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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.

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2 - There Will Be Blood

It can't exactly be said that Velanna's love for humans has grown much in her years since traveling with the Warden-Commander. She certainly tries, as is expected of a Grey Warden to help regardless of race. One can only hear "knife-ear" so many times without threatening to put a knife to someone's ear and redefine the term, of course.

That's neither here nor there, and mostly unrelated to the current circumstance. She needed access to the woods for her own purposes, and meddlesome humans got in her way. The resulting altercation has one small but furious elf drenched in bear blood, seething through her teeth as her hands clench, using every ounce of her self-restraint to keep from calling up roots from the earth to rip the "well-meaning" farmers limb from bloody limb.

"You ignorant shem fools!" she growls, shaking blood from her arms as she whips her hands out at her sides. It's probably just a coincidence that the blood is smoking where it hits the ground. Random heat vent from deep in the earth. Certainly it's not because she's so angry the blood is heating up in reaction to her attempting to avoid fireballing everyone in front of her into oblivion. "I am here to help and you think it's wise to cover me in blood? Please, explain to me how this is a logical course of action in your small mind!" She glares at the humans before her, smoking and seething, covered in blood and ready for a fight.

5 - Low Key Option

Velanna prefers to travel alone, when given the option. It's easier, to keep her distance and be some vaguely mystical being in the eyes of most other Wardens. In the winter, though, she rethinks that strategy. It's freezing, and she has to spend time each night after finding shelter setting up her defenses.

The caves outside of the Crossroads provide some small protection at least, and she builds a large fire to ward off the chill, as she walks a large circle around the mouth of the cave, casting magical traps as well as setting a few more standard ones learned from growing up among the Dalish. Anyone who comes upon her little camp might catch her singing to herself as she works, always keeping the songs of her people fresh in her mind.

Oh, no. That's-- that's not good. She was caught in the spray as well, and her first instinct is to walk away, especially because there's blood involved. Reaching up to wipe the warm splatter off her cheek has adrenaline starting to pick up in her gut. Blood just makes her tense up, nervous. Makes her think about all the things she used to be, used to do. She's half way to taking a step away, but she's run away from a lot of things, and if she wants to even think about trying to get help from the Inquisition, maybe it's time to stop running.

"It isn't logical," she agrees, very softly, moving to the woman's side, while keeping a respectful distance. Her Nevarran accent affects her words, makes them sound a little more disappointed, somehow. For all that she's tall, she more an awkwardly looming presence than an intimidating one, or even remotely threatening. She's already wondering, actually, just how smart or helpful this might be, before unwrapping the scarf from her neck, slowly tugging it away to hold out in offering for the woman to wipe away some of the blood. Her other hand clasps a black staff, and she looks to the offending villagers, frown twisting her mouth.

"I would say the more logical path would be for you all to leave." At least she can sound more confident than she feels. Maybe. Hopefully.

The involvement of the other woman draws some of Velanna's attention, although it's little more than an angry sideways glance, initially. Of course, then she actually starts talking sense, which is frankly refreshing.

"Ah, look at this, a shemlen with a grasp of logic. Isn't that novel?" She draws in a breath, straightening her shoulders a little, and while she may be shorter than most of those present, she carries herself in such an imposing way that the villagers who weren't already backing up finally start to, now.

"Best listen to her and run along. Enough blood has been spilled for today."

Oh, hell. Korrin hears the shouting while attempting to plot out yet another course to avoid those idiots and do her damned job. Rift-addled bears aren't going to drop dead, sadly, and innocent people don't deserve to fall to them, whatever these protesters think.

Narrowing her eyes at the humans rather than the Dalish woman, Korrin ignores her detour plans and stalks over. She's quiet willing to loom over the smaller folk and play the part of the angry qunari if it means getting them to shut up and head off before worse happens. If they're smart, at all, they won't want to deal with the combined tempers involved.

"Enough with the damned bear blood! Andraste's tits, don't you people have any common sense? No, don't tell me. Get the hell out of here. If I catch you throwing that at anyone else, you'll be wearing it instead."

Apparently the looming qunari does what an angry elf does not, and causes the humans to scatter. Velanna is almost surprised by the sudden change in their demeanor, and then she sees the qunari woman and understands.

"I- Thank you, stranger. I had no desire to confront those humans but they make it quite impossible to avoid them."

Once the others have fled, Korrin's temper vanishes and she flashes an understanding smile at the elven woman. Her glares and blasphemy are reserved for idiots who earn it, not people ambushed like she was.

"You're welcome. I might as well put that 'angry qunari' stereotype to good use, right? Nevermind that I've nothing to do with the Qun, but whatever. They're morons and it works, most of the time." Even when they don't outright flee, the protestors still hesitate to get too close to her.

"Yes, well. I imagine the Qun has little to do with their fear," she replies, finally taking stock of her physical state, grimacing at how very thorough the fools were in dousing her with blood. "They're hardly capable of being that specific. You're different, and that terrifies them."

