Test Drive #1

[felldenmods]

Welcome to the August test drive—our first in fellden! We're so excited to have you with us.

A few things of note:

✦ Test drive threads can be considered game-canon if you choose. They're essentially in a shared dreamscape and take place between your character leaving their world, and arriving in the audience hall with their faction leader.
✦ Reserves are open and will continue to be until 11:59 PM UTC on Tuesday, August 20th; they are not necessary to apply! They're valid for the first four days of the application cycle.
✦ Applications will open at 12:01 AM UTC on the 21st, and remain open until 11:59 PM UTC on the 27th. The IC & OOC intro logs will be posted two days later.
✦ Questions? We have a FAQ that's chock full of good information! If they are test drive specific, we have a top level thread below that allows for OOC questions to be posted.
✦ The network is available to use! No matter where your character is, their compass either arrived on their person or available in the Gods Wood. Please feel free to include a network post in your top-levels! Once opened, the compass will display instructions on use, such as using voice-commands to activate it. (Apologies for missing including this on the initial test drive!)

All set?

Perfect! Welcome to Fellden.

AS THE MOON RISES. You’ll find yourself just outside the Temple doors, which will be locked if you try to open them. A little rude, keeping you out after bringing you all this way. The thing is, you can hear a lot of commotion in the distance, and smoke rising from the center of a district; you may want to check that out. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire! Except the smoke is not at all something to be concerned over. Instead, people are gathered near a large bonfire in the decorated city square, drinking and carousing, singing songs of celebration; Moon saviors have arrived! War winners! The residents of the city laugh and sing and dance in pairs throughout the square, grateful for those who have come to aid them. Their merriment doesn’t dwindle as the sun begins to set on the horizon, twin moons rising in its place. When you (and other new arrivals) are finally noticed by the revelers, do not expect to be left alone! Flower crowns will be deposited upon your heads, food and drink placed into your hands, while live musicians play loud enough for the dead to hear. You’ll be invited to dance, to drinking games, and offered food and flowers and other items of value. Some may cry when they look into your face, thanking you for becoming their champions during this long and exhaustive war. Hopefully you’re here to enjoy the festivities. Sneaking off is just fine, too, but don’t expect to be let go of quietly; the people of the Moon Temple are so happy to see you! Enjoy the celebration while it lasts long into the night.

THE SETTING STARS. Unlike the Temple, your arrival to the Court of Stars is met with a rather somber greeting, however expressions are relieved, despite any emotional guard that may be up. A gathering of knights, weary from a skirmish along the border they're returning from, pat you on the back and lead you through an open air courtyard. All the gathered people of the Emperor's Court look up from their tasks, giving the passing Otherworlders a knowing nod. There's gratitude in their eyes, but that's all the welcome you'll receive: your presence is appreciated, but growing an attachment is another heartache for those that care so deeply for their faction fellows. The silence is broken when a high-ranking member of the guard gives the proclamation: "Our heroes have arrived! Court defenders, world travelers! Help has come from the far lands to aid us in our battles for our Emperor, for all of Fellden!" From there, the few knights that have not yet departed will lead you through the Court's castle, a brief tour of the most important areas (dining hall, housing wing, guard barracks, and the throne room) is given before they instruct you to rest, because the real excitement begins when the sun falls behind the horizon. Left to drift, you can explore the castle, or venture out to the surrounding city as it prepares for the celebration the Starfolk have in store for the returned soldiers and, now, the new arrivals. You'll be invited to the party that spreads across the entire Court city, drawn into large circle dances, and will find that the locals become more at ease and welcoming the longer you spend with them.

