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allthisshitisweird2023-05-02 05:40 pm
faderifting) wrote in allthisshitisweird2023-05-02 05:40 pm
Entry tags:
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 9:49, 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.) an organization, dubbed Riftwatch, that split off from the Inquisition several years ago. Riftwatch consists 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 Gallowsβformerly 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 everyoneβthey'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.
NOTE: This is a static test drive! We post them once per year or so and continue to use them for a long time, so you're never late. Current players are encouraged to track new top-level comments.
I. THE FREE MARCHES: Hasmal, Tantervale, and most recently Starkhaven have all fallen to the Tevinter incursion, leaving Kirkwall the largest city-state in the Free Marches to remain unoccupied. For Riftwatch, that means the war is closer to home than ever, and traveling anywhere north of the mountains runs the risk of running into enemy scouting parties. Perhaps you've been sent out to find these scouts before they find the unwary, or perhaps you're just trying to pass through unnoticed to Antiva or Rivain when you run into trouble. Or maybe you're more in the thick of it: joining the Free Marches armies in harassing the occupying army as best they can from outside the city, or slipping your way into one of them to gather intelligence or meet with an ally.
II. THE WAKING SEA: When Riftwatch isn't traveling by griffon or magic mirror, it frequently travels by sea, courtesy of a small assortment of allied pirate ships. So welcome aboard. The sea is choppy and frequently violentβviolent storms, violent enemy ships, or both at onceβand 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 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.
While in some alternate, tidier timeline, the War against the Elder One ended years ago, you're not in that timeline. It's 9:49, 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.) an organization, dubbed Riftwatch, that split off from the Inquisition several years ago. Riftwatch consists 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 Gallowsβformerly 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 everyoneβthey'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.
NOTE: This is a static test drive! We post them once per year or so and continue to use them for a long time, so you're never late. Current players are encouraged to track new top-level comments.
I. THE FREE MARCHES: Hasmal, Tantervale, and most recently Starkhaven have all fallen to the Tevinter incursion, leaving Kirkwall the largest city-state in the Free Marches to remain unoccupied. For Riftwatch, that means the war is closer to home than ever, and traveling anywhere north of the mountains runs the risk of running into enemy scouting parties. Perhaps you've been sent out to find these scouts before they find the unwary, or perhaps you're just trying to pass through unnoticed to Antiva or Rivain when you run into trouble. Or maybe you're more in the thick of it: joining the Free Marches armies in harassing the occupying army as best they can from outside the city, or slipping your way into one of them to gather intelligence or meet with an ally.
II. THE WAKING SEA: When Riftwatch isn't traveling by griffon or magic mirror, it frequently travels by sea, courtesy of a small assortment of allied pirate ships. So welcome aboard. The sea is choppy and frequently violentβviolent storms, violent enemy ships, or both at onceβand 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 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.
no subject
I have, many—not just on this, but on the history and geopolitics of Thedas. I can lend all of them to you, and I'll include a list of all my references for you to check out from the archives yourself.
Talk to Abby, in the library. She's quite nice.
[ a pause between this message and the next, and then a slower hand on the book. ]
I do hope you don't take offense, because I understand your position entirely. It isn't a lovely feeling, to be told you frighten people and you need to make yourself smaller for their comfort. But your messages did not give the impression of someone capable of being diplomatic. I think the only worse thing you could have done would have been to call this all bullshit and start throwing around magic just to be contrary.
no subject
Wherever she is, she lets out a humourless laugh - for good reason, maybe, she kept being assigned the deadliest of missions instead of the intellectual ones. One merchant too many in her previous journeys was treated to the Hermione Granger righteousness brand.
And she hates being told she's been foolish. Hates it more when people are right. So, later, ]
I take it that my scolding was public - well. Perhaps it's for the best, it was deserved. I've come into a public forum with my wand out, crying at perceived injustice without so much of a thought about the politics of the world - or finding out about them first.
[ You didn't even research? Blimey, Hermione, would be something Ron would say. (God, Ron - she was going to see him again, and Harry, and everyone. She was going to dash three years' worth of personal growth on the rocks to go back to 19 year old Hermione, fresh off the final stand at Hogwarts, whole world ahead of her, with no memory of who she could be. And instead, she's gone and wished herself elsewhere again.)]
In time, I may reveal all the little details for why the first reaction was fight, not flight. Just as perhaps I may be given a chance to change that opinion of me - you're not obliged, by the way.
no subject
[ the reply comes swiftly enough, in the same beautiful hand: ennaris isn't upset, and she's happy to keep writing. ]
You've been forcibly swept away to a new world and told that for the comfort of others you have to be subtle about something that seems as innate and natural to you as your eye color, I think you're allowed to be a little out of sorts. The problem would come if your response was to dig your heels in, instead of reflecting on your behavior. You've clearly done the latter, so no need to be too hard on ourselves, hm? We none of us are at our best under duress.
