TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

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 9:47, and the war continues. An enemy force partially occupies Orlais and has decimated several Marcher Cities, while the Chantry, aided by the Inquisition, has marshaled 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. 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 newer organization that's an offshoot of the Inquisition, dubbed Riftwatch, that consists mainly of these 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. Their goal is to do what the Chantry can't or won't do, to go more directly after Corypheus and the dark magic he employs, and to keep the Veil from coming apart entirely.

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 killing you. 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 SIEGE OF STARKHAVEN: North of Kirkwall, Corypheus' forces have occupied Hasmal, laid waste to Tantervale, and has now besieging the city of Starkhaven. An army of Marchers led by Sebastian Vael has returned from the Exalted March to press against the Tevinter force, but Riftwatch's aid is still needed. With the assistance of Riftwatch's griffons, you might be doing aerial surveillance of the enemy force or swooping into the city to provide supplies and news to the people holding the walls, then bringing news and valuables back out to deliver to the Marcher force outside. Or you could be engaging directly by harassing enemy camps from the air or dealing with mages the Marchers are less equipped to face.

II. THE WAKING SEA: When Riftwatch isn't traveling by air (or magic mirror), it frequently travels by sea, courtesy of allied pirate ships. So welcome aboard. The sea is choppy and frequently violent—violent storms, violent enemy ships, or both at once—and the crew may not have much patience for incompetence, so either make yourself useful above or try not to get sick below.

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. 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.

Comments

Gela Baynrac, native oc

[sprent]

THE GALLOWS

Fancy place you got yourselves here. The high walls are a comforting sight as are the gates, the bars on the outset of the higher windows; idly, Gela wonders if they have a prison, and how small the rooms inside of the towers are. Stone is cold and strong, but she's been stronger.

Her clothing is both old and well-mended, oft with thread of different colours to the fabric which gives her a patchworked sort of look. Her wild hair is scooped up as best it ever is, and still comes loose to frame the sides of her face, but she doesn't much mind. She keeps tucking behind her ear in nervous gesture, once, twice, three times. It helps.

"And you'll let just about anyone in," she confirms to the first person who passes in uniform (though she's quick to notice the matching pins that tend to glint on lapels and collars).

KIRKWALL

Oh, the markets here are laughably small. Gela chooses to keep one display in particular company: it offers goods made by hand, wool by the colourful skein and rates for having clothing tailored. The stalls and their customers are close knit enough that she barely needs to keep her voice down, and her offer comes in low, Nevarran-accented trade.

"Whatever you're payin' for that, I'll do better for a bit'r two less."

MESSAGE

For anybody up and listening, a 1am shower thought: "Do you believe much in luck?"

WILDCARD

Get her. Custom starters hit up blisters. Feel free to ask for more info behind the scenes, just don't mind my flying by the seat of my pants lol

crystal;

[apocalypsegrown]

Depends. Do you think luck is something that can be created? Or is it just a byproduct of the universe's chaos?

[sprent]

Former.

You can change what's created.

[apocalypsegrown]

Then yes, Luck is just another element you can sway to your favor if you're skill enough and can grasp it.... and others can use against you if they are better.

[sprent]

(Gela clucks her tongue, and presses in that direction:) Was there a time this happened to you, then? Was it awful?

[apocalypsegrown]

Isn't any time luck turns against you awful?

kirkwall.

[jacksquat]

Laliel looks over the items she's inspecting. Boots of Antivan leather, you know the song. Money is still a relatively new concept, one she's trying to organize her thoughts on.

Either way, she doesn't like the idea of being conned. She slides over to the human woman, expression canny. "How's that?"

[sprent]

Leatherwork she's done, though cobbling makes her hands sore. She gives an approving nod, and thumbs at her nose, casting a quick glance at the stall. Not much out there ruder than stealing business but she's low on coin and hungry for it; forgive her, she will pay it back later.

(Or at least she intends to, but her memory–)

The sales pitch: "I've my own materials, and I take my own time. No list, and with you my only custom? Done in hours."

[jacksquat]

That sounds too good to be true, so it probably is. She rocks back on her heels, thinking.

"Alright, alright. You've my attention. Lead the way."

She wants to see this operation, first off.

[sprent]

"No need." She spreads her arms, gesturing– "We're here."

Only Gela, no fancy place or set up: a bag full of her things, nothing more. "You'll have to let me know a little more about what you're aft'r."

crystal;

[notathreat]

Nope. There's no luck but what you make.

[sprent]

’Struth; and what have you made?

[notathreat]

Who's asking?

[sprent]

Somebody up past 'er bedtime; so tell me a story.

[notathreat]

What kind of story are you looking for?

the Gallows

[altusimperius]

"That's for certain."

Though he's not in uniform, the young man with his shiny black hair tied back in a tail certainly looks like he's meant to be here, carrying a wooden sparring polearm on his way out of weapons practice.

"--sorry, who're you?"
There's a touch of haughtiness to the question, but it's possible that's just how he talks. To some degree, he seems genuinely interested in directing a newcomer to where she's going.

[sprent]

No, that's fair enough. Her attention lingers on the polearm for a moment and she does that nervous tuck-motion again, nose wrinkling.

"Traveler," is what she says first, "Gela," second, as a show of good will. "Who're you?"

Part of Riftwatch no doubt, so this is the vetting process, then? Shit. She stands up straight. She isn't near his height at all, but surely it comes off better than a tired slouch (even though she is tired, brutally so, and quite hungry actually despite how hard she's putting that thought out of her mind).

Interviews suck.

[altusimperius]

"Benedict," he replies with a similar cadence, "assistant to the Ambassador. Did you mean to travel directly into a military base?"

[sprent]

Hmmmmm

Quickly, "Of course not. That's why I'm standin' here."

[altusimperius]

"Ah-huh."
He stops near a barrel containing a variety of practice weapons, pausing to deposit the staff into it before folding his hands behind his back and raising his eyebrows down at her.

"If it's a tour you're after, I'm afraid we're booked solid today." This isn't true; he has no idea who even gives tours, if anyone does.

message

[saperlipopette]

Ohhh, yes.

[Orlesian. Wee voice, upper registers.]

I am, right now, wearing four lucky charms.

[sprent]

(The accent isn't at all palatable but,)

An' they work, do they?

[saperlipopette]

Never have I been ill. So my beautiful bezoar is doing something, and I love her very much for it. Have you been ill?

[sprent]

If the bezoar does all the work, what're the other three for?

message;

[dissolving]

Mm, [ She takes her time considering it. Rolls the taste around her mouth: ] Luck feels much as a storm. I think —

Do you believe in rain?