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

“That makes two of us who’d prefer something else to being here,” Kain agrees, gesturing around the hall. “These events are all the same, no matter the world you’re in. I’ve been to more than enough balls back home… it never changes. Though I did want to make an appearance here, for the sake of us rifters.” It’s about showing the nobles they’re not some kind of demons and all.

Kain nods, looking thoughtfully at the mask in hand. “I got to fight one even, and it was even more formidable than a story could ever be.” Though deep down, he wishes he could spend more time actually getting out there and seeing them firsthand, not only to fight but to study, maybe one day tame. But he knows there are priorities here.

“You seem to have a fondness for research in general… I hope it’s still been worthwhile, learning about the various magics out there.”

"I've never been to anything like this," Hermione murmurs, glancing around. "I've been to parties, but this is so much more... political. You have to watch your every word and gesture, not just because someone might be spying on you, but because people can take any perceived slight as seriously as they would a real one and everyone would think it fair. Still, I agree that it's good we show our faces here, just to dispel the idea that we're some weird and mysterious Other."

A little surprised, Hermione asks, "You've fought a dragon? Really? In my world, we're lucky enough to have just encountered a dragon and managed to make an escape. Actually fighting them - unless it was actively attacking you first, that is - is horribly rare."

Smiling now, she perks up a bit and remarks, "Oh, it's all be very interesting, yes! I've collected so much information, and I know I haven't spoken to even most of the rifters yet. Hopefully I can put some of that knowledge to good use."

“Exactly… if they realize we’re capable of blending in amongst everyone else… shards aside… they can begin to see us as real people. Though the political aspects… it’s a tougher job than combat, for me, at least. I’d always leave such things to my other companions back home.” Cecil has always been so much better at diplomacy… well, more or less, it took him time to learn it, but he’s also got more requirements for it nowadays than Kain.

“I’ve fought them back home, and I’ve fought one high dragon here, too. A hivernal.” Kain has noticed that other worlds aren’t quite the same for dragon populations, though. “Most of the ones we have at home are similar to here… wild, ferocious beasts who pose a real threat. But my people did once tame some. It seems like not all worlds even have any... or many, anyway.”

“I hope you can, as well. There’s surely much to be learned about all of the worlds… perhaps you may even uncover why we got pulled here, of all the people on them.” He’s always wondered, is it totally random, or was there something about them that brought them here.

"They wouldn't just see us as real people," Hermione brings up. "But there are mages of all sorts among us, along with other variations of people who aren't strictly 'normal', by their standards. And if we can help with the betterment of Thedas, how much more so their own natives mages and elves?"

The idea of actively fighting dragons.... "That's... extraordinary," she breathes out. "The closest I'd ever come to a dragon was riding one to escape from a sticky situation a few months ago. And even that had only been under the direst of situations and had sparked a ridiculous amount of stories."

Hesitating for a brief moment, Hermione admits, "To be completely honest... that is a major reason behind my research. The more I understand about this world, the more likely I am to understand the Fade, which means I'm more likely to understand how its pull works. Hopefully one day, I'll come across some helpful answers. For now, there's nothing for it but to put the information I have found to as good a use as possible."

“All too true. Thedas doesn’t have a very good attitude toward a lot of its own. Not that I expect their opinions will all suddenly change after one event, but… it can surely help.” It still bothers him, the way mages are treated… he’d never want to see Rosa regarded with so much suspicion and hostility. Despite his experiences with evil mages, he’s also seen too much good to ever agree with the prevailing stance.

Kain nods, looking thoughtful, he can’t help but feel the same. No matter how much he’s dealt with dragons, for good or ill, he’ll always admire the fierce creatures. “Riding them is thrilling, though, isn’t it? It’s been far too long since I’ve had the opportunity…” Though it doesn’t sound like she had exactly the best circumstances in which to try it out. Even so, he’d give anything to get upon a dragon’s back again one day.

The Fade… it definitely is a lot to understand, everything works so differently here. What he’s heard about it is unsettling at worst, at best very vague and dreamlike. “You’ll have a lot to uncover there… the Fade remains mysterious to many of the natives to this world as well, from what I can tell. But perhaps it’ll take an outsider with a new perspective to find those answers.”

"If it's a major enough event, then there's no reason for their opinions not to change," Hermione brings up easily, shrugging slightly.