And don't worryβthere's no opinion that needs changing. One conversation on what must be a very bad day is hardly indicative of over-all character.
[ but don't do it again, alright, the natives are testy and ness doesn't like conflict. ]
1/2
2/3 actually
no subject
In fairness, I was going to just do it. If someone told me, yes - you are meant to hide, it's dangerous to be a mage, let alone one adapting to a new source of Magic (for the second time) - I would have done that. Deduct points for terrible execution.
switching html, still enchanted book
[ it takes longer for the next message to show up. ]
I didn't intend go be rude or condescending. I apologize if my attempt to be helpful has missed the mark.
[ she would have taken that first message as entirely genuine, man, now she feels bad. :( ]
<3
You were not rude, Ennaris! The apologies are not necessary. Please.
[ What is she asking for exactly here? Maybe she's aware of the irony of having spoken to all via the book, with the intent of making friends, and has somehow managed to put people off from speaking to her at all.
And in her defense, the first message was genuine. Hermione just wants to know if she's supposed to hide. :( ]
no subject
[ slowly again, waryβbut perhaps she was just too sensitive. ]
If you were going to do it anyway, wouldn't it be better to more subtly signal your opinions and abilities, so those of a like mind would find you first? You would avoid making people angry while making connections, that way.
no subject
But honestly, if I make people angry, what of it?
no subject
[ this is so fundamentally antithetical to the way ness works that she's actually struck entirely dumb for a minute, blinking down at the book on her desk like it's suddenly turned to greek. ]
Benefit of the doubt granted, of course.
You're not bothered by people being angry at you?
no subject
[ She pauses, and looks down at the book for a moment, trying - and failing - to soften her words. ]
But I've grown used to inspiring anger in others, sometimes simply by existing.
no subject
I think we may be very different people, temperamentally.
[ which isn't nearly the burn it may sound like it was intended to be, just a statement of fact. ness lives her life around making as few people angry with her as she possibly can; that clearly does not seem to be a consideration for hermione. ]
That's good, though, we need people around who aren't shrinking violets. If everyone was like me Corypheus would have trampled right over us.
Do you know which Division you plan to join?
[ please don't say diplomacy, please don't say diplomacy, please don't say diplomacy....... ]
no subject
Somewhere in the Gallows, Hermione looks at that question and lets out a little laugh. ]
After today's performance, I have a feeling I should steer clear of Diplomacy.
[ Making your dreams! Come! True! ]
And while I've scouted ahead before, I'm not sure I'd be of use there, since I will be metaphorically fumbling in the dark.
no subject
One fumble doesn't mean you're unsuited for the Division entire, but if you don't set much store in avoiding angering people as a rule, it may not be for you even so.
[ THANK THE GODS. ]
I don't have much experience with Scouting, myself, truthfully. Likewise Forces; I'm not a "front lines" mage, as it were. What I do have some experience with is Research, which I can heartily recommend to anyone invested in seeking out answers and developing new means of fighting Corypheus. The Provost is a very intelligent, capable woman, and reasonable and understanding as well. I like her very much.
Has anyone helped you get your things set up in your new room and showed you around? We do have a Personnel Officer for that, but he can be a bit busy. I'd be happy to lend you my notes and show you the offices and the archives while we talk, if you'd like.
no subject
[ The relief is mutual, Hermione doesn't want to bite her tongue. ]
Must it be a single Division, Ennaris?
no subject
If that's a requirement, I'm in trouble.
[ she's never danced, and had in fact forgotten about its existence as a pastime of the rich and titled entirely. oh no. ]
Yes, just the one as your main focus. We take a very cooperative, interdisciplinary approach in the organization as a whole, but there's got to be the one person you listen to, and the one job you have, when things get, well. Interesting.
no subject
Interesting, is it? I will have to spend some time considering my options then.
[ There is absolutely no reason for her to write what she writes next except for her own personal amusement. She doesn't know Ennaris well enough yet, and vice versa this is equally true, but she feels like making the joke. Injecting some humour into what has been a very difficult and thorough conversation. So, ]
I might have to put Diplomacy back on the list of possibilities.
no subject
If you're earnestly interested in it, you should. We have too few people in the Division to turn anyone away.
[ which like. is true, and ness does mean it. but also, pretty pretty please don't. ]
Is that a no to the tour, then? I'm sure you have quite a bit to do to get settled here, I won't be bothered if it is.
no subject
no subject