Velanna will always be keenly aware of the place those who aren't human seem to take in the world. She fights every waking moment against it, and will lash out against any who tell her it's not a fight worth having.

"Truer words were never spoken." Korrin can't help but think of the staff on her back as well as her horns, also carrying the burden of being a non-human mage in a world where mages were distrusted on sight anyway. Fun times, eh?

She echoes the grimace upon noting that blood-drenched attire. The scent that gives will only attract more trouble, of course. "If you need a change of clothing, there's an Inquisition camp not far from here. I'm sure there'll be supplies to spare, and I have to go refill my potions anyway. You're welcome to join me."

Edited 2016-02-07 01:32 (UTC)

"I find living in the reality of this world makes me very honest," which is apparently all too rare, in some circles.

At the woman's offer Velanna sighs, futilely wiping her hands along her legs, before inclining her head. "Very well. It is apparently the Inquisition that has caused all this, I suppose they owe it to me." She pauses for a moment, before adding "I am Velanna, of the Grey Wardens."

Yeah, that blood isn't coming out. Korrin's tempted to go dump blood on those people and see how they like it, but...she's here on behalf of the Inquisition and therefore ought to be a good example. Sigh. They ask so much of her, sometimes.

Starting to lead the way, Korrin perks up at mention of the Grey Wardens. "It's good to see more of the Wardens around here. For a while, it'd seemed like they'd all vanished from the area, but there's a fair number of them in Skyhold now." Oh, right, introductions. "I'm Korrin Ataash, of the Valo-Kas company. And before I forget to mention it again, I'm also a member of the Inquisition's Council of Magi. I'm there for the non-Dalish apostates, more or less. The Dalish have their own for that."

"Are there? I had no idea. I've been in the Deep Roads for some time." She frowns a little, wondering who could be congregating at Skyhold. Of course, it's a serious matter, it would make sense for the Wardens to lend their efforts, even if it didn't involve darkspawn. She hopes it's no one she'd be familiar with. Explaining where she's been is something she'd rather avoid.

At Korrin's mention of a Council of Magi, and other Dalish, she tries not to look too interested, although she does tilt her head a little upwards.

"Are there many Dalish with the Inquisition?"

Fortunately, Korrin doesn't seem inclined to pry. If her brief grimace is anything to go by, she's been to the Deep Roads before. It's a place she'd just as soon forget, if possible.

She nods to the question, readily elaborating. "There are several I'm familiar with, and more beyond that. No full clans, but some have a sizable representation in Skyhold. The most numerous are of the Ashara clan. Dahlasanor and Ghilan have representatives as well."

She won't ask if Velanna knows specific people, because it annoys the hell out of her when people ask her about some random person with horns like she knows every single one in Thedas. But there might be a curious glance, to see if the names of her friends' clans spark any recognition.

There's a faint whistle to one side, a signal Nathaniel uses so his comrades don't startle and slaughter him before they realize it's him. He comes into the light of her fire and offers a faint smile.

She gives no sign that she heard the whistle, aside from maybe a slight twitch of her eyebrow. When Nathaniel steps into the light however she holds a hand up, turning to look at him.

"You don't want to put your foot there. Unless you like the idea of being paralyzed from the neck down for the next half hour." She stands from where she's crouched and moves to dispel the trap, only giving him the barest of smiles after she's done undoing her handiwork. "I assume you have a reason for being out here, or are you lost?"

He shouldn't laugh. It would be stupid to laugh. It would be foolish to laugh.

Anders starts laughing.

Some things never change and that's a massive comfort, enough to have him this amused. Granted, he's probably about to have to face her rage, but at least he knows where there's a decent stream nearby where she can clean up.

"They're ignorant, Velanna. There's no logic to it, likely. Come on. There's a stream not fifteen minutes' walk away. We'll get you cleaned up, and they won't get set on fire. Everyone wins." Except him, when he gets set on fire in a minute here.

Anders laughing really doesn't help her mood. Although it does help redirect most of her ire in his direction, so hey. The villagers probably won't die today!

"Leave now, before I kill you all and mount your heads here as a future warning- along with his," she jerks her head in the direction of Anders, not taking her eyes off the humans until they start backing away. Then running. "Bold moves for cowards," she mutters as she watches them flee, before she turns to look at Anders. "Laughing did not help."

"It helped me." He's stopped laughing now, and he's taking a good look at her. "Maker. You've really not changed at all, have you. I'm jealous."

Anders holds out a hand, not entirely sure she'll take it. She might rip it off. He'd meant what he'd said, though. Knowing that she hasn't changed means that there are some constants in this chaotic mess of a world.

"This has to have a story, the blood, those idiots. Tell it while we walk? Unless you're about to kill me, then talk very fast."

"Why should I change when the humans insist on staying the same in spite of all that has happened?" She's hesitant for a beat when Anders holds his hand out to her, before she sighs and reaches out to mirror the gesture, grasping his hand briefly. She's changed more than she'd care to admit, really.

