[ OPEN ] Now I need to grease a palm

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Adelaide LeBlanc & You
WHAT: Letters & a Loot Crate
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Political Pandering

[ Courtyard ]

The letters she'd expected more or less. Those from her family she certainly expected. The note from Baron Jean Bonnot less so- but she might as well see if there was anything particularly terrible that was worth mocking in the latest note. When she was asked to sign for something Adelaide grew concerned, but did so. And found herself in the possession of an unwieldy crate stamped with her family crest- at least the courier was kind enough to leave her a crow bar before shuffling off for a hot meal and a quick rest. Stacks of letters in her hands she hasn't even gotten around to reading but this? Needs investigation. She can be found attempting to pry the lid off the crate and failing due to a lack of proper leverage. Assistance would be lovely.

Once open the contents of the Crate are as follows:

• A small case of horn balm
• Assorted carvings of Halla
• Assorted carvings of griffons
• An hourglass with heavy templar/chantry iconography
• A set of ornate pens
• A bagged pipe in Plaidwave
• An assortment of small bottles of Orlesian Wine
• Contracts for litters of Mabari from the Lowell family
• Assorted small fine cheeses
• A box of assorted chocolates
X2 - 1 remaining
• Assorted stationary & inks
• Assorted oils for leathers & Polish for armor
• A tome on Magical Theory
• A few small bags of coffee beans
• Maps for the Inquisition & Trade Agreements with the branches of the LeBlanc family
• Rifter Care Packages containing:
  
  
  • Tins of biscuits
  • Packets of bagged tea
  • A written pamphlet 'Welcome to Thedas- a primer' a basic rundown of races, countries, the chantry, some loose and very simplified notations on mages & templars; all biased heavily by Orlesian sentiment.
  • Salve for the aching hand
  • Woolen knit socks
• A smaller package wrapped separately for Adelaide alone.

Adelaide will spend the remainder of the afternoon distributing the tokens of support from the branches of her family to their intended recipients, Dalish, Vashoth, Qunari, Templar, Mage, Scholar, Rifter, etc. Afterward she will take the case for herself and get a much needed drink to read her letters.


[ Tavern. ]

Once everything is distributed to her satisfaction or at least to the best of her ability, Adelaide spends a well earned evening in the tavern, glass of wine at her elbow, looking over a series of letters from her family and from the Baron, catching up on news of the world beyond Skyhold, why she received a crate of what was effectively sanctioned bribery, and trying to decide if opening that last little case is worth the trouble.


[ ooc: Loot for the loot god- swing by and grab swag. ]

Comments

gimme dat chocolate

[aceso]

Christine is rather curious to see what Adelaide received, and is happy to help her sort through it all. All it takes is a smile and a look before she is allowed to claim the box of chocolates, which she hides away in her tent, quick as a flash. But then she returns to continue assisting her friend. Some items get a comment here and there until she unrolls the contract and looks it over.

"Mabari? Bah, how Ferelden. They had better stay near the stables, or the whole place shall smell of wet dog."

[fleurdesel]

"It is an agreement for the latest litter, should the Inquisition have need of them. Considering what Juliette has written me about the bloodline that is not an inconsiderable show of support." Juliett is terribly proud of those dogs- almost as much as she is of her children. "Don't eat all of those at once, Christine. You will get terribly sick."

[aceso]

"I suppose since they are war dogs, they can be of use. But I'm imagining them jumping on people, wanting food, like that one that belongs to the man in the brown coat."

She rolls the contract back up and sets it aside, taking out a carving of a griffon and examining it.

"I will pace myself. I might even be inclined to share them, if people are nice to me."

Did someone need the brute squad?

[qunari]

Watching her struggle with the box for a time just seemed kind of mean. Like watching a kitten in a tree. He recognizes her from glimpses around the keep, but there's been no formal introduction as of yet.

No time like the present.

