OPEN - Rooks, Pawns, Bishops and Knights

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Vivienne and OPEN
WHAT: Catchall post for Madame de Fer to get to know the players great and small in the Inquisition.
WHEN: Wintermarch, all month
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: There's a specific bit for the Council members, but the remainder is open to everyone. Anyone who's been wanting CR with Viv, feel free to assume your character got one of the vaunted invites and tag in!

For the Council
Early in Wintermarch, all members of the Council receive a gilded paper invitation. No impersonal sending crystal for this message. The contents invite all the Councilors to join Madame de Fer at the hot spring for a day of relaxation and massage. To her mind, this is no frivolous social gathering meant to impress or irritate the others. (Though if either of those become true, that is useful as well.) There needs to be a dialogue enough amongst them that they do not dither away precious time and resources having to renegotiate their relationships upon meeting. That and none of them are any use to the Inquisition if they are tired, weary, and not well taken care of.

Some of her most comfortable chairs and lounging couches have been brought to the hot spring, and tables set with with a full tea service, both sweet and savory, and a few bottles of champagne. There's even imported Antivan cheese wheels, for the eyes, not for snacking. She is determined not to be caught out letting any of the others languish behind in attending to the important business of self-care. Anyone who brings up anything of a political or divisive nature, however, will find that they are most unwelcome. Relaxation and learning more is the point, not to posture and jockey. Not today.


For the Advisors and Companions
All the advisors and previous companions of the Herald likewise receive Spa Day invitations, albeit the day after the Council. Thank the Maker Sera is not around to make a mockery of such generosity. Knowing that Cullen is most likely to be the most stubborn about leaving that musty office of his, Vivienne plans to drag him along by the ear like an errant child if he dawdles too long in arriving.


Open to All, All Month
Before everyone can scatter to the four winds on business following the start of the new year, Vivienne sets out to some business of her own. She needs to know as much as she can about anyone within the Inquisition who might be a considerable piece in the Game, whether they are aware of such or not. Invitations to join her at her balcony begin to go out to anyone of interest: mages, templars, second sons of minor nobles, people from out of the rifts. For those whose invitation falls in the mid-afternoon, it is to join her for tea. Others receive invites for drinks, well after the dinner hour, but clearly with the intent of having uninterrupted time for getting to know the other better. As much as anyone is allowed to learn more about the Iron Lady.

Comments

[madame_de_fer]

That skerfluffle with Nerva did manage to grab Vivienne's attention. Indeed it was impossible to miss from the balcony where she stood when it happened. It was rather expected for some mage or another to have a heated brush with the straight-laced Templar, but to her knowledge, this particular woman was not one.

"I confess I'm rather interested in knowing more about someone who could so fluster our dear Ser Nerva so thoroughly." Actually she's quite got the impression it's not so difficult to accomplish, but then Vivienne does appreciate a Templar who knows her place, regardless of their personal temperament. "Though I've heard of you before that lively incident. I understand you are a close acquaintance of Councilor Pel?"

She pour two cups, offering one to Beleth, before settling onto her chaise lounge.

[arlathvhen]

At the mention of Nerva, Beleth blanched, expression nervous as she glanced around. As though Nerva were some kind of demon who would be summoned by mere mention of name. But Nerva did not appear, and Beleth quickly recovered her calm. She quietly cleared her throat, and busied herself accepting the tea and taking sips of it (taking a moment to marvel that the woman had actually served her instead of expecting Beleth to do it for her). After a few moments, she managed to speak.

"Ser Nerva and I had a misunderstanding regarding the rooms of Skyhold and some rather tragic flaws in their integrity." She says smoothly. It's not like it's Beleth's fault that the room they picked had a massive hole in the ceiling, now was it? "Nerva's superiors and my own were contacted and discussed the matter," If Zevran counts as her superior. He probably does.

She warms up a few hairs at the mention of Pel, however, and smiles into her tea cup. "Pel is my clanmate, and my First. She came into our clan before I can even remember, and we grew up together." There's a small pause. "...Did she mention me?" What could Pel have possibly told her?

[madame_de_fer]

"I'd heard it in passing. Don't worry yourself, my dear, she's said nothing untoward of you." But Pel is their First. Something Vivienne has heard, but having it confirmed is quite something else. It also does make one wonder what she will plan to do once the matter of Corypheus is settled. Ideally, all the mages present could be installed in the Circles, though there is now the complication of having one of their leaders among their numbers. Hmm.

Time to prod further about the workings of these Dalish clans. "You two are close then or merely acquainted? I gather it is quite like my own rearing in the Circle, knowing of the senior enchanters even if I did not know them intimately. Although my apprenticeship was transferred to Montsimmard while I was quite young, so I cannot claim having grown up with many."

[arlathvhen]

Mentioning someone Beleth knew, like Pel, then angling it to subtly ask about Dalish customs. She even offered some information about herself, that made Beleth feel like Vivienne had revealed something, while giving her little real information. It was an ingenious move, and like someone observing a brilliant chess move, Beleth had to admire it. Of course, Vivienne was a mover and shaker within The Game. Beleth was good at maneuvering with people--good enough to recognize that Vivienne was better.

But sitting there, with a cup of tea in her hands, there wasn't much Beleth could do to try to avoid the questions. This felt almost like a test, and she wished that she had Zevran next to her, to advise her on what move to make next. After some contemplation, she decided that the only thing she could do was to give her simple truths, without trying to reveal too much. Lying was generally not recommended, too complicated, too easy to get caught in.

"I would like to say that we have some degree of closeness. Pel was mentored by our Keeper, my mother." It's not information Beleth throws around a lot, and she's not sure how she feels about Vivienne possessing it. But it's hardly a secret, and it would be easy for her to find out. Which would be uncomfortable, because Beleth's reasons for keeping it close to her chest are strictly personal. "My brother is the other apprentice to our Keeper. As you might imagine, I spent a lot of time around her."