[open] Two Tevinter Mages Walk into Kirkwall

[thorndergod]

WHO: Thor and Loki of House Asgard, you!
WHAT: Joining the Inquisition
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Racism likely.

1. Open - In the Gallows

It's bright and early when two unknown men stroll into the Gallows, heads high. The taller, blonder one seems cheerful as he looks around.

"Grim and cold! We are truly in the south now. Which ones do you suppose are the... servants?" It's a narrow save.

"The ones with the pointed ears, as always," the dark haired man replies and settles his arms across his chest. He regards the courtyard with open distaste and his expression becomes one of resignation, after a beat. "Though we are in the south, so perhaps it is merely the poor that serve them. Their shoes should be sufficient indication."

"Shoes. Of course." The blond man starts peering at people's feet openly, making no effort to hide his scrutiny or lower his voice. "All of their shoes are poor, so perhaps all of these are servants. You there! Who is in charge? Who do two new allies need to speak with when joining?" He points at someone mostly at random.

2. Closed to Beleth

Beleth Ashara. It is an elfy name. Thor holds his misgivings close to his chest as he leads the way up the stairs as directed. Has the Inquisition already started its fall? What aid will they be in the fight against Corypheus and the Venatori if they've begun to falter? They are questions he'll ask his brother later. For now, he's approaching the open door of an office and knocking hard on it, breaking into a wide smile despite his assumption proving true.

"Greetings! I am Thor of House Asgard, this is my brother Loki, and we are here to join the Inquisition! I have papers of introduction from my father." With full confidence he holds them out. There is no way an elf could find fault or flaw in the words of Odin.

3. Open - In Hightown

Kirkwall is...tolerable, in the right light and in the right neighborhood. Where the docks and the lower levels of the city had been unbearably diverse and grimy, the finer neighborhoods are far less of both. Hightown is decorous, lovely, and well manicured. The air is clearer, the sun is brighter, and there many, many fewer of the lower classes meandering about. It isn't Tevinter but, overall, it's not a terrible place to spend a few months...or however long this whole situation takes to resolve.

It can't be terribly long, not once they've contributed their own talents to the cause.

"I imagine the view would be excellent if we can see that portion of the harbor," Loki comments and gestures down toward the sprawling ocean view beyond. It is mostly obscured by mansions. Mansions that Loki would like to own in the near future (ideally to demolish to construct a proper villa, but that was a plan for another day).

"What say you, brother, shall we purchase that one?" Loki asks and Thor, at his side. Thor, to his credit, takes a moment to peer at the house, to give it a proper amount of scrutiny, and then all but shouts:

"Yes! I like it! We shall take it!"

The owners, leaving their house and headed toward the market, seem utterly confused by the announcement.

--

[Or feel free to wildcard! Poke us on discord or plurk!]

Comments

[arlathvhen]

What the fuck.

If the Inquisition were in better shape, if Beleth were in better shape, maybe she'd already know about the two Tevinter mages knocking on her office. As it stands, when she swings the door open, there's a surprise waiting for both parties. Beleth is not just an elfy name, she's an elfy person, and Dalish, to boot. And she is currently staring wearily at two (admittedly distractingly attractive) Tevinter men that have just appeared on her metaphorical doorstep.

For a moment, she stares, almost blankly, at the papers offered, then at the distractingly attractive faces, then at the papers, again. Is this a joke? Did Twisted Fate put them up to this? Did he think that she'd find this more amusing than stressful?

But there's nothing for it than to take them seriously, for now. Maybe if they start stripping or singing, she'll be able to throw them out of her office.

So the papers are accepted, and she realizes she should probably say...something.

"Greetings, Thor and Loki of House Asgard. I am Beleth Ashara, Scoutmaster to the Inquisition. Please, step into my office." And, starting to skim through the offered papers, she steps aside, squinting for any sign that this is just a particularly thorough prank.

[thorndergod]

So very, very elfy. With the face markings that mean she's one of the ones that run around in the forests, he's pretty sure, so why is she in a city? Maybe she got lost.

Thor steps into her office despite what she is, feeling a little amused as he watches her read the papers. That she even can read is a little bit of a surprise, but he had expected things to be somewhat backward here.

