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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Nobles, go to market? Perish the thought. That's what servants are for." Korrin wrinkles her nose at such attitudes, even as she quotes them for Hermione's sake. "But yes, this is exactly what they're doing. And the war is closer to home for them than you'd think. Their empire is torn apart by a civil war between the Empress and her cousin. So, nobles take sides and everyone else gets caught in the middle. They're probably waiting to see if the Inquisition supports either side, like we don't have better things to do."

She shakes her head in disgust, but keeps her tone even for the sake of appearances. "Josephine and Vivienne wouldn't have arranged this if the benefits didn't outweigh the headache, though. People far more diplomatic than me will get what we need from this, and then we can go back to dealing with the actual problem."

The mention of servants just makes Hermione growl softly under her breath. It's the barest step above a slave, but even so, no one should spend their lives serving others. Especially when these others have perfectly working legs to go to the market and fetch their own bloody pastries.

"So the Inquisition is politely asking them to help solve a problem. If they don't help, and this ancient magister wins the war, they have to suffer as much as the rest of us. But they still need to be persuaded to help." Sniffing with annoyance, she mutters, "Maybe I should go back up to the library now before I end up going up to one of these nobles and violently shaking him about the shoulders."

Telling Hermione just how close Orlesian servants are to slaves in some respects would only fray that temper further, and Korrin's still trying to behave herself, so she'll try not to endanger the night. Though Maker knows her own patience has been severely tested here and there. She nods as Hermione neatly sums up the issue, a grim smile on her lips.

"That's about it, yes. This is one giant fest of ass-kissing. Ass-kissing and 'exotic' desserts. The Ferelden nobles aren't as bad, though, or at least they hide it better. You might find them less taxing to deal with, though I can't blame you for being fed up with the lot. It's tempting to slip away to the other party, the one that sounds like it was actually meant to be fun. I have to stay here for a while, but if you're still here when I get the chance, we can always sneak off together."

"I'd say that no one should kiss anything and see how well the Orlesians do without Inquisition support, rather than worry about the opposite." Sighing softly, she shakes her head and adds, "But then, I don't know enough a out these politics to say anything one way or the other."

She's already gazing wistfully out the door at Korrin's mention of the other party. "Someone invited me to go there. He said he'd send his dog to come fetch me if I only whistle out the window. It's tempting, believe me."

That gets a smile out of Korrin, especially at mention of the dog. "Said dog wouldn't be a mabari called Jayne, by any chance? The only other person that comes to mind is Asher, and he wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near this event." Not that there aren't other mabari owners around, but she likes to think Mal would look out for someone in that manner.

Hermione immediately perks up. "Yes! Do you know Malcolm? He and Jayne helped me out when I'd first arrived; he seems to be making it a habit to periodically check in on me." Something that she very much appreciates, given how often she's been a bit shaky on her feet here.

"Mal? Oh yeah, we go back a fair bit, shared some jobs and the like. He knows what he's doing and I'm glad to fight alongside him." Korrin's wide, warm smile should be a fair indication of her opinion even before she shares it. "Beneath that crusty surface, he's a real sweetheart. Jayne keeps him in line, and I repay the mutt by making him fat. It's a vicious cycle."

They clearly both feel their own fair share of affection towards Mal, and Hermione is just glad that this means Mal is more than likely trustworthy. It's always nice to know she's not going down a completely wrong path. "I'm glad to hear it. He really is quite sweet." Smirking just a little, she adds, "Mal isn't so bad, either."

That gets a chuckle out of her, as she tends to joke along those same lines. "He's so stereotypically Fereldan when it comes to that. 'Dog lords', indeed. I'll take their lot over stuffy Orlesians, any day. But then we Free Marchers have a lot more in common with them, mabari obsession aside. I'll have to recount some of our adventures for you, when he's around." She could now, true, but that's not nearly as fun without him facepalming at some embarrassing nonsense he thought she'd forgotten about.

"Fair warning, a lot of that involves a third merc friend of ours, an Avvar with no sense of impulse control. As you might have guessed, he wouldn't be caught dead at a gathering like this, if they'd even let him in."

"He's Ferelden, then?" Hermione asks, trying to keep the various nationalities straight. It's no easy task, especially when she'll always come across conflicting information and stereotypes for every nation. "And they typically like dogs?" Smirking just a little, as she has a feeling she knows precisely why Korrin would want to wait until Mal's around before sharing stories, she replies, "I'll have to drag him by sometime so we can have a chat. It sounds riveting."

At the mention of an Avvar, Hermione asks, "Do you mean Asher? Mal told me a little bit about him. I've never met an Avvar before. They sound... interesting." That pause is mostly because Mal's description of Asher involved quite a bit on the way he smelled, so she's not entirely sure whether or not she'd like to meet him.

