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

Dancing

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Really?"

Bethany blinked at the offer, before her lips twitched up into a warm, sincere smile. She offered out her hand to her fellow Warden, as she bowed in turn with all due noble courtesy. Or at least as much as she had been able to cram in, in that brief time she had for learning how to be noble.

She pulls off fairly well, grasping Sabriel's hand and stating with formality. "I would be delighted, Lady Sabriel. And might I say, you are looking lovely."

[paperwing]

Learning to be a noble but having little chance to play one is something they are equally matched in, at least. Sabriel's smile stays in place as she waits, and bows in kind. Slightly lower for the nobles' benefit in the room, given rank, but it's only for show.

"That pleases me to hear, Lady Bethany," Sabriel responds, tipping her head forward slightly again in affirmation. "As do you. Blues and silvers. A combination I am surprised we both chose." Her grin widens, because ha, ha. "Shall I lead?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany's dimples flashed at the slightly deeper bow, but she knew it was all for the nobles and not for the actual nobility. She grinned, before taking her hand, "Well clearly we know what colors truly suit us, Lady Sabriel. I would be delighted that you lead."

[paperwing]

"Very well," Sabriel announces with another smile, taking several slow steps towards the dance floor proper. That done, she places a hand on Bethany's waist, and adjusts her speed to that of the music. That's easy for her; it's the steps that are a little more difficult to remember, but she falls into the routine of it with only a couple of glances to their feet.

Now they're moving, her voice is lower, not for nobles to hear. Not that they would, attention preoccupied by the dancers dancing. "Have you ever been to a soiree like this before, Bethany?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany held her chin up high, looking Sabriel in the eye as she rested her hand lightly on Sabriel's shoulder, giving her hand a squeeze before they took off around the dance floor. She was able to keep up, well enough, and soon they were as smooth as the rest of their fellow dancers.

A quiet, sad smile slipped across her face, "Only once. My sister threw a party for my brother and I, before we parted our separate ways. It was ... before everything went to the Black City, in Kirkwall. Right after we - well - gave Corypheus a solid thrashing." But not killed him. Sigh. "She wanted to spoil us, because she missed us. She knew she wouldn't see us again for a ... for a long time."

Her smile turned fond, "Marian was always very good about looking out for us. Even when Carver didn't want her to."