fellmemes | Test Drive #1

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Finel is weary by the time he stops into the tavern for a rest from his wanderings. It's funny how much the place reminds him of the Herald's Rest - the atmosphere a similar sort of comfortable warmth, the smell of spirits and beer tart in the air. All it needed was a gruff dwarven barkeep and a jaunty song about a certain disagreeable elf.

The similarities are such that Finel nearly misses the hulking Qunari form in the corner entirely.

But instead his heart leaps, and it's too much to not just immediately make his way over to Bull, a fond smile full of relief and warmth tugging at his lips as he approaches.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to have found you here in a place like this."

"Boss?"

Bull has made peace with the fact that he may have ended up in another world entirely, but he hadn't expected to see anyone he knows here. Part of him doesn't want to trust the sudden comfort of a familiar face, but he sits forward slightly all the same, leaning on the table in front of him as he tries to get a closer look at Finel as he approaches.

"You know me, boss. I get around. Guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you here, falling in and out of the Fade like you do."

Noting the way Bull watches him closely, Finel stops at the corner of the table, allowing some space between them. He settles his one hand lightly over the well-worn wood, fingertips idly tracing a knot. His expression quiets a little, but the gentle smile remains in place.

"This isn't the Fade, so far as I can tell. In fact, I am uncertain that the Fade exists at all in this place."

His eyes shift to the tankard on the table, and he quirks an interested brow. "Any good?"

Bull bobs his head to one side and shrugs the corresponding shoulder. "It's drinkable," he quips. "More Dorian's taste than mine."

Lavellen is here - is anyone else? Bull can't help but wonder and he isn't sure he wants to dig too deeply into the metaphysics behind their being here.

"What do you remember before getting here?"

Finel chuckles a little at that. "So something along the lines of Ferelden beer, then?"

His brows draw together in concern at the question. Finel studies Bull carefully a moment, trying to determine the reasoning behind his question, wondering what answer he might be looking for. There's an obvious piece of him missing, but Bull hasn't shown any obvious reaction to it otherwise; not that he would, necessarily, of course, being a former spy. But those old habits, particularly in an unfamiliar place, could mean the difference in survival.

"It's been some weeks after the Exalted Council in Halamshiral," he answers finally. Finel tilts his head, shifts his weight to the other foot as he waits for a response. "What about you?"

Something like a smile tugs the corner of his scarred mouth. "Just checking, boss," he says quietly. "Getting hauled between realms leaves one a little unsettled."

He noticed the missing piece, of course, but reacting one way or another isn't helpful when he's trying to gauge accuracy of information. Bull takes a drink from his tankard before he answers.

"Dorian was getting ready to leave," he answers. "Just a few days after the Council concluded."

"Of course," Finel agrees gently.

Something flickers in his expression at Bull's answer - concern, confusion, a painful memory. Dorian's departure had been difficult, even knowing it was coming again, made only slightly easier by having the chance (again) to say goodbye. Still, he's one of the few important people in his life who Finel has had that opportunity, at least. It's heartening to have him back again sooner than expected, even if the circumstances aren't precisely ideal.

Yet there's a stark discrepancy between them. The space of a few weeks, unaccounted for.

"We've returned to Skyhold already, by my memory. Have you been here very long?"

"Long enough to know what we've been recruited for, but not very long."

Bull has fought in wars he has no stake in before. He's made a career out of it, in fact. The Inquisition was an exception: how could he not have a stake in saving the world? He takes a drink from his tankard.

"Where did you end up?"

He could guess, but he doesn't want to. He wants to know.

The discrepancy in time still bothers him, but that aside, nothing else appears to be terribly off...

Yet as soon as Bull asks, Finel knows in his heart how it's turned out. He resists the urge to touch his chest where the tattoo had appeared, hand instead going for the pendant ever present around his neck instead. His thumb traces a well-worn worry path, the gesture an old, familiar habit when he seeks to reassure himself.

"The Court of Stars," he answers quietly, finally. "And you?"

Finel hadn't seen Bull in the castle at all since his own arrival. Perhaps with the supposed time difference, there was still a chance...

There's something almost sad in Bull's smile. "I think you know, boss." He thinks of the moon tattooed on his thigh. It bothers him that the mark just appeared and that he has no memory of how it got there. It isn't easy to tattoo Qunari skin.

He wishes he could offer Finel some kind of reassurance or comfort, but it would be empty, and he has made it a point to never flat out lie to the Inquisitor.

"I came here from the Temple."

Finel smiles despite himself, too, wan and tired.

"Of course." His chest feels a little tight, and he exhales to release some of the pressure. "It would be too much, I suppose, to expect that we might all be together."

Finel takes a half step forward, then pulls back again. His hand drops back down to his side as he looks back at Bull.

"And you and Dorian? What will you do?"

"This is practically like being home," he says with a faint, almost sad smile. "I'm sure we can survive being on opposite sides of a war again."

Bull isn't happy but he cannot change the faction that's claimed him any more than Dorian can. He's heard rumors of factionless people and none of them are pleasant stories.

"Look after him, boss. You know how he gets."

"Bull..."

Finel doesn't bother to hide his concern, frustration at the situation tightening the corner of his lips. His jaw clenches, and releases, and he forces what falls somewhat short of a reassuring smile.

"Of course."

Reaching for a pouch at his hip, Finel deftly flicks open the latch with one hand before retrieving something from inside. His hand closes around the already familiar shape of the crystal in its pouch, holding it tightly before glancing around suddenly. Even in this supposed neutral zone, would someone be watching?

Yet what kingdoms fighting a centuries-long war make it so easy for people to move freely into a neutral territory?

A quick sweep yielded nothing noticeable, but only a bad spy would be obvious.

Finel huffs softly, shaking his head. It was already too late to be having these thoughts, if he was right.

He withdraws his hand, sets the pouch casually on the table.

"I want you to have this. I think you'll get better use out of it than I will, now."

Test Drive #1

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