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Fade Rift Mods ([personal profile] faderifting) wrote in [community profile] allthisshitisweird2020-04-24 01:58 pm
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TEST DRIVE!

TEST DRIVE MEME

While in some alternate, tidier timeline, the War against the Elder One ended years ago, you're not in that timeline. It's 9:45, and there's a war raging in northern Orlais, where the Chantry, aided by the Inquisition, marshalling Orlais and the faithful of Southern Thedas into a new Exalted March against the army of demon-bound Wardens, Red Templars, Venatori loyalists, and darkspawn Corypheus has amassed over the last four years. Rifts are still scattered across the continent, periodically spitting out strangers from strange worlds with green-glowing anchors embedded in their hands. There's no Herald of Andraste to save Thedas. Someone else is going to have to do it.

You're part of (or allied with, recently hired by, imprisoned by, etc.) a new organization that's an offshoot of the Inquisition, dubbed Riftwatch, that consists mainly of the otherworldly new arrivals, rebels and Wardens, and other people who want to prevent the apocalypse without necessarily marching under the Chantry's banner to do it. Their headquarters is an island fortress called the Gallows—formerly a Circle of Magi, more formerly a prison for slaves, but its new occupants have done a good job removing the more grotesque reminders of that past and making the place livable.

Maybe you're here because you want to help. Maybe you need the money (though there isn't much of it). Maybe you acquired an anchor and sticking around is the only way to prevent your hand from falling off. Maybe you've been sent by the Chantry or some other entity to keep an eye on everyone—they're rumored to be a lot of weirdos and troublemakers. Or maybe you're a new rifter and just going where the nice people with swords tell you that you need to go.


I. THE CROSSROADS: This month, Riftwatch members are spending most of their free time in the Crossroads, a pocket of magic-infused reality that connects a network of magic-mirror portals, called Eluvians, that are scattered across Thedas. The roads between them have mostly crumbled, but sometimes the magic can be manipulated or a series of interconnected eluvians can allow reaching one of the ruined buildings or bridges that now hang like floating islands in the distance. The portion being explored now is also densely populated by spirits trying to fulfill some ancient purpose—which apparently largely entails annoying or embarrassing everyone they come across.

II. THE WESTERN FRONT: Riftwatch is no longer part of the Inquisition or directly engaged in the war that it, the Chantry's faithful Exalted Marchers, and Orlais are fighting against an invading Tevinter and Ander force in northern Orlais. But frequently enough, Riftwatch's business—delivering helpful intelligence, spending quality time with prisoners of war that might have information, assisting soldiers with a rift they've found too close to their camps, or passing through on the way somewhere else—requires spending time in camps. After a year, with the weather turning cold and a dragon occasionally hurtling overhead to breathe a few bursts of chaos onto the army in its sleep, morale is middling at best. But there's space around the campfires if you need it.

III. KIRKWALL: Even when enormous evil darkspawn are trying to take over the known world and you and your colleagues might be the only ones who can truly stop him, you can't work all the time. And when you aren't working, Kirkwall is there for you with its dingy Lowtown taverns, its flashy Hightown establishments, its market stalls and street musicians and cellars hosting gamblers. Or maybe you can work all the time, and you're in the city to do some official shopping, try to spy on a suspicious character, or show a potential financial backer a good time.

IV. SEND A MESSAGE: Each member of Riftwatch (or rifter, or ally) is assigned a blue crystal, small enough to wear around the neck, that can transmit voice messages, as well as an enchanted book tied to that crystal that can be used to exchange written messages. They're secure enough to discuss the war, if you'd like to get down to business, but loosely controlled enough to ask a question or play a game with only a few rolled eyes from people who hate fun.

V. BANTER: Sometimes the walk is long, the herb-cutting is dull, or the watchtower is quiet, and there's nothing to do but talk to the person next to you. So say something.

VI. WILDCARD: From the Gallows' library to the pirate islands off the coast, from Hightown's high-priced market stalls to the bloody frontlines of the war, Thedas is yours to explore.

kantikoy: (When you and sleep escape me)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-17 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
You were what now?

[ Tell her this story, Edgard, while Adrasteia takes a drink. Married and widowed all within the same year and some change. ]

Never have I ever been in love with two people at the same time.
muckspout: (speaking)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-18 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[Edgard takes a drink.]
Bet. Was in the room where a card game was happening and was...otherwise occupied. [At this he raises his eyebrows and gives her a look.] Next thing I know, one of the others is insisting that it is time to go and they have won me. Still a little angry about it, if I'm honest.

