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

but of course!

[circleprodigy]

[They didn't allow pets in Inessa's Circle either, but such are the wonders of working outside it. Inessa laughs softly at the question, nodding.]

He would be heartbroken if you didn't, to be honest. I swear he's an efficient war hound when need be, but outside combat is a different story.

[And since she already gave her dog's name--]

I'm Warden Inessa Serra, formerly of Kinloch Hold.

puppy! :D

[captainskyguy]

[ The outside world was still one Anakin was slowly acclimatising too - and so far, it had been a bumpy ride. Garahel is going to get so many pets, when he returns from his important druffalo herding mission.]

Ah,

[ He'd never met a warden, but he knew what they were - he'd read about the Blights of course, been informed how mages could be recruited to them. He'd briefly entertained the idea of running off to them himself when he'd been younger, before other offers had come up. Anything to see a little action... He straightens his shoulders a little, and offers a hand, a quiet little nod of respect. ]

Anakin Skywalker, of the.. Angsburg. [He almost adds 'the Angsburg Circle' on instinct, but it had long since fallen and the memory is one not worth mentioning. Its an uncomfortable thing to think on - after all that happened there, he had hoped joining the Inquisition would be a clean break. He rounds the conversation back to the present - no better way to make a friend than a bit of gentle teasing, right? ] Local impromptu shepherd for the Inquisition. I'd say that makes us almost the same rank, yeah?

[circleprodigy]

[Noticing the slip, Inessa nonetheless just nods. The Circles falling is often a heated, painful subject and she's not one to pry into the past of someone just met, anyway. She chuckles softly, shaking her head.]

I'm barely above Warden-recruit, myself. The upper echelons of Warden hierarcy still await.

[Upon seeing her mabari exit the pen, all smug, her lips twitch again.]

And here comes the conquering hero. There'll be no living with him, not tonight.

[captainskyguy]

[ He's grateful she doesn't pull him up on any of it, and its soon forgotten as the Conquering Hero returns. Anakin kneels down for a full dog cuddle, ruffling the pile of fur and jowls. Saliva is getting everywhere - he's glad he's wearing a glove, at least on his right hand.]

Oh I'm sure - whose a good boy? Whose heroics efforts have saved me from being trampled today?

[He gives Garahel a good pat upon the head, so he knows that it is definitely him who is the good boy, and has saved a local mage from certain trampling before standing once more to address the hound's master.]

I didn't realise the warden's had joined with the Inquistion? Its a fair way from Kinloch Hold to here.

[circleprodigy]

[Garahel barks happily, tail wagging with all due enthusiasm. He doesn't have to know this new person to appreciate all the attention, of course. When Anakin stands again, he plops down on his hind legs, just watching the pair.]

It's even further from Weisshaupt, where I began my journey. [A small, bitter smile emerges as she has her own sore spot in terms of stories.] I can't speak for the order as a whole, only that I'm aware that some of my colleagues are now living in or outside Skyhold. So we travel for an update, and to help as best we're able.

[captainskyguy]

[Anakin nods in assent and offers the same courtesy she gave him; he presses no further on the topic. He knows a brittle smile when he see's one.]

I'm sure they'll appreciate it; fade rift in the sky and demons crawling out of every other crack, they could probably use all the help they can get.

[ It was half the reason he was there himself; that, and the fact that there were precious few other places a mage could go. Living outside the Circle was not as easy as he envisioned, and nigh on dangerous with all the attention you garnered just for carrying around a 'walking stick'. Thedas could be a dangerous place for a mage, especially with tensions as they were.

But those were dire thoughts for dire times - he turns the conversation back to clearer waters and offers her a smile.]

If you're in need of any help yourself, I'm at your service. With the druffalo herded, it looks as though I've got the afternoon off.

[circleprodigy]

As long as it's true that there are others who can seal the rifts. I can assist in all but that.

[Which is why she's done her best to avoid all rifts spotted. There's no sense in fighting demon after demon when the doorway can't be shut, after all. Only if they make it far enough to endanger civilians will she act.]

That's kind of you to offer. Garahel and I are planning to seek out Redcliffe, for a night's lodging and some news. It's been some time since I visited this area, so I admit the way isn't very familiar.