Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Select Orlesian and Fereldan Nobility and the Inquisition
WHAT: Josephine and Vivienne have orchestrated a good-will soiree in response to this dastardly rumor.
WHEN: Drakonis 15, Evening
WHERE: Skyhold Great Hall
NOTES:
- A list of nobles in attendance can be found here. The list was provided by the mods but there will be no npc support for them. Play away.
- A secondary outside party is being held in the valley in the tent town for anyone who couldn't/wouldn't attend and/or behave in the fancy pansty party.
- The goal of the evening is to clear up a spurious rumor about Cassandra and Leliana, with secondary goals of establishing the Inquisition as a respectable presence in Thedas (and fish for more money). Any major disruptions that would Game Over the court approval should probably be brought to the advisors and/or mods.



To say that Josphine has far outdone herself with this little soiree would be the understatement of the year. The Lady Ambassador has pulled out all the stops in providing a festive and yet elegant stage for this political intervention. Because sometimes gossip can be more deadly than a sword.

The Great Hall of Skyhold has been converted into a grand receiving hall, glittering with hundreds of lights around the room, in addition to the repairs accomplished to the original chandeliers. Of course, there has been artful placement arranged so there are a few shadowy corners for rendezvous of the more suggestive nature. Just in case. The majority of the floor has been cleared for dancing, and a fine troupe of musicians have been installed for the bulk of the evening's entertainments. Some members of the Inquisition have plans to entice attendees with their own artistic performances in addition to the group of mages performing illusory tricks to oohs and aahs.

For those who feel their energy flagging, there are chairs set against the walls, with a few tables interspersed between. Servers hired for the evening circulate the crowds with wine, fine Orlesian and Nevarran reds as well as crisp whites from Antiva. Refreshments are set out on buffet tables, tasteful and extravagant nibbles, including imported cheeses, spicy saucisson, dried fruits and nuts, and the highly sought after deep mushroom and anise petits fours that are all the rage in Orlais.

Comments

Ser Ingrid Kief

[ingrid_kief]

Ingrid feels a bit swept up into this whole affair. Even her own wedding celebration wasn't half this fancy. But, she was told it's an important affair, so she's here. Although she mostly keeps her helmet off, Ingrid is wearing her formal dress armor, polished to a mirror shine. She will do her absolute best to represent the Templar Order tonight.

She does eat some, but she is very judicious with her drink, not allowing herself to become even slightly tipsy.

Ingrid is a surprisingly graceful woman for her size, but uneducated in the art of dancing. She'll probably accept if someone asks her, but they might need to teach her the steps first.

Re: Ser Ingrid Kief

[judgemewhole]

"Ser Kief."

Norrington states to her, as he comes to stand by her side. One arm is folded behind his back, as he looks out at the crowd and nods solicitously at any noble that happened to walk by then.

"You look a little ... confused, I believe the word is."

[ingrid_kief]

She nods in acknowledgment.
"Knight-Commander."

Her brow furrowed thoughtfully.
"I am not suited for this... frippery. I am a farm girl. A soldier. I should be working for something of substance, not standing here to look pretty. I will maintain my post, guard those here, represent the order as well as I can. But I do not understand it."

[judgemewhole]

He smirked faintly, before he sighed as he looked out at the crowd. "It's the opportunity to allow the people of Thedas to see that the Order has not truly abandoned them. That we are here, helping the Inquisition in it's time of peril. Being present is ... important."

[ingrid_kief]

"Yes, ser." She straightens some.

"Is there nothing better we can do to show our support besides... being present?"

[judgemewhole]

He thought about it, before he looked around at the nobility. "There are some strong Chantry supporters here, amongst the nobility. The Duke, for one. Perhaps speaking with him about current events would give us some new way to show the outside world that the Order is pulling itself together again."

[ingrid_kief]

Ingrid looked dubiously in the Duke's direction.
"...is that an order, ser?"

[judgemewhole]

"I am not going to order you to be nice to people, Ser Kief." Norrington stated dryly, before thinking about it. "I will order you not to beat them into the ground, however."

[ingrid_kief]

"No ground beatings. Yes, sir." She almost smiled at that one.

[judgemewhole]

"I appreciate it, as does the Templar Order." Is his dry reply, before he gives her a more thoughtful look. "And it wouldn't hurt for you to get off the wall. Socialize. Ask someone to dance, Ser Kief, that is an order in of itself."

[ingrid_kief]

That made her pause.
"Ser? I'm sorry, but I'm not prepared for that order, ser. My training did not include dancing."

She lowered her head.
"...I do not know how."

[judgemewhole]

Norrington blinked, before he smiled gently. Then he cleared his throat, squaring his shoulders. "Ser Kief, considering how many social functions we have in our future, for the support of the Order, I am willing to teach you."

[el_tybs]

Sam recognizes the armor, but not the face. As such he's intrigued and makes his way over. He smiles lightly as he approaches, minding that his drink isn't knocked from his hands on onto the floor or others around.

"Evening. Are you enjoying yourself?"

[ingrid_kief]

"I am here on orders," she answers simply. Which was the nicest, most truthful way of saying she was bored half to death without being bluntly honest.

She looks at the man warily.
"Are you?"

[el_tybs]

He thinks for a moment, eyes looking out into the crowd then looking back, shrugging slightly.
"There are enjoyable moments. Can't say I'm terribly fond of the whole thing."

She was here on orders?
"So you're just keeping the peace tonight?"

[ingrid_kief]

"If I must."

She shrugs.
"But mostly, I am just... present. To show the Order has not broken with the Inquisition."

[el_tybs]

Sam raises a brow at that.
"That is important to see, but it would be easier to make people know that if you went out and conversed." Not that she has to, but he's noticed that the nobles notice things or people more when they moved.

[ingrid_kief]

She gave him a dubious look and shifted uncomfortably.

"I am not good at conversing. My Common is... wanting. I do not know Orlesian. I was not sent to charm. I was sent to do work."

[el_tybs]

"Your Common seems pretty decent." He's not having an issue understanding her, but there is the obvious accent, which he cannot quite place. "Where are you from? Ah, if I might ask?"

[ingrid_kief]

"Weisshaupt in the Anderfels," she replies. "And you are from where? South, but... Marches? Or Ferelden?"

[el_tybs]

"Weisshaupt?" That was pretty far. The name is familiar too but he's not sure why. He chuckles at her guesses - clearly not Orlais, which she got considering she didn't mention. "I'm Ferelden born. I did spend a good part of my life in Ostwick though. So not off about the Marches."

[byblow]

Alistair is—as a kindness to other people, mostly—not in armor, although there's something vaguely martial, or maybe just excessively practical, about Fereldan finery. But there's nothing martial about his demeanor. He looks a little harried, a little mutinous, and a little amused all at once when he winds up next to Ingrid purely by mistake, in the process of weaving around other people to dodge someone he has negative interest in continuing to converse with.

He doesn't specifically want to talk to Ingrid, either, but that's a step up from specifically wanting not to.

"You're very shiny tonight," he says, and, "Wouldn't want the mages to fail to notice you and accidentally relax."

[ingrid_kief]

"There are here dresses shinier than my armor. And I see no point in a ball gown I will never wear again," she retorted.

She tucks back a stray lock of her pale hair.
"It is not for mages anyway. It is to show the Orlesians we stand with the Inquisition. I hear they are picky about appearance, and being shiny means they find no fault, except maybe in their own reflections."

[byblow]

Alistair's eyebrows go up. "Have you met many Orlesians?"

[ingrid_kief]

"A few on my way to Skyhold. They are... difficult to understand sometimes, but I got that much," she explains. "Have you, ser?"