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

[fleurdesel]

Aside from the slightest twitch of one eye and the tightening of her lips- Adelaide doesn't react to the foot stepping. Save to take the next turn sharper and return the favor in kind. Gracefully, of course.

"If you think you cannot you do not know the weight you status holds. You are not noble but you are something of a hero out of sheer dumb luck. Why you do not make more use of that for the benefit of the Wardens is beyond me." Well, he is Fereldan. They do not think of such things. They do not truly seem to think of much at all beyond day to day life, mud, and dogs.

"And whoever has been telling you that you are handsome has been lying. Have you seen your nose?"

[byblow]

"That's not how we work," Alistair says. He's still smiling, but there's something hardened underneath it—a product of ten years standing vigilant in the shadows, as it goes, and letting cities burn so long as it isn't darkspawn doing the burning, and answering to Weisshaupt, and holding his tongue while people who don't know anything about anything decide that what happened in Ferelden wasn't truly a Blight at all, only a coup, a conspiracy—

The nose, though. Low blow. Lowest possible blow. It isn't enough to kill his defiant, distantly entertained spark, but Alistair's smile crumples into a disgruntled glare.

"You need to sleep more. You're cruel when you don't."

[fleurdesel]

"Yes, you are not a political organization. That does not mean you cannot make use of that manner of morale or influence, for yourselves or for the Inquisition." Nudging someone she does not care for to play the game she's been dragged into so she will not be miserable alone. Petty, some might say. Pragmatic is what she would call it. If they are to be, they ought to be useful. For themselves if nothing else.

It's funny how his face crumpling isn't...actually funny at all. She'd expected some manner of reply.

The nose is a low blow. She makes a mental note of that. "That was not cruel, that was fact."