[Closed] War Table Op: Once More Into The Berg

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Anders, Alan, Ciri, Inessa, Jamie, Prompto
WHAT: The Inquisition needs some information, so it sends in these clowns
WHEN: Right around now
WHERE: Location
NOTES: Warning: Bad recorder playing



It's not every day the First Warden has a birthday party. In fact, it only happens once a year, provided multiple First Wardens don't get offed. It's been known to happen.

But it isn't happening any time soon, likely, which means the big birthday party with a lot of invitees is the best place to crash to try to get some desperately needed information. And while there are certainly dignified ways to do it, by slipping in a few bards or some servants, dignity is low on the list for this infiltration.

Their mission, as they've chosen to accept it, is to gather information while pretending to be entertainers. Let's hope this doesn't self destruct in five, four, three, two...

Comments

[crowncitizen]

He lets out a quiet "whoosh" of breath. It's hard to argue that. Prompto's not a figure that inspires fear ordinarily, but he knows they're playing a rather dangerous game here.

He glances over at the group, but making sure not to linger long on them as to not be caught staring. "Okay." The tailoring doesn't immediately strike him - he's not used to looking for such details - but there's a certain... air to them that strikes him as odd.

[justice_is_blond]

It's easy enough to use the flow of the crowd to get them close, and Anders starts up with small balls of force magic, juggling three of them rather than the four he was earlier. He wants to blend, not show off and distract.

"--could talk about how you've yet to address my concerns," a skinny man dressed in black slashed with scarlet is saying. His sleeves are horribly poofy, an unfortunate trend that made people look like they needed to be shoved into the nearest waterway in Anders' opinion.

An older woman, fair coloring and robes made for a hot climate suggesting that she's from the Anderfels, sighs heavily. "Which concerns do you have now? You've a new one every day. I can't be the only one having trouble trying to keep up with them."

"I think it's that his pants are threatening to fall down." This is from a sharp-nosed man who sounded Tevene, eyes hard and glittering.

The skinny man flushes, and his voice a moment later suggests it's anger. "I speak of the challenges of shipment, which you should be concerned with as well."

Anders doesn't glance toward Prompto, but he does turn a little so they're more at his side and easier to hear out of one ear. This could be important.

[crowncitizen]

Don't. Laugh. At. The. Sleeves.

Prompto channels his amusement into a smile, pulling out some cards and inviting people to play along with his "magic" game. He picked up on a few during his childhood, and Ignis had shown him a few more advanced ones. Most people aren't terribly interested, but that's fine. It allows him to listen in on a bit of that conversation over yonder.

Honestly, he'd only started listening to see what Poofy Sleeves deigned to gripe about, but the mention of shipments now has his interest turn from amused curiosity to, well, professional concern. Or however professional being part of the Inquistion counts as.

Feel free to write what they're overhearing too

[justice_is_blond]

The magic orbs start changing color slowly, serving as a decent cover. People are seeing them but not staring, and Anders doesn't have to pay too much attention to them even as he's seemingly working hard to keep them going.

"We're all very much concerned with shipping," the woman assures the small circle that's gathering around the skinny man. "We're invested. But you've had a new issue every time we've spoken, and the amount of ravens my poor secretary has had to deal with from you..." She trails off, shaking her head with a small smile as the gathered people laugh quietly.

"The war is over," the skinny man hisses.

"That's good, isn't it?" Tevinter's face is crinkled into a frown. "Fewer bands roaming around trying to steal goods, claiming they're serving this lord or that lord?"

"That's the problem." Skinny man takes a breath, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Fewer random bands means it's hard to cross the territory without being checked on by official forces. We're more likely to get stopped now that there isn't as much chaos."

Realization dawns over a few faces, and Anders frowns at Prompto. Smuggling something, then. Something across Orlais.

right!! sorry about that

[crowncitizen]

Well now that does sound kind of strange. And a whole lot like smuggling. Prompto shares a frown with Anders. He takes a few steps closer, under the guise of going up to a pair of party goers and offering them to play his card game, or see a little magic trick. One bites, and asks if he knows how to do the coin behind the ear trick. With a grin and a dramatic bow, Prompto does as asked, even as he keeps listening to the conversation going on.

"There's always by sea," Tevinter suggests. "Long, but if we go by the Frozen Sea, and then into the south-"

The woman scoffs. "And risk the shipments getting lost at sea? The weather's unpredictable there most times of the year."

"Then what do you suggest?" Tevinter snaps. "There are only so many ways through Thedas. We have to go by land or sea. The seas aren't as checked as the routes on land. It'd be easier to pass by official notice."

Skinny seems to ponder on this a moment as the woman goes quiet. "The Deep Roads are an option," he says. "And yes, there is the darkspawn to consider, but perhaps something can be arranged with the First Warden."

Prompto smiles at the pair he was entertaining as they leave. But it drops as soon as they are gone, and he quickly glances at Anders. Most of that didn't mean much to him, considering he has no idea half of the places they were talking about. Whatever it is, it sounds alarming.