WELCOME TO THE GODS WOOD. Between one blink and the next, your eyesight has seemingly been stolen from you. Or, perhaps it’s more likely that something is covering your eyes? Yes, that’s definitely a blindfold tied around the back of your head, although quite the mystery as to how it came to be there. You vaguely remember a wolf that may or may not have spoken to you, but the blindfold is certainly a new addition to the situation. Once removed, you’ll find yourself in the thick of the woods, with no path or directional indicators in sight. The moon is obscured by the tree line, and the stars above do nothing to light your path; seems like removing the blindfold wasn’t as helpful as you may have thought. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, it’s obvious that you are not alone in this; other people are removing their blindfolds just as you are, staring blearily into the dark of the forest with a similar lack of understanding to how they came to be here. Thankfully, you’ll find some nearby travel packs with self-lighting torches, a few rations, and your faction-provided communicator. The compass, unfortunately, remains broken, which means you’ll have to find your way out of the woods without it. Hopefully your sense of direction is passable! Whether you team up with others, or go your separate way is entirely up to you, but you must find your way out, and the fog rolling in is not going to be of any assistance. This is a Dropping, and the Gods Wood is not kind to loiterers.

DRAWN TO THE COASTLINE. Needing an escape from the hectic energy that greeted you in your faction, an empathetic bystander pointed you in the direction of a nearby transport mirror, which you either stepped into without stating a destination, or didn't give one with enough clarity for the mirror to understand. Spitting you out on the beach just outside Kyst, it doesn't seem keen to let you back the way you came; temperamental teleportation magic. As the largest trade city in all of Fellden, there is no shortage of things to do here! Shopping with what coin was hoisted upon you before your departure, mapping out the city itself to memorize the in's and out's, enjoying a drink on the house at a local tavern where you can get into a mean game of cards with some faction soldiers, or even meeting someone else that seems to have stumbled into this world just as you did. Perhaps you're more keen to the outdoors, rather than the bustle of a large city, wandering away from the city just far enough to find a stretch of pristine beach and inviting crystal clear waters of the ocean; the salty air fills your lungs while the rays of the midday sun are almost blinding against the swath of bright white sand that meets the crashing waves. Regardless of what you decide to do, or where you end up, you're in the closest thing to No Man's Land you can get; enjoy your time fraternizing with the enemy, make some new friends in this neutral land, or stick with those from your own faction to get a lay of the land.

Comments

[unabatedly]

It's not that she doesn't notice him. She hears his footfalls in the sand once he's close enough and Neria glances, initially, over her shoulder to ensure he's not someone running at her with a blade-- No, no, it's just a man. An elf.

An elf with face tattoos.

That's when she stops, slowly turning to face him as he comes to a complete stop before her. Neria's eyes immediately sweep over him, consistently drawn back to his face. She is not one of the Dalish, no, but she's seen Vallaslin, knows what those markings correspond to. For a long moment, she is silent. Then, "Yes, I...seem to have found myself rather bereft of it these past few days." Which hasn't settled too well, truth be told, but that isn't so important. Not right now. "Are you... Forgive me if this question is offensive but your markings are familiar to me. Are you Dalish?"

[malavhenan]

Far from looking offended, Finel brightens a little with relief, clearly pleased at the recognition.

"I am." Was might be more accurate by this point, but there's far too much behind making that claim for now. "So you are from Thedas, then."

He feels inordinately relieved, suddenly, know that despite the circumstances, he is far from alone in an unfamiliar place. Not only familiar faces, but those from home, at least, even if he didn't know them.

Finel offers his one hand - the lower half of the left noticeably missing - in a friendly greeting. "My name is Finel."

[unabatedly]

Her expression somewhat mirrors his own in relief, though concern is quick to form again despite the veneer of calm she maintains. "Yes, I am. I'm surprised; I haven't seen anyone else from home. It seemed an odd thing for them to only summon me if they were looking for skilled soldiers for a war." Never mind that she thinks choosing her is also a horrifically terrible idea.

When Finel offers his hand, she reaches for it, though her grip lightens instinctively when she sees the other hand. Her frown is brief. Then, "Neria. It's a pleasure to meet you, Finel. I hope I wasn't worrying you with potential spellwork." Most Dalish don't carry the same hatred for magic humans do, as she's found, but she can't be too careful.

"Are we the only ones? Or have you seen others from our home?"

[malavhenan]

"I think I know what you mean."

He can't help a sympathetic, somewhat pained smile with a brief glance towards his left side. Perhaps if they had based it on his own reputation alone it would make sense, but if someone had thought he would be useful in battle, they were too late.

Finel shakes his head gently, expression warming. "Not at all. Actually, I am a mage myself, but we seem to be having the same difficulty."

