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faderiftooc2017-01-25 06:19 pm
faderifting) wrote in faderiftooc2017-01-25 06:19 pm
Entry tags:
MOD POST ↠ FALSE GODS, GREAT DEMONS
PLOT: FALSE GODS, GREAT DEMONS
When a mysterious rift in time and space draws a team of ten Inquisition members into the future, they find out the hard way that a lot can happen in five years. They find Thedas in ruins as the shadow of Corypheus casts darkness over a fallen Orlais and a war ravaged Ferelden. The Inquisition is reduced to an embittered group of rebels forced underground, but not yet defeated. The group of ten must not only find a way home, but understand how the world came to look like this so that they can change the course of history when they return. Or rather, change the future.
This is also a big excuse for the rest of us to write in an alternative universe, populating this darkest timeline with future versions of our characters. In this post, you can comment with your darkest timeline scenario and plot with others to develop interweaving stories that cover the next five years, with as much or as little detail as you like. Below are some more extensive notes about the state of the world, the status of specific regions, and some guidance as to plot structure.
Note: FAU = Future AU; TTT = Time Travel Team aka the Titty Team.
TIME TRAVEL TEAM
At the end of Guardian, 9:43, the Inquisition will receive a report from a group of Chantry sisters who recently made a pilgrimage to the ruins of the Temple of Sacred Ashes. They have discovered the bodies of a group of bandits who apparently died around their campfire within the ruins, but the strange thing being that there seems to be no evidence of a struggle or a fight, and the corpses look like they've been there for some years. They also report the presence of demons and spirits, but no rifts. They would very much appreciate it if the Inquisition could clean house.
- Cosima Neihaus
- The Doctor
- Hermione Granger
- The Iron Bull
- Luwenna Coupe
- The Outsider
- Samouel Gareth
- Saoirse Ceallach
- Teren von Skraedder
- Zevran Arainai
STATE OF THE FUTURE
The time travelers will find themselves in a world where a resurgent Tevinter Imperium holds most of Thedas. The fight is not yet lost, but the Inquisition and others who oppose the Imperium are on their last legs. Southern Thedas is being ravaged by a "Blight" that spreads both the corruption and red lyrium infestations, while the North is caught in an open war between Par Vollen and the Tevinter Imperium. Corypheus himself has not been sighted in years, and some outside of the Inquisition doubt he ever existed; it's the Imperium itself they speak of as the bogeyman.
In addition to the war and conflict that come with any imperialist expansion, the Tevinter Imperium has imposed its social order on most of Thedas, with slaves on the bottom and noble-blooded mages at the top. (If they're cooperative. Rebels are considered enemies of the state regardless of their magical abilities or bloodlines.) Andrastianism is still practiced, with the Black Divine at its head, and with the Herald of Andraste (we know, we know, keep reading) preaching the Maker's imminent return. Tevinter's more ancient religious practices and cults devoted to the surviving old gods--Razikale and Lusacan--are also growing in prominence.
Here's how we got to this point:
9:43. The ten people sent to investigate the Temple of Sacred Ashes disappear on 30 Guardian. Searches turn up no sign of them.
Emboldened by his foothold in the Anderfels, Corypheus does not retreat to the Arbor Wilds following his loss in Orlais, but in midsummer he does send a force there that is large enough to catch the Inquisition's attention. A team is sent out to beat them to whatever they're looking for, but that team is decimated and none return alive. Reports sent via sending crystal before communication is lost mention the presence of the Herald of Andraste.
9:44. Darkspawn infected with red lyrium begin pressing into Orlais from the Anderfels, often accompanied by a corrupted dragon and spreading red lyrium along with the blight. The Anderfels' Wardens and military follow them. Most reports concur that they're defending against a new Blight, but others say that the Wardens themselves show signs of red lyrium corruption and are clearing a path southward for the Archdemon and taking control of Orlais. The Inquisition moves the bulk of its army into Orlais to attempt to draw a line that neither the darkspawn nor the Anders can cross.
Meanwhile, the Inquisition and Corypheus' forces begin to struggle for control of the eluvians, each seeking out specific mirrors and blocking specific passageways through the Crossroads.
The Herald of Andraste, or someone claiming to be her, publicly emerges in Cumberland and denounces the Inquisition for occupying Orlais and spreading lies about her (and everything else) under the guise of a holy war.
9:45. After a disastrous loss in Orlais against the combined forces of the Anderfels and Tevinter, with darkspawn in the north and an army of red lyrium behemoths emerging from the south, the Inquisition pulls its forces out of Orlais. The Orlesian ruler refuses to retreat with the Inquisition and is later publicly executed. The Inquisition draws a new line of defense across the Frostback Mountains, while in Nevarra the Venatori and their allies gain power via politics rather than force.
