Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Select Orlesian and Fereldan Nobility and the Inquisition
WHAT: Josephine and Vivienne have orchestrated a good-will soiree in response to this dastardly rumor.
WHEN: Drakonis 15, Evening
WHERE: Skyhold Great Hall
NOTES:
- A list of nobles in attendance can be found here. The list was provided by the mods but there will be no npc support for them. Play away.
- A secondary outside party is being held in the valley in the tent town for anyone who couldn't/wouldn't attend and/or behave in the fancy pansty party.
- The goal of the evening is to clear up a spurious rumor about Cassandra and Leliana, with secondary goals of establishing the Inquisition as a respectable presence in Thedas (and fish for more money). Any major disruptions that would Game Over the court approval should probably be brought to the advisors and/or mods.



To say that Josphine has far outdone herself with this little soiree would be the understatement of the year. The Lady Ambassador has pulled out all the stops in providing a festive and yet elegant stage for this political intervention. Because sometimes gossip can be more deadly than a sword.

The Great Hall of Skyhold has been converted into a grand receiving hall, glittering with hundreds of lights around the room, in addition to the repairs accomplished to the original chandeliers. Of course, there has been artful placement arranged so there are a few shadowy corners for rendezvous of the more suggestive nature. Just in case. The majority of the floor has been cleared for dancing, and a fine troupe of musicians have been installed for the bulk of the evening's entertainments. Some members of the Inquisition have plans to entice attendees with their own artistic performances in addition to the group of mages performing illusory tricks to oohs and aahs.

For those who feel their energy flagging, there are chairs set against the walls, with a few tables interspersed between. Servers hired for the evening circulate the crowds with wine, fine Orlesian and Nevarran reds as well as crisp whites from Antiva. Refreshments are set out on buffet tables, tasteful and extravagant nibbles, including imported cheeses, spicy saucisson, dried fruits and nuts, and the highly sought after deep mushroom and anise petits fours that are all the rage in Orlais.

Comments

[dragoon_pride]

"A ship in the water? Or an airship?"

Though on Kain's part, he too is realizing he shouldn't assume. He'd thought airships more common means of transport than they really are. Getting around Thedas would certainly be easier if they had any. He sips his drink thoughtfully, considering that. He's got a pretty long history of skipping out on balls and other social events.

"Back home, I'm a knight," which seems like a common enough thing on most worlds, even if dragoons aren't, so that's easiest as explanation, "and I was raised by the king for a time. I was forced to attend far too many royal balls for my liking. I always found a means to slip away, though, whether using the crowd as a cover and finding some hall or other to sneak out toward, or heading outside to the gardens and then away from there... The important part is not to look like you're in the midst of escaping. The moment you appear to be actually leaving, it's over."

[wontforgetyou]

"An airship?"

Those don't exist in Jamie's world, either, at least during his time - but he's learned long ago that even if he doesn't know what something is it doesn't mean it's not out there. And he does remember some vague discussion about something like that once, although more in passing, with an explanation attached that frankly had gone a bit over his head. He does remember enough that after a few seconds of faint puzzlement, he nods.

"Ah, it's closer to an airship, I'd say, only it travels in the stars. And my friends and I have slipped away from enough other places that I know what you mean, even if it's not been from balls, so much." A faintly wry expression crosses his face. "My friend says it's because he doesn't like saying goodbye, but I think it's because he knows if we get caught looking like we're leaving we'll get talked into doing more things and be there longer than he wants to be."

[dragoon_pride]

Surprisingly, Kain completely looks like he understands what Jamie is talking about, he’s even rather curious. It may seem an odd mix, coming from a world like Thedas yet having traveled into space, but so it was. Finally, there’s someone who’ll believe him about it all. Korrin and Sam sure hadn’t. “It’s a long story, but I’ve traveled to my world’s moon on a specialized airship that was designed for space travel. So I get the idea, somewhat. Though I never went further than that, there was no time to consider it… It must be incredible… and there must be plenty of other worlds to see...”

He’s fond of the sky in daylight and stargazing at night, and has often wondered what else is out there.

“Right, getting caught is no good. The moment you’re spotted, it’s unfortunately over, and you’ve no choice but to stick around.” He’s been there and had to do that a few times. He sighs. “But I know they often mean well.” It’s just that he has a low tolerance for certain social situations.

[wontforgetyou]

"Oh, aye, you too?"

The words are said rather nonchalantly, but there's a flicker of interest there that he doesn't even bother to mask. He hasn't met too many folks here that have travelled like that, even if the ships are different sorts, and nobody at all that's been to the moon as far as he can tell.

"I've been to my fair share of planets, too, but if you bring that sort of thing up around here most folk'll look at you like you've gone daft. It's hard enough to explain to them what a planet is."

Granted, a large part of that on his end is because he'd been at a point where he'd been just like the folk here, and a lot of those concepts were fairly new to him as well. Even so, he'd tried a couple of times, much to his frustration, and an echo of that crossed his face for a few seconds. It cleared fairly quickly, however, and he gave Kain a thoughtful look.

"Look, I'm not always so good with those explanations, but if you'd like sometime, I could tell you a bit about some of the places I've been. Not here, though. Maybe in the tavern over an ale or something. I'm getting enough looks from the nobles tonight because of my kilt that I'd rather not have them think that I'm mad on top of it."

[dragoon_pride]

“Yes, I have, and it’s good to finally meet someone else who’s done similar… When I mentioned it to some people here, they hardly believed it.” Which, he supposed he could understand. Before their trip up there, he definitely wouldn’t have considered the possibility. “It was a strange feeling, seeing our planet from that vantage… Until that journey, I hadn’t realized what the planet actually looked like. It must be fascinating to travel to others as well…” That’s something else he’s wondered about, after all, the Lunarians technically had come from further away, before ending up on that moon. Creating that moon. However it all went.

Kain gives a fond expression to that idea and nods. He understands the weirdness of being a rifter, all too well, though it comes and goes. Sometimes he feels like he might fit in, other times, not so much. “That sounds like a good way to pass the time some evening… and I’d be interested in hearing more.”

[wontforgetyou]

"Alright, then. Sounds like a plan to me."

As much as most of the time he feels just fine about being here, it'll be nice to talk to someone else who understands that's not always the case - and swapping stories over ale isn't a bad notion, either. That'll have to be later on, though, as he happens to glance up and spot a glimpse of red moving out from the main room towards the one of the doors that leads outside. Seeing that, he turns towards Kain, nodding in that general direction.

"Speaking of slipping away, though, think the lassie I'd escorted here is thinking about making a break for it. I'd best go talk with her before she does. I'll see you later on, then?"

[dragoon_pride]

It certainly is good to have others around who understand what it’s like to be displaced, other rifters like himself. He’s been lacking a lot of that sort of thing, he realizes. Not that it’s such a bad thing to get to know those who live here as well… but… there are some things only other rifters will ever understand.

“You’d better catch up with her, in that case.” Kain nods agreement. He’ll probably be ready to head out soon enough himself, considering. “See you again soon.” For drinks and tales of other worlds, yes.