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

[byblow]

Alistair is—as a kindness to other people, mostly—not in armor, although there's something vaguely martial, or maybe just excessively practical, about Fereldan finery. But there's nothing martial about his demeanor. He looks a little harried, a little mutinous, and a little amused all at once when he winds up next to Ingrid purely by mistake, in the process of weaving around other people to dodge someone he has negative interest in continuing to converse with.

He doesn't specifically want to talk to Ingrid, either, but that's a step up from specifically wanting not to.

"You're very shiny tonight," he says, and, "Wouldn't want the mages to fail to notice you and accidentally relax."

[ingrid_kief]

"There are here dresses shinier than my armor. And I see no point in a ball gown I will never wear again," she retorted.

She tucks back a stray lock of her pale hair.
"It is not for mages anyway. It is to show the Orlesians we stand with the Inquisition. I hear they are picky about appearance, and being shiny means they find no fault, except maybe in their own reflections."

[byblow]

Alistair's eyebrows go up. "Have you met many Orlesians?"

[ingrid_kief]

"A few on my way to Skyhold. They are... difficult to understand sometimes, but I got that much," she explains. "Have you, ser?"