faderift | [ CLOSED ] WAR TABLE: INVESTIGATE COMTESSE DE VELONEY

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[ CLOSED ] WAR TABLE: INVESTIGATE COMTESSE DE VELONEY

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.

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All the excuses; walk Pamelia does manage, and her smile loses a bit of it's nervous edge. "Well, I had two questions. I was hoping for the name of the young lady from dinner."

She'll wait to offer up the second question until they're further down the hall.

"The blonde elf that served you tea?" It takes Valery a moment to put a name to the face before she nods. "Ah, that'd be Liddy. Did you wish to ask her some questions? The Scullery Maids are where all the gossip tends to end up."

Whether or not that's to their benefit is up in the air. Valery walks Pam along, taking the first right, back to better staffed areas of the estate.

"Liddy." Pamelia lets her face relax into something less stressed all around, once they're closer to civilization, as it were. "I think that would be good, yes, but I also wished to ask you about the state of things here - the neighboring Lords, new additions to the staff, things of that nature."

"Yes. She's quite...spirited." And talkative. And peculiar to Valery, but then so too are most of the Scullery maids. "The Neighboring estates are as they have always been- not as profitable, not as well kept, not as charming. It makes them jealous of what the Comtesse has built for herself and those under her roof. The newest addition to the staff would be- well. Edgar, some five years past. Selling the suet and lard from the pigs wasn't profitable enough on it's own I suppose. Everyone else has been here at least eight years save for our House Maids- the newest of them would be Margret, from three years ago."

She has a sharp memory of these- it's her job to recall it all. "Or- well the refugee girls that come and go as they stay or leave but for the most part it is difficult to keep track. Some seem like they're settling in for a long while and sometimes they're gone with their family the next day."

Pamelia can appreciate Valery's mind for details; she nods as they walk along, committing the names to memory. "Is Edgar the butcher?" She really should've asked for some sort of staff list.

At the mention of refugee girls Pamelia nods. That makes sense, but that doesn't mean she won't pry. "Do you remember when the last group of them came or went?"

"Edgar is the Perfumer. The Butcher, Gabriella, came to us 8 years ago after Ignatia, our Cook, chased off the former who was trying to use sawdust to cut the meat for sausage to make our pork last longer. While I may question how she holds court with her girls- Ignatia does have the Estate's best interest at heart when it comes to our food." Which makes living here when things are tense more bearable, honestly.

"Of refugees? The last group came in...I want to say three months ago. A group of eight- three are still here. Two sisters and a brother- one's gone to the kitchens, one's in the house maids under me, and one works with Roland in the garden. The other five were two parents and three young ladies- I thought they were comfortable here but I suppose they found a better offer elsewhere? They left a little over a month ago."

"Oh!" It still is a little astonishing that the household has it's own perfumer, but she supposes that is the way of things when one is running their own little country in the midst of a civil war. "Of course. I'll learn everyone's name in time, my apologies."

And that's what this place feels like, she realizes. It's own small kingdom. Self-sufficient while the rest of the nation squabbles and starves.

"Was the Valet here when you came on?" Yes, she heard the story but it didn't add up, and thus.

"We tried selling lard and blossoms from the garden to a merchant and perfumer in Val Royeaux but it kept spoiling on the way there- doing it in house helps us keep things fresh as long as it needs. And don't mind it, dear." She pats Pam's hand. "It's all a little confusing when you're first coming in, even as a visitor."

The question about Clara, now, has her shaking her head. "My sister and I were here under the Late Comte's family. Amelie was too little to work but I was allowed to mind the house and her until she was old enough to earn her keep. When he brought The Comtesse and Ignatia here he stopped along the way in Halamshiral and hired Clara from a noble house there. She was such a skittish thing at first- jumpy around the men- The Comtesse wanted me to help her learn how things are done in this Estate particularly."

Pamelai gives the Steward a grateful smile. "Thank you. You have been such a help."

So then why would Clara lie? It seems a simple thing to say one was from Halamshiral, except. Well. Except for the fact that Halamshiral is tended by elves, primarily, save one or two mixed-blooded persons. So that tells Pamelia something more she didn't know about Clara. 'Skittish around the men' tells her something more.

"Has she always had such lovely gloves? She seems very...nervous. I worry about her health."

"Those? Those were a gift from Loupe, shortly after the Comte passed. She never takes them off- well. She has more than one pair- it' the reason we have the perfumed gloves to sell. Clara brought them to the Comtesse to see and it is the fashion in Val Royeaux to have perfumed gloves." The comment about her nerves, though. "She is skittish around outsiders- those from beyond the estate. But even then she hasn't ever been quite this tense."

She frowns, thoughtfully. "I'll have Ignatia make certain she's eating properly. Clara skips meals on occasion when she's tense."

