allthisshitisweird | TEST DRIVE MEME!

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Shepard," she responds with her own name and checks over Ruby for a moment, just to make sure she's not standing painfully on her legs or seems to be hurt any more than the soreness that uncomfortable position might put someone in.

"It's nice to meet you, Red." After all, most of the time if someone says 'most people' call them something it's usually what they prefer to be called, but she can change that. "Though it's probably better to meet in a tavern than it is in the woods. I can make sure you get to the nearest one while avoiding any more traps if you'd like?" She doesn't expect payment or anything, but she feels better making sure that Red doesn't get harassed by anything else she might find in the woods.

"Shepard?" Red grins. "I have a friend who's a shepherd. Or... was. He's doing other stuff now." Became a prince, fought to save a kingdom, you know. All the good kind of stuff. She quirks an eyebrow, and leans back just slightly, appraising her newfound company. "Are you an actual shepherd, or...?" The question trails off, playful and curious.

And that gets a laugh. "Tell me about it. Warm, comfortable." Looking across the way, Red tilts her head and considers. "Normally I'd like to think I'm pretty good at avoiding traps, but something has shaken up my confidence on that front."

It doesn't take much thinking. "Sure. I'd offer to buy you a drink on the other side, but I'm kind of short on cash. New in town, and uh, didn't have time to get any local coin."

Which is a very, very optimistic spin to put on falling through a bright green light in the sky, yes.

"My family was, at one time." She was sure the giant sword strapped to her back was a sign that she might not be one herself any more. She smiles though, because Red's face when she's being playful is the sort of thing that someone can't help but smile about. "I'm sure I could pick it up again, and match the name, but recusing beautiful women from nets seems to be my current calling."

The talk about being 'new to town' makes her pause a bit, because that term has some real loaded meaning to it now that people have been falling out of Rifts. Her eyes find themselves gazing down to get a look at Red's hand. "Don't worry. I grew up around this area. I can cover you."

Glancing down to smooth her hands over her skirts, Red misses the look. Her hands are gloved in red leather that stretched past her wrist and along to her forearm. It is concealing a glowing mark of the Rift on her, but she's not learned about that just yet. More fun for Ruby, apparently. "I suppose so. Although... now I think about it, David did rescue snow from a net, once." A pause, and her eyes narrow a little as she thinks. "Actually, he also caught her in the net."

Shrugging a little, she shakes her head. "My friends are strange people," she jokes. "But it seems like a beautiful place to grow up. You know, when you're not wading through snow or getting caught in traps." For a moment, Red seems very serious, expression a little exaggerated. "There aren't normally a lot of traps, are there?"

"It really depends on the season," Shepard replied. "Lately, though, you're more likely to get a demon caught in your net rather than dinner."

She really needs to understand that story. "Did you just say one of your friends is named Snow?"

"As long as they taste good?" It's a joke, promise. The smile gives it away.

Oh, right. This... could be anything from a name thing, to a fairy tale thing, to recognising the names of the king and queen. It's hard to say which, though - she feels disoriented at best, currently.

"I did. Snow White, fairest in all the land."

TEST DRIVE MEME!

yay!

oh man apologies for being slow, post-house moving chaos everywhere

no apologies needed!

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