TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

What if there is no tomorrow?

Only more 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, the first days of the new year find 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.

STILL WITH ADDED SNOW AND NOW ALSO ADDED KINDNESS TO ANIMALS (MOSTLY).

1. IF I GET SCARED, YOU'RE ALWAYS AROUND

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 still snowy.

2. THEY SAY WE'RE YOUNG AND WE DON'T KNOW

The Inquisition has, possibly, been a little too good at dealing with the Hinterlands' bear problem, and a group of concerned citizens--including young burgeoning naturalists, farmers concerned about the effect an unchecked population of rams may have on their crops come spring, and at least one woman who claims to be directly descended from bears--has taken issue. Maybe they're blocking your character's attempt to enter a bear-infested area. Maybe they've doused your character in bear blood. Maybe the bears they have been working so hard to save have cornered them in the wilderness and they're changing their tunes.

3. WITH YOU I CAN'T GO WRONG

The Inquisition's (cough Leliana's) habit of communicating by raven works out fine, usually, but this particular raven has gone a little rogue. It's not the raven's fault! She's young, she's trying. But she has very important information tied to her leg, and instead of delivering it, she's joined a flock of identical wild ravens to hunt for food in the snow. Recover her, somehow, without hurting her and making any spymistresses angry.

4. BEFORE IT'S EARNED, OUR MONEY'S ALL BEEN SPENT

The tavern at Redcliffe remains as busy as ever, filled with locals, travelers, and Inquisition members. But this month in addition to the usual free-flowing ale and rowdy conversation there is also a contest going on. Bakers have come from across the Hinterlands bearing their very best in an effort to win a coveted ribbon and the title of Best Cake. They pack the tavern and spill out into the surrounding courtyard when the weather allows, cakes sold off tables, out of packs, small chunks given away to whoever is passing and not paying enough attention to refuse. The votes are carefully guarded by several serious looking fellows in the back corner of the tavern. In addition to traffic issues, the cake madness has also caused an infestation of large local rodents, who have appeared out of their holes to devour the many crumbs. Legend has it that if they can be humanely eradicated from the tavern before the final vote is cast, spring will come early. No one in living memory has succeeded, but you are strongly encouraged to try anyway.

5. AIN'T NO HILL OR MOUNTAIN WE CAN'T CLIMB

Hunt game so you can rescue it before other hunters get there, kill demons or maybe just try to hug it out?, dig under the snow for herbs or plant some of your own to replace what others have taken, track bandits through the snow and see if they need a hand, deal with someone charging extortionist coat prices now that it's snowing and convince them to do the right thing, fall off a deceptively tall rock into the snow and admit it was your own fault, 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 so that you can give it a decent burial, climb trees or abandoned towers covered in snow and be careful not to knock them down, rummage around in empty homes to get out of the snow but leave a nice apology note, run from a dragon in the snow and promise not to trespass on its territory again, definitely don't kill any fennec foxes, set up camp and chat around the fire about your feelings because it's snowy and cold, give yourself a pat on the back (figuratively, or even literally if that's more your speed)-- the Hinterlands are your playground.

Comments

Buckets of Bear Blood (YAY, FIONA <3)

[gatheringstorm]

Fiona's not the only one muttering. Nearby, a Vashoth woman with a staff strapped to her back stalks toward camp as well with a thunderous expression on her face. "Fucking idiots...." They were blocking her from saving them from rift-addled bears?!? Did they forget so quickly how the beasts have been nothing but a menace since the Breach? Evidently, and though Korrin has no intention of fighting them, having to find an alternate path yet again is making her irritable. Perhaps she should return to camp and refill her potions anyway, since they're running low.

There's little that can distract her from her annoyed train of thought, but the sight of the elven mage covered in blood has her quickening her pace. The natives hadn't dared toss blood at the tall, horned woman so her mind is more on battle than idiots being idiots. "Andraste's ass--tell me none of that's yours! Do you need potions?"

[rebelenchanter]

It was much easier to throw blood on an elf, particularly one as slight and unassuming as she was, than it was to throw blood on a rather formidable female Qunari, one would think twice about it. Little did they know she used to be a Grey Warden and was not simply a pushover, Fiona was stubborn when she had her mind and heart set on something. Fortunately she wasn't so stubborn as to help humans that clearly did not want her help. If they knew what was best then so be it on their head, she was firm enough to stand up for what she believed, but old enough and wise enough to know when the cause was lost...and that? Was a lost cause.