Korrin chuckles and nods at mention of Asher. "That would be him. Avvar are tribespeople that used to dominate Ferelden, worshiping their own gods and whatnot. They no longer have the hold they used to, but they're still around...in the Frostbacks, at least. No doubt Asher will tell you his grandfather's people lead the best possible life here, but the he's always one for challenge and hates the Chantry. The Avvar give an outlet for both.

And yes, that's a Fereldan stereotype. They're often called 'dog lords' in a mocking away for it, though some take it as a badge of pride."

"So the Avvar are sort of like Ferelden ancestors, the indigenous people who lived there before the Chantry stepped in. I wonder if it's similar to the way Christian missionaries and settlers have expanded their reach in my world." She wouldn't doubt it, really. It seems as though, despite the names and the precise stories being a little different, Andrastianism and Christianity have had a similar influence on their respective worlds. If nothing else, that's certainly interesting, in its own way.

"I prefer cats, myself, but there's nothing wrong with dogs. Especially not if they're as strong and loyal as Jayne."

"Andraste was a tribeswoman, too, you know. Not Avvar, but her people were related to them or something such. It's not a dread secret, but I don't think most Chantry folk like talking about it. Compare the Maker's Bride to the tribespeople today, and it's like they're sucking on lemons."

Taking a sip from her wine, Korrin flashes a grin. "Jayne's loyalty is as big as his stomach; so, pretty damn loyal. You know, that reminds me of what I heard about the Landsmeet, this big meeting they had in Ferelden to decide who was going to be the next ruler. It came down to a duel between Loghain, the traitorous asshole who left the Grey Wardens to die at the beginning of the Fifth Blight, and the Hero of Ferelden, Warden Cousland. Cousland could either pick someone to be his champion or fight Loghain himself. Someone said that he chose his dog to fight in his stead, and the only reason it didn't happen was because Arl Eamon refused. It's a shame, I can't imagine anything more Fereldan than that."

"I wasn't aware of that," Hermione replies, though it should come as no small surprise, considering that all she knows about Andraste has come from books written by the Chantry. "It's a bit like the situation back home. The two largest religious organizations are Christianity and Judaism. The main religious figure of Christianity was a man named Jesus, but many Christians today refuse to acknowledge that Jesus had practiced Judaism, since Christianity hadn't existed before He'd died."

She chuckles at Korrin's story, shaking her head a bit. "They probably have enough respect for dogs to know that it wouldn't be a fair fight. People might be able to wield weapons, but there's a reason why we'd learned to do that whereas animals never had." She pauses for a moment before asking, "I keep hearing about this Hero of Ferelden; what did he do, exactly, to give him that title?"

Mention of Christianity does bring forth a spark of recognition in Korrin, thanks to her earlier conversation with another rifter. She nods, unsurprised at what she's told but still rolls her eyes at it. It seems a common thing, to the roots from which it all sprung. A shame, too, not that the Chantry will likely agree.

"Warden Cousland earned his title by ending the Fifth Blight. It was contained in Ferelden at the time, but if he'd failed to stop it, there's no doubt it would have spread to all of Thedas. Once he slayed the Archdemon in Denerim, though, the darkspawn hordes scattered without someone to lead them. This is all second-hand, as I was nowhere near Ferelden when it happened, but there are enough veterans of the Fifth Blight here to confirm it, some of which were with him at the time."

Hermione's just glad that Korrin doesn't ask her any deeper questions about religion, because Hermione wouldn't be able to answer her to her satisfaction. She can give her facts, insofar as what history tells and what people believe, but she doesn't really have a horse in that race one way or the other.

She listens carefully to Korrin's tale about this Hero of Ferelden, wondering if the tales about him are anything like the sorts of stories that have already been developing about Harry. And her and Ron, she supposes. "I'm sure they're tired of being approached with questions. Being friends with a hero can be taxing, before, during, and after the fact." And yes, she's definitely speaking as someone who knows, which is why she'll opt to not to find out who those people are so she can bombard them with questions. Some things are just easier to find in a book, after all.

A wry smile forms as she nods to that observation. "Alistair sounds especially weary of it, from what I've seen and heard, though I can't blame him. As the only other actual Grey Warden of the group, he must get those questions all the time. Zevran doesn't seem to mind talking about others' deeds, as long as you like the unvarnished truth. At least he seemed to appreciate that when I asked him, since the truncated version is well-known by now.

I...can't say I've dared to ask Morrigan or Leliana yet. The arcane advisor and spymaster are far too busy to tell stories from ten years ago, anyway, so I've come not to expect it."

Out of all those names, Hermione recognizes only one of them. "I've met Leliana. Our conversation had to be cut a bit short, so I can tell she's busy, but she was rather nice. No wonder she reacted the way she had, if she'd lived through something as awful as a Blight." She pauses for a moment before explaining, "I'd been telling her about some of the horrors that had happened in my own world's history. It... fit the conversation at the time."

Shaking her head, she looks up at Korrin with a small smile. "I think I'll settle on finding a reliable-sounding book rather than bother anyone about it. Even if this Zevran doesn't sound as though he'd be too bothered." She hesitates before asking, "It might be a dumb question, but what exactly does an arcane advisor do? Counsel others on mysterious history?"