He holds out his palm, fingers tense as though waiting to catch something - a spark, followed by a single puff of smoke sputters and disappears. Finel winces.

"I have met only a few others, including two of my companions. Thankfully, we aren't alone here."

[unabatedly]

"Then I needn't be quite so worried that you won't have strong words about my attempts. I can't tell if it's simply an absence of the Fade or if it's something else that's detracting from our efforts at accessing magic, but I suppose it matters little for the moment, as the result is the same." Having someone here who is familiar with it all is actually encouraging. Her gaze falls to his attempts, sympathy evident in her gaze.

It really isn't fair, she thinks, to bring soldiers here who specialize in magic and then strip it all away from them. She has the advantage of knowing swordplay. But Finel? It just seems cruel.

"I don't suppose either of them are good with a blade? We won't be held at a complete disadvantage, at least." Neria shrugs, reaching out to touch his arm. "Come, walk with me. Obviously practicing to draw out magic isn't working. I was hoping to perhaps find some kind of..." Her voice trails off as she considers. "...Perhaps a focal point? Some kind of reservoir, like the Fade, where perhaps we can draw on natural mana here. Someone very powerful brought us here; there must be some similar well to tap into."

Perhaps that's very pointed commentary about her concerns regarding what could have caused them to appear in this place, what kind of power it must hold. How dangerous it might be.

[malavhenan]

Given his recent circumstances and the difficulty with their magic, Finel can't help but think that his selection had been a mistake. Of course back in Thedas, he could wield great influence even without his magic or his arm, if he so chose. But here he is virtually no one. He could use a sword, if pressed, but not well enough necessarily to save his own life.

"One is particularly, yes, but unfortunately the other is also a mage - he does have both his arms, however." The self-deprecating quip doesn't sound particularly bitter. Finel also doesn't feel the need to reveal quite yet that the one who is better suited to non-magical fighting is in fact a Qunari, but she'll meet him eventually in all likelihood.

As they walk, he nods in agreement. "I've had similar thoughts, myself. When trying to cast a spell here, it's as though I'm reaching for something that doesn't exist."

Finel is thoughtful a moment, glancing at the ground in front of him and picking his way around fragments of seashells.

"Perhaps there is someone who would be willing to tell us, and give us a better idea of how we can adapt our skills to whatever source is here."

[unabatedly]

There is a momentary pause in her step as she mentions the other mage having two arms, and though it doesn't come bitter, it certainly sits uncomfortably. "The lovely thing about being a mage, provided our magic is working, is that we needn't require two hands to do quite extraordinary things." The question, of course, is more about whether or not Finel is a fighter at all. If he isn't, then yes, it might be a poor choice to bring him in if their goal is for them to do battle.

Although...

Neria's gaze grows thoughtful as they walk, and she remains by his side throughout, carefully stepping over or around the shells that litter the shore. "I wonder if the natives would provide that information, especially those here in presumably neutral territory." Her lips thin into a line. "Perhaps they are also trying to fill all of their ranks, not simply those of common foot soldiers."

A mage could be an advisor, an enchanter, a mentor, a guide. She lifts a brow to him. "What did you do prior to coming here, if I may ask?"

[malavhenan]

Finel merely offers a carefully neutral smile at the admonishment.

"Forgive me; you are right, of course. Yet it is still much easier to wield a staff or sword with both hands. Unfortunately I have yet to adapt to either skill in my current condition."

It's only been a few weeks since the loss of his arm, after all. There are so many things to relearn.

Finel hums thoughtfully in agreement. "It seems that of the people I have met so far, most were not merely soldiers. One would hope that if they wanted to take full advantage of whatever unique talents they believe us to possess, there would be a way to ensure we can still have access to them."

And-...ah. They've come to that already.

Finel pauses a moment, caught somewhere between a light laugh and a wince.

"I presume you've heard of the Inquisition by now, and that the Inquisitor was a Dalish elf?" That she hadn't recognized him meant she hadn't been someone who had been to Skyhold, or anyone he's ever directly crossed paths with. But still, after several years, surely most everyone in Thedas was at least familiar with it.