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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Korrin only response with a brief smirk at the first question before darting a paranoid glance at the bird. She's taught it too well, and it could easily make her influence on it known with a few choice phrases. Time to get it out of here, without calling too much attention to themselves.

As she gathers some food onto a plate, Korrin raises an eyebrow at Kain. "Is that it's name now? Don't get me wrong, it's apt. But I thought you were trying to get rid of it, not adopt it."

"It's not as if I named the thing!" Kain exclaims, in frustration. He doesn't like the implication that this means he's getting attached or anything of the sort. "I simply thought calling him by name might perhaps work better, help him follow my command. And when I asked his name..."

The parrot is all too eager to help, on cue to the talk of names, joyfully crying out, "You Bastard! You Bastard!"

Kain simply gestures toward the bird. "You see?"

Damn parrot, ruining her attempts to be calm and detached during this soiree. She lets out an amused snort that she tries to disguise with a cough. "I'm guessing trying to change his name worked just as well as getting him to leave you alone. Sorry, Kain. I think you might be stuck with him...though we can at least try to get him out of here for now. C'mon, let's see if he follows us...or the food."

"The name is at least apt." And shouting it at the bird alleviates some of his frustrations, so it's a winning situation. Kain narrows his eyes, looking less than amused at the notion of the bird truly being 'his' now. Grrrr... why him, why...? But right now, he's less concerned with that than he is the immediate situation.

"Right..." Kain reaches for something from the plate, waving it in the air and giving a whistle. "...it seems to respond well to that," he explains, and no this doesn't mean he's training it or anything, it's just necessity. "Come on, Bastard, come and get it." He starts walking toward the nearest exit, food in hand.

The Vashoth woman follows with the same general intent, making certain that her plate of food is prominently displayed. A noble mistakes her for a servant and moves forward to snatch a piece before her glare sets him in his place. Upon reaching the edge of the Great Hall, she pauses to make sure she's seen before exiting down the stairs.

"Just wait until we're far enough away from the door before tossing it somewhere. I doubt it'll mind picking them out among the grass."

Kain gives a mean scowl to the noble as he passes, but unfortunately his attempt to back up Korrin fails as the bird shrieks, “Stonecursed bronto-fucker!!!!” The nobleman and others around him are all too shocked by the ill-timed curse to react right away, though, giving Kain plenty of time to escape, following Korrin with the treats still in hand.

Close call. There’s a bit of louder murmuring behind them, but not totally ruining the whole event, fortunately, the scene could have been worse.

“Right, and quickly. I think he’s getting a little too… excited.” Kain moves along swiftly out, Bastard still trailing closely after them.

Mindful of the murmuring and wishing she was in a position tonight were she wouldn't have to care about any of it, Korrin hurls the plate as far into the courtyard as she can away from the buildings themselves. Let Bastard pick them all off in the open, when everyone else is inside for some reason or other.

"Then maybe a sugar crash will shut him up. I hope so; I'm not sure what else to suggest other than seeing if a parrot can get drunk."

Kain nods, glad they’re out of the hearing range of the majority of the ball. It’s safer out here, the bird can squawk about all the sacred genitalia and various illegal animal activities that it wants as long as it’s not disrupting anyone. Likewise, he tosses his food as well, watching the bird get to work finding what they’ve thrown. Ha! Good, that ought to hold him over a while.

“I’ve not yet tried giving it anything to drink, but I like the idea as a strategy… unless he’s the type to become more boisterous when drink…” Then, imagine the havoc he’d cause.

"Whatever, I'm not giving it any maraas-lok as an experiment. If you want to, go for the cheap stuff. But personally, I think it'd be a waste. Our sobriety -or lack of it- is more important than some parrot's, however awesome."

Or annoying. Same thing? Hearing it flap around, Korrin shakes her head. "It's better to slip away while it's distracted. C'mon."

"I suppose you're right, and I'd be afraid of what might happen if he were under such an influence." He rubs his head, this whole thing is really a giant headache to deal with. But he watches as Bastard seems to be very interested in the food, and in finding every last bit of it. Ha, good.

"Right... that ought to keep him occupied... I hope it'll be enough to last a while." At least the bird does get easily distracted, enough that he might just hang around outside. Who knows? Kain nods to Korrin and begins heading back in.

Darting a last smirk, Korrin gestures for them to return, a sigh of relief escaping as the doors close behind them. "That ought to buy us some time. Time during which you can tell me how you managed to get talked into coming here, because I wouldn't have thought this your style." No, it definitely had to be someone else's influence. Especially since he's not wearing plaidweave.

Good, very good, Bastard is well distracted, and hopefully won’t cause more of a disruption than the small one he already has.

Kain raises an eyebrow. “It’s nothing too dramatic, really… I just… happened to walk into the undercroft at the wrong time, while they were preparing clothing for the event.” He’d nearly been cornered into a fitting, but then he’d already had this outfit from Vivienne. Believe him, he’d have picked plaidweave if he’d been left up to his own devices. “And… I suppose it’s important, to make an appearance among those who are influential. Show them we’re not monsters or anything of the sort. Not that I intend to stay long.”

"Ah, the Undercroft trap. That's what snared a few other friends of mine. I shouldn't be surprised." Korrin looks him over and nods in approval at that last part, in complete agreement. "Hey, even a brief appearance should be enough to, if not completely convince them that you're not demons, at least doubt it. Hell, the bird can at least deflect by making everyone one of if it is a demon instead. Perfect plan."

"I had no idea they'd take over the entire undercroft," Kain replies, a bit moody. But all in all this has been better than the balls back home. He doesn't have to watch Cecil and Rosa dance and act all lovey toward one another, here. It's a big deal for him not to put up with that, sigh. "But yes... it would do us all well to stop being so concerned about the distinction... we rifters are just as human and just as loyal to this cause." Well, some of them. He is, because he needs the sense of purpose in his life. "So I'll become known as the owner of a demon bird... I can imagine the rumors now..."

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Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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