Korrin notes that hesitation but shrugs and smiles, not bothered. "You've yet to ask a dumb question, Hermione. You're still very new here and everything you've asked so far has been pretty sensible to me.

Anyway, that's the term I've heard floated about in reference to her, from Empress Celene's court. She would advise the empress on all matters relating to magic...though just how an apostate mage got the attention -let alone the favor- of an empress, I've no idea. The Circles haven't fallen for so long that an apostate mage having the Empresses' ear could be seen as anything but scandalous."

As ignorant as she is about Orlesian court politics overall, even Korrin has to recognize that truth. Perhaps blood magic...but she doesn't want to start such rumors without cause or proof. Apostates have it difficult enough as it is, and she just don't know. "Now that she's at Skyhold, Morrigan must be doing the same for the advisers. That a it's a fellow apostate and not a Circle mage in such a prominent role tickles me a bit. People will see a powerful, competent mage and realize that a Circle had nothing to do with what she is now. It might lead to something better for the rest, later on."

Maybe. Assuming Morrigan's example doesn't become something to regret later. But Korrin doesn't presume to know the Witch of the Wilds to any great degree. What will come is as much a mystery to her as anyone else.

She can't help smiling at Korrin's assertion that she hadn't asked a dumb question yet. Hermione personally believes that there's no such thing in a stupid question, so long as one is actively trying to learn something new. Not everyone shares her sentiments.

"So she... left a Circle but still managed to become a trusted member of the court and of Skyhold's advisers?" Hermione asks, immediately intrigued. "She must be a very valuable resource, then. It's nice that at least some people in positions of power can recognize that sort of value despite a person's social status, such as it is. After all, social status is malleable; I'd been fairly well-regarded back home, only to come here and have to start from scratch because no one knows my name. All that matters is about a person is the person themselves, so... it's nice that there are at least a few people here that recognize that."

Shaking her head, Korrin quirks a smile. "No, she was never part of a Circle to begin with. Like me, she had her training elsewhere. There are a lot of rumors about that, but I can't verify any of it, and haven't asked her for such details." Korrin's not sure that line of questioning would be welcome, for all that they had a very interesting conversation earlier. If she wants to know more, perhaps Zevran will indulge her.

And given how her own views are very much in line with Hermione's, she naturally nods in approval. "Believe me, this is the perfect time and place to have your name be well-known again. It's not without pressure, but if the rifts are sealed, if Corypheus is defeated? People will know that it was with the help of those beyond the Fade. I'll be one of the loudest voices in reminding people of that, if need be."

"I know better than to place much stock in rumors," Hermione mentions with a wave of her hand. "But it is interesting, isn't it, that so many people who seem to be causing so much change in Thedas are the very people there are so many prejudices about?"

Korrin's suggestion makes Hermione smile a bit awkwardly, and she looks down. "I don't know about my name in particular, but yes, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if the rifters had something to do with defeating Corypheus, and if there were mages among those rifters. It would make people wonder just why they'd been so adamant about all these years of hate. In theory, anyway."

Korrin flashes a warm smile, hoping she's not being too optimistic, but it's hard not to when speaking with Hermione about the possibilities. "That's my line of thinking, too. Granted, I don't expect everyone to suddenly break free of deeply-ingrained prejudices, but I remember Mother Giselle talking about the Revered Mothers in Val Royeaux and how their strength was in their unified voice. Get some of them to doubt, and suddenly you have your foot in the door. Every little bit as the potential to go somewhere.

And honestly, this has a lot more potential than the entire Mage-Templar war. Most people only cared about being caught in the middle of all that violence. Now that everyone is a target, suddenly the usual scapegoats aren't to blame." Well, anymore. It was beyond apparent now that there was more to the death of the Divine, but that hadn't stopped people from blaming mages at first.

"Exactly," Hermione replies, unable to keep from smiling at least a little. She might be new to this world and not have much of a say in things one way or the other, but it's still exciting to see a world go through this much change. It helps make it easier for her to hope for a positive shift in her own post-war civilization.

"From what I understand, Corypheus threatens the entire world. Hating mages or elves seems horribly short-sighted in light of that. People need to be made to understand the much larger picture and all that's at risk. Biases and stereotypes are one thing, but there's just no room for intolerance in this situation."

"Some people need that message tattooed on their foreheads, I swear, and even then, they still might not get it. I overheard someone just the other day coping an attitude about the elves being here and not trusting them for...being elves? Idiotic. At least the dwarf he was talking to wasn't having any of it."

That tickled her a little, that attempts to sow the same bigotry as before were met with some resistance. Despite the tension in Skyhold, at least some people don't see the sense in perpetuating the same old crap. "With any luck, some of the people we need to persuade will see the sense in that too. Either way, keep in mind that Madame de Fer's probably keeping her spa people on call for tomorrow. After all this, they're going to be needed."

Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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