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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The qunari grins as he sees Sam, reading those words off his lips with amusement. "Oh, I definitely am. As long as nobody tries to touch my horns again or call me an ox-man, I'm content."

It might not be his thing at all, but he's still happy to be here. If so only for the tiny cakes. They were amazing.

"You're looking good, Sam."

He's not amused to hear that Taas is being disrespected, but he continues to smiles, head shaking some at hearing his difficulties.

At the mention of his wardrobe he wrinkles his nose some in amusement and looks down at himself then back up. "Guess red is both our color. You're looking pretty good yourself. Course I think you looked fine without a shirt, and I'm sure that's not just me."

It was just part of not being human, unfortunately. Taas just dealt with it quietly, and both him and Korrin were starting to plan to just understand Qunlat from now on during noble visits.

"Can you believe Pel put this shirt together in just a few hours with the help of a gaggle of kids? This was a really last-minute thing." He chuckles slightly and rubs a hand over the former blanket now nicely cut over his chest. "Couldn't go without a shirt and scandalize everyone!"

Honestly, he wouldn't blame Taas or Korrin for doing as such, but Sam was going to be just as lost as everyone when he heard it.

"What seriously?" That was pretty impressive for a few hours. He had to stand around for practically a day of being poked and prodded. "Well... you could have, just don't think a lot of people would have found it amusing. Maybe some of us." Yeah it was probably better he hadn't, Sam can only imagine the comments and touching would've been a whole lot worse in that case.

"I'm sure Cyril wouldn't have minded."

Sounds like he should teach Sam some Qunlat!

"Yeah, it was pretty amazing. I'm not sure if I can actually get it off again without cutting myself out of it, but it's definitely good enough for this event." He gives Sam an amused wink. "Coming without a shirt would have derailed the soiree, I'm sure." In both good and bad ways.

"Cyril, yeah..." he feels oddly warm just thinking about the fact that he was the elf's escort today. "He seems happy."

Actually that would probably be mighty helpful, especially for the future.

"I would say having it derailed would be a vast improvement. Then again that could have just started everyone demanding people taking off their shirts. The mayhem that would have risen." He's joking of course. In all actuality Taas would've been hard for a lot of people to compete with, and it would've certainly gotten him a lot more attention he did not want.

"I'm glad to hear that. You look pretty happy yourself." Even though there is a genuine wide smile on his face, there's still a bit of a pang in his chest, which he easily ignores, but will probably be thinking about later on when the party has died down.

He laughs again and shakes his head, trying to make sure he isn't too loud - which was hard for a deaf man. It was a damn nice thought to imagine everyone shirtless, though. That kind of party would be a much more entertaining one.

Sam's words about him being happy makes the qunari pauses for a moment, however. Yeah, he was happy. He hadn't thought about that, really... but he was. Strange.

"I am," he finally replies with a shrug. "I like making people happy."

Well the laugh certainly turns some heads, but over all Taas isn't all that loud. Everyone shirtless would probably be more entertaining for sure, but it would be a very different party. Now that he thinks on it, that might be a little terrifying what with all the nobles - it was bad enough with clothes on.

"I would say you're doing just that in spades." Course Cyril would probably even happier if Taas had indeed gone without a shirt. "Are you still training with the troops, or have you found other things to work on?" It has been some time since they talked after all.

Taas smiles at that, but Sam's question makes him sigh slightly and look out over the gathered people as they mingle and dance and probably plot a lot. It's impossible for him to not pick up a thing or two from moving lips even across the hall.

Most of it end up jumbled, though. Like his situation.

"I've stopped that for a while. Things... didn't go that well in Antiva, and I'm working out some problems."

That was a bit more than concerning. "Antiva? Everything alright?" Everyone had to work out problems, sure, but the sudden change in Taas' expression makes was leading him to believe it was decently serious.

