BRING IN NATASHA BEFORE SHE KILLS EVERYONE

[bloodredcrow]

WHO: everyone who signed up for "BRING IN NATASHA BEFORE SHE KILLS EVERYONE"
WHAT: ...bringing in Natasha before she kills everyone?
WHEN: let's safely call it 22nd through the end of the month
WHERE: Orlais! Then traveling back to Skyhold.

There is trouble in Orlais. People are going missing, turning up dead, slamming doors in the faces of Inquisition representatives. Which would be annoying enough, but reports and information are being delayed, altered, or going missing altogether. People they do make deals with either don't honour them or vanish. The Inquisition doesn't know why.

So Leliana puts together her recon team and heads to Orlais to find out what's going on. As a group, they approach the Comte Valnoir, who withdrew his promise of armour and raw ore in support of the Inquisition, eager to find out why. After a little bit of Leliana's personal brand of charm, he tells them what's really going on. They're informed that anyone who's even considered agreeing to the Inquisition's requests has been warned off. If they don't comply, they meet with serious misfortune, and now no one is willing to risk it. A deal is struck. Eliminate this unknown threat, and negotiations can proceed again in earnest.

Seems like a pretty fair deal. So, Leliana splits her group into smaller teams, sending them to cover different areas of the city, looking for any information that might lead them to this saboteur. Everyone is to stay in contact using the sending crystals - share information and keep the rest of the team apprised of their wellbeing.


One group is staying behind, working from the lists of those nobles who have backed out of deals with the Inquisition. While the masters of the houses may not be willing to talk, servants and house guests usually know just as much and are more willing to talk. Usually. Not always. It's difficult to bribe those who don't need money. It's difficult to threaten those who already don't feel safe. A finer touch is needed here. Which is why she leaves Obi-Wan, Rey, and Bruce to the task.

Leliana sends a second group to check the shops, inns, restaurants, and taverns in the nicer section of town, a place where a good name and a little bit of implied danger can go a long way. A Warden and a fierce looking elf and an unknown mage. Why risk it? Just spill the beans. Bethany, Amélie, and Merrick have such trustworthy faces.

She takes the last group herself and heads to a much more dangerous area, the kind of place where the implication of danger isn't enough - someone has to bleed. The same questions will be asked, though not in the same way. The area of town where a tall dark Qunari and a demonic looking "child" flanking the Inquisition's Spymaster will be able to get answers with the proper application of gold and steel. Leliana knows how to get what she wants, The Outsider knows how to be creepy as all get out, and Yael knows how to be huge and imposing.

Comments

TEAM NOBLES ARE SLIPPERY FUCKERS

[bloodredcrow]

Staying behind, asking the questions, using the Jedi mind trick which is totally not blood magic see look how all the blood stays on the inside where it's supposed to be and does the most good.

[obi_wanmanshow]

There's a certain kind of obstinance that arises out of a comfortable routine, particularly if that routine is profitable. But if there's anything that'll give you faith in the basic goodness of humankind, it's forcing people to do the right thing even if they'd clearly much rather do what's easy.

One does not ask a high-ranking official to do anything, unless one can repay them in kind, and more than merely gold. Likewise, one does not present anything less than fiat accompli when making demands, rather than requests.

"Excuse me, we're guests here, and I was told we could come to you for anything we needed," If nothing else, he and Rey can distract the man while Bruce goes for an innocent, snooping walkabout, "I was wondering if you could answer a few questions."

Which is why Obi-Wan skips speaking to the lords of the stately Orlesian manor entirely and goes directly to the man's majordomo. In order to bury someone, you must first dig.

[provenforce]

Rey is a quiet, if clearly uncomfortable, presence at Obi-Wan's side. Her eyes are wide and her back is straight, like she's trying to watch everything at once while at the same time not looking too hard at it. She's trying to be attentive and not stand out too much, but she feels like women passing by in dresses more voluminous than any Hutt are laughing at her from behind painted masks. Considering some of the gestures she's probably right about that.

She lets out a slow, quiet breath trying to block out the additional outside stimulus and focus instead on the man they've approached.