"You're safe, for now. As for the story... there does not seem much to tell. Humans champion themselves into the stupidest of causes." She shakes her head, absently brushing her hand over her forehead in an attempt to wipe away some of the blood, only managing to smear it more and make her hair stick at awkward angles.

He wishes some things hadn't changed, though he does appreciate the way mages can simply walk around and be freer than they had been. It's progress. If he hadn't needed to be possessed for it to happen, though, he'd be a happy man.

"Safe from you for now. Unless you've been so far away from humans you haven't heard all that's been happening. Speaking of causes." Anders nods the direction and starts walking toward the river, trusting that she'll follow. Getting clean is a powerful reason to follow someone.

"I'm going by Detlef now, incidentally. Since it may come up." There's no one in hearing range, thankfully. They have some freedom to chat.

"I've been underground," she replies, following after him without objection, even if she has to walk more quickly to keep up. "That being said, I did hear. I'd wondered what happened to you." She'd been worried was possibly more accurate, but she'd never say that out loud to him.

"Detlef? By the Creators you couldn't come up with anything better?"

"One day, one of the Wardens I introduce myself to will have been to Weisshaupt. And they'll act like it's the most ordinary name they've ever heard." He shakes his head, though his voice doesn't show any particular level of upset. "It's a common name in the Anderfels. I look like I'm from the Anderfels, for good reason. It fit."

Except nobody other than him seems to think it does. Then again, he has yet to speak to anyone Anders in Skyhold.

"And as far as what's happened to me, I'm with the Inquisition now." And braced for more comments about coming up with anything better. They're headed up a hill, but as soon as they're at the top the stream he'd mentioned will be in view.

She rolls her eyes at his explanation of the name, because she still thinks Detlef sounds absurd. Of course, she could also say that about many human names. "Humans always pick the ugliest sounds to turn into names. Anders at least had some cadence to it." She sighs, shaking her head as they walk, her ears already picking up the sounds of the stream ahead. She quickens her pace a little, but pauses when Anders mentions that he's with the Inquisition, now.

"Really? Are they protecting you, or have you avoided anyone who knows your face?"

"It's not like Anders was even my name." Though for all intents and purposes, it is now. Those who care about him know him as Anders, those who hate him do as well. There's no changing that, just as there's no changing the fact that he doesn't remember the name given him by his mother.

"And to answer your question, both. I've avoided anyone who knows my face who may hate me. The ones who know my face who do not hate me have generally offered help in various ways. ...Which I can't say I expected." It's better than he deserves, and he wouldn't be surprised if she thinks similarly. He's human, after all, and one who has just laughed at her a few minutes ago.

"Meanwhile, Detlef's gained some friends. Who will no doubt drop that friendship when they know who I am, but until then, I've some safety."

Beleth has joked multiple times about being scared enough to lose years off her life, but seeing a yelling Dalish covered in blood and about to start a fight with a bunch of shemlen is a new threat to her lifespan. She has to actually take a moment to gape at the scene, before she leaps into action. She's had to diffuse situations with Merrick often enough that she's an expert at it, though he's not usually looking like he was just gruesomely murdered, and Beleth knows that Merrick wouldn't hurt her.

She'll just have to cross her fingers and hope the other Dalish recognizes what saving her from getting hung by angry shemlen looks like.

The first step to deescalating situations is to get right in the middle, and that's what Beleth does, rushing forward between the angry Dalish and the angry shemlen, holding her hands out to both parties. She bobs her head to everyone involved, voice soothing. Like she's trying to calm down an angry bear.

"Whoa, whoa. Let's calm down, alright? No one wants to start a fight, right? That's quite unnecessary, I think." She turns to the humans, lowering her head, speaking softly. "Sers, you're part of the group attempting to preserve the bear population, correct? A worthy goal, and one that the Dalish support, of course. We are ever concerned about the health of the lands, and no one wants to see any animals disappearing."

Now she turns to Velanna, and offers a prayer to the Creators that she cooperates. "See? A simple misunderstanding, I think. They meant you no harm, I'm sure--Just a mix up. If you'd like, I can take you to camp and get you cleaned up in the lake. Get you some clean clothes and everything. And now that we all know each other, this won't happen again, right?"

She looks between both parties, eyebrow raised. Right? Riiight???

It's been a very long time since Velanna saw another Dalish, and that in itself is almost enough to startle her off her warpath. She actually doesn't hear most of what the young woman says to the fools she's staring down as she takes several shallow breaths, trying to calm herself down. Once she's done talking, Velanna is (almost) calm. It takes her a moment to respond, however, her jaw tight.

"Fine," she snaps, before looking up at the group gathered. "I will let the shemlen go, provided they go quickly." She's had misunderstandings in the past, of course. Almost always they lead to her murdering a bunch of people.

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TEST DRIVE MEME!

Velanna | Dragon Age (brackets or prose are fine)

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