[ CLOSED ] WAR TABLE: INVESTIGATE COMTESSE DE VELONEY

[comtessedevelony]

WHO: Herian, Anders, Issana, Velanna, Pam, Malcolm
WHAT: A series of disappearances in the Orlesian countryside has culminated in the vanishment of some of the Inquisition's own scouts. A team has been sent to investigate the estate of one Comtesse Eléonore Vaillant de Veloney.
WHEN: Over the span of 4 days in the 2nd week of Harvestmere.
WHERE: Estate of Comtesse Eléonore Vaillant de Veloney
NOTES: Trauma, gore, dark themes, homicide, pretentious wine usage, other things not labeled as to avoid spoilers.

Welcome to the Estate

It is a terrible misfortune, all these disappearances- but with a civil war on and all this strange Venatori and Red Templar activity- with the rifts in the countryside? People simply not appearing where they ought is a sad reality. Nothing to be done for it. That such an esteemed noblewoman has found herself unjustly accused simply due to her wealth and prosperity? Cannot stand. Comtesse de Veloney invited the Inquisition herself to investigate her manor and put the matter to rest- they are to be afforded all the cooperation and respect imaginable.

Even the mages. Even the elves.

They are met at the gate by a veritable delegation of footmen led by the Gardener and Tanner to see them inside and out of the stormy, dreary weather. Packs are secreted off to rooms (a lovely set of suites in the east wing if the Steward does say so herself), baths drawn (The Comtesse insists, it's been just dreadful and they've come all this way), and a lavish banquet prepared.

Comments

[comtessedevelony]

Down, down, down the stairs go till they hit a sudden stop. A door with a thick, wrought iron lock. Solid and well set into the narrow passage- and not about to budge.

---

"Always. It didn't used to get so bad but she's been fussing mighty loud these past six months. Been at it's worst this week with you lot coming in. Comtesse wants you all impressed, it's more work for her." Says one of the girls, taking a deep swig of the rum.

Ignatia takes the pipe, blowing another series of rings. "She thinks she isn't appreciated for her work. She does good work, make no mistake- but she doesn't like that I won't tell her what spices I use in the sausage. I do not like that she won't tell me if it's pork or beef I am grinding. Or lamb, sometimes there is goat or lamb in the mix and it changes everything. I need to know these things."

[circleprodigy]

That lock gets an exasperated sigh from Inessa, who's kicking herself for not having considered the possibility earlier. She's no rogue; if that lock an be picked, it won't be through her. And breaking it through magic could backfire on her in more ways than one. She considers her options, and comes to the conclusion that the others will be needed. Perhaps one of them can open the lock without causing undue damage.

Time to turn around and find the others, then.

...well, in just a moment. She lingers long enough to press an ear against the door and try to hear what's on the other side.

---

"I apologize, for inadvertently causing more friction. Hopefully, our stay will be brief and not cause more." Hopefully. Inessa can't promise anything, not when the Inquisition sent them here, but she knows how tension and issues can trickle down to staff and doesn't want to see that happen any more than it already has.

"And that is quite understandable. What has happened these past six months, to aggravate conditions?"

[comtessedevelony]

For the moment? Silence. Not so much as a whisper or a thud or rattle of chain. Nothing to be heard.

---

"You come, you look for answers, you will find whatever you find." Ingatia shrugs, a fluid, almost feline gesture at odds with the birdlike sharpness of her frame. "You leave. We shall go on one way or the other. Everyone needs to eat."

She'll find work no matter what happens. "Larger orders for our sausage. We only sold a portion of it for so long but demand has become high and wanting to take on more of those displaced by the fighting has put us in need of more coin to pay, house, and feed them. So we make more- it is the same work for me if we do ten links or ten dozen- but the Butcher? Is lazy. Ambitious, but lazy."

[circleprodigy]

Withdrawing from the door, Inessa decides it's time to find the others and compare notes.

---

Having some food in her definitely helps Inessa's state of mind, not that she was exactly starving before but Grey Warden appetites can surface before one realizes it. She nods, not wanting to put anyone out of work and hoping it doesn't come to that. But she hasn't seen anything to warrant that, not yet.

"I see, and it makes sense that demand would be higher. When food is lacking in general, people cling to a quality source as much as possible. Perhaps assistance would calm such moods, if the right temperament could be found. Do you think she would speak with me?"

