faderift | [Closed] Mercy for the Elves

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[Closed] Mercy for the Elves

WHO: Beleth, Cyril, Merrick, Pel, Nari, and Korrin. Then Beleth, Twisted Fate, Velanna, Obi-Wan, Hermione, and Mal. Also Sina is there in their spirit and also over sending crystals.
WHAT: A bunch of people to do a Dalish clan to go argue with a Keeper and then a bunch of people transport a bunch of elves to the clan in question. Interracial politics abound.
WHEN: First part is around the start of Cloudreach, the second part is around the middle of Cloudreach.
WHERE: First part is Ylenn Basin, second part is Val Royeux, then all the way to the Ylen Basin
NOTES: The plotting post regarding this is here.

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[ The people who have decided to come to Val Royeux with Beleth are gathered to begin the trip on the other side of the bridge to Skyhold. Beleth is there first, standing at the start of the bridge. Her hart stands next to her, packed for the journey, andnosing at the snow, or at her hair, or at anyone who looks like they might be amenable to petting or feeding him. Once everyone is gathered, she clears her throat politely, turning to face everyone. ]

Thank you, everyone, for coming here with me. And for coming to help me. Um--I think that most people know why you're here, but, um. I thought it would be good to make sure that everyone is on the same page with what we're going to be doing. I've been approached by a group of elves who live in the alienage in Val Royeux. They want to leave the alienage and join the Dalish. There is a clan in the Ylenn Basin who will take most of them, and I've secured passage from a dock in Lake Celestine to take the rest to another clan.

[ She bats Vaharel away from trying to snuffle her hair, and pets his nose. ]

Our task will have two parts to it. We need to get into the alienage, collect the elves in question, and get them out of the alienage. Elves leaving the alienage isn't technically illegal, but the guards might get fussy about a group of them, and I would...rather not explain what we're doing. Again, it's not illegal, but...well. What's legal and what's not is subjective, when it comes to elves, and when it comes to human nobles have to suffer their servants being spirited off to join the Dalish. So. We can always have the elves just leave in small groups, if it's required.

[ She pauses again, pressing her hands together. ]

I apologize for not being forthcoming earlier. If you would prefer not to join me for this, I understand, and you are welcome to leave.

Well, well. You actually managed to convince some clans to take in the poor flat ears?

[Not a term he uses seriously, formed mockingly in his mouth as he says it. The snobbish behavior of clans regarding anything outside their own flesh and blood has always irritated him, after all.

This, in particular.]

I applaud you, Beleth. I'm sure they didn't make it easy for you. [He says that with complete honesty.]

People do seem to delight in making my life more difficult than it needs to be.

[ Whoever could she be talking about?? A true mystery. She wrinkles her nose at Twisted Fate as she says it, but her tone only carries a minimum of vitriol. ]

But yes, we spoke with him, and he agreed to take most of them. His clan can't support the sudden influx of all of the newcomers, however. Since they'll need to be trained, educated, and whatnot.

Just so I'm clear. We're sneak'n in, gett'n people out, and thumb'n our nose at the nobility what treat these people like shit and gett'n them somewhere they can live as they like?

[ There isn't a single part of this job Mal finds objectionable. At all. ]

I'm in.

Good man. All of the above, really. I'm for it myself.

[He's a good elf and doesn't remark on Beleth's statement of the elves needing to be educated. Instead, he sighs and shrugs; the important part of that the city elves will find homes elsewhere.]

[Hermione has questions, because she always has questions, but now doesn't seem like the best time to simply raise her hand and disrupt the class by asking after cultural subtleties that she's sure everyone else is already familiar with. She can assume that she shouldn't call anyone a flat ear, and it's clear that there are distinct differences between the way the city elves live their lives and the Dalish, so she sticks with asking more pragmatic questions.]

Am I to understand that we'll be splitting up and getting the elves out of the alienage in small groups so as not to raise suspicion from the guards? Would there become a point wherein they might get suspicious? I can use a Confundus Charm on them; it would leave them feeling temporarily confused, if we wanted to get past them that way.

[ This will cover traveling to Val Royeux, and then to the Ylenn Basin. It can be used for mingling, chatter, wrestling the local wildlife, catching Twisted Fate's hat on fire.

