faderift | Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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.

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It is always a delight to personally witness the results of one's hard work. Josephine is beyond relieved to see everyone in attendance and enjoying themselves after the weeks upon weeks of planning. Hopefully what they have achieved here tonight will be more than enough to put any spurious rumours about the Inquisition to rest, or at least displace them with new intrigues regarding other political powers. Ah, perhaps she is being overly hopeful, but she cannot help it: that is the kind of person Josephine is.

Nonetheless, she is all too aware that her work is not over yet. While they might have succeeded in gathering everyone at Skyhold tonight, the night is still young and there is still so much opportunity for things to go incredibly wrong. As a result, Josephine can be found pretty much everywhere, keeping an eye on all the different elements of the soiree. Is the food in any danger of running out? Are people behaving themselves?

She is also making herself available for any concerns and queries to be brought to her, or to help dispense any necessary advice regarding the Game. If she has a moment to breath, she might even make her own initial approach, asking party-goers at random whether they are enjoying themselves.

For those who know the Ambassador well, they might note that she looks slightly more frazzled than usual. But for all the stresses weighed upon her, Josephine still moves with elegance and grace, wearing a gown gown in the style of what very much the Antivan fashion the last time Josephine was home. Ruffles nonwithstanding, the dress itself is a curious colour. Depending on the way it catches the light, it might look either blue, or gold, or any shade in between.

Tomorrow, she might be able to relax again.

"This is all very well done, mia Dama." Zevran murmurs from where he's settled in at her side for the moment, eye cast out among the dancing nobility, the discussions taking place- who is speaking to whom, who seems interested, who seems bored, who is spinning tales and who may or may not have any real truth to them. His own Kestrels flit about offering wine and snacks and attentive ears, picking up what he cannot. "And you a flower of loveliness among it all."

Even though Josephine is certain that he is just flattering her, she feels herself grow slightly flustered at the compliment nonetheless. Doing her best to disguise it with an easy smile, she answers, "You are too kind to me, Zevran." She cants her head before adding, "Acknowledgements of my efforts, however, are always appreciated. In addition to achieving our goals here tonight, I simply hope that everybody is able to enjoy themselves. Otherwise it would be a true waste, no?"

Casting her gaze around the room to follow Zevran's line of sight, she continues. "Such thoughts are extended to yourself, naturally. Are you having an enjoyable evening?"

"I speak the truth. None can quite compare to the loveliness of an Antivan Rose, blossoming in her element." Most anyone else- actually, everyone else that he might tip that line to would receive a leer, a smirk, something lewd and salacious. But for Josephine? A noble lady, a diplomat, well connected in Orlais and Antiva? To Zevran she is to be untouched, unspoiled, and thus his appreciation is of a gentler sort.

If only to spare himself more of Leliana's ire. "I am having a marvelous time, as are a great many of the nobles."

Perhaps Josephine might've been offended if she had known that Zevran were imagining her to some sort of delicate flower. Is she not Antivan too? But ignorance is bliss, so instead she merely smiles. "I am glad to hear it. If you had to choose one or two of the visiting nobles that you would say are having the best time, who you would choose?"

Does she want to gossip?

Probably.

"Baroness Comeaux and Comte Daucourt- though the second will have less to smile about when I am through with him. The former has found several promising prospects for the evening and will likely bed the taller of the two- she has a thing for height much in the same way Lady Odette has a thing for Qunari horns." A beat, he smiles. "I do promise nothing of what might be done for Comte Daucourt can be held against the Inquisition."

"Oh? And what might be done to the Comte Daucourt?" Her eyes flicker around the room again, watching Lady Odette who certainly does have her eyes on a nearby Qunari. "I would not begrudge anyone their particular preferences."

"A lesson in the proper treatment of elves and how to be more discerning in those with whom he chooses to pass the time." All innocence, is Zevran. "Pointed words, but not quite pointed."

Katniss knew that Lady Josephine was going to slow down for about, oh, half a minute. So when she saw the lady in question pause for about thirty seconds, she slipped up to her at the banquet table and murmured to her, "Not for nothing, my Lady, but you should know the older twin, aaaah, Marquise Bernadette? She might be spitting venom about her sister, but I think she's looking for trade partners. If we link her to any of our contacts, I think we can get her support."

Josephine had been keeping an eye on the attending nobles here and there throughout the night, but it is always a relief to have her own observations confirmed by a third party. She cants her head in Katniss's direction and with a smile, she answers, "Yes, I had been thinking much along the same lines myself. I shall have to carve out some tonight to speak with the Marquise personally."

"I think it well worth your while." Katniss stated, with a quiet smile in turn. For all her high rank, Josephine is one of the favorite advisers amongst the common folk. Mostly because she looks out to them personally. Katniss half turned, to look over her shoulder.

"I ... also wanted to mention, just a word in your ear, that it would probably help the Dalish here immensely if you were seen talking to one of their own? I think it might help with the confusion where people keep asking them to get them drinks." She nodded in the direction of Sina and Pel. "All of the Dalish are taking it in beautiful stride though."

Josephine does not recognise the other elf with Sina, but Sina she knows well enough. She had promised to be on hand should the woman have any further questions. "I have been doing my best to talk to several attendees regarding the goals we are here to achieve tonight. But I shall certainly take some time to talk to some of the Dalish elves as well."

"Thank you ... it's for appearances sake, more than any real political ambition of yours." Katniss pretended to be inspecting the flowers on the table, her voice low but straight forward. "The nobles keep accusing them of being servants."