"That is very sweet of him." So Loupe knows that her hands are burnt, has helped her conceal that fact from the others. "I've heard of this fashion before, though I never got a chance to see them up close. So thin, they're quite amazing."

At the mention of eating properly Pamelia nods. "I'm afraid I upset her without meaning to. She is very dedicated to the Comtesse, however, and I'm sure we will all be out of your way in a few days' time.

Until then...yes, I would love to speak with Liddy, and now is a good time I think."

"He treats her like a younger sister. Very gently and very kindly." Always has, now that she thinks of it. "Ladies gloves are usually silk or satin so they're thin enough- only Loupe has managed to make what we need with leather. It's remarkable, truly."

Valery gives Pam's hand one last light pat before slipping free, nodding up the hall to the kitchens. "I'll go fetch her for you- shall I have her bring you tea? You seemed to enjoy the varieties provided at dinner."

"I imagine she thrives under such care." Especially considering the woman's original skittishness around men. Yes, she'll have to speak to the tanner. How does one get leather so supple and thin as that?

She wishes she knew more about hides than plants but then again maybe not. At Valery's question she nods. "Yes, that would be lovely. And honey, as well, thank you very much."

Off to her room, then, to wait for Liddy.

It takes less than a quarter of an hour for Liddy to find Pam's rooms- the usual maid's dress rearranged just a touch. The bodice loosened at her chest, one sleeve dipping oh so slightly at the shoulder- giddy as she'd been during dinner in private? She's much more herself.

"You asked for me, Miss?"

"I did! Thank you for coming." Pamelia notices these details just as she flashes Liddy a grin. "You're lovely, but I'm sure you knew that already. Please, sit! Have tea with me."

"I," She says with a lift of her chin and wink to her smirk. "Am the prettiest elf in the kitchens. Got the best legs too."

Pam is welcome to ask after them. Still she sashays in, all swinging hips and cheerful energy, settling the tea try down before sprawling decadently over one of the chaise's like one of them fancy ladies in portraits. "For the sake of me own heart I have to ask- you want me for gossip or for kisses? Or both? Both is good."

Pamelia appreciates all of this, honestly. She takes a subtle sniff of her tea before sipping; paranoia, perhaps, but that is how it must be.

"Porque no los dos? I find kissing and gossip go very well." Is that the honey? Pam wants some of that, too.

Honey in the honeypot shaped like a little silver bear- cute innit? Liddy beams over at Pam, well pleased by the agreement to both. Kissing and gossip, excellent. "What would you like to know? I hear everything that goes on in the kitchens and all the gossip comes to us sooner or later."

"Hmmm." Pamelia taps the little spoon against her bottom lip, thoughtfully. "Let us start with...what you think I should know, shall we?"

Pamelia tilts her head, smiling coyly. "Also about yourself. Do you often kiss the guests? I don't mind, merely curious."

"I think you should know...you've got the prettiest eyes I've ever seen." Smirky Liddy is smirky. "And that I'm pretty sure the Butcher's not giv'n us hog to cook with. Probably deer meat what Loupe hunts in the mornings before anyone's up. And I only kiss the cute ones what will have me. You're welcome to, at that."

She winks.

Venison. Really? Pamelia considers that with a blink. Venison is too lean to be much use in making perfumes, and that man would have to be hinting a great many deer to account for the leather. Plus...the leather itself. Deer hides aren't that thin, are they?

She'll have to ask but for now. Now she has permission so now Pamelia moves to lean over Liddy, eyes shining and lips parted. "Just a kiss?"

Before she can answer Pam leans in, her tongue still holding a drop of honey on its tip. She kisses Liddy, biting at her lower lip, snaking an arm around her waist.

"Well-" Liddy won't say no to more, especially if the kisses are so sweet. Easy as anything she angles her head in, daring enough to lift a hand to Pam's gorgeous curls. So much hair.

So. Much. Hair.

Pamelia's hair tends to get involved whenever she does; the curls gather around Liddy's fingers easily and Pam laughs. "You're sweet, Liddy. Where are you from?"

Her lips leave Liddy's mouth so the poor girl can actually answer. Also because she can more easily bite her ear that way.

"Denerim. My family ran for the boarder when the blight come up ten years back, settled near Orlais. Found some good work here and ran off cuz it's better than living in them alienages- ooh, bitey."

Delightfully pleased she shifts about, settling herself neatly and primly on Pamelia's lap. "Orlesian elves are all dad eyes and delicate bones but I'm fereldan. We're made to last, we are."

Well, who wouldn't be pleased with this turn of affairs? Pamelia is far from complaining, because now both arms can go round Liddy's waist and she can move her nibbling from ear to her throat.

"Alienages are terrible places to be," Pamelia agrees. "Was there ever a fire here?"

[ CLOSED ] WAR TABLE: INVESTIGATE COMTESSE DE VELONEY

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ENTER LIDDY

omg how LOVELY

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