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

[el_tybs]

"Maybe not? You're more sensitive to the cold then I am and I've been kind of mentally occupied to have noticed." The entire house felt cold because it was run down and unused so if there had been a change it wasn't enough to really make him notice.

"But it's very possi-" Just before he finished the sentence his head jerks as something goes flying by and nicks him across his cheek. A moment later the sound of a pot hitting a wall echoes.

[gatheringstorm]

That causes Korrin to recoil, staring at where she heard that sound. "Fucking hell! This just isn't going to deescalate, is it?" Muttering under her breath about Kirkwall's stupidly thin Veil, she casts a Barrier over them both.

[el_tybs]

Sam meanwhile is in momentarily stunned silence, eyes wide as he stares at what is left of the smashed vase. He touches his cheek where it had grazed him and thankfully it had been a smooth surface.

"We're definitely getting closer... and it's agitating them." It wasn't just the vase, the whole feel to the hallway had shifted. Cautiously Sam peeks around the corner, immediately pulling his head back when he sees a table screech a couple inches. "There's more furniture..."

[gatheringstorm]

"...run through as fast as we can or use Fade Step, let them hit the barrier before it runs out?" Unless he's got a better plan, Korrin will go with the one that immediately comes to mind. She'll get her blade ready to activate and deflect whatever's thrown their way.

[judgemewhole]

He sighed and shook his head, then glowered at his crystal as if he had done a personal wrong. Interceptor went and bumped his leg, just to make himself more comfortable.

"...I. Er. No, no I think I would rather him ... not knowing." And not because Sorrel Ashara would have so much on his mind right now with Sina taken so ill.

[el_tybs]

Sam nods at that. As soon as he had said it he realized that probably wasn't a good idea. Sorrel wasn't a bad guy, but it still seemed he struggled with certain things with humans, which probably wouldn't mix well with... interest to his sister. "Yeah... yeah. Maybe someone from the scouting division would have an idea?"

[el_tybs]

"Between the two of us I'm sure we can keep the barriers going. Running and dodging does sound like the best bet... I mean, I don't think these halls are wide enough for me to turn into a bear or anything to clear a path." He pauses after he hears a thud, glancing around the corner to see that some books had been tossed to the ground.

"Doesn't look like they're really aiming either."

[universal_charm]

Kirk didn't feel unsafe, but, well, tensions being what they were, keeping his wits about him seemed wiser than not.

"I'll take that," he laughed. "I've been compared to one before, among other things." He shook his head. "She's well. Driving out cats mad, but I think that means she's a being a proper puppy so I'm not to worried."

[universal_charm]

Everything is good for the sake of Science and Kirk would be very up for such experiments. They probably involve a fun prize at the end, he's sure.

A soft bit of pressure in return says he accepts the greeting for what it is, secretly pleased that they can communicate in such quiet, subtle ways. He doesn't miss the way the woman looks at him, the way she busies herself, and he wonders if it is because he and Sam are intimately close, or if she knows he is a rifter. More than ever he takes care to shield his shard from view, usually in bandages and sometimes in gloves, though he really should invest in a proper pair of leather ones. Either way, he decides it is best not to linger, tugging Sam to walk with him now though the way Sam looks in that mask is very distracting.

"Only the best sort of company, serah," he replies, taking the offered cup and sipping, licking his lips in appreciation of the taste. "The sort that knows how to have a good time."

Re: Lowtown

[universal_charm]

That was still creepy, Medicine Man. He didn't think it would ever stop being creepy, and he had a suspicion that the man in front of him didn't particularly care if it was. Honestly, if he was someone else, he might have suspected something wrong with the items, but it didn't really serve a medicine seller to sell medicines that didn't do what was promised, now did it? Hopefully.

"Yes, he was part of my crew on my ship - my pilot, actually," he nodded. "How's business been for you?"

[universal_charm]

"You know I am but a lowly Rifter, though. Who should I count on to tell me these secrets but my bosom companion?" he pouted at her before brightening quickly. "That would very much appease me. I might even forgive you for withholding such important information from me. I will also take you up on the second offer. I am sure your parents are just fine, but then my own experience, the bar isn't very high."

[el_tybs]

It probably had more to do with the fact she was enjoying said mask and the distracting man behind it, working up a way to suggest he pay for his drink with something else and Jim oh-so-effortlessly swooping in. Not that Sam had actually noticed the interest, simply they had a friendly exchange; it was definitely lost on him as soon as Jim had showed up.

Sam follows without struggle, his one hand reaching out and lightly holding onto Jim's as they made their way through the crowd. "Ah, well it is good that you found me then as I am quite good at that. I see you approve of the drink." First step in showing a good time clearly.

[gatheringstorm]

"That would be awesome, dammit. Why couldn't they haunt somewhere more spacious?" Some spirits have no taste. Korrin nods, frowning. "Let's move it, then. I want to do this on my terms, not theirs." She refrains from Fade Step out of concern that she'll just do the work for them and slam into a wall, but she does sprint, holding up her blade hilt just in case their aim gets better.

[gatheringstorm]

"You say that now, but my dad has no indoor voice and will tell the same stories over and over again like it's the first time. Mom's looming and glaring will put mine to shame if she thinks I'm being slighted in any way. Don't let the Mama Bear act fool you, though, I'm the one who practically raised them." And when she returns, Korrin knows she'll fall right back into that mode because that's how it's been all her life.

[aestivation]

His head tips aside, owlish, to follow the tilt of the scales —

Not quite interest, perhaps, but attention regardless. An afterthought to comment upon the song (how often, how literally these places echo): "We'll want that direction."

Whether it intends to mislead them or not, following its wants is the surest way to divine its reasons.

"I'll go first," He offers, moves around Kit with an offered smile. It doesn't track with the rest of his face, caught and skewed crooked by lantern-light. "I won't interest it."

