OPEN: The Western Approach

[faderifting]

WHO: Everyone!
WHAT: The Western Approach is a terrible place. You should definitely go there.
WHEN: Bloomingtide 15 onward
WHERE: The Western Approach
NOTES: This is open to everyone. Characters who would not happily go to the hell desert probably have to go anyway; it's a war, not a vacation.

Once these wastes were a land of plenty. Can you believe it? The rain came north over the Gamordan Peaks, turning the plains green and verdant for three months of the year. Eight hundred years ago, that changed. During the Second Blight, darkspawn spilled out of an enormous crack in the earth, corrupting it with their foul blood... and it never recovered, even after they were driven back underground. The Grey Wardens built Adamant Fortress to stand watch over that chasm, but eventually even they abandoned it to the wind and the biting sand.

What few of us eke out a living in this Maker-forsaken place do so knowing that any number of deaths await us: darkspawn raids, dragons, bandits—not to mention starvation from the lack of water and game. If we stay, it is because we know there are treasures buried in the bones of this place, ruins from the time when Tevinter ruled, and even earlier. We pass tales around our campfires of the things we have seen shrouded in the dust storms. My favorites are the ones about relics that could restore the Western Approach once more... but I don't believe them. Truth be told, on nights when the wind is calm, I can stand on a hilltop and see for miles in the moonlight over a stark beauty of which no other Orlesian can claim to know the equal. On those nights, I hope it will never change.

—From Lands of the Abyss by Magistrate Gilles de Sancriste

---

I. THE DESERT

When Scout Harding calls somewhere the worst place in Thedas, that's probably a bad sign. Even when nothing in the Western Approach is deliberately trying to kill you, there's nothing kind or forgiving about the landscape: bare and arid, carved through by sharp-dropped canyons, dotted with abandoned mines and signs of the deaths of lost travelers. Winds sweeping through to whip stinging sand into uncovered faces, and periodic dust storms obscure visibility entirely. It's warm enough to be dangerous but not so hot, at this time of year, that heat exhaustion and dehydration can't creep up on you while you aren't paying attention.

And at any given moment, something probably is deliberately trying to kill you. The food chain in the region is top-heavy, with quillbacks, phoenixes, hyenas, and varghests roaming hungrily and as likely to attack one another as the sparse local prey population. Compared to their natural competitors, the Inquisition's forces look like easy marks. The camps the Inquisition scatters at lookout points throughout the region require constant watch, and going anywhere alone is inadvisable. Not only because of the hostile local everything, but also because it is incredibly easy to get lost. One rock formation looks much like another after hours in the sun or bathed in shifting moonlit shadows, and good luck finding many other landmarks. There are a few: chunks of pillars or arches from some ruined structure, or the occasional odd pillar that might, if someone investigates, prove to mark a trail of sorts.

Plus: the only people who seem determined to survive out here are cutthroat bandits and stray Venatori. Double-plus: a high dragon makes occasional fly-bys, scouring the ground below for anything edible, armored or not.

Some reprieve comes at night, relief from both the sun and the area's primarily diurnal predators. But that's when the darkspawn come out.

II. GRIFFON WING KEEP

Bloomingtide 16-17: Taking the Keep

Only a small force of Tevinter cultists remains in Griffon Wing Keep when the Inquisition arrives, seemingly on their way out the door already, but the sight of Inquisition banners is enough to make them stay and fight. There's no need for siege equipment, but there is call for a little bit of patience. With it, a small battalion is able to evade the mages and archers on the walls and storm the doors with few casualties. Fewer than three dozen warriors wait inside. It's a quick, brutal fight; it only takes a night.

Bloomingtide 18 Onward: Home Away From Home

Once the Keep is cleared of occupants, it's ripe for the Inquisition to… occupy… But with implicit permission, at least. Those who aren't needed for fights elsewhere may be put to work clearing out debris and small animals and the remnants left by the cultists, and within a few days the fortress is a serviceable outpost, much more hospitable than the camps out in the sand. Barracks mean even those who don't have beds at Skyhold may have one here, and it takes less than a week for an enterprising merchant to arrive with ale.

III. THE STILL RUINS

Despite signs of recent activity, the lavish Tevinter palace tucked incongruously into the canyons is quiet and still, when the Inquisition discovers it—quiet, still, but not empty. The ancient ruin is brimming with demons and Tevinters in incredibly outdated fashions, all frozen in place, as they have been for hundreds of years. No one breathes or blinks, but their skin is still warm and alive to the touch.

Beyond the entryway and halls and through the courtyard, there are signs of research and experimentation, and one man stood unmoving with his hand clasped around something unseen.

Perhaps someone will discover the cause. Perhaps someone will undo the spell that's been cast over the palace. Perhaps, if someone does, someone will take the opportunity to not immediately murder all of these valuable sources of ancient information, and instead only murder most of them. In the meantime, however, it is unlikely that anyone will ever be able to get this close to a rage demon without receiving a face full of fire. Take advantage.

