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

[arlathvhen]

"Do I have to be playing the Game to offer you compliments?" But the elf takes Nerva's arm, her smile carefully measured to allow some amount of nervousness to show. Look at her, Nerva. She's cute and awkward. "I don't quite see the purpose in that, particularly if you're not playing at all, but I'll be the first to admit that I don't quite...grasp the Game, I suppose." That's not to say that Beleth isn't playing, because she is, and dancing with Nerva does have an alternative. But she doesn't need Nerva to be playing.

She just needs her to dance.

"All of this is very different, I think, for both of us, though." Her voice grew soft at that, eyes darting around to look at the finery.

[keeperofmagi]

Beleth was forever confusing, to her. It was hard to line up the squirrel on the roof, with the terrified bird screeching in her grip, with the doe-eyed fawn blinking up at her now. So she frowned down, brows knit, slowly and methodically trying to tie it all together.

"It is not my natural setting, no." She admits. That, at least, is true, but she says it as if she is unsure exactly what she's agreeing to. She steps into position - a leading one, as that seemed the most reasonable - and slipped a hand onto Beleth's waist.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth is, quite simply, whatever the situation needs her to be. She would like to think of it as adaptability, and she would like to think that she had some manner of skill in it. In being able to adjust for whatever and whoever she's dealing with. She wonders, sometimes, if it's better to be like this, or to be like Nerva, straight-forward, and as unyielding as an iron beam.

But she knows she can't be like Nerva, so she goes with what she can do.

"As I'm sure you can imagine, the Dalish do not usually hold soirees." Beleth accepts the role of follower easily enough--She's been in it for the entire evening. And she gives Nerva a sheepish smile, like it's embarrassing to admit. "So ah--Please be careful when we dance. I promise I've been practicing, but some of the dances are, ah. Very complex. Do the Templars hold parties...?"

[keeperofmagi]

"I will be careful," she agrees, before she takes the first step - a slow, measured pace as they begin to dance.

"And no. At least, not at my Circle. I could not speak for others, but - our duties came far before pleasure, such as this. I have been training, so as not to embarrass myself."

[arlathvhen]

"Surely you were allowed some manner of free time." Beleth replied, carefully following Nerva through the steps. "You cannot spend all of your time working. Even the Dalish had gatherings, hobbies, times where we ran around, when our jobs were done." Though she can't help but think that it explains, at least a little, about Nerva, and maybe the Templars as a whole, if that was the kind of life they led.