The Herald of Andraste relocates to Val Royeaux; she isn't placed on the Sunburst Throne, but she's near enough to it for the symbolism to be obvious. Most of the Chantry clergy in Orlais fall in line or are imprisoned or executed. Meanwhile, the bounties placed on the heads--or hands, ha ha--of rifters are high enough to motivate many commoners to turn on them, particularly as public opinion shifts toward their being demons and imposters.
9:46. With Nevarra well in hand, the new Tevinter Imperium begins quietly taking the Free Marches city by city, whether by force or intimidation. Enemy forces move into Ferelden from across the Waking Sea and quickly begin subduing the Bannorn. Although Skyhold remains impenetrable, the possibility of being trapped there without supplies drives the Inquisition to abandon the fortress and occupy the Hinterlands, where it faces a grueling year of fending off Tevinter take-over and darkspawn alike, suffering many losses. In the north, the Qunari decide that the dumb bas really aren't going to fix this on their own, and Par Vollen invades the mainland via Rivain.
9:47. Facing an increasingly hopeless situation in Ferelden, the Inquisition accepts an offer from Orzammar to take refuge underground. The Fereldan Army continues to defend Denerim against the invaders, pledging not to surrender, and the remnants of the Inquisition assist via guerilla strikes in the occupied territories. Assassinations and sabotage become key tactics. Numerous small victories help maintain the status quo, but the status quo sucks.
9:48. The present time for future AUs. The "Blight" and accompanying red lyrium continue to terrorize Southern Thedas, and the "Herald of Andraste" remains in Val Royeaux leading what's left of the Chantry. Orzammar and Kal-Sharok are the only fully unoccupied kingdoms in continental Thedas, and Denerim the last free surface city in the South. Although swarmed with Tevinter military and Venatori, Nevarra is an apparently willing and independent ally of the new Tevinter Imperium, while Rivain and the northernmost Free Marches city-states are occupied by the Qunari. Antiva is being trampled to death in the war between the Imperium and Qunari. The Anderfels are still a hellhole. And bears are extinct.
PLOT LOCATIONS
You're welcome to create your own dystopian adventures with FAU characters across Thedas. But the TTT won't have time to journey across the continent connecting with lost loved ones, so if you're interested in having your FAU characters interact with TTT characters or participate in any portions of the main plotline, we recommend having them congregate in or around these two places:
KIRKWALL. The City of Chains has reverted to Tevinter control and is a major hub of economic and political activity, as well as a center for arcane research. The Gallows have been repurposed as a political prison. Characters who have been captured, who have switched allegiances, or who are attempting long-term infiltration could be located here at the beginning of the event. They'll have an opportunity to escape or otherwise leave with the TTT and reunite with the main Inquisition force in Orzammar.
ORZAMMAR. The Dwarven kingdoms of Orzammar and Kal-Sharok are the only kingdoms in continental Thedas truly left standing, and the remnants of the Inquisition's forces have been given use of the once-abandoned Ortan Thaig and what's accessible of the Deep Roads to aid them in their efforts. Trade and travel through the main doors have been blocked, so everyone has been sneaking in and out through various well-guarded tunnels/caves/crevices and eating a lot of nugs. This is the main hub of Inquisition-related activity and will be the location from which plot events are launched, so having your characters be there or close enough to get there in a hurry will allow you to participate.
CRYSTALS
Sending crystals will still work for both FAU and TTT characters. However, due to the increasing prevalence of traitors in the ranks, open announcements are much rarer. Private conversations are the norm, and when announcements are made to every sending crystal, they typically avoid naming specific locations or the details of plans. The queasy crow flies at midnight.
ANCHORS
Rifters and characters with anchor fragments may find that their anchors are behaving unpredictably or emitting bursts of harmful magical energy outside of their control, but not everyone will be experiencing these effects at all or to the same degree. The difficulty will not have progressed as far as the Inquisitor's in Trespasser.
PLOT STRUCTURE
This post is for plotting! You can post top-level comments with your plans or vague ideas for FAUs and comment around to build things up and work out how your CR might have developed in the past five years. In the comments below you'll also find a place for you to submit a finalized summary of the AU history/status of any characters you play in the future, once you're done plotting, so other folks will know what's going on.
Other posts will include:
1. An open log for your general darkest timeline needs, posted February 1 and dated IC to Cloudreach 9:48.
2. A mix of closed and semi-open logs/sets for plot events, including the TTT's arrival in the future, an errand they'll need to run, their triumphant reunion with the remaining Inquisition forces, and the effort to return them home. The first part will also be posted on February 1.
3. A quasi-official general darkest timeline AU meme in the spam comm for anyone who would like to thread out any events that took place prior to the arrival of the TTT in 9:48, posted in a couple of days once people have had time to plot.
If you have any questions, let us know!
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