If he doesn't already doubt that she'd enjoyed riding a dragon, the look of sheer incredulity on Hermione's face probably clears that matter right up. "I don't know if I would call it thrilling so much as terrifying. I prefer keeping both feet on the ground whenever I can. And if I must take to the air, I'd rather it be on some sort of vehicle with safety restraints and working parachutes."

Nodding, Hermione mentions, "Most people have told me they don't understand the Fade, referring me to the same small handful of people who would have more knowledge about it. But I hold out hope that a fresh perspective will do wonders. Only time will tell, of course. And I certainly don't expect to work any such wonders overnight, much less by myself."

"An event that shakes up the world, perhaps... yes, I've seen that firsthand. It could happen even here." Considering the sort of threats facing the world... it may happen sooner than not.

Kain looks just as surprised, but then again, when your entire life is spent dedicated to the element of air and soaring through the skies... it only stands to reason. "It seems we're of opposite views on that. To me, there's no other feeling than lifting off the ground... to be fully immersed in air, that perspective of having the world far below... I feel more alive when I'm flying." He even manages to smile a bit, clearly this is something that means a lot to him. But at the same time... "I know it's not for everyone. I'd have just as bad of a time in a deep cavern as you seem to in the air."

"It surely will take your combined efforts... but I'm glad you've been sent on the right track to finding some answers. This Fade may well hold answers that we need." It seems reasonable to him, given the way in which everything is happening.

"I can't help but feeling as though Thedas was entirely formed on events that have shaken it to its very core, according to the history books."

Taking a bit of a breath - because she does not have a phobia of heights, nope, not her, not at all - Hermione explains, "It's not being in the air that frightens me. It's the possibility of landing on hard, unforgiving ground and shattering every bone in my body that I find preoccupying." Shrugging, she explains, "The only time most non-magical people in my world take to the air, there are a million and one safety precautions that are observed. I've found that magical means of travel feels less stable, whether or not it actually is."

Sighing softly, she adds, "The Fade seems to hold a lot of different answers for a lot of different people. Whether or not people are willing or able to use those answers towards good, though, is another matter altogether."

“It certainly seems that way… especially given the world is overrun by darkspawn on a regular basis.” The Blights sound like horrifying and trying times to live through, but the fact that they repeat every so often is even worse. Still, he knows if he were a native here, he’d probably have accepted it and been among the Wardens fighting. It sounds like his sort of approach.

Kain raises an eyebrow curiously. “Non-magic means of flight? Does your world have airships as well?” That’s not so unusual to him, at least, and the ships certainly do have to undergo a lot of careful inspection and so forth before they’re ready to be airborne. “When you put it that way, though, I can hardly blame you. I’ve spent most of my life learning not only how to fly but how to fall and prevent injury as much as possible… a necessary skill when it’s something you do constantly. It’s certainly not easy.”

That’s all too true, and Kain’s expression is all the more serious. “I’ve no doubt there are some out there who would use what they know of the Fade and demons for a dark purpose. Corypheus may not be the only threat we’ll have to face.”

"There has to be a cure for this blight business I keep hearing about," Hermione murmurs, shaking her head. "They might have exhausted magical possibilities, but now, with other sorts of magic present here...." Well. That's part of why she'd been conducting those interviews with other rifters before.

"Oh, well, sort of, in a manner of speaking. They're called aeroplanes. They're large, metal transports that help make commercial travel between long distances possible for those who don't know about magic." And they're much safer than riding on broomsticks or dragons, but she has the feeling he wouldn't share her sentiments. "We have a variety of charms that can help limit injuries in the event of a fall, but... well, to be perfectly honest, I'm sure I'd be too worried about the speed at which the ground was approaching my head to really be able to wrap my mind around the right spell."

She pauses for a moment before asking, "Is Corypheus a threat we'll have to face at all? I haven't heard any whisperings about his whereabouts or his movements or of any plan of attack. Which doesn't mean there isn't any planning in the making for those in charge of that sort of thing, but maybe they mean to keep the rifters out of it. A lot of them are still uncertain about us, after all."

"Other magics may hold the key. After all, the demons and darkspawn of this world won't have any defenses against off-world magic." It really is a good thing that the Inquisition has been able to recruit the rifters who've arrived so far. They seem to need all the help they can get.