The warrior shifts a bit and sighs. "It was during the hunt to free Zevran. There was a flesh monster thing, and I just.... lost control of myself. I tried to kill the Iron Bull after the monster went down, and I would have probably continued with the rest of the group if he wasn't strong enough to tire me out."

It hurts to admit, especially to someone he didn't know that well - but it also made him feel less like a liar. Admitting he fucked up bad.

At the mention of Zevran's capture Sam sighs, lips thinning a bit as he remembers when it happened. If he hadn't happened to notice the ravens- he did though and despite what happened, everyone was alive, and decently well.

Course he hadn't heard anything about a flesh monster, which has Sam's eyes widening as Taas talks about it. That was- a bit frightening he'll admit. Taas and the Iron Bull were big men, powerhouses really, and imagining the two of them fighting.

"Are you alright?" He now knows that something had happened, and clearly it's bothering Taas.

"No," he admits. "...but I'm dealing with it. I'll be okay."

This might not be the best place to have this discussion, but he grabs another drink from a passing server. "Zevran's safe. That's what matters. I just have to figure out a way to harness the anger. The Bull... offered to help."

Which was still really weird to him, cooperating with a Ben-Hassrath in any way. He's pretty sure he'll end up stabbed one day.

At least Taas is being honest about it. Course hearing that he wasn't doing 'alright' is a reason for concern, but he trusts that when Taas says he's dealing with he means it. Still, hearing that Bull was offering help? He's aware of the issues between Bull and the others because of the Qun - both Krem and Korrin have made mention of it in the past.

With all this going on it was certainly important that Taas had something good, and coming to the soiree with Cyril certainly seemed to be just that. "I'm not sure what I can do, but if you ever need anything you can come talk to me," he offers, his own drink forgotten at the moment.

He appreciates the fact that Sam accepts his reply and doesn't push it. He's a good man, really. Another reason why the big warrior had learned to accept and trust mages.

This was definitely helping - not the soiree itself, he could live without that and all the staring - but the fact that he was here with Cyril and could see people he cared about having fun? That was great.

Sam's open offer of talking was also quite appreciated, and he claps the man on the shoulder with a smile. "Thank you, Sam. I'll remember that."

That's good, because Sam certainly didn't want to be on Taas' bad side. A big reason he didn't spend a lot of time around the larger man was because he had seemed a little put off that he had been a mage when they first met.

"You know I still find it amusing that the first time I talked to you, you almost dragged me into the ring for a round." He's exaggerating on the dragging part, but Taas had indeed thought Sam wanted a fight that time.

That has the warrior laughing again, trying to keep it at acceptable levels even if he can't hear his own volume. "I had so many people wanting to fight me, and you looked like a warrior or rogue-type with those arms. I guess I was stereotyping mages as skinny little things."

He smiles again and gestures at Sam. "I'd still take you on one day, if you want to train without magic."

Sam snorts, putting a fist up to his lips to stop himself from making too much noise himself. "I certainly don't fit that stereotype." He's certainly not limiting himself to just magic, that's for sure, learning some skills to help with being a bit more sneaky or able to fight better.

"Oof, go up against you? Without magic? That's going to take a lot of training." He raises a hand against the middle of his torso, already imagining the bruises from that. "That would be a pretty good idea though. If I can learn to fight against you I'm sure I can take on about anything."

It was damn unusual to see a mage that branched out with things like that. Or knew how to use a forge. It's pretty impressive.

"Hey, I'm good with newbies. You seem like a quick guy, and big men like me are a little slower than average." It's almost true. Taas has learned to make up for that long ago, but it's still a good thing to know.

"Feel free to hit me up on that any time. Sparring is something I enjoy."

If he had ended up in the Circle sooner or other, he might have turned out a bit differently, but as it was he never just relied on his magic if he could help it.

"Well I wouldn't say newbie to sparring, but I've certainly not gone up against anyone of your stature." Bull was teaching him some, but it was mostly weight training, but it didn't happen often.

"I'll certainly do that. Better to do it with someone who knows what they're doing."

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Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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