OPEN: Satinalia

[faderifting]

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: SATINALIA
WHEN: Firstfall 1
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Party hard, use content warnings, move explicit content to inboxes.

Named for Satina, the smaller of Thedas' two moons, Satinalia is a celebration of freedom, marked by wild celebration, pranks, the donning of costumes and masks -- not the fine, delicate masks of Orlais, but animals and caricatures and playful horrors -- and the exchange of gifts both sincere and satirical.

There is no party at the Gallows, but those who can be spared on Satinalia may be given the night off to join Kirkwall's celebration, which spans the entire city and will take several days to peter out. Hightown plays host to lavish balls—but you'll need an invitation, and the unlucky guards posted at the stairs leading into the nobles' district are especially on guard for mischief-makers. There's no such crackdown in Lowtown, where masked revelers spill out of taverns and into the streets, often bringing barrels of ale along with them. Even Darktown gets involved, in its own way: anyone who can afford a celebration goes to Lowtown, but some of the roving bands of thieves in the tunnels don animal masks for the occasion.

And near the docks, enterprising children draped in white cloth are selling admission to a "haunted" warehouse for one copper. Adorable—except that some of the partiers exiting seem genuinely terrified, with one unfortunate man even having wet himself. Taking the children up on their offer will reveal that they have a genuine haunting on their hands. Doors slam, objects fly, footsteps appear in the dirt floor. There's laughter at the edge of hearing and movement on the edge of vision, and brief snatches of a sea shanty sung in a monotone. Make a hasty exit, or try to find the source.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Feeling the girl nod her head against her own, Korrin grins. "Would you really get in trouble if you didn't start it, though? If we just walk and happen to find one, that's different. But fine, I guess all my talk about how Inquisition people need to behave themselves doesn't have to be entirely hypocritical."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"Oh well if I didn't start it, I assume I'd be off the hook. So if at some point, some human sop just happens to wander in here and just happens to start throwing around some garbage, we might so happen to start our own litte bar brawl right here." He grinned up at Lil, "And your friend here can toss bottles at his head."

[gatheringstorm]

There's an eager 'yeah' in response to that, but Korrin shakes her head. "She can do that from a distance, out of sight. I'm not going to use my magic on civilians unless it's life-or-death, so otherwise I'd have to be up close. Endangering a kid isn't going to happen on my watch." She pauses. "...does that happen a lot around here? The humans starting shit?"

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"Sorry Lil, you heard the nice lady. No rumbling for you." He tweaked her toes, giving her a wink, before he looked more seriously at Korrin. "Not as much as they used to ... but they still come by. Thinking they can take what they want. We soon dissuade them of that."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods, taking a sip as she ignores the 'aww' from above. "Glad to hear it, they always seem to need being taken down a notch." She'd offer to help, but realizes that might sound condescending. The city elves are capable of taking care of their own, that she's seen.

"From what I've seen, they've redirected some of that attention to the Inquisition and the rifters. A scapegoat is a scapegoat, right? Ugh."

[arlathvhen]

There's a long pause as the woman stares up at him. Her expression is a mystery, but she doesn't move from her position. After some contemplation, she glances back down at the dog, fingers beginning to nervously fidget with the hem of her sleeve. She should probably control that, but--plenty of people have nervous tics.

After a while, she finally speaks. "Ser, I can't help but questioning your tastes. But if you really insist..." Then, hesitantly, she slides the fox mask up, revealing Beleth looking incredibly embarrassed, but there's a small, shy smile tugging at her lips nevertheless.

"...I suppose I'll see what I can do."

[judgemewhole]

James waited politely - well at least politely until she 'questioned' his taste. He glowered at her, taking a step forward to state that his 'tastes' were for women of character, Thank You Ever So Much' ...

And then the mask went up. Interceptor barked happily. And James's eyes widened as he flushed completely red.

"Oh! Ah! It's you! You are here. You are the one who - right. I should ..." Maker's Breath he was an idiot. He cleared his throat, and then added helplessly, "... is it too late to accept the dance offer?"

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"They usually do. Humans, am I right? Total entitled bastards." Adasse shook his head, knowing that a Vashoth would know exactly how a city elf would feel.

A roll of his eyes, "Which is why I'll gladly let any Rifter come down here with me. Bunch of hypocrites - taking our help and then spitting in our face. Typical human arrogance."

[gatheringstorm]

"That and typical Chantry brainwashing. If people weren't taught to see everything on the other side of the Veil as a demon, I'd bet you anything there'd be a lot less in the way of issues. Not that demons aren't dangerous, but I'm a fucking mage. I know what is one and what isn't, and I'll loudly repeat that knowledge as many times as need be." She huffs. "My kadan is a rifter, so...it's personal, as you might've guessed."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"... I really don't know much of a difference, but I know what mages are pushed to." He looked pensive for a moment, before he too another swig. "And I know - what it is - to feel like you don't belong anywhere. So ... you let your Kadan know. He, or she ever just wants to drink in peace? They're welcome down here in the alienage with you."

[gatheringstorm]

That meets with a warm smile as Korrin nods, pausing to take a last, long swig to drain it. "Thanks, I appreciate it. She would, too. If you ever see an Antivan-looking woman with a black fox, that's her. Araceli, leader of the naval project."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"Araceli ... got it. And welcome to the 'Lovers Of The Same Parts' club." Adasse held out his hand, with a mock serious look that made Lil giggle. "I'm Adasse and I like pretty men."

