TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

Guess.

go on, guess.

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, early fall finds 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 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.

1. BEARIED ALIVE

You have turned the wrong corner, forded the wrong stream, crested the wrong hill, entered the wrong cave. Maybe you are far from camp. Maybe you are in camp. Whatever has happened, wherever you are: you are being chased by bears. Did you provoke the bears? Are they huge? Babies? Fade-touched? Mage-controlled? What are they chasing you away from? What are they chasing you into? What do you plan to make out of their hide if you kill them? What do you think they'll craft out of your hide if they kill you?

2. NICE PLACE FOR A SPOT OF CAMPING

If there were an inn, which there's not, there wouldn't be room for you in it. Traveling with the Inquisition means carrying your own bedrolls, putting up your own tents, and sleeping alongside whoever you've been told to share with--no matter how much you hate them or how loud they snore. If you really can't stand it, the alternative is sleeping outside. On the ground. With the bears.

3. A BIG CRAZY LIGHT IN THE SKY

Not everyone thinks the Breach was a bad thing. In the southeastern mountains, a burgeoning cult has taken up residence in Winterwatch Tower to wait patiently for the Maker to reach through the tears in the veil and gather the faithful to his bosom. They're a little kooky, maybe, but harmless, and they're happy enough to share their wine and lager with travelers in the area. The demon-spewing rift behind the Tower, on the other hand... Too bad the Herald didn't close that thing before she bit it. Watch your step.

4. TROUBLE IN THE DEEP

The Carta is everywhere, but it's here in force, occupying dwarven ruins in a chasm behind a waterfall. Inquisition forces have already cleared most of the smugglers out of the hold, but there's still a vault to break into, bodies to loot, and old texts to search through for anything worth adding to the Inquisition's growing archives. Also: darkspawn. Sorry.

5. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Hunt game, kill demons, gather herbs, track bandits, haggle over the price of armor, fall off a deceptively tall rock, 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, climb trees or abandoned towers, rummage around in empty homes, run from a dragon, cry over how cute that fennec fox you just shot was, set up camp and chat around the fire, knock yourself out (figuratively, or even literally if that's more your speed)-- the Hinterlands are your Frostback Mountain oyster.

Comments

[truestheart]

[ This wasn't what he was planning on when he went out today. He just was looking for something to eat. Anything. With the Hinterlands in such disarray supplies were hard to come by. The only thing tiding anyone over was hunting.

A rabbit, a deer, anything. He just needed something to fill his stomach.

He hadn't expected though coming across a hunter who apparently was not what he'd call subtle. Henry could attack, throw her back with some magic if need be, but when the Inquisition is brought up...well..

okay. That won't earn any sort of violence from him. He steps out slowly, hands in the air and his staff clearly strapped to his back. He's a boy, roughly sixteen, though he could pass for a fourteen year old. His robes are ragged and he's not what you'd call clean, but he's not making any sort of move.]

Look, I don't want any trouble. I was just looking for food.

[eviscerates]

( As soon as she sees its a kid, mage or not, Ruby eases her hand off her bowsting, pointing it to the ground. )

Sorry, ( she starts, though there's a long pause before she says it. He's just-- he's familiar enough to remind her for a half second of someone from home, to inspire that doubletake, before she realises that it's not him. Ruby smiles, then, apologetic and she hopes reassuring. ) Get attacked by a Venatori or two out here and it puts you a little on edge.

( Another pause, then, and she slides the arrow back into her quiver and takes a step forward. ) I'm Ruby. Are you alone out here?

[truestheart]

[ There's a sigh of relief at that when the arrow isn't pointed at his heart anymore. He was kind of fond of that. He does raise a brow a bit when she gives him that look, but says nothing on it. The smile is enough however to put any fear or doubt aside. ]

I can imagine. They're not the most friendliest of people. You know, with the blood magic, demon summoning and working for evil incarnate.

[ He approaches as well, offering a hand. ]

My name's Henry and uh, yeah, sort of.

[eviscerates]

And the weird hats.

( Conspiratorial, that, that moment of seriousness before she grins. And, kind sir, she will accepts that hand.

Henry, huh? Go figure. The familiarity was strange and kind of nice, at the same time. Maybe he liked cinnamon, too. )

Sort of? ( Her head cants to the side. ) Is that teenager code for "yes but I don't want to say it because you're a stranger," or..?

[truestheart]

Definitely the weird hats. Plus, they smell weird. Probably too much perfume.

[ All jokes aside...her question does make him line face for a moment. Contemplating how to answer. ]

Not really? I mean, I was hoping to find other people, other mages. But, yeah. I'm alone.

[ However, he shrugs. ]

Besides, you said you were with the Inquisition. I don't see any problem.

Unless that's a lie in which case I would probably have to knock you out...or run. Whichever came first.

[eviscerates]

Probably. ( She huffs out a quiet laugh, at that. )

Nope, no lie. I don't have a handy Inquisition badge to show you, but um... ( Wow, what does she have to prove it? ) Oh, I can show you some instructions from my boss. Inquisition seal, very fancy.

( In the meantime, though, she grabs up the rabbits. ) You hungry? I'm not a mage, but I know a few of the ones at the Inquisiton. If you needed their help with something I'm sure they'd be glad to do whatever they could.

( Or, well. Merrill and Adelaide would. Maybe Anders. Twisted Fate if he was bribed with a nice hat and flattery, possibly? There are options. )