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Fade Rift Mods ([personal profile] faderifting) wrote in [community profile] allthisshitisweird2021-10-02 11:29 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME!

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.

brandingproblem: (I can do this all day)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-14 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Well

[And then it seems like the pen just sits there for a few long moments on the last pull of the 'l', turning into a small blot. New line, then. Since this one's a little fucked.]

Thanks for the honesty.
Still not looking to take off my hand at any rate.
heirring: (rather clever)

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-14 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
You're quite welcome.

Mister Dickerson and myself are doing some work with lyrium to see if there's an alternative way of stabilizing the anchor's growth. If you would like to be involved in the study, you would be most welcome. Although there is a long waiver. And the Provost is required to approve the involvement of any new Rifter.
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-14 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maybe he should ask. About this Provost Stark. But like, that's not an uncommon last name!, and that would surely be fucking stupid if--
hm.]


I don't know much about this lyrium. We don't have it where I'm from. [that he's aware of] Sounds like some powerful magical stuff from what I've heard. Is there any way to use it to [hhhhhrrrrr how does he want to phrase this] improve hearing?
heirring: ([091])

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-14 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
The uses of it in Thedas have historically been somewhat limited. But Rifters sometimes have [hmmmmm] unique physical temporary adaptions in response to lyrium exposure. I suppose it's not impossible that it might be used to alter the senses in some fashion, but refining the effects would require some study.
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-14 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
So probably don't fuck with it unless I want to be a lab rat. Got it.
heirring: ([134])

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-14 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Probably, yes.

You mentioned there was no lyrium where you come from? Is it very different?
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-14 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
You could say. [insert bark of laughter wherever he's holed up here] Technologically more advanced. Cars. Electricity. Phones. People flying in metal suits because their brains are bigger than their sense. That sort of thing. If any of that sounds like stuff other rift people have mentioned before.
heirring: ([064])

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-15 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. You must be from Earth.

[This conversation isn't occurring in person, which is good; he might see her dramatic eye roll then.]
brandingproblem: (with the strength you bring us)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-15 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Our reputation precedes us.
heirring: ([090])

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-15 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Yes indeed. There is yourself, and Miss Niehaus, and Provost Stark, and the Doctor, and poor Mister Fitz, and Miss Ellie and Abby, one or two others who I believe are from near there or from a different sort of there and so on and so forth, et cetera et cetera.

The Fade has a particular taste for your world, apparently.
Edited 2023-02-15 04:36 (UTC)
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-15 01:30 pm (UTC)(link)
We're just that interesting I guess. Shame our tech doesn't work here.
heirring: ([113])

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-18 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
It would certainly have some benefits, I suppose, yes.

[—reads far more generously than it might were she speaking it. She has it on good authority that Earth can be a lot.]
brandingproblem: (Default)

[personal profile] brandingproblem 2023-02-18 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't seem too convinced. Guess it doesn't really matter now until someone reinvents the lightbulb.
heirring: ([018])

[personal profile] heirring 2023-02-19 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm certain there are some useful applications of your world's theory.