[amygdalae]

Bruce on his own end is more than fine with the Rifters leading this. In a way, its even of benefit, since their presence was better at attracting attention than a 'mangy Ferelden' like himself ever could.

Besides, it seemed like the older one was used these kinds of things, which only made Bruce's own job easier. Staying close to the younger Rifter, Bruce kept his gaze away but his ear still on the ground with the proceeding conversation. He'd only butt in if it was truly necessary or if they somehow did something entirely unforgivable (which he doubt would happen), but otherwise he's fine with letting the Rifters handle this.

TEAM ORLAIS LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING CIRCUS EVEN AMONG THE COMMON FOLK

[bloodredcrow]

Going to the respectable places, asking the respectable questions, because who can resist two great big smiles and one scowl that says if you make the smiles cry he'll rip your spine out through your throat?

Re: TEAM ORLAIS LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING CIRCUS EVEN AMONG THE COMMON FOLK

[sunshinethroughgrey]

It is a respectable circus, but it's a respectable circus where there's a Warden with warm brown eyes and dimples putting herself and her companions right in front of the owner of the first inn they enter, tipping her head at him.

"Good day to you, serah. We would like three ales -- and some information about the area, if you wouldn't mind sparing us a moment of your time?"

[fightorfright]

It is so good to be out of the aptly-named Frostbacks that Amélie's anxiety simmers at a level lower than it normally would in this sort of situation. She's on a mission. For the Inquisition. How has it come to this? Amélie nods from her position somewhere to the right of Bethany's shoulder as the other mage orders their drinks. She tries to soften her accent when she speaks, but the attempt is largely unsuccesful. She obviously, undeniablely, grew up on a bloody farm near Tantervale.

"Indeed. I, for one, have a frightful sense of direction, so any information you could give us would be most useful."

[bloodredcrow]

The man behind the bar looks very lightly skeptical, but is hardly going to turn down custom. Especially from a woman wearing the unmistakable crest of the Grey Wardens. So he fills three tankards and sets them in front of Bethany. "Twelve coppers," he says a bit gruffly, "and the information is free." Or rather, calculated in the inflation of the price of the drinks. Grey Warden or not, they're clearly tourists, and he has his pride to think of.

TEAM SKETCHY AS FUCK BUT THAT'S HOW WE ROLL

[bloodredcrow]

Going to the dangerous places, asking the not so nice questions, because someone has to and really, no one in their right mind is going to look at this trio and think playing coy is a good idea. Unless they're suicidal. Then it's an awesome idea. Death by pissing off Leliana. Totally epic way to go.

AHHH I'm so sorry this is so late

[fightingale]

Leliana has not been in the field in such a capacity in some time; it is not so much that she is concerned she might be rusty, as she is pleased to be out of her tower for a time. Even if things are rather complex, she has her crystal and she has excellent scouts back at Skyhold, and she refuses to only ever risk the lives of her agents and never her own when it comes to challenging jobs. A shift in perspective can be required.

A shift in perspective for those she is speaking with can also be gained by the thoughtful application of knives to the lower back, but she is resisting being quite so direct at the very moment. (That said, the rank smell of this place is a tribute to the many and varied qualities of Orlais that people so often fail to appreciate.)

They are trailing a target that is elusive, dangerous — and might just be rather more interesting as a result — and Leliana glances to Yael and the Outsider just briefly, speaking just loud enough that is carries the semblance of intended discretion, but could be overheard by interested parties. Learning who listens might give them a clue as to who to persuade. "Both of you know what we are looking for, yes? We cannot afford to fail."

[extramural]

This is a place that seems familiar, both from his observations in his own world and from his long-ago childhood. Seedy, dangerous, and a place where people look twice so that they don't miss a knife or a loose purse. The Outsider has left his Conveniently Large Hat behind; he can disguise his eyes in more savory parts of town. Here, it is better to look dangerous.

He's not levitating at the moment, but that's mostly because otherwise he might scare off everyone who might know something. He is wearing a long coat that somewhat disguises his sword, but only somewhat.

"Yes." There is a brief glance around before he returns his glance to Leliana. "We will find her."