The boards creak beneath his feet.

[universal_charm]

Well, that was always a possibility too. With things as they were, they weren't the initial conclusion Kirk tended to jump too, though with Sam being as handsome as he was, it was perfectly plausible. Not that Kirk worried about such things now that he had Samouel's attention. That, and Sam tended to be rather oblivious, if in an adorable way.

"It's got a nice spice to it," he hummed, stealing another drink before handing it back. "And I am very aware of your talents, Samouel. It is why I sought you out as my companion for the evening."

[arlathvhen]

The light and the sudden voice make her flinch, worry shooting through her that the spirits haunting this place had taken a more physical form--but no. She turns and sees someone that she recognizes--for better or worse. The mask hides her face and muffles her voice, but she's still nervous about being recognized--but not as nervous as she is about demons, so. She'll take it.

So, she gives a little nod, and a wave to Sam. "Thank the Maker," See, she's just a random city elf who loves the Maker for some bizarre reason, not a Dalish who worships the actual elven gods. Totally. "You're a mage, then? Surely, you know how to handle demons, or...whatever this is. Because it's not kids messing around, that's for sure."

[arlathvhen]

"Good, I'm--I'm glad." Smooth. Super smooth. Maybe she should stop trying that whole talking thing, since it's obviously not going well for her.

So instead, she reaches and grabs his hand--something she normally wouldn't just do, but. Today is about taking risks she wouldn't normally. She underestimated just how distracting holding his hand might be, and it takes her a few moments of grinning like an idiot to actually start pulling him towards the dancing.

"I'll warn you now, I'm not the best dancer, so I hope you'll bare with me."

[el_tybs]

Seeing that there is someone actually there, Sam walks closer to make sure they're alright. With the mask on all he can tell is that she is an elvish woman, though she does seem awfully familiar - something about her voice, even though muffled, and her hair stands out. Also the fact she is asking him as a mage to take care of the demons rather then blaming him for them being there - which has been happening a lot lately - stands out.

Nothing he can really dwell on right now though, she was just a panicked individual here. "Definitely not children," he confirms. "They're restless spirits, and they're getting worse the further in you go. I'm not sure what is up ahead... you should probably go back to the entrance. Do you know where that is?"

[el_tybs]

To be fair his obliviousness as of late wasn't so much out of naivete - he was aware that people looked - but rather because he wasn't looking for such things. Why would he when he was already quite content with the two men he was already in relationships with?

Sam hums in kind in agreement about the drink, taking it back eagerly to take another sip. There was only a little bit of alcohol to it, giving it a bit more bite, but it mainly came from the apples and spices brewed with it. "Hm. You flatter me, James," he says warmly with a chuckle, hiding it mostly behind his drink. "And which of the events this evening did you want me to accompany you to?"

[judgemewhole]

"... that would be a more ... viable idea." He stated firmly, as he looked around for one of the familiar green uniforms. He already had been threatened when he had gone with Pel for a few months. After that ended - twice - he was ... more than willing to be paranoid about it.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain is also careful, not wanting to mess anything up, himself, but it's easy enough to find spots where he won't affect the mabari's costume.

"I'd certainly like to see that spider one... that could even have the added bonus of terrifying others, as well." That definitely gets Kain's macabre side going a little, as he thinks about that. "Just imagine if he showed up to one of those noble parties wearing such an outfit." Having suffered through so many such parties himself, Kain is all too enthused by the idea. "Not that I'd ever want either of you subjected to such an event, if you can help it."

He starts heading in. "I truly hope we won't be disappointed..." Once within, the house itself appears to be... appropriately eerie. Kain nods approvingly at the cobwebs covering everything, the peeling wallpaper, and the dim lighting, made by occasional candles set up here and there. A creepy rattling sound can be heard in the distance and... was that a moan? He raises an eyebrow. Clearly there are people hiding in the closets, creating these sounds. "Not bad, so far."

[lyriumcarved]

"I doubt they'd tolerate my presence there were it not for the past," he remarks. "It's been a long time since I took over from the original owner. They may talk sometimes, but I doubt most of them necessarily want a return of who used to live there. They're used to it, by now. " And indeed, when he'd left town for a while, slavers had come right back in, so all in all, it's for the better that he just keeps hold of the manor these days. "Well, if you're ever in that area and in need of quick sanctuary, you know where to go."

Really, overall, that's what he'd figured was for the best. He won't let just anyone into his home, but those he trusts have that standing invitation.

"Are there any drinking games we haven't played yet?" Sure, he may have gotten quite a few of them from his companions those couple of years ago, but Korrin always manages to come up with something he's never heard of before.

[circleprodigy]

"If he wore that at noble party, I would get the blame. So, no." Inessa shakes her head, not interested in being any more of a target than she already is by virtue of being an elf and a mage. Kain can get away with significantly more than she ever will, and even if he forgets, it's something of which she must be constantly aware. Not that this noble party is anything more than hypothetical, thank the Maker.

When they enter, she pauses and her brow furrows. "The Veil is thin here...even for Kirkwall." Garahel lets out a soft whine as spectral laughter reaches them, likewise sensing something amiss, and placing himself between Inessa and whatever's ahead. When the door slams behind them, he jumps and growls at it.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's brow furrows at that, fairly certain they've exhausted known drinking games in each other's presence by now. Which isn't any reason not to do it again, but still. Then she smirks, and gestures to the dart board. "We could combine a drinking game and darts. I'd say cards, but you know it's more fun when you get to throw something."

For anyone else, this might be a shockingly terrible idea. Korrin, however, has high alcohol tolerance and excellent aim, so it's only a mildly alarming one to those who know her. The suggestion does give them more space, as no one wants to be in the way of drunks with darts.