"Scoutmaster," he echoes before plopping uninvited into a chair. It creaks, but thankfully doesn't give. Thor rests an ankle on his knee as he looks up at her. The wood elfy sorts would be good scouts, he will grant that, so perhaps the Inquisition knows how to properly use her after all. It isn't like elves that can read are that easy to manage.

"What is the procedure here? I would like to be on the field as soon as possible." Why sit around idly?

[hwaaaitsme]

Loki follows after Thor, his own gait with less swagger and more refinement. He is less shocked by an elven spy, but only just. One doesn't appoint elves to such positions, not in polite society and, he supposes, this means they are not in polite society.

"Greetings, Beleth Ashara," Loki says and settles more sedately into his own chair. His smile, charming and welcoming in equal parts, is entirely manufactured. She is fair, passably pretty for an elf, if he turned out the lights. He can work with that.

"You have a lovely office, the tapestry is an exceptional piece," he says and gestures idly toward the hanging decoration. It is awful, beyond hideous, but it suits to be polite.

"We have come to offer our aid to your Inquisition, as my brother has said. We wish to know how we might accomplish this."

[arlathvhen]

Sometimes, you get lost, and the only thing to do is to learn to read, take over the Inquisition, and then hang hideous tapestries on the walls. It could happen to anyone.

Beleth, meanwhile, makes her way to her desk, leaning against it for now as she continues to skim through. If this is a joke, it is a very thorough one, and the letter from this Odin looks worryingly authentic. She glances up over the paper, from brother to brother--there isn't much resemblance, save for charming smiles--and waits while they speak, hoping that one of them will give this farce away.

But no. This is serious, they are serious, and she'll have to decide whether or not to let two random Tevinter mages off the street into the Inqusition in the middle of a mysterious sickness, while she's the only leader who has not turned an alarming shade of blue.

"Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate the decor." She glances at Loki, then down, a rather pleased smile on her face. Charisma check successful! He should, probably, never see the inside of her bedroom. Or maybe he should, so he can test just how bare faced he can lie. "As for your joining the Inquisition..." She manages not to sigh, but only just, while she sets the papers aside, and folds her hands together, on her lap.

"...Unfortunately, the other three leaders are currently...indisposed." She's not telling random strangers about this possible plague. That she's the only leader currently left. "The Inquisition welcomes all aid, but...you have arrived at a time that might not have been the most fortuitous."

Should she just...kick them out? Tell them to come back later? That seems rude. And they aren't Venatori, or don't seem to be. Maybe she should fetch Kostos and Val for opinions. But not at the moment, she doesn't want to seem like she needs advisors to make every decision.

[thorndergod]

Indisposed. They have come all of this way to gain assistance with taking Corypheus down and the leadership is indisposed. Thor's smile fades a little as he sits back as he glances at Loki. If there is a game here, he does not know the rules or shape of it. After a moment, his smile returns.

"On the contrary! Perhaps we have arrived at exactly the time we are needed! If the leaders are disposed you could use the two of us even more. There have been plenty of times when the qunari viewed our holdings as weak and made moves to attack us. Every time they have been thrown back! You will not regret allowing us entry."

Or she might. His brother is clearly lying to her already and she's swallowing it whole, though he cannot blame her. Loki is skilled.

[hwaaaitsme]

Loki sighs and shakes his head a bit. Thor's suggestions are earnest, true, and completely useless in this particular instance. They would not be given control no matter how well they would serve in temporary positions, no matter their qualifications, and suggesting entry based on merits they have no chance to display is...well, very like Thor.

"If you welcome all aid, there is no issue," Loki assures her and rests his hands in his lap. "I presume a consensus is required before accepting anything from anyone, as it should be, and we must simply wait.

"Tell me, have you any idea how long your...compatriots shall remain indisposed?" Loki asks and, unfortunately, it doesn't even occur to him to offer aid to people in this less than fortuitous time. He is not, as a rule, particularly generous.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth couldn't help but look startled at Thor's suggestion--did he really think that this was similar circumstances? But at least Loki seems to have a better idea of how things worked, and she gives him a short nod, before pressing her lips into a thin line.

"...I'm afraid not, though hopefully it won't be too much longer." This isn't permanent, right? It can't be. She refuses to think about the implications. But in the meantime, she has to decide what to do with these visitors. She glances off to the side for a few moments, thinking, before finally reaching a decision.