[gatheringstorm]

That gets an amused snort out of Korrin, who takes care to shake that hand gently. Anyone not qunari is potentially fragile. "I like both, though I'm happier with those that are my height or shorter. The big, bulky qunari guys? Not really my thing."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

"You know, not really my type either. I think I have thing about being with men who are shorter than me. So that mostly means ... elves." He looks thoughtful, "Never had a dwarf before. That could be fun."

[utulien_aure]

"If the lady wishes," Fingon agrees, shifting closer to her so that she can hear the music better. Then he begins again, coaxing chords out of the harp that grow ever stronger, ever more complex.

And she's not wrong, he notes as he plays; echoed in the music are shifting patterns of rain and the dull roar of thunder. He'd thought of the song as simply itself so often, grown into old habits of thinking of it. The reminder, however drunken the source, is appreciated.

"I'd be surprised if you did," he tells her. "A cousin of mine composed it, many years ago."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin snickers. "I tried a dwarf once, but the size difference was ridiculous. You'd probably have better luck than me, there. It won't be nearly as awkward for you." Is this a conversation they should be having in front of a child? Though from what she can tell, the little girl is getting sleepy, so she might not be paying attention anyway.

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

He too, looked up at the little girl, who was starting to tilt to the side. "Speaking of awkward -- how about we get Lil to her mum and da', so they can tuck her in. She's looking a bit wobbly up here. And ... you walking through with me? People will be friendly like to you in the future."

[gatheringstorm]

"Yeah, I think she's spent. C'mon, you." Korrin smiles at her new friend and nods just a little, so as not to accidentally dislodge the little girl. "Glad to hear it, I'd much rather be here or in Lowtown than with the stuffy nobles, anyway."

Alright, time to drop off the wee elf...and Korrin straightens once she's safely passed off. Ah, that's better.

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

Adasse led Korrin over to the parents, chatted with them for a moment or two before they went to go tuck their daughter in. He then gave Korrin a friendly elbow, and headed over to the casks, to refill her mug.

"Trust me, this is probably the best party in town."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"Of course they are, and it seems we're all dragons, tonight." Kain looks toward Garahel, then reaches to pet him eagerly. "I definitely like the way you've transformed yourself, Garahel. I almost thought a dragonling had come down to roam the streets."

He's pleased, and oddly in a... pretty decent mood at the moment. He's mostly just glad that they could do something like this together, a new and unusual way of celebrating. "Shall we?" He goes to pay the price to allow them in, then leads the way once that's done. After all, he isn't about to let some silly haunting rumors hold him back. He's seen some people leaving looking rather unsettled, but he's willing to bet it's not as bad as it seems. They're all probably just not strong enough to handle it.

[lyriumcarved]

Oddly enough, Fenris with his peculiar lyrium markings... still kind of fits right in among the masked celebrators. Which is good in its way, because for once people aren't really pestering him with questions. When he hears Korrin, though, he's glad there's someone familiar to spend the time with.

So he heads over, moving easily around the busy, crowded tavern. He raises his half-finished drink as he approaches her. "It seems this is the place to be tonight." It's definitely a lively bunch of folks who've come here to enjoy the festivities.

[circleprodigy]

Garahel nuzzles into the petting more gently than usual, aware that he'll mess up the costume. He rumbles happily, then stands at attention when Inessa speaks up.

"I almost went with a giant spider costume, but...perhaps next year, if we are still in the area." And assuming the Inquisition is on better terms with the locals. Garahel could provoke a few screams in that costume, and she doesn't want to create a genuine panic.

"Indeed, lead the way. Let's see if this haunted house has anything to recommend it."

[gatheringstorm]

"Exactly, so I'm glad you're here and not in that dusty mansion of yours. I tried to go to Hightown to get you, but they wouldn't let me past. 'Troublemaker', hmph. I mean, sure, I am, but you know it's because I'm not one of their human nobles or a hero of the city." She gestures to Fenris, figuring his fame grants him the ability to live there unharassed.

"So what are you in the mood for tonight? Darts, cards, drinking games?"

[arlathvhen]

"I--I'm so sorry." The festival is a fascinating place, and it's easy to look everywhere except at James. "I should have said something sooner, I know, but--Um. I just." She'd never taken the time to really look at the cobblestone road before. How fascinating. "I just wanted to be...someone other than the Scoutmaster, tonight. I don't want to have to be responsible and proper and set a good example."

She sighs, fidgeting with her hands. "I'm sure that sounds stupid. I took this job, knowing what it entailed. And I love it, I do. I wouldn't trade it for anything. But...it's a 24-hour job. I'm never not the Scoutmaster." It sure sounds stupid to her. What would Petrana and Thranduil say if they could hear her? She'd be mortified.

Slowly, her gaze manages to lift up to almost Jame's face. Quite nearly there. "I--I would still love to dance, if you still think I'm worth the time."

[judgemewhole]

His gaze softens more and more as she keeps speaking, because if anyone understands how nervous she is? It's him. His lips curve up at the corners, before he clears his throat and looks away himself for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

"Actually ... . I understand that perfectly." He exhaled, giving her a warm and wry smile. "For when am I not the Knight Commander? When don't I have to try to give a good showing of myself?"

He paused, to look inside of his cloak, to find a rather crumpled mask within. He took it out, and gave her a hopeful smile, "I would be honored ... and ... why don't we both just be ourselves tonight, and not our title?"

He took her hand, and folded their fingers between one another. "So ... Beleth, let us dance the night away."