"One could only wish," Fiona responded to the question, the tone of her voice softening a little, for the woman was also a fellow mage and clearly meant her no harm and thus there was no reason for her to redirect her ire on someone who meant to help her. At least Fiona would not wear the trappings of ungratefulness, she had no right to, "incidentally, it is bear blood...can you imagine? The blood of the very creatures they wish for us to abstain from harming they bleed themselves just to throw blood at us."

[gatheringstorm]

Upon realizing the source of that blood, Korrin's eyes narrow as she glances back, expression hardening. "Oh, you ran into them. They make about as much sense as that cult that worships a rift. What the hell else are we supposed to do, just let rift-addled bears alone because that will somehow stop them from attacking everyone they find?"

The thought of doing so is tempting for a second, but only a second. She isn't doing this for gratitude, much as it'd be nice for people to use their brains once in a while. "I'll go back to camp with you. I might as well restock before finding an alternate route, anyway. And if those idiots are dumb enough to pursue, they'll regret it."

[rebelenchanter]

"I suspect that is very much what they would like...I sympathize with the bears, it is not something they asked for," that she could, without question relate to, but sometimes...or perhaps more frequently than she would like to admit, life simply did not give one what they wanted simply because they wanted it. Sometimes one had to make hard choices in order to do what they believe is right, "...but no they cannot be allowed to continue their corrupted existence."

Much as she would have liked, Fiona could not deny her own foolishness as of late, but she rarely suffered fools and that applied to herself as well, "...shall I go with you...? I do not believe we have been properly introduced, I am Fiona?"

She dropped the Grand Enchanter and all other titles, though some people still referred to her by them, she knew that this was something she no longer deserved.

[gatheringstorm]

Fiona may have dropped the title, but it still carries some weight, as evidenced by Korrin's immediate straightening and eyeing her with new respect. She doesn't have to be a Circle mage to appreciate one who's fought for their freedom, however it ended up. "Grand Enchanter Fiona, isn't it? It's an honor." Don't tell Vivienne she said that, Korrin is still learning from her.

"I'm Korrin Ataash, of the Valo-Kas company, and now the representative for the non-Dalish apostates on the mage council." Finally she remembers to add that in an introduction without prodding, but it's more than relevant in this case. "And I'll show the way. They won't get close to douse you again."

[rebelenchanter]

With some it still did, and Fiona realized that there were quite a few still who looked to her and quite a few who relied on her to keep them safe. Allying with the Inquisition had done that beautifully, though now she deferred mostly to the leadership of the Inquisition. She could have corrected her companion, told her it was unnecessary to call her Grand Enchanter, but what was and was not necessary for an individual was up to the individual. For the moment, however, she simply bowed her head humbly in acknowledgement...the respect was appreciated.

As for Vivienne...well they had differing points of view on certain things, but there was respect regardless. No, she would say nothing.

"That is very impressive, Korrin, the pleasure is all mine," she said with a smile that was tired and genuine, they were impressive titles and achievements as far as she was concerned, "I would very much appreciate that... patience is a skill I've had to master, but I doubt my ability to keep myself in check if doused a second time."

Fiona had a swift temper in her earlier days.

[gatheringstorm]

There's a rueful chuckle from Korrin at mention of patience, as she starts them off, glad that the camp isn't too far. Who knows what that scent of blood might draw to them, after all? And though she's not about to harm civilians, the Vashoth mage is strongly tempted to pass by those protesters again and glare at them. Maybe they could be intimidated into not being idiots, but she doubts it.

"I certainly couldn't blame you for losing your temper after all that. I would have handled that with far less grace, of that I have no doubt. Patience is a skill I'm very far from mastering; I can't say council meetings have helped that any. Suffice it to say that those training dummies get a lot of abuse afterwards."

Blunt, uncompromising, impatient, quick temper...the list of reasons why Korrin isn't suited for politics goes on and on. Yet, curiously enough, she remains. It's something of a mystery to herself, too.