"Figured you'd have some easier way of getting it open. Magic or something," Bull mentions as he steps away from the door of the tavern, moving towards the woman now struggling with her box full of goodies.

Not that he has his eye on anything on particular, himself.

He IS the brute squad.

[fleurdesel]

"This builds character." She mutters with one last hard (futile) shove before stepping away and glowering at the crate as though that would force it open. Then, of course, the voice clicks and-

Well it has been some time. Perhaps he's forgotten watching her take a fist to the face and having a very quiet panic attack.

"Apparently mine requires a great deal of remodeling." What did they seal this with, grout?

Damn right.

[qunari]

"Looked like you could use a hand. I happen to have two free."

A quiet smirk tugs at the Qunari's mouth as he steps up, gesturing to the box. "But, if you're that set on getting your character building in, don't want to step on any toes."

Or get set on fire. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Courtyard

[gatheringstorm]

Upon spotting that crate, Korrin naturally has to offer her assistance. She's a little curious, so she might as well be productive at the same time. Peering at the riches within, the Vashoth mage raises her eyebrows and whistles softly. The selected items are the sorts of luxuries she'd expect to have found in Maevaris' opulent tent.

"...wow. Now this is a care package to shame all care packages. No maraas-lok, but honestly some of--is that horn balm?"

Courtyard

[fleurdesel]

"My family is being generous and attempting to curry favor." And if what Korrin says is anything to go by? They are succeeding. Adelaide reaches in and pulls out a jar. "I believe so? I wrote of you when I informed my mother I was yet alive."

She's never seen the stuff before but if it is valuable to Korrin? It is hers. She offers it over without a second thought.

Courtyard

[gatheringstorm]

"You--really?" Korrin raises her eyebrows, a bit surprised to be mentioned at all but...well. If this is what it gets her, she'll gladly live with that. She'll take at least a jar, mentally calculating her share against the others of her in the kind the area. "Not the whole thing, I'd never deny the others. But I won't say no an equal portion."

She flashes a grin, considering this an extension of First Day now. Why not? "Well, I can't say your family's attempt isn't working. I'm flattered. And grateful, this will come in need whenever we take the Western Approach." One reason why Korrin didn't push to go there; her horns will itch like crazy in the dry heat.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Church had heard tittering about some big box-o-goodies, but hadn't actually seen much of anything except an occasional person with a friend or two, showing off a trinket. So when Adelaide stops him, he's a little surprised. And also already has an idea what this is about. He raises an eyebrow at her.

"So all the handouts, those are from you?"

[fleurdesel]

"My family. I wrote of the Rifters and they felt you ought to be adequately prepared for life in Thedas." She offers him his bag with the cookies and tea and socks and everything tucked safely inside. "Take the pamphlet with a grain of salt, my mother is quite biased."

[motherfucking_ghost]

"I've been picking up plenty of information just blundering around here with my lack of understanding anything." He takes the bag and peeks inside. Tea? Huh. He's never had tea that isn't sweet and iced. ...Wait, he's never had that, either. Some kind of lotion? Balm? Thing? Oooo there's a tin--

"Haven't had someone's mom dote on me before. Well, you can tell her thanks from me, Addie."

Courtyard

[kallian_endris]

Kallian had been gathering herbs from the garden when she crossed the courtyard and noticed Adelaide with the large box. Quietly, she approached.

"...my lady Adelaide? Do you need help?" she asked.

Courtyard

[fleurdesel]

"Opening this monstrosity of a package? Yes." Perhaps with the two of them throwing their weight on the crowbar the lid would pop open. "If you do not mind offering your assistance."

[kallian_endris]

"I can try."

She added her weight and strength to the crowbar, and it turned out the small elf was stronger than she looked. The wood creaked and groaned, but finally it popped open.

"What is this? Is it yours?"

Let's take a look-see

[el_tybs]

It's hard not to notice Adelaide and the large crate off to one side of the courtyard. It didn't look like she needed much help opening it, but there seemed to be a lot of things for her to go through.

