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

[nofury]

Putting on a mask of presently, or any other kind, wasn't Maria's forte. So it's her slightly mocking 'what has life before?' smile that's given in return as she offers her hand. Tradition was the point of the night, after all. The man led, no matter the differences in social rank or...whatever else these people decided was important this week.

"Master Scout. Only if you don't run too far ahead of me."

[slipshot]

"I think tonight if I rush ahead of you, it's because I've fallen down," He admitted ruefully, or well, as rueful as he could get, at the moment.

Surprisingly, he actually did know how to dance (sort of) so he even managed to lead her to the dance floor in a way that didn't simply embarrass them both.

"That dress is absolutely beautiful, by the way," He said, giving her a small, but at least more genuine, smile. "It almost lives up to the woman who wears it."

[nofury]

She snorts softly at that. Not what the dancing instructor had suggested as part of the political dance that went along with the physical one, but Maria wasn't in much mood for it. Still, that she wasn't the one leading Gavin was a bit of a surprise.

"And just as un-Orlesian as her as well. The dress and the dancing were under orders. Templar training didn't come with lessons. I'd have guessed dalish life was the same."

[slipshot]

"Oh, but I thought all the stories had us dancing naked in the moonlight all the time," He replied, and but the cheerfulness fell flat as he began to move into the dance, one hand holding hers, the other resting on her waist.

"But here I think we're all under orders. Not that I would really have to be ordered to a party."

[nofury]

"Blood mages. You're thinking of blood mages."

But she'll accept that he was ordered to dance. Considering her own position, that was an easy enough idea. But she can't help one last addition.

"Not as synonymous with Dalish as some may think."

[slipshot]

"Ohh, I thought it was just a general elf thing. Well that's good to know, I can stop practising."

The music warms up and he moves with it, surprisingly graceful, and leading despite the fact that they were basically the same height.

"And I'm glad to hear you say so, at least. I haven't actually met a blood mage, yet, so I'm not sure I'd be able to tell the difference."

[nofury]

"Good instinct. They usually blend in. The evil cackling isn't as common as people think."

An eyebrow had gone up slightly. Gavin sounded more bitter than the normal tone she'd come to associate with him- when she wasn't chastising him. But even that 'I know I screwed up' voice wasn't the one here tonight.

"Gavin?"

[slipshot]

"Sorry," he said immediately, pushing the bitterness back as far as he could, and giving her a smile - but it still didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I haven't seen you in a while, though," he said, immediately changing tack before she could question him any further than 'Gavin?'. "I keep hearing weird rumours about the Templars, and wondering what you've been doing."

[nofury]

"Sacrificing mages in dark dungeons?"

She's using the same tone Gavin had come out in, despite the light words. Something had happened, the deflection only underscoring it. That he'd brought up rumors about the Dalish hinted it was more trouble there. Had there been a covered up incident?

Maria is the first to misstep in the dance as she puzzles that out, quickly looking down to fix her foot position.

[slipshot]

"No, no, though I did hear something about a ritual orgy and one of the templars leaving so that she wouldn't have to go naked anymore. And something about a blood mage dragon?" He tried to make it a joke, but it fell far flatter than it should have, as he quickly pulled his toes away before she stepped on them, and tried to make up quickly for her misstep, his hand accidentally pausing at the small of her back instead of her hip as he corrected for them.

"Basically I'm not sure that anyone knows what's going on."

[nofury]

"That's what scouts are for."

And spies. She lets the hand stay, not bothered by it or interested in further highlighting her misstep. But she does add another thing to the list of Leliana's fault.

They're a few inches closer to adjust to the new position, and her volume falls slightly to account for it.

"It has been a while. But it seems more has happened to you."

[slipshot]

His ears drooped at the question, having hoped he'd successfully avoided it.

"I haven't run away again, if that's what you mean," He said, but it was obviously not what she meant, and they both knew it. "It's nothing. I merely... thought I had something good, and managed to break it again. Or have it broken. I don't know. I'm finding it harder and harder to understand the decisions being made."

