faderift | [ OPEN ] Now I need to grease a palm

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[ OPEN ] Now I need to grease a palm

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~~

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?"

"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.

"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.

"Yes. 'Dear mother, I am still alive, I'm with the Inquisition, and these are the people I have met and their complaints', it is how we bond. She sends me lists of the complaints of her associates, I send her mine. Apparently she took it to be a shopping list." Adelaide peers back into the case, counting the jars. "Will there be enough? How much do you typically use and- do you know what it is made of? I might be able to make more if I know the ingredients and can guess at the ratio."

That'd save her mother the trouble of sending along more- but that might also be defeating the point. "The LeBlanc School of politics. Buy favor when possible. The next step is usually negotiations."

"Ugh, negotiations. Well, I assume that will involve Ambassador Montilyet." Korrin can't imagine what they'd want from her directly anyway, which is a relief. She doesn't want to be entangled in politics any more than absolutely need be.

"There ought to be enough, yes. I can't speak for the others, but for me, I tend to go through it quickly when the air is dry, especially in the heat. Up here, it's not as bad. And I can pass on a list, sure. I get some sent to me occasionally, but it never lasts as long as I hope."

"Or they will attempt to work through me. Which is laughable on so many levels. I wonder if she recalls I did not have the same training as my sisters by dint of being a mage." She pulls out one of the bottles of wine, a small, bold red and offers it to Korrin. "I feel as though after your last mission you were in dire need of a good drink. I was unable to provide it at the time but- a belated gift."

One sincerely given. That probably defeats the intended purpose of the crate; but Adelaide could not make herself care.

About to make a crack about mage politics, probably, whatever Korrin was going to say dies unforgotten at the offer. The bottles of wine were naturally noted but she wasn't going to presume it to be available to her, unlike the horn balm. Mention of that last mission has her nodding with a pained smile, though that fades into a grateful one.

"Thank you, Adelaide. You weren't wrong, I did--badly. But then wasn't the time to indulge. At least now I can savor this."

"And savor it you ought. This-" she taps the bottle gently. "May not be your maraas- your. That liquid fire your family sends you; but it is nuanced and flavorful, with hints of oak and cherry." Which can actually be tasted for once, much to her pleasure. "You are welcome, Rinot. I know it was a difficult mission for you and- this may help a little."

"Hey, I only really prefer that 'liquid fire' when I feel like dealing with the punishment afterwards--which isn't as often as you'd think. This is definitely preferable." Korrin smiles, then looks up from admiring the selection. "'Rinot'?"

"Ah- it is..." She glances at her hands for a moment before looking back up, expression somewhat more reserved. "A manner of showing affection, a shortening of a name common in Orlais. If I have overstepped and assumed a deeper familiarity than we share, I apologize."

Confusion gives way to warmth as Korrin is quick to shake her head, a smile forming. "No, you haven't. No one's ever given me a nickname before, but I like it. It's alright, honestly."

The reserved stillness of Adelaide's face drops away easily, a faint smile curving her lips. "Ah, good. I didn't think anything of it but- I am glad you approve."

"Very much so. Speaking of approval, Araceli loved that ice fox you made. I think I'll have to join that ice magic class of yours, so I can learn to do that for her myself." Korrin doubts she'll manage that level of precision and artistry any time soon, but it will be worth the wait.

"Ah, the lessons can be incorporated into any primal magic- or any magic at all. It is a question of using precision over raw power to achieve what you want. Why blow up a boulder when a well placed lever can roll it from your path?" Such was how she had been taught, and such is how she performs her magics.

Korrin flashes a grin at that. "Blowing up boulders can be therapeutic, you know. You should try it sometime. But I can agree that precision has its place, and it couldn't hurt to become more skilled in that."

"I suppose I might." The idea has it's appeal on some days. But today? She is calm enough. "The smaller sculptures do not take up much mana, merely focus- so you will be able to go through multiple forms without wearying yourself."

"I hope so. Delicacy isn't my strong point...but I want to try." There's a driving need for self-improvement that Korrin always needs to act on in some way. And if she can give Araceli more ice foxes or a mermaid, perhaps, why not?

"You have power. Precision takes focus- which can be taught- delicacy comes from precision. Half the work is done for you already." Channeling storm magic? Is no easy task.

Is that a blush? Maybe. Korrin's skin tone doesn't lend to those easily seen, but it's possibly visible. At any rate, her pleased smile tells enough. "Fair enough; I'm willing to do whatever it takes to gain both. I've been thinking about getting more serious about my magic anyway, looking into the more specialized paths."

"You've not studied a specialization just yet? Most mages of the Spire had an idea as to their line of dedicated study by twenty." Adelaide's path had been chosen for her long before then- that she found it so rewarding is something of a bonus. "At least you've many options for instructors in the Inquisition- far more than you would have in any Circle. We are in a time of unparalleled opportunity for sharing such things."

Korrin just shakes her head, a rare moment of self-consciousness surfacing. "When you're not part of the Circle and constantly on the go, there isn't a lot of time or opportunity to work on such things. That and my only known affinity was for lightning; I didn't have an attachment to spirits or shapeshifting or whatever. But you're right; here, it's different. I still don't know how long I'll be here at any given time, but it's something." There's a brief pause and a slight twitch of her lips as a thought comes to mind. "I'm tempted to ask Vivienne about being a Knight-Enchanter, partly just to see her reaction."

To say that she doesn't get along with Vivienne is an understatement, at least during Council meetings. They're not close outside them either, though Korrin has been known to watch her practice. A pro-Circle mage consenting to teach an apostate seems unlikely, but if nothing else, Vivienne couldn't say that Korrin wasn't interested in improving herself.

"Now that would be a specialization that suits you. For all that you butt heads on what is to be done in the council- I think she would teach you. Her appreciation for education is surprising for one that does not seem to do much of it herself." How they would do during instruction, however...that she might just pay to see. It would be something worth watching if nothing else.

Thinking along the same lines, Korrin smirks. "If she agrees to it in the first place, I'll see if it can be done at a safe distance from others. Just in case it doesn't go well. But as long as she can knock off any crap about apostates and focus on what I need to learn, I'm willing to listen. Half the time, I'm charging in, anyway. If I'm going to keep going that, I might as well have a spirit blade to protect myself."

"She might if only to prove that she's capable of teaching an apostate." Circle mages were...particular about that, she's come to realize. They are no more nor less capable than the mages raised outside of a Circle; and yet the pretense was heavy between them. It's ridiculous.

Korrin seems to actually relax at that, a little. Vivienne and talking about her always has her a little on edge. "If you think I stand a chance, then that's something. I'll have to try that soon and see how it goes, hopefully before we head out to Emprise du Lion again."

[ OPEN ] Now I need to grease a palm

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