"You can stay here in the meantime, of course. I wouldn't put you out after you've traveled so far. We have rooms that are set aside specifically for significant guests, and you are free to stay in them. You may roam the Gallows as you please and speak to whom you will--you won't be able to go on missions, but most of our missions have been set aside for the moment, anyway. And you will, of course, be alerted as soon as we have reached a consensus."

It's the soundest plan she can think of. Allow them to stay here, but not technically a part of the Inquisition, not yet.

[thorndergod]

He's used to having a reputation. He's used to his assistance being wanted. The delay, and by an elf, no less, leaves him at a loss. The Inquisition is currently weakened but it will not take them on as additions to its forces, and Thor wonders if this is the shape of how their mission will go.

He does not say this, of course. Instead, he looks over at Loki. His brother can say whatever needs to be said to improve their chances of getting in and not cooling their heels for so long that Thor goes stir crazy.

[hwaaaitsme]

Thor dislikes this arrangement, Loki can practically feel it in how his brother is sitting, in how quiet he is and the weight of his gaze on the side of his face. Thor is waiting for him to work his magic on this elf and force her to their will. It is not so simple and, frankly, he isn't here to appease his brother.

"Well, that is acceptable," Loki replies easily and leans forward. He extends a hand across the desk toward the elf. It is a gesture he doesn't engage in often, shaking hands, but it is a thing in the south, is it not? It would not do to be seen as impolite.

"If there is anything we can provide before such consensus is realized, do let us know. Our offer of aid is not conditional upon acceptance."

Yes, that would do to make them seem like good Samaritans.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth can feel the tension building, the way that Thor stares at his brother, and Beleth turns to look at Loki in turn, hoping that things aren't about to get worse. Then he...offers her his hand. And she feels a great deal of relief. That he's polite enough to do so, and that the terms are acceptable.

She takes his hand, shaking it while giving him a smile--and then one directed at Thor, as well, nodding her head to both of them.

"Of course. Thank you, I'll be sure to let you know. And please let me know in turn if there's anything that you require, if your rooms lack for anything, if anyone bothers you..." A small wave of her hand here. Usually, she would expect better manners from the Inquisition, but since a decent chunk of them are all but crawling up the walls...Well. "Until you are accepted, you are our guests, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are treated as such. Until then, feel free to explore, or speak to the other agents. Hopefully, you will be working with them before long."

She pauses, and then goes to the bookshelves, and pulls a piece of paper from a file, walking over to hand it to them. "This is a description of some of the projects we currently have going on. You can use this time to study them, and think on which ones you might like to join. It's not mandatory at all, of course, but if you have any specific goals, this might help." It's as much as she can do for them, a peace offering to show that she certainly isn't trying to keep them out.

[thorndergod]

He isn't sure if Loki doesn't try out of spite or because it's the smart thing to do, and only because there's a chance of the latter does he not protest. Instead Thor slumps a little in his seat. At least they're to be guests, not prisoners or something else unacceptable.

The piece of paper has him perking up a little, though, as he gets up and accepts it. Projects. Something to plan for. This he can deal with. There is also an implication in handing over information - you wouldn't do that for someone you intend to turn away who could take that information and use it against you.

"The absolute destruction of Corypheus and his forces doesn't count as a specific goal?" he mutters, finishing reading it and then holding it out to Loki. The Inquisition seems to have more priorities than he'd thought, but he'll wait to say it until later.

"We will explore and prepare. When you are ready for us, we will be ready for you." He isn't happy, exactly, but it could have gone worse.

[hwaaaitsme]

"Thank you. Ah, but it seems we have taken enough of your time," Loki announces once Thor has hold of the list of projects. He takes it from his brother and tucks it quietly under his arm for later perusal.

"We shall eagerly await your consensus and, until then, shall enjoy your hospitality. Come, brother, let us settle in and see what we might assist with. Good day, Beleth Ashara."

It is a quick dismissal but, with enough charm and politesse, it seems rather understanding and respectful of her time. She is clearly harried and it will do him little good to press matters over which she has little control or say. No, best to bide their time.

He ushers Thor to the door and closes it behind them. He can guess at where their rooms will be, else they will simply commandeer some. Once they are walking and far enough from the door that they shan't be overheard, he glances sidelong at Thor.

"Be patient brother and sulk less. We shall have all the glory of joining and none of the responsibility for the mess they currently suffer. Let us be off to find an estate in this city and, if we are lucky, a place to sleep that is not a prison en repose."