IV. CORACAVUS

Signs of the Venatori point upward: up the hills, up ladders and towers, and into the ancient Tevinter prison, Coracavus, that was built into the mountainside. The ruin is filled with sand now, with half-collapsed walls and anything not made of stone worn away by winds, and the Venatori are long gone, their hunt for relics from the glory days of the Imperium abandoned when an excavation attempt opened the prison to darkspawn, instead. The darkspawn have retreated as well, but there are signs of their presence. Namely the smell and the half-eaten corpses of slaves—primarily elven and dwarven—who were left behind to their fates when the Tevinters fled.

There's no sign of them now, but digging through their abandoned camps may turn up a name, if anyone would like to see that he pays.

V. ADAMANT FORTRESS

A day's determined walk from the nearest Inquisition camp, Adamant Fortress overlooks the vast chasm—dubbed the Abyssal Rift—from which darkspawn poured during the Second Blight. It stood abandoned for nearly 150 years before the Grey Wardens' recent reoccupation, and it's abandoned again now, emptied out well before the Inquisition's forces arrive. There are signs that the retreat was a hasty one: scattered belongings, opened doors, abandoned meals, and no fewer than fifty bodies left on a mass pyre that only half-burned without anyone to tend it.

The Veil has always been thin here, and it's thinner now, where demons have been pulled through from the Fade. Rifts hang over the battlements and in the corridors, and escaped shades lurk in the dark corridors, siphoning away the willpower of those who linger until they come close enough to attack. Those who visit the Fortress set up camp outside of it rather than within it, wisely.

There are clear signs of blood sacrifice, for those who look: the bodies, blood stains on the stone floors, neat lists of names systemically crossed through. Sorting through documents left behind may turn up vague notes in a mage's runic shorthand or the journal of a trepidatious new recruit (Lourde, a pickpocket, crossed through on the registers). Behind a locked door in the lowest rooms are the bodies of sixteen mages, still in their Circle robes, left lying where they fell when the Joining took them. Mages who were among the rebels in Redcliffe may recognize a face or two as belonging to the hardliners who left with the Tevinters.

Comments

II

[dragoon_pride]

Kain was in the battle, of course, and while he’s not too bad off injury-wise, just a few minor scratches and bruises, he’s pretty worn out. That and he’s in need of more protection against the sun. So he heads over to the shade as well, lotion in hand as he starts rubbing it on his face and arms, any areas left unprotected by the modified armor he’s wearing.

He glances over at Sam. “This heat... It’s almost unbearable, isn’t it?”

[el_tybs]

"You're telling me," he mutters back as he takes his towel and wipes at his face. "I'm more built for wet and cold, and this... is very opposite of it." What he wouldn't give for a cold bath right about now, or even a cool breeze.

Glancing over at Kain he raises a brow, watching as the man applies lotion to himself. "How you holding up out there?"

[dragoon_pride]

"I'd much rather be in the mountains myself, where there's at least some wind. Even a gentle breeze would be welcome now." True, the Approach has its share of high cliff and ledges overlooking some impressive views below, but it's not quite enough, especially when the days are so unpleasant.

Kain holds an arm up, looking. "I'm hardly as red as I could be, though. A small victory, I suppose."

[el_tybs]

Well it wasn't like there wasn't any wind, just that any kind of breeze they got was equally hot and didn't help alleviate any of the discomforts they were facing. Maker, he'd rather be in Emprise right now. At least there were ways to get warm.

"You, too, huh?" Sam looks at his own arm, already turning a brown with obvious red on his skin as well. "What I would give for some snow about now, right?"

[dragoon_pride]

It's an unpleasant warmth, with little relief to be found... though the shade is... somewhat helpful. Ugh. It's not the best, but they have to take what they can get.

"I was just getting to appreciate that snow, too." He shakes his head. Seriously, building a fire is pretty straightforward, it's far easier to keep warm than the opposite. "Are there any actual pleasant regions here in your world?" He's starting to seriously doubt this... there's been snow, desert, that foul swamp...

[el_tybs]

"I suppose it would depend on what you consider pleasant?" Oh sure, they have plenty of places that are decent temperature wise. "There are a decent amount of regions that have better weather. Course then you got the wildlife, bandits... dragons. The Hinterlands are very nice considering. Can't say I've been around too much to know personally about some other places."

[dragoon_pride]

Kain nods agreement, he'd forgotten how easy it had felt, getting around the Hinterlands. "It's more the weather and the demons and rifts I'm thinking about at the moment... The regular wildlife, I can deal with. A good hunt is always worth the challenge... especially dragons." Though Thedas has proven it has plenty of threatening wildlife, so even a small journey is never dull.