Just throwing out suggestions. ]

[Usually he's excited to visit the capital. Orlesian products, yay, but this is all business and so little play.

So otherwise, Fate is probably musing to himself.

Or his hat's on fire, which isn't cool.]

You, uh. [ Mal gestures to his head. ] Got a li'l somth'n on your hat there.

Yes, it's called a hat, Malcolm.

Yeah but is it supposed t'be on fire?

[ The alienage of Val Royeux is, to put it plainly, small. Small, cramped, and dirty, the shining streets of the main city giving way to worn and cracked pavestones, and places that are just plain dirt and mud. The buildings are ramshackle hovels that, with the limited space, sprawl up several stories high. They tilt and lean at odd angles, like towers built by a large child.

In the middle of the alienage is the vhenadahl, a large tree spiraling up into the air, decorated with ribbons, the base of the tree surrounded by candles and little offerings.

Beleth looks around as they enter the alienage, expression bewildered and horrified, delicately holding up a hand over her nose. As city elves walk by, they stare at the group, particularly the three Dalish, standing out like tattooed thumbs. Beleth frowns, leaning against her hart as she digs out a letter from her pack. ]

We're supposed to meet the elves in the One-Eyed Cat--um. That's a tavern, I think...

Or a brothel. Probably a tavern though- didn't much thing elves got taverns in their alienages. Nobles don't like it when they feel like they're people.

[ Grumbling and bitter? Maybe. Maybe a whole lot. This ain't how anyone should live- it's worse than the one in Denerim by a long shot. ]

Probably gonna be further from the gate. Less likely to get trouble from guards if they can't hear shit.

[Hermione whirls around to look at Mal when he mentions a brothel, trying not to look appalled. She doesn't want to give anyone reason to comment on her relative youth, but she's going to have to draw the line at entering a brothel, at least unless they're only popping in for under a minute before stepping back outside again.]

I don't suppose we can just ask for directions, can we? Though I suppose, if it's a... a brothel or some such thing, that might raise a few eyebrows.

[ The group is about partway through the trip to the Ylenn Basin when the road they're taking enters a forest. The keen-eyed among them may begin to notice movement in the corner of their eyes, though whatever it is disappears before anyone can get a good look at it. After a little bit of this, a few bird calls sound--but it's worth noting, for those who might know, that the call is of an owl, a creature that should be sleeping right now. Could it just be your imagination? Or something more?

Beleth appears to be completely unaware anything could be amiss, busy chatting with one of the city elves about something. Probably something Dalishy. ]

[Despite all of his ego and pride in his appearance, Twisted Fate is well versed in traveling roads and knowing a suspicious call when he hears one. Too often bandits thought they could take on his crew back in the day. Too often, he was glad to prove them wrong.

He suspects this is going to be one of those occasions.]

Beleth. [His voice is hushed in a hiss.]

[ The tone, the hushed words--when Beleth hears Twisted Fate call her name in such a way, she quickly turns to him, her brow furrowed. She's not sure what kind of trouble is up, but she's pretty sure that it must be something Not Good. She waves at the elf she'd been speaking to and moves to Fate's side, hands on her hips. ]

What is it?

I suspect that we're being watched, followed, and potentially worse.

I heard an owl call.

[ You made it! Go you. Yayyyy. The group gathers at the dock on Lake Celestine, a ship waiting to take the elves away. Wish them well, go get a drink, or shove Beleth in the lake, do whatever you want to celebrate reaching the final point of your destination. The remaining elves who hadn't gone to the Dalish Clan in the Ylenn Basin are getting ready to leave, and are very grateful to the group for escorting them. There might be tears. Beware of snot.

Beleth stands off to the side of the dock, muttering to someone over sending crystal, but you probably shouldn't actually shove her in the lake. She's free for being approached for any final questions, comments, and commentary, however. ]

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[Closed] Mercy for the Elves

Part Two: Smuggling Elves for Fun and Profit

What the Deal Is

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Travel Montage Part Two: Electric Boogaloo

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Let's Smuggle Some Elves

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It Gets Worse

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IT'S OVER