the next rise. Up and over a bit till they hit the main road and then? They should be in the clear.

Or at least have level enough ground to make a solid run for it.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, fifty sovereigns and you'd better be able to outrun this beast- there's gonna be apples and sugar and all kindsa tasty things if you make it-" Sweet talking a terrified horse probably doesn't work that well when bears are involved but he's trying.

[serannas]

As she waits for her mana to regenerate, Ellana keeps an eye on the bear as it tries its hardest to catch up and let them all have it. But she wants to reassure the horse too. Back in the clan, she always enjoyed speaking to the halla, and in order to get them to pull aravels or carry riders, you had to ask kindly.

"That's right! So many treats! You're a good, strong horse and I know you can do it. Please, please get us to a village fast."

[aintwejust]

"Fed to you by a pretty, pretty lady that's magical. Ain't that somth'n? I'd run fast I can to get fed apples and sweets by a pretty lady-" And it's working, either the incentive or the stride gets them up and around the next hard curve smooth as butter before they hit the last stretch to the main road. "How we look'n back there, Miss?"

[serannas]

Having looked forward again to see how they're doing, she now whips her head back again to see the bear losing steam. Some of its fur is burnt and it's breathing hard.

"Starting to get worn out, I think!"

[aintwejust]

"Good for us- hang on!" There's a bit of a jump over deeper drifts- Jayne makes it with his side of- whatever the hell it is he's dragging He reaches back to hang onto her- last thing he wants to do is dump her in the snow when she's gone out of her way to offer a lot of help.

[serannas]

She lets up a yelp of surprise and hangs on just as tight, snow spraying around them and stinging her eyes. With the road just up ahead, the bear slows, unsure it wants to get too close to civilization and more people.

"It's hanging back now."

[aintwejust]

"Good, we're just about in the clear then." And none of his goods lost. How's that for a fun little interlude? He keeps up with the gallop, Jayne slowing gradually till he's hanging back. Seems like the bear isn't gonna follow.

[serannas]

Ellana takes another look back to see the bear slowly turn around and return the way it came, as if it wasn't just trying to rip them to shreds. Blowing out a breath of relief, she now looks forward and pokes her head over his shoulder.

"Your horse needs a reward now."