Kain nods in understanding, their aeroplanes sound a lot like the airships in some ways. "That sounds a lot like our airships, which literally do look like ships. Of course, they're not so widespread in my world at the moment. They were initially developed for the military of my home kingdom... but it could be useful if they become used for civilian transport as well." That and getting the technology in use in other nations, perhaps one day.

That's a good question, one Kain hadn't considered. He knows about the tension between rifters and natives, of course, even if he thinks it's all nonsense and a waste of time. They should be banding together against their common foe. "I... really don't know. I certainly think we ought to be prepared to face him and those who fight for him. It may not be our world, but we're here, so whether they like it or not, their fight is our fight too." He certainly doesn't intend to sit back when this dark threat is out there.

"That's assuming that the magic would even be compatible," Hermione brings up. Frowning, she softly murmurs, "I wonder if a Patronus would have any effect on blighted creatures. I wonder if I can even produce a Patronus." Especially since she'd promised Cassandra Pentaghast that she wouldn't try any overly complicated magic.

"Oh, well, planes don't look like ships. I can draw one for you, sometime. Or make you a paper aeroplane. They're very simple and quite popular among children who'd rather play with paper than use it towards any real work."

Hermione, for her part, would much rather prefer sitting back, at least until such a time came that she knew her magic was back up to par. Otherwise, she'd only get in the way of any and all fighting, and for that, she'd much rather stay at Skyhold and help where she could in terms of research. "I think it'd be a bit foolish to ignore willing help, and dangerous to force unwilling help. But unless there's some sort of magic protecting Skyhold that I haven't yet heard about, I think it would be unfair to hide the scope of the threat from us. There's nothing to stop him or his followers from attacking us here, after all."

"What's a patronus?" The way she talks about it, it certainly sounds like something important, protective magic of a sort, he's willing to guess. He'd not considered that magic might work so differently, here, that perhaps some of it may not even have the same effects as in a native world.

Kain nods, the explanation seems reasonable enough to him. It's weird to think of them not being like the airships he knows, but it's entirely plausible... after all, a lot of creatures that fly through the air have many different forms. "It's incredible to think that these things... magic, air travel... I'm sure there's more... that all of these exist on various worlds, and yet take such varying forms."

A grim expression overcomes Kain's face. He's a realist first and foremost and has considered this possibility. "Exactly. It does us no good to remain in the dark in any sense. The more informed and prepared we all are, the better. An enemy like this is sure to be planning something even now while out of sight. It's likely only a matter of time."

"It's sort of a..." she begins, before pausing. Cassandra hadn't reacted very well to her describing it as a "spirit animal," and while Kain might not be native to Thedas, she doesn't want to use a misnomer like that again. "Simply put, it's a sort of protective spell that takes the shape of a guardian, an animal dependent upon an individual's personality. It's a very difficult spell - not everyone can conjure them and I'd only learned after exhaustive practice - so I don't know that it can be produced here, given how much difficulty I've been having with my magic here."

Though Hermione nods in response, she still replies, "It's not so incredible, really. Every city in every country in every continent is different, so it's safe to say that different worlds would evolve in a variety of ways. Even so, the fact that something as seemingly primal as magical energy can be so different... that's like finding out that something as basic as water varies from one world to another."

It's like facing Voldemort all over again. Doing that a second time doesn't exactly make the prospect any easier. "Then again, some people here don't even truly believe that Corypheus is behind all this. I hear that's at least one reason for all of these extravagant bells and whistles."

That makes plenty of sense to Kain, really, despite how unlike the magic of his world it seems to be. "That sounds like an incredible spell." He's trying to imagine it, animals coming forth like Eidolons to defend the caster. "Although we have defensive spells of protection, it's nothing on that level... we simply have one that's a shell of magic absorbing the worst of magical attacks, and another to protect against physical attacks. Still, I hope you're able to work your best even with the restrictions of this world..."

"An apt comparison." He'd been sure there's some fundamental similarity somewhere, but the more he hears of the differences, the stranger it all seems. "Then there are worlds that seemingly don't have magic at all..." Which is just as strange a thought as saying there's no water, when you grow up with it being just a normal part of the world.