There's a clue, eavesdroppers.

[leadseasy]

"I think so," Yael said, naturally soft-spoken rather than deliberately trying to keep quiet. "I just have to stand with you and keep people in line if they get excited, right?" She was pretty sure that was the extent of her job, and it was one she knew how to do -- she didn't really have to try if she wanted to look intimidating, she just had to make sure she wasn't smiling or looking afraid. "And also keep my eyes open."

That was a given, of course. Despite popular belief, Yael wasn't actually stupid, she could notice things if she kept her wits about her. It was just the keeping her wits about her that was the problem, and sometimes she would notice things that weren't the important thing. Still, she wasn't entirely useless. She was doing her best.

ONE-ON-ONES

[bloodredcrow]

While Leliana has split her forces to give everyone the best possible chance of succeeding, there's still a lot of ground to cover. It can't possibly be finished in just one day. They will run into countless dead ends, false leads, and other problems. Which means there will also be plenty of time to spend on their own, plenty of time to regroup and share information, but also plenty of time to wander away from the pack.

One can't be expected, in a place as bustling and hectic as this, to notice everyone around them.

So maybe she's already sitting in the tavern where you plan to take a meal. Maybe she follows you into a shop. Maybe you literally run into her on the street. She will look different every time, and never like herself. Her disguises are not simply the ridiculous little half masks and a change of accent. They are good, and she's hunting you.

[leadseasy]

The Outsider and Leliana had gone off somewhere, possibly taking a nap, possibly just eating elsewhere in the tavern, but Yael had been left at a small table on her own. She had a mug of ale the size of a human head, which may as well have been water for all it was going to affect her, but she didn't mind it. She'd always liked the taste of ale, and twelve years of mercenary life had only made her appreciate it more. She sat with her back to a wall, holding a little wooden pendant. It was a ring with a free-spinning circle on an axis that went through it, and she was flicking it, making it spin and enjoying the feedback it sent into her fingers. She'd have been the picture of innocent contentment, if she weren't a seven-foot Qunari.

[bloodredcrow]

It wasn't as easy to move unseen through the seedy underbelly of a city as one might think. Especially not when you moved with purpose. Particularly not when your group was as imposing and odd as this trio of Inquisition members happened to be. Natasha had gotten word from three independent sources before lunch. The group questioning members of the noble houses didn't worry her much. No one there was going to want to talk. In the reputable areas, it was a bit more difficult to move with the shadows. Here, though? Here, she was the night. She'd been watching Yael for a while, had watched Leliana and The Outsider depart, had watched the massive woman nurse her drink.

Now she turned, let her tact fade away. She adjusted herself so that she could watch the Qunari in a way that wasn't subtle at all. When Yael glanced over, Natasha made a show of looking away, like a child caught with their hand in a cookie jar. Her dress was too nice for a place like this. Her blonde hair a little too clean and carefully styled. The cloak that concealed her features, but not her wealth, a little too rich. Her half mask far too fine. She didn't belong, either, but in a very different way. All she needed was Yael to notice her staring a few times, and then she'd get up and make her way over.

[extramural]

Not used to sleeping, the Outsider doesn't do it well. It means he goes to sleep late and wakes up early, and he can be found wandering around town at either time of day by himself. In the nicer portions, he's wearing a hat to cover his eyes somewhat. There's never a particular destination in mind, which means he's simply wandering up to and into things and places that catch his eye, that look intriguing.

[bloodredcrow]

Natasha is similarly wandering, though with slightly more purpose. She's checking in with her contacts, looking to find out what questions have been asked, and what answers have been given. She could take a direct route, but that would leave a trail, and a very noticeable one at that. So she meanders, stopping here and there, looking for all the world like she has no direction at all in mind.

[dalishious]

While he trusts Leliana's judgment for the most part, Merrick can't help but feel as if he's being handled with kid gloves with the way he'd been assigned. True, he hasn't done much yet to prove to her that he isn't just a loose cannon, but that doesn't stop him from feeling restless and eager to take matters into his own hands.