[el_tybs]

And Darkspawn, red templars, red lyrium... though he doesn't bring them up - he gets what Kain means. Speaking of dragons. "I take it you've seen the high dragon roaming around these parts then?" Honestly he'd be surprised if Kain didn't know about it considering it's been quite the talk lately.

[dragoon_pride]

“Of course I have.” Though each time he’s seen it, he’s tried running off to get a closer view, to get closer to the dragon itself, track its movements, and figure out where it’s generally going. He has no doubt there’s a need to fight it, and he can’t really hold himself back for long. “It’s coming dangerously close. Close enough that it’ll undoubtedly pose a threat…”

[el_tybs]

Sam can certainly picture Kain running around, chasing after something that could easily out maneuver him. Just don't jump any cliffs, Kain. "I don't doubt it. It's probably not used to seeing so many creatures moving in mass over the sands at all times of day. Probably starting to think we're a new kind of food."

[dragoon_pride]

"It probably is, by now. Which means we cannot let our guard down. The situation may turn dangerous at any moment... Dragons can be highly unpredictable, after all." Sure, there are some things that can be relied on, but when humans are sharing territory with them... trouble awaits. Kain is definitely trying to resist the urge to leap over any cliffs, that's for sure.

[el_tybs]

Not that there are many cliffs in this particular region unless Kain wanted to climb that mountain over yonder. "I wouldn't say unpredictable, that definitely seems like something that is going to happen. We just don't know what kind of schedule she or he is on. I'm sure if it is a concern the Inquisition will start issuing a group to go after the dragon."

[dragoon_pride]

Mountain climbing? He’d certainly be up for that. But unfortunately they do have a mission here, a duty to fulfill. So he can’t just go off doing whatever he wants, much as he wishes that were the case. “I’m sure they will. I guess unless it really does pose a threat, we don’t have to take any action until that time.”

[el_tybs]

"Dragons are... a handful. If we don't have to deal with it that saves time and manpower towards things we need to get done. But it is a threat then we'll have little choice." All his life he's gone without seeing dragons, only hearing about them in tales, and now it seemed like they were popping up everywhere. Probably because he was actually traveling around Thedas now.

[dragoon_pride]

“A shame we couldn’t tame any for ourselves…” Kain says that rather wistfully, though, knowing that it’s pretty much an impossibility. Still, he can dream in his way, reminisce about the old days back home. “Back home, there was a time when we rode them, but those days are long past, unfortunately. Still… I guess you’re right, for now. We have plenty of other concerns to keep us occupied.”

[el_tybs]

Taming a dragon? Now that would be something. A baby dragon would even be a challenge, but a full grown one? Good luck with that Kain. Course Kain just kept coming up with more fantastical things to bring up. "You used to ride dragons?" That would be impossible here - unless you counted jumping on one possibly and going for a ride - but the idea of it. How amazing would that be?

[dragoon_pride]

"For a time, I did. It's not as common in current times, but in my father's days, all dragoons had their own dragon... it was his that I rode upon and cared for. Being a dragoon is about more than slaying them." Even then, it's a whole respect thing, when facing a dragon in battle. "I know it's probably not so readily done here, though..."

[el_tybs]

"Can't say that that it is. Perhaps if taming was possible it would be different, but..." Kain has seen the dragons here by now, right? They weren't exactly a cooperative bunch, that was just as or more dangerous than any other wildlife that they faced. Course there was awe, and levels of respect depending on who you talked to. "I wouldn't really advise trying to either."

[dragoon_pride]

"I'm not that foolish to attempt, fortunately." Kain sighs, though, knowing it's a lost cause and rather saddened by that fact. There's no chance in restoring the dragoons in some foreign world... not that he was exactly hoping to try. That's for if he ever returns home. "Though that won't stop me from admiring them from afar anyway, or even while I fight them." He'll always love dragons despite everything that they're capable of.

[el_tybs]

Well Sam wouldn't know about dragoons, but there were famous houses known for dragon hunting. Course not quite the same as what Kain was suggesting. "Think we all can appreciate a dragon from afar." Especially those of the group that sported horns - bit more excitement with that lot.

Looking up at the sky, Sam gives a sigh. "Think I've taken a long enough rest. I should get back to helping with supplies and any of the injured. Stay safe, Kain?" Normally he'd just say it, but this time he does make it a question seeing if that is what the man is planning. All in good humor of course.

[dragoon_pride]

"Well, yes, we certainly can... even watching them fly is a breathtaking sight." But of course, this is Kain and his connection is a close one. He would love to see them up close more often, knowing the danger and all.

Kain is... all too used to such uncertainty. He's pretty sure most people aren't always sure they'll see him alive again when they see him next. Pretty much, he's used to this. But he does nod, at least for now not planning anything reckless. "Yes, there's a lot to accomplish right now... and don't worry about me. I will."