To Kain, of course, it's like dealing with Zemus... the same level of terrible power, the same horrific threat facing the world. "Then the world has yet another problem lurking out there. It wouldn't surprise me."

"We have protection spells and shield charms," Hermione reveals. "They're much easier, and usually much more effective. The Patronus seems to work best against certain Dark creatures; I suppose, in terms of Thedosian magic, the Patronus Charm would probably be close to spirit magic. That may be why it took me so long to achieve it; I've never been good at any kind of metaphysical type of magic."

Shrugging a little, Hermione offers, "Well, a non-magical person from my world would claim there's no magic there, because they wouldn't know any better. So perhaps it's similar for those rifters who say they don't know about magic back home. It doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist, just that they aren't privy to it for some reason or the other." After all, magic is energy, and it can neither be created or destroyed, so the thought of a world with no magic whatsoever, even in terms of untapped potential, just doesn't make any sense to Hermione.

"Thedas seems to be a world with more problems than it knows what to do with," she murmurs softly, looking out over the party. "The first step to solving a problem is admitting that there is one, but given some of these nobles here, that might just prove to be an even bigger problem in and of itself."

“We all have our strengths, whether it’s in magic or physical combat… and weaknesses as well.” Though Kain can understand the notion of such frustration. He’s still struggling to overcome the things he’s weakest in, to strengthen his mind against outside attacks. “But protection against darkness sounds especially useful, especially here. I hope that you never have cause to need it.” Both because she’s unsure how it’d work but also because it would have to be something terrible happening to have need of such a power.

Kain is still baffled by this notion of some knowing about magic, and others not, but she’d explained it well enough in their first meeting. “Perhaps so. It would explain a great deal, and given how it’s worked on your world it’s all too plausible for it to be hidden from some on others.”

That’s entirely it, he thinks, considering some of the attitudes he’s come across among their nobility. “Maybe it was for the best, for us rifters to shake up their natural order. They certainly seem to need it. But even so, it’ll be a long road ahead, working toward resolving many of those problems…” If they can be solved at all. He’s a realist above all else, so he knows better than to think they’ll just be able to fix everything.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "I hope I never have to use it, either. It might not be a real animal, but I'd hate for it to fail if I try to cast it. I've grown fond of it."

Nodding, she expresses, "I'm almost certain that most people who think their world is devoid of magic simply don't know about it. That's part of why I'd asked for all rifters to come see me for an interview regardless of whether or not they believe in magic. I thought I could lead certain questions in such a way that I could say with relative certainty whether or not magic exists, simply just out of sight for those not privy to it."

Thinking about this being a "long road" makes Hermione frown, and she looks up at Kain with concern in her eyes. "Just how long do you think it might take? I jut... I think about the people back home, and how they're probably worried over me...." After all, while the war had ended, there are still Death Eaters on the loose. It wouldn't be beyond the scope of possibility that one of them knew a way to get into Hogwarts and would abduct one of Harry Potter's friends as some form of revenge. She might be safe, but none of her friends knew that.

“And considering what we may be facing… I don’t blame you for being concerned about its fate.” It reminds him a lot of Rydia’s Eidolons… he could imagine how difficult it would have been for her whenever they were defeated. They always returned later, but even so.

If anyone could notice magic, it would undoubtedly be a mage, and Hermione seems to be an especially perceptive one. “It sounds like you’d know the signs to look for. I’d almost be more surprised by a world where magic absolutely doesn’t exist than one where it was hidden somehow.” The separation of mages may still be an odd concept for him, but he’s from a world where magic unquestionably exists. It’s hard to imagine otherwise.

Kain considers for a moment, frowning. “I’d hope it won’t be long… but I’ve been preparing for the worst. We don’t have any answers after a few months of this happening, after all... “ He shakes his head. “Not that I want to give up hope entirely, of course. I understand the need to return home, even if I’ve less of an urgency for that than most.” He’d already left his actual home, after all, and hadn’t seen any of his friends for months before leaving his world.

A Patronus can't die or get hurt, not in any real sense. But after practicing with them for so long a few years back, Hermione can't help but feel as though it has its own personality, its own sort of sentience. She doesn't know how to describe it without actively showing Kain, so she only says, "Perhaps one day I'll be able to conjure one up in relative safety and show it to you."