[Edgard gestures toward her.] Were you happily married? [He is assuming the other party is no longer present.]
kantikoy: (be running up that road)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-18 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope you fought whoever decided you could be 'bet' in a card game.

[ What in the world is wrong with people is written all over Adrasteia's face.

But then her expression softens; talking about her dead husband is easier than it has been, especially in this setting where nothing reminds her of him. ]
His name was Helec. We were happy for our few years together.
muckspout: (close and thoughtful)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-20 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
I tried. He's bigger than me and threw me in the ocean. [Edgard motions to his bow.] I am better at a distance.

[He frowns and places a hand on her shoulder.]
I am sorry for your loss. Have lost people I love too.
kantikoy: (rn018)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-20 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Goodness. [ Now it's her turn to frown. What kind of friends or foes are these that toss people into the ocean? Don't they know that riptides are dangerous, that people drown?? ]

I don't imagine you could swim?

[ At the gesture of solidarity, there's a soft but sad smile on Adrasteia's face. ] It doesn't get easier but it does get less difficult, if that makes sense.
muckspout: (neutral close)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-24 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
I can swim. [There's a sliver of defensiveness.] I just really don't like water. [He shudders a little involuntarily.]

[Edgard's smile matches Adrasteia's, sad and a little pained.] I believe you. Still mostly difficult for me.
kantikoy: (think of all the roads)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-24 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. [ A wry expression. ] I'm sorry for presuming; I grew up near the Amaranthine coast, and a lot of people I've met on my travels don't swim.

[ But being afraid of the water is a difficult thing, she can only imagine. ]

Do you want to talk about it?
muckspout: (close and thoughtful)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-24 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Edgard frowns a little.] About water? or about losing people?

[He lets out a huff of air, laughing lightly.] Don't know that either subject would be very interesting for you. [There is some avoidance here, but not offense taken.] Wouldn't you have met more people who could swim if you grew up on the coast?
kantikoy: (Default)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-25 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well then. A change of topic, or at least a dropping of that one, is in order. ] I've met more people as a Warden than before, and mostly I've been in Northern Orlais. [ She gives an easy shrug. ]The farther you get into the mountains, the less people know how to swim. It makes sense.
muckspout: (heh heh)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-26 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
[Edgard nods. This makes sense to him. He then switches to Orlesian.] It's true that most people don't know how to swim if they don't grow up near water. They usually only learn it if they need to. Does your cow poop diamonds? [The last part is nonsense as a test to see how well she understands Orlesian.]
kantikoy: (it's okay because)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-27 07:37 am (UTC)(link)
Did you grow up here? [ She answers, in heavily accented and a little slow Orlesian of her own. Though she does roll her eyes a little at his 'joke'. ] I've never owned a cow. Diamonds or not.
muckspout: (heh heh)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-27 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Edgard barks a laugh and gives a light applause with one of his hands.] I grew up in Orlais. Nowhere important. A couple cows though. Never even seen a diamond.
kantikoy: (You're making rain)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-28 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ She laughs and bobs in a curtsey as they march onward. ] Read about them in books. Asked someone once, they said they were 'clear and not all that fancy, for a rock'.
muckspout: (Default)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-28 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Edgard rolls his eyes and shakes his head] Of course. It would be just like a rich person to say something is important that just isn't. You know what's important? Food.
kantikoy: (your hard times are ahead)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-28 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
That's sort of their whole thing isn't it? Here's what's fancy, here's what's important, just because the rest of us? Can't have it. [ A soft snort. ] Rich people, generally terrible.
muckspout: (Default)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-29 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Edgard nods emphatically. Exactly!] I will never understand it! They can keep their diamonds and give us the food. See what they think is important then.
kantikoy: (ruth-negga-lady-taria-wrynn-4278199)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-29 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Adrasteia smiles, snorting softly. ] I feel like they've tried that, once or twice, and it hasn't gone well for them.
muckspout: (side eye)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-29 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Have they? Not in my memory. Just a lot of take, take, take and then let's burn some shit down too. [Edgard rolls his eyes.]
kantikoy: (the second time around)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-30 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Probably not in anyone's recent memory, but really. They're not smart, they're just rich; I'm sure they've tried at some point. [ She pats his arm. ] One day we'll be able to do away with nobility, I hope. Find some other method of living with the insufferable.
muckspout: (smarmy)

[personal profile] muckspout 2021-01-30 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[He smiles at her.] I wish I had your hopes. Think the best we can do is try to take care of our own. [He readjusts his bow.] By any means necessary.
kantikoy: (so I can move)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-01-30 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Hope is a strange thing like that. [ She nods, returning her attention to the party in front of them. ] But taking care of our own will always come first.