[nofury]

Maria couldn't pretend to know what he was specifically talking about. But the last bit was a sentiment she'd heard commonly enough following Anders' exposure, so seemed as reasonable a place as any to start.

"You're doubting you place in the Inquisition?"

[slipshot]

"I'm Dalish, Maria," He said, giving her both a sad and a slightly wry smile.

"I don't have a place anywhere. That goes with the territory. I just - forgot for a little while, I guess. I miss the Herald. Things were - it was different, when she was still alive."

[nofury]

"The Inquisition is everyone."

There is a certainty to that which shows Maria has no doubts. Cannot allow them, not for the mission at hand.

"From across Thedas and beyond. So long as we all seek to save our world."

[slipshot]

His expression turned more distant, then, and his eyes slid away, looking back at the party.

"... Yeah. Which is why elves get locked up for nothing and humans walk free for blowing up a chantry and starting a war, right?" He knows he shouldn't say it, not to her, but he can't help it. "Feels a lot like everyone."

[nofury]

"Ah, there it is."

Like it's a small victory, figuring out the problem. Which, it is. The concern is less now that the problem is starting to have a face to it. The unknown is always far worse.

"What happened?"

[slipshot]

"They've locked Galadriel up, for no reason. A templar attacks an elf, and he gets nothing more than a slap on the wrist, but creators forbid that an Elf even seems like she might be dangerous, and be allowed free. If she'd done to a human what Cade had done to Beleth--" He cuts off, the words having gotten angrier as he spoke, and he glared down at his feet.

"It felt right, being here, before. But in the end, regardless of rhetoric, it is a human Inquisition. And as soon as Corypheus is dealt with - it won't be a safe place to stay. If it even is now."

[nofury]

"Have you asked for a reason?"

No comments on Cade, that was another matter entirely. Judged and dealt with and if the details of the effects of red lyrium could be kept quiet she'd be fine with it. The rest...she cannot say. Instead she is insufferably reasonable as they turn around the room.

[slipshot]

"One of the others did. And was told to mind his own business. But I've visited her, Maria. She didn't do anything. She didn't hurt anyone. She--" He cut off as he stumbled, swearing in Dalish under his breath, his grip on her hand tightening as his fingers on her back gripped into her dress.

"It's nothing new. She is - she is so old, so very old, and so very powerful. She's like being faced with an Ancient Elf."

[nofury]

"She's not of this world, Gavin. But that isn't the point."

It takes a moment to get back in step, Maria taking over leading if need be. But there was no reason to wreck the dance floor for this.

"The leader of the Dalish...the First. Did yours tell you everything? Justify every choice?"

[slipshot]

"My First doesn't have a history of oppressing my people," Gavin said, raising his eyes a little pointedly.

"My First only has the power my clan grants her, through trust, and love, and doesn't have bars to put anyone behind in the first place. My First understands that freedom is important, and most importantly, she understands that defeating Corypheus is important, which is why she's allowed so many of us to sacrifice our lives for the good of Thedas, despite being led by shems."

[nofury]

"Then be lead by them, scout. Part of being the rank and file is trusting your superiors. If you aren't ready to follow orders, you're no better than these nobles looking for us to please them before they'll agree to save the world. Trust cannot be held hostage."

Shem. Dear Marker, but it has been some time since she's heard that. Since she's lead a dalish abandoned by their precious First for being one mage too many to the Circle, in fact. But how each society is terrible in its own way isn't the point. Obedience is.

[slipshot]

"I'm still here, aren't I?" He asked, a bit sharply.

"But I know enough stories to know exactly what can happen, when people follow blindly. Everyone here should. Those templars we've seen? Red crystals breaking out of their skin? That's obedience, too. You can't have leadership without trust. I came to follow the Herald. And she's dead."

[nofury]

"You don't have any trust in our Advisers?"

It always came back to the Herald. But she was dead and gone in her noble sacrifice. And no one woman made an army.