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

[dragoon_pride]

Oh, no, what has he done? It’s one thing to bask in the triumph of being a badass dragonslayer, but another all together to consider taking some random noble on the hunt. Especially a dragon hunt. He totally catches Lara’s expression for a moment, before returning his glance to the nobleman.

“Perhaps,” he figures a more neutral response is the best idea, at least for now. “Though dragons aren’t to be underestimated. I wouldn’t recommend tackling one to just anyone… even hunting bears would seem an easy task by comparison.”

[make_my_mark]

"Bears, pfft." A wave of a gloved hand. "A copper a dozen. I've got three already."

Lara watched them for a moment longer, the nobleman insisting, Kain looking increasingly uncomfortable. Then she spoke.

"Our encounter was incidental, Sir. The dragons happened to be there, where we needed to be. I don't think the Inquisition is going to be hunting them purposefully."

At least, she assumed not. It seemed their purpose was a far bigger one.

[dragoon_pride]

Kain tries not to roll his eyes. "I still wouldn't do it, I won't be responsible for your possible demise."

He can see it ending that way, anyway, with one very crispy noble, and a whole lot of explaining to do. No, it would probably go even worse for him, as a rifter...

"And Lara is right, along with that. Dragons are majestic creatures, to be respected as much as feared. It's only when we clash with them that we should battle their kind." That's pretty much how it was back home too, sometimes you couldn't avoid it, but walking right into a dragon's lair? Bad idea, always.

[make_my_mark]

"And--" she added before the noble could interrupt, "the Inquisition's purpose is a higher one. As thrilling as battling dragons is, Corypheus is the real threat. Fortunately, that you can assist us with."

A neat segue, if she did say so herself.

[dragoon_pride]

Yes, good, perfect, and Kain finds himself nodding agreement. Much as he himself loves the challenge, and had been tempted to fight the dragons when they’d first seen them in the distance… it had had to wait for the right time, for when there was good reason to engage in such a battle.

“You won’t regret aiding us if you do. We need all the help we can get when it comes to battling these demons… even if it’s in the form or supplies or other aid… dealing with this threat won’t be easy. It truly sounds like the most challenging one your world has ever faced.”

[make_my_mark]

"If you're interested, you should speak with Lady Montilyet, or Commander Cullen. They can best inform you as to the Inquisition's specific needs." Lara offered the nobleman her best smile. "And the Commander has many good stories, I'm told."

She hadn't been told, but if it steered the man in a productive direction....

[dragoon_pride]

"They're such fascinating stories." No he has no idea, either, but he's up for going along with it. "He'll be glad to hear of your interests, I'm sure. They both undoubtedly will be able to use your help." That part, he's more sure of. Nobles have a lot of influence and resources, he has no doubt of that. He can somewhat imagine this man going on and on about his hunting exploits to the commander, though.

[make_my_mark]

A little praise and gentle prodding and they were able to see the nobleman off on a mission to find the Inquisition leadership, and Lara turned to Kain with a little sigh and small smile.

"Thank you."

[dragoon_pride]

"You're welcome, though I apologize if I came in too harshly at the beginning." Kain sighs a little bit. "I know many of them are simply misinformed about rifters, and not intending to be malicious about it..."

Really, if they can use this ball as a way to inform people, then all the better to be here, after all. Getting support for the Inquisition is also highly important.

[make_my_mark]

"As I understand it, before us, having things come out of the rifts that didn't intend to hurt them was not something that happened very often. Some- uncertainty isn't surprising."

She offered him a wry sort of smile.

"And all told, it's not the worst thing I've ever been called."

[dragoon_pride]

"When you put it that way... I can see why they'd look at us warily. They've every right to be cautious, of course."

He'd probably do the same thing if he were in the opposite position and a native of this world. But he has a very deeply ingrained dislike of being called a monster, a direct result of being forced to work alongside a group of fiends.

"I'm not fond of the comparison, but I'm sure they'll find out otherwise about us, in time."

[make_my_mark]

"They haven't kept us secret, locked us up or strapped us down to poke and prod..." Lara sighed. "They're already doing much better than my government would."

She could only imagine.

She willed it away with a shake of her head.

"I think, so long as we remember that it's nearly as strange for them, as for us, then we'll be alright."

[dragoon_pride]

“Remind me never to visit your world,” Kain says with a bit of a wry expression. “Between that and no dragons around to battle…” Well, ok, so most people would prefer it without the dragons, but this is a dragoon here.

“Though no world is completely without its… hostilities toward outsiders.” He thinks about how certain Lunarians and humans had clashed back home. “It’s certainly strange on all sides.. Perhaps in time we’ll all get used to it, though.” He knows not everyone probably likes that notion of being stuck here indefinitely, but it’s one of the few things Kain isn’t so concerned about.

[make_my_mark]

"Hopefully not too used it," her mouth twitched, a little smile, though there was something like sadness in her eyes. "I intend on going home when we figure out how to reverse that rift trick."

As fascinating as it all was, as curious as she was, as easy as it would be to get swept away-- she'd left her friends behind, left Trinity planning God knew what. She needed to go home.

[dragoon_pride]

“If we find out… when we find out…” He’s a lot more pessimistic about that, but he attempts to at least add the more hopeful possibility. “I don’t know what I’ll do. If I’m ready, I’ll return.” But at the moment, he’s not so sure he is ready. Sure, he’s left behind people he’s cared about, but he’s not sure he can face them yet. Perhaps he can resume what he started on Mount Ordeals, but the longer he’s been away, first the gods’ war and now here… The longer he’s been away, the less certain he is that the mountain had the right answers for him. That was Cecil’s path. He needs to find his own.

[make_my_mark]

She looked at him for a long moment, expression softening. She could understand that there would be those who might decide to stay, if ever given the choice, and what was more... she couldn't say a part of her wouldn't be tempted. Especially the longer it took.

"Well, in the meantime, at least we won't be bored." She offered him a friendly smile and then her arm. "What do you say, dare to try some of those petit fours with me? I'd heard there's one stuffed with something called a 'deep mushroom'. I'm kind of dying to know."

[dragoon_pride]

The timing would probably make a difference to Kain too, as to whether or not he feels ‘ready’ to return, if he ends up finding a new purpose here entirely… there are a lot of things to consider. It doesn’t seem like it’s about to happen anytime soon, anyway.

“‘Deep’ mushroom? That sounds like it has… potential, either way. I doubt we should leave here without at least saying we’ve tried it.” He definitely sounds amused in his way as he reaches for her arm.