[comtessedevelony]

"Perhaps. She's too fond of her hogs. Treats them like her children." It isn't quite scorn in Ignatia's tone but- some manner of chastisement. "She knows what they're here for. To be brought in, fed well, fattened up, and slaughtered. They live well while they're here and are happy till they get the axe."

Her eyes flick to one of the girls, who shrugs. "She's from the Anderfels, they respect wardens like we respect chantry folk. It might help. Settle everything down, get it nice and quiet again."

[circleprodigy]

"I'll see what I can do to smooth tensions, or at least not raise any more. If she favors mabari, Garahel can accompany me." He tends to anyway, though depending on things, he can either be distracting and cute or discrete. Or maybe later he will just zero in on the bone pit and ruin her ideas. That happens, too.

[comtessedevelony]

"She is more of a cat person, honestly. Mabari are noble but-" Speaking of, another girl arrives with some dried snippets of sausage and trimmings- a few soup bones for the aforementioned Mabari. "Cats. Small, furred things with big eyes. Those she likes."

[circleprodigy]

"I quite understand. They aren't for everyone." As incredible as that seems; Inessa is Fereldan to the core, at least when it comes to mabari. At mention of cats, she smiles. "That's fortunate, as Anders' cat is with us, and I am certain she will enjoy the attention."

Glancing over to all those treats for Garahel, Inessa smiles. "My thanks. He is going to be so spoiled and mournful when we finally depart. No doubt our fare will seem lacking afterward." At least until they reach Skyhold again.

[comtessedevelony]

"We can send some of our sausage with you when you leave." Ignatia offers. "A gift. A show of our support for the Inquisition. It is a more public declaration than any of the other estates are willing to give but- she is not afraid of speaking her mind, our Lady."

A murmur of agreement runs through the circle of girls. "Nor you, yours. Would you like me to read the bones for you, Warden?"

[circleprodigy]

"Oh! Well, thank you. It will be most appreciated." As to the offer...well, why not. This ought to be interesting, and if nothing else it's an excuse to linger before she ought to take Garahel's snack up to him. "And yes, please do. I would be interested to see what they hold for me." Beyond the usual fate of a Grey Warden, that is. She doesn't need bones to tell her that.

[comtessedevelony]

Ignatia takes another slow drag of the pipe, exhaling through her nose like a snorting dragon while she sweeps the runes and knucklebones into a cup, rattling them back and forth with a calculated, rolling twist of her wrist. They clatter and clack, stone and bone and glass as she shakes, eyes half lidded.

"What is or what will be?"

[circleprodigy]

Inessa considers those options, but it doesn't take her long to decide. "What is, if you please." Her current job relies on discovering information about the here and now, after all.

[comtessedevelony]

A nod, another roll of her wrist. A rattling of bone that she shakes out onto the small table in the center of their circle. She peers down, murmuring words under her breath.

Reading.

"You're being deceived by someone with power- a terrible lie. Something that'll make you ill when you find the truth." She points to the way the bones have fallen, scattered and twisted about.

[circleprodigy]

She can only imagine what her Circle mentors would say if they caught her observing all this; most likely, that it just old wives' nonsense, or that if they were apostates, that they were not to be trusted. But Inessa come to speak and to listen, and this is part of that.

The news provokes a grim expression as she looks over the layout of the bones. "Whatever the truth is, no matter how ugly, I would still rather know of it. Is there more?"

[comtessedevelony]

One long, slim finger taps the number of bones with their runes flipped right side up. "Thirteen. It's important. There's something underfoot. The rest is..."

She waves a hand, vaguely. "Nonsense about temptation- you are a mage and don't need to hear it."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa nods solemnly; lectures about temptation aren't anything new to a Circle mage, or a mage in general. "True tests never end, I am aware. Thirteen? I admit, I'm unaware of its significance at the moment." It can't hurt to keep her eyes open to possibilities, though.

[comtessedevelony]

"It will come to you in due time, the bones say. More than that? I cannot tell. I am no seer, Warden, I only read the bones." And sometimes the bones lie. But this time? it seems to tell them true. "You'll find what you are looking for, I am sure."

[circleprodigy]

"Thank you for the insight, both from the bones and otherwise. I suppose I should get back to Garahel before he wastes away. He'll be most grateful for the midnight snack." Smiling, Inessa gets to her feet again, ready to take the rest upstairs.

[comtessedevelony]

"And we are glad to serve, Warden. Rest well." Ignatia lifts the bottle in her hand as a toast before taking a deep swig. "May you have no dreams at all."