"Can I give you a hand with anything?"

Let's take a look-see

[fleurdesel]

"Counting out how many of these rifter packets my mother sent and how many bottles of wine I actually have rather than how many I think I have." Adelaide looked up to Sam with a wry twist of her lips. "Her letter says one thing, the crate another."

I'm so sorry, Skyhold. So, so, sorry.

[wontforgetyou]

While the news of the crate's arrival may have brought some people out immediately, Jamie isn't one of them. When it first shows up, he's sound asleep in one of Skyhold's more comfortable chairs, warm and content without a care in the world. It's not until someone decides to roust him from the chair that he winds up padding his way through the courtyard. He's still in time to see Adelaide sorting through the very large crate, and when faced with the sight of something like that, there's only one thing to do - wander over to take a better look while letting out a rather obvious exclamation at the same time.

"Hey, would you look at the size of that thing!"

No regrets

[fleurdesel]

"Ah, Jamie- I was going to send for you." Adelaide sits back from where she's picking through the bribes- gifts- such as they are. Some are wrapped, some are not, and there's a multitude of little bags- and to one side a larger padded sack wrapped with a plaidweave bow. "Two things for you. The first-"

She hands over one of the smaller bags. "Apparently my mother felt it vital to offer Rifters some of the comforts of Thedas, as well as a short primer. My sister, however..."

She motions to the larger bag. "I think made good."

[madame_de_fer]

From her balcony perch, Vivienne has caught sight of Adelaide's delivery and her failing attempts to pry it open. Not that she herself has any interest in dirtying her own hands to assist, but she can help... in her own way.

She strolls over, with a sturdy young man she'd convinced to follow her over from the stables. Anyone used to baling hay for the mounts and hefting saddles for an army should more than have enough upper body strength to leverage the crate open. That and who in their right mind tells Madame de Fer no when she insists on assistance?

"Adelaide, darling, you looked as if you could use some help."

[fleurdesel]

"Vivienne?" She's somewhat earned that much familiarity- or at least she hopes as such as the liberty has been already taken. After her most recent (futile) attempt Adelaide has stepped back to glare at the crate as though that would do the work of it for her. Asking for aid would've been more efficient but-

Pride.

She has far too much of it at times.

"It would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what it is that my family has sent, but clearly it is some manner of valuable for them to take such measures to keep it sealed." Like cement. Or an enchantment.

[perseverances]

It's some time after Adelaide's pried open her crate of randomness that Cullen makes his way over, in passing really, on his way toward the Quartermaster. He lingers back for a moment, looking at the sheer amount of things that she had gotten. It had to be either from family or there was a supplier Adelaide simply had to share with the Inquisition.

"Someone's quite popular today."

[fleurdesel]

"I was just about to send for you, Commander." Adelaide frowns at a letter in her hand even as she reaches to a leatherbound folder, sheaves of documents and folded maps nestled within. This she offers to him and after a moment's thought? One of the bottles of wine. "My family wishes to express their support for the Inquisition. These are for you. Trade agreements, maps, I think a promise of the Lowell Family's next mabari litter as well if we've need of them."

[judgemewhole]

"Good afternoon, Lady LeBlanc, a messenger stopped by my office and said you wanted to see me ... " Norrington had caught sight of Adelaide from the top of the stairs, but he didn't realize everything surrounding her was in fact, hers, until he approached. Dark eyebrows raised on his face.

"... did I miss you robbing a caravan over breakfast?"

[fleurdesel]

"The House LeBlanc sends their regards- and I did want to see you." It isn't her personal preference, but the commission was made, the piece carved and carved beautifully, and a gesture of some sort from a member of the Mage Council or simply from the family in general could help smooth some of the tension they've been jointly experiencing as of late. "I do not know where it is your order meets, but this was commissioned for their use."

She offers him a plain wooden box with a lock and a latch, within? A large handblown hourglass with intricate and tasteful templar iconography cradling the fragile shell and sand.