Josephine sighs slightly at Katniss's words, because she knew that this was going to happen despite her best efforts. "That simply will not do. You think their markings, if nothing else, would help them make the distinction, but..." Ordinary Orlesians are not known for their powers of observation. "I will attend to it."

Katniss straightened, and she let her expression show her emotions once as she looked at the advisor. Outright gratitude, and respect. "Thank you, Lady Josephine. I knew we could count on you to do the right and proper thing."

Josephine looks mildly abashed by Katniss's words, but it is not proper to deflect compliments too stringently, so instead, she merely nods and answers, "I do my best. It is my job, after all."

"You do an excellent job, my lady." Katniss knew enough to dip into a curtsy, before she rose up straight. "Thank you, my lady, for your time."

Perhaps she should have made introductions upon her arrival to Skyhold but she wouldn't be Morrigan if she did. Reputation was enough, and if Leliana spoke to her regularly and kept up to date with her research and goals then she could pass on whatever information she deemed necessary. Wherever Morrigan has gone there has been a little flurry of furious whispering after: she had left Orlais, that much was known, but it hadn't been confirmed that she'd come to join the Inquisition.

Of course that only prompts more questions, questions she ignores as she sweeps past them, waiting until Josephine is alone before she makes her approach, the usual smirk settled on her face.

"I trust all is well this evening, Lady ambassador?" And as ever, Morrigan sounds amused because she'd forgotten just what it's like to watch everyone work themselves into such a frenzy over something like this though it's at least less torturous than the last such ball she attended in Orlais.

It takes Josephine a moment to recognise the woman that's standing in front of her. Certainly, she knows Morrigan by reputation, but they have never been introduced. Once she realises who has approached her, she fixes the other woman with a warm and practiced smile. "Everything is progressing just as well as I had hoped," she answers easily, but she cannot help the relieved slump of her shoulders as she voices her thoughts aloud. She had not been aware she had been carrying about quite so much tension.

"I see you have been causing quite the stir," she continues, her smile curling. The nobles do love their gossip, and having Morrigan here can only help their cause. The apostate who had left the courts of Orlais to come lend her aid to the fledgling Inquisition... yes, that is quite the story indeed.

Introductions done the way some have here (Leliana's did make her smile, the way a life can be boiled down so easily, as if you can strip someone to the bone in but a few short words) have never been her style, and she suffered through one presentation to the Orlesian court and would rather not do it again. She's known, or something about her is known, and that's enough. People are still surprised to see her in a gown and at least one or two of those assembled look at her as if expected her to behave like a wild creature.

Sometimes she doesn't mind disappointing.

"I am to blame? One of your guests would put a Fereldan to shame, I'm sure he'd lend his support if you said the Inquisition would allow him to marry his hound." So something to consider, if things get desperate and well they might given the situation at present. "Tis hardly my fault if the guests do not understand that I am not one to be charmed by them, I suspect the rumours that I have ensorcelled Celene will follow. One or more of you will be next."

"Did I say that I blamed you?" Josephine asks, canting her head slightly as though trying to discern why Morrigan had jumped to that conclusion. "You can hardly be blamed for others' reactions. You know as well as I do that the nobility loves to gossip." She lowers her voice slightly before adding, "That is one of several reasons we arranged tonight's soiree."

"Tis hardly my fault that your guests will trip over themselves to find evidence that I have ensorcelled key members of the Inquisition, I am sure at least one will say that I began my corruption of Sister Nightingale back during the Blight." Life has been trying lately, and tonight there's the reminder of the eluvian she had sent for, that she doesn't know exactly where it is as well as having to deal with Alistair for the first time since Anders.

That's still too raw, too likely to sour her temper, so she pushes the thoughts away, rolling her eyes.

"And there is nothing better the Inquisition can spend so much on," for this will not be cheap, not at all, "than indulging Vivienne's whims and idle gossip? Many things can be dressed up but I did not hear of dancing lessons being made compulsary, and such an unwieldy creature this Inquisition is at present."

"We stand to recoup the costs and more should the evening go well," Josephine answers, her gaze suddenly steeled as though she will allow no other outcome. The woman before her is a mystery, a puzzle Josephine has not yet figured out, although she finds herself filled with a new-found determination to do just that. "Did your time at the Imperial court not teach you how important this 'idle gossip' is for the stability of nations?"

"If they think us enscrolled by you, let them. It is nothing that cannot be made to work in our favour."

Many others, including Empress Celene herself, have tried and failed though Leliana might be the one who comes closest to succeeding but then she's the only one who actually knew Morrigan before she first appeared as anything more than a figure at the Hero's side. "My time in the Imperial Court taught the world will still burn around them as they argue over who should seat themselves upon a throne that means less and less for all their petty squabbling, that they will let their nation bleed itself dry and sing itself hoarse as they wring their hands about rose over teal, about my not wearing a mask. That if an empress wishes to get her way, she will burn an alienage to a ground, and her loyal subjects whose history she fawned over with it."

The words almost choke her, and the wine she has sipped at sparingly she swallows quickly, as if to rinse the taste of them from her mouth, as if it were so easy. Her time if the Imperial Court taught her simply what the wilds had taught her only motherhood had softened her, and Ferelden was at least honest, it didn't take some strange twisted joy in doing what it did. The seat of the Chantry sits in Orlais, where the Game took shape, small wonder she hates them both yet must be so very aware of how they work, how they would seek to confine her and measure out her life, how best to constrict her.

"I am sure Leliana will tell some pretty tell of how she will have me falling to my knees before her, weeping and repenting, renouncing my wicked ways and that at her side I have seen the Maker's light, whatever sort of nonsense must be peddled so the Inquisition is not left destitute as hermits."

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Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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