Hermione merely shrugs, remarking, "I grew up as a Muggle and wasn't introduced into the magical world until I was eleven. I've learned what to look out for in terms of signs of hidden magic over the years. I'd be shocked if magic truly didn't exist somewhere rather than select people simply not knowing it when they see it."

Hearing that the rifters seem to be no better off now than they had been a few months before isn't exactly encouraging. "'Preparing for the worst' doesn't exactly make things sound like they're queued up to get much better, all parties aside."

Kain’s expression is curious and encouraging. “I’d like that. It’s unlike anything else I’ve seen… But of course, only when it’s safe.” He wouldn’t have her take any unnecessary risks just for the sake of random curiosity.

“So you’ve seen both of those worlds firsthand, magic and non-magic… That must give you an interesting perspective. It’s so different on my world… not only do the mages live among us, but even those of us without magic still have unusual abilities.” Or what this world seems to consider unusual, based on a lot of reactions he’s gotten to how he fights.

He realizes she’s right about that, there he goes again looking on the less than pleasant side of things. “No, I suppose not. And I certainly don’t mean to imply that we should give up. When things are at their darkest, we need to prepare and fight all the harder…”

"Of course," Hermione willingly agrees with a small nod. "I wouldn't do it before then. One of us might get hurt, and I've been practicing specifically to avoid that."

She pauses for a moment before realizing, "There aren't very many people like me - Muggle-borns, that is - when you think of how many people are either part of the magical world or aren't. It does place me in an interesting position. My parents, too, since all they know of magic is what they've seen when taking me to buy school supplies or meeting with my friends' families, since I make it a point not to do any in front of them." Except for the time that she'd had to modify their memories and make them forget they had a daughter, but she'd fixed that once it had been safe to, so it doesn't really count. Or so she tells herself.

"Well, there's that saying about how it's always darkest before dawn," she points out, putting together a small smile. "We can't really expect anything to get better until they get worse, or else life is just one constant barrage of positive things that don't seem particularly good anymore, since there's nothing negative to compare them to."

“I hope that the practicing is going well, at least… and that most of your magic works as it ought to.” Kain could understand how frustrating it might be to have one’s powers not functioning right. He definitely wouldn’t be able to rest, himself, if he had to deal with that.

It makes sense, given what she’s already told him about her world. “That must be a bit of a challenge, hiding your magic from them all the time… though I suppose if your magic is anything like this world and even my own, you don’t often use it for basic daily tasks.” Really, most of the magic is battle-related, with perhaps some exceptions that can be used in other ways. And healing magic of course is very applicable. “I’m sure that having that understanding of both worlds can help, though… if they ever came together or clashed in some way, you’d know a lot about both sides of it.”

“How true… and there is no light without darkness, nor darkness without light.” It’s finding the balance between the two of those things which is the real challenge. “The best we can do is keep fighting through the worst of it, whatever may come.” He has a feeling the worst is yet to happen here in Thedas.

"Thank you," she tells him sincerely. "I appreciate that."

With a shake of her head, Hermione remarks, "Many wizards and witches are so accustomed to their magic that they use it for any little thing. That's why we tend to live in communities set away from the non-magical world, to ensure we don't accidentally reveal ourselves. Given that I can function perfectly normally in the Muggle world, I'm often asked for advice on how to perform certain everyday tasks without magic" Really, it's sort of amazing what some people will try to use magic for.

Unable to hold back a deep sigh, Hermione shrugs her shoulders and remarks, "I just wish the worst of it didn't always have to be quite so terrible."

“You’re welcome,” he replies, as seriously as ever.

That’s got to be strange, he realizes, and it’s yet another fundamental difference between how they use magic in their worlds. “Yet another way in which our worlds differ. There are some spells which I suppose the mages of my worlds might use in daily life… the healing spells, others such as float… and of course fire has plenty of practical uses… but so much of it is battle-oriented. They’d never hide any of it, either.” He does wonder if it would have developed differently, if magic were used in other ways, or if the non-mages hadn’t developed their own superhuman skills. “It sounds like you must have a tough job, sometimes, teaching them such skills.”

That’s something Kain can definitely agree to and he nods, grimly. “I know… unfortunately, I don’t think we can do much about that, except be as prepared as we can.” Preparing for the worst makes it a little easier to bear, he always figures.

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