He waits for the cover of nightfall then steals around town like a shadow, picking up clues where he gets them, stalking their quarry as if she's just another mark. Of course he doesn't intend to kill her-- not unless she makes a compelling case for it-- but he employs the same skill set to track her down.

[bloodredcrow]

Merrick might be on the hunt, but he's also being hunted. Not by Natasha. She's got too many plates in the air to get to each of the members of the Inquisition personally. She has a reputation, though, and those who know her know she pays well and asks few questions about how something got done as long as it is done. Perfect opportunity for someone with a lot of debts and not much to lose. Now, if only that someone were better at moving around in the dark.

FOR BRUCE

[bloodredcrow]

Sometimes, when the desire for a late night walk grips you, you should really just ignore it. Bruce has yet to learn this life lesson.

don't judge him for doing his job well 8(

[amygdalae]

The idea came to him pretty late into the night, when (almost?) everyone else was asleep.

His mind didn't quote stop racking over the clues they has found so far, wanting to put the pieces together and solve this issue. Somebody or somebodies was making all these nobles back out for some reason, causing far more chaos than necessary and it was important that they fix this problem as soon as possible - especially with the civil war still going on. Support was already hard enough to get as it was.

With how antsy he felt there was no real way for Bruce to fall asleep - not that it had ever been easy for him. So with a note to state where he was going Bruce heads away from where everyone else was staying over for the night and starts walking down the roads and streets, mind a whirl of ideas as he continues to try to put two and two together with the night air refreshing him up a little.

well, have him do his job well and we'll try not to judge him!

[bloodredcrow]

Orlais is very different at night. The area they are staying in, in particular, is very different at night. He can head to a better part of town, where the lights remain brightly lit, and socially acceptable interactions take place even when no one is looking. Well, perhaps not socially acceptable, but at least morally forgivable. Or he can take a different route, slip further into the darkness, both literal and figurative. Dark nights for dark deeds and all that.

FOR PAM

[bloodredcrow]

Pam has been in Orlais for a while now, completely unaware of the very particular brand of turmoil being created in the higher reaches of society. She's enjoying herself, and has even made a friend. A chance meeting buying ingredients for potions and poisons. Pam is a sweet woman, bubbly and energetic, with an ear out for gossip and personal knowledge of most of the help in Halamshiral. She's a font of information, and Natasha doesn't have to pay her a single copper.

So they meet up occasionally, just two young women in an overwhelming city, sharing a meal and some gossip. Pam can leave messages for Nat in an inn she doesn't actually keep a room in, but the other redhead doesn't know that. Even when she doesn't, it's simply uncanny how often the run into each other. What coincidence. Clearly they are simply fated to be friends. Clearly.

[anacardiaceae]

'Friends' are a new thing for Pam, and she likes Natasha, her dry wit and how she fits in no matter where they go to eat, what district they happen to be in. Besides that, the other woman is rather nice to look at, and pleasant to talk to.

She has no suspicions. Why would she?

It warm out, but breezy, and she'd left a note saying what time she would be available for dinner, if Natasha would like to join her, but the other had a habit of appearing when Pamelia found herself with handfuls of free time.

Thus, she thought nothing of running into her not far from the inn at all.

"Dinner, tonight?"

[bloodredcrow]

Natasha turns from examining the stack of gloves she has no intention of purchasing. Poorly constructed frilly fashionable things that aren't made to last through actual use. Ridiculous. She'd needed to be in Pamelia's path, though, and the gloves put her front and center. "Pamelia, darling. What a coincidence," she says in her perfectly polished Orlesian accent, turning with a bright smile on her face. "I was just thinking of you at lunch today. There was a woman wearing the more horrible green dress, washed her out completely, made her look like a fish. It would have suited you. Had you been with me, we could have shown her the kind of woman made for such rich deep shades."

She already has her arm through Pam's, leading her away from the shopfront, eager for a chat. The perks of taking on a personality that likes nothing more than to sit and trade biting gossip, is that no one gets the least bit suspicious when you ask too many questions, or can contribute information you shouldn't have. As long as you pepper in plenty of tidbits about affairs and shady business dealings and betrayal along with the political chatter. "How early is too early for dinner? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."